Planning Labor Day Weekend Trip

[disneymum58]

I am planning a surprise trip for my two boys Aug. 31 - Sept. 4. The dates can't be changed. It's going to be really busy, but I know how to plan around that. And we will be returning New Year's for a week long stay. Still trying to decide where to stay this time though?

Usually we stay at a hotel that is walking distance like the BWPPI, but this trip I am finding it difficult to find a hotel with availability Sept. 1.
Has anyone here stayed at the DoubleTree Suites - Anaheim Resort? I would need to use the ART and haven't done that before. How long is the shuttle ride and does it operate early enough for MM?

Also, I haven't decided which day would be best to use my MM (Sat or Sun) so any recommendations on that would be appreciated.

Carsland is new to us too so I'm wondering how best to go on RSR when others have early admittance and we won't.

 

[merrrydeath]

On top of being a busy holiday weekend, there is also the half marathon going on, so hours are a little different. There won't be a magic morning on Sunday to make time for the race, so you'll need to use your Magic Morning on Saturday

I haven't stayed at the hotel that you mentioned, so I can't weigh in there.

I was in Disneyland last labor day weekend, and it was definitely busy but I found it do-able. Just get there early each day and take advantage of fast passes.

 

[Dramamama]

Touring plans puts the crowd levels for labor day weekend at a 6.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[disneymum58]

Touring plans puts the crowd levels for labor day weekend at a 6.=QUOTE]

I've been there on days when they rated crowd levels 10 so I guess we'll be fine.

 

[MrsMears]

I can't help you choose Monday morning. However, I always recommend the Anaheim Maingate Motel6. Not only do I show availability but I quickly googled a discount code that brought the rooms down to $66, $62 and $48 a night.

 

[merrrydeath]

I've been there on days when they rated crowd levels 10 so I guess we'll be fine.

Touring Plans crowd predictions for Disneyland are not reliable. I would expect it to be very crowded and then be pleased if it's not.

I can't help you choose Monday morning. However, I always recommend the Anaheim Maingate Motel6. Not only do I show availability but I quickly googled a discount code that brought the rooms down to $66, $62 and $48 a night.

I'll second Motel 6 Maingate. I stayed there Memorial Weekend and it was surprisingly nice. If you can get that great of a deal, I'd go for it. You are really close to the freeway so if you want to drive it is actually rather quick.

 

[Melissabunny]

There won't be a magic morning on Sunday to make time for the race,

Will there be a MM on Sunday in CA? Or not anywhere? Thanks!

 

[kim3339]

There won't be a MM on Saturday b/c of the 5k race. That 1 is in both of the parks and won't end until close to 8am, and park people have to clear the course after the runners to clean and make sure no one is hanging around.

Double check for Sunday MM on the DL site ~ last year they did have the MM on Sunday, b/c runners will be out of the parks by 8am. But they might not do it this year.

 

[merrrydeath]

Will there be a MM on Sunday in CA? Or not anywhere? Thanks!

There is an early entry into DCA on Sunday, but that won't mean anything to you unless you are staying at a DLR hotel. If you have a 3-day parkhopper that only qualifies you for one MM at Disneyland.

There won't be a MM on Saturday b/c of the 5k race. That 1 is in both of the parks and won't end until close to 8am, and park people have to clear the course after the runners to clean and make sure no one is hanging around.

Double check for Sunday MM on the DL site ~ last year they did have the MM on Sunday, b/c runners will be out of the parks by 8am. But they might not do it this year.

That is where I am getting my information from. She is welcome to double check me at Disneyland.com There is a MM in Disneyland on Saturday from 8am to the 9am park opening. They are showing NO MM on Sunday September 2.

 

[Padstack]

There won't be a MM on Saturday b/c of the 5k race. That 1 is in both of the parks and won't end until close to 8am, and park people have to clear the course after the runners to clean and make sure no one is hanging around.

