Planning? What's that? (another possible trip on short notice)

[Vexorg]

Some people out there seem to schedule their Disney trips months and months in advance, write nice long pre trip reports and basically plan the living daylights out of the things. Me? I'm lucky if I end up with more than a couple of weeks to plan. Back around last November or so, I had been giving some thought to taking advantage of cheap flights and making a quick trip to Disneyland for a couple of days sometime in early December. Ultimately I got a bit distracted in my planning, and my 2 or 4 days at Disneyland ended up turning into most of a week at Disney World the week before Christmas, and I'm still trying (sort of) to finish up the trip report for that one.

Fast forward to now, and I find myself at loose ends for a couple of weeks before I start a new job at the beginning of June. Since once I start the new job I may not have much time off for a while, I find myself looking once again at taking the trip I had originally considered back in December. I don't have a ton of money to spend, but SEA-LAX airfares look to be fairly cheap right now (SEA-SNA costs a bit more, but looks like it might still be within reason) and a couple of nights in a nearby hotel and a three-day parkhopper should cover most of the rest.

Tenatively, I'm thinking I'd take an early fight on 5/27 (Wednesday,) spend three days and two nights there, and take a late flight out on 5/29. I'm thinking that I probably won't be getting anything too fancy in the hotel department, but I'd still like to get something close to the park (I probably won't be renting a car.) Any suggestions? I think I'd probably be inclined to pass on the Anabella though, given my less-than-stellar experience there last time I went.

Of course, none of this is set in stone, but since I'd have just a couple of weeks to plan this I don't have much time to second-guess. I don't know what crowds during this time would look like, but I don't think school is out for most kids yet at this time. Is there anything I should take into consideration here planning?

I suppose one of these days I should try to figure this stuff out at some point besides the last minute, but if it weren't for the last minute nothing would ever get done, right?

 

[pixiewings71]

I love last minute trips, they are so much fun! Try the hotels on Harbor, from the HoJo down to Katella. HoJo is my first choice but I don't know what they have available. Here's a map that might help with the hotel....

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap

 

[ElloPoppet]

Some people out there seem to schedule their Disney trips months and months in advance, write nice long pre trip reports and basically plan the living daylights out of the things. Me? I'm lucky if I end up with more than a couple of weeks to plan. Back around last November or so, I had been giving some thought to taking advantage of cheap flights and making a quick trip to Disneyland for a couple of days sometime in early December. Ultimately I got a bit distracted in my planning, and my 2 or 4 days at Disneyland ended up turning into most of a week at Disney World the week before Christmas, and I'm still trying (sort of) to finish up the trip report for that one.

Fast forward to now, and I find myself at loose ends for a couple of weeks before I start a new job at the beginning of June. Since once I start the new job I may not have much time off for a while, I find myself looking once again at taking the trip I had originally considered back in December. I don't have a ton of money to spend, but SEA-LAX airfares look to be fairly cheap right now (SEA-SNA costs a bit more, but looks like it might still be within reason) and a couple of nights in a nearby hotel and a three-day parkhopper should cover most of the rest.

Tenatively, I'm thinking I'd take an early fight on 5/27 (Wednesday,) spend three days and two nights there, and take a late flight out on 5/29. I'm thinking that I probably won't be getting anything too fancy in the hotel department, but I'd still like to get something close to the park (I probably won't be renting a car.) Any suggestions? I think I'd probably be inclined to pass on the Anabella though, given my less-than-stellar experience there last time I went.

Of course, none of this is set in stone, but since I'd have just a couple of weeks to plan this I don't have much time to second-guess. I don't know what crowds during this time would look like, but I don't think school is out for most kids yet at this time. Is there anything I should take into consideration here planning?

I suppose one of these days I should try to figure this stuff out at some point besides the last minute, but if it weren't for the last minute nothing would ever get done, right?

