CarolKoster
Carol Koster
Disney EchoEar Grand Mouseter
Group: Members
Posts: 19444
Joined: April 1992 |
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Posted: May 16, 2009, 1:16 pm |
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The heartache and heart tugs for the Disneyland park were going on, and we wanted to see some new attractions there since our Easter 2008 and late July-early August 2008 trips: Castle Walk-Through, Pixie Hollow, Dumbo flying over the Castle at fireworks time, and the renovations going on at California Adventure.
We were really hugely "taken" by Disneyland a year ago!
We haven't been to WDW since Easter 2005, since before Hurricane Katrina. For me, I don't know what it is, but I've just got a "been there, done that" about having been to WDW so very many times, and the renovated restored Disneyland seems new, fresh, and with the current Imagineering and CEO (John Lasseter and Robert Iger) it seems like they are placing the spotlight to restore Disneyland to be the crown jewel of the Disney theme parks. The quality showed last year! We were amazed that, in many many ways, DL is actually better than WDW.
The memories, and photos in my iPhone, of our trips last year were such they got me through hurricane evacuation for hurricane Ike in 2008 and the rigors of my husband's workplace having been sold, his supervisor "leaving" under new owner and management (quit/fire ? ) while we were on the second trip, and a year of challenges with other little life matters going on. I wanted to not only relive the trips by going again, but regain that kind of "fuel" to get through our son's final year at his school and whatever a changing Federal and state economy will throw at us... and another hurricane season.
My concerns about going at all: The economy. Hoping husband's job is very stable in this economy. I'm having major surgery May 28, and even though the doctor says specifically I should be good to go by vacation time, I still want to feel and be OK and hope no complications happen.
The culture of travelling to WDW "stay at Disney, on-site" was one of my "blocks" to making this trip happen. Last year we stayed on-site at Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotel, and loved it. This year to make things more affordable in this economy husband strongly felt we should stay off-site at a Good Neighbor hotel, and for a past Disneyana Convention we stayed at the Candy Cane Inn and liked it a lot... Back in 1993 or 1995! Despite it's stellar user reviews online, it still was "off-site". Stay at Disney! Magical! Extra expense worth it to stay in the magic! Right? Get a Premium Annual Pass and that will bring it all to an affordability range that for the few extra bucks it would be more worth it to stay again at Disneyland Hotel.... Right?
Husband researched and number crunched. If main criteria and importance in this particular trip is "affordability in this economy", then husband called Disneyland reservations and researched Annual Pass discounts and blackout dates, costs, varying arrival-departure dates, and the cost of staying at the Candy Cane. With park tickets plus accomodations plus some negotiations Rich entered into with the manager of the Candy Cane Inn, it was a savings of about $456 which can be reallocated to meals. Not worth it financially for any of us to have a Premium Annual Pass, not saving that much when you use it on dining vs. the cost of that kind of park ticket even if only one of us had the PAP and paid for meals using it.
There's no right, no wrong, in planning a Disney vacation, it's a matter of being true to yourselves in your travel party and what you want most out of your trip. If "bang for the buck" and "value in this economy" are the priorities, then that means being flexible and accepting that having the "feel good" of the PAP and the "magic" of staying at DL Hotel comes at a tangible dollar cost.
Disney's discounts this year are pretty sweet. Come for three and get two more for free, that shaves a lot cost off the trip, cost that can be reallocated to other trip expenses. Rich compared taking that the "stay 3 get 2 free" at Dl Hotel and what the Candy Cane's rates are, and it's sweeter to stay at the Candy Cane this time around. We're getting a park tickets deal, a little $10 off for each of us = $30 savings, by buying them at the Candy Cane when we arrive. Candy Cane, judging by it's online photos and guest reviews on Disney and other travel rating websites, is comparable to a very nice Hampton Inn. They have it's own park shuttle, to/from Disneyland, no other hotels or routes or stops. Disney works with the hotels designated as "Good Neighbor" hotels so that Disney standards apply to the quality of the room and accomodations experience, problems get resolved for guests if there are problems, clean "nice" "pleasant" accomodations. They consistently adhere to Disney's standards, the place looks great, people post all goes well, we're saving money, saving steps walking, and free Wi-Fi in the rooms.... And as much as I'd genuinely long to stay at the DL Hotel or Grand Californian again, I gotta go with "practicality" this trip.
But if we ever win Powerball.... DL Hotel and/or Grand Californian, here I come to renew acquaintance!
I wonder, next, if there will be a special show at the El Capitan Theater Disney Studios owns in Hollywood, because I fell in love with it and the ice cream shop Disney owns next door, and I wouldn't turn down a trip there at all! (Google it, worth your time if you go to DL or Southern California.)
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