How Early is Too Early to Plan??? - TR Link Added - 12/29

[momabbate]

First thing, on your niece! So glad they figured out what her eating problem is.
I am glad your mom has a change of heart on the FP. I can understand the pressure of trying to get them done on a short notice.

 

[pkondz]

Just shamelessly subbing in so I can follow along when the TR shows up.

 

[afwdwfan]

Great news about your niece! Hopefully she continues to do well.


Yay for getting the 7DMT FP's!

Jill in CO

Thanks! Things are still going well for our niece.

That's great news on the family front. Glad things are looking up.

Thanks. It has been a relief.

So glad to hear your parents were able to go on their trip and that your niece is ok. That's great that they were able to score a FP+ for 7DMT. I think that time is going to be cool since I've heard it's a lot of fun at night.

They loved 7DMT. They ended up getting along ok with FP+. Dad still hates it, but he doesn't have a smart phone and had nothing to do with making the FP+ reservations at any point in the process. And he hated legacy FP too, so I've got to take that with a grain of salt.

Glad to hear your niece is gaining weight. Do they think it's the Tongue-Tie condition?

I don't know what they called it, but that is probably what it is... they clipped some skin under her tongue so she can stick it out farther.

I'd take a late FP for 7DMT over no time at all

Forgot to say, I think someone saw your ice bucket challenge and attempted to give it a shot. Epic fail.

WOW! Yeah... definitely too much weight for the hydraulics on such a small tractor to control.

I've seen a lot of people use tractors, excavators, backhoes and all kinds of equipment in the videos without any similar issues... but then again, I'm from Indiana and a lot of people I know live or work on farms, so everybody is doing them that way. I was more worried about DS moving the joystick the wrong way, but even if he did that my loader just moves way too slow and I wasn't even close to testing the lift limits of my loader.

All good news!

First thing, on your niece! So glad they figured out what her eating problem is.
I am glad your mom has a change of heart on the FP. I can understand the pressure of trying to get them done on a short notice.

That's kind of what rubs me the wrong way about all of it. It almost would discourage me from booking a last minute trip.

I mean, I look at it this way. I don't get to go to Disney World often. Even if something would come up and I could go last minute, do I want to spend the money on a trip that I'm going to be essentially handicapped on as far as planning and reservations go, or am I more likely to do something else on short notice and just stick to our every few years big Disney trip? I don't know because it hasn't come up yet, but I'd definitely be less enthusiastic about jumping on a last minute trip there as opposed to doing something else.

Just shamelessly subbing in so I can follow along when the TR shows up.

Thanks for stopping by. This PTR is slow and painful at this point. But I'll be sure to post a TR link later.

 

[afwdwfan]

Disneyland Help!

Yes, something has actually happened in our trip planning process. I got a pin code for our Disney World trip and I went to the AAA office to see if we had any options last week. I was fairly certain that the pin code wouldn't help us and my instinct was confirmed. Our TA was told by the Disney CM on the phone that AoA is completely booked up for the month of December, so no discounts are available there.

The discount wasn't significant enough to justify moving up to deluxe and we still weren't all in agreement on what moderate we'd like to try. So since we were already pretty much set on AoA, we're sticking with the plan.

While I was in the AAA office, I went ahead and paid off the trip. With fall coming up, and our final payment due in mid-October, I knew that I'd just be too busy to mess with it later so I wanted to get it out of the way. Now I've just got to get a load of corn shelled and hauled away to pay that credit card bill.



For our January trip to California, I have booked flights. I contacted the TA who is responsible for the convention I'm attending a few weeks ago just to see if she had any access to any discounts or packages for Disneyland or flights. I'd told her about what I was considering doing as far as flying into SAN and returning through SNA. She sent me an e-mail yesterday afternoon about a really good flight deal that she found. The departure time is brutal (5:50 am), but it will get us into San Diego by 9:00 am local time on Saturday, in plenty of time to get to the hotel and relax and/or enjoy town before my conference requirements start that evening. And hopefully, leaving so early will allow the kids to sleep on the plane. Fingers crossed.

