I'm a newbie - going to DL!!

[rszdtrvl]

Hi!

I have been a lurker since September, when we first planned on a 2008 trip to Disneyland.

Finally booked it, and have a few questions.

We are going to spend 5 nights at the Camelot (thanks for the info on that everyone!) and are doing PDX to SNA via Southwest. Trip dates March 29-April 3rd (we will be at Disneyland for April Fools Day! - and during Spring Break )

We planned a side trip to Knotts Berry Farm (via DS's request - he is 11) and to Universal Studios (via DH's request). And also planned a Character Dinner (I believe it is Goofy's Kitchen).

Getting transfers to/from the airport and shuttle bus to/from Knotts & Universal.

We did our entire trip through Southwest (I have a crazy fear of tiny planes and we wanted to do jets). I know I will get my tickets and information about 2 weeks before we travel.

Questions :
** Do I need to reserve the shuttle to/from the airport or just hop on the bus at the airport?
** Do I need to reserve the transportation to/from Knotts & Universal in advance?
** And do I reserve the Character Dinner? Will I have time to reserve if I get my tickets only 2 weeks before I travel?
** Does it seem like we are trying to cram too much into our trip? With the Disney, Universal, and Knotts all in 5 nights? (We were only going to plan 4 nights, but added a day when DS was begged to go to Knotts - he loves roller coasters!)

I am sure I will have many more questions as soon as we get closer to our trip (only 79 days!!).

Thanks, in advance!!

 

[mystic_path]

First off if you havent made reservations for Goofy's yet, like basically while your reading this go grab the phone. You dont want to wait... Call the number and tell them the date and time you want. If they dont have it, they will give you some optional times and you can choose one. Here is the number for disney dining

(714) 781-DINE, or (714) 781-3463


As for shuttles from the airport and to your hotel, and from your hotel to the airport I would highly recommend Supershuttle. If your flying into SNA then its only $10 per person, and if your flying into LAX I believe its around $16 per person. Still cheaper then a cab or limo. I would call them up and make reservations to be on the safe side. Others on here say that you can just walk up to the supershuttle depot at the airport and tell them there that you need a ride. But Id play it safe and book it.

As for the shuttle to Universal, do you know who you are going through for that? I am actually looking myself into getting a shuttle of some sort but I dont know who offers it. I know Universal Studios last year had the promo "Buy a one day hopper and get a free bus ride to and from" and they picked you up at your hotel and brought you right back there. It was a great deal but they dont have it anymore. ... So if you can find a shuttle or bus there, then totally go ahead and make reservations for them to pick you up on a certain date and time. Dont take chances when your on Vacation, its best to have a stress free time.

As for if your trying to cram too much into 5 days... I dont like bursting bubbles, but it sounds like you have a 3 day hopper to Disneyland.... I would suggest to plan out what you really want to see in Disneyland as it takes a good 3-4 days at a decent go go pace to see most of it. It will most definately be a busy 5 days for sure but are going to be a ton of fun.

Have a great time

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Welcome to the DIS boards!! It is so much more fun to be a "post-er" than a lurker!! LOL Anyway, I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents... I can't help you with the shuttle questions (we always rent a car) but I just wanted to give you my opinion on your plans.... We went to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and SeaWorld in 2004.... I don't know if your family are Disney freaks like we are.. but we really regretted going to Knotts Berry Farm. Once you go to Disney...so clean, great rides, shows, characters, good food for the most part.... Knotts just seemed like the pits!!! Sorry if I offend any Knott's fans by saying that, but it just doesn't come close. We made the best of it, and there are some big coasters, but overall, it's just not DISNEY.. We are going again this month and we plan on spending 3 full days at Disneyland/California Adventure. I give a big thumbs up to Goofy's Kitchen..LOTS of fun for the kids. Expensive but worth it!!! HAVE FUN!!!!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Hi!

I have been a lurker since September, when we first planned on a 2008 trip to Disneyland.

Finally booked it, and have a few questions.

We are going to spend 5 nights at the Camelot (thanks for the info on that everyone!) and are doing PDX to SNA via Southwest. Trip dates March 29-April 3rd (we will be at Disneyland for April Fools Day! - and during Spring Break )

We planned a side trip to Knotts Berry Farm (via DS's request - he is 11) and to Universal Studios (via DH's request). And also planned a Character Dinner (I believe it is Goofy's Kitchen).

Getting transfers to/from the airport and shuttle bus to/from Knotts & Universal.

We did our entire trip through Southwest (I have a crazy fear of tiny planes and we wanted to do jets). I know I will get my tickets and information about 2 weeks before we travel.

Questions :
** Do I need to reserve the shuttle to/from the airport or just hop on the bus at the airport?
** Do I need to reserve the transportation to/from Knotts & Universal in advance?
** And do I reserve the Character Dinner? Will I have time to reserve if I get my tickets only 2 weeks before I travel?
** Does it seem like we are trying to cram too much into our trip? With the Disney, Universal, and Knotts all in 5 nights? (We were only going to plan 4 nights, but added a day when DS was begged to go to Knotts - he loves roller coasters!)

I am sure I will have many more questions as soon as we get closer to our trip (only 79 days!!).

Thanks, in advance!!

Do not expect much out of Knotts other than the fried chicken, but do not miss Goofey's. We always go when it opens for dinner, the food is fresh and has not had a chance to sit.

