Disneyland and LA/Anaheim

[Warks]

Well we're off in a couple of weeks, hard to believe. Canada for 3 weeks then LA.

Was wondering if anyone had more recent experiences of Disneyland and the Anaheim attractions. Have been trying various ways to pick up cheaper Disney tickets but it's tightly controlled, the only way to guarantee a discount is not to buy at the gate! We are getting 3-day park hopper tickets.

I did hear that you can buy tickets cheaper in Canada - they charge $US prices in $CAD. My local contact will help me there.

That car museum (www.nethercuttcollection.org) looks fantastic! Must do it another time without the other disinterested parties! The rollercoaster park would have suited me 20 years ago but Disney is more the thing with kids now.

Will spend the last day at Universal Studios as we check out of Anaheim in the morning but don't fly home until 2350 that night so we're not going to hang at the airport all day. I'm hoping we can check out bags in bright and early to get rid of them for the day.

 

[lampardcl]

In regards to the disney hopper pass if you go to expedia Australia you can print your own 3 day pass and pay in AUD, currently a 3 day adult disney pass is $213.66 AUD child $177.85 AUD, which is not so bad when looking at how much aussie travel brochures are charging eg 3 day hopper $302.00 adult and $251.00 child, Hope you have a wonderful time

 

[file51]

Have been trying various ways to pick up cheaper Disney tickets but it's tightly controlled, the only way to guarantee a discount is not to buy at the gate! We are getting 3-day park hopper tickets.

I did hear that you can buy tickets cheaper in Canada - they charge $US prices in $CAD. My local contact will help me there.

The only way to get discount DLR tickets is firstly via there website (multi-day park hoppers), or through Costco (need to be a U.S. member) and Priceline (as an option when booking accommodation, etc)

In regards to getting cheaper tickets in CA you have been fed a porky pie with that. You are charged in US Dollars, regardless where you buy them (online). If someone is physically selling them for anything hugely less than what Disney are selling them for online I would be very dubious about the legitimacy of such a ticket. (personally I have held an Annual Passport for the past 10-12 years and get great value from that)

 

[file51]

In regards to the disney hopper pass if you go to expedia Australia you can print your own 3 day pass and pay in AUD, currently a 3 day adult disney pass is $213.66 AUD child $177.85 AUD, which is not so bad when looking at how much aussie travel brochures are charging eg 3 day hopper $302.00 adult and $251.00 child, Hope you have a wonderful time

So long as the expedia tickets come with the extras, i.e. Magic Morning entry then they are good value being a few dollars cheaper than through Disney direct.

Travel brochure, wholesaler rates are usually on the higher side and should be avoided IMO

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/reserve/ticketListing?name=TicketListingPage

 

[drron]

During our last trip to the USA i noted a few places that gave an AAA discount and my RACQ card was accepted.So i searched and found that any affiliated card will work for all discounts and there are a lot.search here-
Welcome AAA Affiliates

 

[straitman]

For Disney discounts also look at the MouseSavers web site. There is a huge amount of useful information available.

 

[Warks]

Cheap Disneyland tickets are like UFOs - a lot of people say they exist but you've never seen one!

The best prices I can find for 3 day park hoppers are $US179/$US149 which saves $US20 per ticket compared to the gate price. That's about it. Buying through Expedia gives you the $A price up front which is pretty favourable at present.

I've looked at all sorts of guides to cheaper tickets but they push the "go on your birthday for free" line which is not helpful. There's also advice to cadge the free tickets that staff get - bail them up outside - good luck with that. Some people must have no shame!

 

[Warks]

I've found this mob that offers bus tours from Anaheim to Universal and LA if you are so inclined which we can do in a day. Universal is expensive with no kid discount (over 3 is an adult!) but with the bus it's not that much more so it worthwhile in my book.
Search Tours
Picks up from our hotel which is great and gives us plenty of time there.
I can't really see the difference between the $102 tour and the $85 tour.

 

[kiwitripper64]

tips for disneyland
No really cheap tickets.
Stay somewhere within walking distance.
Plan the day with military precision. Get the family to each choose a favourite and then plan the best route and what you want to see around that attraction. Then as soon as you get in, start getting smartpasses. Also, in the event of one of the kids not able to do a ride or not feeling up to it, tell the attendants on the ride before you get on and your partner can usually get in fast queue.
Take food and water into park. The scariest ride of all in Disneyland is the lunch prices.
Ask if you can be in the front of the glider for california flying adventure. Offer to wait a turn to get to front of next q.
Have a great trip

 

[Flying Fox]

FWIW, my tips are -

1. Go mid-week - Normally very quiet and in some ways it didn't feel like a theme park because it was so quiet. Didn't need fast-passes at all. Friday tends to get busier as schools turn up and some people start their weekends early. Avoid the weekends if possible.

2. Start your day as soon as the park opens.

3. Go to the popular rides first and during normal lunch & dinner times.

4. Eat at outside normal hours - we had a snack before noon to avoid lunch time queues at restaurants etc. Then we rode the popular rides between 12-2pm when people were eating. Then we had our lunch after 2pm when the crowds started coming back. Repeated this around dinner time.

5. Ride the less popular rides during non-meal times.

6. Got early to get a good spot for the street parades.

7. Enjoy the fireworks.

 

[Dee Thom]

You didn't mention if you were going down to San Diego during the trip, if you do, there is an attraction I love that no one else has mentioned, it's the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum, and is the flagship of all naval aviation museums. The main feature is the USS Midway, the longest serving carrier in the history of the Navy, and about 25/30 various Navy Aircraft/choppers in use over the past 5 decades, access to most areas of the ship is open to the public, from the Bridge/Flight Opps to the Mess and crew quarters. The Midway is moored at Navy Pier, San Diego, and has ample parking space next door. Further info at www.midway.org.
I keep going back when in town...............

Cheers Dee