If You Arrive At DLR *Super Early* Before Check-In, What Do You Do?

[DisneyCrocsRUS]

First of all..........WE BOOKED, WE BOOKED, WE BOOKED!! I'm soooo stinkin' excited!! (There was a moment there it was touch & go because DLR was selling out fast on the days we were looking, and I missed the package we wanted literally by HOURS before it sold out - Seriously that whole ordeal is a thread all unto itself - But fate stepped in, and we just booked last night at CA Grand instead for our 3-day trip at the end of June )

So since we are doing a multi-city airfare trip, because of a side-excursion to San Diego, it actually works out best for us to book our airfare seperately from the DLR package. Here's the deal, for the same airfare price, we can arrive at Orange Cty airport at either 9:00 a.m. or 2:45 p.m.

The 9:00 a.m. arrival means leaving Seattle at 6:00 a.m., which would mean getting 2 small kids up & ready to leave the house by absolutely no later than 4:00 a.m. . The 2:45 p.m. arrival flight leaves here around 11:45 p.m., so that is definately more appealing to me, considering I know that means we'd still have to get up around 7:30 a.m. to get all our luggage, carseats & selves together.

But on the flip side, since we're shelling out so much for CG, I feel like we should get their earlier the 1st day to really get the most bang for our buck, kwim? Arriving at 2:45 p.m., waiting for luggage, getting a rental car, driving to the hotel, etc etc....to me that puts us more toward 5:00 by the time we'd be ready to actual go to the pool or do anything fun. And although I was really leaning toward this flight schedule, I'm starting to think it wastes our first day. And even though I'm the biggest non-morning person, I'm leaning toward : the 6:00 a.m. flight, even though that means I'll prob have to wake up at 2:30 in the morning.

DH is scared that the girls will be grumpy on the early flight, that we'll all be super tired by the time we get there & won't have any place to rest for hours since we can't check-in so early, and if we do push ourselves the 1st day, then we won't be "rested up" for our 2 long hopper days planned at the park.

Sooooo...if you were us, what would you do? I imagine that CA Grand (like any good hotel) would allow us to check our bags in early & hold them until our room is ready. I'm hoping we can walk around DTD, have a long lingering lunch, maybe change into our swimsuits & enjoy the pool before seeing our room (Anyone know if there is a place to change if we don't have our room yet? Maybe a large restroom near the pool or a changing area avail to guests in the spa?) Heck, I even told DH we could rest in our rental car, LOL!! (Although that doesn't sound appealing at all). LOL!

Then I figure by check-in time we can crash in our room & sleep for awhile. Then wake up for a late dinner & fireworks. Sound like a good plan for our arrival day? Or would you skip the early flight, take it leisurely, arrive late afternoon, check-in & just have dinner & a stroll thru DTD?

 

[fidoprincess]

I would do the early flight! Have everything packed in the car for the airport the night before and sleep as long as you can that morning. Wake up and go! Pack fruit, cereal bars and juice boxes for the kids to eat on the way to the airport if the drive is long or in the airport while you wait. Keep in mind, that early most of the airport places are still closed but you might find coffee.

When we do this, I agree it is so so hard, on me mostly because I am the one who has to do the kids, make sure everything is together and dress myself. But...it is so worth it to be there early. Checking in early gives you a better chance of getting the room type you requested first of all. I always pack our swimsuits in our carry on (rolling backpack) so we have them without digging through the luggage being held at the bell desk. I would check-in and go to the park right away!! Nothing like being in Disneyland to perk everyone up. After lunch, it everyone is getting tired, you could head over to the pool. Right by Whitewater Snacks are the bathrooms and they are fine to change in but someone told me they had a "day room" at the Grand for guests to change in-not sure of that, the restrooms worked fine. Hang out at the pool for 2 hours and then get your room and decide if you need naps then head back to the parks. No matter when we go, the kids are tired by night time anyway so we are never able to stay until closing. You will be tired from traveling no matter what time you go but at least you will be able to make the most of your day taking the early flight. I say do it and have a great time!

 

[DisneyCrocsRUS]

Pack fruit, cereal bars and juice boxes for the kids to eat on the way to the airport if the drive is long or in the airport while you wait. Keep in mind, that early most of the airport places are still closed but you might find coffee.

Great reminder! I definately couldn't do w/out my Starbucks morning IV so we'll definately plan accordingly since you are right, they probably won't be open quite that early inside the airport terminal.

