Current Events > Are you going to Disneyland this year?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Yes
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Is this a special year for Disney Land or something?
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Let me guess youre going with your son
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Not likely. I did just recently get back from Disney World though.

I want to go to Disney Land on account of them having an Indiana Jones ride. And I'd like to see how Guardians of the Galaxy compares to Tower of Terror.

probably after the galaxys end hype goes down a little bit.
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Hopefully. My best friend and I are planning for a trip in October.

Speaking of, what's a a good budget to have for a trip to Disneyland? Accounting for everything, of course - gas, hotel, souvenirs, park fees, emergency, etc. I haven't been there since I was a kid. Gonna see if I can find any package deals or specials.
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Awakened_Link posted...

Speaking of, what's a a good budget to have for a trip to Disneyland? Accounting for everything, of course - gas, hotel, souvenirs, park fees, emergency, etc. I haven't been there since I was a kid. Gonna see if I can find any package deals or specials.

I think a two-day ticket will cost at least $250 if you get the MaxPass with it (which you definitely want to do). Disney Anaheim is only two parks, and while I've never been to California Adventure, it only has about half the rides of Disneyland itself, so it's easily doable in a day.

- Gas depends on where you're driving from, so can't really help you there

- There are a ton of hotels near the park, so you have many options. The Disney-brand hotels are insanely expensive (hundreds per night), but there are many within walking distance for considerably less. You can probably get a walking distance hotel for $150 a night.

- Souvenirs are very, very overpriced. I personally don't think there's anything in the park worth buying at their inflated prices, but maybe Galaxy's Edge will change that (although they're charging $200 for a toy lightsaber, so that gives you an idea as to how much Disney gouges their souvenir prices.

- Apart from parking, which I think is around $20 a day, the only "resort fee" is the Max Pass, which is optional and allows you to get Fast Passes on your phone app. I think it's $15 per person per day and is easily the best value in the park.

Basically, cost will vary immensely depending on your travel situation (are you driving from San Diego or flying from Vancouver, etc) and how much you want to spend on lodging. Thrifty people with easy traveling can do this trip for a few hundred. Families flying from across the country or the world can easily spend thousands.
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CaptainOfCrush posted...

- There are a ton of hotels near the park, so you have many options. The Disney-brand hotels are insanely expensive (hundreds per night), but there are many within walking distance for considerably less. You can probably get a walking distance hotel for $150 a night.

Get an AirBnB, They are going to be a lot cheaper.
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I might actually go to Shanghai Disney at the end of August. Haven't decided yet. My wife wants to bring our daughter but she only just turned 3 so can't help but think she won't get the full experience from it yet.
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knightoffire55 posted...

Get an AirBnB, They are going to be a lot cheaper.

That's true, I haven't looked into it but I assume they'd have to be. Anyway, it's a good idea for whatever lodging you choose to be walking distance. The best strategy for a fun Disneyland day is the following (imo):

- Get there early, as soon as or even before the park opens at 8 am
- Hit the first four hours HARD, including some of the hugest rides. This is when the park is the least busy.
- Go back to the hotel/AirBnB and rest at around 2 pm
- Come back at around 6 and hit the evening session hard from 6-close

The park will be at its busiest and hottest between 2-6. Almost anything will have big lines, and trying to endure those lines will sap all your energy. It's best to leave the park and take a nap in your room, then return to hit the night session hard.
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@CaptainOfCrush Thanks for the tips man, I really appreciate it. We're driving from Phoenix, which is about a six hour drive. We're most likely taking my friend's car since mine doesn't get good gas mileage.

We've started a budget for about 1k each, but with careful planning it sounds like that'll be more than enough. Not sure yet how many days we'll go, though.
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Awakened_Link posted...

@CaptainOfCrush Thanks for the tips man, I really appreciate it. We're driving from Phoenix, which is about a six hour drive. We're most likely taking my friend's car since mine doesn't get good gas mileage.

We've started a budget for about 1k each, but with careful planning it sounds like that'll be more than enough. Not sure yet how many days we'll go, though.

Sure thing. I used to live nine miles south of Disneyland growing up, and my parents got us annual passes when they were still affordable. I went so often that I actually grew tired of the place in my early teens (how spoiled is THAT) and didn't go again until my late 20s. When I rediscovered it as an adult, I was amazed at how fun the place still was, and now my girlfriend and I try to make the trip from Vegas once a year.

I've pretty much got the place memorized and can give you some tips at minimizing wait times. Last time we went in December, the park reached max capacity, and my group still never waited more than 25 minutes in any line.

Anyway, if you go, I'm sure you'll have a blast. Once you get inside the park, they really do a great job making you feel like you're in another world.
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I haven't been to Disneyland since 1999 and I don't plan on going back. Six Flags is closer and cheaper.
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I'm not currently planning a trip for this year.

I did go last year and had a fun time, though.
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No, but I really wanna go to Tokyo Disneyland
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It's only like 70 miles from me. The last time I went was the day before the Oklahoma City bombing.
And I was sick of it then. The crowds. If I never go again I'll die happy.
At least I remember it the way it use to look. With the parking lot and the original mid century futurism tomorrowland.

Knott's all the way! Disney can rot.
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@CaptainOfCrush

Spoken like a true master, though I would also advise people to not eat inside the park due to the over priced food there and the for people to pack a lunch or eat at the many places located just outside the park.
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No.
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