**January 2018 Check-in Thread**

[gsrieff]

Hello DISers!

Do you want to chat about your vacation to DLR in January 2018? Come on in!

Feel free to let me know when, and where you are staying so I can keep a list going.

To all who come to this happy place, Welcome!

Taffy: 31st- Jan 6th
blueskymom: 1st-5th
Jtishere 1st-5th Hilton Anaheim
Radios: 2nd-5th
Ricardol: 2nd-7th Stovalls' Inn
BandMom1: 2nd-8th VGC
Flattes: 3rd-6th
gsrieff: 5th-9th DLH
Jfb1982: 6th-7th Grand Legacy
Jrsy boy: 8th-12th DI&S
Douglas Dubh: 7th-11th GCH
Susancooper: 7th-11th Worldmark
Meriweather: 7th-12th VGC
nikerbokers: 9th-11th
Pippensmcgee: 10th-11th DLH
1mena7: 10th-11th
geergirl: 10th-20th
Mom2_3girls: 11th-15th
Diszona: 11th-16th Del Sol
minniegirl25: 13th-16th
Scrapshappen: 13th-16th Doubletree
TwoHeartsBeat: 13th-17th Best Western Plus
Mkla2015: 13th-17th Tropicana
Schmennifer: 14th-19th Camelot
Lalasmama: 16th-20th BW Stovall's Inn
Dizme: 23rd-24th DLH
Stitch808: 23rd-27th VGC
aussiejen: Jan 25th-Feb 9th HOJO
Mermaidhair: 25th-28th
DisneyPiPhi: Jan 28th-Feb 3rd GCH
Anders_4: Jan 28th-Feb 3rd GCH
Kyrkea333: Jan 28th- Feb 3rd Kings Inn
tlcdoula: Jan 28th- Feb 4th Del Sol
Steves1bear: Jan 29th-Feb 3rd Park Vue Inn
Xtina! Jan 31st-Feb 3rd
Buson808: Jan 31st-Feb 8th VGC
MermaidHair: Majestic Gardens
Minnieralyks:
Meriweather:
Audrianna890:
Karly101:
Chesirecat.star

 

[gsrieff]

I just booked PPH yesterday for the 5th-9th, and so I was anxious to start chatting about the trip. This will be my first on property trip. Yay for EMH! I am still watching for deals for the DLH, as that is my first choice. We were able to get a premium view for cheaper than a standard at DLH, so far. I requested a 9th floor and above room to make sure we can see the pier. Thanks DISers for that tip!

We are going to catch the expected (but unannounced) last weekend of Christmastime. I am planning for a very full park due to passes being unblocked right before our trip. We are budgeting to do the BB Fantasmic dining package if its still around. I am surprising my son on Christmas eve with the news. Just planning out how I will do that will be so fun. Can't wait!!!

 

[minnieralyks]

We're planning a trip during the first part of January for a birthday extravaganza, just aren't sure of exact dates!

 

[gsrieff]

We're planning a trip during the first part of January for a birthday extravaganza, just aren't sure of exact dates!

Birthdays in Disney are the best! I like that we have similar profile pictures.

 

[geergirl]

We have a birthday trip planned for January 10-20 for our twin daughters' 6th birthday. Other than their birthday (the 11th) we're not sure which days we will be in the parks.

 

[minnieralyks]

Birthdays in Disney are the best! I like that we have similar profile pictures.

Yes! Mouse ears are almost required if you're visiting Disneyland!

 

[mom2_3girls]

First time to DL for us!! We have been to DW 9x, so this is all new to us. I'm sure I'm going to have LOTS of questions!!

dates are not set, but my daughter has a gymnastics meet that is scheduled Jan 12-14th and we are thinking of going out possibly the 11th and leaving the 15th or 16th. We would probably only do one day at each park. As of now we will stay at the host hotel for the gymnastics meet then depending on if my best friend and her daughter come with we may try and stay 1 night at one of the DL hotels.

 

[gsrieff]

First time to DL for us!! We have been to DW 9x, so this is all new to us. I'm sure I'm going to have LOTS of questions!!

dates are not set, but my daughter has a gymnastics meet that is scheduled Jan 12-14th and we are thinking of going out possibly the 11th and leaving the 15th or 16th. We would probably only do one day at each park. As of now we will stay at the host hotel for the gymnastics meet then depending on if my best friend and her daughter come with we may try and stay 1 night at one of the DL hotels.

I'll be happy to try and answer questions if I can. I see your dates are around the star wars race weekend. I'm sure we will have other DISers who join in that are going for the race who may be able to answer even more specific questions you have for your dates. Thanks for joining in!

 

[gsrieff]

Well, so far this is the quietest check in thread I've been apart of lol...maybe that's a good sign for crowds...or maybe I'm just excited too early.

I've started working on the outline of the trip. We come from Oregon, and we usually don't go all that often. So when we do go, we are park open-to-closers. Always trying to get in every second that we can. In the last year we were lucky enough to go multiple times with APs. There was still a sense of urgency. This time we've agreed to slow it down, especially because we are staying onsite for the first time. I am aware that PPH lacks some of the Disney touches, but we still want to take in what it does have. We are planning on having almost a full day where we might pop into the parks for a tour and lunch, and then head back to our room and hang out there. I want to try and watch WOC from our room with the music playing on the TV. Then we will try to go up to the pool deck and watch the fireworks with the soundtrack piped in. It just sounds like such a fun and relaxing way to experience both of those shows!

