Newbie here- A few questions. :D

[ikzembowler]

Hi Everyone!

I'm brand spanking new so bear with me!

We're planning our first trip to Disneyland. My dh, myself and our three kids, 8,6,4. We need to fly (we live outside Portland, OR) and we're planning on being at DL for 4 nights/5 days.

I've been reading through posts but to be honest, it's overwhelming. Here are my questions...

Time to go- Late Feb/Early March or Mid to Late October.

How to book?- Should I buy tickets, book flights and hotels separately or do I try to go through Costco, Alaska Air Vacations, Disney website?

Where to stay- We need at least two beds, a fridge and microwave, close walking distance and preferably a pleasant environment (no cockroaches and definitely no smoky rooms!)

Do I sound like a newbie or what???

I'll start with these questions and process any replies I get, do more research and perhaps come back with more questions!

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[DLR29]

Both times mentioned are about the same crowd wise with Late Feb. being slightly less crowded than early March being slightly less crowded than October.

Here's a GREAT link that always has the best deals on everything (tickets, hotels, etc.) http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyland.html

If you can get a special deal on tickets, then book separately, but if you would just end up getting normal tickets, look into packages. Costco offers different benefits from AAA which are slightly different from Disney. You just need to look around.

As for a hotel, there's obviously the 3 onsite hotels, but those can cost an arm and a leg. For offsite, our family loves the Ramada Plaza. It's about a 10 min walk and the cheapest AAA 3 diamond that's close to the park. We've been there during President's Week and also right before Christmas and haven't paid more than 100 bucks a night either time, so Feb, March, or October would be better.

If not, a few hotels that are often recommended around here are HOJOs, Best Western Park Place Inn, and Candy Cane Inn. Check those out.

Have fun planning!

 

[kuusimo]

Since Easter is in March this year, most people are going to have Spring Break in March. They also have cheerleading competitions in March which also adds more people.

When I plan a trip, I price everything separate and then go to a couple that bundle and see what I am saving (if anything).

I know that CCI has a community microwave that you need to go to the front desk area to use. I don't think that HOJO's has a fridge in the room, but I could be wrong on that one.

Most of the hotels right across the street have a fridge and microwave though.

Have fun planning!

 

[Tink208]

Since Easter is in March this year, most people are going to have Spring Break in March.

Not necessarily! Our district's spring break isn't until the week of April 7-11. I was actually just musing that this might be a great year to go during spring break because with Easter being so early (the earliest it can possibly be), spring breaks are going to be all over the map from March to April and that might mean crowds will be less thick than when everyone has the same week or two off.

 

[DevilDuckie]

As far as packages go, compare AAA, Costco and the Disney site. Also price what it would cost to do it on your own. There is no one right answer that works fore everyone- each bundle is a little different and what suits me best will not suit you best. This is also a useful process because as you check various boards and websites you will find tips and ideas and can pick and choose the ones that will give you the best experience.

Some considerations:

Breakfast at the hotel- how important is it?
Hotel location- walking distance only or is a shuttle okay?
Early Entry/ Toontown Morning- will you use it?
"Gift"- a pin, lanyard, gift card is sometimes offered- but do you want it?

 

[DevilDuckie]

As far as packages go, compare AAA, Costco and the Disney site. Also price what it would cost to do it on your own. There is no one right answer that works fore everyone- each bundle is a little different and what suits me best will not suit you best. This is also a useful process because as you check various boards and websites you will find tips and ideas and can pick and choose the ones that will give you the best experience.

Some considerations:

Breakfast at the hotel- how important is it?
Hotel location- walking distance only or is a shuttle okay?
Early Entry/ Toontown Morning- will you use it?
"Gift"- a pin, lanyard, gift card is sometimes offered- but do you want it?

 

[ikzembowler]

Thanks so much for all your help everyone! I appreciate all the replies!

I'm off to do some more work!

 

[oregonmoonrise]

Alaska Airlines has a great deal right now with Kids fly Free. Im not sure how it is from portland but from Medford we booked a whole package for 6 nights & 5 day park hopper tickets (3 days with the upgrade to 5 for free) for the same price it was for just our Plane tickets (2 adults & 2 kids).

 

[MVBowers111]

We always drive to DL and book our hotel and tickets through getawaytoday.com. We have always had excellent service through them and their prices are great. We always save money on food by bringing it with us. We pack a lunch to take into the park along with snacks and then eat breakfast in our room.

As for time of year, I'd say go for October so you avoid the spring breaks. It seems that someone somewhere has a spring break sometime during march and april.

Hope this helps

 

[mariezp]

First, let's start by saying welcome to our world!

Time to go- Late Feb/Early March or Mid to Late October.

Here are a few things you might consider:

Lodging rates will be affected by the season.
Value Season: Jan, Feb, last 3 wks Oct, first 3 wks Nov, first 3 weeks, Dec.
Regular Season: Mar, early & late Apr, May, June and last Oct thru first Oct.

October will be more crowded but be a little warmer and have less chance of rain.

Haunted Mansion will have it's Nightmare before Christmas overlay in October, as well as added Halloween events generally on the weekends.

Not sure if any of these refurbs would influence your decision any but will throw them in just in case. Jungle Cruise scheduled to close until March 7. Playhouse Disney will reopen on March 13 with new characters. Small World is rumored to be going down at the end of January for 9 months.

