Traveling to the BCS National Championship Game on 1/7 and considering Disneyland Too

[ballarinamom]

Thank you again and I totally understand. This trip to California was never about doing a "Disney Vacation" like our spring break trip earlier this year was. This was all about experiencing the National Championship Game inside the "Rose Bowl." I decided to add a visit to Disneyland in because I thought it would make it that much more special. Now that I have realized that, I have a new outlook and decided to stop making this trip all about the "perfect" Disneyland trip. We will take 2 days of out of our 5 day trip and spend them at the parks and enjoy ourselves. I think the real comparison for me came in picking a "Disney on-sit hotel" that would provide the same level of "magic and awe" that we experienced at the Contemporary. The visit to the parks will be exciting for us and that is what it is all about.

I think this is perspective. Everyone has their own tastes. When we went to WDW we were very dissapointed in the WDW hotel options. Having stayed at the DLH several times, we were prepared to pay top dollar for a hotel that had a Disney feel. No matter the amount of money spent, the only hotel with Disney themeing was AllStar Movies. Grand Floridian, Animal Kigndom etc.. had no Disney theming. DD wants the Mickey hands holding the sconces, the characters in the lobby at check in, the pixie dust on the ceiling..... The best we got was Andy's room at the ASM.I have never been in a hotel where the furniture was chained to the wall! I'm not kidding! The tv and amior was CHAINED to the wall!
We chose a town car instead of the WDW transportation as we wanted a direct trip to and from the hotel. And we liked having drinks in our room by ordering them or having our driver make a stop for us to shop. We bought refillable mugs but never used them. They got sold for a nickel in our last garage sale.
Obviously, our perspective is different from yours. That's why they are called personal opinions!
Coming from DL as our only Disney experience, we were let down by WDW. Our expectations were so high but it wasn't Disneyland. We had to remind ourselves to appreciate where we where- even with the differences.
So I totally agree with Hydroguy. Don't get bogged down in what is missing. What IS there is so amazing/
Have fun

 

[islandbound1day]

Very true. I ABSOLUTELY would not stay in the value Disney hotels anyway. I have heard some stories just like yours. I loved having the Monorail just downstairs from our room and it picking us up inside the hotel. I will definitely stay at the monorail resorts at WDW in the future. We will enjoy the two parks in California and save the onsite experience for WDW. Thanks

 

[ballarinamom]

Very true. I ABSOLUTELY would not stay in the value Disney hotels anyway. I have heard some stories just like yours. I loved having the Monorail just downstairs from our room and it picking us up inside the hotel. I will definitely stay at the monorail resorts at WDW in the future. We will enjoy the two parks in California and save the onsite experience for WDW. Thanks

But my point was, we wouldn't stay at the Contemperary or Grand Floridian is that yes they are nice, but not Disney. We are so willing to pay for niceties, but when in Disney, we want to be immersed in Disney. And we get that at DLH. The 3 DL hotels all have Disney touches. And the DLH, especially now with the remodeled rooms in the Dreams tower are gorgeous. And the monorail only takes you to EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. You still have to take bus or boat to get to AK or the Studio parks. At DL. You just walk out of your hotel and you are in DTD and then a your in the park.

 

[islandbound1day]

Are the room renovations still going on in the Disneyland Hotel? I would love to stay in a remodeled room but I do not know if I will have a very good chance at getting one. They look beautiful.

 

[gatorfreud]

they are being done now but i don't think any are complete.

 

[islandbound1day]

Bummer. I definitely would consider trying that property if there was a chance to be in a new room.

they are being done now but i don't think any are complete.

 

[Crimson]

See ya'll in Pasadena! Roll Tide.

 

[annameg]

Was is the BTM Petty Zoo? I see that it is closing on the 4th of January. Will BTMRR be open?

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Was is the BTM Petty Zoo? I see that it is closing on the 4th of January.

Big Thunder Ranch is a small petting zoo that's located at the far back end of Frontierland, beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Right before the entrance to Fantasyland.

This time of year it's decorated for Christmas. It has a Meet-and-Greet for Santa, and there are also eight reindeer, two turkeys, etc.

Big Thunder Ranch will be closed Jan. 4 - 12 to remove the Christmas decorations, etc.

Will BTMRR be open?

