Since October is fast approaching, (where does the time go??), I thought I should post about trick-or-treating at Disney parks. I'm going to refer to it as the "trick-or-treating event," as they've changed the name of it several times over the years. (Back when I was working for Disney, it was called "Mickey's Halloween Treat," but no longer...) Anyway!
Short answer: DO IT.
Longer answer: I've done this no fewer than three times, and it has always been a joy. For families with children, it can truly be a blessing to have somewhere to trick-or-treat that's a safe environment and where you can trust all the treats that are given out.
It's also a fun place to go even if you don't have kids. At 28 years old, I still will take any excuse I can to dress up and show off. ^_^ Plenty of adults and teens attend the event in costume, but you don't have to. And I LOVED seeing all the babies and children all dressed up.
It's also a great place to go for trick-or-treating because most of the treat stations will give you the choice of candy or a healthy snack, like carrot sticks, raisins, craisins, or apple slices, all individually packaged! So if you're on a no-sugar diet, you can STILL enjoy this event!
There's also the added bonus of being at a Disney park, so there are photo opportunities with some of the characters, themed areas where you can maybe make a spooky craft, a dance area, usually a parade, as well as the usual rides.
So, in my opinion, attending this event is no-fail fun. If you have the opportunity, go. You won't regret it. ^_^ Your feet might, but then, the same might be true if you trick-or-treat at home, haha...
There are some things to know if you do choose to go. This list is compiled of all the questions that were asked me as a Disney travel agent.
1. This is a "separate ticket event." What this means is, the event takes place after regular hours at the park. The park will close around 5pm-ish, and re-open about an hour after that for the event. You can only get in if you have a separate ticket for the event, regular admission is not required or accepted for entry into the event.
2. This only takes place at Disney's California Adventure. You can't get tickets to trick-or-treat at Disneyland, it just isn't done there. But you CAN get tickets to trick-or-treat at DCA.
3. Buy your tickets EARLY. This is a very popular event, especially close to Halloween, so buy your tickets ahead of time! It may be wise to consider going early in the month of October, if you'd prefer to avoid larger crowds.
4. This is a separate event from "Disney's HalloweenTime." HalloweenTime refers to the Halloween themes at the parks, such as the decorations and additional shows and certain ride makeovers (ie: Haunted Mansion Holiday). Don't confuse "HalloweenTime" with the trick-or-treat event, as enjoying HalloweenTime is included in the cost of regular admission and trick-or-treating is, you guessed it, a separate ticket event.
5. As mentioned before, adults and kids can BOTH dress up at the trick-or-treat event. Adults are generally not permitted to dress up at Disney parks, as Disney wants to avoid children getting confused and asking for an autograph from a non-Disney cast member, but for this event you CAN dress up. However, even if you're going to the event later, you can't attend the regular hours at the parks in costume and then go to the event. Adults can only dress in costume at the event.
5B. In addition, if your costume is considered too inappropriate (this is a family show, after all), you may be asked to leave. What that means is, if someone complains that they don't want their kids looking at your underwear or a giant novelty costume featuring plastic renditions of *ahem* certain body parts, Disney officials will be forced to take some kind of action. Personally, I like a good old fashioned short skirt and cleavage, but use good judgement. Think of the children. (And of the opinionated parents.) ^_^
6. Pets are not allowed, in costume or out, unless it is a service animal assisting a handicapped person.
7. There are no in-and-out privileges, once you enter for the event, you must remain in the parks until you want to leave for the night.
8. Weaponry is generally not a good idea at a Disney park. Even if it's done in funky colors, it may not be allowed if it looks like a gun. Plastic lightsabers are generally okay, but any gun-like toys should probably be left in the car.
9. This one is not something that was asked of me, but something I learned from personal experience. Bring your OWN treat sack. Disney provides treat sacks, but they are SO TINY. And they have gotten smaller each year. If you want to cash in on treats, bring your own pillowcase or something. Just be prepared to haul back a hefty load because:
10. If you can manage it, stay until the very very end. Because the cast members at the treat booths will start shoveling out the treats! You see, they can't keep the treats for the next event, so any leftovers are thrown out at the end of the night. Each time I've stayed til the end, they were giving it out in double handfulls and I filled up my sack every time. Soooo many treats...
