Please help me make this happen

[jennifur25]

I desperately want to go to Disneyland for the holidays. My boys are almost 3 now and still talk about our last trip in May and I think they will LOVE seeing it all decked out for the holidays. I've never been for the holidays either!

So it's kind of last minute but I think I've talked both my husband and my parents into it. When I looked yesterday there were rooms available at the Desert Inn. Now that i've talked them into it, there are not

Last time we stayed in the big parlor suite that had one room with two beds, another room with two beds, and a living room, all separated by doors. This would be perfect because the boys can be in the living room and my parents can have their own room too.

I can't find another room like that anywhere though Doesn't help that it's last minute. I did find a suite with two separate rooms at the Desert Palms, but don't know much about it and I've read it's not exactly walking distance. My mom can't walk long distances and is too stubborn to rent an electric wheelchair.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Disney Dreams]

Did you try asking the Desert Inn if they can tell you of any similar rooms at other hotels nearby? I am sure they know their competition.

Others will have specific suggestions. Living locally, I don't know all the hotel variations, but I would start with a nice discussion with the manager at the Desert Inn.

You never know.... another room may open up.

 

[Sherry E]

Oh, I HOPE you can pull it off! I get so excited for anyone when I hear they are going to see DLR during the holiday season for the first time ever! It is SUCH a great time to be there! As magical as DLR is the rest of the year, there is something truly special and wonderful about being there during the holiday season! Just something in the air, I would say. Your kids will LOVE it!

Don't give up - that is the most important thing. Be persistent, be flexible and be willing to make last-minute and impromptu plans or alterations to plans to get what you need, and realize it may not be 100% perfect. Even when a hotel is 'booked' one day or one week, that doesn't mean that it won't have an available room the next day or week. People always cancel, for one thing. Sometimes they cancel in advance, which is handy, but sometimes they cancel closer to when you want to go, within a few days. If that happens, you have to be ready with credit or debit card in hand to jump on the room when one opens up! Call the 'booked' hotels every day and check to be sure nothing has opened up.

I know Bumbershoot (one of our wonderful DIS-ers here) JUST made a sort of impromptu plan to make a quick trip to DLR in early December, and she couldn't get the hotel she wanted because it was all booked (she normally stays offsite, and not in one of the DLR hotels). She is going to end up staying at the PPH - the most economical of the three DLR hotels. There were still openings available there as of just yesterday, I believe. Are you willing to stay in the PPH, or is that out of the price range? You may want to call DLR reservations before the PPH books up and see what kind of rate you can get. There are still certain promos they have available with discounts and things, so you may be able to jump on one of them. Good luck, and keep us posted!!!!

 

[avalon451]

Well, since it's last minute, you're going to have to compromise. You can't get a kids' suite anywhere walking distance this late. So, you can either get separate rooms for your parents and you, and put up with having the kids in the room with you, or you're going to have to stay farther away and drive or take a shuttle.

Have you tried Candy Cane Inn? They have their own dedicated shuttle. So do a few other nice hotels. Will you have a car? You could stay at Residence Inn Maingate; they have some nice suites and you might still find availability. One of you could drive the family to to the shuttle drop-off area and then go park. Or you could take ART, but there's mixed reviews on how well that works.

I think if I were you, I'd try to get into 2 separate rooms at BWPPI... and just put up with having the kids in with you. Maybe you can get connecting rooms. That way, the kids can nap (if they still nap during the day) in your room while you hang out in your parents' room next door, or something.

You've got the accomodations maps, right? So you can see how far away stuff is? Here they are, in case you don't: http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

Good luck, and let us know how it works out!

 

[pixiewings71]

Yes, I think connecting rooms will be your only choice at this point. Don't give up, there are plenty of other choices out there for you. And even if you can't stay in walking distance there is always the ART.

 

[bumbershoot]

Definitely start looking at two rooms.

Something I noticed between yesterday (when I booked PPH) and today is that rooms are going up up up. That Candlelight Processional is about to have tickets go on sale; the CP is on the 6th and 7th, then on the 8th and 9th DL closes early for the Cast Member parties. I think the CP ticket sales are going to cause hotels to fill up really fast; yesterday I got Sunday the 7th at PPH at a rate of 149, and today the same AP site shows that date at 216, OUCH.

Look at a map like http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html, start close in and just start calling!

Those boys are going to look SO cute seeing either the traditional Santa in DL or the surfing Santa at DCA. I hope you can make this work! We don't even "do" the Santa thing in our house (we're more about the Yule Fairy, LOL), but at DCA last year you betcha DS went and chatted with the big guy!

Check out ART for your mom, and maybe just check out Desert Palms since they had a room that works for your group. If only she'd use a scooter, that would be great, since many people do walk from that area.

Check out Anabella, too. They are just a bit further from PPH, so you might still have to use ART if your mom continues to refuse the scooter, but if/when you do walk it's really a lovely walk...there are pix from my December '07 trip report (it was SO sunny in early December last year!).

