Planning a last Trip to DL (update on post 18)

[kc10family]

I am in the process of planning our last trip to DL for a very long time.
The AF is moving us and we will no longer be able to just drive down to our second home when we feel like it.

I am so very sad, it is hard to plan the fun when I know it's the last for at least 3-4 years.

We will be driving a car, van and trailer on the van... no fun.
Kennel the dog? Ship the dog? that is drama in itself.

where to stay that will take our two cars and trailer?
no AP's for us this time so who to get our tickets from?
How to tell the girls we wont get to come back anytime soon?

I am happy to go, but so very sad at the same time.

 

[TokyoDina]

How soon are you planning this trip? If you want to go cheap I know you can stay at Coronado but that means getting up earlier to drive up to Anaheim. You can get your tickets at ITT it's usually a little cheaper not by too much but better than paying at the door. There are tons of hotels around DL I would suggest checking the forums for reviews on them and DL also has a kennel you can keep your dog in while you are at the parks.

That really stinks that you can't go for awhile I know how you feel but ITT also does great trip planning that can get you back to the park. Where are you going if you don't mind my asking. And good luck where ever it may be!

 

[vettegirl]

Hope you guys enjoy your trip and good luck on your PCS. I would for sure check out the ITT at your base, that is where is I buy all my Disney tickets.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Are you able to still utilize Disney's Armed Forces Salute 3Day Park Hopper? If your husband hasn't used it yet, he can get a free three day park hopper and up to five family members can get a three day hopper for the price of a one day hopper. The deal was supposed to expire in June but was extended to the end of September. Mouse Planet has information on their August 10 Park Update. Here's the link:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/8936/Disneyland_Resort_Update#Discounts

You've probably already used this, but I didn't want to assume you knew about it if you didn't and have you miss out.

 

[pixiewings71]

Where are they sending you? I think your best hotel bet would be the HoJo. They have a HUGE parking lot, more than enough room for your van/trailer combo. I bet if you called in house ressies and talked to Jennifer or Lorealle they'd be happy to help you plan this trip and make it magical!! We have seen RVs parked in the HoJo lot, and we've never had a problem parking when we drive down. I'd also call the DLR itself, see if there is anything they can suggest to make the trip extra special, what about doing the flag retreat ceremony?

 

[kc10family]

Oh man! I am now mad at you all! I had not cried about this in four days and because of all your nice words I am stinkin crying again.

(you all do know I am not mad mad at you... right?)

OUr norm is to go down with tickets we buy from whomever has the best deal at the time. Sometimes it's the base, AAA Walt Disney Travel Company, etc. Then we upgrade after we use our early morning and use our AP's at least once more before we do the enitre deal again.
By the way, it is a great way to do it because you can get great deals on the time you buy tickets and your AP doesn't get updated when you don;t have a trip scheduled. I am not sure if I said thast right or not, but I hope you got the idea. It just makes the money spent on tickets and AP's go far.

Most of my first post was a bit of Whining. I am sad that our norm is not going to happen. And once we leave the Bay Area... we leave and will not be back for at least 3-4 years (DH might ret by then).
So we have to figure out what to do with the dog. I have seen a few places to kennel her, but then she will have to spend hours in the van then a hotel and then a kennel.. I am not sure that is the nicest thing to do to her. So maybe we can get a friend to take her for a week and then put her on a plane. what to do what to do.

We have stayed at many hotels in the area and I for one would rather not stay off site or off Harbor... but with two car and a trailer (somethings you just don't want the movers to touch or break) I am not sure what hotel to deal with.

As of now we have been told we can report in Jan so we would leave the 4th or 5th drive to Dl spend a few days (cry my back side off) then drive to the middle of the US and end up at the St. Louis area.

I don't think schedules of money will allow for us to get back to DL while we are out there, as of now DH said it just would not work out.

I feel like I am singing a country song... my bf left me, my dog died, my car broke down, I lost my job, broke a nail and got a rip in my favorite dress.

Pixie wings- thank you for the info on the HOJO, we have never stayed with them, but I am looking into everyone this time.

If anyone wants to send me some cheese to go with my whine.. please do.

3Tinks- thank you for the FYI on the free tickets, but we will not be able to go before Sept. Now if they extend it again to the way WDW has it (23 Dec) then I will talk DH into because that would save on two tickets (I am in as well) and the kids would be cheap. And we would not have to deal with trailers, two cars etc.

 

[pixiewings71]

I have some extra cheese! And believe you me, I'll be crying on here when our APs expire in early Jan! You know, you should jump on over to the HoJo website and see if they have the Ent Rate for your possible dates, you might get lucky and you'd want to book it now!!! You would need an Ent card but those are easy to get. And honestly, I think if you talk to Lorealle or Jennifer they will do whatever they can to help you get a great rate. I do know there are some kennels around DL but I don't know anything about them, we leave our doggies at home being puppy sat or we kennel them down here. I also know that the Anaheim Plaza (I think that's the one) allows dogs but they have parking fees and a small lot, I don't think they could accommodate your trailer.