You'll generally be able to find the number for tickets on the website, but if you can't locate it, don't panic. Any customer service number on the website should be able to redirect you to the proper cast member. It's also a good idea to check the Disney website for additional rules and regulations, but this is a good outline to follow. If you do go trick-or-treating at the parks, I hope you have fun, visit the Ghirardelli Chocolate booth multiple times, and take lots of pictures!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
An additional holiday note...
A short post today: I was reminded by my husband that it's worth mentioning the Cast Holiday Parties, while I'm on the subject of holidays.
During the end of November thru December, Disney usually sets aside 2-4 nights as the Cast Holiday Parties. This is where the cast members are invited to come to the parks with their loved ones, as a thank you for all the hard work they do throughout the year.
Two dates are usually "mix ins," where the cast members go to the parks with the general public. This shouldn't effect travelers at all, there just may be more people than usual. However, two other dates are generally "cast only," where the park closes early to the general public (like around 5pm or so) and only cast members with special tickets get in. These are the dates you especially want to ask about and plan around. After all, you probably don't want your day at Disney cut short unexpectedly.
Another holiday event to know about is "Candlelight." This is a special event on two nights, usually in early December, where a HUGE choir takes up one end of Main Street and sings a special mass, while the Christmas story is read by a celebrity guest. It's a really neat thing to experience, but it's VERY popular since it only takes place on two nights, so it may end up being very crowded. And if it's not your cup of tea, then all the more reason to find out the dates and plan around them accordingly.
As always, if you have any further questions for me, please leave a comment!
During the end of November thru December, Disney usually sets aside 2-4 nights as the Cast Holiday Parties. This is where the cast members are invited to come to the parks with their loved ones, as a thank you for all the hard work they do throughout the year.
Two dates are usually "mix ins," where the cast members go to the parks with the general public. This shouldn't effect travelers at all, there just may be more people than usual. However, two other dates are generally "cast only," where the park closes early to the general public (like around 5pm or so) and only cast members with special tickets get in. These are the dates you especially want to ask about and plan around. After all, you probably don't want your day at Disney cut short unexpectedly.
Another holiday event to know about is "Candlelight." This is a special event on two nights, usually in early December, where a HUGE choir takes up one end of Main Street and sings a special mass, while the Christmas story is read by a celebrity guest. It's a really neat thing to experience, but it's VERY popular since it only takes place on two nights, so it may end up being very crowded. And if it's not your cup of tea, then all the more reason to find out the dates and plan around them accordingly.
As always, if you have any further questions for me, please leave a comment!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Holidays
Seeing as we just passed Labor Day, I felt it was worth mentioning Holidays at the parks.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid going to the parks on any and all holidays as well as the weekends surrounding said holidays. That is, unless you enjoy massive crowds and heavy traffic. And 99% of the time, you won't have to be at the parks on the holiday in question to enjoy special activities. Halloween and Christmas, for example, are celebrated for at LEAST a full month. It is definitely worth it to visit the parks during those times, as the events and enhanced attractions are wonderful to behold. (But more on that later.)
The only times I can think of where you need to be at the parks on the day of the holiday are the 4th of July and New Years Eve. And then, on July 4th, they merely have a "patriotic finish" to the nightly fireworks, and that's "subject to availability," as they don't do it every year. And on New Years Eve, they have a special fireworks performance at midnight and they pass out noisemakers. I've had friends who worked the New Years shift... They said it was a nightmare because it's standing room only all over the park because of how crowded it is, and all the noise gives you a constant headache. I'm really glad I never went...
