November 2011 Check In

[pattyduke34]

Dates: Nov 28 - Dec 4, will be staying at Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites. Bringing the whole family this trip ...DH,Me, DS 22, DS 19 & DD 14. I am so excited, just counting down the days. Have also signed in on the Christmas board too!!!

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

Our Dates are Nov 26- Dec 3. It will be my Mom, Dad, Brother and Boyfriend (Tommy). This trip will be our 6th year going during this time but this time we have extra special things going on. It will be me and Tommy's 10th Anniversary, my Mom's 50th Birthday and my Brothers Birthday. It will also be my parents first trip together since getting divorced 11 years ago, they are good friends so this is nothing odd. My brother was to young the last time my parents were together at DL so he is really excited. We will be staying at one of the DLRH more then likely our go to place PPH. I just cant wait!!

 

[mariezp]

If airfare doesn't go down by about 40% we may end up driving. That will really suck, but I refuse to pay $1000 or more for three of us to fly from Seattle. We are used to paying around $600. My husband is really adverse to driving, so we shall see.

I hope the airfare goes down for you too. I don't like driving myself so I totally understand but I could see why you might. $1000 is way too much for airfare. Even ours from Texas is not quite that high!
I remember you from last November's thread. Looks like you are like us and really like that month. It's a good one!

I keep meaning to find a countdown ticker ...We are very excited about this trip. At least once a day we find our way to the DIS and some of the other Disney Fan sites to get a Disney fix
A few things we are planning on, Fantasmic premium viewing with dessert, Thanksgiving dinner at Napa Rose and checking out all the new things at the Disneyland Hotel.
So far we are planning on driving...but if we can find a cheap SW airfare we will fly.
This is only our second time going to Disneyland during the holidays, the last time we did Holiday Disney was during the 50th celebration.

Have a fun summer and before we know it ...DISNEYLAND

Get that ticker! In our house they really come in handy whenever someone wants to know how much longer til our vacation. Someone usually asks everyday..... plus they look cute in your siggie! I also try to see what's new on the DIS and other sites everyday. Not to mention that my e-mail stays bombarded with messages related to Disneyland pretty regularly.
Last night we started up a Disneyland game of 20 questions. Yes, we are indeed ready to make our way back to the park! (I also learned something. I spend way too much time behind the camera. This year I am going to pay more attention to details so I will be ready for those 20 question games!)
Love your plans so far. We have done the Fantasmic viewing and I would not want to watch it any other way. Not sure what special treat we will do this year. Hmmm.....dining? a tour? WOC? possibly Fantasmic dessert seating? So many great choices! Time to start giving it more thought.
I keep checking with Southwest too hoping I will find a cheap deal but even when I do I can't bring myself to go for a flight that takes 3 or 4 hours more because of the extra stops. I don't know if that is just because of my area or it's like that in all areas but it's hardly worth it to me to save a few bucks but end up in airports all day long. In my case I will probably end up sticking with American so we can get there in 3 hours but I will be hoping you get a good deal through Southwest so you don't have to drive.
We were there for the 50th too. Hopefully there will be many more trips for you after this one!

Our Dates are Nov 26- Dec 3. It will be my Mom, Dad, Brother and Boyfriend (Tommy). This trip will be our 6th year going during this time but this time we have extra special things going on. It will be me and Tommy's 10th Anniversary, my Mom's 50th Birthday and my Brothers Birthday. It will also be my parents first trip together since getting divorced 11 years ago, they are good friends so this is nothing odd. My brother was to young the last time my parents were together at DL so he is really excited. We will be staying at one of the DLRH more then likely our go to place PPH. I just cant wait!!

That is a lot of special days! Can't think of a better place to celebrate than Disneyland!

 

[Sherry E]

It never dawned on me that I needed to get on the November list, but I guess I do! I am so used to being on December check-in lists, although my upcoming holiday trip is going to cover both months.

Right now I am booked at the PPH, from November 28 - December 5.

If I keep those dates, this will be the longest DLR stay I have ever had and may be the longest DLR trip I ever take! (I got a fantastic hotel rate this time around, which is why I wanted to add on some extra nights while I could. I will probably not get that chance again.) I am waiting for my disorganized, unruly group of friends to figure out when they are joining me, and if it turns out that everyone is kind of shifting to the November end of the trip, then I will probably cut off a couple of the December nights and shorten the trip.

However, if I am there for that full December weekend, I hope to be able to try to catch the Candlelight Processional if I can find some tickets.

It seems like there will be quite a few of us who are at DLR at that time, from what I have read in the Christmas Superthread and what I see here in this thread!

 

[rentayenta]

Put me down for Nov 27-30 at the GCV. Hoping my waitlist comes thru and I'll be on the Dec list too.

