If you’re going to plan a trip to Anaheim, you need a clear agenda. You must know how to do it systematically and methodically. Otherwise, you’re probably going to fail.
As the old saying goes, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. There’s a lot of truth to this when you’re planning a trip to Anaheim.
It’s very easy to get taken in by the fact that you’re going to Disneyland. It has a great number of attractions.
You can’t wait to check out Disney and watch the big parade at night. Those are amazing things to look forward to.
However, if you don’t look at other minute details of your trip, you probably stand to lose quite a bit of money and time. It’s advisable to maximize the value of every dollar you spend on your Anaheim trip.
This means that you get to make the most of your experience, not just of Disneyland itself, but also the surrounding areas.
One of the best ways to do this is to come up with a checklist that you can go through on a step-by-step basis, so, you don’t miss out on anything.
By clearly thinking through each step, you ensure that you get the full value of every single hard-earned dollar you spend on your upcoming trip to Disneyland.
Here are the top 10 tips in planning a trip to Anaheim. This is in chronological order.
Feel free to customize or tweak these steps to fit your preferences as well as specific plans.
Book your flights online
The first money-saving advice I can give you is to book your flights online. If you were to book a trip with the traditional travel agency, you’re going to pay a booking fee plus a commission to the travel agent.
That’s what your travel agent really is. He or she is a middleman. You get rid of that layer, and you’ll save quite a bit of money.
The downside to all of this is that you must be flexible as to the airline that you’re going to use as well as the time you want to go. You must be a bit open-minded so you can lock in on the very best flights.
Once you have a date in mind, book your flight and then file for your vacation leave. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you set up a vacation date first, and then you try to find a flight. Your flight options will then be limited to the set of dates that you have filed for your leave. The flight fares on these dates may not be the cheapest ones but you no longer have much choice because you have already set your vacation dates.
Be flexible in your choice of airport
If you’re going to Anaheim, there are two major airports you could take.
There’s the John Wayne Airport and the Los Angeles International Airport or LAX.
Depending on where you’re coming from in the United States, it’s probably a good idea to go with the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana in Orange County because you save quite a bit of money.
Also, a lot of discount airlines specifically fly to John Wayne Airport to save money. If that’s an option, you might want to take it since it might reduce your airfare prices quite a bit.
Decide on whether to rent a car
If you don’t want to take a cab from the airport, there are lots of car rental providers. Choosing to rent a car is a consequence of the hotel or room accommodation that you will book on your trip. If you plan to check in to a hotel which is walking distance from the park and you have set your mind to not go anywhere farther, then there may not be a need for a car rental.
However, if you want to save money on expensive rates that hotels around Disneyland charge, you may opt to book rooms on places around the vicinity but are not walking distance from the theme park. If you are travelling with family, a car rental may be an excellent idea to ferry your group to the park and going home. Some areas may have shuttle service, but not all do.
Also, if you have plans of visiting other places other than Disneyland, then a car rental will be a good decision for you and your family.
The key is to decide based on your budget. The way you spend your money is ultimately your call.
Book your apartment room or hotel online
Depending on how big your group is, it might be a good idea to book a room with Airbnb. You might save hundreds of dollars compared to a hotel booking.
Similarly, if you’re going to be staying in Anaheim for a long time, it probably is better to book an apartment instead of booking a long-term stay in a hotel.
The important thing is to explore your options and to choose based on your budget, preference and specific circumstance.
Be aware of peak and lean seasons
The reality is that prices in Anaheim are dictated by the seasons. The influx of visitors varies for every period and so are the rates in all trip necessities. Use this to your advantage.
Winter is the down season so, it’s very easy to line up for attractions and rides in Disneyland.
Summer, on the other hand, is just crazy because that’s when everybody wants to go to Disneyland.
So, depending on how flexible you are, winter might be the better choice as far as timing your vacation goes.
Look for Package Tours
If it is available, then look for package tours. Sometimes, there are group discounts which you can take advantage of if you are booking for more than five people at once.
So, if that option is available, grab it to save money.
Also, package tours provide good deals and prepare an itinerary for you, which saves you the hassle of having to do your own research. If you are a busy person, then the services that these companies provide for you will come in handy. They make sure that you have a schedule and you follow it strictly. There will be people in charge who will assist as you move from place to place. Of course, know that this doesn’t come without a cost. It isn’t done pro bono otherwise these businesses will no longer exist. So prepare to pay extra when you choose to avail of package tours and deals with a provider.
Set a budget for buying keepsakes
The problem with buying souvenirs at Disneyland is that they are very tempting and are quite pricey.
They’ve set up Disneyland in such a way that if you’re traveling with kids, or if you’re excited about it, you can’t help but buy stuff along the way. Stalls and kiosks are scattered all over the place and at strategic points where visitors to the park can see and get easy access to.
Before you know it, you run out of cash. Do yourself a big favor, then
Set up a spending budget. Once you have identified that, don’t forget it, stick to it, and you’ll thank yourself for it later.
Keep a level head as your trip gets closer
One of the worst things that you can do is to get so excited that you end up panicking. Guess what?
You forget a lot of your other side trips and trip details, and it all becomes just about Disneyland.
There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, but you’ll miss out on the other distinctive charms and attraction Southern California has to offer.
I mean, there is, after all, a lot more going on than just Disneyland in Anaheim.
Try to keep a level head as the day of your trip gets closer. If possible, finish planning way before it happens so that even if you do get too excited before the big day comes, there is no reason to panic or worry because everything is already laid out.
Make sure you brief your kids on safety issues
A little bit of precaution can go a long way when it comes to traveling with kids. Talk to them about talking to strangers as well as proper protocol in going to the bathroom, among other things
Take care of the basics, and you wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of your trip.
Pack light
Here’s the secret. If you want to have a really good time, try not to waste your energy and effort bringing unnecessary stuff with you in your journey. Just pack light for your trip, and you get to enjoy more.