California, Disneyland and New York 2013

[churros]

Time to share the planning!

We have a 2 day Disneyland ticket as part of the the school band tour and will be extending our trip at the end of the tour. It appears if I upgrade our tickets to a 5 day park hopper before we enter the parks on the first day it will only cost a further $90 each. If I bought the additional 3 days separately it would cost $290 each. Does that sound right?

[sandie]

Yep!

[Tigger71]

You can actually upgrade anytime right up until the last day of your ticket. eg on a two day ticket, you can add on on the second day if you like.

[churros]

Have just booked out New York leg - flights, accommodation and Christmas dinner at the Rockefeller Cafe watching the ice skating and the Christmas tree!

Shame Craig hasn't been granted leave past the 20/12. He has some begging to do to arrange shift swaps in order to stay until our return on 1/1/14.

Any tips, must sees etc for New York?

I hope to book to see Newsies soon and maybe the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular for Christmas Day.

[KeithS]

Any tips, must sees etc for New York?

How many days have you got there? Is this your first time?

It is a great city and there are so many things to do. If it is your first time and you like doing the touristy things, then the obvious ones to do are The Empire State Building (book ahead online to avoid the queue); the Statue of Liberty (if you want to go into the statue to see the visitor centre and museum, then book ahead and catch the earliest ferry in the morning as the security screening to go inside is extensive and stricter than getting on a plane). Catch a Broadway show (you are already planning Newsies, so that ticks that box!). Visit Times Square and the new Disney Store there! Visit Central Park - we spent a whole day there and it is fantastic (although it might be too cold for a whole day when you are there). Go shopping on 5th Avenue (Saks, Apple, Tiffany etc). Go visit Century 21 downtown (right opposite the World Trade Center site) for cheap outlet shopping. Visit the 911 memorial and visitors center. Take a yellow cab, ride the subway, catch a horse drawn coach!

There is so much to do, I could go on and on!

[churros]

We have 7 nights, this also includes Christmas day and it is our first trip.

As they have only just re-opened Liberty since hurricane Sandy reservations to go to the crown were filling fast so I have booked for Boxing Day. I have also made reservations for Christmas tea at Rockefeller Cafe which is right next to the ice skating rink and a view of the Christmas tree. Hopefully will see the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular on Christmas Day as well as going to the top of the Rock.

[KeithS]

It sounds like you are already on top of things

[churros]

Just booked 4 tickets for Newsies on Broadway -/

Craig has been granted leave so is a definite for the NY leg, hence ticket purchase.

It appears that to be eligible for Magic Morning in DL we have to pre-purchase tickets. It was my plan to upgrade the 2 day tickets provided by the tour to a 5 day ticket when we arrive. However I think this then precludes me from MM.

This happened to me our last trip. We waited at the gate and on entry were declined and now I realise why! Any suggestions!

[churros]

Angus's band are just learning a new item for the tour, a Disney medley -/

Can't wait to hear it, especially when they are in Disneyland!

[KeithS]

Not long to go now! Spain and then DL - two great trips

[churros]

What's that song? "The waiting is the hardest part...'

[churros]

Going to try booking my first Disneyland dining today online -/

At the moment the date I want appears on their calendar but it won't let me proceed so I am wondering at what time it becomes available eg midnight west coast time, this would make it exactly 60 days, so will try again in 9 hrs. I'm not good at this time zone thing!

[KeithS]

What will you be booking?

Looking forward to hearing what your booking experience is like.

[churros]

Goofy's kitchen for breakfast for Angus's 18th - this will include 12 of his friends, lunch at Blue Bayou, fantasmic dessert package and World of color dinner package

[churros]

For some time I have been trying to find out on various forums the maximum number you could book for priority seating. Finally I emailed Disney who told me to send an email with the details. I did so and received a further email telling me it was too early to book.

So I waited, learned that Disney had switched to online bookings and counted-down.

Yesterday I tried to book. Unable to check at this time.

Fine I just had'nt got the time the online opened right. So at 14 minutes past what was midnight west coast time. I tried again - no tables available WT....? They couldn't all be gone in 14 minutes!

I tried different number combinations, but every time I dropped below 15 it stated unable to check at this time. I emailed Disney.

Then I tried again 6 hours later and while not able to book 15, I booked 10 in my name and 5 in Craig's -/ -/ -/

So who knows what time the online opens but the magic number is clearly 10 or less.