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26.8 #4532 (DL Qual #1999)
January 19, 2011 5:11 AM
I've noticed a lot of NorCal and bay area MWers go to Disneyland really frequently, like more than once a month. Even if you have APs there is still the expense of a place to stay and fuel. Do you all just make it a priority in your budget? I would love to go that often too but seems like there are always other expenses that get in the way.
I'm with you Dlcrazy. We go about once a year...if I'm lucky twice! It's not a small expense for a family of four with ticket prices, hotel, food, gas. And it's hard to convince my hubs to go more often. He doesn't share my affinity for going to DL and is always saying we should show our kids more of the world than just DL when we have the chance to go on a vacation. I would love to show my kids everything, but maybe when they're a bit older and can appreciate seeing a historical site, etc. Right now (at ages 4 and almost 2) DL is the perfect trip. My inlaws are moving to LA this summer though, so maybe going won't be such a battle with the hubs since we'll already be down there to visit Grandma and Grandpa several times a year! I feel you though! - jedimommy
162.1 #2123 5:38AM
Dlcrazy I live up near Pismo Beach(about 3 and a half hours from Anaheim) We are AP holders and go about every 6 weeks. Saving for a trip is in my budget each and every week.
There are also ways to save while we are down there too. - MissyluvsDisneyland
357.6 #396 5:42AM
Hi Dlcrazy! We live in NorCal and are APs! We go about every other month and are ALL about budgeting! Couple ways to save $$$ is if you don't really care what hotel you stay in Priceline is a great option. If you search it in the Lounge Jaimz has some great tips! Also the Hojo has great prices for AP members that rum as low as $59. Also another way we save $$$ is we bring a TON of snacks to eat at the park! That way we aren't constant eating at the park, or leave the park for lunch but stay for dinner! My girls only get about $10 ea for spending money (usually for a pin or a vinyl). A lot of MW have other great tips again just search it in the lounge! Hope this helps a little! - WickedWench
576.2 #190 5:48AM
I'd love to go Monthly. I just save what I can and try to go every 3 months if possible. - NingyMouse
378.4 #359 5:57AM
I go about every 3-4 months. My family thinks we are crazy. Se do similar thing to WW - we usually stay 3 days and will only eat in the park once a day. We bring lots of snacks and some stuff for breakfast and lunch. You can get hotels pretty cheap and with a family of 4 we only need one room. Our car is pretty good on gas and it takes less than 1 tank ($55 with current prices) to get there. - SnowW13
222.6 #1324 6:04AM
I live up north 3 1/2 hours away in death valley and we go once a month, sometimes we don't go out and eat out as much so we can save enough for DL, while at the parks we take snaks and bottle water and we stay at mothel 6 . - MrBlue
232.3 #1207 6:08AM
I bring snacks and bottled water. I also budget for my trips. I try to go as often as I can (about 5 times a year). - MinnieJ
281.8 #722 6:16AM
You all are inspiring me to find ways to save! I really want to go this October but I know it will be a tough sell. But if I can save bit each month, then I bet it won't be as tough. Besides, we're probably going to be working on little Jedi #3 in the near future, so it'd be fun to do one last trip as a family of four! - jedimommy
162.1 #2123 6:30AM
It's an expensive hobby but we gotta make sacrifices.... - AuzRoxUrSox
901.8 #98 6:39AM
We live about 6 hrs away and go every 3 months or so we take snacks and waters and have a Disneyland jar we put money in to save!! It adds up fast :) - banneygirl
123.6 #2671 10:48AM
When we had our pass we went once a month if not twice we live in tulare - Duckfan
12.8 #6081 3:20PM
We go 4-6 times a year, and we're about 5.5 hours away. We just decided to cut back on day-to-day non-essentials (movies, eating at expensive restaurants, going out for drinks, etc).
Our secret is Priceline--we stayed at the Hilton for $30 per night in October. Our Golden Retriever, George, even got to come! - Spoonful_O_Sugar
436.2 #285 4:49PM
Thanks guys. You've inspired me to try harder & find ways to save. After all, going to Disneyland is a bigger priority than all the little things we waste money on every month. - Hesatalkintome
26.8 #4532 5:15PM
omg I would love to visit more frequently and I do have a cm friend that I can stay with out there but I don't have reliable transportation out there and saving up for a flight is costly when I have other bills to take care of first. sigh, this is why I need to be in so cal :/ - mochamistie
272.8 #803 6:17PM
to save take a certain amount of your paycheck and go put it on a Disney card at the Disney store...then you can only spend that money at Disneyland or the store...not for lunch or groceries and the card is accepted almost anywhere in the parks...most of the carts didnt take them when I went in April of last year but some did when I went back in October....just an idea for you!
Mochamistie...look into Amtrack...heard it is pretty cheap - yellowtonka
237.7 #1137 6:27PM
Get on Motels rewards programs. I travel a lot with my job and I usually will stay at a choice hotel (Quality Inn, Comfort Suites etc..) and only paid for a hotel room once last year during our Dland visits. - sparkplug
250.3 #1010 6:37PM
We live in Sacramento. I'm lucky with my job that I get mileage reimbursement. My whole job is about driving around. We use that "extra cash" for hotels. We eat cheap. When possible we try to stay with our family in Cerritos. That's the only way for us to be able to go once a month. - lockshockbarrel
245.4 #1051 6:44PM
We are Deluxe AP members and live in norcal. We go about 3-4 times a yr. We usually stay at the Best Western Park Place inn directly across the street. We get a AAA discount and breakfast is provided. There is a fridge and microwave so we actually bring food from home. We pack snacks and sandwiches to the park and then eat dinner in DL. You save a lot by bringing your own food and drinks. - Disneyaddict
200.4 #1625 6:50PM
How do you get sandwiches and such into the parks? I've taken jerky, granola bars, peanuts ect. - connielu
672.2 #153 7:01PM
@ MWaddict , still here? - connielu
672.2 #153 7:11PM
@connielu I've brought pb&j sandwiches into the parks. Just put them in baggies or the gladware containers so they don't get squished. - MinnieJ
281.8 #722 7:19PM
yellowtonka, we should just ride up together and bring the rest of the nor cal mw'ers with us! - mochamistie
272.8 #803 7:32PM
Security usually doesn't bother with you bringing in food (although I got questioned about a lunch box I brought in for a rak). If you're worried about it, there is a picnic area to the left of the Disneyland park entrance and I believe you can rent a locker there as well. - bluefairy
627.1 #174 7:43PM
Thanks for all of the great ideas! Do they allow you to take in reusable water bottles? - chelle1318
384.5 #349 7:47PM
Mochamistie im trying to get back down there myself maybe sometime.soon - yellowtonka
237.7 #1137 8:59PM
I'm heading down in march, can't wait to meet some mw'ers! - mochamistie
272.8 #803 10:30PM
Yes, water bottles are a go. - bluefairy
627.1 #174 12:17AM
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