I need your expert advice please!

[DisneyMommy403]

Hi Everyone,

I haven't been to DL since Nov. 2012, and since then - a lot has changed. No more Fastpass forgiveness, new shows, new updated rides... and our family has grown by a new little drooly adorable fat baby. Taking our group to 2 adults and 4 kids... holy cow, we're so outnumbered. I need HELP. I want to get out there for some of the dazzle of the 60th - but, soonest I can get there is March 2016.

I already booked us in a suite at Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini Suites... never stayed there before. My understanding is it's directly across the intersection from the park... hope that's true.

We'll only be doing 3 days in the parks, with our little litter of children - ages 8, 7, 4, & 1 at the time of travel. Would you park hop with four small kids? Or just stick to 1 park per day? Also, would you rent a double stroller for the 8 & 7 year olds or make them walk and take breaks? I'm planning a double for the baby and the 4 year old... I should really learn all their names. j/k

Also, saving money is crucial for this trip to even happen. What are some tips and tricks to save besides bringing your own food, and water? Cause, that's hardly going to happen, Im going there to stuff my face. I heard something about gift cards from target, but can you buy your tickets with gift cards?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[DznyPrnces]

The typical group I go with has 4 kids ages 1-6. We do not park hop. For our group, it's too much. We go for 2 days, spending 1 day at each park. As for the strollers, that is personal preferance, and answers will vary greatly here. Personally, I do not use a stroller for my 6 year old. The last time she had access to a stroller was when she was 4, and she could only ride if I was wearing the baby.

 

[TechGuy]

Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini Suites<< YES, it is across the street from the entrance

Strollers- IMHO, take the one double and make the big kids walk. You will be taking breaks for the little ones anyway. You could break into groups Mom and the older kids and dad and little ones for a little kids break to let the older kids ride rides without the little ones and to feel some freedom. I have rarely (in over 50 days in park) left the park for a hotel break, we power on and take breaks when anyone gets cranky (see a show... ride the train around the park, let the kids nap in the shade while we have an iced tea...). I would not want to manage two strollers. It would mean you can not split up without parking one stroller and leaving it.

Saving Money- we pack a refillable water bottle, eat breakfast in the room with our groceries, pack snacks (fruit bars, granola...) for in-park use, use counter service restaurant, "snacks" as meals. As to kids items, we try to limit each kid to one "thing" as a souvenir and make them wait until the last day (shopping for ideas the rest of the time) so we don't need to drag it around, in park. We do normally buy ears or hats on the first day for use in the park as I know they don't get used at home. Exceptions apply to all of these.

 

[scrapshappen]

I don't want anyone to think I'm judging what they do with their children since every family situation and child is different. However, my personal experience is that we didn't use a stroller for my oldest when we went to DL when he was 4 (only child at that point) and I never owned a stroller for my younger one (we didn't adopt him until he was three and we didn't take him to DL for a few years after that anyway). Neither of my boys have ever complained about being tired or having sore feet but I do have them wear comfortable athletic shoes to the parks all the time and we do take an afternoon break. I imagine a four year old in flip flops would need a stroller or if you were planning to be in the park from opening to closing. And since you have four kids to keep together, maybe having your four year old in a stroller would make it all easier for you too. Personally, I wouldn't worry about your older kids at all.

BWPPI is the closest Harbor motel to the crosswalk so you really can't get any closer to the action.

