I'm going to Disneyland?

[macker]

We went over the 4th of July and it was the best time I have ever been there. The crowds are part of what makes it such a great place imo. We saw JLO there which was really cool for my wife and meh for me for some reason. As mentioned fastpass works very well and if you do the 5 for 3 you will do everything that you could ever want to do at Disney/California Adventure. If you want to save some money go to the dis boards and get some tips from there. The 5 days for 3 deal is likely still on? Get your tickets at either
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disn...ketListingPage or
http://arestravel.com
Seaworld also had a 2 days for 1 deal when we were there. I would skip Legoland though as it was a big let down for us after 5 days at Disney and 2 at Seaworld we were basically going through the motions there and would have rather spent another day at the beach. Stick to the Dis boards and mousesavers and buy your tickets before you go and you will get good value! Don't forget to eat lot's of Churros!!

[Rhettzky]

There is a sweet deal right now if you stay at a resort hotel. If you book a four day/four night trip in the park they knock $400 off the price of your package. I just looked and you can stay at Paradise Pier for $1130 with the deal and that includes all your park hoppers. So with a family of four the regular price of just getting in the park is about $200 each for parent and $170 for each kid. So that's $740 in passes alone which means your stay is only about $400 which is great for the resort.

As for deals and other stuff...

-Buy some water/snacks/etc... from target (fairly close to the park, we walked there in about 20 mins, there is also a bus) and take a small cooler of stuff into the park with you. The snacks are awesome at the park but it's nice to have some stuff with you for the kids so you don't have to always eat out.
-Early December is dead, but it's also close to winter. So it could rain lots. Go buy some cheap poncho's at Canadian tire just in case. They are $7 a piece at the park or $1 if you get them before.
-Do the breakfast in the park. It was not too expensive and the kids had a blast at it.
-For the rides your kids want to go on again and again but have huge lines, here is a tip. Get one of you to wait in line and do the ride with them. When you get to the front of the line ask for a "rider switch pass" (some rides have them, some don't). Then after the ride give the pass to your significant other and they can bypass the line and take the kids again. Works great.
-Fast passes are awesome. Get them even if the line looks semi-reasonable. Sometimes they hold the line while an endless stream of fast passers walk right to the front.

[chid]

Awesome, have a great time, try not to let the crowds bug you! Fast passes are great but you really want to choose carefully which rides you fast pass, because you cant get another fast pass until the first one is used up. Its good to pick 2 rides, see which queue looks the most interesting and line up for that while fast passing for the other.

Out of the ten times I've been, most times have been the first week of December or Dec 20-24 (which is surprisingly not busy either)

[dancingoyster]

I have been with the family 8 times in the last 6 years.

tip 1) XMAS is EXTERMELY busy. Early Dec is not. They also decorate for XMas. Even the rides (haunted manson, space mountain, small world all have special decorations as well).
tip 2) learn how to use the fastpass. You can have as many fast passes as you can at one time . the real limit is how long you have to wait to get a fast pass (see the small print at the bottom of the fast pass)
tip 3) If in Disneyland (not world) Purchase the dessert seating for the fantasia show. The show is good, seating is a pain, this is the best way to get a good spot (and a chair)
tip 4) if you have little girls, do not underestimate the powwer of the princesses. They willlove the Pricess breafasts
tip 5) Budget $150 a day for FOOD for a familiy of 4
tip 6) when entering the park, the line up to the left near the tree is the fastest (it splits in 2 after the tree)
tip 7) the Alladin show in California Adventures is really good.
tip 8) visit www.mouseplanet.com
tip 9) Goofy Kitchen in the PAradise Peir Hotel is great for kids and alway has characters.
tip 10) If looking for Characters, ask any of the handlers, they have a Master schdule and will give you los of tips
tip 11) if you venture into the expensive world of pin trading, each "cast memeer" will have pins. They will reject NO trade and have all the limiterd editions.
tip 120 In Disenty land the food program is more difficult because you do not have as many sit down restaurants in the pasrk If you are going to anaheim, and you have kids under 12, really paln this out before prepurchasing you food plan.


enjoy the small things, attention to deatil, hidden mickeys

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I went in May with my family. We went for a week which was WAY too long. Three days like you're planning sounds perfect. We're early risers so even though it was busy we had plenty of time to ride the cool rides before the crowds came. It's a great place to go...you'll love it.