Our return trip will depart from SNA the following Saturday at 8:00 am. A better departure time, but it includes a 3 hour layover in Dallas. I'm not too crazy about that part, but for the airfare she got us, we'll gladly deal with it. We essentially purchased "round trip" tickets for less than I could find one way tickets on my own while stalking the various airline/travel websites. I kind of wanted to fly Southwest since they offer free bags, but we'll be flying USAir instead. For the difference, we can check a few bags and still come out ahead. And we'll have reserved seats, which is a huge bonus in my book. I love Southwest if I'm flying by myself, but I wasn't too crazy about flying SW with the kids.

During our series of e-mails and phone calls back and forth yesterday, she also got me some pricing on Disneyland packages. We are trying to make this trip as budget friendly as possible, being just a month after a big Disney World vacation. But for 4 nights/3 park days, the packages don't have a whole lot of price difference. I mean it isn't like we're choosing between Grand Floridian and All Star Sports here. The hotels appear to be a little bit closer in amenities and price. And I just ended up getting flights for less than I thought it would cost us...

So, I'm going to ask for help. We were originally thinking Disneyland Hotel. Then we started leaning towards Paradise Pier or even off-Property to save some money.

But now its like... well it wouldn't save us a whole lot to stay off-property. And it would only cost a couple hundred more to stay in Disneyland Hotel instead of Paradise Pier. But then the Grand Californian is only a couple hundred more than Disneyland Hotel. So basically we're completely waffling on what we want to do. We talked about it last night and DW and I don't know if/when we'll be going back out there, so we want to do it right. But at the same time we're trying to be budget minded and responsible.

So I need somebody to convince me... Where should we stay??????

 

[jedijill]

Well, for only a couple of hundred more, I would stay at the GCH just for the convenience. I found a huge difference in offsite though....I stayed at the Annabella for about $800 as opposed to $2500 for the same nights at the DLH.

Jill in CO

 

[that's nice]

Disneyland Help!
So I need somebody to convince me... Where should we stay??????

I can't help you with DL cuz I know nothing about it. But I am curious to see what you come up with. Melody says she wants to goto DL for her 40th birthday in 2 years. I think it's a trap though, she says not to throw her a party and just goto DL.

I saw your ice bucket challenge and was gonna post the video of a kid getting smashed in the head from a tractor dump bucket but I saw someone already linked that.

Sorry I've been MIA… haven't really been DISing that much recently. I've been trying to keep up with Kathy's treads and the DVC ROFR thread. I can't even keep up with the DDC thread… However I'm heading there next to rub it in everyone's faces that we leave for Florida tomorrow.

 

[KatMark]

I can't help you with DL cuz I know nothing about it. But I am curious to see what you come up with. Melody says she wants to goto DL for her 40th birthday in 2 years. I think it's a trap though, she says not to throw her a party and just goto DL.

Make it 3 years when we go for my gulp 60th!

Sorry I've been MIA… haven't really been DISing that much recently. I've been trying to keep up with Kathy's treads and the DVC ROFR thread. I can't even keep up with the DDC thread… However I'm heading there next to rub it in everyone's faces that we leave for Florida tomorrow.

You are not nice TIMOTHY!

Andy, for a couple hundred more and probably not going back, I'd go with Grand Californian. But then I'm not paying the bill.

I'm glad you paid off the December trip. Now get to that corn.

 

[that's nice]

You are not nice TIMOTHY!

Oh, I'm nice. Look at my screen name.

Andy, for a couple hundred more and probably not going back, I'd go with Grand Californian. But then I'm not paying the bill.

Asking these types of questions on the DIS are great.. '… sure spend the extra 10K. You can't take it with you!'

 

[afwdwfan]

Well, for only a couple of hundred more, I would stay at the GCH just for the convenience. I found a huge difference in offsite though....I stayed at the Annabella for about $800 as opposed to $2500 for the same nights at the DLH.

Jill in CO

Might be the off property hotels that I looked at. And the difference between off property and Paradise Pier was greater than the difference between PP and DLH. But... I don't know...

I can't help you with DL cuz I know nothing about it. But I am curious to see what you come up with. Melody says she wants to goto DL for her 40th birthday in 2 years. I think it's a trap though, she says not to throw her a party and just goto DL.