Saving Money on gift cards: We do the Target thing too. But if you have a grocery store that offers fuel points and you can use the gas, that is an even better deal when they have their 4x promotions for gift cards, if you can buy enough gas to make it worth it. There are a lot of threads on here about the deals. What I have done is buy $235 in Target GC's at my Kroger affiliate store with my Disney Visa. This gives you 940 fuel points but it's easy for me to buy enough groceries to get that to 1000 points to get $1 off up to 35 gallons. We can only get about 30 gallons at a time filling both of our cars when they are nearly empty, but that is still $30 off. Then I go to the Target website (it doesn't work in stores, only on the website) and buy $250 in Disney Gift Cards for that $235 GC with my Red Card Discount. You have to have your Red Card tied to your Target online account to get the 5% off while using gift cards, you just look for the button underneath your total that says "Pay With Gift Card" when you are checking out. So, by my calculations, I'm getting $252.35 in money to spend at Disneyland ($250 in Disney Gift Cards and the 1% in Disney Rewards on my Visa) for $205. I just did this today and confirmed it worked for me. I do this about once a month in the months leading up to the trip (sometimes less than $235) so we have enough to cover all our expenses. And yes, you can buy tickets at the booth using those discounted GCs, but you might find a better deal from Way.com, Orbitz or Getaway Today.

Other money saving tips: sometimes one adult meal is cheaper than two kids meals so have your kids share when you can; skip sodas in the park and ask for water with meals and every time you get a snack (that alone could save your family $30+ a day and can save you from having to carry around water bottles); and buy your tee shirts, hats, autograph books, etc ahead of time on sale at the Disney Store with your discounted Disney GCs.

 

[Geemo]

I save with fuel points from Kroeger/Fred Meyer here in Oregon. Our vehicle has a 40 gallon tank so we are able to save $35 when I have 1000 points.

Our FM gas station won't let you use your points to fill more than one car at a time to reach the 35 gallon maximum.

One year we saved all money change in a shoebox we wrapped in Disney theme paper.
Another time we saved the money from recycling and pop bottles.

Good luck with your plans!

Geemo

 

[Butterfly123]

You can also sign up for the Best Western Rewards program...you earn even more points if you sign up with your AAA card if you have one. It may not help out much this trip, but it will help in the future if you stay at a BW again. We have a $100 BW gift card this trip that is from cashing in our points from other BW stays from our vacation last summer.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

If you don't have a store with fuel points you can still save about 11%. Get an Amex Blue Cash Preferred. It pays 6% at grocery stores. If you are brave, buy Target gift cards at the grocery store and hope/wait for Target.com to have Disney gift cards in stock. Then buy them with your Red card for another 5% off.
My son used a stroller til he was 8; do what you know your kids can handle.
You can buy your tickets with gift cards at the tickets booths. (You can use as many gift cards to pay as you want to.)

 

[YukonMommy]

Hello fellow Mom of 4! The first time we went our kids were 8, 6, 4 and 18 months so I totally get it!

For us we just had a single stroller that the youngest 2 shared and the 18 months old had a monkey backpack with a leash we could hang onto as he loved to walk.
I would recommend not park hopping as you know there is a lot to do in each park and with just 3 days why waste time and energy herding the 6 of you back and forth

To save money::::
- we made a rule that we would buy each kid 1 article of clothing and 1 thing for no more than $25. They were also allowed to bring their own money (no more than $50), and we were lucky that their great grandparents gave them $ for Xmas for mouse ears/hat. This really cut out the I wants.
-We brought in our own glow sticks for the evenings.
-While we ate things like churros, dole whips, etc we always shared instead of everyone getting their own. The food portions are huge so the baby ate off our plates, and we found an adult meal could fill up 2 kids.
-we brought in our own bottled drinks (bought in bulk packs from target) and filled up with water after it was gone.

Have a magical time!

 

[VandVsmama]

Some more ways to save money:

• Eat a meal at the Plaza Inn. Get two chicken dinners and it might just feed all 6 of you.
• Definitely bring in your own snacks
• AND bring your own glow sticks for nighttime.
• Don't bother with any of the special dining packages.
• Since you're staying right across the street, take advantage of it and take afternoon breaks. Have an early dinner at Pizza Press next to the Tropicana next door before you go back to the parks.
• Eat a quick breakfast at your room before heading to the parks each day
• Just use your one double stroller. Use the money you would have spent renting a second stroller on something else.

 

[VandVsmama]

Cheap souvenirs:

Pressed pennies. For $0.51 each kid gets a cool little souvenir.

Get buttons at City Hall.

