Honesty needed badly!

[denverdi]

Well when I got home from work today, DH asked me how much it would cost to go to DL for a few days next week, since we all have time off. So I am now doing a mad dash to try and put this together.
We are driving from the Phoenix area, so it is about 300+ miles. 50.00 each way. Passes. Not sure what ever 3 day passes are. figure 500.00 because we are all adults! Okay so moving on meals, breakfast usually a bagel and juice or milk. Lunches nothing fancy, guys will eat anything and DD will share a meal with me. So tell me what you think we can pull this off for? We have about 800.00 free for this trip. No cc don't believe in them. Have one in case something terrible happens, and this is definatly not terrible. So give me your best shot on this. I need all of the help I can get! Also what days would be the best to go? It is about a 6 hour drive for us. So we will need a hotel for 3 nights.

By the way DH does not go as crazy for disney as the kids and I do. So yes this was a huge shock. How bad really are the crowds durning this week. I know it is supposed to be really kind of cold in CA, does this hurt attendance or is it just crazy?

 

[missmulan]

it's forecasted to be raining on sunday and monday...but of course, the weatherman is not always right. DL is usually slower on those days when it's forecasted "showers" and if it doesn't shower, then you'll have an almost empty park! if you are on a budget, i suggest staying at the best western stovall's anaheim. they have a AAA rate and they are a good neighbor hotel. best western's a good reputable chain. Gas prices have dropped. there is a mickey d's & 7-11 nearby. you picked a good time to visit!

 

[Amberle3]

3 day passes are $129 for adults.

The parks are a little crazy right now. I'm currently at the Residence Inn (Garden Grove) and we were at the park (Disneyland only) both last night and today. Last night was pretty insane, and I've made a mental note to myself to never, ever be in New Orlean's Square on evenings when Fantasmic is scheduled unless I'm planning on watching it. There were crowds everywhere, and pretty big lineups, and in general just a mass of humanity slowly surging toward the exit gates when we were leaving. The good news is that the parking structure empties out in a very orderly fashion.

Today was a bit of a different story. There were still lots of people there, and some long lines, but many of the lines were managable. LOTS of characters out and about - I can't even remember all the ones we saw. I was trying to keep up with 2 little boys who frankly couldn't care less about the characters though. I do remember Mickey & Minnie in their casual christmas wear, christmas goofy, pluto, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, a wolf, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and lots more. And we didn't even make it into Toontown.

The longest line we stood in all day was for the Astro Orbiters, which actually felt like we were in it ALL DAY. 45+ minutes for a short little ride. Ugh. But the kids wanted to do it so.... We got fastpasses for Star Tours and from door to ride was less than 10 minutes. 10 minute wait for Jungle Cruise. Small world had a pretty long lineup, and it apparently just gets longer as the day goes on so get to it early.

We'll be there possibly tomorrow but definitely on the 25th and I'm hoping the crowds are managable then.

 

[scroot]

Hello from a fellow Arizonaian. I live in Tucson but am a Phoenix native. DW and I often travel right after Christmas and what we know is that it isn't uncommon for DL to hit maximum occupancy between Christmas and New Years. A couple of years ago they stopped letting people in in the early afternoon for a few days in a row. We vowed not to visit the parks during that week again.

 

[missmulan]

it is usually crowded when the AP calendar says that you're blocked out....they don't block AP'ers for nothing. They just can't handle extra capacity.