Last minute trip!

[mom2rb]

So I found cheap airfare on Spirit. My brother and his fiancé own a catering company and are slow next week. The three of us are going Monday, February 5 and coming back on Thursday, February 8. None of us have ever been to Disneyland before. In fact we have never gone on a vacation together as grownups. We have taken each other’s kids on trips, but not us going together. I am so excited! Now I have one week to plan.

My brother is in charge of the hotel and I am in charge of tickets and things to do at the parks. I plan on spending the next 2 days reading everything I can on this page, but if anyone wants to add any tips to this thread, I would appreciate it.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

LMT Club has the best prices on tickets. If you decide to buy them through there, I would not wait to long because they email you the tickets and it can take some time.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

I just bought a ticket on LMTC today and had it within a couple of hours. However! That isn't always the case. I'd do what sharksfinatic17 suggested and buy them asap.

 

[sherilaine]

I would advise your brother to look into the hotel asap as many have commented on very limited availability even when they are a month out or more, especially if you want something close.

 

[mom2rb]

Just bought the tickets. My brother uses a Marriott rewards card for his business. He has hundreds of thousands of points. He thinks that he can use those. If not, then I will find something tomorrow.

 

[LaVon]

I had a list of hotels (#1 Camalot, or Tropicana) I wanted and when I called to make the package they were all booked except Fairfield inn we were like 70 days out

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread will give you lots of helpful information: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. Check the stickies at the top of this forum for more newbie tips (and HydroGuy's threads -- super helpful!). Come on back with any questions. You're going to have a great time!

What sort of things are you interested in? Disney history? You'll be in Walt's original park! You might look into the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour. Foodies? Look into making reservations at the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose. Call the restaurant directly for this. Two seatings per night. Search for threads on this forum. Don't miss Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel. Max Pass will help you get the most done if you like FP rides. Download the free DLR app now to start familiarizing yourself with ride locations, wait times, what's down for refurb, etc. You can make restaurant reservations (known as PS -- Priority Seating -- at DLR, but also known as ADRs on this board) through the app -- so convenient! Look into dining packages for show viewing. Your group may really enjoy the WOC Dessert Party (the only option with real chairs, dessert, and drinks) and a F! dining package (how about BB? Dinner inside POTC, followed by riverfront viewing of F!). There is a lot of construction going on right now in both parks, but there is still so much to do and so much fun to be had.

 

[AndreAggie]

If he has a Marriott card, I'd look at the new Courtyard Marriott (it's right across from the entrance) or the Springhill Suites. They're the newer Marriott properties and within walking distance. We stayed at the Springhill and it was great! Breakfast was a little chaotic, but given it was free, we didn't complain. The fact there's a CVS connected helps to grab snacks, sodas, bottled water and other stuff you tend to forget when packing!

 

[disneylover102]

I would stay in a hotel on Harbor Blvd. From our experience, the hotels right across the street (on Harbor) are still pretty expensive (not as expensive as a Disney hotel) but hotels a little ways but not too bad of a walking distance that are cheaper include the Anaheim Carriage Inn and Motel 6 Anaheim Maingate.

Tips:
1. Arrive well before the park opens and stay for at least the first few hours- instead of sleeping in, take a nap in the middle of the day. That way, you can have shorter lines (and I mean 10 minute waits rather than 70 minute waits) and if you buy Maxpass, you can get Fastpasses while napping at the hotel since you would have already entered the park (you can’t get Fastpass through Maxpass if sleeping in because you won’t have entered the park yet). And that leads into my next tip.
2. Take full advantage of Fastpass/Maxpass. I recommend purchasing Maxpass ($10 per person per day) because you get a new Fastpass every 90 minutes instead of 2 hours, it’s convenient, and you can get Fastpass while napping at the hotel. But even if you just use Fastpass, use it as much as you can. Grab a Fastpass first thing of the day.
3. Have a plan on what you will do. (Especially first ride of the day if you’ll be there before park opening) Something that has helped us, especially before we had gone to the parks several times, was RideMax. It’s $15 for a 90 day subscription and is well worth it. It will let you choose the day you’re going, what time you’ll be going, which rides you want to do and how many times (you can add your favorite ride twice, three times, four times, etc) and when you’ll take a break. It will then take a few minutes to see if you can fit this all into that time and if it does, it gives you a plan on when to get and use Fastpass, when you’ll go on rides, wait times, etc.

 

[mom2rb]

I was wrong about my brother. He has Hilton points. We are booked at the Anaheim Hilton.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We like the Hilton. Check to see if there will be a convention going on at the hotel during your stay. That can make a huge difference in how crowded the lobby will be in the mornings. If there is a convention, just take a little extra time to familiarize yourself with the lobby, the Starbucks (and check the hours daily -- they can change -- we usually just double check when picking up our mobile orders), and give yourself more time for the elevators. The walk isn't bad -- maybe 20 minutes or so, depending on the crosswalk lights. There is a Starbucks in the hotel lobby and a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Katella before you get to Harbor. Also, there is a 24/7 CVS at the corner of Harbor and Katella for sundries, some groceries, and snacks. If there will be a convention going on, look for gourmet food trucks in front of the convention center.

ETA: Ask your brother if the Hilton will give you all an upgrade. They have been very nice to us about this in the past. Once we got a very, very large room with a view of WOC (waaay down below) and the fireworks (from afar!).

 

[smartlabelprint]

I was wrong about my brother. He has Hilton points. We are booked at the Anaheim Hilton.

If you’re down there see if there’s room at HomeWood suites convention center.

 

[minnieralyks]

How fun! Last minute trips and trips with family are the best! We've lucked out with Frontier $20 tickets, so have planned a trip 5 days out before haha Never something I thought we would do, but you gotta take advantage of those rare good deals. Hope you all have a wonderful time