Go to the Adventureland Bazaar store and get a "prescription" from the Shrunken Ned machine. It's pretty funny.

 

[VandVsmama]

Also ask an employee at Coke Corner when the musical chairs with the Mad Hatter will be in the afternoon. Alice and the Mad Hatter play musical chairs every afternoon. Doesn't cost you a thing and your kids would probably love it.

 

[agamble]

Hi Everyone,

I haven't been to DL since Nov. 2012, and since then - a lot has changed. No more Fastpass forgiveness, new shows, new updated rides... and our family has grown by a new little drooly adorable fat baby. Taking our group to 2 adults and 4 kids... holy cow, we're so outnumbered. I need HELP. I want to get out there for some of the dazzle of the 60th - but, soonest I can get there is March 2016.

I already booked us in a suite at Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini Suites... never stayed there before. My understanding is it's directly across the intersection from the park... hope that's true.

We'll only be doing 3 days in the parks, with our little litter of children - ages 8, 7, 4, & 1 at the time of travel. Would you park hop with four small kids? Or just stick to 1 park per day? Also, would you rent a double stroller for the 8 & 7 year olds or make them walk and take breaks? I'm planning a double for the baby and the 4 year old... I should really learn all their names. j/k

Also, saving money is crucial for this trip to even happen. What are some tips and tricks to save besides bringing your own food, and water? Cause, that's hardly going to happen, Im going there to stuff my face. I heard something about gift cards from target, but can you buy your tickets with gift cards?

Any help is appreciated!

That hotel is directly across the street. It provides breakfast doesn't it? That will help save you some money. If the hours are long (Spring break open at 8 close at midnight) then definitely take a break during the day at your close hotel. Naps for everyone would be good, but especially you and your youngest two. Dad could always take the older two swimming.

I wouldn't park hop. It will save you $50 a ticket, which is $250! We have 2 kids right now (one on the way), and we don't hop much. It's close, but with little ones it's easier to do everything in one area before moving on. Enjoy Disneyland for 2 days and DCA for 1 day. That's the only bummer, but you can do most everything you want at DCA in a day if you get there early. Try to use your MM to your advantage and don't go to DCA on an EMH day, even if it means you go to Disneyland 2 days in a row.

I wouldn't want to push around an 8 and 7 year-old in a stroller. We have a double (bought off of Craigslist) and I've used it in the park. But we also have a single that is easier to push. I've told DD(almost 5) that she is walking this trip. We're taking the single knowing that next time we go we'll have a 1 y/o and need the double again. Two strollers would be a lot of work too. A few months before the trip begin frequent walks as a family. Let your older three walk and get their strength and stamina up, it's good for adults too. Make sure you wear the shoes you're taking to the park. Then bring the one double. Your 4 y/o may enjoy walking with the older siblings, but you'll be glad to have it when he/she tires out later in the day.

A recent idea I read, that we're going to do some of the trip, is to eat park snacks (along with some of your own) for lunch. If you know you want that Mickey pretzel (or whatever tasty treat), eat it around lunch time instead of buying a platter of food. I would still bring some snacks of your own in, especially for the kiddos. Counter service is a lot cheaper than sit down meals, and faster too. There is a McDonald's near your hotel if you're looking to save money on a dinner.

Consider joining Chase Disney Visa. They often send you a gift card for joining and then you earn points to spend at Disney. We use our points on foodYou also get a free picture from a M&G in DCA. If you can find a friend to refer you, your original gift card could be $200. I threw my referrals away, or I'd give you the link. I can check my phone and see if I have the picture of it I sent to a friend, but I think it was my old phone.

 

[DisneyMommy403]

Thank You everyone for your replies! Lots of helpful advice, so thank you! I'll definitely stick to just one double. I think we'll skip the park hopping too.

As far as the gift cards... We don't have any grocery stores here that offer promotions. We do our shopping strictly at Costco and Target. It was mentioned we can use gift cards at the ticket stands at the parks, but how about online?