NEWBIE HERE: A few questions for you...

[scrapbooksue]

Hi everyone!

My husband and I have finally decided to take the kids to Disneyland in 2007! (A dream vacation for our family as we have never been on a vacation before!)..and our oldest daughter graduates high school next year...(we have always wanted to take her!) we have 2 other daughters as well, (aged 6 and 11) and thought if we don't do it now, we won't do it! LOL! But I have no idea where to start...
We live in Canada, and have never been out of the country...I would really appreciate any tips/advice anyone could give me on planning the trip if you have been to California and Disneyland before...here are a few of my questions:

Did you plan the trip your self or use a travel agent?
When is the best time of the year to go?
Is there a book out there somewhere that will help me plan our trip (and budget??)?
How long is needed to enjoy the park? (we want to visit San Diego Zoo and Sea World too while we are there)..
Where is the best place to stay?
What else is a MUST SEE when we are in California?
Do you have any tips on saving money?? (with 3 kids and only one income we need to keep the cost as low as possible, but still have a good time)..

Thanks in advance!! I can't wait to meet Mickey!!
Smiles
Sue

 

[Scratch42]

Welcome!

You might also want to ask this over on the Disneyland boards too!

They are very helpful over there, well not that we aren't!

If it's your first visit, stay away from Major Holidays! especially Christmas! Way to crowded to enjoy much of anything.

j

 

[amw]

Did you plan the trip your self or use a travel agent?
When is the best time of the year to go?
Is there a book out there somewhere that will help me plan our trip (and budget??)?
How long is needed to enjoy the park? (we want to visit San Diego Zoo and Sea World too while we are there)..
Where is the best place to stay?
What else is a MUST SEE when we are in California?
Do you have any tips on saving money?? (with 3 kids and only one income we need to keep the cost as low as possible, but still have a good time)

Welcome Sue

I'll try to give you as much info as I can. I too am planning a trip to DLR for 2007. I'm a regular at the Disneyland board which is a wealth of info:

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=26

You can order a Disneyland promotional DVD from Disney.ca. It's only 10-minutes long, but is a good tease nonetheless, especially for your younger children.

I recommend the Birnbaum's Official Disneyland Guidebook. The 2006 edition is currently out, but the 2007 will be released in October if you can wait. I find it serves me as a good souvenir as well. The Unofficial Guide is good too. Your best bet is to visit your local library and take out the older versions. They don't change all that much, and then you decide which one if any you would like to purchase.

I never used a TA, because I'm an A-type planner I prefer to book my hotels and car rentals online. My airline tickets are through aeroplan. The tickets are generally cheapest at disneyland online, but unlike WDW, their tickets are only released year by year. You have to wait until January to buy 2007 tickets. That being said, some people have found CAA to be helpful if you don't want to handle the details yourself -- just don't expect to do it on the cheap through them.

Check the Disneyland discussions for the best low-budget hotels. Unlike WDW, the closest hotels are off-property and walking distance to the gates. The Candy Cane Inn and HoJos score high. If you want more space for your family, I'm looking at a 2-bedroom suite (2 Queens in each - 4 total) at the Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites. Lots of space, free parking, free breakfast, walking distance for about $129/night.
http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/

If you collect airmiles, you can get tickets for Legoland and San Diego Seaworld. You can also get a Southern California citypass if you'd like to go to Universal as well as Disney:

http://www.citypass.com/city/socal/new.html

Here are my other favourite planning sites:

General Info
http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/tp/dl/dl.htm
http://www.scottware.com.au/theme/feature/crowds.htm
http://www.dlresortinfo.com/

Hotels
http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/default.asp
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html
http://kingdommagictravel.com/disneyland/hotels/anaheim_hotels.htm

Dining
http://www.themouseforless.com/tripplanning/menus/dl/menus.shtml
http://www.mickeyxtreme.com/dlrdining.htm

That should get you started Feel free to ask me any specific questions. Your best bet is to go to the other board though.

Happy planning

 

[scrapbooksue]

WOW!! That is alot of info! I am so excited to get started with the planning!! (I too am an A type!LOL!) Thankyou so much for the info!!

Smiles
Sue

 

[amw]

Glad to be of help It certainly isn't as easy to gather info on Disneyland as WDW... especially for someone like me in Ontario!

I, for one, am truly looking forward to experiencing California for a change

 

[tribus121]

My DW and I made a budjeyt trip to disneyland in december 2005 and will post som tips when the get the posting problems fixed

 

[disney funseeker]

Can't help you much since we have been to WDW several times but never to Disneyland.

Just wanted to say WELCOME.

Where abouts are you in B.C. Are you close enought to fly out of Seattle?

Judging by your username, you will have fun scrappin your trip when you return.

 

[tribus121]

Here are some tips that I hope will help. You may consider staying at one of the hotels on w Ball they are some times cheeper and actualy a shorter walk than the " Maingate " hotels as you only have to walk through the disney parking garage and jump on the tram which will drop you off at DTD just outside the maingate to both parks .To save on dining you can walk across Harbour bvld yo one of the many resterants located there .you may allso want to try eating at non standerd meal times , less lines at resterants and smaller lines at disney while everyone else is eating .
One other tip is if you are flying in 2007 you will require a passport and i expect that it may be a slow process with lots of people neading them .

 

[twinz]

WE went to DL in 2003. We had a lot of fun, we stayed at a motel along the main road (close to DL) I can't remember what road it was (sorry). The motel was nice, we had a little kitchen in our room which was great fr us. We split our time between Beverly Hills (we had a friend who got us a REALLY great rate at a BH hotel), and Aneheim. We did the LA city tour (a lot smaller then I though). We went to the beach (although it was kind of cool outside), we walked to Venice Beach, there are plenty of shops along the way. We went to Santa Monica Pier. We drove up the coast (or down it?). Traffic was a NIGHTMARE at times. We went in December and everything was so beautiful. We went to Nightmare before Christmas in the Haunted Mansion...so cool. You will have a great time!