The Prize for the most Indecisive Traveller

[PrincessInOz]

To get through the recession a few years back, the Reserve Bank of NZ dropped the official cash rate to a very low 2.5%

However, now that kiwis are spending more and our dollar is strong, there is a push by kiwi exporters to increase the cash rate for the first time in years. It seems very likely that this will happen in just a few weeks time which is potentially bad news for not just people with mortgages, but travellers like myself who have been enjoying a strong NZ dollar.

I feel under so much pressure to book things now, but unfortunately the money just isn't there to book much more than the airfare I booked this morning. I have my fingers crossed that the dollar isn't affected too much when the Reserve Governor makes his announcement in a few weeks.

A money tree would be very handy right now.


Good luck with the exchange rates.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

YAY for booking the flight from SLC to Long Beach and gaining more time for DLR. Yes, it is closer than LAX. Isn't the parent company for JetBlue American Airlines? Should be a decent service. Is there a reason for changing the accommodation if you staying 2 or 3 nights?

I'm not sure who JetBlue is affiliated with, but I hope their service is better than American Airlines. I wasn't a fan of AA.

The main reason for considering an accommodation change is the sofa bed. So we aren't all sleeping in the same room, our current arrangement means that either my MIL, or DH and I, will be sleeping on the lounges sofa bed for 3 nights. For 2 nights it didn't seem too bad, particularly given how much cheaper it was than similar accommodation options. But the extra night has compounded the doubts I had. Sofa beds are a bit of a gamble and can either be okay or downright awful. Because I get back pains, I need a comfy place to sleep.

If our Aulani request comes through, the 3 nights after Anaheim will be spent with all 4 of us sharing a studio suite. For the chance to stay at Aulani, I am okay both sharing a room with my MIL and also sleeping on the sofa bed (MIL and DS will share the bed, while DH and I will take the sofa bed).
But the thought of sleeping on a sofa bed for 6 nights in a row (3 in Anaheim, then 3 in Hawaii) seems a bit much. Do you think it would be fair to insist my MIL takes the sofa bed in Anaheim, given that DH and I will have it in Hawaii? Or should I just keep looking for a 2-bedroom place in Anaheim that offers at least 3 double beds?

I know I'm probably over-thinking this, but I'm one of those people who cherish both my sleep and my privacy.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm not sure who JetBlue is affiliated with, but I hope their service is better than American Airlines. I wasn't a fan of AA.

The main reason for considering an accommodation change is the sofa bed. So we aren't all sleeping in the same room, our current arrangement means that either my MIL, or DH and I, will be sleeping on the lounges sofa bed for 3 nights. For 2 nights it didn't seem too bad, particularly given how much cheaper it was than similar accommodation options. But the extra night has compounded the doubts I had. Sofa beds are a bit of a gamble and can either be okay or downright awful. Because I get back pains, I need a comfy place to sleep.

If our Aulani request comes through, the 3 nights after Anaheim will be spent with all 4 of us sharing a studio suite. For the chance to stay at Aulani, I am okay both sharing a room with my MIL and also sleeping on the sofa bed (MIL and DS will share the bed, while DH and I will take the sofa bed).
But the thought of sleeping on a sofa bed for 6 nights in a row (3 in Anaheim, then 3 in Hawaii) seems a bit much. Do you think it would be fair to insist my MIL takes the sofa bed in Anaheim, given that DH and I will have it in Hawaii? Or should I just keep looking for a 2-bedroom place in Anaheim that offers at least 3 double beds?

I know I'm probably over-thinking this, but I'm one of those people who cherish both my sleep and my privacy.

Got it.


If it doesn't cost you anything, I would extend the existing ressie with PVI to cover the extra night. And then look for something that gives you all the proper beds in Anaheim. If you find it, you can cancel PVI.

