Newbie with lots of questions!!

[LuvAriel]

Can someone explain this to me and what is the advantage. I am a WDW vet and get the meal plan ALL of the time but I am so confused by DL meal system.

Secondly, can anyone recommend a great place to buy discounted park tickets.

Thanks

ETA: Can you also recommend a hotel in San Diego and do I need a hotel if we are also going to Universal Studios??

Thanks

 

[DisneyMomma81]

There is no advantage to the DLR meal plan. Not many people would recommend it. To budget or prepay for meals I purchase Disney Gift Cards and Character Meal Vouchers.

People seem to like http://www.lastminutetravel.com/ *click Activities *then Anaheim. You could also look at ARES ~ http://arestravel.com/77_DisneylandResort.html or GAT ~ http://www.getawaytoday.com/

 

[HydroGuy]

ETA: Can you also recommend a hotel in San Diego and do I need a hotel if we are also going to Universal Studios??

Thanks

USH you can do as a day trip for DLR (40 miles). SD is harder and farther (100 miles). There are shuttles to USH from DLR. Look on USH website for info.

When are you going to SD. Which part of SD?

 

[LuvAriel]

USH you can do as a day trip for DLR (40 miles). SD is harder and farther (100 miles). There are shuttles to USH from DLR. Look on USH website for info.

When are you going to SD. Which part of SD?

I didn't realize USH is only 40 miles from DLR, thanks!

We are going in July from the 9th - 17th. We are actually arriving late on the 8th so the 9th will be our first full day.

I was thinking of doing SD 1st (to avoid the weekend at DLR). So I was thinking of staying in SD from the 8th - 11th, then do USH, then do DLR.

Based upon the fact that USH is only 40 miles from DLR then maybe I will leave SD on the 11th and check into DLR on the 11th, enjoy the hotel for the day and drive to USH and spend the day on the 12th and then do DLR from the 13th-17th.

Does that sound good??

Any hotels that you can recommend for SD would be a GREAT help. We are doing SW and the zoo, is there a beach close by??

Thanks!!

 

[LuvAriel]

There is no advantage to the DLR meal plan. Not many people would recommend it. To budget or prepay for meals I purchase Disney Gift Cards and Character Meal Vouchers.

People seem to like http://www.lastminutetravel.com/ *click Activities *then Anaheim. You could also look at ARES ~ http://arestravel.com/77_DisneylandResort.html or GAT ~ http://www.getawaytoday.com/

Thanks for the links, some of those prices look really good!!

 

[wdwfan22]

Yea, I think it's sad they don't have a meal plan like at DW. I personally love the value of the DW plan. But the plan at DL is a waste of money. When I tried to work the numbers, unless I am doing something wrong, it costs more than if you just buy the meals.

It's too bad also, they are really missing an opportunity to keep people on property longer with eating meals. It would seem even more important to try and do that in Anaheim, where it is super easy to leave property to get a cheaper meal, than in DW where it takes much, much longer.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

im the one to ask bout the meal plan lol i have learned i must be one the few here who loves them.

ask any questions i will answer how I can.

There is a big advantage to me I pay for my food before i get there. I dont worry bout tax or tip I just give the vouchers to them an boom my food is paid for. it costs me my son an dh 500 for 4days worth food an we get the character meals we like an all the treats we want.
I for one love not having to carry cash or a card that may or may not work. Just have my food vouchers with my tickets an I have learned how to use one voucher for all three of us to eat lunch or snacks. I know it sucks no change back but dont use two 10doller vouchers try one 10 an one snack an share. sharing is good

 

[DisneyMomma81]

But Jade ~ I also prepay for our meals by purchasing Disney Gift Cards and Charcter meal vouchers. I'm not out any money by doing this, where as you might often lose $ or have to pay to make up the difference when using the DLR meal plan. If so many people don't like it there must be good reasons to not use it. Consider purchasing a Disney Gift Card and adding money to it each month ~ it's easy to do.

 

[HydroGuy]

I didn't realize USH is only 40 miles from DLR, thanks!

We are going in July from the 9th - 17th. We are actually arriving late on the 8th so the 9th will be our first full day.

I was thinking of doing SD 1st (to avoid the weekend at DLR). So I was thinking of staying in SD from the 8th - 11th, then do USH, then do DLR.

Based upon the fact that USH is only 40 miles from DLR then maybe I will leave SD on the 11th and check into DLR on the 11th, enjoy the hotel for the day and drive to USH and spend the day on the 12th and then do DLR from the 13th-17th.

Does that sound good??

Any hotels that you can recommend for SD would be a GREAT help. We are doing SW and the zoo, is there a beach close by??

Thanks!!

Your dates sound fine to me.

SWSD is on Mission Bay near Mission Beach. We did SW last year for a day and actually rented a beach house for a few days. Most beach houses want a full week rent but we found one at the last minute for 3 days.

As far as hotels, look around. There is a Best Western down on Shelter Island we stayed at once. See http://www.islandpalms.com/

There is a Sheraton near the SD airport I never stayed at but did some social functions there - http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/area/directions.html?propertyID=127

Those two are on the water.

I am sure others can come up with good options. If you stay in Mission Valley inland a mile or two there are lots of hotels, many nice ones, that are close to the Zoo and SW (2-3 miles).

