JANUARY 2013, Who Else is Going?

[minniecarousel]

DH & I are planning to go at the end of January. We'll be activating our APs next week, so we'll want to get as many trips as we can within the year.

It'll be fun to go at a much slower pace. Even if some stuff is closed, we'll be OK.

 

[Lucille1963]

I know this isn't the best pic, but its a picture of the sun coming up over DCA on our first morning at Disneyland last January. It brings back such great memories! I can't wait to do it again!

 

[larina]

Thanks for the picture. I love morning pics of the parks. We had a view from PPH last year and some of my favorite pics are of the sun coming up over DCA

 

[Lucille1963]

Thanks for the picture. I love morning pics of the parks. We had a view from PPH last year and some of my favorite pics are of the sun coming up over DCA

larina - Let's see them!

 

[nzer]

We are!!
We're finishing our 5 week California/ Las Vegas holiday with almost 2 weeks in Anaheim, staying at Hojo's in a kids suite. We'll be there from 8th-20th January.
This will be my 2nd visit to DL...the first was back in 1994!! It'll be a first visit for my husband, 2 daughters (aged 10 and 7) and my Mum. We can't wait!!!!

 

[DisneytheKid]

Our last day in the parks will be the 1st of january. We are visiting from the 30th of December until january 1st. Can't wait!

 

[TiffBiff]

Our first trip to DL... staying at VGC January 12 - 18. Origianally had the Treehouses booked at SSR and then found out about CL opening. My son is Cars crazy and I'm not sure how much longer he will be (he's about to turn 7).

 

[larina]

My daughter took this at night. You can see her reflection in the window. My mom and I also show up.

This is in the morning!

 

[larina]

Sunrise (my favorite time of day!)

The next three, just because I can.

My son, asleep on the table at Napa Rose on Christmas Eve

My parents, my son, and I with the captain on the Mark Twain!!!

My girls and I with Minnie!

 

[BabieDuckie]

I guess I'll join in. Another NorCal'er! I'll be there for the Tinker Bell 1/2 in January! Still haven't decided exactly which dates to go (Fri - Mon? Fri - Sun? Sat - Mon?). We've never stayed at a DLR hotel before and am tempted to go all out because it's my first race ever! Not that the event isn't special in itself, but I'm tired of making excuses to NOT stay there.

 

[NMDisneyMom]

I'm surprising my daughter (8) with a trip after Christmas. The current plan is to be there Jan 1-6. Staying??? Hopefully PPH if I can get a good AP rate. Otherwise probably BWPPI. It will be our first trip to see the Christmas decorations, and also a chance to scope out Carsland.

 

[aymekae]

Hello fellow January 2013 travelers! I've been tasked with coming up with a short list of inexpensive (but not trashy) hotels that are nearest to the Grand Californian. It looks to me (using Google Maps) that the few hotels at the cross streets Katella and West (next to the convention center/Tiffy's/Coco's) are the best bet. These include Anabella, Eden Roc Inn, Best Western Stovall's Inn, Anaheim Discovery Inn, and Quality Inn. I haven't looked in-depth at any of these yet (we typically stay on Harbor), but a quick look online is showing some of these already sold out for at least one of the two nights (Jan 24-25, 2013). Yikes! I'm assuming this is because of the NAMM show and the proximity to the convention center.

We're planning on using my room at the VGC to be "home base" for those staying off-site (like meeting for breakfast in the morning or changing clothes after Grizzly River Rapids), and I'm concerned about my dad in particular and how far he may have to walk to meet us. (I've offered to have him stay with us, but he really values his privacy and doesn't like sharing hotel rooms, not even with his adult kids, and of course he doesn't want to pay Disney's hotel prices.)

Anyway, just looking for feedback on recommendations for some of my family members. TIA!

 

[bkreitzel]

We have a time-share reservation outside of San Diego starting Jan. 6th ... so I am thinking of flying in on the 4th with my DH and DD's age 10, almost 8 and almost 4 to visit Disney for Sat/Sun. Recommendations for where to stay? I had been told the Best Western across the street would be great but have not researched it yet... we usually go to WDW and don't know a thing about Disneyland...any tips for us? I would like to save a little on the hotel b/c flying out there is going to be btwn $2500-$3000 (ouch!!!)

 

[mufasa0505]

We'll be coming down from Buffalo January 12-19th! We've been to WDW many times, but this will be our first ever trip to DLR. It will be me, hubby and our 3-year old daughter. We're also planning to take the train down to San Diego on that Monday to hit the zoo. I'd like to hit a beach somewhere, too (I know it will be cold, but I've never seen the Pacific). Other than that, a leisurely stay at the GCV.

 

[kindakrazy2]

I'm coming down from Canada for the Tink 1/2 marathon and I'm splurging on myself and staying at the DLH! My kids aren't coming either! I'm a mean mommy but running a destination race is on my bucket list and I'm going all out on myself.

 

[Lucille1963]

For anyone flying Southwest, the booking window opened!

I just booked our flights! WOOT! WOOT!
To make it even sweeter we used all points so airfare cost us only $15 cash!! I feel like the budget queen.

 

[angiemouse]

We're booked from 1/12-1/18 at Hojo. One last trip before the AP expires

 

[MouseFiend]

We will be there January 18-22. I'm running the Neverland 5k and we are also celebrating DD's first birthday and her first Disney trip! It will be me, DH, DD, my mom, and my brother. Staying at HoJo for the first time (usually book off Hotwire and end up at Crown Plaza but needed a place within walking distance with the little one.)

Anyone have any tips for doing Disney with a one year old, please share! I know there are quite a few rides in both parks that don't have height restrictions, but which ones are really good for kids that age and which ones are too scary?

 

[DisneytheKid]

Cool pics

Sunrise (my favorite time of day!)

The next three, just because I can.

My son, asleep on the table at Napa Rose on Christmas Eve

My parents, my son, and I with the captain on the Mark Twain!!!

My girls and I with Minnie!

 

[bubbasmom99]

Sac area here Just booked our room @ the Grand Californian for the 2nd-5th. Was on waitlist for VGC but noticed the 2013 DLR point charts out on the DVC site and the 2nd - 5th are listed under value season, so I called to check availability and they had the room Happy dance! We haven't stayed at the GCH since they opened and haven't been to DL for the holidays in a few years so this is going to be a nice treat.