Checking in early gives you a better chance of getting the room type you requested first of all. I always pack our swimsuits in our carry on (rolling backpack) so we have them without digging through the luggage being held at the bell desk.

Oh thank you!! I hadn't thought about packing swimsuits as carry-ons, that's a great idea!! I was picturing us trying to dig thru our luggage at the check-in counter to get our suits, LOL!! Do you know if they have complimentary towels/robes near the pool at CG? Or would we have to pack towels in our carry-on too?

 

[MATTERHORN]

I store my bags and head to the parks!!! Or I store my bags but keep out all my swimming stuff seperate and hang out at the pool till check in!!!

Andrea

 

[MATTERHORN]

Great reminder! I definately couldn't do w/out my Starbucks morning IV so we'll definately plan accordingly since you are right, they probably won't be open quite that early inside the airport terminal.


Oh thank you!! I hadn't thought about packing swimsuits as carry-ons, that's a great idea!! I was picturing us trying to dig thru our luggage at the check-in counter to get our suits, LOL!! Do you know if they have complimentary towels/robes near the pool at CG? Or would we have to pack towels in our carry-on too?

Nope, plenty of towels at the pool!! Just swimsuits and sunscreen!! You can even order lunch from WWS by the pool and have them deliver it to your pool area!! My favorite!!!




Andrea

 

[DisneyCrocsRUS]

I store my bags and head to the parks!!! Or I store my bags but keep out all my swimming stuff seperate and hang out at the pool till check in!!!

I purchased 2-day hopper passes even though we are staying 3-nights, because all along I've had it in my head that the 1st day we'd be getting there late, so figured we wouldn't use a full 3-day pass. So that's why I'm thinking I don't want to use the pass the 1st day we arrive, I'd rather save it for the 2-full days we'll be there so we have lots & lots of time.

Although this brings up another question, if in fact we just can't resist and HAVE to visit the park the 1st day, is there a way to *add* a day to our 2-day hopper pass to turn it into a 3-day? (Assuming at a discount, not by just buying a full single day pass).

Nope, plenty of towels at the pool!! Just swimsuits and sunscreen!! You can even order lunch from WWS by the pool and have them deliver it to your pool area!! My favorite!!!

Andrea

You read my mind Andrea!! That's what I was wondering in my head. That's awesome!! Whoo Hoo!!

 

[dizzyami]

I purchased 2-day hopper passes even though we are staying 3-nights, because all along I've had it in my head that the 1st day we'd be getting there late, so figured we wouldn't use a full 3-day pass. So that's why I'm thinking I don't want to use the pass the 1st day we arrive, I'd rather save it for the 2-full days we'll be there so we have lots & lots of time.

Although this brings up another question, if in fact we just can't resist and HAVE to visit the park the 1st day, is there a way to *add* a day to our 2-day hopper pass to turn it into a 3-day? (Assuming at a discount, not by just buying a full single day pass).



You read my mind Andrea!! That's what I was wondering in my head. That's awesome!! Whoo Hoo!!

I have never done it, but know that it is possible to upgrade a 2 day to a 3 day. It actually is not that much more expensive, just the difference in price that you would have paid.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Dizzyami is right! Do you have your tickets or know what amount you paid for just the tickets. The amount will be printed on the back and it you will just pay the difference between a 2 and 3 day pass which I think is around $30!

 

[hlbtimes2]

Yes, you can add a day on to your hopper. You would pay the difference between the 2 day and 3 day. I would recomend it. You are going to be there, might as well be able to get into the parks! We are going for 6 days. I currently have 5 day hoppers. Its only $10 each for us to add the extra day on. I can't see letting $40 stand in our way! LOL

Back to the original question: I've done both. I've left Seattle early to have a day in the park and I've left later. Both have worked, and of course there are pro's and con's either way. When we do the early am flight we usually dont dress the kids at home. We get them up, and put them in the car. Because we have a couple hours at the airport, we get them dressed while we wait. Once when they were younger we let them fly the first leg -Seattle to San Fran. in their pj's, then dressed them durning the layover. They both slept on the plane during the first leg. We do find we are more tired that first day, and need a nap, if we take that early AM flight. Our last trip we left in the evening and got in late, around 9:30 pm. It worked well, but I felt like I wasted a night in the hotel since we didnt get to do anything that day.

 

[fidoprincess]

Yes, you can easily add a 3rd day to your pass. Where did you get the tickets? It is usually cheaper to do it before you go though so call them and add the day now. It will be worth it!!

