Questions about rates, schedules, and more...

[lntsmom]

Sorry if these are the normal newbie questions, but I don't see the info here anywhere.

After reading yesterday about how Disney is cutting back on entertainment, at least for now, I came back to the library today so I could go to Disney.com to see what they say.

I've only planned one DLR trip before, but I remember having started by now...but this time, their site has no info past late April. Is this normal for Disneyland? Is it just because they're doing these offers and they're waiting to see what kind of numbers the most recent offer pulls before releasing the next set of info?

We went to WDW last summer and had a BLAST. My thoughts are, if they cut back entertainment at DLR, and IF they offer some sort of reduced rates for WDW this summer (I know, I know, the buy 4, get 3 free offer surely will disappear at the end of this offer, but I can hope!) we'd do WDW instead.

I wanted to go to DLR so we could do more than just Disney. We love Disney, but CA makes it so easy to go to the beach and other tourist spots. Plus, we haven't been to DL since they reopened the submarines...and I keep enthusiastically telling myself that it HAS to be easier to ride Toy Story Mania at CA than it is at the Studios. (We lucked out and went the week the ride opened...and managed to ride 3 times in one day. From what I hear, it's so popular that that's a thing of the past!)

So, what I'm asking of those of you who are regulars on this board, is when can I expect Disney to release information for summer? Thanks for any insight you can offer!

Beth

p.s. Knew I was forgetting something...I asked once before, but can't find the info. Tell me again about Entertainment Book rates. Do I have to go through the Entertainment Book website to get the dates or can I just call HoJos, give them my card number, and ask what they've got open? Would they have dates for June available now??? TIA

 

[bumbershoot]

They've been doing weird things with the schedule...I'm not sure they even know what they are doing with it. But they were being really limited with it even before these cuts were talked about.

As for TSMM, there's no FP for it, only the normal line and Single Rider line. If you are traveling with no kids or old enough kids, I'd do the SR line. Though they don't always have it open...on my solo day they didn't so I got to do standby line, harumph.

But when we went as a family, our first ride was with a 40 minute posted wait time, and the second ride was 30 minutes posted. It's an OK line, it moves nicely, though if it's at 30+ minutes there's an extra room you don't notice when you first get in line, and it's quite a shock to see it (but after you see it, then you can have fun watching others when THEY first notice it, and give them empathetic looks since you were recently in their shoes). It's such a fun ride, my 4 year old didn't even make a peep at the total 70 minutes he spent waiting for 2 rides on it, and he is NOT normally a patient ride-waiter!

WDW can definitely be cheaper (for us it becomes more b/c of the plane tickets though), so you just have to decide which one you want to see next, instead of basing it solely on prices. The plane tickets keep talking us out of WDW, even though we really want to visit WDW, and at some point we will just have to say "we're going" and go.

 

[LucyDingo]

Disneyland.com typically puts their calendar out 2-3 months in advance. However lately, for whatever reason, they haven't been putting it very far in advance at all. So I wouldn't plan on the calendar being out more than a month in advance at this point.

I will say that Disneyland typically don't have any big refurbishments scheduled during the summer. Maybe just some rides down for a few days here and there. And they also have most entertainment things (parades, fireworks, shows) during the summer....especially on weekends. So summer is a farily safe bet as far as things being up and running.

As far as Toy Story Mania...I haven't been there but I've heard the line is pretty long. And the version at DCA doesn't have fast pass.

 

[LucyDingo]

They've been doing weird things with the schedule...I'm not sure they even know what they are doing with it. But they were being really limited with it even before these cuts were talked about.

As for TSMM, there's no FP for it, only the normal line and Single Rider line. If you are traveling with no kids or old enough kids, I'd do the SR line. Though they don't always have it open...on my solo day they didn't so I got to do standby line, harumph.

But when we went as a family, our first ride was with a 40 minute posted wait time, and the second ride was 30 minutes posted. It's an OK line, it moves nicely, though if it's at 30+ minutes there's an extra room you don't notice when you first get in line, and it's quite a shock to see it (but after you see it, then you can have fun watching others when THEY first notice it, and give them empathetic looks since you were recently in their shoes). It's such a fun ride, my 4 year old didn't even make a peep at the total 70 minutes he spent waiting for 2 rides on it, and he is NOT normally a patient ride-waiter!

WDW can definitely be cheaper (for us it becomes more b/c of the plane tickets though), so you just have to decide which one you want to see next, instead of basing it solely on prices. The plane tickets keep talking us out of WDW, even though we really want to visit WDW, and at some point we will just have to say "we're going" and go.

Have you been to WDW before?

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

Here is a link to the Hojo entertainment rate.
If your dates are available, call the hotel directly at the phone number at the bottom of the link page. You do not need an entertainment card to book, just to check in. Do not phone entertainment, they will have no idea what you are talking about.
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you been to WDW before?

Nope. The plane tickets keep scaring us. But my aunt and cousin and I continue moving forward in planning a big trip...two cousins live in Orlando and the aunt/cousin live in Daytona Beach, so obviously there are some big reasons to get out there! The trip just keeps getting pushed out.