 

[geergirl]

I'm sure excited but need to contain myself a bit at home. The kids don't know and won't know until Christmas morning. I'm going to wrap up our countdown calendar with their autograph books, some new sharpies, and a few things like that.

It feels too far in advance to plan everything tightly. We never have very concrete plans but usually by the time dining reservations open up we start making some decisions.

 

[gsrieff]

I'm sure excited but need to contain myself a bit at home. The kids don't know and won't know until Christmas morning. I'm going to wrap up our countdown calendar with their autograph books, some new sharpies, and a few things like that.

It feels too far in advance to plan everything tightly. We never have very concrete plans but usually by the time dining reservations open up we start making some decisions.

Keeping it a secret is so hard! I have never successfully done it, and I almost slipped up already. I am determined this time, because it is the big Christmas gift. We are along the same lines of ideas for the reveal. I picked up a pair of death star mickey ears, and a WOC shirt on clearance at the Disney Store..I will probably wrap it around a countdown as well!

I've never been a person to plan the days with an actual touring plan. We just stick with an outline of ADRs, where we will start the day, and where we will end the day. The starting of the day has already been decided for us this time, because of the EMH so we will work around that.

 

[blueskymom]

We just made reservations for Jan 1-5, with 3 days in the parks! Super excited! We'll be 2 adults, 1 child, 3. We'll also be traveling with family (2 adults, 3 children 2,5,10), but they have some other family that they're also trying to coordinate with. I'm a hyper-planner for Disneyland because I hate lines and I hate standing around befuddled as we try to figure out what to do next, so that's why I'm here

 

[geergirl]

Keeping it a secret is so hard! I have never successfully done it, and I almost slipped up already. I am determined this time, because it is the big Christmas gift. We are along the same lines of ideas for the reveal. I picked up a pair of death star mickey ears, and a WOC shirt on clearance at the Disney Store..I will probably wrap it around a countdown as well!

I've never been a person to plan the days with an actual touring plan. We just stick with an outline of ADRs, where we will start the day, and where we will end the day. The starting of the day has already been decided for us this time, because of the EMH so we will work around that.

The bolded is basically how we operate too with a bit less planning. I plan around ADRs and a BBB visit. Each morning we plan for the first few attractions and wing it afterwards. It's all about what the crowds, weather, and energy levels are like. We will have to come up with a loose plan. I'm expecting a typical January schedule without weekday nighttime entertainment so we'll have to do a weekend day.

 

[mom2_3girls]

I can't really do much planning until we know which day my daughter will be competing, which may not be until a few weeks before we go. Since we are only doing each park once I just need to figure out which days will be the best. I'm worried the weekend will be busy with the race and MLK day being that Monday. I'm trying to decide if we should fly in on the 10th that evening...that way we could do one of the parks on the 11th. We do plan on doing a character breakfast one morning that will not be a park day.

My SIL may be flying in on the 13th and spending the weekend with us and being our "tour guide" my daughter wants to go to Hollywood and see a few beaches. She mentioned this last weekend we could use her points and stay at the Homewood Suites which is I guess less than 2 miles from Disneyland. I did start looking at airfare thinking of flying into Orange County vs LAX. Still so much up in the air.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Hi! Checking in...

DW, DS & I will be there the 8th to 12th, in the parks on the 9th, 10th & 11th. This will be our third year in a row visiting during that week, right before DS starts back to school. Currently booked at the DI&S but waiting for the del Sol to open up booking for January to check their rates.

 

[Meriweather]

Yes! Birthday trip here also. BFF and I always go somewhere in January to celebrate both our birthdays.
This year is Disneyland.

7-12......staying at VGC

 

[Buson808]

Will be there for the 3rd year in a row. Staying at VGC on points Jan31- Feb8. Hope all the renovations are done. Last year their was no pools and alot of room construction so lots of noise.

Will also stay at Aulani for my daughters bday jan3-6

 

[lalasmama]

1/16 to 1/20 for a solo trip. Yay! I'll be at Stovall's for the first time. I won 2 free nights during one of their contests

 

[lalasmama]

Well, so far this is the quietest check in thread I've been apart of lol...maybe that's a good sign for crowds...or maybe I'm just excited too early.

I think it's because we're still 5 months away, maybe? I'm still 22 weeks away :-/ We have some good friends that are going about 2 weeks after me, and have only just started considering hotels, flights, etc. Then there's a coworker I have that is going in November and still hasn't planned *anything* yet, lol!

Where in Oregon are you coming from? I'm in Oregon too

 

[gsrieff]

Where in Oregon are you coming from? I'm in Oregon too

We are in Salem! I think we were in last Octobers thread together...are you from stayton? I remember someone in that thread was. I've been watching flights like a hawk from PDX to LGB. 183 right now. If it drops any lower, I will probably jump on it. Last year we payed 122, 130, and 160. I doubt I will see those prices again, so I would be thrilled with 160. Earlier this summer I was trying to plan an august trip but the flights never went below 300. Sometimes it was up to 400 so we never ended up going.