Yes, BTMRR will still be open, and it will still be the Wildest Ride in the WILL-DER-NESSSSSS !!

HTH

 

[WeLoveTheMouse]

Roll Tide! We are going too! Found out we got BCS tickets Sat night. Booked a flight into San Diego tonight. Coming on Tuesday leaving on Saturday. We are staying in Anaheim even if we don't go to DL.

We were there last January at stayed at HOJO. We are WDW vets too and we were not sure what to think about DL. We loved it. My girls beg to go back there instead of WDW but a lot of that is because it was new and they have been to WDW many times. The walk from the HOJO to the gate was probably less than the distnace from a value resort room to the bus stop at WDW.

I would love to answer any specific questions that I can.

 

[Bama_C]

Roll Tide! We are going too! Found out we got BCS tickets Sat night. Booked a flight into San Diego tonight. Coming on Tuesday leaving on Saturday. We are staying in Anaheim even if we don't go to DL.

We were there last January at stayed at HOJO. We are WDW vets too and we were not sure what to think about DL. We loved it. My girls beg to go back there instead of WDW but a lot of that is because it was new and they have been to WDW many times. The walk from the HOJO to the gate was probably less than the distnace from a value resort room to the bus stop at WDW.

I would love to answer any specific questions that I can.

Cindy, my question for you is... (bearing in mind we are WDW vets and never been to DL) we are going to be in Anaheim for only 3 whole days, so would you spend 2 at DL and one at the BCS game? Or, would you do one day at DL, one day to see some of the area (never even been to CA), and one day for the game? I would really love to see some of the area, but hubby and I are Disney nuts and we really want to do as much of DL as possible with this being our first time there. We were in WDW for 12 days in October and did lots of the attractions multiple times. And, I know there are some duplications of attractions between the two. But what we are so excited about with DL is its historical significance... being where Walt walked, doing the classic attractions, etc. What do you think?

Thanks!

 

[WeLoveTheMouse]

Cindy, my question for you is... (bearing in mind we are WDW vets and never been to DL) we are going to be in Anaheim for only 3 whole days, so would you spend 2 at DL and one at the BCS game? Or, would you do one day at DL, one day to see some of the area (never even been to CA), and one day for the game? I would really love to see some of the area, but hubby and I are Disney nuts and we really want to do as much of DL as possible with this being our first time there. We were in WDW for 12 days in October and did lots of the attractions multiple times. And, I know there are some duplications of attractions between the two. But what we are so excited about with DL is its historical significance... being where Walt walked, doing the classic attractions, etc. What do you think?

Thanks!

We spent 2 days at DL last January and we did everything. It was so much more relaxed atmosphere than WDW. For example, we got out to the plaza about 45 minutes before opening on our first day. There was hardly anybody out there. We had WDW tickets that we had to convert to DL tickets which was very easy. We were the first people standing at the gate to CA. I asked one of the men if he would hand me a map to look at while we wait. He came back later and asked us to open the park. They opened it part way about 30 minutes before opening and they let you enter the park. Soaring was open early. We were headed straight to Toy Story Mania like good WDW people with a plan so we FP Soaring and headed to a rope drop inside the park. At rope drop, we walked quickly straight to TSM and we looked back and noticed that we were the only people doing this. We were the 1st on TSM by a mile. Nobody moved in a hurry for anything.

It is a hard decision! I don't think that 1 day at DL would have been enough for us the first time. It was not crowded. They did not have hardly any FP even available. Don't miss Matterhorn and the Nemo sub ride! Fantasyland and Toon town are fabulous. As a Disney fanatic, I would pick 2 days at DL. But that depends on the age of your kids and how much they would enjoy in LA. Mine were 10 and 7 and they loved DL more than LA. We spent 2 part days in La and did everything my kids wanted to do. You can go by the famous Mann's Theater and Rodeo drive and things the day of the game. Driving along the coast and Santa Montica pier were also nice. It is a hard decision. Wish you had one more day.

Maybe we will see you there. No kids for us this time. No game ticket, airfair is too high and can't miss 4 days of middle school. I am very sad about leaving them behind.