However, there ARE ways to enjoy the New Years festivities, it just requires patience. A friend of mine went to the bar behind Ariel's Grotto (Princess Character Dining) at California Adventure at around 8pm. She found a place to sit and enjoyed appetizers and cocktails for 4 hours until the fireworks display. (She took a taxi home, no worries. ^_^)
In my opinion, though, it's best to avoid holidays at the parks, because everyone has time off, some people make a weekend of it, and the amped up crowds can make for a high-stress visit. Do your research, check with the local schools in Southern California to see when their Spring and Winter breaks are. Check for when the Annual Passholders are blocked out from coming to the parks. This can help you plan the best time to take some time off for your vacation. Generally, you will still be able to enjoy holiday festivities without having to go on a very crowded day. (Subject to availability.)
A good rule of thumb is to avoid going to the parks on any and all holidays as well as the weekends surrounding said holidays. That is, unless you enjoy massive crowds and heavy traffic. And 99% of the time, you won't have to be at the parks on the holiday in question to enjoy special activities. Halloween and Christmas, for example, are celebrated for at LEAST a full month. It is definitely worth it to visit the parks during those times, as the events and enhanced attractions are wonderful to behold. (But more on that later.)
The only times I can think of where you need to be at the parks on the day of the holiday are the 4th of July and New Years Eve. And then, on July 4th, they merely have a "patriotic finish" to the nightly fireworks, and that's "subject to availability," as they don't do it every year. And on New Years Eve, they have a special fireworks performance at midnight and they pass out noisemakers. I've had friends who worked the New Years shift... They said it was a nightmare because it's standing room only all over the park because of how crowded it is, and all the noise gives you a constant headache. I'm really glad I never went...
However, there ARE ways to enjoy the New Years festivities, it just requires patience. A friend of mine went to the bar behind Ariel's Grotto (Princess Character Dining) at California Adventure at around 8pm. She found a place to sit and enjoyed appetizers and cocktails for 4 hours until the fireworks display. (She took a taxi home, no worries. ^_^)
In my opinion, though, it's best to avoid holidays at the parks, because everyone has time off, some people make a weekend of it, and the amped up crowds can make for a high-stress visit. Do your research, check with the local schools in Southern California to see when their Spring and Winter breaks are. Check for when the Annual Passholders are blocked out from coming to the parks. This can help you plan the best time to take some time off for your vacation. Generally, you will still be able to enjoy holiday festivities without having to go on a very crowded day. (Subject to availability.)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Food Options
Thought I'd go in a different direction today and discuss food options at the parks. I mean, ya gotta eat, right?
Let's set aside the notion that you want to save money by eating outside the park, and assume you're going to eat at the parks.
Often times, people would call me and ask about bringing food into the parks because they have a special diet. Well, the "Disney" answer is that they want you to consume all outside food before you enter the parks. However, most bag checkers aren't going to raise an eyebrow unless you're bringing a big cooler or picnic basket. If you've got some bottled water and granola bars, you're usually good.
What some people don't know is that every restaurant or quick-food service area at the parks is required to give you a free cup of water, if you ask for it. The reasoning behind it is that they don't want people getting dehydrated, because shutting down an area of the park for an ambulance can be costly and annoying. Another trick that I often use is bring my own bottled water into the park, and then refill it at the drinking fountains throughout the day. All of the fountains feature filtered water, so you don't have to worry about drinking "Anaheim's finest" straight. Something else you can do to avoid that dreaded "tap" flavor, is to bring those little one-serving packets of water flavoring with you to make instant Koolaid. Doesn't hydrate you as well as straight water, but it's better than nothing.
Also, if you go to the Tortilla Factory in California Adventure, you can get a free corn or flour tortilla to eat! And if you're wearing a birthday button, they give you a small bag of them to take with you! Neat, huh?
Now, for people with very special diets. I've had people insist that there was nothing for them to eat at the parks, even people who've been there for years. Actually, nothing could be farther from the truth. It all starts with the phrase "I need to speak with a head chef." If you explain your limitations as far as food, the head chefs will talk to you about options. They are perfectly willing to make you a custom dish, off menu, to suit your particular needs. I went to the parks with a family whose mother and son were gluten-free. I assured them that they could indeed eat pizza at Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. They were skeptical at first, but watched in awe as the head chef herself opened up a new package of plates, pulled fresh utensils out of the dishwasher, got out the special gluten-free crusts and other ingredients and made their pizza right in front of them. And they charged the same amount as the regular pizza. The mother, having tasted the creation, was almost in tears over how precise they were in making the food just so they wouldn't get sick. Her son happily chowed down, not knowing anything was different. She smiled at him and said "You don't know how special this is, kid!"