If for some reason, you can not afford the extra day on your pass, there is still plenty to do right there at the hotels and DTD! We have spent the whole day not going into the parks before. (We had aps and were blocked out on Saturday for example.) We ate at Goofys, spent time at the pool, shopped around DTD. GC has some special activities too like around 4 in the afternoon, they have a "quest" treasure hunt that is fun for families and they also have storytelling in the early evening. I just know that if you can go to the park, you will really really want to-lol. Trust me on this, you will want to go in! It is almost torture to be there and not go right in! At the time, I just could not justify spending $30 each for a blockout ticket when we're there for such a long trip anyway. If the park is open until midnight, you can have a really long nap after the pool and still have hours to spend at DL!!

And yes, towels are available at the pool. Don't pack heavy stuff for the plane, swimsuits are light enough to carry though and by the time you are done swimming, most likely you will be able to get into your room. If you do decide to hit the parks, there are locker there to stash stuff too. Get yourself a fanny pack for the park so your hands are free!

 

[DisneyCrocsRUS]

Yes, you can easily add a 3rd day to your pass. Where did you get the tickets? It is usually cheaper to do it before you go though so call them and add the day now. It will be worth it!!

I booked thru Costco which has their partnership thru Disneyland.com direct. So I got the extra perks like the View Room, Character Meal & a small $20 GC. I think the diff between 2 & 3-day tix was $109 for 3 of us (DD2 will just be turning 2 when we go, so she won't need a ticket). Hmmm...I just booked last night so I wonder if I call the Costco Travel # if they can change it?

And you know, by choosing the earlier flight, even though it's the same price, I do end up spending more anyway I'll have to bump up the car rental pick up time (which I'm sure they'll add an extra day for), we'll have an extra meal or two to pay for, and like you mentioned, it may just be torture for us to be so close to the park but not be able to go in so I may be adding another day there too. So a couple hundred more here, a couple more hundred there.....arrrgh!! I can always sell a kidney right??

 

[MATTERHORN]

Hey, you'd still have to eat those two meals if you were home, you wouldn't not eat!! So you can't count those. Look for a coupon that gives you a free rental day and maybe you can apply that. You can't get around ticket prices but you could just do the pool and a character meal at the hotel with DTD and you would still have more fun than you'd be having at home, I guarantee it!!

Andrea

 

[Hound 109]

Nope, plenty of towels at the pool!! Just swimsuits and sunscreen!! You can even order lunch from WWS by the pool and have them deliver it to your pool area!! My favorite!!!
Andrea

This is great information !!! So before checking into the Fairfield or Best Western at 4pm...... head on over to the CA Grand for a swim!

I needed a good idea for first day early check in.

hound

(just kidding folks... ....we'll use the Fairfield "Infidel" Pool)

 

[hlbtimes2]

Use the car rental codes from Costco- that will help!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

This is great information !!! So before checking into the Fairfield or Best Western at 4pm...... head on over to the CA Grand for a swim!

I needed a good idea for first day early check in.

hound

(just kidding folks... ....we'll use the Fairfield "Infidel" Pool)

too funny!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

I would definitely do the early flight. I drag the kids up and get them in the car about 3-4am our time so we are at the gates at opening. We park at the resort (not GCH) check in quickly and take care of the bags later that night. I'm one of those people who savor EVERY minute I can in the park though.

It's very easy to upgrade your ticket as others have said. I'd definitely do it!

 

[fidoprincess]

Think about doing away with the car rental all together! If you are not going anywhere else, like San Diego or something, you can just take the shuttles from the airport to the hotel and not have to deal with the driving! Once we are at DL, the car is parked and we never touch it again until we leave so it really is a waste to have. Almost everything is walking distance and even if you are thinking of stopping to pick up groceries, there are plenty of place to pick up cereal, fruit, milk, etc. right there. Granted it would be a bit cheaper to get them at the grocery store but when you add the car rental cost to that, it will be waaaay more. It is not like driving there is fun anyway with the horrible traffic! Much easier after flying to just leave the nightmare LA driving to someone else while you are all comfy in the nice bus seats.

"Hmmm...I just booked last night so I wonder if I call the Costco Travel # if they can change it?"

Yes, I am sure you can change it without any penalty, just call and ask! By the way, it seems like the costco package is about the best deal going right now so you've made a good choice! Have a great trip!

 

[shyboy72]

man I can't wait to get into that situation.. haha