DL Next Summer

[danzingcutie12]

Hi everyone--

I have repeatedly told my parents I would like to go to DL next summer for my 21st birthday (I am NOT into the whole drinking thing). I have never been to DL and neither has anyone else in my family ww/ the exception of my mom and grandmom who were there in the late 70's. I love Walt Disney to see the place where Walt actually stepped in and created. That is just so magical for me. I was just wondering how much things cost tickets, hotels,etc...in relation to WDW, where we have been going every summer. I'm just looking for some basic information about the whole DL experience.

 

[netenyahoo]

If you want to see how much hotels and tickets cost I would recommend going to disneyland.com and make different itineraries to see how much it is. Try different dates and hotels. Food and souvenirs are about the same at WDW. Flights will of course be more expensive as you are traveling from NJ to CA, nit just to FL. Disneyland is generally cheaper than WDW because it only has 2 parks. Unless you really want the Disney experience, if you want to save money then stay at a non-Disney hotel. Many of them are closer to the parks than the Disney hotels.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Sounds like a great idea for a 21st birthday

 

[TLS]

Try looking into the SoCal City Pass.

Six Days, Five Parks, Three days in Disney, all for $185!

You save almost $80

 

[FanofDinsey1981]

I am also going next summer for my 25th birthday! So I have done a lot of research, and between this site, deb's site, birnbaum's official guide, and disneyland.com, I got a really good idea of places to eat, where to stay, and prices.

Here is what I know so far.

4 nights/5 days at Disneyland Hotel (for a total of 1100 for 4 nights)
3 full days in the parks. 1st day for DCA, 2nd day (my birthday) at MK with Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour. 3rd day to re-do both parks with favorite rides.
Lunch at Blue Bayou on my birthday.
Breakfast at MK at Terrace
and one character dinner at Goofy's (Disneyland Hotel).

Most people tell me that DL is a two day thing, one day for each park and a travel day to check out everything else.

I know this isn't helpful, but I am also trying to get a grasp of DL. We have done WDW so many times, it is easy to plan!

 

[kal1484]

Well, I'm actually at DL right now for my 21st

My suggestion is get your hotel room now, that way you can stay on site, I didn't do it earlier enough, and although I like the hotel (Desert Palms Hotel & suites) I'd rather be at a DL hotel. Also, make sure to get a birthday sticker on Main Street. Everyone here is soo much nicer than wdw about it, plus if you go to the mission tortilla factory, they give you a dozen free! :sohappy:

 

[danzingcutie12]

I'm glad I'm not the only who wants to go to DL for the 21st b'day.

Fanofdisney-- How did you go around booking your trip (Hotels, tickets, etc.)???

I really hope I can talk my parents into taking me!!!

 

[FanofDinsey1981]

I'm glad I'm not the only who wants to go to DL for the 21st b'day.

Fanofdisney-- How did you go around booking your trip (Hotels, tickets, etc.)???

I really hope I can talk my parents into taking me!!!

We are booking in Janurary, only because of money reasons (we have two trips in October and those need to be paid for first!) but I am going to keep an eye on the deals on disneyland.com, since they are usually running some kind of deal. I think we will buy our hotel stay and tickets at the same time too. I don't usually trust booking online, so I will probably call it in.

As for our plane tickets, I am always checking out the travel sites (travelocity, etc.) as well as the local airports sites and main airline sites. I do the same there, I watch for the internet deals and jump on them when they get low enough.

Impress your parents by making some kind of budget too. (that is how I got my husband to ok a trip to WDW next month). Maybe they will be so impressed they will say ok!

 

[danzingcutie12]

We are booking in Janurary, only because of money reasons (we have two trips in October and those need to be paid for first!) but I am going to keep an eye on the deals on disneyland.com, since they are usually running some kind of deal. I think we will buy our hotel stay and tickets at the same time too. I don't usually trust booking online, so I will probably call it in.

As for our plane tickets, I am always checking out the travel sites (travelocity, etc.) as well as the local airports sites and main airline sites. I do the same there, I watch for the internet deals and jump on them when they get low enough.