If you go to Disneyland City Hall, you can ask for their "Gluten Free Menu," which has the listings of all the places that offer gluten free meals. Go each time, because menus change. But rest assured, they will have things for you to eat. Even ice cream! Even cake! Given two days notice, a Disney restaurant will make you a custom cake that adheres to your special diet. I was there! It was a deliciously decadent chocolate gluten free cake that none of us could finish because it was so rich.
Yes, there's the price tag... But there's also the amount of service that kinda makes you start to appreciate the price that comes with it. So always remember to ask! Whatever your dietary needs, Disney is there to work with you and make sure you get fed!
Let's set aside the notion that you want to save money by eating outside the park, and assume you're going to eat at the parks.
Often times, people would call me and ask about bringing food into the parks because they have a special diet. Well, the "Disney" answer is that they want you to consume all outside food before you enter the parks. However, most bag checkers aren't going to raise an eyebrow unless you're bringing a big cooler or picnic basket. If you've got some bottled water and granola bars, you're usually good.
What some people don't know is that every restaurant or quick-food service area at the parks is required to give you a free cup of water, if you ask for it. The reasoning behind it is that they don't want people getting dehydrated, because shutting down an area of the park for an ambulance can be costly and annoying. Another trick that I often use is bring my own bottled water into the park, and then refill it at the drinking fountains throughout the day. All of the fountains feature filtered water, so you don't have to worry about drinking "Anaheim's finest" straight. Something else you can do to avoid that dreaded "tap" flavor, is to bring those little one-serving packets of water flavoring with you to make instant Koolaid. Doesn't hydrate you as well as straight water, but it's better than nothing.
Also, if you go to the Tortilla Factory in California Adventure, you can get a free corn or flour tortilla to eat! And if you're wearing a birthday button, they give you a small bag of them to take with you! Neat, huh?
Now, for people with very special diets. I've had people insist that there was nothing for them to eat at the parks, even people who've been there for years. Actually, nothing could be farther from the truth. It all starts with the phrase "I need to speak with a head chef." If you explain your limitations as far as food, the head chefs will talk to you about options. They are perfectly willing to make you a custom dish, off menu, to suit your particular needs. I went to the parks with a family whose mother and son were gluten-free. I assured them that they could indeed eat pizza at Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. They were skeptical at first, but watched in awe as the head chef herself opened up a new package of plates, pulled fresh utensils out of the dishwasher, got out the special gluten-free crusts and other ingredients and made their pizza right in front of them. And they charged the same amount as the regular pizza. The mother, having tasted the creation, was almost in tears over how precise they were in making the food just so they wouldn't get sick. Her son happily chowed down, not knowing anything was different. She smiled at him and said "You don't know how special this is, kid!"
If you go to Disneyland City Hall, you can ask for their "Gluten Free Menu," which has the listings of all the places that offer gluten free meals. Go each time, because menus change. But rest assured, they will have things for you to eat. Even ice cream! Even cake! Given two days notice, a Disney restaurant will make you a custom cake that adheres to your special diet. I was there! It was a deliciously decadent chocolate gluten free cake that none of us could finish because it was so rich.
