Military man home! Need HELP planning a trip!!!

[ktmel]

Hey everyone! I'm new to this discussion board & desperately in need of some help planning a SHORT DisneyLand trip in December! My fiance just came home from deployment in Iraq & he wants to take me to DisneyLand for Christmas because we both love it & haven't been able to make a trip together yet!!! Obviously being a soon to be college grad AND soon to be wife to the Military we don't have much money to spend so we decided to only do ONE DAY at the park & just stay for the night at a cheap hotel nearby & head home the next day! Does ANYONE have ANY tips on:
A. Saving money? Any discounts that I can find anywhere? Coupons? Special Rates for Christmas? Anything to save money?

B. Decent, nearby hotels with maybe a shuttle to the park for free so we dont have to pay for parking

C. Good strategies to ride as many rides as we can & see as much as possible in only one day? Any specific times to try to see Mickey? That sort of thing??

ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated!!! My fiance doesn't have much time on his hands right now to plan much so I'm trying to help out as best I can!!! If you want to send me a direct email my address is kngordon@hotmail.com

THANK YOU!!!!!
Much Love,
Katie M.

 

[21yankees]

When he gets back, find the closest military installation and go to the MWR or ITT (the name depends on the service's installation). Anyway they have military discounted tickets.
I'm not sure on the other stuff.
Have a great time.

steph

 

[iheartdisney]

First off, tell your Fiance welcome home, and thank you!
I highly recommend the park vue inn, you can't get any closer! I think you can even get a jacuzzi suite for under $100. There is a minifridge and a microwave in the room, so you can save $$ on meals by bringing tv dinners (what we did...we are cheap!) And the breakfast is pretty goos as far as hotel breakfasts go... will be enough to tide you until lunch. You can park ther as soon as you check in, even if your room is not ready, and leave your car there the day you check out.
Make sure you visit the ITT office before you leave your base, as they do not sell discounted tickets at the gate for military.
I don't know whaere you are visiting from, but Sea World in San Dieg, as part of Busch's military salute will give him a free pass if you want to go down that way.
Again, I am glad he returned safe and healty. Thanks, to both of you!

 

[iheartdisney]

Darn double post! So I figured I'd answer the rest of your questions...

You can always meet Mickey at his house back in toontown, or always try to bump into him on Main Street

Major Time saver...try to go midweek...on a tue or wed are usually best! For one day, I wouldn't try to do the whole park...pick what you really want to do, and go from there.
money saver...since you only have on day, don't bother with a parkhopper.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

If possible, to avoid big crowds and to be able to enjoy the most out of your day, go mid week and try to go within the 1st 2 weeks of month.

Make sure to check out http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage for complete schedules and fireworks times. The hours are shorter during mid week, but a little longer on Thursday.

Have a great time, you both deserve it.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I agree with the midweek strategy for you. Crowds will be much lower on a Tues, Weds, or Thurs. Also, hotel rates can be lower mid-week as well, not always, buy sometimes.

If you can only do 1 full day, stick with Disneyland. You could spend 2 full days at Disneyland and still not see or do everything you want. But if you can squeeze in another half day, try to visit California Adventure as well and maybe just ride some of the headliners there (Soarin' over California which I love, Tower of Terror, Monsters Inc, and California Screamin' if you like coasters).

If 1 and a half days is doable for you, then you'll want a 2 day park hopper ticket for each of you.

Also, it's a wonderful time to visit the parks with all the beautiful holiday decor and lights everywhere.

I hope you both have a wonderful time.