Originally Posted By SafariRob My family is planning a Disneyland vacation for mid/late June. We've been a bunch of times but we have never done a family package deal and stayed at an actual Disney hotel. Can I get some advice? We are a family of six plus one service dog. Kids are 8, 4, 2 and 8 months. The eight year old has Down Syndrom, thus the service dog. Package deal vs. self-planned trip? Grand Californian vs. Paradise Pier vs. Disneyland Hotel? Meal plans: Worth it or not? Character breakfast: Which is best for boys? (Our one daughter is an infant.) Disney Kennel: Has anyone used it? We expect to use it part of the time. Are we going to pay a small fortune? ;-) We requested a quote from Mouse Ear Vacations....but it is Saturday. I don't expect to hear back until Monday. Have you used AAA, Costco, etc?
Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion I done both package deals and self package, I found benefits with doing both. With doing a self package you can find prices that may be cheaper then the package but you don't get some of the benefits of a package like through Disneyland.com or Costco.com/travel through Disneyland.com with a package you can make payments to them each month up until you go which in the economy is great and allows you to stay at a Disney Resort Hotel and not feel like you are, if that makes sense. Through Costco.com you get the benefit of still booking with Walt Disney travel except costco is a tad cheaper and gives you a little more recently they've added the perk of everyone in your party gets a free character breakfast which of course is great and they also were giving cash cards to go along with that. Some of the benefits are EXCLUSIVE! Walt Disney Travel Company Collectible Pin & Lanyard (one per person), EXCLUSIVE! Walt Disney Travel Company Downtown Disney District Fun Card (one per package), Preferred seating to select shows in Disney's California Adventure Park, and more. I've Love Paradise Pier, which I have always found to be convenient, and they are always so willing to do anything you want, it is in my opinion closer then the Disneyland Hotel. Grand Californian is Closer and more convenient but you definitely pay for it. With the Disneyland Hotel you may be able to take the Monorail which will get you to Disneyland faster but every time I've been it has been down for half of the time. I think with all of the Hotels there are different perks to each of them. Usually Paradise Pier is cheaper, then Disneyland Hotel and lastly Grand Californian you just have to weigh your wants. Meal Plans- I have always just planned my own places where I want to eat, I feel that it is cheaper then getting a meal plan through Disney itself, with having a package through Disneyland they can help you with preferred seating and more. There is a web-site that I use that has all the prices and menu's of the Disneyland Resort, that way I can see what is the best deal. The great thing with Disneyland from my own experience is that the food portions are big so I always share, when there are refills available we get one drink per 2 people and share and use the refills, also bring snack's can save you some money as well. I just think that being tied down to a meal plan, for me would be more costly. <a href="http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm" target="_blank">http://allears.net/dlr/din/men...enus.htm</a> Character Breakfast- I feel that the best Character meal is Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. There are always great characters there for starters before you get seated you get to have a picture with Pluto, then of course you will see Goofy, I've seen at least 4-5 characters each time I've gone, this is also my brothers fave because what little boy doesn't like Goofy plus every 20-25 minutes Goofy goes in the center of the restaurant and starts playing around and getting all the kids into it which I am sure would be a blast. the food is also so great. The Kennels are great just remember that they will not hold your animal over night which I am sure you already know, and they will need the dog's certificates of vaccinations from your vet. Besides that there is not a better place for you dog to be, they will take the best care. You are going to pay for staying more for staying at a Disneyland Resort but I always find it so wonderful and something special, plus there are some perks for just staying on property, like you get magic morning each day that the offer it, plus the private entrance through Grand Californian, Mickey's morning madness which is so much fun, and more. If you are looking for a quote I would go to <a href="http://www.costcotravel.com/#15_disney_disneylandResort_DLR5FOR320090306s" target="_blank">http://www.costcotravel.com/#1...0090306s</a> and type in your info, you can also go to Disneyland.com and get a quote for them and if you are interested in a payment plan it will tell you what you deposit is. Hope this helped!
Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion Just wanted to add that your 2 year old and 8 month old you don't have to get tickets for them.
Originally Posted By SafariRob Thanks for all the great advice! That helps a lot, actually. I wouldn't have thought of bringing vaccination records to the kennel. I feel divided because staying on the Disney property cost soooo much more. In your opinion, is it worth the extra money?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss As I recall, DLR's meal plan is nothing like what is offered at WDW. It's nothing more than a prepaid voucher system; if you buy $100.00 in vouchers, you can get $100.00 worth of food.
Originally Posted By SafariRob Really? Is it good anywhere in the park? Do you get to bypass the regular line? If not, why bother.
Originally Posted By charming husband No, sadly, you do not get to bypass the line. Too bad the great WDW's meal plan is not offered at the DLR.
Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion In my opinion I think that it is worth the money, if it is something you have not done I feel that there are allot of perks to staying on property although I am sure some might say different, I stayed on property last year for the first time and since then have stayed 3 more times all of which were at Paradise Pier. It is something I feel that if it is something special then do it, but I don't want to tell someone that if it is more money then you want to spend especially in this economy. If it is something you can do then yes, but if the money is tight then I would say stay at Howard Johnson's which is across the street from Disneyland and save up for another time. I hope you get what I am saying! *Jena
Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion Forgot to add that through Costco.com and Disneyland.com you can still get a package through there Good Neighbor hotels, which Howard Johnson is apart of.
