The Disneyland Snowball Effect

[PinkBudgie]

I've discovered a new law of nature: No matter how casual of a trip to Disneyland you plan, it will snowball into a bigger and bigger trip.

We started off with going to see my sister who lives about 60 or 90 min. from DL. Well, we may as well run over to DL for two days.

Well, even a short trip requires photos and my old camera is bigger than I wanted to drag around. So I just bought a new tiny Cannon (love it).

Then we thought maybe 3 days is better so we don't have to rush. And then we thought maybe we should just stay at a hotel in the area so we don't have to drive so far in rush hour traffic.

So, now I'm looking at hotel prices somewhere in the area. We have a car, we will get free DL parking with our tickets from AAA. So non walking distance is fine. No small kids who need a nap.

Has this happened to anyone else? - It must have! BTW, if anyone has a favorite hotel in the area I'd be interested. I wasn't paying much attention to this when I thought we were staying at my sisters.

 

[nun69]

I'm not sure about favorite hotels but I may be there the same time as you! we leave on the 28th and will actually be in Disneyland on the 2nd

 

[Sherry E]

I've discovered a new law of nature: No matter how casual of a trip to Disneyland you plan, it will snowball into a bigger and bigger trip.

We started off with going to see my sister who lives about 60 or 90 min. from DL. Well, we may as well run over to DL for two days.

Well, even a short trip requires photos and my old camera is bigger than I wanted to drag around. So I just bought a new tiny Cannon (love it).

Then we thought maybe 3 days is better so we don't have to rush. And then we thought maybe we should just stay at a hotel in the area so we don't have to drive so far in rush hour traffic.

So, now I'm looking at hotel prices somewhere in the area. We have a car, we will get free DL parking with our tickets from AAA. So non walking distance is fine. No small kids who need a nap.

Has this happened to anyone else? - It must have! BTW, if anyone has a favorite hotel in the area I'd be interested. I wasn't paying much attention to this when I thought we were staying at my sisters.

Well, I like all the actual Disney hotels when I can afford them, but many others on here have good experiences with the Good Neighbor hotels.

I know what you mean about the 'snowball' effect. I hadn't been to Disneyland in six years (long story). However, in previous Disney trips, I had witnessed the snowball effect in action! I was the biggest Disney fanatic for decades! Last year, A client of mine gave me some free tickets for Disneyland only - no park hoppers. Since I and two other friends were all turning 40 last year, we though we would use those tickets and mosey over to the park for one day to celebrate. I decided I didn't want to go in summer because it is too hot for me, so this led to a Fall trip. I decided, hey, if we are going in fall, maybe if we so during the off-peak season, the hotel rates will be cheaper and we can stay at one of the hotels! Came to find out, convention season had begun and the hotels were booked on every weekend we wanted. I decided we HAD to be there when the Halloween decorations were up. Several phone calls later, I found a room at the Paradise Pier, during off-peak, Halloween decor up and ready! But one night at PPH was not good enough. I decided two nights would be better because we will be much better rested that way and can get more done IN the parks. AND I decided to upgrade our one-day tickets to two-day park hoppers. I invited one friend to join my other friend and me in the park, then invited yet another friend, which led to some confusion as to when and where all of us would meet up and if all four of us would be in the same place at the same time.

It ended up POURING rain on us half of the day in the park and I was not able to get many pictures because of this, and it discouraged us from doing a lot of things that we wanted to do. SO, I decided we had to make another plan to go back in December for the holidays, but this time, the PPH would not suffice. It would have to be the Grand Californian hotel. And this time, rather than two-day hoppers, we would get three-day park hoppers! But actually, the December trip ended up being a costlier BUT much more productive trip that went much more smoothly than the late-September visit. It did not rain and I got tons of pictures. All four of us were together at the same time in the same place! So sometimes you have to let it snowball and pay a little more money to get things to run efficiently and flawlessly!

I swear, there WAS a method to my madness. And don't even get me started on the 'snowball effect' of souvenirs-merchandise buying. That is a whole separate issue!

