Trying to plan March trip - I have cost questions

[kristie73]

So I know it's Spring Break, but the kids are out of school and my husband's 40th birthday is March 26. So I want to plan a little weekend out there. Also my two boys will be 3 and 7. My 3 year old has never been.

So here are my details. We have to fly into the area, probably to LAX - tickets tend to be cheaper. I will probably do the Disneyland bus so I don't have to take car seats.

I think I want to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. Have only stayed at the Good Neighbor hotels, but since it's the hubby's 40th and we have a 3 year old I figured that Hotel would be convenient and fun.

I saw they have a 30% discount offered right now. The dates I'd chose to stay aren't blacked out, but when I called it still seemed high ($217 for the first night, and $242 for the other two nights for the standard room). Is that high? Should I just book that? I really wanted to upgrade to a pool view potential fireworks view. But man I expected more of a discount.

I also want to do 2-day hopper tickets. The package deal didn't include a discount on those so it's still $151 adult and $131 child. It seems like I can get a discount on these somewhere?

Should I book the bus with the hotel or should I do that separate? I think the girl said $114 for the bus roundtrip with everyone?

I think we want to do Goofy's Kitchen for dinner one night too.

Anyone have suggestions or costs savings with our trip and this hotel, tickets, transportations, airline, etc. I know it's his 40th birthday and all but I didn't want to break the bank.

I hope you experienced Disney travelers have some suggestions. Thanks.

 

[sonnyjane]

In my opinion, those prices for DLH are actually quite good if you don't qualify for an Annual Passholder discount.

I don't have info on the airport transportation.

Everyone else should be able to help you with the rest

 

[bumbershoot]

For the bus, check out their website. http://www.graylineanaheim.com/airport_info.shtml


Booking hotel-only, remember that you'll have the Resort Fee each night. That's $12 and tax on top of that, per night. It's important to remember that.

If you're booking a package, though, the Resort Fee is rolled into it.

For tickets, compare those to disneyland.com. DLR has pre-purchase discounts, much cheaper than Gate prices (WDW doesn't do this), so see if those match those discounts. There are also sites like Ares Travel and Getawaytoday.com that sell discounted DLR tickets.

For Spring Break those do seem like good prices on the hotel.


FYI, before booking your flight, be SURE you have compared all prices. LAX tends to be cheaper, but transportation tends to cost more. Going into SNA is not only much closer but also has cheaper transportation costs (and they do have the Grayline Disneyland Express), even though tickets cost more. Compare it all, and include the time you'll be waiting for the bus (we tend to come into LAX 5 minutes after the bus leaves, and we come in when they are on an hourly schedule, which means we wait nearly an hour for the bus), and think of the personalities of your kids when waiting. My son is great in lines at the parks, but AWFUL about waiting at LAX. We'll be coming in during the half-hour schedule in the future, or we're going into SNA, lower cost of plane tickets be darned!

 

[laura&fam]

Other years they have done specials on tickets, adults for kids price or free child with adult, etc. But there hasn't been anything that I saw this year. I would wait on the tickets and hope a special comes up. Also the give a day get a Disney day will have probably started so that may help.

 

[bumbershoot]

Wait a minute, they ARE doing the kid's price tickets during your timeframe!

Go to disneyland.com, and there are tix valid from Jan 5 through April 29th.

Oh, you only want 2 day tix, and the specials are on 3+ days. 149 per person for a 3 day ticket...

 

[sonnyjane]

Wait a minute, they ARE doing the kid's price tickets during your timeframe!

Go to disneyland.com, and there are tix valid from Jan 5 through April 29th.

Oh, you only want 2 day tix, and the specials are on 3+ days. 149 per person for a 3 day ticket...

OP - it's $2.00 cheaper to get a 3-day adult park hopper with the special promotion than a 2-day regular park-hopper, PLUS you'd get MM privileges with a 3-day PH, even if you don't end up using your third day... just a thought

 

[kristie73]

OP - it's $2.00 cheaper to get a 3-day adult park hopper with the special promotion than a 2-day regular park-hopper, PLUS you'd get MM privileges with a 3-day PH, even if you don't end up using your third day... just a thought

So the 3-day hopper is the better deal even if we won't be there the whole 3rd day?

What's the MM privileges.

Thank you everyone for your comments. That Get Away Today site is helpful to see how it all works out in cost. I guess I just still expected things a little cheaper. Oh well.

 

[laura&fam]

This link has info about MM: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/plan/early-entry.htm

It is also refered to as EE or early entry.

 

[sonnyjane]

So the 3-day hopper is the better deal even if we won't be there the whole 3rd day?

What's the MM privileges.

Thank you everyone for your comments. That Get Away Today site is helpful to see how it all works out in cost. I guess I just still expected things a little cheaper. Oh well.

For adults yes. For kids the 3 day will be slightly more, but if MM interests you, everyone will need a 3 day.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well if they are staying at DLH they get Magic Morning just from that (as long as they have admission otherwise). So that's not needed on the tickets.

Of course I can't imagine only spending 2 days in the parks to begin with, so I might not be the best to talk about ticket-buying with.

 

[sonnyjane]

Well if they are staying at DLH they get Magic Morning just from that (as long as they have admission otherwise). So that's not needed on the tickets.

Of course I can't imagine only spending 2 days in the parks to begin with, so I might not be the best to talk about ticket-buying with.

Oh yeah duh!!! Forgot about the whole first part of the post.

 

[kristie73]

Well if they are staying at DLH they get Magic Morning just from that (as long as they have admission otherwise). So that's not needed on the tickets.

Of course I can't imagine only spending 2 days in the parks to begin with, so I might not be the best to talk about ticket-buying with.

I think two days would be enough for us. We went before when my first son was 4 and two days in the park was plenty. There are still rides he can't or won't do.

I'll have to think about it.

 

[kristie73]

So I found out my work offers 2-day hopper discount tickets for $146 adult and $127 child. So I'm looking at not using the hotel/ticket package option and buying those tickets separately.

When I use the Getawaytoday.com website. I like that it includes the bus from the airport, character meal, and the peace of mind insurance. I see how I can book the DLH but it only shows the Standard room. What if I want to upgrade to a different view? My husband said a pool or fireworks view would be cool. Is that the Dream Tower? How would I book that through that site? Do you book the standard room then ask to upgrade?

Any help about my final booking options? Insurance is probably a must, but the Disneyland site's was $100+ versus the getawaytoday was $30?

 

[Brady's Mom]

Getawaytoday is a great site to work with. They have great customer service - I find I can look at the site and get a pretty good idea of what I want and then I call and book with someone on the phone so I can ask all my questions.

We've used them 2 or 3 times in the past - before I had more experience with the area and found I can book everything cheaper myself. But, the package offers a couple of perks that are nice.

 

[kristie73]

I was wondering about the package perks? If you book with DLH do you get the early entry into the park or is that just with the package?

I guess I still need to think about my cost savings decisions. UGH!

 

[sonnyjane]

I was wondering about the package perks? If you book with DLH do you get the early entry into the park or is that just with the package?

I guess I still need to think about my cost savings decisions. UGH!

You don't have to book a package. You will get early entry to the park just by staying there.