 

[HydroGuy]

Cindy, my question for you is... (bearing in mind we are WDW vets and never been to DL) we are going to be in Anaheim for only 3 whole days, so would you spend 2 at DL and one at the BCS game? Or, would you do one day at DL, one day to see some of the area (never even been to CA), and one day for the game? I would really love to see some of the area, but hubby and I are Disney nuts and we really want to do as much of DL as possible with this being our first time there. We were in WDW for 12 days in October and did lots of the attractions multiple times. And, I know there are some duplications of attractions between the two. But what we are so excited about with DL is its historical significance... being where Walt walked, doing the classic attractions, etc. What do you think?

Thanks!

Depends on your priorities. Two days at DLR will keep you entirely busy if you are a Disney fan. However, spending one of your days in Hollywood or somewhere else may also be fun. January is not a very good time to visit the beach so I would skip that. There are of course many other things in SoCal you could do. La Brea Tar Pits, Mission San Juan Capistrano, a drive down the coast to San Diego and visit to La Jolla, etc., etc. Is there anything in SoCal you have always wanted to see or really strikes your fancy? If so, do it. If not, maybe two days at DLR is the way to go.

 

[HydroGuy]

We spent 2 days at DL last January and we did everything.

A lot of DLR regulars would take exception to this. I think you mean that in two days you got to do a lot.

For someone like me who knows DLR like the back of my hand, knows all the FP tricks (which have some differences from WDW), knows how to work parkhopping to maximize time and see all the shows, knows exactly how to use Magic Mornings, knows how all the lines build throughout the day, and knows that staying at a walking distance hotel gives you huge advantages over those that don't........With someone like me it would take at least three days to "do everything at DLR" if we exhausted ourselves. More realistically it would take four days. For a first timer without the above advantages I would say it would take five days to do everything.

Realize that DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks put together. The ride concentration is much higher.

Most around here would agree that a first timer needs three days to have a solid DLR experience. That does mean they will do everything - they won't - but they will do most of the good stuff and see most of the good shows.

My two cents...

It was so much more relaxed atmosphere than WDW. For example, we got out to the plaza about 45 minutes before opening on our first day. There was hardly anybody out there.

It depends highly on how you tour. For us WDW is way more relaxing than DLR because we treat it as a marathon per Tour Guide Mike and take our time and spend more time at the restaurants, etc. DLR is a sprint and we jam in a lot. Plus DLR is physically smaller and tends to feel much more crowded.

In our experiences at WDW, when we arrive 45 minutes early at DLR or WDW it is about the same. Only a handful of people. But that depends a lot on when you go. If you do that when there is a major new ride or show at DLR it will not be that way. DLR fans are fanatical. They literally camp out overnight outside the gates when something new is coming opening. And there are a lot of new things coming over the next two years. So expect to see a lot of people with sleeping bags.

 

[Jackie H.]

I really appreciate all the posts helping us WDW vets with our first trip to DLR.

Hyrdoguy, What are the differences in the FP systems? Will we need to use the FP duirng our visit (Jan 3-6th in DLR

We are arriving on Jan 3rd and leaving on Jan 8th. I got the 4 day park hopper passes...it will be me, my hubby, DD and her best friend (they are teenagers). Of course, while there they want to see some of Hollywood...and the 7th will be all BCS Championship Game...but even if we don't spend all-day-every-day in DLR I wanted to be able to go in any day we wanted.

Is there a website where we can find what rides/attractions will be closed while we are there? What else should we know?

What are the chances there will be some sort of shuttle or something to get to the Rose Bowl? Should we take a cab? Public transportation?

I am open to ANY and ALL suggestions! We can hardly wait! It's hard to concentrate on Christmas because we are all so excited about this trip (especially my son!)

ROLL TIDE!

 

[jlmarr]

Is there a website where we can find what rides/attractions will be closed while we are there? What else should we know?

What are the chances there will be some sort of shuttle or something to get to the Rose Bowl? Should we take a cab? Public transportation?

Yes, DL actually has a page with the schedule for each day, and what will be in rehab: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...onthly?date=20100101&name=CalendarMonthlyPage

Shuttle all the way to the Rose Bowl - I tend to doubt it, but keep an eye out in the newspapers once you get out here. For the Rose Parade a couple of years ago we drove to the east end of the Metro Gold Line (light rail system) in Arcadia, then took the train to downtown Pasadena from there.