 

[bumbershoot]

Here's one more to the snowball. When you decide to upgrade those 3 day hoppers to Annual Passports. Since your sister lives so close, you might as well, really. I mean, my brother lives in San Diego so we decided on APs, and we live in Washington! It really just makes good financial sense, if you think about it... (they need an enabler emoticon)

 

[bumbershoot]

Off topic!


Sherry E! I remember you and your post from a few months back. How's the job situation? Did everything work out? I hope so!

 

[Sy-]

OMG I know exactly what you are going through.....
Our trip started out as 5 days in San Diego then 4 days in Anaheim. We originally were planning on staying at the Fairfield for 4 nights. But then we decided to change it to 6 nights incase my DW wanted to do some shopping. Then instead ok the Fairfield we decided to stay on property at Paradise Pier since walking with the 2yo would be tough. Then we changed to the Grand Californian since Paradise Pier wasn't any closer than the Fairfield! At thap point we had 5 day park hoppers, Yesterday i changed em to 8 day park hoppers because it was only $10/ticket more and this will allow us entry to DL on ALL 7 days weare in Anaheim...... Now that was just the accomodations... Let me tell you about the rest so you can get a chuckle... Luggage; First since this was the first trip in a while I though we should get sone new luggage for the Kids. So i bought this cute 3 piece blue luggage set from disneyshopping.com. Its nice but now our luggage will look old. So I went an purchased another 3 piece set of luggage for my wife and I that almost exactly matches (color wise) the kids set. That'll make it easier to spot it at the baggage claim! Next the cameras. My DW has a Sony P&S, and I have a Nikon SLR as well as a HD video cam. I decided the SLR is too big to carry so I had to go and buy my own Nikon P&S. Now I'm going to bring my HD video camera. But what if Shamoo splashes it? Or what if it gets wet going down splash mountain? I'd better buy a waterproof video camera just for these situations! I literally bough everything I could think of that i would need for this trip from shoes to ipods to tracking devices. I wish the trip would get here before I find something else to buy! Please nobody give me any ideas!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Here's one more to the snowball. When you decide to upgrade those 3 day hoppers to Annual Passports. Since your sister lives so close, you might as well, really. I mean, my brother lives in San Diego so we decided on APs, and we live in Washington! It really just makes good financial sense, if you think about it... (they need an enabler emoticon)

And... since you are going to get the middle AP, you might as well throw in the extra for the Premium because you will get free parking with absolutely no blackout dates, which is great because you never know when you might end up at your sisters and want to make a little hop over to the Park. Plus, the discounts the AP will give you on the souvenirs you buy will make up for it. hehe

Look at that! Snowballs in Southern California! haha!

 

[Sherry E]

Off topic!


Sherry E! I remember you and your post from a few months back. How's the job situation? Did everything work out? I hope so!

Bumbershoot - thank you so much for remembering and asking! I appreciate that. I really do. I didn't want to drag everyone down with that dismal subject, but I do appreciate the thought - sincerely! No, believe it or not, I am STILL not working! I have been technically out of 'office work' for more than four months (going on five). I continue to do my freelance stuff at home, but the economy is SO much worse than I had ever dreamed when I was working steadily for 14 or 15 years straight, and no one can understand why I am still jobless. I am a good employee, reliable, bright, creative - but it is just a terrible time in California as far as economy. One of my friends knows a co-producer and writer for one of Showtime's hit shows and she tried to hook me up with her for job there, or even at the Writers Guild. No luck! This same friend also knows someone who was a LONGTIME Disney employee and had that person send my resume to Disney. NO LUCK. I have applied to probably 200 places, but have not gotten many interviews. I even interviewed at CBS for what seemed like a job I would be suited for. NO LUCK! So the search continues.

Oh, and by the way, if you recall, I had a reservation for this December at GCH and was debating on whether or not to cancel, and I did. I got the money (minus $100) back, but I am holding out hope that I will be able to RE-schedule! If not, then I will just wait until 2009!