Yes, there's the price tag... But there's also the amount of service that kinda makes you start to appreciate the price that comes with it. So always remember to ask! Whatever your dietary needs, Disney is there to work with you and make sure you get fed!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Off We Go
Well, it serves me right, starting a new blog right before I take off for vacation at my Grandmother's. Not to fear! I am back. And you were all so worried, right? :P But enough about MY vacation... Let's talk about yours! :D
Anyway, I thought for my first "official" post, I'd talk about something fundamental to vacations... Travel. I mean, you gotta get there, right? And there are so many ways in which to do it. Let's start with the most obvious, your car. Assuming you have one, of course. ^_^
A good rule of thumb: If you live in the same state as the theme park, driving is a viable option. However, my personal feelings on the matter are, if it's going to take you upwards of three+ hours to get there via car, you may want to consider another option. I know some of you are seasoned drivers and 3 hours may seem like a walk in the park to you. (haha, a pun!) But if you consider that you may have to drive through Los Angeles traffic to get where you're going, which is a place where you're going to be walking around all day, and THEN you have to drive BACK, I beg you to consider how grouchy you might be when you get there and how TIRED you're going to be at the end of the day. Also consider how young your children are and how many you have. Another good rule of thumb: Generally speaking, children under teenage years can barely tolerate an hour's worth of driving at a stretch. And you don't want to arrive already tired and crabby to a place where you're supposed to be having fun! :D
A solution: arrive with the intention of going to the parks the following day. Yes, this means hotel stay and some of you may not want that, mostly those of you who only intend on going to the parks one day. But there are distinct advantages, such as having a place to rest and being able to start fresh in the morning. I'll talk more on hotel stay later.
Another solution: don't drive. Use another mode of transport, which will allow you to not have to drive and the novelty will generally keep the kids occupied longer than if they were in a car. Let's talk about some of these options.
Public transport: Unfortunately, Orange County does not have a subway system. More's the pity, believe me. But we do have a bus system. My advice: unless you are a veteran bus rider and used to tedious trips, avoid this option. The bus system can be daunting, crowded, dirty, and sometimes unreliable. I'll only mention the time I was headed to LA and the driver decided to take a random detour, I'll leave out the gory details. There were tears involved. The good side: It's cheap. Less than $3 to get from LA directly to Disney's side door is really good, considering the price of gas. And if you're travelling alone or maybe as a pair, this may be a good option for people who want to keep their costs down and save their funds for the admission, food, and souvenirs at the parks. Check octa.net and metro.net for bus schedules, making sure you're looking at the right days that you'll be going, as some busses have reduced or no service on weekends.
Train: Amtrak is a great option. A little less tedious than busses, especially if you're taking the Pacific Streamliner, definitely cleaner, and more fun for the kids in my opinion. And the Anaheim station is literally a five minute drive from Disneyland. And if you'd rather not taxi, it's currently $1.50 for one short bus trip down Katella to Harbor. A lot more manageable. Yes, it is more expensive than the bus, but less expensive than a plane. Depending on how many tickets you need to buy, it may even be more economical than gas for your car. Like I mentioned, the Pacific Streamliner is a great train ride, it goes up the coast, so you get a great view, and it goes all the way from San Diego to San Luis Obispo and stops right in Anaheim. Check Amtrak.com for more information.
Plane: If you're not afraid of flying, a plane trip can be the shortest distance between two points. The Santa Ana/John Wayne Airport is the closest to Anaheim and can be cheaper than flying into LAX. However, a lot of people don't know that you can also check into the Long Beach, Ontario, or Burbank airport as well. It just depends on how far you'd care to travel from the airport to the parks. Sometimes airports offer special deals at certain times of the year and are always worth a look to save a little extra money. John Wayne, Long Beach, and Ontario are all smaller airports and thus are very easy to navigate. If you're looking for the best deal, booking a flight yourself can be better than going through a travel agent, as they generally work off of commission and that is added to your cost. Surprisingly, whenever I look for a good deal on airfare, AOL.com has invariably given me the best price, since they look at so many different airlines. Southwest has typically been a price leader, but it's also a good idea to check Jet Blue. They have limited service, but have great pricing. Now, flying is more expensive, but depending on where you are coming from, may be the best option for the shortest trip. And if you're looking at airfare, you also need to look at:
Airport transport: A taxi is the simplest, but can be a very expensive way to go. Luckily, Disney has some very reliable and oftentimes better priced options. Now, a taxi charges the same amount for up to 5 passengers. Depending on how many people you have, that may end up being a better price. But you should also look at SuperShuttle or the Disneyland Resort Express. Both of these options allow you to call and reserve seating, but should you just show up, you can also pay right at the door (so to speak). The Disneyland Resort Express stops first at the 3 Disney hotels and from there will go on to the "Good Neighbor" hotels. Always check and make sure the DRE goes to your hotel, because although many hotels in the Anaheim area will sell Disney tickets, not all of them have the "Good Neighbor" stamp.