When I do go, you can be sure you'll see it in my signature.

Here is a link to the Hojo entertainment rate.
If your dates are available, call the hotel directly at the phone number at the bottom of the link page. You do not need an entertainment card to book, just to check in. Do not phone entertainment, they will have no idea what you are talking about.
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

Agreed!

 

[LucyDingo]

Nope. The plane tickets keep scaring us. But my aunt and cousin and I continue moving forward in planning a big trip...two cousins live in Orlando and the aunt/cousin live in Daytona Beach, so obviously there are some big reasons to get out there! The trip just keeps getting pushed out.

When I do go, you can be sure you'll see it in my signature.




Agreed!

I hope you're able to go some day. You'll love it. And it's probably good that you've waited until your son is a bit older. While I think DLR is extremely do-able with young kids...I imagine WDW would be kind of a pain with hauling a little one on and off buses and it's harder to get back to the hotel for naps.

Sorry for the off-topic stuff.
I am the queen of taking threads off-topic.

 

[bumbershoot]

We want to go so bad. But hubby balks at the length of the trip, even though it was his idea to have a nice, long, leisurely stay so we aren't running around all day all night and making our son miserable, making our feet hurt, and going home ill for the next month. But that's just b/c he wants to do other small things during the year, so to have 2 weeks tied up in some place we've never been to before is kinda scary! The dude worked in Singapore for a year, worked on an oil tanker in Alaska for a year, but going to WDW for 2 weeks scares him. Hmm, I think I'll put it to him like that.

Recent discovery that the fam would like to show us parts of Daytona Beach (like, for instance, the BEACH) has made him happier with the idea, so we're inching our way towards it. Just gotta figure out ALL the money stuff!



Back to the topic at hand!

 

[lntsmom]

then, an idea...

What is the closest airport to you that flies Southwest? It might be cheaper for you to get a plane to that airport, then fly rountrip Southwest from there.

The last time we went to Disneyland I lived in KCMO...and at that time Southwest didn't fly from there to CA. We ended up flying United and paying an arm and a leg!

Thankfully, Southwest flies to both coasts from Denver. We're now an hour's drive from cheap flights either way!

I agree...you have to WDW at some point! I love that, compared to Disneyland, there are no lines. At least, that's been my experience the two times we've gone. I also love that, boy, do you get your money's worth! Last trip we had one day where we were in the Magic Kingdom from 9 am until 3 am the next morning! Those late magic hours are amazing! The first time I went it was just me and my then-4-year-old. I learned...with my second son, we did Disneyland when he was 4. It was much more managable with a little one in tow! That said, keep working on your husband...it's worth it!

And, to cruise cruise cruise...thank you SO much for the HoJo's info! I'm going to check it next.

I'll share my good news with those of you who were kind enough to answer. I had two elderly single aunts, both of whom were childless. (One I cared for for 15 years.) Now, this isn't the good news part, but, they died within 5 months of each other 2 years ago. I took care of both funerals and burials, insurance, etc.

The one aunt lived 8 hours from me, so my uncle paid for all her costs in cash and I reimbursed him when her insurance came through. A few months ago he wrote to say he thought I'd overpaid him. I was busy and not focused and told him I'd look through the paperwork when time allowed. Well, last week I realized...I overpaid him by $2000!!!

What that means is, since I should be getting a decent tax refund, too, I should be able to swing a Disney trip again this year!!! We have family in Arizona and Nevada, so I might be tempted to rent a car and drive. We are cheap travelers...if I plan right, we might be able to do a cheapie trip to Disneyland...fun for us, but not a bank breaker.

The nice thing is, the weather in CA is decent all summer long, and I'm a teacher, so our dates are open. Hopefully I can find a time when I can get the HoJo's rates!!!

Thanks again for your help!
Beth

 

[Disney Princess]

I'm so sorry to hear about your aunts, but I'm happy about the extra money you'll be getting back. It is always a nice surprise to get those types of things. I hope you have a wonderful trip with your family.

P.S. I know this isn't the topic at hand, but I wanted to say to all of you thinking of WDW trips that it really is fun. We are so excited to experience the "other park" by going to DL next May. It would be fun for you to get to have that fresh experience. Still Disney, yet something new!

 

[bumbershoot]

lntsmom, we're right near seatac, and they definitely have SW. But it's still scary to see those prices. I don't think they are "high"...I traveled from CA to DC in 8th grade and that ticket on TWA was $800 coach so I think we all have it easy with ticket prices compared to what inflation should have done to airfare...they are just highER than to CA.


I just tried to get my aunt to come out from Daytona, and there were prices that were SO GOOD though! 89 each way...she would have left xmas eve and gone back jan 6...she decided not to because of our snow and she had just hurt her leg, but I'll tell you I wished we'd had the money and that hubby had vacation time left AND the ability to take it during December (see sig for hubby's company that doesn't allow vacation time during the holiday buying and returning season) along with the financial ability to just go on the fly like that, b/c those ticket prices were yummy. (but then you start adding up tickets times 3 plus meals plus plus plus, augh)