Definite trap. Good luck with that one. And I wouldn't recommend telling anyone it is her 40th birthday. You can thank me later.

I saw your ice bucket challenge and was gonna post the video of a kid getting smashed in the head from a tractor dump bucket but I saw someone already linked that.

That is just.... wow...

Sorry I've been MIA… haven't really been DISing that much recently. I've been trying to keep up with Kathy's treads and the DVC ROFR thread. I can't even keep up with the DDC thread… However I'm heading there next to rub it in everyone's faces that we leave for Florida tomorrow.

I know. You've been busy. My Dis time is going to be significantly cut soon as well. That's life, but if you expect me to not give you crap about disappearing for months at a time, you're mistaken. Have a great time in Florida and on the boat.

Andy, for a couple hundred more and probably not going back, I'd go with Grand Californian. But then I'm not paying the bill.

Kind of what I'm thinking. I just need to be convinced, I guess.

I'm glad you paid off the December trip. Now get to that corn.

Well, the balance for the trip has been applied to my credit card. It won't technically be paid for until I get some corn to sell.

But the Disney points I'm earning to use for rewards on our Disneyland trip...

Oh, I'm nice. Look at my screen name.

He got you there, Kathy.

Asking these types of questions on the DIS are great.. '… sure spend the extra 10K. You can't take it with you!'

So... you're saying I just need to buy DVC at GCV????

 

[KatMark]

He got you there, Kathy.

I'll let you know in three or four weeks if that screenname is deceiving or not.

 

[MEK]

Disneyland Help!


But now its like... well it wouldn't save us a whole lot to stay off-property. And it would only cost a couple hundred more to stay in Disneyland Hotel instead of Paradise Pier. But then the Grand Californian is only a couple hundred more than Disneyland Hotel. So basically we're completely waffling on what we want to do. We talked about it last night and DW and I don't know if/when we'll be going back out there, so we want to do it right. But at the same time we're trying to be budget minded and responsible.

So I need somebody to convince me... Where should we stay??????

This is actually an awesome predicament. I wish I could shed some more light onto it, but I have only ever seen pictures. I know the GC is really super cool. I hope to stay there some day with DVC points, but the other hotels look amazing too. Bottom line - I don't think you can make a wrong choice.

YAYAYAYAY for being PIF for your upcoming trip!

 

[amazingact21]

Hey, being paid in full is a good thing. Makes the trip seem just a little bit more real. And at least the PIN code kind of settled things on where you're staying. Now you are decided on AoA 100% (well, 99%, you never know what might happen.) and can start to look forward to that resort. And it's definitely one of those places that you can easily look forward to visiting, especially with young kids.


Oh dear, I'm going to be like everyone else and be completely indecisive with the DL resort. I mean, I guess you have to take a look at your budget and see if you're really going to miss that couple hundred extra you'll spend by staying at the GC. Is that the resort that has the private entrance to DCA? (Clearly, I know very little about DL.) If so, then I'd, personally, do it.

And since Alex isn't around to voice his opinion, I'll go ahead and say. If he were in your shoes, he'd splurge. Simply because, how many times are you going to get the chance to visit DL? And with these kind of once-in-a-blue-moon vacations, you should do the things you really want to. So if you have the funds to stay at the resort you want, do it. But if DL Hotel is more appealing to you, then bank the money and use it elsewhere.


I know...not helpful at all.

 

[afwdwfan]

I'll let you know in three or four weeks if that screenname is deceiving or not.

Good luck!

This is actually an awesome predicament. I wish I could shed some more light onto it, but I have only ever seen pictures. I know the GC is really super cool. I hope to stay there some day with DVC points, but the other hotels look amazing too. Bottom line - I don't think you can make a wrong choice.

It is a good problem. I guess my thing is I just don't know enough about DLR to really know what to do, so I'm resorting to asking general open ended questions.

Hey, being paid in full is a good thing. Makes the trip seem just a little bit more real. And at least the PIN code kind of settled things on where you're staying. Now you are decided on AoA 100% (well, 99%, you never know what might happen.) and can start to look forward to that resort. And it's definitely one of those places that you can easily look forward to visiting, especially with young kids.