Impress your parents by making some kind of budget too. (that is how I got my husband to ok a trip to WDW next month). Maybe they will be so impressed they will say ok!

What type of deals does disneyland.com usually have??

And what's the cheapest way for purchasing airfare tickets??? We are coming from Philly so its gonna be on the more expensive side Any good websites?


How soon should we book a DL hotel??? I definetly want to stay on property!!! But I am worried about not getting a room!

 

[FanofDinsey1981]

What type of deals does disneyland.com usually have??

And what's the cheapest way for purchasing airfare tickets??? We are coming from Philly so its gonna be on the more expensive side Any good websites?


How soon should we book a DL hotel??? I definetly want to stay on property!!! But I am worried about not getting a room!

From june thru december of this year, disneyland.com was running a stay 3 nights get the 4th free, but Idon't know if that will go into next year or not.

For airfare, southwest.com usually has great deals, but you can only book about 6 months in advance. It depends on what airlines fly out of your airport though. For the most part, it seems to be the cheapest to fly into LAX, which is about 30 minutes from DL.

I have chatted with a few people, and booking earlier for DL is good, usually at about the 6 month mark. But does anyone else have an opinion on this? I am also afraid we are not going to get the rooms we want if we book in Janurary for a June vacation!

 

[Nemo14]

DL vs WDW?

I'm so glad that I checked this site. I'm considering a DL trip for next spring or summer too, since my DH will be turning 50 in March (so why not celebrate with another 50-year-old?). We have been to WDW several times, and I think this would be nice change. However, I know nothing about the hotels, restaurants, etc. Has anyone been to both?

 

[jaredliu]

Hi everyone--

I have repeatedly told my parents I would like to go to DL next summer for my 21st birthday (I am NOT into the whole drinking thing). I have never been to DL and neither has anyone else in my family ww/ the exception of my mom and grandmom who were there in the late 70's. I love Walt Disney to see the place where Walt actually stepped in and created. That is just so magical for me. I was just wondering how much things cost tickets, hotels,etc...in relation to WDW, where we have been going every summer. I'm just looking for some basic information about the whole DL experience.

Hi,
Be sure to check out attractions you can't find in WDW:

Indiana Jones(DL): hands down one of the best attraction ever created.

Aladdian Musical(DCA): this is by far the most spetacular musical that I've seen in the whole Disney resort. visuals, sounds, special effects, dances, props, costums, and the funniest Genie I've ever seen. It's a hidden gem of DCA. A MUST SEE.

Monster Inc (DCA): latest attraction coming to DCA. No idea what it is.

Remeber Dreams Come Ture (DL): The firework you have to see it to believe it.

Check out those "same name, different experience" attractions:

1. Terror of Tower: the 5th dimension scene is replaced by the "mirror effect". The most jaw-dropping special effect I've ever seen. I don't want to give too much away.

2. Space Mountain: Revamped and reopen this summer, this is the most beautiful roller coaster I've had. 20 times better than in MK. Get the fastpass or wait for literally 120 mins.

3. Rockit Mountain: coming in June 2006. Night time version of Space Mountain.

4.New Pirates of Caribbean: coming in June 2006. Major rehaul to add new scenes,effects and character in the movie. Barbossa morphing skeleton effect is said to be quite impressive.

5. Fantasmic!: A lot different from MGM's. For me the original is still the best.

 

[jaredliu]

I'm so glad that I checked this site. I'm considering a DL trip for next spring or summer too, since my DH will be turning 50 in March (so why not celebrate with another 50-year-old?). We have been to WDW several times, and I think this would be nice change. However, I know nothing about the hotels, restaurants, etc. Has anyone been to both?

The newest hotel is Grand Californian hotel. For me, that is a ripped off. Cuase basically this is very much like Wildness Lodge at WDW while you can have a room for 200 dollars there, you have to pay pretty much at least 300$ here. But it is the best among the three resort hotels as far as I am concerned. Be sure to book earily becasue Grand Californian is every popular.

As for the restaurant, There are a lot of them at Downtwon disney right next to Disneyland with about 5 mins walk. But the most popular one is still the "Blue Bayou" inside Disneyland next to the Pirates of Caribbean.