Planning Ultimate Disneyland Trip for 35th Birthday

[AURORA73]

Hey everyone! I am planning my Disneyland Dream Trip for my 35th birthday next year. I need some ideas on what you think would be the ultimate Disneyland Trip. I have always wanted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. I have stayed at GCH before and it was the best. I have dreamed of staying at the Disneyland Hotel since I was 7. My 35th is December 2008, when is the best time to go in December. My birthday is 22nd and I know I don't want to be there during that week. I have been to Disneyland 14 times but there is a lot I have never done. I need some ideas and tips. Would love to hear from all you DIS experts.

 

[lisadoll93]

I would say the first week of dec. everyone will still in be school. We usually go before the 12/10 and have always had a great time with small crowds. Happy birthday ( a little early)

 

[PixiePowered]

If you've never done it before, buy tickets for "premium seating" for Fantasmic!... if they're offering it. You get FANTASTIC seats and some yummy desserts too

 

[AURORA73]

I am definately going to try to do the Priority Seating for Fantasmic. Do you know how far in advance you should make the priority seating for that?

I was thinking of going the first week in December.

 

[Master Mason]

I have never stayed at either the DLH or the GCH, but from what I hear, you might be disappointed in the DLH after having stayed at GCH.

As for ideas
Eat at the Blue Bayou
Eat at Steakhouse 55
Get your picture drawn in New Orleans square
Buy yourself one of the cool pieces of art at off the page or the art galery on mainstreet.

And the big one, give youself enough time to enjoy everything you want to do so you don't feel rushed.

 

[ploeb]

Pamper your self at the Madera Spa
Go to Build A Bear
Sit on Santas Lap
And have hot choc.brownie and a glass of wine by the fireplace in the GCH
Slide down each slide at each hotel, and not worry about what other people think!
!!!! !!!!! Call and tell the hotel its your birthday-do they have any ideas??

 

[CalGal]

I am definately going to try to do the Priority Seating for Fantasmic. Do you know how far in advance you should make the priority seating for that?

I was thinking of going the first week in December.

You must make priority seating arrangements exactly 1 month in advance, and you probably must call right at 8AM PST (start your speed dialing a little early). Balcony seating typically sold out by within seconds of 8, but now that it is no longer offered, riverside probably goes about as fast. If you are staying at one of the Disney properties, call vacation planning around 5-6 weeks in advance and see if they can make arrangements for you. (They often will, but not always). In early December, Fantasmic is only likely to be showing on weekends.

While I think GCH beats the DLH, I don't think you'll be too disappointed in the DLH, especially at Christmas time. If you really want to splurge, try to get a resort view room in the Dreams (formerly the Sierra) tower -- perhaps even concierge.

(I absolutely love both the DLH at Christmas and the GCH at Christmas, but I do miss the ice skating rink over the Marina that the DLH put up every Christmas before the marina was replaced by the Neverland Pool...)

PS -- The Holiday Tour is fun; you might add that to your list.

 

[ploeb]

You must make priority seating arrangements exactly 1 month in advance, and you probably must call right at 8AM PST (start your speed dialing a little early). Balcony seating typically sold out by within seconds of 8, but now that it is no longer offered, riverside probably goes about as fast. If you are staying at one of the Disney properties, call vacation planning around 5-6 weeks in advance and see if they can make arrangements for you. (They often will, but not always). In early December, Fantasmic is only likely to be showing on weekends.

While I think GCH beats the DLH, I don't think you'll be too disappointed in the DLH, especially at Christmas time. If you really want to splurge, try to get a resort view room in the Dreams (formerly the Sierra) tower -- perhaps even concierge.

(I absolutely love both the DLH at Christmas and the GCH at Christmas, but I do miss the ice skating rink over the Marina that the DLH put up every Christmas before the marina was replaced by the Neverland Pool...)

PS -- The Holiday Tour is fun; you might add that to your list.

Man I wish they DLH would bring the skating rink back!

 

[AURORA73]

I have never stayed at either the DLH or the GCH, but from what I hear, you might be disappointed in the DLH after having stayed at GCH.

As for ideas
Eat at the Blue Bayou
Eat at Steakhouse 55
Get your picture drawn in New Orleans square
Buy yourself one of the cool pieces of art at off the page or the art galery on mainstreet.

And the big one, give youself enough time to enjoy everything you want to do so you don't feel rushed.