We're definitely looking forward to it. When I was in AAA, one of the TA's in there was asking me where we were staying in AoA. I told her that we really wanted to stay in the Cars rooms, but didn't want to cram into one suite and didn't want to get 2. She told me she didn't like the suites there anyway and that we'd like the Little Mermaid Section better... so that is at least re-assuring.

Oh dear, I'm going to be like everyone else and be completely indecisive with the DL resort. I mean, I guess you have to take a look at your budget and see if you're really going to miss that couple hundred extra you'll spend by staying at the GC. Is that the resort that has the private entrance to DCA? (Clearly, I know very little about DL.) If so, then I'd, personally, do it.

Of the little that I know about Disneyland, yes, it is the one with a private entrance to DCA.

And since Alex isn't around to voice his opinion, I'll go ahead and say. If he were in your shoes, he'd splurge. Simply because, how many times are you going to get the chance to visit DL? And with these kind of once-in-a-blue-moon vacations, you should do the things you really want to. So if you have the funds to stay at the resort you want, do it. But if DL Hotel is more appealing to you, then bank the money and use it elsewhere.


I know...not helpful at all.

I'll say this. You know my exact thought process, because this is basically the dilemma that I have going through my head.

I kind of want to stay at the "classic" Disney resort and go to Disneyland Hotel.

But then there's GCH, which is one of the newer era, impressive, well themed Disney resorts.

They've both got some great appeal. I guess I'm just looking for some help swaying me one way or the other.

 

[franandaj]

I've stayed at DLH and GCH but not PPH. Only once have I done an offsite and that was for the 50th birthday celebration. Money aside the GCH is by far the best hotel. You can't beat its proximity to the parks and the atmosphere can't be beat. However it is pricey. If I didn't own there we wouldn't stay there.

The DLH rooms have a magical quality to them, if you haven't seen pictures or video, it is special. However the DLH is rather far from everything. While it has a nice feel to it, the overall grounds don't have the magic of the GCH.

Some people swear by the offsite hotels, but I cant comment on those, we live so close that we either stay on site or go home. For us it's either full on magic or just a day trip.

 

[Leshaface]

I've stayed at all 3 hotels many times. By far the best is GCH, obviously. Absolutely beautiful and direct access to DCA. If the price is right and you guys can swing it, DO IT!

As for the other hotels, personally, I would choose PPH over DLH and we have many times. Saves money, but we also feel slightly closer to the parks. I'm assuming you've looked at a map, but just in case, the PPH is directly across the street from GCH. To get to the parks you would take the crosswalk and cut through the GCH. If you don't mind the walk through Downtown Disney, DLH is located at the very end of DTD and is very nice. It's been about 2 yeas since i've stayed here and I know they were working on refurbishing all rooms, so i'm sure it's all done. It 'feels' like a long walk from DLR to the esplanade, but not sure exactly on the actual distance. You also have the monorail station near the DLH, but waits can be crazy!

Offsite hotels are fine, especially the ones on Harbor Blvd (have stayed at 4 of them). Huge price difference! Most hotels are within walking distance, some hotels offer shuttles.

Looking forward to seeing what you guys choose!

 

[amandaw]

I've had the same conundrum about a hotel for DLR. Since this may be our only trip out that way, I have gone ahead & ruled out off property. I know it doesn't make a big difference there but being a Disney fan, I just want to stay in one of their properties in case we never go back.

As of now, I have DLH booked. I thought about GCH but I liked the look of the rooms better @ DLH especially with the headboards that do the fireworks and such. I'm not any help here but I am interested to see which one you end up booking.

They loved 7DMT. They ended up getting along ok with FP+. Dad still hates it, but he doesn't have a smart phone and had nothing to do with making the FP+ reservations at any point in the process. And he hated legacy FP too, so I've got to take that with a grain of salt.

This is great to hear! Makes me feel much better about our upcoming trip.

 

[afwdwfan]

I've stayed at DLH and GCH but not PPH. Only once have I done an offsite and that was for the 50th birthday celebration. Money aside the GCH is by far the best hotel. You can't beat its proximity to the parks and the atmosphere can't be beat. However it is pricey. If I didn't own there we wouldn't stay there.

