What is the cheapest way to do a couple days at Disneyland?

[vossjemi]

Ok, our original plan was to fly out for the dcl mexican riveria cruise and fly home. We have our flight out booked already from mci-lax on 8/2 w/swa. Well, our return flight would be Sunday 8/10, but the midday departure is really high right now $251pp. So, we might opt to stay a couple days at Disneyland to get a cheaper tues flight, lets say. With such a short stay, what is the best way to go about it? I see some packages listed above, but they are for longer stays. Will shorter stay packages ever become available? Is there even a package w/hotel/tickets for that short of a stay? Or just book hotel/buy tickets separately? If you had just a couple days to see disneyland, where would you stay & how would you do it? Who would you buy hotel/tickets from? Thanks for any input/help/insight you can offer!

 

[Queenbillabong]

Not knowing how many people in your group - I checked on GetAwayToday.com and found 2 nights at the Castle Inn with two-day park hoppers for a total of $505 for two adults.....

 

[ironpig70]

look at dreamsunlimited also or disney's page and chose "god neighbor hotel" these are the hotels across the street.

 

[TinkerbellTris]

I did everything seperate, booked the hotel direct, booked my airfare direct (southwest online), booked my parkhoppers direct (disney online) it came up to $80 cheaper than the package deals offered on Southwest Vacations, $110 cheaper than Getaway today.com And $60 cheaper than the package on Disney.com and it was almost $200 cheaper than dreams unlimited. I do think it depends when you are going. Ours is a very quick trip (Monday - Wednesday)

 

[vossjemi]

Sorry, we have 2 adults, 2 kids (6, 8). It would be a sunday night and monday night stay probably. I think we'll get off the ship pretty early sunday so should be able to get to hotel/do parks on sunday and monday. That would be aug 10 and 11. I'll check out the websites you mention. So, you can book the hotel direct? I don't mind a disney or a disney neighbor. Want close since our time is so limited. Tickets can come from anywhere...just want the cheapest source if possible. THanks!

 

[TinkerbellTris]

Yes you can do the hotel bookings yourself. Just decide what hotel you want and try to google it to get their website. I looked up the one's directly accross the crosswalk so it is like a 5 minute walk. They are Tropicana inn and suites, Del Sol Inn, Carousel Inn and Suites, Park Vue inn, and Best western Park place inn. Those are the absolute closest. I have stayed at Park Vue, and didn't care for it, the last time we went we did Carousel inn and really liked it, and we are booked for Del Sol Inn this trip. They are no Hilton's but they are clean, close , and cheap.

 

[bumbershoot]

Here is a map for a visual of the nearby hotels: http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

Would you be going into the parks on Tuesday at all? Even morning?

If so, you might consider getting a 3 day ticket. And if you got a 3 day ticket, then you could partake in Magic Morning on that Tuesday. Though you might be so tired after the cruise and the parks that you can't get up early!

And then further, if you were to decide on a 3 day, I might not advise you to buy from getawaytoday.com, b/c one of their perks is TWO days of MM. But you would only be there for one of them (if going in on Tuesday morning).

If I were in your shoes I might just buy online from disneyland.com, get the vouchers for the tickets, and get in that way. You get a pre-purchase price doing that, if you get a 3 day you'll get that on MM day for Tuesday, and they sell a 2 day as well.

You can also buy tickets from the good neighbor hotels.

I wouldn't do a package, those tend to cost more than pricing separately. But check anyway, just to make sure. If you belong to Costco and/or AAA check with them, and look at disneyland.com's package prices as well! you can book onsite or off through any of those (they all go through Walt Disney Travel Co anyway).

Good luck!

 

[brenda1966]

And then further, if you were to decide on a 3 day, I might not advise you to buy from getawaytoday.com, b/c one of their perks is TWO days of MM. But you would only be there for one of them (if going in on Tuesday morning).

Good luck!

this 2 days of MM deal is news to me! does anyone know how long they are running this deal? Do they always have extra MM days on their tickets?

