Originally Posted By ThreeBittyBoys And what days do they play on -- weekends only or everyday? Trying to decide when to go. The kids'll be 5, 3, and 2 and I'll be about 20weeks pregnant. Our primary goal is LESS CROWDS, lol. We've been to DL plenty enough before so won't be too disappointed if we don't get to see F! or the Electrical Parade (though EP would be really nice). We just want a relaxing time, don't want to feel too rushed. One of our "must see's" is the fireworks show with the snowfall on Main St. -- is that everynight? Also we'd like to see an afternoon Christmas parade. I'm almost ashamed to admit, but we've never made it to see any afternoon parade. Those are scheduled daily, aren't they? Anything in addition to all this going on for the 50th? Oh, one more question: what are the approximate park hours during the week in early December? For some reason I'm thinking 10-6, but that just sounds way too short.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Normally the park is open 10 to 8 on Monday thru Thursdays, but on Monday and Tuesday, December 5th and 6th, the park closes at 6 PM for Cast Member Parties. Starting November 11th, Fireworks with an added snow finale will be daily. Looks like you wil get two parades at Disneyland, one Parade of Dreams in the afternoon, then the Christmas parade in the early evening, they will be offered daily. As for the Electrical Parade, it will be on Hiatus. It is scheduled to return for 2 or 3 weeks in late December for peak, then go back on Haitus until June 2006.
Originally Posted By ThreeBittyBoys Thanks! In that case, I think we're looking at arriving Sunday night 12/11 and going back Thursday morning 12/15, with M-T-W at the park. Should be relatively peaceful.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe We will be there just the opposite. Arriving at the hotel LATE Tuesday night and visiting the park W-TH-F leaving Saturday morning after we eat breakfast in the park and do some shopping.
Originally Posted By matterhorn44 Three Bitty Boys, That's when we are going too, although arriving Tuesday morning and leaving Thursday night. Short trip, but since it seems like everything will be running, I'm hoping to see it all!! Do you know where you are staying yet? We cannot decide, it is between Desert Inn, Candy Cane or BWPPI. Then I may just splurge if AP rates come out for the Grand as I have gotten to stay there and DH has not yet! Can't decide what will be best. We will have DD (just turned 5), DD 2, and I am due in 3 more weeks, so a DS 6 or 7 weeks old depending. So it's double stroller and baby bjorn for us! Can't make up my mind between shuttle service and walkable? Any ideas? Well have a great time and hopefully that will be the first week of ELP being back! Andrea
Originally Posted By ThreeBittyBoys Definitely go with walkable. Of the choices you've given, I personally would go with BWPPI. Candy Cane I've never stayed at, but the reviews are awesome. And it's a good deal if you're a breakfast person (we're not). The only thing I'd question about going with a shuttle service hotel is how one would juggle all that. It depends on the ages and temperments of the kids, I suppose. My 2yo is into EVERYTHING; it'd be a struggle to get him to sit quietly in a non-moving stroller while we waited for a shuttle. Then when it came, dh would have to fold up the bulky stroller while I tried to wrangle our youngest into not running out and getting hit by the bus, as well as hold onto all our gear which we downloaded from the stroller, as well as keep an eye on the older two. Whew! (lol) Also, the time spent waiting for the bus, loading onto it, driving to the hotel, unloading ourselves, reopening stroller, and getting to our room -- eeks. It's a time killer.....especially if you do naps in the afternoon. Desert Inn is at the absolute bottom of my list, and I've never even stayed there. I booked it once, had to cancel (well in advance), and was still charged. Had a devil of a time getting them to reverse the charges....and then a few days after they did, they recharged me again. I was not amused. Since then I've learned through reviews (tripadvisor and LP) that many people have had similar issues with them overcharging them, putting unreasonable holds on their credit line, ruining vacations. IOW, my advice is JUST DON'T DO IT! With BWPPI, the rooms are big enough to hold a double stroller, a PackNPlay, coolers, luggage, and you still have PLENTY of room to breath. (FWIW, I don't really notice any size difference between their full-full rooms and their QQ minisuites. Go with the standard room for price savings.) The large fridge and microwave come in very handy for us. To save money and to avoid dealing with fussy toddlers in a restaurant, we usually allow ourselves one meal in the park (mid-afternoon, before they get too fussy) and do breakfast and supper in the room. This trip, we're considering Carousel because it'll save us $16/nt.....but I know from past experience it's much more cramped quarters. We could fit in our stroller (and this time, we don't need a PackNPlay), so maybe. Something we're thinking on.