Thanks again for the thought, and continue to keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[Sherry E]

OMG I know exactly what you are going through.....
Our trip started out as 5 days in San Diego then 4 days in Anaheim. We originally were planning on staying at the Fairfield for 4 nights. But then we decided to change it to 6 nights incase my DW wanted to do some shopping. Then instead ok the Fairfield we decided to stay on property at Paradise Pier since walking with the 2yo would be tough. Then we changed to the Grand Californian since Paradise Pier wasn't any closer than the Fairfield! At thap point we had 5 day park hoppers, Yesterday i changed em to 8 day park hoppers because it was only $10/ticket more and this will allow us entry to DL on ALL 7 days weare in Anaheim...... Now that was just the accomodations... Let me tell you about the rest so you can get a chuckle... Luggage; First since this was the first trip in a while I though we should get sone new luggage for the Kids. So i bought this cute 3 piece blue luggage set from disneyshopping.com. Its nice but now our luggage will look old. So I went an purchased another 3 piece set of luggage for my wife and I that almost exactly matches (color wise) the kids set. That'll make it easier to spot it at the baggage claim! Next the cameras. My DW has a Sony P&S, and I have a Nikon SLR as well as a HD video cam. I decided the SLR is too big to carry so I had to go and buy my own Nikon P&S. Now I'm going to bring my HD video camera. But what if Shamoo splashes it? Or what if it gets wet going down splash mountain? I'd better buy a waterproof video camera just for these situations! I literally bough everything I could think of that i would need for this trip from shoes to ipods to tracking devices. I wish the trip would get here before I find something else to buy! Please nobody give me any ideas!

I don't know about you guys, but I am getting a big chuckle out of all of these posts! I am glad to see we all have the same 'Disney snowball sickness.' I told one of my friends - who happened to spend a full week at the WDW parks last December - that there is something that happens when a Disney trip is being planned. It is like a fever takes over you and you can't be stopped. Suddenly every upgrade or purchase under the sun seems absolutely reasonable and necessary for this trip and all the 'what if' scenarios that could arise. And then, we won't even get into the fever that envelops you once you actually get INTO the park and you justify to yourself why you need to buy 11 watches at New Century on Main Street or 20 pins because they all have Disney attractions on them.

12-Step Program, anyone??

 

[bumbershoot]

Sherry E, I'm so sorry you're not working. I think you should think about joining the March ladies only trip and go get subscribed to that thread, just in case things are going better then and you can go.

And stop talking about 12 step programs, who wants to STOP the snowball?

 

[RainyDayPixie]

I know what you mean! My trip started out as a couple of days b/c DH gets a bunch of Jewish holidays off in Oct. Then, if we're going T/W, we might as well stay through Friday so that we can hopefully see fireworks. Went to use FF miles and we had to stay over a sat night...

And then there's the hotel situation. This was going to be a budget trip and I have ressies at Hojo, but now I'm anxiously awaiting AP7 rates to stay at an onsite hotel.

And then if we have AP's, we might as well come down again. Because it's FREE, right?
This is the kind of madness I have no interest in stopping, though!

 

[kkmcan]

We have a trip planned for Oct in which we wanted to get aps.

BUt then, my dh had a firefighters convention in Lake Havasu, a mere 4 hours away from DL, last month. I could drop him at the convention and take the kids over there for 2-3 days to have something to do while dad is away.

And since we are going to get aps in Oct it would only be a few months earlier and we would get so much more use out of them already!!

But then, poor dh would miss DL so lets add a couple of days to the end of our trip so that dh could come and join us after his convention. What a great idea!!

We ended up being there 6 nights!!! Our biggest trip ever to DL! It happens everytime- snowball effect.

 

[PinkBudgie]

It is just hilarious to read these posts! I'm so glad I'm not the only one!

To update: I booked a room at the Holiday Inn Express not far from DL. It got good reviews from many people and the internet rate was only $100 a night for the four of us. AND they serve breakfast. I'm so happy I got that all taken care of and don't have to worry about it anymore!

It is like an infection! And I have been addicted to this forum. I must have caught this dangerous disease from of you! And I love it! Thanks!

 

[Kelsie]

It is just hilarious to read these posts! I'm so glad I'm not the only one!

