Some General Questions Regarding a February Trip...

[Hester]

Hello!

I've been a longtime lurker and have finally decided to join.

I'm beginning to plan a trip to the DLR next February. This will by my 3 year old daughter's first trip ever to Disney and I couldn't be more excited about out. The more I think about the trip, I realize that it'll be a completely new experience seeing it through my 3 year olds eyes.

I have a couple of questions for all you knowledgeable folks...

1) When do Grand Californian room rates for Feb. 2009 become available for booking?

2) Would I get a better room rate through an Annual Pass, Disney Visa or AAA membership?

3) Out of the entire month of Feb., which dates would most likely be considered the most cost effective time to visit? I understand that weekends and Valentine's weekend will be in higher demand, so my question relates more to what is considered the "off season".

4) I would my daughter to experience Fantasmic, Fireworks and the Electrical Light Parade, etc. I assume that these only run on weekends, and perhaps not even during the off season... am I correct?

5) If we were to book our trip during the "off season" and only on weekdays, what will we be missing out on?

6) We're considering getting Annual Passes for several reasons, including the price break for tickets, etc. Would I have to purchase an Annual Pass now, even though I won't be using it until next Feb.? How would that work as far as it's expiration, etc?

7) If our visit occurs during early park closings (6 pm), what sort of things would you suggest we do with a 3 year old the rest of the time?

8) I assume the Grand Californian pool is heated in the winter, but would it be too cold to utilize in Feb.? What other features does this pool have and what are it's hours?

Thanks for your time!

 

[50sjayne]

I think Fantasmic is supposed to run all Jan and Feb every night, then down again in March. It's for testing purposes- same technology as their water show in the new improved CA Adventures. This may change our travel plans.

 

[bumbershoot]

6) We're considering getting Annual Passes for several reasons, including the price break for tickets, etc. Would I have to purchase an Annual Pass now, even though I won't be using it until next Feb.? How would that work as far as it's expiration, etc?

7) If our visit occurs during early park closings (6 pm), what sort of things would you suggest we do with a 3 year old the rest of the time?

There's the occasional "rogue" CM who tells people they can't book an AP rate without an active AP, but it seems that most other CMs don't have a problem with it. APs become active when you USE them, not when you buy vouchers, so you'd have to actually enter the parks and have your pix taken and such, for the AP to be active. First use of it (or if you buy park hoppers and upgrade from them, first use of the park hoppers) is what marks your expiration date. We had our first day at the park 9/18/07 and upgraded from our hoppers on the 20th, and our last day of use, assuming we don't renew, is 9/18/08.

If the parks close at 6...with a 3 year old...dinner? Lego Store? Build a Bear? Sleep? Hang out in the gorgeous lobby of the GCH? (I personally have no interest in spending that kind of $$ for any hotel not well above a Westin in an expensive area, but it is indeed beautiful in there!) Wander through DTD listening to the music and having fun? She'll likely be tired, so watch for that. It's easy for a 3 year old to not really get that you really CAN do build a bear or Lego store the next day, and they can be really good at convincing parents that they aren't tired and can do this thing...then suddenly it's a tantrum and then they pass out (without brushing their teeth! that's the worst part, LOL).

Sorry, can you tell I have a 4 year old who is finally starting to grow out of all of that? He's actually telling us when he's tired now! Miracle of all miracles, LOL.


I can't really help with the rest of it, sorry. But I'm sure others can!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I was down last February between Lincoln and Washington's birthday. Fantasmic was not running at all. The fireworks and Electrical Parade ran on the weekend evenings. If the park closes early I wouldn't count on seeing any sort of nighttime entertainment.

 

[avalon451]

I was under the impression that Fantasmic will be down for refurbishments after the new year, until March/Spring break. I don't think ELP will be running until Spring break either, but I could be wrong on that. Fireworks will run on Fri, Sat and Sunday.

Weekday in Feb will be pretty slow. President's Day week might be busy since many school districts take their midwinter break then.

If you are concerned about cost effectiveness, you should be looking into offsite hotels, rather than the three onsite DL hotels (GCH, DLH, or PP). The hotels across Harbor Blvd. from the entrance are all nearly as close or even closer than DLH or PP.

We like Howard Johnson, on Harbor and up a block at Manchester. It's about a 10 minute walk, putting it on a par with PP. They have the Entertainment book rate available for many dates in the offseason, although they're not yet published for February (I see January has lots of dates, though). Check here: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

Currently, if you buy the Entertainment book ($25 for most areas) you can use the card and get the rate of $59 a night for a standard room, or $74 for a deluxe, Disney-facing room with a balcony. You can't beat those prices for a nice, clean, midrange hotel. Also, they have a brand new water play area near their hot tub, in addition to their large swimming pool at the other side of the property.

Outdoor pools are usually heated, but I hear it's sometimes not warm enough for some people. Others are just fine with it. It's kind of hard to predict what kind of weather you'll have in Feb; it might be warm or even hot during the daytime, though it's pretty certain to cool down significantly at night.

Hope that helps!

 

[Hester]

There's the occasional "rogue" CM who tells people they can't book an AP rate without an active AP, but it seems that most other CMs don't have a problem with it.

Thanks for your reply!

So if I want the Annual Pass rate for a room, I'd have to furnish it upon check-in, not upon making the reservation?