I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra fees they charge to get that extra MM day (or will we be too tired to use it)

ETA: in response to the OP's question, i would book it all separately. I'd book one of those hotels within walking distance on Harbor and i'd buy my park tickets in advance through Disney. I don't think you're going to find any great package deals since it is peak summer time.

 

[tink2dw]

Here is the Desert Inn and Suites it is a very friendly, good, clean, close hotel to the DL Entrance.
click below to see suites
http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/room_suites.htm

 

[bumbershoot]

this 2 days of MM deal is news to me! does anyone know how long they are running this deal? Do they always have extra MM days on their tickets?

I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra fees they charge to get that extra MM day (or will we be too tired to use it)

They've been doing it since I first heard the company mentioned here. I learned of them last year a couple months after booking our trip, so...I am fairly sure I've been hearing about the 2 MM days for maybe 6 months? Maybe more?

If you go to their site and look at their ticket info, then click on the ticket info (it's not in the quick info bit), you'll see it.

Use code "podcast" to get $10 off which should take care of the fees. Learned that here.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We just got back from a stay at Dessert Inn ~ can't beat the walk! We bought our park hopper's from Get Away Today, 5 days for the price of 3 and our PH's said 2 MM's on the bottom ~ we couldn't take advantage of both MM's ~ we got in too late Sun. morning. I too book everything seperately.

 

[rentayenta]

Staying off site will save you a ton of money!

 

[vossjemi]

Thanks for all the tips & info!

 

[nunzia]

I did everything seperate, booked the hotel direct, booked my airfare direct (southwest online), booked my parkhoppers direct (disney online) it came up to $80 cheaper than the package deals offered on Southwest Vacations, $110 cheaper than Getaway today.com And $60 cheaper than the package on Disney.com and it was almost $200 cheaper than dreams unlimited. I do think it depends when you are going. Ours is a very quick trip (Monday - Wednesday)

I had very similar results when I booked my stay doing everything seperatly and using AAA discount. Getawaytoday seemed the closest in cost.

 

[GBShorts]

I can second the Carousel. You walk up one hotel, cross the street, and you're literally on disney property!! All you have to do then is walk past where they park the trams and such, and BOOM, you're in the esplanade! Their hotel was VERY clean, quiet, and you've got a Quiznos on one side, McDonald's on the other. (At least they were there 2 Octobers ago). I'm thinking of another October trip this year and I'm planning on staying there again just because I know I can trust it. At the time I believe our hotel room was about 90/night with two Queen sized beds. One nice perk is that there are doors between the bedroom part and the bathroom part so a person can get ready with the lights on without disturbing those still sleeping. I really liked that! Fridges and microwaves in the room too.

I went Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning (early, so wasn't in parks on Sunday) so I'd consider my trip comparable. We got a 3 day park hopper and bounced back and forth quite a bit in those 2 1/2 days. With the close proximity of the parks to each other AND Downtown Disney, it was quite worth it. Whenever we felt Disneyland was too busy we'd hop over to DCA and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Whatever you do, have a great time. I loved Disneyland and I can't wait to go back again!

 

[vossjemi]

Ok, a couple more questions.

1)We will be getting off our cruise on Sunday 8/10 at who knows what time. Usually early in the morning, but you never know. We'll get transport to Disneyland. We haven't picked our hotel yet, but obviously we'll be there before check in time. Will any of the above hotels let us store our luggage while we go to Disneyland for the day? Would you even go on a Sunday late like we will be doing? I'm sure it'll be midmorning at least before we can get inside the park.

2)Our flight on 8/12 isn't until 4pm. My understanding is tues is an early morning day in the park. Would you get a 2 day or a 3 day pass so as to hit disneyland for a couple hours before checking out of the hotel at noonish? Wait a minute. Is that early morning thing only if you stay in a disney property or do good neighbor hotels count too?

Thanks!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Have you looked at the fares for flying at the Burbank Airport? We are flying in and out of there, and it was much cheaper.

Staying offsite would be the way to go too.

 

[vossjemi]

Not for us it wasn't. Our cheapest air was mci-lax on SWA.