To update: I booked a room at the Holiday Inn Express not far from DL. It got good reviews from many people and the internet rate was only $100 a night for the four of us. AND they serve breakfast. I'm so happy I got that all taken care of and don't have to worry about it anymore!

It is like an infection! And I have been addicted to this forum. I must have caught this dangerous disease from of you! And I love it! Thanks!

Hate to add to the 'snowball' but if you are going to pay $100 a night, you should look at the Candy Cane Inn since they have their own shuttle and you won't have to purchase ART.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry E, I'm so sorry you're not working. I think you should think about joining the March ladies only trip and go get subscribed to that thread, just in case things are going better then and you can go.

And stop talking about 12 step programs, who wants to STOP the snowball?

I very well may join the March ladies only trip if things are going better by then. It sounds like a lot of fun! I will have to subscribe to that thread. And thanks for the good vibes! I refuse to believe that I will not be working by December, so I am holding out hope for a holiday trip of some kind!

 

[PinkBudgie]

AP? Shuttles? La la la- I can't hear you.

Actually, APs did cross my mind. Not sure I can justify that yet. But shuttles don't tempt me. I've been there, done that and I'd rather drive. We get free parking through AAA.

Sherry- wishing you a happy DL Snowball soon!

 

[Sherry E]

AP? Shuttles? La la la- I can't hear you.

Actually, APs did cross my mind. Not sure I can justify that yet. But shuttles don't tempt me. I've been there, done that and I'd rather drive. We get free parking through AAA.

Sherry- wishing you a happy DL Snowball soon!

Thank you for the kind wishes! I would like nothing more to know that I have the funds to enable my snowball fever, and be able to walk through those gates and go on a shopping tear for useless things in the park!

The fever doesn't grip everyone like it has all of us here. My friend, who stayed in a WDW resort hotel for a full week last December, is coming out here in two weeks to go to DL and DCA. I tried to lure her into the madness but was unsuccessful, partially. She was initially going to only hit DL, but I convinced her that she needs to take her son into DCA too. She agreed. She was going to stay at Quality Inn, but the reviews I read were pretty bad, so I talked her into staying elsewhere but could not convince her to stay at Paradise Pier, even though I advised her that when she stays at one of the non-Disney hotels, she will be faced with a walk she did not expect, and her four-year-old may not be up for that at nap time. She wouldn't budge. I suggested Candy Cane Inn or Hojo's because I have heard so many good things on this board about them, but she wouldn't budge. She was looking at staying at the Del Sol, and I dont think I ever hear anything about that place on here, so I tend to think it may not be that great. AND she will have a walk that is more than she expected, especially when she is walking from the Del Sol all the way to Goofy's Kitchen!!

See, if I were the one in charge of planning the trip for my friend, I would have already 'snowballed' the plan and had her buying an AP and staying at the GCH, as well as trading her current tickets for two-day hoppers. It's madness, I tell you! Madness!

 

[bumbershoot]

AP? Shuttles? La la la- I can't hear you.

Actually, APs did cross my mind. Not sure I can justify that yet.

Oh, living in northern CA, you simply must. If you can.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

origanaly we were gona do 2 small trips 3 days each. now only one. so then we decied to add a forth day and stuff and now we have decied since we cant do dec (prety much know we cant still hoping tho) then make it a 5day hopper just first day we arent going early we will go when we want lol

so now we are doing one big trip and if if we do a dec trip we will get aps in oct but that depends alot on other finacial things lol

 

[mariezp]

Look at that! Snowballs in Southern California! haha!

You would think if the DISers are powerful enough to create snowballs in California that we could figure out a way to grow a BIG old money tree so that something as silly as finances wouldn't be able to keep any of us from our Disney mania! We could all take turns partaking of the "fruit" and contribute it to our gotta-get-to-Disneyland-funds!

I had to change our dates around a little when some friends of ours decided to join us on our trip. We were originally booked for Nov. 10-21 but in order for them to come for a full week I had to move our departure day back a day. Well... then we were soooo close to being there for the kick off of the Christmas season... just to get a better chance of not missing it, I managed to convince my DH to stay on through the weekend. (darn! 3 extra days! )