Need help planning!

[Rlsadc]

I am just beginning our travel planning. We have decided to take my 4 and 6 year olds to Disneyland sometimes in the next few months.

I have a few questions..

Our budget is about $1k to $1200, is this realistic? I want the girls to be able a few special extras as well. That leads to my next question, what are some of the best add on experiences for girls their age?

My last question...when is the best time to go to avoid HUGE crowds (I know it's Disney and will be busy). Would it be best to contact a travel agent?

Thanks so much for any help!!

 

[Rlsadc]

Oh and we will be driving, since I'm from Vegas.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Is that budget your budget for everything (gas, park tickets, lodging, food, etc)? Or is that your spending money budget (food and souviners) or is that your travel budget (hotel, park tickets and gas)?

 

[Rlsadc]

Thats my budget for everything. We're only looking to stay 2 nights as well.

 

[thelionqueen]

Since you'll have a car I would recommend staying off site but close to the entrance. The Park Vue Inn is one of the closest and least expensive, but it is no 5 star hotel by any means. If you're going for 2 days I'm assuming you'll want park hopper tickets? I've seen the entertainment cards @ Target & Kroger for $199 for 3 day park hoppers for adults and I think $169 for kids. I think you should budget at least $650 for tickets depending on how many days you buy. Lodging will be at least $150 per day if there is even any availability (summer time many are sold out and expensive). If it were me I would look at the BW Park Place Inn. It is also close but a better quality stay IMO. I would also look at going at the end of August or 2nd week of September while kids are back in school. The crowds and cost will be less.

Food cost @ Disney is expensive, but if you eat at any off the off site restaurants you can cut this cost down quite a bit. I would still average $100 per day on the minimum. At current rates with hotel, tickets and food only you're at approx. $1200 on the low end and that doesn't include any souveniers or experiences for your kids.

Personally I don't think it's very realistic, but definitely doable if you stick to a very strict budget and don't have any extras. I would think closer to $1500 would give you more room to do and enjoy more. I hope that helped, if you have any other questions, let me know. Enjoy!

 

[hlbtimes2]

If you're going for 2 days I'm assuming you'll want park hopper tickets? I've seen the entertainment cards @ Target & Kroger for $199 for 3 day park hoppers for adults and I think $169 for kids. I think you should budget at least $650 for tickets depending on how many days you buy.

Hopefully you can still find tickets in that price range. With the recent increase in prices they may be hard to find.

I honestly dont think 1000-1200 is going to cover 4 people for 3 days/ 2 nights. I think the park hoppers are going to eat up too much of that budget.

 

[Blue32]

There are cheaper places to stay than this. Even within walking distance on Harbor. Look at Priceline or a similar site for Hotels in Anaheim. You can narrow your choices by price AND by distance to DL.

There are also ways to save $$ on food. Eating at the hotel for breakfast, packing your own lunch and snacks, and sharing meals or eating outside the parks if you choose.

Since you are not flying, your park tickets will be your biggest expense.

 

[KateDrake]

Have you tried Get Away Today(www.getawaytoday.com)? I think they still have the old price on tickets if you book a hotel through them. But you'd have to check, I'm not certain.
I was able to book a 5 night stay with 5-day park hoppers for just under $1200 for my family of 3. That's just tickets and hotel, no food or souvenirs, but if you are only staying two nights, you could probably come out less than that...
I'd give them a try and see what you can find. A lot of their hotels include free parking or continental breakfast too, so that will save you a bit. Stay within walking distance and then you don't have to pay to park at Disney.
Food is always a big expense for us, so some ideas are to bring a cooler (easy if you are driving) to keep in your room. You can make sandwiches or something like that if you want. You can also split meals. We always bring in a couple of juice boxes and then only order two adult meals, because there is so much food, we have plenty to share with my daughter. Plus we end up eating so many Dole Whips and Mickey Pretzels, we don't usually need to eat meals anyway
For $1200, I don't know if you'll be able to do any big extras like BBB or Fantasmic! dessert party, etc., but you might be able to do a character meal... I think Get Away Today has vouchers for those that are a little cheaper, too. Sorry, this isn't supposed to be a commercial for them, but they do seem to have really good prices.
There is a whole website dedicated to this kind of stuff, Mouse Savers, I would highly recommend checking them out. www.mousesavers.com

 

[limace]

As far as time, I went for a day during the week after Labor Day (I think it was the Friday after Labor Day) a couple years ago and it was an amazing day. No one in the parks till the evening, beautiful weather. I highly recommend it. Are you going to be able to go when school is in session?