Originally Posted By SafariRob I totally get what you are saying. At this point, I'm on the fence. Can you get early entry with a good neighbor hotel...or is that just Disney properties?
Originally Posted By Mickeysbestfan Any time I have booked a package through AAA and Costco, I have gotten early entry with good neighbor hotels. Here is the Costco deal. <a href="http://www.costcotravel.com/#15_disney_disneylandResort_DLR5FOR320090306" target="_blank">http://www.costcotravel.com/#1...20090306</a> It includes: Five nights in a Standard Room at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland® Resort or a participating Disneyland® Resort Good Neighbor hotel Five-day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir ticket* includes Magic Morning** into Fantasyland, in Disneyland® Park Preferred seating at selected attractions in Disney’s California Adventure® Park Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness***— an interactive Guest and Character Experience in Disneyland® Park Downtown Disney® District Fun Card (one per package) Added Values Disney Character Breakfast (one per person) -- a value of $32 per adult and $18 per child (age 3-9) $20 Disney Gift Card††(one per package) Exclusive Costco Travel collectible pin, lanyard and luggage tag (one per person) You also get the book 3 nights get 2 nights free deal. I am not sure of the AAA deal right now.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer If you are looking for a Pet friendly Hotel, the new Red Lion has a great policy, and since they are "new" (a hotel "remodel") there rates have been very reasonable. (Located just south of Katella on Harbor Blvd.) A NO on the Meal Plan, between Downtown Disney, Harbor Blvd. (Mimi's is awesome) and the new GardenWalk, no need to lock into the Disney pacakge. And the package doesn't even save you money, most folks says they give you too much food per day. As for Magic Mornings, most 3 day or longer ParkHoppers come with one Magic Morning.
Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion You get one early entry per a three day ticket with a Package for a Godd neighbor hotel, and as far as I know for pet friendly that if it is a service dog you can have it on property while you are staying but, you can call and check. With the Package's you still get Mickey Toontown Madness which opens an hour after the park does, and is a blast.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney If you stay on property you get early entry every day it's offered. Otherwise, you only get it one day with your passes. I don't know that staying on property is worth it anymore if you can't get a great deal. Seems they haved raised their prices considerably. BUT, aren't they offering some sort of "5 nights for the price of 3" promotion?? As far as which Disney Hotel, if you do stay on property, I'd say the Disneyland Hotel. Their pool is so much fun. For a character meal, Goofy's is great, lot's of fun. It is at the Disneyland Hotel. If you choose NOT to stay on property, will you want a suite or a room with two beds and a pull-out? The Fairfield Anahiem Inn, which is a closer walk than HoJo's, has rooms with two beds and a pull-out sofa. Also, the Portofino Inn has kid suites for a little larger families and includes breakfast in the price of the room. It's within walking distance too. <a href="http://www.portofinoinnanaheim.com/kid_suites.php" target="_blank">http://www.portofinoinnanaheim...ites.php</a>
Originally Posted By beamerdog I have a service dog. If it's a full service dog, he/she will be admitted everywhere you go. There will be restrictions on which rides you can take him on, but if someone in your party will hold the dog, your son should be able to get a child/dog pass to ride without waiting. If your dog is a home companion, then you will need to kennel him, but I don't know whether disney allows home companions in the rooms. Definitely call ahead if he's a home companion. If it's a service dog, no problem - you're good to go. Have a great time!! My dog loves going to new exciting places
Originally Posted By beamerdog ^^^^based on WDW experience only. I trained one dog who loved the haunted mansion - insisted on popping up so he could see what was going on! Tail wagging the whole time.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I haven't read all the posts so forgive me if this has been brought up. Standard DLR hotel rooms are set up for 5 guests. Each room now includes a pack and play in the closet so maybe infants don't count. There might be an issue with having 6 plus the service dog in one room. We had 4 kids and always had to book 2 rooms. The policy may have changed since our kids are all grown now Just FYI to check with the hotel directly about the policy. The DLR hotel rooms are pretty standard sized. The standard rooms are "City View." Have fun with your trip planning! I hope your vacation is lots of fun
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I have just read all the posts with good advice. One more thing that just occurred to me after I logged off...Actually two things: Book soon because the discounts will disappear! Also I would vote for the Grand because of the location and the easier entry into DCA and then over to DL. But most important some of the rooms have bunk beds with a trundle underneath and a queen bed with a paknplay.Perhaps those rooms would accomadate your family the best. Unfortunately that choice will give you sticker-shock so be prepared!
Originally Posted By SafariRob Yes, I was prepared for sticker shock with the Grand Californian. Guess what? I STILL got sticker shock when I was quoted the price. Part of it was that we do indeed need two rooms or a suite. I didn't know you could take service dogs on some of the rides! Beamerdog, thanks for pointing that out.
Originally Posted By oredisneyfan you can get one early entry with a 3 day or longer park hopper. If you stay on disney property you can do early entry every day that it is available during your stay. I really like the PPH and find if I am staying on property it is my choice. the GCH is nice and really close but not worth the extra money imho. PPH is very family friendly and we love the staff there. I have never stayed at the dLH. one other thing about the character Meals, I know for the breakfasts you can order off the menu instead of the buffet for the chip and dale breakfast and the lilo and stitch breakfast....this can save a little money. I do think goofy's kitchen is the best overall though for the atmosphere, characters and buffett selections.
