Out of State Disneyland Trip Planning Thread

[Neurodude84]

That sounds like a great plan. I’m sure you know, but get tickets to Alcatraz ahead of time. If you have time, the Academy of Sciences is awesome and the De Young Museum is right across the street from that, if you enjoy things like that.

Definitely try the clam chowder - and the Boudin Bakery if they’re open.

Thanks!

 

[jacandjan]

That’s going to be the low key portion of the trip. Definitely Alcatraz and visit the Golden Gate. Maybe the Walt Disney Museum. And eat a lot lol. Any recommendations?

Agree with DisneyJamieCA, get tickets for Alcatraz before you get there or it could be sold out. Disney Family Museum is a must !! Fort Point under the Golden State Bridge is free and interesting if you like that kind of stuff.

 

[Neurodude84]

How big is the Disney Museum? Like how long would most people spend there?

 

[jacandjan]

How big is the Disney Museum? Like how long would most people spend there?

It is multiple levels plus another building if they have a special exhibition going on. We have been there twice and we usually go 2 to 3 hours. It depends on how you like to do museums, are you a read every sign person or just a hitting the highlights kind of person.

 

[Katiebird]

We are coming from Connecticut, so this is a big trip for us. My wife and kids have never been to the West Coast. I last came in 2005. We fly into San Diego for a couple days (the Zoo, wife wants to do a canyon hike) and then we drive up to USH for a day followed by five nights at the Grand Californian (just waiting for the official GO for tix). Then we fly up to San Francisco for 3 nights then home. Getting excited! Just want those park reservations and dining!

We have a rental car from San Diego to the Grand Californian and then will rely on Uber to the airport and in San Francisco.

That sounds like a great trip! You may already be aware, but depending on the time of year, some of the canyon hikes can be very dangerous - it’s not unheard of for people to have to be airlifted out. There are many many hiking trails that are just fine, but it’s something to be aware of and double check if you haven’t already.

 

[ten6mom]

Just now saw this thread after I posted in the Reopening Speculation thread. Oops!

In any event I am out of state and have booked a hotel reservation for fall break in early October. Hoping to be able to take my 14 yo son who has been waiting patiently... oh so patiently.

 

[abent]

Just now saw this thread after I posted in the Reopening Speculation thread. Oops!

In any event I am out of state and have booked a hotel reservation for fall break in early October. Hoping to be able to take my 14 yo son who has been waiting patiently... oh so patiently.

I too am a “ hopeful OOS” with a trip in October and December on my calendar. Repeat bookings from the previous year. It is challenging being both hopeful and realistic that we have little to actually be able to do to plan! Fingers crossed the next weeks are filled with great information for us all to be able to get our trips planned!

 

[edhmom]

We are coming from Connecticut, so this is a big trip for us. My wife and kids have never been to the West Coast. I last came in 2005. We fly into San Diego for a couple days (the Zoo, wife wants to do a canyon hike) and then we drive up to USH for a day followed by five nights at the Grand Californian (just waiting for the official GO for tix). Then we fly up to San Francisco for 3 nights then home. Getting excited! Just want those park reservations and dining!

We have a rental car from San Diego to the Grand Californian and then will rely on Uber to the airport and in San Francisco.

The Golden Gate Bridge is usually really windy, so be sure to wear layers. It frequently surprises people which is why I am mentioning it.
A cable car ride would be fun. Hopefully they are running when you go. There's also a free (!) cable car museum which is fun depending on the people. I was fine with 20-30 minutes there. DH and the rest of his family probably spent an hour. They had benches around so I just rested.
Chinatown is an experience worth walking thru.
Depending on time of year it's fun to see the sea lions on Pier 39.
Golden Gate Park is beautiful. I don't know how old your kids are, but several years ago we rented Segways and rode around the park. You can get tours, but our was self guided so we were on our own. Very fun! You can also rent bikes or walk if that's more your speed.
Boudin Bakery for clam chowder in a bread bowl.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

We are gonna be in CA in late June and have been hoping that the park will be open to OOS then. I worry though that even if it is open we won't be able to get reservations. That being said even if the parks aren't open to OOS will we at least be able to go to Downtown Disney or is that for CA residents only too?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We are gonna be in CA in late June and have been hoping that the park will be open to OOS then. I worry though that even if it is open we won't be able to get reservations. That being said even if the parks aren't open to OOS will we at least be able to go to Downtown Disney or is that for CA residents only too?

