OMG I just said we shouldnt go to Disneyland!!!

[Mickeybell]

I cant believe I just did this. But I think I just talked my husband out of going to Disneyland for Christmas time! I love Disneyland so much and I would go every day if I could.

My husband came home tonight and said we should go to Disneyland at Christmas time and to make it happen! Well after the initial excitement, the reality of money came down on me. He wants to stay at a Disney hotel and with our time frame (that would work with his schedule) the standard rooms at the Paradise Pier are all gone. And the upper level Paradise Pier or regular Disneyland Hotel are a few hundred more. Even staying at a hotel on Harbor it is still alot. We could probably pull it off but that would make Christmas time pretty tight.

I am so torn, I really really want to go at Christmas time but it will cost so much. (We own our own bread vendor route and when we take a vacation we not only have to pay for the vacation but we also have to pay someone to run the route for us while we are gone, so that cost also plays into effect for us.)

My DH really loves Disneyland at Christmas time and doesnt want to go any other time. So I think I convinced him that we should start planning now for next Christmas. We could make reservations for a nice room at one of the Disney hotels and start making payments on it now so next year we can spend a full week and have it be extra special.

I still cant believe I am the one to say we should not go to Disneyland. I am the one who is always wanting to go! Oh my goodness... Part of me feels like we should just do it, he works so hard and if he want to go I should just figure out a way, but the other part of me feels like we should wait until next year when we can plan more for it (and save more!). What do you guys think?

 

[jacs1234]

You are a very strong woman!!!!!!!!!!! But imagine the fun you would have next year if you saved it till then.

Just thought I'd add that I had a view suite booked at the Carousel Inn from the 25th of November until the 8 of December. We just cancelled it so that room would be available if you changed your mind

 

[becpee]

I think you're right.

Book it now for next year and save hard, and have a MASSIVE splurge!

 

[scrappinbear78]

What a hard decision to make, but I really think you made the right one. It is so hard to say no to something that you want to do so bad, but you have to come home and face reality once it is over. If you scrimp and scrap to go this year the trip won't be all that exciting because you will constantly be stressing about the money. If you make reservations now and put it off one more year, there are so many positive things that can come from it. You will enjoy your time more because you aren't stressing over the money, the construction should be done or a lot less, and the satisfaction that you went when you could afford it makes coming home less stressful!!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Why insist staying onsite? Offsite can be closer, nice and much cheaper; all we need is a clean place to sleep - we visit DLR to visit the parks.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

I would save for next year as well even if every part of me says, "Let's go NOW!"

It's always better to save and plan and have the peace of mind.

Even if you do a budget trip next year you'll at least have saved more for it and had plenty of time to plan.

 

[PinkBudgie]

We love the Candy Cane Inn right next door. We've never stayed on site because we can stay more days for the same price by staying at CCI. I'd still go, but find somewhere cheaper to stay. That right there would save hundreds!

 

[Huff]

We spend so little time in the hotel that its just not that important where we stay. We have a car so a hotel a 10-15 mins away is no big deal. We NEVER pay full rack rate for a hotel. Instead we use Priceline, Hotwire or see what other deals can be found. I've never spent more than $75/night and have always stayed at a 3 or 4 star hotel 5 miles or less from Disneyland. If you'll have a car your choices are much larger for a great hotel at a great rate!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Yeah I'd way rather go NOW and stay offsite than wait a whole year if I could make it happen. But if it's gonna be super tight, I'd probably do the same thing you are and wait. I still wouldn't stay onsite, but I'd save for all the fun extras Just think..a whole year to plan! I have a planning super far in advance thread around here somewhere. Come join LOL

 

[mapleleafmom]

1) staying at a place called candy cane inn for xmas..sounds awesome,..lol

2)i've never been to dl..so....fiscally..it may be smarter to postpone for a year

3)but....i know when dh declares a vacation.its cause he NEEDS one...and we can travel frugally or extravagantly...we make it work when we can.

4) only you know what you mean by tight

5) in my life ...i've learned the hard way that tommorrow is never promised..especially next year is never promised...i tend to enjoy family time NOW...and create memories today ..as tomorrow????

either way..come to a decision that feels right to you

 

[bumbershoot]

You are a very strong woman!!!!!!!!!!! But imagine the fun you would have next year if you saved it till then.

Just thought I'd add that I had a view suite booked at the Carousel Inn from the 25th of November until the 8 of December. We just cancelled it so that room would be available if you changed your mind

And that's closer to the gates of Disneyland park than any of the onsite hotels are!

 

[ter-moo]

If you like Disneyland at Christmas, go BEFORE Christmas (like during the first couple of weeks of December.) Prices in the hotels are cheaper, and the park is WAY less crowded.

If you do plan to go next year, I'd plan for that time if possible, or see what it would cost you this year to determine if it's doable--particularly at a non-Disney hotel. I agree with the previous poster about the Candy Cane--one of my favorites. I also really liked the Anabella Hotel. It's got lovely rooms and if you walk through the Grand Californian, it's not a very long walk to the parks--plus it's a NICE walk (through mainly Disneyfied property most of the way).

 

[Mickeybell]

Ahhhh! I am NOT strong!!! We are going to do it! I got my hubby to make a few compromises so I could make it work. We usually do stay on Harbor but he really wanted to stay onsite. He also wanted to go for 5 days. I have been online all day checking rates and I got a way for it to work out finacially for us. First we are going to go for 3 days instead of 5 and we are going to stay at the Tropicana. We are going to go the first week of December. (Now we just hopefully can find someone available to work our route for those days.)
We are driving so I will bring a case (or two) of water and snacks and food for the room.
The trip is going to make things a little tighter but it will be fine. He really needs this so we will make it happen.
So I was the strong one for all of about one day! Ha Ha!

After the holidays I will start putting money aside for next Christmas and we can go all out then.

 

[Mickeybell]

1)

5) in my life ...i've learned the hard way that tommorrow is never promised..especially next year is never promised...i tend to enjoy family time NOW...and create memories today ..as tomorrow????

Your right. I think it is much more important to have those memories and time together. My Dad (who is no longer with us) use to say "sometimes you just cant afford not to go." The memories I have of family time and trips with him are priceless.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

A cheap trip is better than no trip!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Yeah! Have fun! I wish I was going! We have to wait until summer because we are in between APs right now.

 

[jacs1234]

Oh Yay oh Yay Oh Yay! I'm so excited to hear that you can do it. I'm glad you're a little weakling and gave in.

Ahhhh! I am NOT strong!!! We are going to do it! I got my hubby to make a few compromises so I could make it work. We usually do stay on Harbor but he really wanted to stay onsite. He also wanted to go for 5 days. I have been online all day checking rates and I got a way for it to work out finacially for us. First we are going to go for 3 days instead of 5 and we are going to stay at the Tropicana. We are going to go the first week of December. (Now we just hopefully can find someone available to work our route for those days.)
We are driving so I will bring a case (or two) of water and snacks and food for the room.
The trip is going to make things a little tighter but it will be fine. He really needs this so we will make it happen.
So I was the strong one for all of about one day! Ha Ha!

After the holidays I will start putting money aside for next Christmas and we can go all out then.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Your right. I think it is much more important to have those memories and time together. My Dad (who is no longer with us) use to say "sometimes you just cant afford not to go." The memories I have of family time and trips with him are priceless.

I LOVE that quote.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Glad you were able to make it work for this year and next!