 

[FlameGirl]

It never dawned on me that I needed to get on the November list, but I guess I do! I am so used to being on December check-in lists, although my upcoming holiday trip is going to cover both months.

Right now I am booked at the PPH, from November 28 - December 5.

If I keep those dates, this will be the longest DLR stay I have ever had and may be the longest DLR trip I ever take! (I got a fantastic hotel rate this time around, which is why I wanted to add on some extra nights while I could. I will probably not get that chance again.) I am waiting for my disorganized, unruly group of friends to figure out when they are joining me, and if it turns out that everyone is kind of shifting to the November end of the trip, then I will probably cut off a couple of the December nights and shorten the trip.

However, if I am there for that full December weekend, I hope to be able to try to catch the Candlelight Processional if I can find some tickets.

It seems like there will be quite a few of us who are at DLR at that time, from what I have read in the Christmas Superthread and what I see here in this thread!

Nice! I even know what you look like so I'll tackle you and say hi if see you.

 

[Sherry E]

Nice! I even know what you look like so I'll tackle you and say hi if see you.

Yay! Hopefully, with any luck, once I figure out who is going to be with me and when, and which days will be my solo days, I can actually plan to meet up with you so you won't have to tackle me in the middle of POTC or something!

But if chaos ensues - which it probably will with my group of friends - and everything is up in the air until the last minute, leaving me unable to make a definite plan, then yes, by all means, stop me if you see me moseying on by. I'll even show you photos of the friends who will be with me (once that's all settled) so you will have a better shot at finding me!

 

[FlameGirl]

Yes let's definitely keep in touch and coordinate if possible...that would be a lot of fun to meet you.

You know what I look like too from FB though you may not know that I am sadly not married to Christian Bale.

 

[MickeyLiz]

Checking in for the holiday season, and praying the crowds will be kind to us. We usually go to WDW during this time of year, but have decided to switch gears and go to DL, where we hear the decorations are over the top! Can't wait to see the reindeer barn! We have attended the WDW MVMCP twice and loved it. We will arrive Nov. 17 and will stay the first two nights at DL Hotel, since we have some reservation points that need used up. Then we are moving to the GC Villas, in a two bedroom, for Nov. 19-25. This will be our first time in our DVC California home. We also own at BLT, but fell in love with the GCV when we saw the models. Hoping the big Thanksgiving buffet will be held at DLH this year!

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

Right now I am booked at the PPH, from November 28 - December 5.

If I keep those dates, this will be the longest DLR stay I have ever had and may be the longest DLR trip I ever take! (I got a fantastic hotel rate this time around, which is why I wanted to add on some extra nights while I could. I will probably not get that chance again.)

I have been looking for months for good rates at PPH. I hope you don't mind me asking what rate you got.

 

[Sherry E]

I have been looking for months for good rates at PPH. I hope you don't mind me asking what rate you got.

No, I don't mind at all! I only wish I could say that this rate was available for everyone, but it's not.

Basically, long story short, when I stayed at the PPH last December there was some confusion with my billing and how much they 'held' on my card even after I already paid them in full. They never asked me which card they could use. It was a big mess, and I didn't even realize what they had done until I got home from my holiday trip! Meanwhile, I had been spending money on the card that they held some of my money on, not realizing I didn't have that money available!

So, I called the PPH as soon as I figured it out. I also sent a letter to Guest Communications via the DLR website Comments (or whatever it's called). A couple of weeks later I received a call from someone in GC, and later a letter. They realized their mistake, apologized for it and wanted to "make it right." They couldn't have been nicer.

I was shocked when GC offered me one totally free night at the PPH, free parking, and $99 for each additional night of my stay!! I was absolutely not expecting that. They are also giving me VIP seating/viewing for the shows or parades of my choice, if available. It was really above and beyond the call of duty. I don't even have to put any money down for a deposit - the total is due upon check-in.

So, knowing that I will probably never again get such a good rate, I told my out of state friends that they'd better hustle out here and stay with me because it's never going to be any cheaper than that to stay onsite. And I figured I'd better make it a nice long holiday stay to take advantage of that rate!

If I keep all 7 nights, I will be paying only about $105 more (roughly) than I paid to stay at PPH for 3 nights last December! That's a deal!


Have you tried doing the "Saved Offers" trick on the DLR website? You may at least get a PIN code for $163-ish for PPH if you try that. All you have to do is make sure you create a My Disneyland account on the DLR website. Plug in some dates for the hotel of your choice at the rate they are showing right now...don't book anything or pay anything. Just click the Save Offer button at the bottom of the offer. It will save to your My Disneyland account, and when DLR sees that you are not booking anything they will most likely send you out a better rate in an e-mail. It worked for me last December, and it has worked for several other DIS'ers. DLR does not send those PIN codes to everyone - hardly anyone received the one I used for $163 per night last year, from what the Cast Members told me. But Saving the hotel rates/offers seems to be the key!