Jack

 

[rszdtrvl]

I have the package deal through Southwest Airlines. I can still reserve my time slot and just give them the voucher when I show up for the dinner, right?

I just want to make sure that I have everything taken care of, but don't want to look like an idiot when I call to reserve the dinner time/day.

For our Universal Studios trip, we have vouchers for Gray Line Travel to/from our hotel.

For the Knotts Berry trip we have vouchers for Gray Line Travel also.

And Super Shuttle to/from airport/hotel.

The Southwest Airlines vacation package website made booking this trip super easy. They just had boxes to check what we wanted.

We chose to do a Goofy's Kitchen because of all of the information we read on this board, and how much it was recommended. We had never even given it a thought until we heard about it on here.


We (gasp!) have never been to Disneyland as a family. And as far as I know, we are not Disneyholics (again - gasp!).We just chose Disneyland for a family vacation because there was so much to do with Knotts (I read that it is not all it is cracked up to be) and Universal Studios in that close area.

Our plane arrives in SNA at 3:10pm. How much time should I allow for us to get our baggage and be to the shuttle area?

And our plane leaves SNA at 12:35pm. What time should we have the shuttle pick us up to allow for enough time to check in?

We have not traveled by air in eons - about 10 years. And never as a family.

Like I said, I just want to pre-plan as much as possible.

What would be the best day to go to Knotts & Universal? I read that Universal is slowest on Tuesdays. Can anyone confirm/deny that? And is Knotts crazy busy? I know weekends will be tough no matter where we are, so I believe we were going to try to do Disney and then do the Universal and Knotts on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, with whatever day we don't do them we will do another Disney day.

Thanks so much!!

 

[mystic_path]

I have the package deal through Southwest Airlines. I can still reserve my time slot and just give them the voucher when I show up for the dinner, right?

Thats how it should work yes!!! I would call and make a time that you want to go for dinner, and when your actually at Goofy's and go to pay as they make you prepay before your dinner, just hand them the voucher. You can even ask them about the voucher when you call to make your dinner or lunch reservations.


For our Universal Studios trip, we have vouchers for Gray Line Travel to/from our hotel.

Thank you so much for this tip!!!! I called up Gray Line and they give me the quote for Universal and I will be taking them for sure. I wasnt sure what to do so thanks so much for the tip. Its cool to know you can get them for Knotts as well.

The Southwest Airlines vacation package website made booking this trip super easy. They just had boxes to check what we wanted.

LOL Thats why I love booking through online reservations. I use travelocity and Orbitz and they do the same thing. Its so simple and gives you great options to make your life easier when booking a trip. Dont you feel like your shaking when booking its like OH MY IM GOING I CANT BELIEVE IM DOING THIS!!!

We chose to do a Goofy's Kitchen because of all of the information we read on this board, and how much it was recommended. We had never even given it a thought until we heard about it on here.


Yes here is another thumbs up for Goofy's! Great atmosphere, wonderful food and character interaction.

We (gasp!) have never been to Disneyland as a family. And as far as I know, we are not Disneyholics (again - gasp!).We just chose Disneyland for a family vacation because there was so much to do with Knotts (I read that it is not all it is cracked up to be) and Universal Studios in that close area.

You will be in love with Disneyland after you leave from your trip. You will want to be back there as soon as possible, trust everyone on this site when we say the happiness is an addiction. As for Universal Studios its about an hour away passed Knotts.


Our plane arrives in SNA at 3:10pm. How much time should I allow for us to get our baggage and be to the shuttle area?

It takes no time at all SNA is a very smaller airport. For us it takes about 45 minutes from when we land, to getting our luggage and grabbing Super Shuttle. The Super Shuttle location at the airport is super easy to find.. when you land you will go down some escalators and to your left you will see the luggage pick up. The luggage pick up is right next to the doors that you will leave out of and cross a little road way and as soon as you cross the road way your at the Super Shuttle depot. Also Super Shuttle is a constant flow of vans, so when you call to make reservations they will ask you when your flight comes in and you tell them and they write it down for your vouchers and when you arrive you just go to the Super Shuttle booth and give them your vouchers and they assign you a Van. There is no rush in getting a ride, no one is actually waiting for you with a big sign with your name on it. Reservations are just so they know that one Van has to fit so many people around a certain time give or take.


And our plane leaves SNA at 12:35pm. What time should we have the shuttle pick us up to allow for enough time to check in?

When you call Super Shuttle to make reservations for pick up they will ask you when your flight is and then they will tell you a time they will be picking you up. Its usually about 2 1/2 -3 hours before your flight leaves.


What would be the best day to go to Knotts & Universal? I read that Universal is slowest on Tuesdays. Can anyone confirm/deny that? And is Knotts crazy busy? I know weekends will be tough no matter where we are, so I believe we were going to try to do Disney and then do the Universal and Knotts on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, with whatever day we don't do them we will do another Disney day.

I cant say much for this. I went on a Monday and it was kinda busy, but still not as busy as DL. I also went to Universal on a Thursday and it was quite bareable.

 

[rszdtrvl]

Well, I can't make reservations for the Character Dinner until Feb 1st because they don't reserve any sooner than 60 days prior to. And when I do that, I will attempt to reserve our from airport to hotel shuttle.

Thanks!

 

[mystic_path]

Fantastic! Your gonna have a great time and everything will go great for you.