3rd Times a Charm! Cali here we come! My first ever Disneyland trip and PTR! - Page 4 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Thanks so much! I am still not set on the exact plans but will be soon because I have to start paying! I really am going to crunch some numbers soon to see if I can find the money for the ABD or whatnot.
The only thing I'm afraid of for you is that everything in CA is on a smaller scale than FL . . . Especially the MK castle, you might be a little shocked when you see it. . . . But it's still awesome, don't get me wrong. Unfortunately this is another "pre-digital camera" vacation, otherwise I'd post some pics.
!!! A friend had moved from Corvallis, Oregon to Dana Point, CA about 12 or 13 yrs ago. We had to drive from Corvallis with a U-Haul trailer hitched to his truck down the west coast. It was quite an adventure in itself, but all we really wanted to do on our first day of RELAXING once we got to LA and put his boxes in the apartment was GO TO DISNEYLAND. The whole time driving in and parking, we were looking up and all around for THE CASTLE. Well, needless to say, we were looking WAAAAAYYY to high up because Sleeping Beauty's Castle is short and squat where Cinderella's is tall and Majestic! We never laughed as hard as when we realized we were right in front of it at the beginning of Main Street and were looking directly OVER it. Too funny.
It's a DIFFERENT Disney Experience. Nothing beats WDW, but you are going to have a BLAST seeing the CA version of things. I'm still disappointed that FL never got the Indiana Jones RIDE. It was a favorite of mine the 3 times I went to Disneyland.
plans sound great mel
I have never been to disneyland before so I can't really give you any kind of advice (sorry) though I do love the track suit and I do agree with you 100% about heath ledger - I was stunned I loved him in 10 things I hate about you - his poor daughter!
hurry back with more because I will still be reading
happy planning ( I know you are already though)
YOu are going to LOVE DIsneyland. it is such a better park than the Magic Kingdom. yeah the castle is tiny, but there are so many other perks.
1. Matterhorn is great
2. The alice in wonderland ride is my favourite!!!
3. the mad hatter's tea cups are so much better as they have an excellent soundtrack
4. Space Mountain is soooooo much better. (there is a brilliant sound track that you hear throughout)
5. It's a small world looks spectacular
6. I like POTC better aswell
7. Indiana Jones is cool
8. and overrall i like the layout better
You will also love everything about Califronia Adventure park
Haven't checked in for a few days and wow have your plans changed...but I think they are for the better...
Since this is your 1st time going I would definitely think staying onsite would make the trip oh so much more Disney and by making up your own touring schedule you do not have to feel rushed by what the tour group is doing...
So I was reading over some of your questions...called our LA office (ok I am like on the phone with our LA office some 20 times a day so this time I asked...heh anyone been to Disney lately....)
So this is the feedback I got...OOP is the better eating plan....
Also they said if you check out the Disneyland site and you go through the motions of planning a trip they bring you to this add on page wher you can add on different tours and such...
I went on just to get an idea....for your dates, staying at the Disneyland Hotel, 3 day PH and Character breakfast and the Universal Studios Tour (w/ transportation), LA Tour (w/ trnsportation) and the San Diego Zoo (w/ transportation) it came out to about $2400 - you could even save more by booking a Combo Universal / LA Tour...
They also said that even though they live right there if you take a relaxed pace 3 days is a nice visit....and you still have the extra nights at the hotel plus DTD...
I think you ideas sound great and I think you will have a much better time then staying at the Best Western and following a pre-set itineary...
!!! A friend had moved from Corvallis, Oregon to Dana Point, CA about 12 or 13 yrs ago. We had to drive from Corvallis with a U-Haul trailer hitched to his truck down the west coast. It was quite an adventure in itself, but all we really wanted to do on our first day of RELAXING once we got to LA and put his boxes in the apartment was GO TO DISNEYLAND. The whole time driving in and parking, we were looking up and all around for THE CASTLE. Well, needless to say, we were looking WAAAAAYYY to high up because Sleeping Beauty's Castle is short and squat where Cinderella's is tall and Majestic! We never laughed as hard as when we realized we were right in front of it at the beginning of Main Street and were looking directly OVER it. Too funny.
It's a DIFFERENT Disney Experience. Nothing beats WDW, but you are going to have a BLAST seeing the CA version of things. I'm still disappointed that FL never got the Indiana Jones RIDE. It was a favorite of mine the 3 times I went to Disneyland.
Indy is on the top of my list for DL.. that and the Storybook Canal Boats!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KandJluvdisney
plans sound great mel
I have never been to disneyland before so I can't really give you any kind of advice (sorry) though I do love the track suit and I do agree with you 100% about heath ledger - I was stunned I loved him in 10 things I hate about you - his poor daughter!
hurry back with more because I will still be reading
happy planning ( I know you are already though)
Read on... maybe you can help me out with yet another big vacation decision...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice in wonderland
YOu are going to LOVE DIsneyland. it is such a better park than the Magic Kingdom. yeah the castle is tiny, but there are so many other perks.
