PTR San Fran to Mouseland!! About This Page:

[Timon-HakunaMatata]

Ok, I know I never got my post trip WDW report done, but still might do so. I am changing phones and will have my wife take my pictures off and put on a flash drive so I can put them on the computer and finish it (as best I can remember it.)

But for now, we are taking a trip to the left coast, to revisit some old digs, and show the girls where we lived for 9 years. They are old enough to make us think that they can handle the drive between points of interest. We may be mistaken, but at least by the time we are sure of it we will already be on our way with no turning back!! Yippee!!!! (I'm going ostrich on this one as I want to go).

So the plan at this point is roughly; fly standby to San Fran. Could be as early as a Saturday, but planning Monday night or Tuesday. Will have to see how loads look on the flights (I work for the airlines, and odd hours or midweek it is sometimes possible to fly still for a low price).

On arriving in San Fran, will be getting a hotel, if we are early enough, up closer to Sacramento were we used to live, show them our old apartment and my Air Force base. I also know that we can skip that since they probably won't find that very interesting. (9 and 7, both daughters). More likely, we will see the Golden Gate Park, GG Bridge, maybe Pier 39, Go on a submarine there, something like that. eat hot fresh sourdough with butter is a must! Then off to San Jose, stay there, see the Winchester Mystery House, then off to Monterrey and the aquarium. Somewhere we might fit in Half Moon Bay, or anything else we can find that we think they would like. Unsure if we are going to be ahead or behind schedule, but will drive down the coast to san Simeon to see Hearst Castle. After that, follow coast into LA and Anaheim, and.....well, not sure.

I mean, there has to be something to do there, amirite?

We may stay at the Embassy Suites for two nights, then three in the hotel part of the Grand Californian. We had not planned on staying there (DVC all gone) but had 83 points to use from 2014, so we got two nights. Then ended up getting one more, but could not do all 5 there as we have all the 2015 points booked for the November trip. I still have to add two nights at Beach Club Villas, but cannot until the 19th. Still, we wanted to stay in the GC, so even though it is 3 nights instead of 5, I am pleased.

We also used Rentalcarmomma.com to find a good deal on a minivan, so we will have that for the drive from San Fran to LA. Then fly back on standby starting on Tuesday. Early if flights look bad, later if they all look open enough.

Right now I am trying to learn what I need to show the girls (differences from WDW) and where we should eat. I am ready to go..wife keeps asking if it is time to go. We are ready.

Side note..has been really nice, and then we got about 8 inches of very wet snow yesterday. Nice and slushy, not really that cold out so I can handle this just fine. Everything is going to green up dramatically in the next week!

[MayraLR]

Sounds like a great trip!

[pamcarey]

Sounds great! It's such a beautiful drive down the coast from San Francisco!

[chezp]

Sounds wonderful.

[KimmyAnn1147]

Wow, Timon, please tell me more about flying standby in this day and age. My husband used to do it all the time cause his sis worked for AA. Do you have to work for the airlines or have a connection with them to do what you are doing? We are VERY flexible travelers but just can't afford plane tix to do as much as we would like.

Back to your PTR, looks AOK to me! Your girls are at an age where good music they like will make a big difference on the drive, but I'm sure you have that under control. Books on tape for kids are a hit with some. I have a neighbor friend who could listen to Harry Potters on tape all day and all night.

You are as much a local as I am at DLR, so I can't give much advice. You know about Trader Sams as a fun night spot, right? Are you getting 5 day tix or fewer?

[Timon-HakunaMatata]

Flying standby is....a pain. We tired it when we went down to the cruise March of 2014. First time I had tried standby since 9/11. It is hard since the airlines seem to sell blocks to places like Travelocity in the last few days and a flight can go from wide open to oversold in a matter of hours it seems. However, I am hearing if you can fly real late at night, or the first flight in the morning on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday then you can actually sometimes use them still. Also, issues are the airlines (or mine at least) seems to reward flying so much that they upgrade people for free or fang near free into first class. It used to be that even if a flight were full, you might have FC seats open to get where you needed to go. Now, I had to wear a tie, slacks, and be dressed up, but could get into FC. It felt like a real benefit. Now, I have seen flights with 60 passengers, with 48 of them listed for free upgrades into first class (and of course, could be wearing holey jeans and a dirty tank top if they want.) I hear that you can get first class, and even the premier first class on international flights as they will upgrade into business, but not into FC on those long flights. A friend of mine flew to Germany from Chicago or Washington Dulles and had an amazing flight...but had to buy tickets in coach from Denver to where the international flight was. So in a nutshell, it isn't the benefit it used to be, especially if you stay stateside. However, I still get the joy of working midnights and weekends after 21 years with the company (and only three guys under me in seniority where I work). So maybe I can get dayshift (also working most weekends) when I have 40 to 45 years with the company! Right around the corner!! lol) Honestly, looking to retire when I am 55 from there..but want what benefits for flying I can have. We will see if that comes to pass or not.

Yes, buying the four days, fifth day free with park hopper.

[KimmyAnn1147]

Following up on the stand-by conversation...because I have long summers (work for schools) I can sit around FOREVER if the price is right. Are there stand-by deals still available to the public?

[Timon-HakunaMatata]

Not that I know of.

[Timon-HakunaMatata]

So the girls are not that interested in anything but DL, so we have modified to fly into LAX and just do Disney for 7 days. Well, 5 full days, plus the day we fly in (DTD) and the day we leave. That also might be swimming and DTD, or if we take a day off to go to the beach, then DL on the last day before flying out. We have 4 nights at the Embassy Suites Anaheim South, and 3 in the Grand Californian. Car rental will be cheaper since we pick up and drop off at the same place.

Also bought tickets on Southwest. Once they get down to as low as they were, there isn't much sense to be unsure about when we can get there or leave.

[KimmyAnn1147]

Wow Timon, that's a huge change! Way to go!!!

I look forward to reading about your 5 days, as we have 5 day passes for the first time this Nov.

[chezp]

It must be a relief to have the airfare now booked.

[Timon-HakunaMatata]

My wife is thinking about Sea World for one day, but I'd rather just be at DL if it is up to me. But we will see I guess.

Question: If taking one day away from DL, what would you do? Sea World, Zoo, Animal Park, beach, or other, and why?

[Timon-HakunaMatata]

We asked the girls and they only want to go to DL so that is the plan for now. Plus we will be going to see Inside Out while we are there at DTD and taking time off to swim at the Grand Californian the days we are there, so we will have 'breaks' from the parks.