Where have you looked for the 2-bedrooms and/or 3 double beds (and ruled out)?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Got it. If it doesn't cost you anything, I would extend the existing ressie with PVI to cover the extra night. And then look for something that gives you all the proper beds in Anaheim. If you find it, you can cancel PVI. Where have you looked for the 2-bedrooms and/or 3 double beds (and ruled out)?

Pretty much everywhere within a 10 minute walk of Disneyland. The main decider has been price. PVI is costing us $200 p/n while most places with 3 beds are upwards of about $280 p/n. Given that these places aren't more than 3 star, I'm finding close to three hundred a night hard to justify.
There are a couple of places for a similar price to what we're paying (Castle Inn and Suites is one that comes to mind) but they don't have free breakfast and some don't even have free wifi. The free breakfast at PVI does work out at quite a saving for 4 people.

I have been looking De Sol Inn where we could get 2 separate rooms for about NZ$250 p/n total.

I think I was just expecting to find some more impressive savings than what I was able to find and have gone into this search with unrealistic expectations.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I like the Residence Inn. It is a little bit more walking; but they do include hot buffet breakfast in the tariff. It takes us about 15 minutes to walk to the gates.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I like the Residence Inn. It is a little bit more walking; but they do include hot buffet breakfast in the tariff. It takes us about 15 minutes to walk to the gates.

Cool, I will look it up.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Cool, I will look it up.

It's not necessarily any cheaper; but they will give a discount for AAA.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

[Insert excited squeals here]

I'm going to Aulani!

The DVC points came through last night and I can already see my booking on the Disney website.

I have an Island View Studio booked.

Did I mention that I'm going to Aulani!

 

[cola]

I've stayed DVC Disney's Grand Californian Villas and the sofa bed was better than most beds you get in a hotel. Considering Aulani is even newer than GCV, I would expect their sofa beds to be just as excellent, if not better.

I think you'll find 2 hotel rooms in Anaheim is much cheaper than a suite. MIL can have her own room?

 

[cola]

The irony is that if I pretended we were part of Gay Days, I could get a REALLY cheap deal on any of the Disney hotels. But because that doesn't sit well with any of us...

'Gay Days Anaheim is a "mix in" event for both gay and straight communities to mingle together in one spot.' Sounds like sharing in their accommodation deal, particularly just on the final day when many would be checking-out, is mixing-in meeting the criteria to a T. It's not like you have to be attending an organised ticketed event to qualify for it.
Lots of people use the Dapper Day rates etc without attending Dapper Day itself. I'm sure Disney have no qualms about what colour your money is, they just want someone using the rooms that isn't put off by Gay Days.

Even off property hotels offer Gay Days rates so that's probably part of the reason everywhere is seeming expensive.

 

[kyton]

Just be aware Gay Days are massively busy! We arrived last year on the Saturday of Gay Day - The Grand Californian was packed and the lines in both parks were quite long. The Sunday we ended up eating elsewhere as Downtown was packed and we only spent half a day in the parks. Then we sighed with relief on the Monday as the crowds subsided and the parks returned to manageable levels.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I think you'll find 2 hotel rooms in Anaheim is much cheaper than a suite. MIL can have her own room?

I've done quite a bit of research and unfortunately 2 rooms aren't cheaper than what I have booked.
If my MIL was in the position to pay for a whole room on her own, it probably would work out cheaper for me to get a standard room. However, as a single woman, she can't really afford to pay for whole rooms on her own.
The system in which we share the costs works out pretty well, and even though I do think it works out slightly more expensive for my family to travel with my MIL, she always returns the favour in other non-monetary ways.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

'Gay Days Anaheim is a "mix in" event for both gay and straight communities to mingle together in one spot.' Sounds like sharing in their accommodation deal, particularly just on the final day when many would be checking-out, is mixing-in meeting the criteria to a T. It's not like you have to be attending an organised ticketed event to qualify for it.
Lots of people use the Dapper Day rates etc without attending Dapper Day itself. I'm sure Disney have no qualms about what colour your money is, they just want someone using the rooms that isn't put off by Gay Days.