1. Matterhorn is great
2. The alice in wonderland ride is my favourite!!!
3. the mad hatter's tea cups are so much better as they have an excellent soundtrack
4. Space Mountain is soooooo much better. (there is a brilliant sound track that you hear throughout)
5. It's a small world looks spectacular
6. I like POTC better aswell
7. Indiana Jones is cool
8. and overrall i like the layout better
You will also love everything about Califronia Adventure park
Rob is not that convinces he will love Disneyland but I def am looking forward to a lot of the stuff you mentioned! Read my next post--- which did u like best?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
Mel -
Haven't checked in for a few days and wow have your plans changed...but I think they are for the better...
Since this is your 1st time going I would definitely think staying onsite would make the trip oh so much more Disney and by making up your own touring schedule you do not have to feel rushed by what the tour group is doing...
So I was reading over some of your questions...called our LA office (ok I am like on the phone with our LA office some 20 times a day so this time I asked...heh anyone been to Disney lately....)
So this is the feedback I got...OOP is the better eating plan....
Also they said if you check out the Disneyland site and you go through the motions of planning a trip they bring you to this add on page wher you can add on different tours and such...
I went on just to get an idea....for your dates, staying at the Disneyland Hotel, 3 day PH and Character breakfast and the Universal Studios Tour (w/ transportation), LA Tour (w/ trnsportation) and the San Diego Zoo (w/ transportation) it came out to about $2400 - you could even save more by booking a Combo Universal / LA Tour...
They also said that even though they live right there if you take a relaxed pace 3 days is a nice visit....and you still have the extra nights at the hotel plus DTD...
I think you ideas sound great and I think you will have a much better time then staying at the Best Western and following a pre-set itineary...
Have loads of fun planning....
The TA I was talking to here said the same thing you did about paying OOP instead of meal plan... def seems like a better choice! I agree that DL Hotel will be way better than the Best Western. I crunched some numbers and need some more advice though.
__________________
Last edited by MyRapunzal; 01-25-2008 at 06:09 PM..
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
So today I decided to crunch the numbers for a comparison both, the original trip... and the narrowed down Cali options (Adventure or DLR package-- we've def eliminated the Contiki Tour-- which just food for thought was aprox. $2200 and included accomodations for two at the Best Western Stovalls Inn, 2 days PHs and a Hollywood tour... oh and airfare too... it was just cheap all around, ya know?)
Now before you read on. Yesterday I read the ABD itinerary to Rob and he was not excited. I was psyched... fabulous accomodations, tours of Disney studios, Jim Hensen studios, and Hollywood/LA, priority seating to the best DL restaurants, with prime viewing and special FastPasses... but Rob didn't think it left room for exploring DL ourself becasue each day at DL also included meals and a tour. It struck me that maybe I had it backwards. MAYBE this year I could convince him to do the Disney Cruise and it would take me the year instead to get him pysched for California. As you will see the DCL trip seems to be affordable compared to my previous vacations. What would you do? What do you think? The choices! The choices! HELP!!!
ORIGINAL PLAN- WDW
INCLUDES ACCOMODATIONS, TIX, AND DDP
$2108
+100 (P&PP TIX)
+130 (PHOTOPASS PHOTOG PACKAGE)
+250 (SPA DAY)
+250 (ADDITIONAL MEALS)
+600 (AIRFARE)
= $3438 GRAND TOTAL
ADVENTURE BY DISNEY
INCLUDES DLR ACCOMODATIONS (GRAND CALI) AND TIX, TOURS, FOOD
$2399 EACH
= $4798
+ $905 (AIRFARE) = $5703 GRAND TOTAL
DISNEYLAND
INCLUDES DLR ACCOMODATIONS (DIS HOTEL) AND TIX, TOUR TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, SAN DIEGO ZOO, LA CITY TOUR, AND 2 CHARACTER MEALS
= $2872
+ 905 (AIRFARE)
= $3777
+ 400 (FOOD) = $4177 GRAND TOTAL
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
LAND & SEA CRUISE, ACCOMODATIONS, TIX, MEALS, TRANSPORT
= $3168
+ $576 (AIRFARE)
= $3744
+ $200 (LAND MEAL PLAN) = $3944 GRAND TOTAL
(SAVE $233 FROM DLR PACKAGE PLUS $100 ONBOARD CREDIT)
(SAVE $1759 FROM ABD CALI PACKAGE)
(ONLY $506 MORE THAN ORIGINAL TRIP)
It sounds as if you are having as good a time planning this as you will on the actual vacation! I DL, I WDW, and I DCL! DL is the original, and has changed a lot since I first went, about 35 years ago. There is something special about the original.
Having returned from a Land/Sea cruise package this fall, I am anxious to return! One of the suggestions from the PP DCL book is to book the land portion yourself. I will do that the next time. An advantage to the combo is that you check into the cruise when you check into the hotel, therefore you bypass the terminal checkin. You also get transport from WDW to DCL then to MCO included, but you can always pay for it separately if you book the land portion yourself.
