We are in Norcal too! I start thinking of our next trip on our ride home. I make all sorts of plans, they don't always pan out though. We just bought our APs....so should be at DL a lot this year. - Jewelz  440.8 #281 7:10AM

halloween and christmas are great times to be in the parks! - toph  2398.6 #26 7:13AM

Hi! I'm in NorCal too, and we bought APs 2 years ago! I suggest doing this if you go more than twice a year. Once we got the APs, DL became a great "3-day weekend" trip for us. We Priceline a hotel for $30-40 per night, share meals, and it's really not a huge expense. DL just opened up payment plans to NorCal residents, so even the most expensive AP is only $35/mo. - Spoonful_O_Sugar  436.0 #285 7:15AM

@Spoonful_O_Sugar - where do you typically stay for the $30-40 price range? I'm new to priceline...and saving $ on hotels  - Jewelz  440.8 #281 7:25AM

(Going two times an AP might have been cheaper deluxe has blackouts). On last day of your pass you could have upgraded it to AP. NorCal here too - E-Ticket  772.1 #128 7:34AM

We use the "name your own price option." There are instructions somewhere on MW (I think they're under resources). Basically, you name what you're willing to pay and choose your star level and area. Then William Shatner "negotiates" a deal for you! You dont get to choose the hotel, and sometimes, you get rejected and have to up your price or decrease the star level, but it's still way cheaper than paying full price. We've been placed at the Convention Center Hilton, two different Holiday Inns, Travel Lodge, Staybridge Suites, and several others. It was a little disconcerting to not have control over where you're place at first, but I realized that everything above 2 stars around DL is safe :). Be prepared to pay additional fees for parking and tax. For us, it's worked out really well. - Spoonful_O_Sugar  436.0 #285 7:38AM