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.
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Thanks Cheryl and Myra. It's fun to start planning even before the money is in the bank and all the i's are dotted. I just love having a vacation to plan!
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Glad you've got this trip to plan and really hope it pans out for you! I'd love to return to DLR some day. It's a very weird feeling not having a trip to plan. I'm used to having a banner with several trips counting down on it and having nothing feels just plain wrong!
Last time I was at DLR, I stayed at the Embassy Suites (the farther one near the stadium) for a song and got a great free breakfast as well as a small kitchen. I don't remember if I booked through the Hilton website or through Priceline but I want to say if was only around $50./night and only a ten minute drive. Off course it was a few years ago 2008, I think
Last time I was at DLR, I stayed at the Embassy Suites (the farther one near the stadium) for a song and got a great free breakfast as well as a small kitchen. I don't remember if I booked through the Hilton website or through Priceline but I want to say if was only around $50./night and only a ten minute drive. Off course it was a few years ago 2008, I think
Thanks, I will check into them! So far I haven't found any 2 BR suites with a range...that's pretty important to us, I think.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Glad you've got this trip to plan and really hope it pans out for you! I'd love to return to DLR some day. It's a very weird feeling not having a trip to plan. I'm used to having a banner with several trips counting down on it and having nothing feels just plain wrong!
Laurie, when is your next trip going to be? Are you on hiatus for the forseeable future?
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Hope the trip happens!!
Thanks! Without a trip to plan, I don't know what to do with myself these days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Quote:
Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147 It's fun to start planning even before the money is in the bank and all the i's are dotted. I just love having a vacation to plan!
Me too! I hope DLR trips for both you and I work out in 2015!
Yeah, what you said!
So, I spent the morning researching lodging on airbnb. I've also looked at some RV parks with tent sites nearby. The 2 closest RV parks don't look all that great, the only one that looks nice is a bit too far for my taste. I found a number of 2BR apartments with shared pool (important to my mom and DS) in the 200-250 range. That could work....There is a part of me that is thinking I should really take a long weekend trip down soon, you know, just to check out the tent camping at the RV sites nearby...you know...Just to see...and pop into a park...
Money report:
DH and I are actually planning to save $ for a SE Asia trip the summer after this DL trip is planned. So, I can't spend too much. I have it in my head that 10% can go to Disney. Right now that's about 120 bucks. Yay!!!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Hoping everything works out. I have confidence in your planning abilities!
Thanks! I think it's going to work. Once I get DDad invested, it will be a fait accompli, so I'm working on that right now. Sending him emails about the places I find etc...
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
I like your thinking... a quick scouting trip may be in order! How great to be planning for SE Asia.
I would love to do a quick scouting trip, you know, just to be sure DLR is still there, if nothing else...
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
So where are you looking in SE Asia? Can I say jealous of those plans?
Basic PTR on that... I get Mid-June to late August off of work (work for schools). So, DH, DS and I fly to Hong Kong (squeeze in 1 day at DLHK, of course!), overland through China to border of Laos. Cross into Laos, set up in spare room of friend's new house in a small village on the "temple trail", whatever that is?!?! Eventually move on to Cambodia, visit another friend who is teaching English there. Stay in hotel. Return to HK for return flight (and spend day #2 at DLHK, of course). Come home. The whole trip should be 8-9 weeks.
This morning I want to look at budget. What do I need in order to make this trip work?
I don't consider groceries, as I would be buying those at home. But I will need:
Gas - Gas Buddy estimates $120 in the Prius. I'm going to be a bit generous and say my portion is $70 (splitting gas with DMom and Dad.)
Lodging - I'm calling my portion 70 per night. DMom and Dad will pay more than 50% because they care more about amenities than I do. I doubt we will end up camping, but this is what I'm willing to do. So, for 6 nights thats $420.
Park Tix $525 from MouseSavers for 4 days with PH.
Funds for Trader Sam's and the BTMR dinner. $100 total.
For a grand total of......$1115. YIKES!!!!! I was hoping to do it for much less. But that's obviously not happening. Last time we went my M and D covered the cost of the lodging, which makes a huge difference. (Duh!)
So, Time to set up a ticker for savings. OK, done! We're on our way!
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Last edited by KimmyAnn1147; 10-08-2014 at 10:24 AM..
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
OK, done! We're on our way!
Wow, your plans for Asia sound absolutely amazing. I really hope it works out for you. 
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