NEED QUICK HELP! Adding extra night at DLH worth it?-UPDATE POST #6

[Ariel224]

I have about 3 hours to figure out if this is a good idea or not....please help me decide!

We will be arriving at LAX the morning of Mon 11/7. Staying at Desert Inn & Suites because I was able to book the 8 person suite for $99 per night several months ago. We will get to the parks at about noon. My dad is flying in from Oregon and will join us later that afternoon.

Park hours are 10-8 on Mon, Tues & Wed. Will do MM on Tues. Park hours on Thurs 11/10 are 9am-10pm, but my dad has a morning flight on Thurs, so he won't be going to the parks that day. Our original plan was to spend part of the day in the parks and fly back out of LAX at 6:30 Thurs evening, which would mean leaving the parks around 3 or so to retrieve our luggage and catch the bus (Disneyland Resort Express) back to the airport.

DH and I were talking last night and exploring the option of pushing our return flights back to Friday 11/11 so that we wouldn't have the stress of dealing with leaving the parks in the middle of the day to get to the airport. I began looking at options....flight change is totally workable. The same room at DI&S would be double the price at $199 for the extra night. Just for comparison, I looked on the DL website, and can get a pool view room at DLH for $259 on a fall special. Help me decide if the $60 difference is worth it....

Here's what I know from searching threads this morning.....correct me please if I have any of this incorrect. If we checked out if DI&S early Thurs AM and took a cab over to DLH between 7 & 7:30am, we can leave our luggage with Bell Services and they will text us when our room is actually ready. We would receive key cards and be able to get an extra MM (which runs from 8-9am). We could use the pools while waiting for the room if we wanted a midday break from the parks. If DH and I wanted to do a special dinner for just the two of us, I can try to reserve time for the kids at Pinocchio's Workshop at GCH.

Here are the points I am not sure about....what to do Friday. We would be on a 5:30 flight reservation, so we would have until about 2:30 at the resort. Please don't suggest adding a day to our parkhoppers. Last Minute Travel is currently sold out, so I can't upgrade tickets through them. Besides, that Friday is Veteran's Day. Been there done that last year. It was ridiculously crowded, and we don't want a repeat of that experience.

Check out from DLH is at 11:00?? What time do the pools typically open in the morning? If we vacate our room, can we extend our key card expiration time in order to continue using the pool? Are there other things we could do at DLH from 11:00-2:00? If not, we will play in DTD until it's time to leave.

How much is the resort fee for DLH right now? How much is Pinocchio's workshop? How do I book that? How intrusive is the construction at DLH?

Any other points/perks I am missing?

Thanks.

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

Just wanted to ask why not book at PPH at $175 the pool and slide is fun, just not as new as DLH. In terms of Luggage I usually leave it with the Bell Desk but I have never received a text but I usually go back to the hotel.

This is what I found out about Pinocchio's Workshop. Grand Californian guests may make reservations for Pinocchio's Workshop by calling (714)-956-6755. Paradise Pier and Disneyland Hotel guests should plan to consult with their hotel concierge desks to check for availability and make same-day reservations.

I am sure someone will come with more answers to help you

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

Forgot to add there is no Resort Fee anymore they stopped doing that, but now charge $15.00 a day for a car and I believe $22.00 a day for Valet.

 

[Ariel224]

Just wanted to ask why not book at PPH at $175 the pool and slide is fun, just not as new as DLH.

PPH was not listed as an available option for a family of 5 when I plugged in my date online. Does PPH even have rooms that will accommodate 5 people??

ETA: No availability for PPH on the night needed and when I did the search again just now, the DLH room that was $259 last night is now $345, so I guess it's a no go either way. Thanks anyway.....

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

PPH was not listed as an available option for a family of 5 when I plugged in my date online. Does PPH even have rooms that will accommodate 5 people??

When I called which I would suggest you doing they informed me that there rooms fit 5 people. This is from the Disney site: Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and five (5) people maximum per room.

 

[Ariel224]

So I checked again online this morning and the original rate was back (for DLH, still nothing for PPH), so I jumped on it. Changing flights ended up being a hassle, as each of the 5 of us had Southwest flight credit from 2 reservations to apply. It couldn't be done online and the phone agent had to split each of us into our own separate reservation to apply all the codes properly.

All of my previous questions about pools, etc are once again in need of answers.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

So I checked again online this morning and the original rate was back (for DLH, still nothing for PPH), so I jumped on it. Changing flights ended up being a hassle, as each of the 5 of us had Southwest flight credit from 2 reservations to apply. It couldn't be done online and the phone agent had to split each of us into our own separate reservation to apply all the codes properly.

All of my previous questions about pools, etc are once again in need of answers.

I'm not sure what time the pool opens (maybe 10?) but your key card and resort privileges are good through the end of the day, not check out. You should have no problem swimming after check out.

 

[VallCopen]

I know you said you didn't want to upgrade your tickets, because it was Veterans day but our school is off on the Monday, not Friday, and if I recall correctly you should be able to upgrade your tickets for another day (at the booths - main entrance) for about 10.00-20.00 per ticket, we actually upgraded at the Pier front desk about 4 years ago. You could arrive in the parks at opening then leave the parks around 1 or 2 and still get a good day in at the parks, you don't even need to make this decision until the last day of your ticket, just an idea in case you are having so much fun you want another day at the park. Have a Fab time.

 

[sierranevada]

Glad you were able to add the extra day. And yes, your card key will work at the pool all day. Another option if you don't want to swim is take in a matinee at the AMC theater in DTD.

Pinocchio's Workshop is open 5 pm to midnight and is $13/hour with a 2 hour minimum and you either call (714)-956-6755 or ask guest services at the DLH.

Have fun.

 

[Ariel224]

Thank you so much to everyone for their responses. Our kids are pool and water slide junkies, so hopefully the weather will cooperate!