So many questions!

[Badge]

So, today I was SO excited to be able to purchase Blizzcon tickets because that meant that not only was I going to be able to attend an event I have been trying three years to go to, but I was also going to be able to go to Disneyland!!

I am flying down on the 19th and leaving on the 26th. Blizzcon is on the 21 and 22. I am traveling solo for this trip. I have traveled to Disneyworld twice solo, but Disneyland is totally different, so I have some questions.

1) I am thinking about staying at the Extended Stay near the convention center and Disneyland. Has anybody stayed here before? Is it nice? I need someplace cheap to sleep at night...I don't care about pool or other services. At $57 a night, its to good to pass up unless the place is bad!

2) Getting around. I will NOT have a car. I picked this hotel becuase of how close it seems to be to everything (short walking distance). I take it there will be a bunch of people walking around because there seems to be a ton of hotels around the area. Is it easy to get around the area?

3) Hotel shuttles. The hotel does not offer a shuttle bus from the airport. I do not have airline tickets yet so I have not decided what airport I will be flying into. What options do I have that will take me to the extended stay and back to the airport?

4) Disney tickets. I was looking online and can't seem to find 7 day park hoppers. If it is anything like Disneyworld, the cost of a 5 day ticket vs a 7 day ticket is very slim (like $6 or something). I figure since I will be down there for seven nights, I should have 7 days of tickets in case I leave Blizzcon early or the parks stay open past 10 (when blizzcon ends each night).

5) Disney Visa rewards. How does this system work? I have had this card for about two years now and by the time the trip gets here, I will have about $200 in rewards credits. I plan on using this to purchase my theme park ticket. What is the best way to do this? I have never used any of these reward dollars, so I am kinda lost on how it all works.

6) What are the park hours normally during this time of year? I know the halloween party will be going on at least once while I am there and what to do that. On the nights without the party, are the parks open late (like 10 or 11pm)?

7) Is that World of Color pinic thing worth the price? Is the viewing area really THAT good that it makes spending the $16 worth it? I am really looking forward to seeing this show more than once, but want to make sure the first time viewing is the best I can make it.

I am sure there are more question, but I am to excited to think about them, lol. Just can't believe I finally get to go back to Disneyland! It has been YEARS since I was there (last time I went I think I was 10 or 11).

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

4) Disney tickets. I was looking online and can't seem to find 7 day park hoppers. If it is anything like Disneyworld, the cost of a 5 day ticket vs a 7 day ticket is very slim (like $6 or something). I figure since I will be down there for seven nights, I should have 7 days of tickets in case I leave Blizzcon early or the parks stay open past 10 (when blizzcon ends each night).

I believe there is no longer a 7 day ticket offered from Disney. I know some people from Canada and Australia have posted on here about getting 7 day tickets, so they still exist in some markets. You may have to buy from an out of country company though? Someone who knows more about this will chime in I'm sure. You can get up to 6 day tickets from Disney, and the next option after that is the AP. You might find that the 6 day works for you anyway if you're going to the Halloween party. Just make that one of your partial days. Last year, Halloween party ticket holders were allowed into the park a few hours before the official party time.

5) Disney Visa rewards. How does this system work? I have had this card for about two years now and by the time the trip gets here, I will have about $200 in rewards credits. I plan on using this to purchase my theme park ticket. What is the best way to do this? I have never used any of these reward dollars, so I am kinda lost on how it all works.

You need to request a Disney Visa rewards card from Chase. You must load a minimum number of points on the card for them to mail it to you; I think the number is 20. When the card is in your possession, you can add more points to it online or by phone. If you haven't requested your rewards card ahead of time and had it mailed to you, then you are able to obtain one at the Disneyland Resort. As for purchasing your tickets with the rewards card, I'm not sure. Yes, you can use the rewards card at any ticket window, but for a multi-day ticket, you will get the best ticket price by buying ahead. There used to be a way to redeem reward dollars online when purchasing tickets, but I have seen reports that that option was taken away. I guess you would need to check for yourself or find out from someone who has done it more recently.

7) Is that World of Color pinic thing worth the price? Is the viewing area really THAT good that it makes spending the $16 worth it? I am really looking forward to seeing this show more than once, but want to make sure the first time viewing is the best I can make it.

Opinions vary widely based on experience and tastes. My family and I are not big fans of World of Color. If you have evening time available though and like to watch shows and are interested in big spectacles and all things Disney, then I would certainly not recommend that you skip it. We always feel that we should try something once or twice and give it a chance. That being said, I am very reluctant to invest any money in World of Color beyond our tickets. If you choose to watch the show on a day when you are going to be in the parks early and/or all day, I would suggest that you simply go get a free fastpass early in the day. The fastpasses you get with the picnic meals are the same as the ones available from the fastpass machines if you get there early enough to get a blue or yellow zone ticket. Arriving early for the show in the evening and securing a good spot near a railing in your color zone, is probably the most important part of getting a good view. The only really special WoC viewing area tickets are the ones that come with the premium dining packages. Those tickets though still require early arrival for best standing area selection within the preferred dining section.

 

[sonnyjane]

2) Getting around. I will NOT have a car. I picked this hotel becuase of how close it seems to be to everything (short walking distance). I take it there will be a bunch of people walking around because there seems to be a ton of hotels around the area. Is it easy to get around the area?

I wouldn't say that Extended Stay or the other hotels right by the Convention Center are (short walking distance), especially if you start doing it multiple times a day (mid-day break) for multiple days. I stayed at the Clarion before for three days because it was a steal and chose to walk to the parks. That was a foolish decision. I was a physically fit 25-year old at the time and I could not bear to walk another step by the end of day two. We only used two days of my three-day hoppers at the time because I couldn't move any more. If you're staying that far, try to find a hotel with a shuttle to the parks, or see if it would be easy for you to walk to the Toy Story lot and take their free bus.

4) Disney tickets. I was looking online and can't seem to find 7 day park hoppers. If it is anything like Disneyworld, the cost of a 5 day ticket vs a 7 day ticket is very slim (like $6 or something). I figure since I will be down there for seven nights, I should have 7 days of tickets in case I leave Blizzcon early or the parks stay open past 10 (when blizzcon ends each night).
As the other poster said, you can no longer purchase 7-day tickets within the U.S. (you can buy them in Canada and Australia for example, but not here)


7) Is that World of Color pinic thing worth the price? Is the viewing area really THAT good that it makes spending the $16 worth it? I am really looking forward to seeing this show more than once, but want to make sure the first time viewing is the best I can make it.


You get passes for the EXACT SAME areas for free as you do if you pay for the picnic. The only difference is that to get the free passes, you have to line up at the fastpass machine in the morning or early afternoon. The picnic is convenient for those that are arriving later in the day or have other plans in the mornings. Do a search for "World of Color Superthread" and you'll understand how things work a little better

Answers above

 

[Badge]

So, based on the disney parking map I found, it looks like the Pumbaa Parking Lot is really close to the Extended Stay (just up the street). Can I walk to this parking lot and use the tram service they offer or do I have to park at the lot? The hotel seems really close to the convention center, so I am not worried about walking there. But from the maps I am looking it, it seems like that walk to the Disneyland gate might be a little long when I finish my full days at the park. Knowing I have the tram that takes me right to the street the hotel is on would be great and even better becuase it is free!

 

[HydroGuy]

For WOC info see "World of Color Superthread" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37986447

For park hours see "Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

For airport info see "Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297