I think you are going to have a blast whichever you choose. Have fun with the process!
__________________
Sharon - Kitty and me
2013 Scrapbook pages count: 631 / 350
2014 Scrapbook pages count: 60 / 250
I have a quick question - the p&p party tickets are $50 each? - usually hard ticket items or at least the ones that I have purchased in the past have been around $35
I have been hesitant to go on a disney cruise for a bunch of reasons so I would stick to the original wdw plan - I am going to pm you in a minute for something anyway
talk to you soon
DL IS the original, and you CAN'T go wrong with the original, true enough!
A cruise is something I want to do before I die, and we have one booked for later this year. We originally thought a land/sea would be right, but I decided it wouldn't be a long enough cruise, and financially all the food would (or could) be paid for.
WDW is great... of course you just got back.... on the other hand, it is the cheapest option, which is why you looked into California in the first place.
DL is a lot more expensive, so maybe it would be better with more time to plan...
What would I do??? (I just Love playing with other people's money!)...
I'd do the cruise!... but that's just me.
Don't forget the gratuities on the cruise....that will add to your total, as well as al-kee-hol and if you're going to do excursions. If you've never been to DL, I'd vote for that (trying to get out there myself ) and save the cruise for a later day (make sure to do a 7-day one)!!
The cruise was by far the best thing we did on our holiday. I vote the cruise. It is very relaxing and enjoyable. We did a 4 day and i wish we did a longer cruise.
Maybe you could just do a 7 day cruise and not do the land/sea?
I vote for the cruise.
Disneyland was our second favourite thing of the whole trip!!!!
Either do the cruise or disneyland. DO you need to do the adventures by disney package? i am sure you could save yourself some money doing it yourself. We stayed at the carousel inn and suitres. iT was reasonbly priced, great location and you are never in your room anyway.???
there is to many things to think about. Luck you are doing this cause it is the only think keeping me from crying about not being back in the US. I am enjoying experienceing your planning process again!!!!
Jess
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
I see his point about the Disney Adventures...I had looked at that as an option too and while it was great to have the hotels and the meals I did feel that it would limit my time to tour the way I like...
I am dying to do Europe and many of the tours just seem so strigent, I had looked at the Disney one and they do incorporate lots of "family site seeing time" which was very appealing but for the Disney / LA tour while there was a bunch of great stuff I found that in the time you have it became rigid by the looks of it...
Now back to which choice...I think that the cruise is a good idea...this way you will still have a couple of Disney days at WDW and by also doing the cruise it would give the trip a different feel....however, as others stated, excurisons and gratuities would bump up the cost and put it basically back to where you are at DL...
I would do DL....check out Jet Blue / Southwest (out of Islip) to one of the other area airports such as Burbank / Ontario - they are a little farther away but for example Jet Blue flies into Ontario for 189 each way...it might cut down your airfare a bit....
Also they have a great combo tour through Disney - Universal / LA - even with two character dinners and the zoo the price is only $2500 and if you get airfare for like $750 / 800 plue the 400 you have set for food then the trip is looking to be about $3700 which is do-able....
Hey there! I have lived in CA going to DLR every year for my entire life. I agree with Amanda, everything is much smaller at DLR but realestate is at a prime so you'll notice that in most places there. Cal Adventure is easy .5 day. We always start our day off at Disneyland and then when the lines are long at Disneyland, we hop on over to Cal Adv for a few hours. Cal Adv has nowhere near the crowds that Disneyland has so you can take on the park a lot faster. Also, Cal Adv opens later and closes earlier then Disneyland for the same reason. We always spend 2 full days at Disneyland and combo day with CA Adv and Disneyland.
I personally do not recommend the Character meals in the parks, instead go to goofy's kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel, well worth it! In the park character meal is crazy mad!
I heard that South West was dropping flights to Burbank for the disney traveler. The airport has some kind of noise law that they can't fly after 10 PM so I guess not as profitable for them compared to the other two airports. I use to always fly into Burbank but now we are going into John Wayne or LAX
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
!!! A friend had moved from Corvallis, Oregon to Dana Point, CA about 12 or 13 yrs ago. We had to drive from Corvallis with a U-Haul trailer hitched to his truck down the west coast. It was quite an adventure in itself, but all we really wanted to do on our first day of RELAXING once we got to LA and put his boxes in the apartment was GO TO DISNEYLAND. The whole time driving in and parking, we were looking up and all around for THE CASTLE. Well, needless to say, we were looking WAAAAAYYY to high up because Sleeping Beauty's Castle is short and squat where Cinderella's is tall and Majestic! We never laughed as hard as when we realized we were right in front of it at the beginning of Main Street and were looking directly OVER it. Too funny. 
Alice in Downunderland
and by making up your own touring schedule you do not have to feel rushed by what the tour group is doing...
DL, I 
Debbie
Linear Mode