If you're not inclined to drive, you could taxi to the Anaheim train station and take Metrolink from there to L.A. Union Station, where you would connect with the Gold Line from that end.

Here's a Metro press release announcing some info about shuttles to the Rose Bowl from downtown Pasadena:

http://www.metro.net/news_info/press/Metro_200.htm

College football fans attending the 96th Rose Bowl Game® at 2:10 p.m. can also utilize the Metro Gold Line and exit at Memorial Park Station. They should then then walk three blocks west on Holly Street to the Parsons Corporation complex, to catch the free Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi Shuttle bus with service starting at 10 a.m. Buses leave every couple of minutes from the boarding location on Pasadena Ave, north of Union Street.
...
The Metro Gold Line will also help reduce automobile congestion to the 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game on Thursday, Jan. 7. The game will take place at the Rose Bowl, with the kick-off at 5:39 p.m. Prior to the game, Metro will operate additional Gold Line service in the early afternoon and after the game, with trains running as frequently as every seven to 10 minutes to and from Pasadena.

Note that they don't actually say the shuttle will be running for the BCS game, but I would assume that due to the sponsorship. Maybe Metro will fill in the blanks closer to game day.

Due to the likely late ending of the game I don't think the train option will work for getting back to Anaheim, but maybe some of the above is useful.

 

[HydroGuy]

Hyrdoguy, What are the differences in the FP systems? Will we need to use the FP duirng our visit (Jan 3-6th in DLR

From this post: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

13. FastPass

DLR has a FastPass (FP) system that is very similar to that at WDW. However, it does have some idiosyncrasies that do not exist at WDW that are worth understanding. These two links – one of them by me – discuss all of the current idiosyncrasies and tricks.

“The Joy of FASTPASS - details and secrets”: www.micechat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5720

“Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season”: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

Here is a quick summary of important differences of DLR FP:

1. Expired FPs - It has been DLR policy for a number of years to accept FPs any time that day after the one-hour FP window.

2. Disconnected FP Rides – DL and DCA have certain FP rides that are “disconnected”. This means that when you get a FP for a certain “connected” ride, the delay until you can get another FP does not apply to the disconnected FP rides. At present there is one at DLR: Roger Rabbit at DL. Until early 2009 Grizzly River Run at DCA was disconnected but it is now connected like all the others.

3. FP Initialization for Both Parks – The ability to actually get a FP depends on the entrance media being initialized that day when you pass through the park turnstiles. When you do this at either DL or DCA, your entrance media are initialized for both parks at once. This means you can send FP runners to the opposite park you entered to get FPs for the whole group even though no one in the group has actually entered that park on that day.

One other difference from WDW is that DLR does not add artificially long return times at certain parks in the morning. For example, MK always seems to make the first FP return time 10:05AM – even those obtained during EMH mornings. DLR does not do this. The first FPs always start the day 40-45 minutes away. And DL does not issue FPs during Early Entry, unlike MK.

Will you need FPs during the first week of January? On Jan 3 definitely. After Jan 3 I do not know but suspect you will. Later in January probably not.

Be sure to ride HM on January 3 as it goes down on Jan 4!

Is there a website where we can find what rides/attractions will be closed while we are there? What else should we know?

The DLR website is the best one when you are within a month like now. For further out I like to use MousePlanet weekly updates.

Here is what you should know: On January 4 HM goes down as I said. Also, they will begin to drain the Rivers of America. That means no Fantasmic or other ROA attractions.

The Aladdin stage show at DCA is in most people's opinion, including mine, better than any of the WDW stage shows. It only shows Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun. So unless you have time to do DLR on Thursday or Friday, you will need to see Aladdin on Sunday the 3rd.

