Ugh, I could just about scream...hotel booking

[bjscheel]

I finally picked my dates for our San Diego/DL trip, based on good airfare (booked with my SW cc bonus points- free flights- thank you Budget Board!). I had previously priced The Dana at Mission Bay, and decided that was the place. We mainly want to do Sea World and the beach, and not rent a car, and those places are walkable/free shuttle at the Dana. The bay view room I wanted was $249/night, kind of expensive but we can handle it.

So, now that I know my dates, I went to The Dana to price June 1-4. June 1 for the same room is $359! Overall our 3 night stay would be $900. I'm set on staying there because we're not renting a car and Sea World and Mission Beach are both walkable from the Dana.

But what really chaps my hide is they now have a Stay 2 nights, Get the 3rd free special. Guess what, June 1 is not included. If we were staying June 2-5, our stay would be only $548. If we did June 1 at a different hotel, and June 2-5 at Dana, then we would have to cut the DisneyLand portion of the trip shorter and I don't want to do that either!

I don't want to change hotels, and I really like my trip dates and airfare deal, I'm just really sad that I know that deal is out there and I am denied by one day. Just had to come here and whine to somebody.

 

[Darcy03231]

Since SW allows you to change your flights for free, why don't you change the dates of your trip?

 

[kwelch10377]

Since SW allows you to change your flights for free, why don't you change the dates of your trip?

I would consider doing this. Since June 1st is a Sat it is pretty understandable why the promo isn't for June 1st. Hotels in tourist areas like that don't need to run promos for Fri or Sat nights. You could also just see about getting hotel further away and just renting a car. You mostly likely would be able to find a hotel and rent a car for about $600.

 

[bumbershoot]

That's definitely a bummer.

If it were me I would probably nix the bay view. Sounds like you have busy days planned out, and I would worry that I wouldn't get much of a chance to see the view.

FYI the Rock'nRoll Marathon is on the 2nd (with events starting on the 1st). Be aware of street closures and changes in traffic patterns, even of walking patterns. Just getting to and from the airport, when there are events happening, can be a pain. Trust me...my brother lives in Chula Vista and has a condo right in the downtown core area, and now that he has the condo, sometimes I think we should just *walk* there from the airport depending on what's going on.

Looks like there are also baseball games going on at Petco, and I think that can be the worst for traffic.

And of course it's possible that those things are the cause of the increase in price for that night! The marathon seems especially suspicious given the date.


Best of luck in working it all out!!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You realize that DL is much smaller than WDW and you don't need as much time there.

 

[bjscheel]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will stick with my dates and just get a cheaper room category. Our Saturday to Saturday dates work out the best for our airfare, work schedules, and church schedule (I am a church organist and SS teacher). I was just frustrated to see those prices last night. I just have to remember with the good fares I got we will have enough points remaining to get some free flights next year so I will save there.

 

[nhmommy]

I understand not wanting to rent a car but you may be able to get a nice hotel and rental car for far cheeper if you pick something a bit further away.

 

[happygirl]

I would check other hotels, a lot of hotels run shuttles

 

[DSNY4ever]

Can you just take a taxi to Sea World and the beach? I am not sure about the price, but we stayed at the Catamaran and really liked it. You can walk tot he beach (but not Seaworld). We have also stayed at the Hyatt Mission Bay and I think if I remember correctly there is some sort of shuttle to Sea World.

Good luck. You will have a wonderful time. San Diego is so beautiful and we just did 4 days in Disneyland and we didn't do everything on our list, so don't cut down the days!

 

[mimmi]

Have you tried hotwire? I got the Dana in July for 520 USD for three nights and it was pretty clear that the hotel I was looking at w the Dana.

 

[disneymom3]

FYI the Rock'nRoll Marathon is on the 2nd (with events starting on the 1st). Be aware of street closures and changes in traffic patterns, even of walking patterns. Just getting to and from the airport, when there are events happening, can be a pain.

Looks like there are also baseball games going on at Petco, and I think that can be the worst for traffic.

And of course it's possible that those things are the cause of the increase in price for that night! The marathon seems especially suspicious given the date.


Best of luck in working it all out!!!

oh yeah. If you have not been to that area during the marathon, you really need to be prepared. We are talking more than a thousand extra people at the very least. I would seriously think about not heading to SD until Sunday evening.


Nvrmind...I see San Diego is at the beg of your trip. Sorry. But I am hoping you knew to be prepared for the marathon.

 

[bjscheel]

Oh boy, I just looked this marathon up, I wasn't aware! Thank you! I thought the marathon wouldn't affect Sea World but it ENDS there on a day we would probably go. I think I am going to flip the trip and do Anaheim first and SD last. I looked at airfare and this will work. Times are not as good, but doable. Then maybe I can get my Dana discount too! Got my work cut out for me getting this all together the right way I guess.

So, anything I need to know about in San Diego on June 5-7?

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh boy, I just looked this marathon up, I wasn't aware! Thank you! I thought the marathon wouldn't affect Sea World but it ENDS there on a day we would probably go.

I'm really glad I brought it up! Since my brother lives there and I've experienced the rotten traffic snarls on that road from the airport, where one car goes per light because everyone takes up all the room and you can't go anywhere, I know now to check the Petco Stadium website first (and there are baseball games at home for your first dates) and then beyond. I googled "San Diego events" and the dates to get an idea. There's also an air show during your original dates, but it's east of downtown so probably isn't a problem.



You probably know this, but June is the time of the "June gloom". It isn't AS lovely and fabulous, weather-wise, during that time.

At Sea World, I highly recommend the "Pets Rule" show. For my family, it's a bigger draw than Shamu or the dolphins! (we still haven't seen the walrus show) It might have changed names, but it's the one about pets.

 

[bjscheel]

I just got my flights changed successfully (thanks to some quick help on the Transportation Board- man I love DISboards!). Even saved some points.

I am aware of June gloom and am willing to deal with it . We really are stuck with June for vacation time.

I do want to see Pets Rule. My kids will be into that. We saw a sea lion show back in 1998 and it was good then, so we'll be sure to catch that too.

Now we will be at Disneyland on our anniversary! Since we won't get there till suppertime now, I think I will save additional money and not get the 4th day on our park tickets. We'll do DTD. on arrival night instead. AND, this has the added benefit of missing Grad Nights, which were falling on all of our DL days.

I feel so much better now.

 

[bjscheel]

Just got my bay view room at the Dana for 3 nights for $500! I resisted the urge to upgrade to their fanciest room even though it was cheaper than what I originally thought I would pay for the regular bay room.

So that means I didn't get a Sea World package at the Dana, which seemed to have a discount on SW tickets. Where's the best place to buy my SW tickets? I have looked at CityPass, but that looks like a one-day SW ticket and we might want the multi-day since we'll be so close.