A Dream is a Wish--Mini-TR [UPDATED WITH PIX posts 316 & 320] - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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A Dream is a Wish--Mini-TR [UPDATED WITH PIX posts 316 & 320]
Hi All! Can't resist starting a PTR, I want this trip to happen so badly! It's all up in the air but I'm feeling naked without a trip to look forward to.
When: Nov 29-Dec 5 (ish)
Where: Disneyland CA
What: 1 week trip to DLRCA!
Who: Myself, DS (7 1/2 then), my parents
Sooooo, here's the story. We are budget travelers in my immediate family. DH just doesn't have the Disney Parks bug, and he won't spend the money, so he's going to stay home. Maybe he would join us down there and then do his own thing...but probably not. If he stays home and decorates the house for the holidays that's ok with me! As much as I want this trip, it is for it's own sake, and we are 18 hrs from LA by car...And it's hard to figure out how to do it on the super-cheap.
DS. Is into the parks, but not nearly as much as I am. I'm not sure how many days to buy... At this time, 2 days is about the max before a break day for him.
DDad. Loves it. He's a Disney stroller like me. He could spend the whole day walking around and not going on any attractions.
DMom. Game for whatever. More likely to spend than the rest of us. Likes to spoil DS. Fun to have along!
Me-Disney Park junky. Obviously. Budget minded, but I like the good life.
Below are the big questions facing me.
Where to stay. Parents may spring for a nicer place, likely something with a kitchen as we all like to eat in. I'm happy sleeping in the back of a car as long as it's close to the entrance to the park. DS really needs a pool to be happy.
How to get thereIf my parents decide not to go, I'm not sure I will want to go at all. I'm pretty sure I will not want to drive unless we all go together. If it's just DS and I will either want to fly or take the train.
How many days in the parks?Realistically, I can't take more than 5 days off work, and I need to give DS a break day for every 2 park days. If we leave Oregon the day after Thanksgiving (27th) we will arrive on Saturday the 28th (we stay with friends in Fresno on the way down). We would need to leave on Saturday the 5th to get me home on the 6th and ready to work on the 7th. That makes 6 non-travel days, and I would want to do 4 days max. I could really do 5 days, and the cost is $40 more than the 4 day ticket...In that case, I think I would probably get the 5 day ticket and maybe just go on my own one evening if DS wants to stay back with mom and dad....
Park Hoppers I know, how could anyone consider a non-hopper ticket in DLRCA??? I mean, you can hop in 5 minutes! But Hoppers are $78 now! That's a LOT! And last time, I felt like because we could hop, we didn't see much at DLCA because we kept returning to what we know and love at MK. WAIT, I had that wrong. Hoppers are 39 per person, or 78 for the 2 tix. Nevermind. I'll go with the hoppers.
Sooooo, now it's just kind of a waiting game. I want to get my DMom and DDad to commit to going and then we can start talking lodging. If they aren't sure or don't want to go...I don't know. It's so much better with a combination of people. I love the idea that DMom and I could go to Trader Sam's one evening while DS watches a movie with Grandpa. And that DMom and DDad could go for a nice meal while DS and I wander.
MUST DOs. I know I say I'm budget-minded, but no way am I going to miss out on BTM Ranch dinner. That looked so cool last year, I regretted not springing for it.