Thanks for the great ideas. My sister and I went to the Blue Bayou for the first time on our trip in May this year and it is on my list to repeat on every trip from now on. It was great.

The reason for staying at DLH is mostly just the nostalgia of the DLH and that it has been a dream for the longest time. Plus the extra money I save over staying at GCH helps pay for a few of the extras I want to do.

 

[Master Mason]

Thanks for the great ideas. My sister and I went to the Blue Bayou for the first time on our trip in May this year and it is on my list to repeat on every trip from now on. It was great.

I have been going to DL for 42 years now, the first time I ever at there was in July of this year. I will definately be going again, but not everytime as I go more often being closer.

 

[AURORA73]

Pamper your self at the Madera Spa
Go to Build A Bear
Sit on Santas Lap
And have hot choc.brownie and a glass of wine by the fireplace in the GCH
Slide down each slide at each hotel, and not worry about what other people think!
!!!! !!!!! Call and tell the hotel its your birthday-do they have any ideas??

Great ideas! I have never been to Build A Bear. I don't have children so I have never experienced this maybe I will have to do it for myself on this trip. Sit on Santas lap, what you mean two of my favorites in DL at the same time. Mickey and Santa, oh I can barely contain the excitement.
I am afraid I will have to pass on the wine by the fireplace since I don't drink but I will take that hot chocolate idea. YUM!
I just love all your ideas. Thanks

You must make priority seating arrangements exactly 1 month in advance, and you probably must call right at 8AM PST (start your speed dialing a little early). Balcony seating typically sold out by within seconds of 8, but now that it is no longer offered, riverside probably goes about as fast. If you are staying at one of the Disney properties, call vacation planning around 5-6 weeks in advance and see if they can make arrangements for you. (They often will, but not always). In early December, Fantasmic is only likely to be showing on weekends.

While I think GCH beats the DLH, I don't think you'll be too disappointed in the DLH, especially at Christmas time. If you really want to splurge, try to get a resort view room in the Dreams (formerly the Sierra) tower -- perhaps even concierge.

(I absolutely love both the DLH at Christmas and the GCH at Christmas, but I do miss the ice skating rink over the Marina that the DLH put up every Christmas before the marina was replaced by the Neverland Pool...)

PS -- The Holiday Tour is fun; you might add that to your list.

Thanks for all your ideas and tips. I am sad that the balcony seating is no longer offered. I was lucky to have the chance to stand on the balcony and take in the view for quite some time on my last trip with my sister this past May. It was a dream come true. I was hoping to do the priority seating for Fantasmic on the balcony.

I am very excited to see everything at Christmas time. I went to DL in November 2004 (stayed at GCH for that trip)and not all the Christmas decorations were up yet. DL and DCA were done but the hotels didn't have there decorations up.

If you've never done it before, buy tickets for "premium seating" for Fantasmic!... if they're offering it. You get FANTASTIC seats and some yummy desserts too

That is on my list. Thanks for the idea.

I would say the first week of dec. everyone will still in be school. We usually go before the 12/10 and have always had a great time with small crowds. Happy birthday ( a little early)

Thanks! I was thinking the first week of December.

 

[PixiePowered]

About Fantasmic! Priority Seating.... call Disneyland Guest Services.... if I remember correctly from the last time I did it, they release the priority seating 60 days in advance. Even if it's 30 days, better to be safe than sorry! Those seats go fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Danauk]

How about doing a tour? You could treat yourself to a VIP tour, or the segway tour looks fun (we are going to do that on our trip!)

 

[AURORA73]

How about doing a tour? You could treat yourself to a VIP tour, or the segway tour looks fun (we are going to do that on our trip!)

I have thought about doing a tour. I was looking at A Walk in Walt's Footstep's or maybe the Holiday Tour since I will be there in December.

 

[Danauk]

I have thought about doing a tour. I was looking at A Walk in Walt's Footstep's or maybe the Holiday Tour since I will be there in December.

We are going to do the Walk in Walt Footsteps tour too, that looks a good tour aswell (especially getting to go into the lobby of Club 33!!). We did the segway tour at Epcot and loved that as well.

 

[AURORA73]

About Fantasmic! Priority Seating.... call Disneyland Guest Services.... if I remember correctly from the last time I did it, they release the priority seating 60 days in advance. Even if it's 30 days, better to be safe than sorry! Those seats go fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the information. Fantasmic is one of my favorites but I have never done priority seating.