Be aware of the All-Star game. See this thread and read dbanzai comments at the end

All-Star FanFest (July 9 - 13) : 150,000 visitors?

 

[LuvAriel]

im the one to ask bout the meal plan lol i have learned i must be one the few here who loves them.

ask any questions i will answer how I can.

There is a big advantage to me I pay for my food before i get there. I dont worry bout tax or tip I just give the vouchers to them an boom my food is paid for. it costs me my son an dh 500 for 4days worth food an we get the character meals we like an all the treats we want.
I for one love not having to carry cash or a card that may or may not work. Just have my food vouchers with my tickets an I have learned how to use one voucher for all three of us to eat lunch or snacks. I know it sucks no change back but dont use two 10doller vouchers try one 10 an one snack an share. sharing is good

Thanks, so can you share how you have learned to use 1 voucher for 3 people?

 

[Disney Dreams]

...I am a WDW vet and get the meal plan ALL of the time but I am so confused by DL meal system....

Well you are a WDW vet, you will want to put much of your WDW know-how aside in order to plan an enjoyable DLR visit. As similar as the 2 are (and they really aren't beyond theme and some attractions), the experience at each is VERY different.

Dining is just one area where this is true. Dining at DL and WDW is completely different. When DH and I went to WDW, we didn't understand why we needed ADRs everywhere, but we made a few just to "follow good advice." Once there for 1 day, we understood how important ADRs are at WDW and booked as many as we could for our remaining days (we got VERY lucky in our efforts). They are not needed in that way at DLR. There are a few select restaurants that you will want to get PS for, but not anything like WDW.

Likewise, the dining plan at WDW is huge, at DLR, not. It's just one of the very many things that are different. Remember, they are different places - both with amazing things to their own right, but they are very different. Enjoy the differences.

- Dreams

 

[LuvAriel]

Your dates sound fine to me.

SWSD is on Mission Bay near Mission Beach. We did SW last year for a day and actually rented a beach house for a few days. Most beach houses want a full week rent but we found one at the last minute for 3 days.

As far as hotels, look around. There is a Best Western down on Shelter Island we stayed at once. See http://www.islandpalms.com/

There is a Sheraton near the SD airport I never stayed at but did some social functions there - http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/area/directions.html?propertyID=127

Those two are on the water.

I am sure others can come up with good options. If you stay in Mission Valley inland a mile or two there are lots of hotels, many nice ones, that are close to the Zoo and SW (2-3 miles).

Be aware of the All-Star game. See this thread and read dbanzai comments at the end

All-Star FanFest (July 9 - 13) : 150,000 visitors?

Yikes, just read the thread about the All Star game, oh well there is no way to change my dates so let the chips fall where they may

Thanks for your hotel suggestions and all of your tips!!

 

[LuvAriel]

Well you are a WDW vet, you will want to put much of your WDW know-how aside in order to plan an enjoyable DLR visit. As similar as the 2 are (and they really aren't beyond theme and some attractions), the experience at each is VERY different.

Dining is just one area where this is true. Dining at DL and WDW is completely different. When DH and I went to WDW, we didn't understand why we needed ADRs everywhere, but we made a few just to "follow good advice." Once there for 1 day, we understood how important ADRs are at WDW and booked as many as we could for our remaining days (we got VERY lucky in our efforts). They are not needed in that way at DLR. There are a few select restaurants that you will want to get PS for, but not anything like WDW.

Likewise, the dining plan at WDW is huge, at DLR, not. It's just one of the very many things that are different. Remember, they are different places - both with amazing things to their own right, but they are very different. Enjoy the differences.

- Dreams

Thanks! I am too excited for words to experience DLR for ALL that it is worth!! I am looking forward to discovering all the differences good and or not so good!!

 

[disfaninca]

There is Hotel Circle right in Mission Bay in SD that has quite a few hotels to choose from. There is also the Bahia Hotel right there in Mission bay off the water. All of these places are right by SW.
Try this link and click on map view. This is the best one I could find to give you an idea of where the hotels are. I hope this helps

http://www.hotels.com/search.do?poi...k=false&showSimilarDestinations=true&children

 

[LuvAriel]

There is Hotel Circle right in Mission Bay in SD that has quite a few hotels to choose from. There is also the Bahia Hotel right there in Mission bay off the water. All of these places are right by SW.
Try this link and click on map view. This is the best one I could find to give you an idea of where the hotels are. I hope this helps

http://www.hotels.com/search.do?poi...k=false&showSimilarDestinations=true&children

OMG!! Thank you so much, this is such a BIG help.

Thanks again

 

[WyoDisneyFan]

LuvAriel, here is what we do. DS7 loves Disney but also must see Sea World and Universal every trip we go. We usually book a hotel right out side the park. (Fairfield last time.) We then go to Greyline of Anaheim and book our trips to (Universal and San Diego Zoo , Sea World). That gives you transportation and park tickets. The advantage that I have found with this is that it allows you to stay next to Disney but see the other attractions without having to worry about transportation or booking hotels in diffrent places. It is a Day trip to each of the parks you don't have to worry about moving as they pick you up and bring you back to your hotel outside Disney everyday. I think the other parks are very doable in a day just my opinon.
If you really want to stay in San Diego (which is a great city) as part of your trip Hotel Circle is a good place to stay as it has a central location and affordible rates.