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

Wow that is awesome that what they did. I have not tried that trick but will head over there now and try (fingers crossed). The best deal I got ever was through Expedia 2009 $100.00 a night for PPH

 

[Katiepotatie]

We are coming in November, 2-12, its our first ever Disney Trip, actually first time in the states too! We are coming all the way from Christchurch New Zealand, devastated by two major quakes in 6 months (the ground is still moving) so we REALLY need a break and looking forward to this trip has been something really important for us all to look forward to through some tough times around here.

So sad to read the of the other poster losing her precious son, I can't begin to imagine, I wish you all the love and support in the world.

We are staying at Hojos 2-12 November, all tips welcome

 

[Disneyanajc]

Found a ticker Now the countdown is on!

 

[Sherry E]

Fellow DIS'er jernysgirl discovered today that the holiday season dates will be:

Monday, November 14, 2011 - Sunday, January 8, 2012!!

Here is the DLR website link to the holiday page: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/events/holidays/

I think that most of the parks' decor that we expected to go up by 11/11/11 (when we thought the season would start on that date) will be up before 11/14.

Things like the 3 DLR hotels will still not be decorated until after Thanksgiving.

But the seasonal entertainment most likely will not begin until 11/14, including the snow on Main Street, the fireworks, the nighttime Winter Castle, Santa, carolers, the Reindeer Round-Up, etc.

We are not used to the holiday season beginning on a Monday. This should be interesting to see what crowds are like. Extra people usually show up at the park when a season begins, just for novelty's sake. Now that it's starting on a Monday, I wonder if that means the 'season opening day' crowds will be lighter or heavier?

 

[mariezp]

Yay for new info BUT is starting the holiday season on a Monday not just a bit strange? Doesn't it usually begin with a big weekend kick off on a Friday? Guess they are straying from the usual to keep us guessing. Call me biased, since our last day in the park will be on Friday, the 11th, but I personally will be hoping that someone looked at the calendar wrong and they start on the 11th.

 

[Quacktatty]

10/31 - 11/5 - HoJo

 

[Sherry E]

Yay for new info BUT is starting the holiday season on a Monday not just a bit strange? Doesn't it usually begin with a big weekend kick off on a Friday? Guess they are straying from the usual to keep us guessing. Call me biased, since our last day in the park will be on Friday, the 11th, but I personally will be hoping that someone looked at the calendar wrong and they start on the 11th.

Marie - It's very odd to me that it's a Monday, for sure, but it's not so odd to me that they are not beginning the season on 11/11/11 this year. I thought 11/18 might be the day...until I saw that HalloweenTime was ending on 10/31 exactly and not carrying into November. Then I figured it would be 11/11.

But my very first thought when this year began and I was looking at the calendar, trying to figure out when DLR would start and end its 2 holiday seasons (including Halloween), was that 11/11/11 is Veteran's Day. In the past, the season has mostly started after Veterans Day, even if just one day later. I kind of had a feeling that DLR may want to properly honor the Veterans without all the holiday season starting hoopla sort of interfering with it.

That could be one reason for the 11/14 date.

Another reason is simply that they are extending the season all the way to 1/8/12!! I expected an end date of maybe 1/2 or 1/3 - even 1/6. In no way did I think they would extend it to 1/8. So because there are more days of the season in January, it's possible DLR decided to cut off a few days in November to balance it out a bit more.

Another theory mentioned by jernysgirl in the Christmas Superthread is that the Christmas Parade filming will most likely occur on 11/12. And the season always officially starts after the parade filiming, correct?

I am guessing that 11/11 was just not convenient this year, or it seemed too early. And 11/18 seemed too late given how popular the season has become. So they stepped outside the box and chose Monday!

I'm just shocked that the dates appeared on the DLR site now! It's early! They are getting better with their announcements of season dates in advance!

I just wonder if the crowds who flock to the parks for holiday season opening day WILL actually still flock there on a Monday?

 

[mvf-m11c]

I'm glad that DL has announced the Holiday dates for this year. I was kind of surprise to see that it will start on Monday instead of the 2nd weekend of November. It will be very interesting to see how crowded the parks will be on Monday. At least the website said that all the Holiday events will happen at the DLR like always.

For my dates, I will be staying at BW Anaheim Inn with my DA on 11/18 to 11/20. I have enjoyed being at DL during the month of November and decided to do it again on the third week of November.

 

[mariezp]

WOOHOO! Just bought our airline tickets. American Airlines has a fantastic sale right now! Plus I got to use my Entertainment book coupon for another $40 off. Total round trip $210 per person. Compared to last year which was $372. Saved us almost $650!!!! Made my day!