Also, whichever mode of transport you choose, if you are not driving yourself and you have a disability, make sure you ask what kind of accomodations a particular service offers. Most will have storage for a wheelchair if they don't have the ability to lock you into the vehicle, but some transports require that you are able to make it into the vehicle without assistance (as part of a liability issue). Always check, it's better than being stuck at an airport at a loss... Literally, if a refund isn't possible (for some reason).
I feel I should mention this here, even though it really is about hotel stay, but it goes hand in hand with traveling. If you're planning on driving and you're crossing multiple states to get here... Make SURE your hotel isn't going to give away your hotel room if you are a day late in getting there. While I was working for Disney Travel, I once had a couple who was going to drive all the way from the East Coast, and I couldn't stress enough that if they weren't going to make it by the day of check-in, they HAD to call the hotel and let them know. I mean, you'd think that once you've paid for a hotel stay, the hotel wouldn't give away your room, because you've reserved it for a certain amount of time, right? So even if you're not there, the room should just stay empty until your stay is up. Well, that's not always the case. Hotels often over-book to compensate for no-shows and cancellations. So, if you don't show up, usually by midnight on the day of your scheduled arrival, your room is in danger of being given away. And oftentimes, your money is non-refundable at that point. So, please remember to get the number of your hotel and to call them if you suspect you're going to be late, it's better safe than sorry.
Well, I think I've talked about the major ways to get here... So, before this post gets any longer, I'll sign off! As always, if you have any questions you'd particularly like answered or you need clarification, please comment and I'll answer you as promptly as I can!
Anyway, I thought for my first "official" post, I'd talk about something fundamental to vacations... Travel. I mean, you gotta get there, right? And there are so many ways in which to do it. Let's start with the most obvious, your car. Assuming you have one, of course. ^_^
A good rule of thumb: If you live in the same state as the theme park, driving is a viable option. However, my personal feelings on the matter are, if it's going to take you upwards of three+ hours to get there via car, you may want to consider another option. I know some of you are seasoned drivers and 3 hours may seem like a walk in the park to you. (haha, a pun!) But if you consider that you may have to drive through Los Angeles traffic to get where you're going, which is a place where you're going to be walking around all day, and THEN you have to drive BACK, I beg you to consider how grouchy you might be when you get there and how TIRED you're going to be at the end of the day. Also consider how young your children are and how many you have. Another good rule of thumb: Generally speaking, children under teenage years can barely tolerate an hour's worth of driving at a stretch. And you don't want to arrive already tired and crabby to a place where you're supposed to be having fun! :D
A solution: arrive with the intention of going to the parks the following day. Yes, this means hotel stay and some of you may not want that, mostly those of you who only intend on going to the parks one day. But there are distinct advantages, such as having a place to rest and being able to start fresh in the morning. I'll talk more on hotel stay later.
Another solution: don't drive. Use another mode of transport, which will allow you to not have to drive and the novelty will generally keep the kids occupied longer than if they were in a car. Let's talk about some of these options.
Public transport: Unfortunately, Orange County does not have a subway system. More's the pity, believe me. But we do have a bus system. My advice: unless you are a veteran bus rider and used to tedious trips, avoid this option. The bus system can be daunting, crowded, dirty, and sometimes unreliable. I'll only mention the time I was headed to LA and the driver decided to take a random detour, I'll leave out the gory details. There were tears involved. The good side: It's cheap. Less than $3 to get from LA directly to Disney's side door is really good, considering the price of gas. And if you're travelling alone or maybe as a pair, this may be a good option for people who want to keep their costs down and save their funds for the admission, food, and souvenirs at the parks. Check octa.net and metro.net for bus schedules, making sure you're looking at the right days that you'll be going, as some busses have reduced or no service on weekends.
