I know it's early but...May 2009!

[disney_love<3]

So recently DBF (dear boyfriend??) and I were saying how we..or maybe just myself ...were dying to take another trip to DL. As you may recall, We stayed one night at PPH this past August. We both loved it! But we also realized that it was just too darn short. We had to rush everything, rushed our pool time, did some park time and poof! It was check-out time.

We pretty much did that trip to get the DL hotel/overnight experience. So anywho, we've decided to go next May for our 1 year anniversary. Our anniversary is friday May 22. So we'd be checking in that day May 22 and coming back sunday May 24. I was wondering, what are the rates like at PPH or DLH around this time???

I was also looking into Hojos, and I'm keeping an eye on those entertainment rates but DBF and I were thinking...and I'm not sure if some of you feel this same way but...The way I see it, DBF and I go to the parks sooo often. (I kid you not, almost every weekend from like 6pm to close ) that for us its mostly about the hotel. We will more than likely spend a lot of time swimming, hanging out at the hotel, etc..
I'm not sure that Hojos, or any off site hotel would be right in this case. The reason we would like to do off site is to save money but I would love to stay on site instead.

I know, it's probably too early to begin planning but once the new year begins I will be looking into this more..and saving!

So, I don't really know the point of this whole post. haha Comments, questions, or concerns welcomed!

P.S
Forgot to add, our AP expires May 15 2009. So it may be a pretty expensive month...renew our AP's and vacation! Yikes!

 

[Disney Princess]

It's never to early to plan a trip to DL!!!! We are going next May as well. Our 3rd anniversary is on Wednesday, May 27th! We arrive on the 24th - the day you leave. We're staying at Hilton since my husband works for the company and we can get a good deal. But I completely understand wanting to stay onsite! At least having the plan early will help you to save for it.

I don't know any rates of the hotels, but I wanted to say Happy First Anniversary - and have fun planning!!

 

[dizneekrazee]

That weekend you are going will more likely be expensive, isnt it Memorial Day weekend? We are also going in May. Checking in Tuesdat the 26th and out on Saturday the 30th. I think thats what I booked. I wanted to go in May as well because my bday is May 16 (I cant go on my bday) and I graduate on May 21ish.

My next trip is in 8 days!! Then I get to start the count down to the May trip!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Yep, taht weekend is a holiday.

This year, we checked in on Monday the 26th, and it was fine. But the people who had been there Fri-Sun said it was insane with crowds.

And any hotel price is going to be higher b/c of the price.


I can't get behind the idea of staying on site, so I can't help ya there! The pool at HoJo is lovely and their beds are the same as Westin's Heavenly Beds, so that's good for me. Though actually the quiet pool at Anabella was QUITE beautiful from the outside of its gated area. And their first floor normal rooms had hardwood floors which has changed my opinion about hotel carpets forever. We really liked our stay at Anabella last year though it wasn't perfect. Lovely walk in the mornings, too.

But I'm sure others will come by talking up the on-site hotels for ya.

Still wouldn't go that weekend, though!

 

[Disney Dreams]

May 22nd is my birthday! Great day! Sadly, I have spent my life planning around Memorial Day weekend so friends can party with me. In 2009, the 22nd if the Friday that launches Memorial Day weekend. The park will be swamped.

That means that hotels will be in high demand and therefore, can charge more. If it were me, I would book NOW. You can always watch for a special and change ressies, but with that being Memorial Day weekend, the sooner you book, the better.

Another option would be to come the weekend before as a pre-anniversary trip. I know - it's not the same.

Hope this helps a little,
Dreams

 

[bumbershoot]

DD, my son's is the 26th. I got tired of having no one attend his parties, so last May started our new tradition of traveling for his celebration! We like having celebrations on the day, it's tradition from my family and hubby's family, and E seemed to enjoy being there for his actual b'day!

 

[disney_love<3]

Yikes! You guys all brought up great points.

I didn't realize that was memorial day weekend. Well, I definitely wouldn't mind going the weekend before our anniversary or even the weekend after, to avoid crowds and such.