If you can wait a couple more months, take advantage of the howard johnson retro rates in early November. Great hotel, can't beat the rate: http://www.boards.hojoanaheim.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

 

[nannyz]

Two things that come to mind for little girls are the BBB and lunch at Ariel's when all the princesses come out. My daughters and granddaughter all enjoyed it. But both of these can be expensive.
They also enjoyed Disney, Jr. and Turtle Talk With Crush.
The 3D shows are cute, if your girls would not be afraid.
There is a lot of stuff in Bug's Land that they would enjoy, and there is a water fun area there where they can play in the water (don't forget a change of clothes).
Can you tell that I am always at DLR with little kids??
As to your budget, I do think it is a bit low.
Whatever amount I decide on, I always add a couple hundred dollars more, and it always is spent.

 

[CheshireGato]

For myself and DBF (no kids) our budget is usually over 1K, so I think you might be stretching it with two children in the mix

 

[Goofy_Mom]

For your hotel, do the name-your-own-price through priceline. You can get a 3 1/2 star hotel for $69/night. You won't be within walking distance, but there is a shuttle that picks you up from outside your hotel lobby and drops you off inside the pedestrian entrance. The shuttles are cheaper than parking and you're still spending less per day than the places within walking distance. You'll probably get at least a mini fridge in your room, some places have a microwave, too. Get some groceries for your room for breakfast. Also some sandwitch supplies and snacks that you can take into the park. That will help cut down on food expensies in the parks.

Check getawaytoday.com for park tickets, it'll be your best bet for discounted tickets. Stay away from re-sold tickets. These are tickets that have been used by someone else first and the remaining unused days are sold. This is against Disney rules and if you get caught, they will not let you into the park.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a lot of fun for little girls. The little princesses get made over by fairy godmothers in training. However, it can get pricey. If you choose to do this, bring your princesses dresses from home and wear them to the appointment. If you still want to save a few dollars, go to DTD to Disney 365. They have rock star makeovers, the "do's" IMO are way cooler, you still get the makeup and a bag (like BBB) and it costs less than the princess makeover. If you still can't swing a makeover, there are a few facepainting booths located throughout DL and DCA.


Free fun stuff: Musical Chairs with Alice and the Hatter at Coke Corner, ride in the wheel house in the Mark Twain, ride in the Lilly Belle train car, see the Hillbillies, and a new thing in DCA is Dance with Disney. A ton of Disney characters are out, even ones you don't see very often like Marie from Aristocats and Prince John from Robin Hood. This is located near Monsters Inc. Mad T Party is a lot of fun if your little girls like to dance, too. It is loud, though. If it's still hot when you go, there are a few puddle parks for the little ones to play in.

Even with all these $$ saveing tips, $1200 seems a little low. If it's just you and two little girls, you may be able to swing it. If another adult is going, it'll be very tight. For the one adult/two day plan your looking at $567 for tickets (add 197 for another adult). If you get the $69 bid for your hotel for two nights its $138. That's $705 for tickets and hotel (902 for the extra adult). With the one adult plan you have just over $500 for food and fun. Subtract $100/day for food, you're down to just over $300. If you wanted too, you could spluge on a princesses meal, that'll be almost $90 but some of that would come out of you food budget. Another $100 for two mid-level price make overs at BBB. If you watch the spending it can be done and the girls can still get an ice cream, churro, and an ears hat. I would set aside an additional $300 so you can have one more day in the parks.

 

[SailorsWife]

$1500 seems more realistic on this trip. Stay off site but walking distance. Harbor Blvd. has all the hotels and motels that can quickly walked to. Look at the travel websites for ideas what a hotel will cost. You want walking distance to avoid parking fees and to allow you to quickly get back to your room to take afternoon nap/ rest/ pool and have dinner outside the park. Then head back in for the evening.

Best time when crowds are low in Jan. and Feb (early before Pres. Day weekend) The weather is nice and cool. We have Gone this time of year several times and loved the park. We could walk onto rides or had a little wait. Go in the mornings before what "crowd" will come for the day. Mostly pass holders with small kids. The weekend evenings got the teenager pass holders out.

A "treat" you may plan for is Ariel's Grotto. It's expensive. You get an all you can eat meal with desserts and appetizers. Time with each princess to take photos. They come to the tables and interact with the kids. Breakfast would be you least expensive option.

Enjoy planning.

 

[nannyz]

Just a heads-up -- you cannot take sandwich fixins into the parks -- the sandwiches must be premade.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

Just a heads-up -- you cannot take sandwich fixins into the parks -- the sandwiches must be premade.

Good catch The way I wrote it looks like I said take sandwich fixins to the park.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

I am just beginning our travel planning. We have decided to take my 4 and 6 year olds to Disneyland sometimes in the next few months.

I have a few questions..

Our budget is about $1k to $1200, is this realistic? I want the girls to be able a few special extras as well. That leads to my next question, what are some of the best add on experiences for girls their age?

My last question...when is the best time to go to avoid HUGE crowds (I know it's Disney and will be busy). Would it be best to contact a travel agent?

