Planning Trip early May

[CarrieJacks]

Hello everyone! My husband and I are planning on going to Dinseyland the first week of May. We're still in graduate school, so we're poor and trying to go as cheaply as possible. We have a four year old girl and a one year old boy, and we will most likely be going with another couple who has a five year old girl.

I've been looking at various websites, trying to price everything out, and frankly I'm exhausted. If I could get some recommendations on the best people to book through and where to stay, I would love it! I've been looking at Alaska Airlines, which would be an okay price, but the cheapest hotel option is the Clarion, and it looks like it's not as close to DL as other hotels. I would love to be in one where we're at an easy spot to be picked up by ART, or just across the street from the maingate so we can walk. But again, we're trying to save money. I've also looked at the packages offered through the disneyland website, and I just don't know which hotel to choose.

I grew up visiting Disneyland just about every year, but this is my first time planning the vacation. My parents drive when they go, so they weren't much help on the shuttling to DL info. I'm a little overwhelmed with everything and I want to make the right choices to save us money and also give us a great time. If only I was a kid again, I wouldn't have to worry about all this.

Anyway, if anyone has any information or tips they could give me, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks,
Carrie

 

[utahkennedys]

We are also going in early May and I need one night before we check into the DLH b/c we just decided to go for an extra day. I called HoJo's where we stayed on our last trip and really enjoyed it, and she said to call about 2 months before check in and then one month before for the Entertainment rate b/c they drop it very low then if rooms are available. So, we are trying that, or trying Priceline if that doesn't work. Our friends have done Priceline and paid around $40/night for super nice hotels. You have to know "how" to bid, so check out biddingfortravel dot com and that helps a lot.

My other advice, especially w/ small kids like we have (2dd's under 5) is to pack a lunch and take it in. I buy uncrustables sandwiches and put them in the freezer, then bring carrot sticks and a frozen capri sun in a little $1 cooler lunch bag from Wal mart and a few other snacks. My dd's love it and it saves a TON over the pricey and yucky kids meals at DL.

 

[MATTERHORN]

When I go with a friend of mine (each of us has three kids) we share a room at the Desert Inn and Suites right across from the entrance. We get a family suite with 4 queen beds and two bathrooms and it works out great, and we share the cost.

You may have to book everything seperately to get the best deals. I just looked for the first week of May and the hotel is $129-$139 a night (not sure of your exact dates) and that would be split between both families. Not bad price for a hotel right at the crosswalk!!

Hope you find a great deal and welcome to the DISboards!!!

Andrea

 

[CarrieJacks]

Thanks for the info. I'll start looking at those hotels. The four bed suite sounds like a good idea, but I'm afraid that we might get sick of each other, not having our own space. Do you find that happening when you go with your friends?

Oh, and I have another question: All the times that I've "dream planned" a Disney vacation over the last year, there's been the Everyone Plays for the Kids Price deal. Right now the expiration date on that is April 26th. We should be going May 4-7. I called the Disney ticket services to see if they could say what deals would be coming next, or if that deal would be continued (since it's been there every other time that I've looked) and the lady said that they don't know the new deals until the last minute. I asked if I should purchase my tickets now or hold off for a bit to see what came next, but she didn't answer. What do you guys think? Go ahead and purchase now at regular price, or wait to buy the tickets (we'll go ahead and book flight and hotel now, though) until later?

Thanks again. I'm so excited to finally get this going!

Carrie

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

While not always true, it's been my experience that packages come out to be more expensive than booking everything separately.

Regarding hotels, try here: http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/ Your whole party could share a suite and save some $$$. It's directly across the street, easy walk, free parking, time-saver for naps.

If you're flying in, the closest airport is SNA -- Santa Ana/John Wayne/Orange County. Shuttle or cab fare to and from your hotel will be substantially less if you fly into SNA than if you fly into LAX. But if you can get substantially cheaper airfare by flying into LAX, then you might want to go that route.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I have never seen adults for the kids price go past April before. Not sure where you saw that but we have done that or buy an adult, get a kids free for the last 3 years and it's never gone past the original dating.

May usually does not end up with a ticket offer, sometimes AP bring a friend but I can't remember any others recently.

As far as the hotels go, the 4 queen room is basically like 2 rooms, there is a door in the middle that locks so you do each have your own space and own bathroom. In some of them, you do have to go in/out through one room as there is only one exterior door. But no, the friends I travel with are really close friends and I dont' get sick of it. But our DH's don't go so it's just us with the kids and that can make a difference. But for the price and being able to share the cost, I put up with it because it usually ends up cheaper than each of us getting our own room.

Plus then the kids can play together and don't have to exit the room and go outside. It works for us but if it doesn't for your situation, there are other setups. I just know you needed to budget and that is one way.

Good luck, planning is fun once you get into it!!


Andrea

 

[jakoky]

hi there, i am not sure where you are from, but one way i saved money last year was using my airmiles to get my DL tickets...i had enough for 4 hoppers( 5 day) and my MIL used her airmiles to buy us our last ticket...this saved us close to 1000 canadian....another we did, we meal shared...my kids (at the time of the trip) were 15, 12, and 10....usually i shared with my 13 year old(and we would order a side salad or something) and my girls shared....we only left 2 meals hungry on an 11 day trip...the portions were huge...we ate at dennys for breakfast many mornings and had 3 meals between 5 of us and there was still leftovers sometimes...your kids are small so this will probably be very easy for you to do...my husband, and my older 2 are big eaters...my younger daughter and are i eat a little less...we also took water and snacks into the park each day...water alone saved us at least 15-20 dollars a day(almost 3 dollars a bottle)..we did eat lunch in the park everyday...our trip was 11 days long and i spent about 1000 american on food, not bad for a family of 5....we stayed at the candy cane inn, which i highly recommend, but i know you can find places that are cheaper...have fun and have an amazing trip
sharon
WDW-Dec 04-first disney experience for my DH, DD, DS, DD and first time at WDW for us all
DL-MAY 06-first time at DL for DH and kids , and my 9th(but the first 8 were all by the time i was about 13) so it was all new to me

 

[CarrieJacks]

Thank you everyone for your help. I looked into the Desert Inn and Suites, but the suites and family rooms were all booked. After reading opinions on the forum, we decided to stay in the BWPPI (and to think, two days ago, I didn't know what that stood for!).

I've got good news, too. I found the best place to book a Disney vacation (for us, at least) is through Costco.com. To check the prices, I've just been looking at what it would cost to get us (two adults, one child, one infant) there. Disneyland offered the package with a 2-day pass for $1575.60. Putting it together through Expedia would be $1304.00. But booking through Costco, with a 3-day pass, plus a $20 dollar gift card, plus a character breakfast, it's $1078.89! Huge difference.

So now I've got to look into customer service through costco, and check with our friends to see what they think. I'm so excited!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Hooray!! A lot of people like booking through Costco, I think it will turn out great. Have a wondeful trip!!



Andrea