DL Rookie Values Veteran Imput

[deba]

Hi everyone. I am a WDW veteran that can do a quick FL trip with a small amout of cash and live like a queen while I'm there. However, I know nothing of the ins and outs of DL. Four of us will be going in Sept., Lord willing. We'll be celebrating MY 50th during the 50th DL celebration. :bounce:

For three of us, it will be our first visit. But I feel like a fish out of water during this planning phase. I need budget advise. What about an AP for discounts? I save more than I spend on my AP for WDW, but this will be our only trip for the year for sure. We will be there for five nights, and four days in the parks. Any budget hints for AP/lodging/park ticket options and secrets will be very appreciated. (This is a trip of a lifetime and we want nice lodging, but it doesn't have to be super deluxe and we don't want to waste any money!) Thanks in advance!

[LucyKate]

Perhaps the most important thing to know is that much of the "off site" accommodation is actually as close as the "on site"!

Disneyad is much smaller, and in the middle of a suburb - just outside the gates are streets and streets of motesl ranging from cheap and nasty to quite decent.

The only real "on-site" accommodation is the Disney Grand Californian (GC) which has a direct entrance to Disney California. It is also the most expensive place in the area ($300+ per night per room) - though most here and elsewhere would rate it the best as well.

The other two Disney properties the Disneyland Hotel (DH) and Paradise Pier (PP) have their fans here, but don't rate nearly as highly on outside forums, and are further from the park and no closer than many off-site hotels.

After GC the two most popular hotels on sites like tripadvisor.com and here, are the Howard Johnson (HoJo) and thee Candy Cane Inn (CCI) - these are moderate level hotels but both are recently renovated, clean, a 10 minute walk from the park, have great staff and are very higly regarded.

So, if you can afford the GC, take it, if not, then, for around a quarter of the price, HoJo and CCI are great hotels and not too far away.