Thanks so much for any help!!

The Anaheim Plaza (wikimap) is an o.k. non-frills motel, and it's in walking distance. Depending on the time of year, the price can be as low as $59/night; including the 17% tax it can be as low as $138.06 total for two nights. (FYI, they also charge $4.00 per day for parking.)

Expedia.com is a good site to find some prices for hotels.

A couple of tips for using Expedia.com:
click on Hotel
Find hotels near: select "A city, airport or attraction"
What City? enter Disneyland Anaheim California

HTH

 

[chrissiecutie]

I am just beginning our travel planning. We have decided to take my 4 and 6 year olds to Disneyland sometimes in the next few months.

I have a few questions..

Our budget is about $1k to $1200, is this realistic? I want the girls to be able a few special extras as well. That leads to my next question, what are some of the best add on experiences for girls their age?

My last question...when is the best time to go to avoid HUGE crowds (I know it's Disney and will be busy). Would it be best to contact a travel agent?

Thanks so much for any help!!

OP- you can do this!!

My budget for a family of 3 for a 2 week SoCal vacay is $2500-3000. This includes gas (we drive from Seattle) Disney, Legoland, museums, food- everything. So IMO, $1-1500 is totally do-able!

First- check out the Howard Johnson Anaheim for their Entertainment Card/Retro Rates. You can get a room for $59/night. Last I checked they have dates avail in early Nov and some in Jan/Feb. If they don't have exactly what you're looking for- keep checking back. 2 nights @ $59 + tax = roughly $140

Next- how many days are you planning on doing Disney? You said 2 nights, so I'm guess 2 days? This will be the largest expense. Check out mousesavers.com for places on where to buy discounted park tix. If you only do 1 park per day, you can also save a little money. I would estimate about $750 for park tix

Food- this is your 3rd biggest expense. But since you're driving- super easy!!! I always make easy meals ahead of time, freeze and then we can microwave them at the hotel. Think....chili, homemade mac & cheese, cassaroles etc. Also, bake some muffins to freeze and bring with you for easy breakfasts on the go! We plan on 1 meal out per day and that's it! My budget for 3 people is $30. We usually get 2 adult meals and split it between the 3 of us. Try doing this with your family...I would say $40 per day should cover you. But this does factor in not eating at the super pricey places! We also love Mimi's Restaurant next door to the Howard Johnson. Kid's meals here are just $5!! If you sign up online on Mimi's website, you can also get coupons for free entrees. So realisitically you're entire family could eat here for $25+ tax & tip. Another trick of mine is that we don't eat out while we drive to our destination. Pack your cooler with sandwich fixings and stop at one of the many road stops along the way. Food for 3 days $160

Gas- check out an online gas calculator. Just google it, lots of sites will pop up. I would estimate $175 for gas. Keep in mind this is current gas prices so they just might drop a little by the time you make your trip.

So grand total is $1225. The only thing this does NOT include is souviners and special events- like a character breakfast.

Totally do-able!!

 

[chrissiecutie]

Just a heads-up -- you cannot take sandwich fixins into the parks -- the sandwiches must be premade.

nannyZ- is this a new rule?? We always take a cooler full of food and no one has every stopped us.

 

[nannyz]

Actually, the DL website says that no food or drinks are allowed.
But most times they will allow a small soft-side cooler with sandwiches, granola bars, etc. But you cannot bring, for example, a package of baloney, a loaf of bread, and a jar of mayo and make sandwiches later.
And no coolers on wheels.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Actually, the DL website says that no food or drinks are allowed.
But most times they will allow a small soft-side cooler with sandwiches, granola bars, etc. But you cannot bring, for example, a package of baloney, a loaf of bread, and a jar of mayo and make sandwiches later.
And no coolers on wheels.

DLR has a LOT of rules that they dont enforce. Outside food being one of the biggies.

For over 20 years I've been bringing in outside food and there are some definite restrictions. Rolling coolers is one, no glass bottles is the other but other then that, I've taken in just about everything. Also- they really don't seem to care if your cooler is large or small, it just has to be soft sided.

On our last trip we had a large soft sided cooler from walmart that hung off DS's stroller. Inside was water bottles, cans of soda, juice packs, chocolate muffins, lunch meat & sandwich fixings, fruit cups, bananas etc. The only time we got stopped with our cooler was when going through security. The CM just asked me to put it on the table and open it up. She looked inside & even commented how "smart" I was to put the chocolate muffins inside the cooler so they wouldn't melt. She pawed through everything in there, so I'm pretty confident that she saw my sandwich fixings.

NannyZ- were you personally stopped with your bologna & sandwich stuff & told you weren't allowed to have it?? Or was this just something you heard wasn't allowed? I'm just curious because this has never been my experience....