=) i know what you mean. one friday i told my boyfriend i want to go to disneyland, AND CONVINCED HIM (by riding indiana jones on youtube), and we went to bed early on friday, woke up at 3am on saturday, and drove (from arizona) and got to disneyland around 9am. then came back on sunday. we even found a hotel from travelocity for $60 a night! it was the best. but the one we're going on in 11 days was planned in advance because he needs to tell his work so far in advance that he is taking days off. =)

 

[bumbershoot]

That's the week following Memorial Day weekend. Last year we went during that week, and it was lovely. All the crowds had been there the week before and over the weekend. By the time we showed up on Mem Day Monday everyone had left! We're hoping that is a trend that stays the same, as we're going the 25th to 29th.

I don't know what the fares are right now, but when I was booking last month the fares were about the same across the board...Virgin America, Alaska, Jet Blue, and SW were all even. Though of course you get into the bag fees...VA already charges $15 for the first bag...Alaska is going to start that in June or July...currently JB and SW don't (and with SW you get two!). So you have to keep those in mind when booking and doing the complicated and personal equation of flight times, comfy planes, cool lighting (VA), price, and baggage fees.

When you're looking at prices, be sure to know what the transportation prices will be to and from DLR. If airports are really close, shuttle/bus prices might take you in one or the other direction. I once saved some flight money by going into ONT, but the savings was eaten up by really high Super Shuttle costs from ONT. SNA is the cheapest to get to and from, LAX has the same options as SNA but is more. LGB has super shuttle and cabs...same with ONT and I'm sure Burbank. So you have to be aware of the costs, when the different airports are similar (if they are).

Hope that helps! Have fun!

 

[Vexorg]

A bit more research shows that the Thursday night of that week is a Grad Nite, but the park still doesn't close until 9 for regular visitors. I suspect the impact would be minimal, but aside from a potential surplus of dangerously undersupervised adolescents, is there anything I should be concerned about there?

As for transportation, it looks like SuperShuttle from SNA to the hotels around the park is going to be $24 each way. I used it (one way) last time and found that it worked pretty well.

 

[bumbershoot]

As for transportation, it looks like SuperShuttle from SNA to the hotels around the park is going to be $24 each way. I used it (one way) last time and found that it worked pretty well.

No, it's WAY better than that. I can tell (b/c I just checked) that you used the zip code to get the quote. Throw in any hotel from the area, and you'll get $10 each way. Zip code quotes'll rip you off. When you make your reservation use the hotel name instead.

And there are various coupon codes around...the Entertainment Book has one, I think the Anaheim tourism site has one...that can get you something like $2 off each way, I think?

So it's way better than $24.


(lax is 16 each way using a local hotel...38 when you use the zipcode!)

 

[fairykin]

i love spur of the moment trips as well as long term planning trips.
They are both wonderful for different reasons and hold their charm.

 

[Tasscrapper]

Can you stay longer timewise? I don't know what you are looking at for a hotel price range but getawaytoday.com has Castle Inn and Suites 3 nights, the 5 for 3 park hopper ticket, trading pin and lanyard for $376.34 including their $10 booking fee. (includes thrid night free.)
Or
Comfort Inn Maingate 5 nights, 5 day park hopper, trading pin and lanyard for $480. (inludes 4th and 5th night free)

If it were me and I had the time and the moolah I would look into taking advantage of the 5 for 3 tickets and 3rd night hoetl free or 4th and 5th night free.

 

[pixiewings71]

=) i know what you mean. one friday i told my boyfriend i want to go to disneyland, AND CONVINCED HIM (by riding indiana jones on youtube), and we went to bed early on friday, woke up at 3am on saturday, and drove (from arizona) and got to disneyland around 9am. then came back on sunday. we even found a hotel from travelocity for $60 a night! it was the best. but the one we're going on in 11 days was planned in advance because he needs to tell his work so far in advance that he is taking days off. =)

I can't even begin to tell you how many times we've done this.....Friday night in bed by 9, up at 3:30 to shower and get dressed (me, the DBF and kids ride in the van in their PJ's lol) and get to the parks by 10, stay 1 night and then drive home Sunday. It's tiring but it's fun!

 

[Vexorg]

Hmmm... I wasn't aware of the extra night hotel deals at Get Away Today, I'll definitely have to look into those. I think I could probably manage to sneak in another night or two if there are free night deals out there...

The one unfortunate part about this is that I'd be going about a week before my birthday, since I wouldn't be able to go on that day.