When to start really planning...

[mccathy]

I'm thinking of taking a trip out to CA next year - March. I'm looking at any Tue-Sunday and wondering - when do I start really planning? We recently went to WDW this past Oct. and I feel like I missed some good deals because I booked everything too early. Also do you feel it's better to buy everything separate rather than just use the Disney website. That's what we did for our Oct trip, but again, I feel like we missed some good deals.

Also - I've NEVER been to DL. I've got friends in CA I'd like to visit and I think DL might be a nice change from WDW - smaller and more doable than WDW. Any advice on hotels or other parks to visit is welcome!

I've got two boys - they will be 5 and a half and 3 months shy of 3 years old when we visit! (We've got to get those free park tickets while he's still young enough.)

Thanks in advance for any help!
Cathy

 

[PinkBudgie]

It is never too early to plan. Ok, this is coming from someone who is currently planning a first trip to WDW trip in 2012! You can learn and ask questions and read about tips and tricks, places to stay, where to eat, etc. If you start keeping your eyes open now, you can jump on deals when they fit your time frame. I'm not sure, but it seems like there are less deals for DLR than WDW. Still there are some. I wouldn't book anything now, just gather info. And ask lots of questions.

Oh, I buy things separately rather than a package. For what we have done, I was able to get better deals on my own. But look into what the packages have and compare. Usually, I don't need many things offered in the package. You just have to shop around.

 

[DLR29]

Definitely buy separately. For the past many years, DLR has had special offers for just tickets from January-April, so I'm assuming they will do the same next year. This year it is Everybody Plays for the Kid's Price tickets, which is a HUGE money saver.

 

[Sienna]

I agree, it's never too early to start planning. I do think it's a bit early to start booking stuff now, unless it's refundable if you get a better rate later. My guess is that for March, you'll start seeing promotions in the fall or early winter. What you might want to start doing is keep an eye on prices, hotels, airfare, etc, and see how they fluctuate, so when you get closer to booking, you'll know a good deal when you see it. And look at other places besides the Disney website for package prices, and also look at stuff separately - sometimes the best deal isn't a package deal. Think about Costco, AAA, etc, and consider all of the airports. Have fun planning!!!

 

[Belle Ella]

Add me to the "It's never too early to start planning" group! This month's trip for me is very last minute as far as I'm concerned (booked the hotel about a month ago) and at the same time I'm already keeping my eyes peeled and looking ahead to going again in September for my birthday!

 

[mccathy]

Thanks everyone. That's a great idea to start watching airline rates. Sometimes I get some offers for Disneyland in the mail with our Chase credit card - so I'll watch that for Disney deals.

How do the hotels work over there in CA. I mean, for WDW there's moderate, value, and delux. What's the most expensive and least expensive for DL???

I'll definetely be visiting these boards a bit more again - and just "listening" to what other people are talking about!

 

[PinkBudgie]

There are only 3 Disney hotels here and to me they are all pretty expensive, but the Grand Calfornian is the most expensive. A lot of people on this board like Hojos but I never stayed there. That one is within walking distance but since we have a car, we stay about a mile or two away and drive to DLR. We have stayed at Holiday Inn Express for $99 a night during the summer and this summer at Embassy Suites for $150. Both have a free breakfast. The DLR hotels are at least double that and up unless you can get a super good pin code or special AP rate.

Go to Trip Advisor and search for hotels in Anaheim (South area) and Garden Grove. You get a list of hotels and rates in the area and also user ratings.