As for saving money, just the obvious things like bring your own drinks and snacks into the park, etc.

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Disagree, some of their food and drinks are the best. The churrio's they have are fantastic as well as the lemonade. It is all expensive, but they are terrific.

If the OP was asking what the best snacks were irrespective of price, my answer might have looked something like yours. He was asking how to save money.

[chid]

the best deal are the dill pickles, 99 cents. I live on them while at the park mm

[Titan]

Lots of good tips. Put daughters in princess dresses.

The meals in the park are huge and you can split two meals between four people easily.

We went early Jan. and were literally staying on rides mutliple times.

[Bownesian]

Mrs. Bownesian and I went last year in February when the Flames played back-to-back in Anaheim/LA. We caught the games for super-cheap and went to the park during the day. We had a blast and had a break from the cold weather.

I don't have any Disneyland recommendations other than to get to the park when it opens but looking at the schedule, our trip could be repeated next month:

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 Flames Kings 2:00 PM SNET-W(HD)
Mon, 23 Nov 2009 Flames Ducks 8:00 PM SNET-W(HD)

[Biff]

Having visited Disneyland numerous times (and Disneyworld most recently)...the single best piece of advice is to go out and buy the UNOFFICIAl guide to Disneyland (or Disneyworld...as necessary). Everything you need to know to maximize the enjoyment, efficiency, savings and sanity in planning and enjoying your trip is contained therein. Really. No, I'm not the author.

[metallicat]

[krazycanuck]

dole whips at the entrance to adventureland are boss.

[Ironhorse]

Once again, the power of CP comes through in spades. Thank you all for your input thus far!

Both my kids are boys, and I think they'll really like it. I haven't told them yet, and won't until I have things booked.

I've looked at some of the websites and tips you've listed, and it looks like staying at the park with one of those 4 day/4 night things is a great deal. We may have to tack on an extra night, as WestJet flies into LAX in the middle of the day. The WestJet website shows some pretty good pricing too. Seems to be a big difference between days of the week though?

Any more good info, keep it coming.

[krazycanuck]

monday-thursday are always less busy at Disneyland. The big difference though, is on the weekends the hours are longer and they tend to offer some things which they don't during the week (fantasmic+fireworks)

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I've looked at some of the websites and tips you've listed, and it looks like staying at the park with one of those 4 day/4 night things is a great deal. We may have to tack on an extra night, as WestJet flies into LAX in the middle of the day. The WestJet website shows some pretty good pricing too. Seems to be a big difference between days of the week though?

Yeah, we booked it and tacked on an extra day too for only $130 extra with passes included, total bargain. The prices of the flights through westjet change from week to week. We booked our flight home already and managed to get it for $100 a person with taxes and all included. The flight there we will be using buddy passes but I noticed they do have some sales coming up.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

We booked our flight home already and managed to get it for $100 a person with taxes and all included. The flight there we will be using buddy passes but I noticed they do have some sales coming up.

Can you share?

[FoxMulder91]

Ive been twice and fast passes are essential in my opinion..but perhaps since youre going during the slow part of the season they might not be as important.

This thread makes me want to go back.

[TheCommodoreAfro]

I'm of no use unless you're going to Tokyo Disneyland.
Let me say this: one hour lineups are for the old and unpopular attractions at Tokyo Disneyland (and it's sister park Disney Sea) for most of the year (there are some slow times in the winter and on weekdays during the fall and spring when kids are in school). Here's a sample: http://is.gd/3Wmwv
Disney parks are pretty good fun when you can plan around the crowds, though. Enjoy!

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Biff

Having visited Disneyland numerous times (and Disneyworld most recently)...the single best piece of advice is to go out and buy the UNOFFICIAl guide to Disneyland (or Disneyworld...as necessary). Everything you need to know to maximize the enjoyment, efficiency, savings and sanity in planning and enjoying your trip is contained therein. Really. No, I'm not the author.

Second this. Its worth every penny.

Check the Disney website schedules too. Not all shows run all days, rides can close for maintenance etc. We would have missed Haunted Mansion had we not gone in the first 2 days for example.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Can you share?

Just as we were browsing flights there was a promotion coming up called "fall into savings" it's over on October 6th and is good for some international flights between nov. 1st and dec. something.