Also, I will look into an offsite hotel a bit more. I'd really want something with nice rooms and a nice pool. I'll add Anabella and Hojos to the list ...more suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Disney Dreams]

... or even the weekend after, to avoid crowds and such....

Memorial Day kicks off the official start of summer. There is no end to the crowds after Memorial Day ... until Labor Day.

I would go the weekend before if lighter crowds are important to you.

- Dreams

 

[disney_love<3]

Memorial Day kicks off the official start of summer. There is no end to the crowds after Memorial Day ... until Labor Day.

I would go the weekend before if lighter crowds are important to you.

- Dreams

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too. Crowds don't bother us too much, but of course the less the better. We're pretty good at using fast passes and just knowing when is a good time to get on certain rides.

 

[northshoremama]

we're planning on going next may, too. looking at 5/20 to 5/22, checking out on 5/23 and then flying up to sacramento for a vw bug show on sunday, 5/24...then flying back home monday morning 5/25. not sure if we'll miss the memorial day weekend crowds. i'm hoping we do.

as for hotels, i can't help you there either. we don't plan to stay on-site...and my offsite choices right now are tropicana, camelot, and desert inn. though you probably don't want the desert inn because of its indoor pool (not for may, at least). i'm also looking at hojos, but the distance is still a major factor for us...with a toddler and an infant (we'll, i guess it'll be 2 toddlers by next may).

good luck with your planning!

 

[bumbershoot]

FWIW we had no crowds on our trip from the 26th (Monday of Mem Day weekend this year) to the Thursday of that week.

So maybe it was a one-off thing and crowds are usually huge that week, but it was lovely for us.


Hojo is *maybe* 5 minutes from the parking lot to the hotels closest to the crosswalk. And that was with our new 4 year old and me with massive blisters all over my feet (moving slow). Sure, 5 minutes is 5 minutes especially in the evenings, but still, the bulk of the walk is waiting for that crosswalk to tell you to go, and also the path from the park side of the crosswalk into the esplanade (and vice versa).

And if you're at hojo's you can walk on the OTHER side of the street, and not get hung up by people-traffic, or worse, traffic traffic trying to get into the hotel driveways. The morning I did my time-stamped "how long is the walk" picture report pictures, we were hung up by a Pepsi truck (a semi, not just a delivery van) maneuvering into the Tropicana, I think, and first they were hung up by rude rude rude pedestrians and then WE were hung up by him backing up into the driveway. Oh how I longed to have walked on the other side that morning!

So yes it's longer, but IMO and IME it's really not something to get hung up on, if it works in other ways for you.

 

[disney_love<3]

DBF and I don't have kids, so we don't mind the walk. If I wanted to get the ent. rate at Hojos I need the special card? How do I get one of those?

 

[jakoky]

hi there, we are also going next may....tentatively our dates are may 2-12...but i would prefer to go may 9-19th....(that would put us there for my daughters 18th and my 40th-what a way to celebrate "that" big number, but will have to return home for inlaws 50th-same day as my bday)....our plan is to stay at the hojo, i keep checking to see if the entertainment rate dates are there yet...hopefully soon....just keeping my fingers crossed that our canadian dollar doesnt keep dropping.....
sharon

 

[northshoremama]

DBF and I don't have kids, so we don't mind the walk. If I wanted to get the ent. rate at Hojos I need the special card? How do I get one of those?

you'll need the card that comes with the entertainment book. you can get them online at entertainment dot com.

 

[tink2dw]

www.MouseSavers.com has the 2009 prices for DLR...
2009
http://www.mousesavers.com/dlpackages.html

 

[disney_love<3]

Question please!

I was online, thinking of booking our May trip package through Disney...so I was filling in the info to get an idea of prices. But in the Ticket part of it, there is no area for AP's. It will automatically say "3 day park hopper souvenir ticket."

Would if I have to call and ask? I'd basically would like to book the room, get the MM, and a character breakfast.

Are there other agencies I can book Disney vacations through?

Thanks a bunch!