Originally Posted By matterhorn44 Hi! Thanks for the advice. I have to say my girls are pretty well behaved, so it's no biggie for us, I could have the baby in a bjorn, hold DD 2's hand and let my five year old wlak in front of me onto the shuttle. I guess I am just nervous, we have stayed at Coast Anaheim and done the shuttle and stayed at HOJO a few times and walked. I will be 6-7 weeks post c-section, so I should be fine by then, but trying to cut out the walk as much as possible. I have heard that the BWPPI breakfast is pretty nasty, any truth to that at all? The cheapest I found the BWPPI is for $84 per night while we are there. I would take the King and sofa bed room, DH baby and I in the king as I only BF, and 2 DD's on the sofa bed. That way we wouldn't need a pack and play, does that sound do-able? I have never seen their rooms! We pretty much eat every meal in the parks. We are open to close kinda people, and don't go back to the rooms for naps or anything. Our kids are really go with the flow and it works for us. They have a pretty late bedtime at home too, so they aren't cranky at park closing which is nice! That last hour in Fantasyland is usually the least crowded of all day from the last few times I have been there and we are able to take advantage of that then! Thanks for the tips about the Desert Inn, I will void that now. Sorry you had such a hard time with them. I read some of the other reviews and that does seem to be a problem of theirs for some reason. The HOJO walk was just too long for us at the end of the day, I kept wishing I was at the crosswalk. I do like Paradise Pier but that can be jsut as far, and Disneyland Hotel is as much of a pain as a shuttle for us because you can't just wheel on the stroller. We carry too much stuff with three young ones to fold it up! Well I guess that just decided it for me, I don't want to do a shuttle either. Alright, then it's the Grand if a super AP rate comes out, if not it's BWPPI. Thanks a bunch, just by typing all this out to you, I convinced myself! Let me know where you end up staying. Are you doing any character meals? We always do Storytellers breakfast (just tradition) and this time will add Princess meal at Ariel's Grotto. Thanks again! Andrea
Originally Posted By ThreeBittyBoys That sounds very doable. There are pics of the rooms on the BWPPI website: <a href="http://www.parkplaceinnandminisuites.com/" target="_blank">http://www.parkplaceinnandmini suites.com/</a> And I believe (don't quote me) that all the king rooms are on the first floor, which means no elevator for you; just roll out the door and go. A tip: the rooms on the Captain Kidds side are way noisier than the rooms on the other side, especially the closer you are to the front of the building (food service trucks deliver to the restaurant). It's not something we mind, as we're so crashed we barely notice, but if you're a light sleeper..... Yeah, the breakfast isn't much at all. We went upstairs for the continental breakfast once; never did the pancakes/restaurant. We usually skip it and either eat in the room or at IHOP. No character breakfast. When they're older and/or when we stay at DLH or GCH. My middle guy is rather sensitive when it comes to costumed characters. It's hit and miss with him -- sometimes he'll do okay, sometimes he freaks out. I just cringe at the thought of spending that much money and having it be a bust.
Originally Posted By matterhorn44 Thanks for the good advice. So first floor opposite of Captain Kidd's sounds good to me. I actually just made the reservation after I last posted to you, so it's done and over with and I stop changing my mind! My second DD really doesn't care for the characters that much either. They can walk by our table, but better not come near her seat. Luckily they've been really good about realizing that and dont' puch it. That's one reason we do Storyteller's. It's awesome food and costs us what we would pay at IHOP because we order off the menu, we don't do the buffet. My favorite breakfast there is 9.99, I consider that a pretty good price for a character meal. And it works better for us as our girls are super super light eaters, so they share with us. We get the character interaction and great food for about $25 total, can't beat that I think. We spend that much at Denny's usually. We don't really notice noise either. Some of the hotels we have stayed at get bad reviews for noise level and thin walls, maybe I just don't pay close enough attention, but I never have that problem. Then again, we get back to our rooms late so we are not in bed when everyone else is returning. Maybe that helps? Well thanks again, There's so much time to go and not much more that I can plan now. I know once the baby is here it will fly by, but for the next three weeks, I am just WAITING and WAITING.... Andrea