Even off property hotels offer Gay Days rates so that's probably part of the reason everywhere is seeming expensive.

You could be right. I wish I knew for sure, as the deals are pretty good.

When you got to the Disney booking page via the Gay Days link, the Terms and Conditions are pretty scary. Paraphrased it basically says, 'If you are found to be a fraud and not part of this event, your accommodation could be refused without refund'.

We aren't part of the event and will actually try our best to avoid it (not due to any kind of prejudice, I just dislike crowds).

Maybe I'm just a worry wort, but it just doesn't feel right booking under these circumstances.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Just be aware Gay Days are massively busy! We arrived last year on the Saturday of Gay Day - The Grand Californian was packed and the lines in both parks were quite long. The Sunday we ended up eating elsewhere as Downtown was packed and we only spent half a day in the parks. Then we sighed with relief on the Monday as the crowds subsided and the parks returned to manageable levels.

Bother. That's what I was worried about.

We are there Sunday and Monday. I think we might aim to do all the shows and lesser rides on the Sunday.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Did I mention that I'm now booked into Aulani!

 

[cola]

You could be right. I wish I knew for sure, as the deals are pretty good.

When you got to the Disney booking page via the Gay Days link, the Terms and Conditions are pretty scary. Paraphrased it basically says, 'If you are found to be a fraud and not part of this event, your accommodation could be refused without refund'.

We aren't part of the event and will actually try our best to avoid it (not due to any kind of prejudice, I just dislike crowds).

Maybe I'm just a worry wort, but it just doesn't feel right booking under these circumstances.

I haven't bothered to register, so not seen the terms, but it sounds like the standard conference/event terms for the Disneyland hotels....
This site has been created for the special contracted group whose name is noted above. Only guests that are participating in this Special Event or convention are eligible to use this site in order to get access to the pre-blocked rooms and/or Theme Park Tickets at the special contracted rate. Your reservation and ticket order will be audited against the Special Event registration list and should it be necessary we reserve the right to contact you to request proof of registration. If it is discovered that the reservation and/or ticket order is not for a Special Event or convention participant, the reservations and/or ticket order will be cancelled, the tickets blocked (if applicable), and any deposit or payment will not be eligible for a refund. In addition these tickets cannot be purchased for the purpose of or with the intention of being resold.
Since the Gay Days charter says it's for mixing, I could quite happily consider mixing as checking into a hotel a vast majority will be checking out of the same day, but if that seems too far for you, that's OK.

If it was a conference with a $1000 registration fee and you were using that link to get to discount accommodation and no-one was attending the expensive conference, you would not be on the Special Event registration list and I'd be concerned. For an event with no Registration List, that has 'Gay Days Anaheim is a "mix in" event for both gay and straight communities to mingle together in one spot.' in its promotional material, I'd be prepared to take that at face value - one and all welcome to take advantage of anything that has been negotiated, if you are comfortable with a "mix in" event for both gay and straight communities and it's worth it. HoJo's, area Marriotts, and probably many of the other local hotels also have Gay Days rates (HoJo's and Marriotts discount rates came up in a very quick search).

The Sundays I ended up at DLR last year in September were PACKED, add a seething mass of red t-shirts, and you'd have to pay me to go to the parks that Sunday - take the Gay Days DLR discount as that payment. I went the first Sunday I was there after a couple of days during the week and it was 90min queues vs walk-ons a couple of days earlier. Downtown Disney was packed. The next week, I just popped by Downtown Disney on the Sunday, chaos, same as the week before, Mon-Thurs it was like having the parks to yourself.

 

[PrincessInOz]

[Insert excited squeals here]

I'm going to Aulani!

The DVC points came through last night and I can already see my booking on the Disney website.

I have an Island View Studio booked.

Did I mention that I'm going to Aulani!