Double check for Sunday MM on the DL site ~ last year they did have the MM on Sunday, b/c runners will be out of the parks by 8am. But they might not do it this year.

The runners should be clear by 7am from CA. The race starts at 5:45 and has 7 waves that go off every few minutes. That will be an hour from the very beginning to the last few runners to get through CA based on the 16 min/mile pace requirement. It will be another 30 - 40 minutes before DL is clear of runners.

I hope that this is the case too, cause I plan to go into CA for the MM when I am finished with the race on Sunday.

Edited to add: the calendar at the DL site shows earl entry for CA, but not DL. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendar/#/default/2012/09/02

 

[disneymum58]

There is a MM in Disneyland on Saturday from 8am to the 9am park opening. They are showing NO MM on Sunday September 2.

This is my dilemma? There is no EE for anyone to DCA on Saturday, so that looks like it might be the best day for us to get on RSR since we are not staying onsite?
There is EE on Monday for DL from 7-8, so we could go then? No EE to DL on Sunday for anyone.
Does that sound like a good plan? We only have one EE to use at DL.

 

[merrrydeath]

This is my dilemma? There is no EE for anyone to DCA on Saturday, so that looks like it might be the best day for us to get on RSR since we are not staying onsite?
There is EE on Monday for DL from 7-8, so we could go then? No EE to DL on Sunday for anyone.
Does that sound like a good plan? We only have one EE to use at DL.

Sounds smart to me! If further down the line this schedule stays the same, I would do DCA on Saturday to be there the earliest, and then MM on Monday. You'll get a little sleep-in on Sunday too which'll be a nice break in between.

 

[kim3339]

That is where I am getting my information from. She is welcome to double check me at Disneyland.com There is a MM in Disneyland on Saturday from 8am to the 9am park opening. They are showing NO MM on Sunday September 2.

Sorry, I saw the no MM for DCA and not DL. Tip if you're going to do DL MM on Saturday though. If you're coming through security on the DTD side, get there earlier than you would normally. The past 3 or 4 years we've exited DCA next to Soarin(where they had the exit before everything opened again in June). So the security lines have been really long b/c of the runners and their family as well as people trying to get in the park. Not sure about the Harbor side of the security b/c I've always been going back to the hotel, but I wouldn't imagine it being as bad as the DTD side. It could be a little different now that everything is back to normal in DCA, but you might want to get there a little earlier just in case.

The runners should be clear by 7am from CA. The race starts at 5:45 and has 7 waves that go off every few minutes. That will be an hour from the very beginning to the last few runners to get through CA based on the 16 min/mile pace requirement. It will be another 30 - 40 minutes before DL is clear of runners.

I was using 8 b/c that's the MM opening on Sunday. But the 5k will be close to 8am on Saturday, b/c it starts at 6:45.

 

[disneymum58]

It sounds like I am on the right track with my planning.
My good news for the day was that I called BWPPI back and they let me book all three nights (previously they didn't have any rooms available Sept. 1)

 

[Padstack]

I was using 8 b/c that's the MM opening on Sunday. But the 5k will be close to 8am on Saturday, b/c it starts at 6:45.

I forgot to state that my comments are for Sunday for the Half-Marathon.

 

[Porturican]

I can't help you choose Monday morning. However, I always recommend the Anaheim Maingate Motel6. Not only do I show availability but I quickly googled a discount code that brought the rooms down to $66, $62 and $48 a night.

Can you share the discount codes you found, is it the one for 10%? or share the wording you used to search as i only find 1 code for them.

TYIA

 

[kim3339]

It sounds like I am on the right track with my planning.
My good news for the day was that I called BWPPI back and they let me book all three nights (previously they didn't have any rooms available Sept. 1)

That's where I'm staying! See you there!!

I forgot to state that my comments are for Sunday for the Half-Marathon.

No worries. I was surprised when I check the schedule for Sat, b/c the past couple of years they've had nothing on Sat and MM for Sunday.