Disneyland Resort outperformed Walt Disney World this summer

Nice.
I saw the Cars live (with Icehouse!) circa 1988. They were the least excited band I've ever seen. They barely moved and never said a word outside the lyrics.

I keep telling Jen that we need to go to Cali one time for our Disney trip instead of WDW. I happen to think that DLR > Magic Kingdom, but in Florida, the dining plan is much better, hotels/busing is overall better, and we get to do EPCOT.

If they pulled EPCOT over to California and plunked it down next to DLR and DCA, I'd move there.

I think it's even a stretch to call it "Disneyland resort" in the first place. WDW is a resort. Disneyland is a couple parks.

You're right on with the dining options, hotels, etc. being better, but the Cali parks do have advantages of their own. Plus you can go to Knott's.

And Magic Mountain. Oh, wait...

I keep telling Jen that we need to go to Cali one time for our Disney trip instead of WDW.

Our next "family" Disney trip is likely to be at DLR, possibly Summer 2012. We might sneak there on the front end of our Alaska trip in 2011, but it's a bit out of the way.

Visiting DLR is a dream of mine, which will someday happen. I have a really hard time imagining traveling that far from home, yet alone find the money to do so. It will happen though, someday.

I've been to MK. I think it would be a lot of fun to compare the MK to DL.

Really? I guess moving 2,000+ miles is really out of the question.

Moving 2,000+ miles wouldn't be out of the question if it gave me a great, high-paying job with one of the most profitable companies in the world. :) And having a job like that would allow me to afford trips to DL any time I wanted to go.

Like Marylin Manson said, "When all of your wishes are granted, many of your dreams will be destroyed".

I fully believe there is opportunity for everyone out there if you go find it.

Which is why we've always moved hundreds or thousands of miles for the next opportunity.

If you stay in one spot where there is nothing, you can't really complain about there being nothing in that spot. Go find a spot that has something for you.

kpjb said:
Nice.
I saw the Cars live (with Icehouse!) circa 1988. They were the least excited band I've ever seen. They barely moved and never said a word outside the lyrics.

Saw the Cars twice. Early 80's "Shake It Up" tour with Nick Lowe. The most visually unexciting band I've ever seen in an arena, bar none. When I saw the New Cars with Blondie a few years back (Todd Rundgren replaced Ocasek)..they were much more visually impressive. Still didn't move much..hey, they're old!..but had better rapport with the fans, a more aesthetically pleasing stage set, and excellent use of video. Very nice. They headlined, but I was there more to see Debbie and the boys.

Ensign Smith said:
Can't wait. The animatronic Ric Ocasek will probably be even more lifelike than the original.

Is Ric lifelike at ALL? I'll look forward to the animatronic Paulina Porizkova.

LostKause said:
Visiting DLR is a dream of mine, which will someday happen. I have a really hard time imagining traveling that far from home, yet alone find the money to do so. It will happen though, someday.

I've been to MK. I think it would be a lot of fun to compare the MK to DL.

For the record, when we were looking at it this summer, Southwest was flying from Pittsburgh to LA for $79 each way. You could do the trip frugally if you go at the right time. Also I always think of David Lee Roth when I see DLR. And there I agree, I would not travel 2000 miles to see him.

Yeah. I just have to save up. I have no wants right now, so my income tax might help me to go. I don't know though, I may need an upgrade to my music software. lol

If I decide to go, I'd have to keep the trip under about $1,200. I think I can do it by staying at Motel 6 near the Disney park. I also want to get to the other parks in the area, and spend at least a week there. A couple-three days at Disney's two parks, Knotts Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, a cheap hotel and maybe a rental car for a few days... It gets expensive really fast.

I might have to wait until 2012 tax return though. I think I may have some unexpected expenses in the near future. Plus, I want to see the new stuff at the second gate. :)

If it's just you, I would certainly hope you could keep it under $1,200. I just booked a week in Orlando for two, with car rental, an ass-load of theme park tickets and passes for two, and a very nice on-property hotel at Universal for $2k. That's flying between two of the furthest cities in the continental US, for two.

Yeah I've done two west coast trips under $1500 so $1200 is definitely possible. Travis, it also helps to get other friends to go so that hotel and rental cars are cheaper.

The only thing you can't really cheat on is airfare, but it seems like most domestic fares starting in January are super cheap. SEA to MCO was $280, with taxes. That would have been a good price even from Cleveland last year.

Yeah, airfare is what sucks. I lucked out both times in that we got round trip to either LAX or Macarran for around $260. I'm considering a west coast trip next year, but may put it off till DCA is done in 2012. But I really want to see world of color.

Travis, If you get people to go, or tag along for all or parts of trips with other geeks you know (for the West Coast, Solace is a good time to go), you can usually get cheaper rooms, rentals, etc. when sharing. Again, the biggest non-negotiable cost is airfare, but if you're going to SoCal, try to go in the 'off season' while parks are still open.

My 5 night/4 day trip that I added on before IAAPA with USAirways RT airfare staying at Port Orleans Riverside was about $1,800, which included the basic dining plan. I had about $180 in my Chase Rewards account to help with breakfast and gifts, and I save a few bucks bu not asking for a Riverview room, and I did not get park hoppers, since I was there 4 days, and just stayed at each park all day.

I spent last weekend at Disneyland. The air fare, car rental, and 2 day park hopper was around 350 bucks.

Orange County (Disneyland Area) is saturated with Priceline Inventory. Do not stay at Motel 6. You can stay like a snoot for much less than Motel 6 (used to be a Red Roof).

Without boring you, go to betterbidding.com and learn the value of the "free rebid." A little time on the forum learning this technique can help you everywhere you travel, but I have NEVER found it as cheap and easy as Disneyland Area Orange County.

Look at the recent winnings forum for Orange County to get an idea of current winning bids. I have used this no less than 70 times in the last 10 years. I have never not gotten the dates I wanted, whether the day before, or 6 months ahead. I have stayed multiple times at the following properties (majority in $45/night range) from $33 to $62...Hilton, Hyatt, Crowne Plazea, Red Lion (least favorite win...but still trumps Motel 6), Doubletree at Orange, Holiday Inn Manhattan. All of these have a shuttle to the park (Hilton is the only one you pay a small fee for) for free.

I always used to check Motel 6 after a winning bid to compare what I got to their rate. For the first 5 years not once did I get a rate at these 3.5 star hotels (Hilton just went to 4* and is the only 4* on Priceline in that area) that Motel 6 could beat on their site. I never check any more, but am certain I am doing better than the budget chains. As such, I am now a high class traveler on a low class budget.

*Warning...lot of these properties charge to park ($17 to $20 per night) which screws up financing...but there are tricks to that I could give you if you ever decide to go. Or you can bid 3* properties (like a Hilton Gardens) which are nice and typically have free parking.