See, I guess I didn't see GCH as being all that pricey. I mean it is expensive, no doubt. But less than $100/night more than DLH doesn't seem all that bad by Disney World standards. I mean, you wouldn't upgrade from Port Orleans to Grand Floridian for that.

The DLH rooms have a magical quality to them, if you haven't seen pictures or video, it is special. However the DLH is rather far from everything. While it has a nice feel to it, the overall grounds don't have the magic of the GCH.

Pretty much what I was thinking. I definitely think we'd like the rooms at DLH, and that in and of itself is why I'm having a hard time wanting to make the upgrade. The kids would love the light up headboard feature.

That said, I'd love the proximity of GCH. I'm sure we'll check out the grounds of both resorts regardless of where we stay.

Some people swear by the offsite hotels, but I cant comment on those, we live so close that we either stay on site or go home. For us it's either full on magic or just a day trip.

Yeah, I totally get that. I think that's where I stand on it too. Offsite would have to be a HUGE savings, especially for a once in a lifetime type of trip like this. I mean, I realize offsite at Disneyland is nothing like offsite in Orlando, it is still the principle of it!

I've stayed at all 3 hotels many times. By far the best is GCH, obviously. Absolutely beautiful and direct access to DCA. If the price is right and you guys can swing it, DO IT!

That's what I'm tempted by...

As for the other hotels, personally, I would choose PPH over DLH and we have many times. Saves money, but we also feel slightly closer to the parks. I'm assuming you've looked at a map, but just in case, the PPH is directly across the street from GCH. To get to the parks you would take the crosswalk and cut through the GCH. If you don't mind the walk through Downtown Disney, DLH is located at the very end of DTD and is very nice. It's been about 2 yeas since i've stayed here and I know they were working on refurbishing all rooms, so i'm sure it's all done. It 'feels' like a long walk from DLR to the esplanade, but not sure exactly on the actual distance. You also have the monorail station near the DLH, but waits can be crazy!

PPH over DLH??? You're making it more difficult!!!!

I really get what you're saying though. I've looked at it that way... save some money, and have what looks on the map to be a shorter walk. Definitely makes sense.

Offsite hotels are fine, especially the ones on Harbor Blvd (have stayed at 4 of them). Huge price difference! Most hotels are within walking distance, some hotels offer shuttles.

I don't think we're going to consider staying offsite at this point. Even though I realize the offsite places are in some cases closer than DLH... it is still offsite.

Looking forward to seeing what you guys choose!

Leaning towards DLH... slightly. But it is between DLH and GCH for right now.

I've had the same conundrum about a hotel for DLR. Since this may be our only trip out that way, I have gone ahead & ruled out off property. I know it doesn't make a big difference there but being a Disney fan, I just want to stay in one of their properties in case we never go back.

Well said. This is exactly where I am on that issue right now.

As of now, I have DLH booked. I thought about GCH but I liked the look of the rooms better @ DLH especially with the headboards that do the fireworks and such. I'm not any help here but I am interested to see which one you end up booking.

I'm definitely leaning that direction.

 

[that's nice]

So... you're saying I just need to buy DVC at GCV????

Nah, I'm not saying that. I am saying to just buy resale at SSR and stay wherever you want for 1/2 the price.

 

[pkondz]

Nah, I'm not saying that. I am saying to just buy resale at SSR and stay wherever you want for 1/2 the price.

Um.... What?

 

[Leshaface]

Leaning towards DLH... slightly. But it is between DLH and GCH for right now.

Not that my vote matters, but i'd go with GCH


Also, wanted to mention this in case you may have overlooked it in your planning. Over at DCA in the Animation Building, there is a ramp to go downstairs to the Sorcerer's Workshop. It's a very fun interactive area for kids going through the Beast's Library where you can get on computer screens to see what Disney personality you have and from there it leads you to Ursula's Grotto where you can choose a Disney song, sing it while it records and you can hear the playback. It's really fun and your kids would enjoy it! It's something a lot of people forget about. Definitely a hidden gem