Train: Amtrak is a great option. A little less tedious than busses, especially if you're taking the Pacific Streamliner, definitely cleaner, and more fun for the kids in my opinion. And the Anaheim station is literally a five minute drive from Disneyland. And if you'd rather not taxi, it's currently $1.50 for one short bus trip down Katella to Harbor. A lot more manageable. Yes, it is more expensive than the bus, but less expensive than a plane. Depending on how many tickets you need to buy, it may even be more economical than gas for your car. Like I mentioned, the Pacific Streamliner is a great train ride, it goes up the coast, so you get a great view, and it goes all the way from San Diego to San Luis Obispo and stops right in Anaheim. Check Amtrak.com for more information.
Plane: If you're not afraid of flying, a plane trip can be the shortest distance between two points. The Santa Ana/John Wayne Airport is the closest to Anaheim and can be cheaper than flying into LAX. However, a lot of people don't know that you can also check into the Long Beach, Ontario, or Burbank airport as well. It just depends on how far you'd care to travel from the airport to the parks. Sometimes airports offer special deals at certain times of the year and are always worth a look to save a little extra money. John Wayne, Long Beach, and Ontario are all smaller airports and thus are very easy to navigate. If you're looking for the best deal, booking a flight yourself can be better than going through a travel agent, as they generally work off of commission and that is added to your cost. Surprisingly, whenever I look for a good deal on airfare, AOL.com has invariably given me the best price, since they look at so many different airlines. Southwest has typically been a price leader, but it's also a good idea to check Jet Blue. They have limited service, but have great pricing. Now, flying is more expensive, but depending on where you are coming from, may be the best option for the shortest trip. And if you're looking at airfare, you also need to look at:
Airport transport: A taxi is the simplest, but can be a very expensive way to go. Luckily, Disney has some very reliable and oftentimes better priced options. Now, a taxi charges the same amount for up to 5 passengers. Depending on how many people you have, that may end up being a better price. But you should also look at SuperShuttle or the Disneyland Resort Express. Both of these options allow you to call and reserve seating, but should you just show up, you can also pay right at the door (so to speak). The Disneyland Resort Express stops first at the 3 Disney hotels and from there will go on to the "Good Neighbor" hotels. Always check and make sure the DRE goes to your hotel, because although many hotels in the Anaheim area will sell Disney tickets, not all of them have the "Good Neighbor" stamp.
Also, whichever mode of transport you choose, if you are not driving yourself and you have a disability, make sure you ask what kind of accomodations a particular service offers. Most will have storage for a wheelchair if they don't have the ability to lock you into the vehicle, but some transports require that you are able to make it into the vehicle without assistance (as part of a liability issue). Always check, it's better than being stuck at an airport at a loss... Literally, if a refund isn't possible (for some reason).
I feel I should mention this here, even though it really is about hotel stay, but it goes hand in hand with traveling. If you're planning on driving and you're crossing multiple states to get here... Make SURE your hotel isn't going to give away your hotel room if you are a day late in getting there. While I was working for Disney Travel, I once had a couple who was going to drive all the way from the East Coast, and I couldn't stress enough that if they weren't going to make it by the day of check-in, they HAD to call the hotel and let them know. I mean, you'd think that once you've paid for a hotel stay, the hotel wouldn't give away your room, because you've reserved it for a certain amount of time, right? So even if you're not there, the room should just stay empty until your stay is up. Well, that's not always the case. Hotels often over-book to compensate for no-shows and cancellations. So, if you don't show up, usually by midnight on the day of your scheduled arrival, your room is in danger of being given away. And oftentimes, your money is non-refundable at that point. So, please remember to get the number of your hotel and to call them if you suspect you're going to be late, it's better safe than sorry.
Well, I think I've talked about the major ways to get here... So, before this post gets any longer, I'll sign off! As always, if you have any questions you'd particularly like answered or you need clarification, please comment and I'll answer you as promptly as I can!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)