WOO HOO!!! Congratulations!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

http://www.sherv.net/ WOO HOO!!! Congratulations!

Thank you! Could you tell that I was feeling just a wee bit excited?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I haven't bothered to register, so not seen the terms, but it sounds like the standard conference/event terms for the Disneyland hotels.... This site has been created for the special contracted group whose name is noted above. Only guests that are participating in this Special Event or convention are eligible to use this site in order to get access to the pre-blocked rooms and/or Theme Park Tickets at the special contracted rate. Your reservation and ticket order will be audited against the Special Event registration list and should it be necessary we reserve the right to contact you to request proof of registration. If it is discovered that the reservation and/or ticket order is not for a Special Event or convention participant, the reservations and/or ticket order will be cancelled, the tickets blocked (if applicable), and any deposit or payment will not be eligible for a refund. In addition these tickets cannot be purchased for the purpose of or with the intention of being resold. Since the Gay Days charter says it's for mixing, I could quite happily consider mixing as checking into a hotel a vast majority will be checking out of the same day, but if that seems too far for you, that's OK. If it was a conference with a $1000 registration fee and you were using that link to get to discount accommodation and no-one was attending the expensive conference, you would not be on the Special Event registration list and I'd be concerned. For an event with no Registration List, that has 'Gay Days Anaheim is a "mix in" event for both gay and straight communities to mingle together in one spot.' in its promotional material, I'd be prepared to take that at face value - one and all welcome to take advantage of anything that has been negotiated, if you are comfortable with a "mix in" event for both gay and straight communities and it's worth it. HoJo's, area Marriotts, and probably many of the other local hotels also have Gay Days rates (HoJo's and Marriotts discount rates came up in a very quick search). The Sundays I ended up at DLR last year in September were PACKED, add a seething mass of red t-shirts, and you'd have to pay me to go to the parks that Sunday - take the Gay Days DLR discount as that payment. I went the first Sunday I was there after a couple of days during the week and it was 90min queues vs walk-ons a couple of days earlier. Downtown Disney was packed. The next week, I just popped by Downtown Disney on the Sunday, chaos, same as the week before, Mon-Thurs it was like having the parks to yourself.

Those are the Terms and Conditions.

You've got me thinking in more ways than one.
Not just about the accommodation, but how to spend the Sunday. I'm beginning to think it may be worth avoiding the park altogether and perhaps going to Universal or Legoland instead.
It'll mean only one day (Monday) at Disneyland, which is way less than ideal, but I hate big crowds with a passion. I get claustrophic when surrounded on all sides by people and the crowds on the Sunday are sounding pretty bad. It also know DH (who doesn't love Disney like I do) will get pretty impatient if the queues are all around an hour +

I need to sleep on this for a while.

 

[cola]

Sundays get lots of locals, Sundays at Universal get lots of locals too but it just feels more open for some reason, I suppose the 2 level layout makes it less intense.

If you are going to Disney just on Monday if you stay on property, you get the early opening at DCA - for a one day visit, that can make a big difference. You can easily get your WoC fastpass if you're not doing a WoC dining package and you can get an RSR fastpass (or at least queue up for it just before they let the general public in and the RSR fastpass queue gets crazy) We wandered in 30min into the extra hour using the Grand Californian mini entrance, no queue at that time, got Woc fastpass just near the GC entrance, walked through Carsland with it virtually empty, RSR wasn't open, but Mater and McQueen were doing a drive through out to the Carsland sign for the general public opening time, then joined the RSR fastpass queue 5min before park opening (return time was 2pm-ish)

Friend I was with was only there for 1 day so we hit the parks HARD but pretty much managed to do everything Mon 9Sept last year. It made my followup visits very relaxed, all the BIG must do's were already done on the first Monday. I was around the area until Oct, so got good use of the 10day Aussie ticket and managed to include a Mickey Halloween party and a Universal Halloween Horror Nights too.