Oh no... What have I done...

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Miss Mikki's picture
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Oh no... What have I done...

Dave is currently away on a seven night trip to Montgomery, New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville with his Dad - they have been planning to do this trip for about 10 years!

In the school summer holidays my sister and brother in law (who is from New Zealand) and their daughter (aged 2) are going to New Zealand for about three weeks to see his family and then coming back via California where they are staying for 2 weeks. They are both teachers so they have to do these trips during the long summer holidays. During the West Coast part of their trip they are travelling round to San Francisco etc. but including Las Vegas and Disneyland for one week.

Dave has never had any particular desire to go to Vegas or Disneyland... Mmm... Can you see where this is going.

So a few days ago after a couple of glasses of wine, I asked my sister and BIL how they would feel if I flew out to meet them for the Vegas/Disneyland part of the trip. They were really keen as I am happy to babysit a couple of nights so they can have date nights out. We all get on brilliantly anyway and always have a good time when we go away together.

Now, I have very little spare money at the moment, so I set myself the challenge that I would only go if I could find flights with an airline I trust/have heard of for less than PS500 return, ideally from Manchester to Vegas or LAX.

So, I was on the Virgin Atlantic website messing around with my Virgin miles and Amex points when I spotted a deal from Manchester to Vegas direct on the exact days I wanted to fly for... wait for it... PS222 plus 45,000 air miles. OMG, I could not believe it, then I realised I have way more miles than that and premium economy was calling my name, and then I spotted a deal on upper class. I was frantically changing up my Amex points before the deal disappeared, no time to call anyone, I was not going to miss this. So the result PS449 and 85000 air miles. Premium out and UPPER CLASS back yay

I am going to Vegas baby.
And Disneyland.
I am dancing around the house on my own in excitement. I have a trip to plan!

(By the way Alicemouse and Robynprincess - I hold you two totally responsible for this with your amazing west coast trip and pre-trip reports rolling )

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oHIo's picture
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Conratulations! It was meant to be!! With that price you will have spending money too!! Cash

Miss Mikki's picture
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Thanks Ohio.
Now I have to sort out hotels and transfers.
And PARK TICKETS - can you tell I'm excited!

By the way any advice from anyone on hotels would be gratefully received.
I need them to be safe (as I am sort of solo on this trip), clean and close to attractions. Other than that as low cost as possible.

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JanJ's picture
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That's awesome Miss Mikki! Enjoy planning your upcoming Disneyland vacation. awesome

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How cool is that?! Have a fantastic time!!! muchlove

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Omgomgomgomg! That's amazing!

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Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

RobynPrincess's picture
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Have a read through my pre TR again for how I got some cheap hotel deals via Priceline Smile

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Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

Miss Mikki's picture
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RobynPrincess wrote:
Have a read through my pre TR again for how I got some cheap hotel deals via Priceline Smile

awesome

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JoAnn C's picture
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that's awesome!!

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JMed's picture
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Sweet!!!!! yay

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This is the website for the Priceline deals xxx

http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/directory#.VTBOKnB4WrV

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Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

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Yayyyy! clapping yay

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Miss Mikki wrote:
I am going to Vegas baby.
And Disneyland.
I am dancing around the house on my own in excitement. I have a trip to plan!

(By the way Alicemouse and Robynprincess - I hold you two totally responsible for this with your amazing west coast trip and pre-trip reports rolling )

YAY!!!! yay yay yay yeah yeah banana banana banana

I'm happy to be an enabler!! silly

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

MrHub's picture
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Good for you Miss Mikki!

fmknightuk's picture
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Wow! That is an amazing deal. yay You will love California. Can't wait to hear all your plans awesome

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amy1989's picture
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congrats!!!!! that is the way to plan things!!!! cant wait to hear how all your plans work out!

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OMG!! That is fantastic!!! Those are the kind of things that make you know it's meant to be, lol!

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Oh, boy, Disneyland AND Vegas. Don't spend so much time babysitting that you don't have time to drop a few bucks in the slot machines and enjoy a free drink or two.

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Wheeee how fun! I love it when things come together on the spur of the moment! You're going to have an amazing time.

Miss Mikki's picture
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Questions to you all from my sister.
They have 2 profiles on MDE - one for previous WDW trip and one for upcoming Disneyland trip, can they merge them into one profile?
Can they FP+ in advance at Disneyland?
Are there magic bands at Disneyland?
How many days to ADR at Disneyland?
How does extra magic hours work at Disneyland?

I think I can probably work out the answers to a couple of these based on reading Alicemouse's trip report but would be great to get this confirmed.

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Miss Mikki's picture
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Just realised that I will be in Anaheim from 14th - 17th August and the D23 Expo is on at that exact time. Has anyone ever been? is it worth going to? how will this convention affect crowd levels in the parks if at all?

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summer68's picture
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Congrats on the trip! clapping My husband and I live in Vegas and go to Disneyland at least every other month so I know your in for a real treat mickey I can't answer all your questions but I do know that Disneyland does NOT do magic bands or FP+. I believe the only way you get extra magic hours is by either staying at one of the three Disneyland hotels or by purchasing a three day park hopper ticket. I cannot guarantee the 2nd. My husband and I have annual passes and don't stay onsite but notice that anytime we bring someone and get them a three day ticket it seems to com with that! If you need any tips about Disneyland and what rides to fast pass first let me know wink

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ADRs at DL are 60 days out.

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Miss Mikki's picture
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Thanks Summer and JoAnn.
Summer it would be really helpful to know which rides are the most popular so we know what to FP. I am most interested in rides that are not at WDW.

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