Good luck, and don't forget to be specific with dates so we can help more. I'm noticing on the AP holder site that now the weekend including the 15th has better rates than the CP weekend does, so even though it might be getting busier overall (not just on Main Street during the Processional) the rates *might* be more worth it maybe possible sort of I hope.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Unless money is an issue, don't let the two room thing or the distance deter you from making the trip. ART is an option and there should be places available within a short driving distance from Disneyland. AAA packages include free parking at the DLR.

Disneyland is incredibly special during Christmastime. It may be hard to believe, but it's even more magical. The December trip report in my signature tells all about my visit last December and even has some references to prior December visits.

 

[ballarinamom]

We are stating at the Desert Inn next week (the 19th-25th). We have DD, DH, me and DMIL. Dh HAD to make sure we have two bathrooms so an adjoining room the cheapest way. The Desert Inn has a "fmily Suite" which is pretty much two adjoining rooms. But that was the only place that garaunteed adjoining rooms. All the others said they would oput in our request but there was no garauntees. We are paying $139 for the first two nights and $169 for Sat, Sun, Mon before T'giving and that is for both rooms not separately. They have a microwave and fridge and it has an ok cont breakfast plus indoor heated pool and hottub which is great fro us as DD will want to swim and the parks closes early our first night.
Good Luck. I hope it works out!

 

[jennifur25]

Oh goodness, see i'm so frantic about this I forgot the dates!

Originally we were planning either Dec 4-7 or 11-14, but if you say the CP is the 6th and 7th, i think we'll shoot for the next week. We can either do the 11-14 or the 10-13. That way my husband and mom only have to take one day off of work. Going on the 10th instead actually makes things cheaper. The Desert Palms has the two room family suite (Kalahari I think) for an average of $173/night if we go those days. My only concern is I don't know much about that hotel.

The Park Place Inn has nothing available those nights. I can get two rooms at the Candy Cane Inn but it's more expensive than the Desert Palms.

Thank you all for your help- I get teary eyed just thinking about seeing the boys there at christmas time!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Did you look into the Anaheim Plaza? They have family suite room configurations or 2 adjoining rooms and they are cheap. They are not walking distance if your mom can't walk too far, but you could use the ART shuttle. They are just just down the street from Desert Inn and suites. I think it's 1700 Harbor Blvd.

 

[pixiewings71]

I just wanted to say that your boys are ADORABLE!!!!!! I hope you can make this happen!!

 

[Leofoenget]

What are you dates? I just looked starting tomorrow for 3 days and EVERYTHING was open. Post your dates. Ok I read UP saw your dates:

I checked Castle Inn and Suites for Dec 10-13 and a Family Suite is about $124. For what it's worth.

Another edit: I just booked myself a family suite for those dates for $427. I had Desert Inn booked a C-1 Family Suite booked for over $700! My husband likes the indoor pool, but for that price difference we may just skip it.

good luck

 

[kiwitravel]

Carousel Inn have 2 bedroom suites, don't know about the price though....

 

[mr.bungle]

i stayed at the Anabella on Katella by the convention center once. We had a standard room but it had a small bedroom with a twin bed in it. reasonably priced too. not exactly a suite though. i enjoyed it.

 

[jennifur25]

Aaaah I'm so excited! Looks like it's happening! Daddy got the day off work, grandma got her time off approved, and grandpa has given the all clear too! Woohoo! We're going to look at rooms tonight and book! WOOHOO! Looks like it's probably going to be either the Desert Palms at $173/night or the Anaheim Plaza at $163/night. I'm not too worried about the distance anymore because I think the boys will be fine without a nap and we can always either drive and park or use ART. Thanks everyone for your help and for the comments on my boys!

 

[pixiewings71]

If distance isn't a factor don't forget the HoJo!!! Have a GREAT time!!

 

[Leofoenget]

Castle Inn is next door to Anaheim Plaza and about $40 cheaper. You may want to give it a looksee

 

[visitingapril09]

I was going to suggest the HOJO also! Have fun planning.

 

[jennifur25]

We did it! We're booked at the Desert Palms! The rate online was $173/night but I called to ask a question and she gave me a manager's special for $156/night!! Woohoo!!

Now i have so many more things to start thinking about! What are the crowds like? What's the weather like? What cute things are my boys going to wear?!?! LOL

 

[Sherry E]

We did it! We're booked at the Desert Palms! The rate online was $173/night but I called to ask a question and she gave me a manager's special for $156/night!! Woohoo!!

Now i have so many more things to start thinking about! What are the crowds like? What's the weather like? What cute things are my boys going to wear?!?! LOL

...And what cute things are you going to buy once you are there!!!

Yay! I am so glad you got it all worked out and you get to go and see the holiday decorations! It is so great that time of year - crowds or no crowds - you will feel very glad you made the plan to go!

Do you take the kids to see Santa? He is in three places in DLR: at Santa's Reindeer Roundup in DL (kids may enjoy that the most because they can decorate their own holiday cookies); he is also sort of near the hub area in DCA (the Beach Blast Santa); and finally in the GCH, just off of the lobby area where there is a set-up for photos with Santa.