Don't cry, just think how awesome it will be to make it back to DL when you're able to!! That's what kept me going last time, I know it's going to keep me going soon!

 

[kari12177]

I know how you feel. Because of the economy my DLH has less work and we cant afford a DL trip. If things were normal, we would have been going this Jan. So Im hoping for maybe Jan 2011. But I used to go to DL every year since I was 1 and never missed a year. So for someone to tell me I cant go, Im having major withdrawls now!

 

[maleficent's goon]

Another option is the Motel 6 on Disney Way--not as nice as HOJO but our stay this year showed they're trying to keep it up better then they did last year. The website says they do allow pets and they have a larger parking lot so they might be able to accommodate you (although it'd probably be best to call) Plus the walk to the park would probably be good for the dog before the Disneyland kennel.

 

[disneynerd420]

The walk from the motel 6 is long. I would avoid it. I've heard that the Red lion also accepts pets, but I'm not sure on their parking lot or distance to the park.

 

[ballarinamom]

I can feel your pain about not coming back to DL for a few years. We have a trip scheduled for November. LAST November's trip was to be our last until Carsland is done. DH has trips planned to Europe, Hawaii and the Bahamas in between. (Not bad I admit but not DL!)
I talked him into doing this fall's trip as birthday/Christmas present to everyone but I know this will be it until 2013. It will be fun and DD wil have no concept of not coming back for a while because we told her last trip would be it for a while.
Maybe explain to your kids about all the changes coming to the park and how awesome they will be when they are completed. You want take a Disney break to get the park in perfect shape for next trip. Maybe that might help if you focus on the changes to look forward to

 

[maleficent's goon]

The walk from the motel 6 is long. I would avoid it. I've heard that the Red lion also accepts pets, but I'm not sure on their parking lot or distance to the park.

True..maybe 2 blocks or less. Good for the dog, so-so for the humans. However the Red Lion is past Katella on the edge of the strawberry fields if I remember right so I'd say that's definitely further away.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hojo for the parking lot, but I don't know about the dog/hotel allowance there.

I am not even sure you CAN put a pet on a plane you're not also on???? I might put him in the Disneyland Kennel during the days (you come back to feed and "exercise" him through the day, if I've heard correctly), walk him (walking back to a hotel would be a good walk!), and then give him his pack-time with his humans at night.

You might have some fun, on your own, checking out flights from wherever you'll be to the Anaheim area airports...might find that it's not SO hideous at some points during the year...it's possible things might be possible that you wouldn't think possible right now!

 

[sfarmbo]

No advise on Disneyland, but my ds was in STL for a few yrs before being stationed in Japan. There are a lot of free things in STL to do like the zoo, science center, and you must see the arch. For some real fun you can go up in the arch, but it means you must ride in a washing machine tub w/ at least 3-4 others .
Look on the bright side WDW is closer and lots of cheap flights from there. I fly there from Oregon to pick up my grandson for disney world and have gotten $99 round trip.

 

[forerx]

I agree with you very much!

 

[kc10family]

I am looking into the HOJO now (new hotel for us) and will be putting a few calls out this week to see what kind of deals are around.

DH is on a trip for a few weeks (much shorter than his Jan-Jun deployment this year) and I plan to have lots of ideas for him to review so we can make plans in stone for this trip.

I do hope that somehow DL will extend the military special they have now and keep it like WDW has it... I think it is good through Dec 23rd. If so some reason they do that I will see if we can go before Dec and that would save tons on ticket prices.

You all have great info and ideas. That is why I love the DIS... so many good people.

 

[Brady's Mom]

You might want to make reservations at HoJo, if you decide you might like to stay there. Their Ent. rate can sometimes go fast. They have a 48 hour cancellation policy with no penalty, so it might be something to think about.

 

[kc10family]

Good news and not so good...
the not so good is we are still scheduled to move
But the good is DH now thinks doing DL while moving is not a great idea so we are now looking at the Nov 13th weekend or Dec 4th weekend. I wish weekdays would work out, but they just don't seem to be. When we move they will miss about a week or more and I guess I just have issues with them missing a lot of school.

So now I have to pick a date and soon.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

so we are now looking at the Nov 13th weekend or Dec 4th weekend.

You may have already seen this, but Hojos has Nov. 14th-19th (and other days that month) available with the entertainment rate. We will be there the 13th-17th.

 

[kc10family]

I do not know what weekend to pick. This is driving me nuts!

Is the CP on or off this year? I have heard both. Anyone know for a fact if it is on or off?