 

[Hester]

Thanks for your reply Avalon451!

My wife have done Disney both ways... on and off property stays. For this stay, we're definitely targeting TGC hotel, but are also going to plan the trip around when we can get the best room rate.

Sounds like, for the most part, that we'll just have to wait and see what will be going on refurb wise, etc.

Do they still do parades during a weekday off season?

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for your reply!

So if I want the Annual Pass rate for a room, I'd have to furnish it upon check-in, not upon making the reservation?

Right. That's what most CMs say. And if you're making the reservation and you get a rogue CM (I love calling them that ) just politely hang up and try again, IMO.

This is all from what I've heard, FYI; I haven't encountered rogue CMs in any way.


But if you can't get a good AP rate, or can get a better rate from AAA or another way, assuming it's just a hotel-only reservation, you don't need to mention the APs at all.

Wait, I just re-read:

"....considering getting Annual Passes for several reasons, including the price break for tickets,"

There's no price break on regular tickets with an AP.


But you can buy tickets from wherever you want, then upgrade to an AP once you're there, if you wish. Also FYI, if you buy them at a discount, you won't "keep" that discount when you upgrade. Whatever the cost of the AP is when you upgrade, that's what you'll pay, so if you KNOW you're going to upgrade, there's no point in bargain-hunting.

 

[Hester]

Thanks bumbershoot...

What I meant about tickets and annual pass is that we'd pay less buying annual passes rather than purchasing individual tickets or park hoppers... especially if we do our next trip within the year.

I'm still working the math on everything, however, everything depends on our room rate... if we get a good rate, we may add a day to the stay and the annual passes would make sense as far as admission to the parks.

 

[50sjayne]

I was under the impression that Fantasmic will be down for refurbishments after the new year, until March/Spring break. I don't think ELP will be running until Spring break either, but I could be wrong on that. Fireworks will run on Fri, Sat and Sunday.

Weekday in Feb will be pretty slow. President's Day week might be busy since many school districts take their midwinter break then.

If you are concerned about cost effectiveness, you should be looking into offsite hotels, rather than the three onsite DL hotels (GCH, DLH, or PP). The hotels across Harbor Blvd. from the entrance are all nearly as close or even closer than DLH or PP.

We like Howard Johnson, on Harbor and up a block at Manchester. It's about a 10 minute walk, putting it on a par with PP. They have the Entertainment book rate available for many dates in the offseason, although they're not yet published for February (I see January has lots of dates, though). Check here: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

Currently, if you buy the Entertainment book ($25 for most areas) you can use the card and get the rate of $59 a night for a standard room, or $74 for a deluxe, Disney-facing room with a balcony. You can't beat those prices for a nice, clean, midrange hotel. Also, they have a brand new water play area near their hot tub, in addition to their large swimming pool at the other side of the property.

Outdoor pools are usually heated, but I hear it's sometimes not warm enough for some people. Others are just fine with it. It's kind of hard to predict what kind of weather you'll have in Feb; it might be warm or even hot during the daytime, though it's pretty certain to cool down significantly at night.

Hope that helps!

Sorry lost link, I just googled it. I read somewhere that it is going down for the second refurbisment in March to make the dragon pit bigger or something, can't find it now.

Fantasmic! will be getting new HD projectors during its refurbishment this fall, that will vastly improve the clarity of the videos projected on the mist screens. Apparently these new projectors will be used on a much grander scale with World of Color when it debuts late 2009/early 2010. Also coming to Fantasmic! will be Flotsam & Jetsam from the Little Mermaid jetting around on jet skis during the Ursula section of the show. They will be 7ft tall, & 33ft long. Also, this January & February, Fantasmic! will be performed 7 nights a week due to Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams not showing due to the re-paving of Main Street.

 

[Jenn1116]

President's Day Weekend is incredibly crowded (much to my surprise!) Since it will be your dd's first trip I would shoot for a slower week/weekend.

As far as AP expiration goes. Even if you buy hoppers and upgrade to APs there, the AP start date is the first day you use the hoppers and the APs are good for 1 year. Sorry if this has already been addressed!

 

[lulubelle]

Hi Hester, welcome to the Dizboards!

Typically, AP rates are available in Feb and are worth waiting for. Just avoid Pres week. The Grand Ca is much more than the other two hotels, but if you have your heart set on it, go for it. I have stayed there several times and it is always a nice treat. I forget when the great rates are released, usually only a few months ahead of time, but it will save you over $100 a night. And remember, they require one night's stay on a credit card now when you reserve.

 

[avalon451]

Sorry lost link, I just googled it. I read somewhere that it is going down for the second refurbisment in March to make the dragon pit bigger or something, can't find it now.

Fantasmic! will be getting new HD projectors during its refurbishment this fall, that will vastly improve the clarity of the videos projected on the mist screens. Apparently these new projectors will be used on a much grander scale with World of Color when it debuts late 2009/early 2010. Also coming to Fantasmic! will be Flotsam & Jetsam from the Little Mermaid jetting around on jet skis during the Ursula section of the show. They will be 7ft tall, & 33ft long. Also, this January & February, Fantasmic! will be performed 7 nights a week due to Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams not showing due to the re-paving of Main Street.

Thanks for the good info, Jayne! Now I really want to go back to see the refurbished F!