Also, a few new things will be happening. Pixar Play Pals Parade begins spring 2008 and Toy Story Mania to open summer 2008. It was also rumored at one time that the Castle walkthrough would be reopening sometime in 2008 but I have not heard any more recently.

Kind of a toss up on which to choose!

How to book?- Should I buy tickets, book flights and hotels separately or do I try to go through Costco, Alaska Air Vacations, Disney website?

So far I have always found the best deals booking myself. Perhaps I am not looking in the right places?

Where to stay- We need at least two beds, a fridge and microwave, close walking distance and preferably a pleasant environment (no cockroaches and definitely no smoky rooms!)

I can only vouch for the Anaheim Desert Inn since it is the only place we have stayed for the past 7 trips. They are close, roomy, clean and reasonable. Nothing fancy but do provide a nice place to shower and sleep. They do have a fridge and microwave in each room and I have never seen a cockroach. (Thank heavens!)


I do envy you planning your first trip! There is nothing quite like that first trip.... but then again, they just keep getting better!

 

[Sherry E]

I'm a newbie as of today, too, but I have already posted on a variety of topics! I know what you mean, it can be overwhelming! All of us diehard Disney fans are always so eager and willing to share our experiences and offer tips and hints on dining, lodging and shopping, etc. It can be information overload. Personally, I would go for the October trip rather than earlier in the year. The weather is cool but not cold. It is still considered 'off-peak,' so it's not that crowded, and you get to see the nifty Halloween decorations, specialty pastries (in the Blue Ribbon Bakery), and limited holiday merchandise, but now that Disneyland is making a bigger deal of Halloween than they have prior to 2007, more people might start to flock there. Also, the Paradise Pier hotel is the least expensive of the three hotels, and they are discounted all through September and October - especially if you book through Central Reservations. The three Disney resort hotels are constantly climbing in price, but we never seem to stay anywhere else but one of the three because of the convenience of it. It is easier to go back to the room mid-day for a break or a rest than it is when you stay down the street at a non-Disney hotel. BUT definitely, do what is best for your budget. When I step foot in a Disney park, the word 'budget' seems to leave my vocabulary entirely and I become possessed!

 

[bumbershoot]

As you peruse all the options of the packages, you'll start to see the little differences, and you can start to decide what's important to you. For me, I booked a package for our first big trip because it felt more convenient, and I wanted all the little goodies, like a lanyard, little pin, "dream coin", etc that you get with a package.

All of the sites mentioned use Walt Disney Travel Company, and they'll all have their own little spin on the goodies; color and company on the lanyards, exact vouchers for things, etc.

I booked with Costco because they had a better price than AAA for my trip, and they had a character breakfast included and a $20 Disney giftcard.

But now, since we upgraded our tickets to APs on that trip, with the experience of booking the package, reading here for months and months, I feel more comfortable just booking a hotel. And of course I still have the lanyard and pin and such, so I don't "need" them, LOL.

Ooh, just noticed the ages of your kids! I think the biggest push towards a package, assuming the convenience is worth something to you, would be the voucher for Mickey's ToonTown Morning Madness that I assume the package will have (I think all of them give that voucher). That voucher gets you into ToonTown, on one of four days of the week, an hour before it opens to the public (which means at the same time as DL opens). You get to see the vice mayor, who introduces the mayor Mickey Mouse, there's a little bitty parade, and you get a headstart on meeting the ToonTown characters before the rest of the park invades. It's a cute little thing, and buying a package deal is the only official way to be part of it. (though you can sign up on a list here for peoples' unused vouchers, or buy them off of ebay, if you don't get a package)


Hope I didn't overwhelm!

 

[squirrel]

I went in September 2007

The deals that were offered at that time were Kids fly free (Air Canada-might also have been available with other airlines), 5 day Park Hopper for the price of 4, and 4 th night free (BWPPI).

The fourth night free was also available in October for some weeks. This offer is available at other hotels and motels.

I liked how close the Best Western was from the park. With small children the short walk is great. IHOP (almost next door tp BWPPI) also offers free kids meal after 4pm with adult meal purchase. I had a king bed and a sofabed in the room. They also have suites. There is a fridge and microwave in the room also a hairdryer, iron & board and coffeemaker. The breakfast is not bad-cereals (cheerios, raison bran, ?, and oatmeal), bagels, donuts, hard boiled eggs, danish, toast, oranges, apples, orange juice, milk, coffee.

If it was me I would pick October!

Have fun planning! It's almost as much fun as being there!

 

[mariezp]

FYI, after perusing a few new posts it looks like spring break happens randomly during March and some cheerleading competitons 3/7-3/9 which will raise the crowd level.

 

[squirrel]

Just checked the Disney website and noticed the Park Hopper Bonus Ticket Prices for use from Jan7-April 24 2008. Must be used once by April 24 and then expires 13 days after first use.

7-Day Park Hopper Bonus $164 child $194 adult (10+)
6-Day Park Hopper Bonus $154 child $184 adult
5-Day Park Hopper Bonus $139 child $169 adult

I was looking at the park hours for April and they seem to be open late most nights. I'm planning a trip for April 2009.