Yes, you are absolutely allowed into Downtown Disney!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Yes, you are absolutely allowed into Downtown Disney!

Thank you! At least we will have that then.

 

[ten6mom]

This isn't a specific OOS question, but: Does anyone know if the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose will open when the restaurant does? My husband I would come down just for that...

 

[Neurodude84]

Thank you! At least we will have that then.

I don’t know if you already have hotel, but the Disney hotels have a separate park reservation bucket. If you book a stay onsite, you are far more likely to score a reservation once they open up.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

I don’t know if you already have hotel, but the Disney hotels have a separate park reservation bucket. If you book a stay onsite, you are far more likely to score a reservation once they open up.

Sadly we aren't staying on site.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

Here's some "take with a grain of salt" gossip- I talked to a rep at Get Away Today and she told me they're recommending all their OOS customers to book their reservations after June 15th and that they've heard from Disney that the IT people are working on changing the little checkbox for CA residency to be removed for dates after June 15th. But it's complicated since the website needs to keep it for dates before June 15th. (Please no down the rabbit hole OOS reservation debates so we don't break any rules- just relaying what I was told!)

Again, grain of salt but maybe it means we'll hear something soon. They work closely with DL so there might be something to it. And honestly would make total sense if Disney IT is what's slowing this down.

 

[wishing4PA]

I don’t know if you already have hotel, but the Disney hotels have a separate park reservation bucket. If you book a stay onsite, you are far more likely to score a reservation once they open up.

Do you know if that's true of the Good Neighbor Hotels when booked as a package through Disney?

Also, I didn't see mention elsewhere about a separate "bucket". It makes sense to me that they would, which is the reason I was looking at packages. But that was just a hunch on my part. What's your source on that? I'd love for my hunch to be right, for once.

 

[Neurodude84]

Do you know if that's true of the Good Neighbor Hotels when booked as a package through Disney?

Also, I didn't see mention elsewhere about a separate "bucket". It makes sense to me that they would, which is the reason I was looking at packages. But that was just a hunch on my part. What's your source on that? I'd love for my hunch to be right, for once.

Only on-site.

 

[Neurodude84]

Here's some "take with a grain of salt" gossip- I talked to a rep at Get Away Today and she told me they're recommending all their OOS customers to book their reservations after June 15th and that they've heard from Disney that the IT people are working on changing the little checkbox for CA residency to be removed for dates after June 15th. But it's complicated since the website needs to keep it for dates before June 15th. (Please no down the rabbit hole OOS reservation debates so we don't break any rules- just relaying what I was told!)

Again, grain of salt but maybe it means we'll hear something soon. They work closely with DL so there might be something to it. And honestly would make total sense if Disney IT is what's slowing this down.

Can confirm. This is being disseminated to travel agents. It’s just a bit complicated to only have this for certain dates, especially if someone books a package including dates before and after 6/15, but they’ll get it done (or just manage pre-6/15 case-by-case). Most dates through 6/15 are already booked unless you’re on-site, which would be the “case-by-case” just at the Grand Californian.

 

[wishing4PA]

Oh! I saw that before! I think I've been looking so hard at airfares, and trying to decide between California and France which risk(s) to take, that I missed that! (I mean I didn't quite "get" how that would apply to Good Neighbors.) Thanks!
Now I wish I'd realized that before I showed DD the Castle Inn & Suites pic.

 

[DiznyDiva]

Has anyone noticed that you cant book or get any hours for ANY downtown restaurants after July 11th. And before that there are plenty of them available so you cant tell me this is them all being booked. IT's every place including the Bowling alley. And Lamplight you cant book or get any hours after July 4th. Any ideas?