So I would recommend you use Sunday the 3rd strategically. Do the following:

o HM (they will have FPs for this)

o Mark Twain (like the Liberty Belle - worth doing if only to see DL from this vantage point and see the ROA)

o Columbia Sailing Ship (DL has two ships on the river - if you do Mark Twain you can skip this unless you are really into sailing around ROA)

o Aladdin Show (hop to DCA mid-day and catch Aladdin - arrive 20-30 minutes early)

o Fantasmic - it will be very crowded and they have two shows at 9 and 10:30PM. Go to the later show. Since this is the last Fantasmic showing until June I would arrive at least 60 minutes early. Be aware that the first show will end at about 9:20. The best strategy on a night like this would be to wait back by HM or Splash Mtn during 9PM show and then when it ends at 9:20 and people start to leave, grab a spot. The Christmas fireworks will go off at 9:25 and lots of people will hang around to watch it. You will want to as well.

o You may want to catch the Christmas Parade at DL as this will be its last day

o You may want to squeeze in the Disney Electrical Parade at DCA on Sunday evening 8:45. This may be the last DEP show at DCA ever as it is rumored to be moving back to DL later in 2010.

Anything else you do on Sunday is gravy. You can fit it other things later in the week like Indiana Jones, Space Mtn, California Screamin, etc.

 

[Bama_C]

From this post: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599



Will you need FPs during the first week of January? On Jan 3 definitely. After Jan 3 I do not know but suspect you will. Later in January probably not.

Be sure to ride HM on January 3 as it goes down on Jan 4!

The DLR website is the best one when you are within a month like now. For further out I like to use MousePlanet weekly updates.

Here is what you should know: On January 4 HM goes down as I said. Also, they will begin to drain the Rivers of America. That means no Fantasmic or other ROA attractions.

The Aladdin stage show at DCA is in most people's opinion, including mine, better than any of the WDW stage shows. It only shows Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun. So unless you have time to do DLR on Thursday or Friday, you will need to see Aladdin on Sunday the 3rd.

So I would recommend you use Sunday the 3rd strategically. Do the following:

o HM (they will have FPs for this)

o Mark Twain (like the Liberty Belle - worth doing if only to see DL from this vantage point and see the ROA)

o Columbia Sailing Ship (DL has two ships on the river - if you do Mark Twain you can skip this unless you are really into sailing around ROA)

o Aladdin Show (hop to DCA mid-day and catch Aladdin - arrive 20-30 minutes early)

o Fantasmic - it will be very crowded and they have two shows at 9 and 10:30PM. Go to the later show. Since this is the last Fantasmic showing until January I would arrive at least 60 minites early. Be aware that the first show will end at about 9:20. The best strategy on a night like this would be to wait back by HM or Splash Mtn during 9PM show and then when it ends at 9:20 and people start to leave, grab a spot. The Christmas fireworks will go off at 9:25 and lots of people will hang around to watch it. You will want to as well.

o You may want to catch the Christmas Parade at DL as this will be its last day

o You may want to squeeze in the Disney Electrical Parade at DCA on Sunday evening 8:45. This may be the last DEP show at DCA ever as it is rumored to be moving back to DL later in 2010.

Anything else you do on Sunday is gravy. You can fit it other things later in the week like Indiana Jones, Space Mtn, California Screamin, etc.

Well this is all quite discouraging, as we will only be there 1/5 and 1/6. Is there any point in us going if they don't have HM, Fantasmic, Rivers of America, can't do Alladin, etc. This is very disappointing for a first time DL person. Thanks for the info, though.

 

[HydroGuy]

Well this is all quite discouraging, as we will only be there 1/5 and 1/6. Is there any point in us going if they don't have HM, Fantasmic, Rivers of America, can't do Alladin, etc. This is very disappointing for a first time DL person. Thanks for the info, though.

Bummer. Some people are like you in that they have inflexible dates and have to enjoy what is available. For those with some flexibility they can hopefully choose the best time to visit for them by being aware of some of historical trends...

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

"HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852

The information I posted about January has been known and discussed frequently on this forum for the last few months. While you hoped you would be going to the BCS, there is no way you could have known. Hence no need to poke your head in here and get the scoop.

The good thing is that DLR is a magical place and still has tons to offer.

 

[Bama_C]

Bummer. ...

The information I posted about January has been known and discussed frequently on this forum for the last few months. While you hoped you would be going to the BCS, there is no way you could have known. Hence no need to poke your head in here and get the scoop.

The good thing is that DLR is a magical place and still has tons to offer.

Yep, had no idea we'd even consider going, even if we did win out and get the tickets. Too many stars had to align to see that coming. I know you're right about DL being such a magical place that it probably won't matter... I just have this ideal in my mind of my first visit. Thanks again, HydroGuy. I have really benefited from all the information you have put together on this board.