1st time to Disneyland since 1980...need tips on car, hotel, ....

[MouseLover]

We are planning a trip in June 2005, the first or second week.
Will include me, DH, DD-8, grandparents

Our "preliminary" itinerary is:
1. Fly into SAN. Spend a couple of nights there, going to Sea World & Tijuana.
2. Drive to L.A. See the sights, spend a day at Magic Mtn. or Knotts, visit/stay with relative for about 3 nights.
3. Spend 3 days at DL/DCA. I like the Candy Cane Inn from reviews and pictures. (Is it true walking distance or will I be huffing & puffing by the time I get to the gate?) Also, the Carousel looks pretty good and also very close. We will most likely get separate rooms from grandparents unless there is a close-by affordable decent suite room available.
4. Drive to Las Vegas and spend the last two nights. We would like to stay at NYNY or Excalibur if we can get a decent rate. I like the proximity to the other casinos and there would be plenty for DD and I to do while others can do their own thing.

We will have the Entertainment card and grandpa's AARP for discounts, as well as Sam's club members discounts.

Summary:

Flying into SAN and out of LAS. We will need a one-way rental. Any idea on the best way to obtain discounts for a car rental for this length of time? (discount codes, etc.)

Also, during June, what are "typical" DL hours? Does Fantasmic & parade run every night or just weekends? When I was there in 1982, the hours were long -- I'm thinking 9am-midnight, and the parade ran twice nightly, with fireworks in between.

Thanks for reading this & all of your input.

One last thing, traffic: Is driving in LA area about equal to driving in DFW area, or is it much worse?

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I can't recall off the top of my head where CandyCane is but I know the Carousel is close to the crosswalk and comes highly recommended. I know they have several suites that arent bad priced.

Typical DL hours are pretty much 8/9-10/11 for June- I would *hope* with the 50th that we'll see better hours but that depends on visitors I know they'll have a new parade and I assume its a daytime parade but you'll usually have Fantasmic/Fireworks/Fantasmic and the Electrical Parade at DCA

Your trip sounds do-able with good time amounts for everything


Ive never driven in DFW but LA traffic can be a bit hairy at times
-em

 

[AFMom]

We've stayed there twice and loved it. Wonderful complimentary breakfast, nice rooms! It is within walking distance - but the shuttle service is one of the best around, and they leave every 30 minutes - I doubt you'd need to walk. Great place to stay!

 

[Itinkso]

The Carousel is closer than Candy Cane. The Carousel is nice with a complimentary continental breakfast and microwave and fridge in the room. We have stayed at both and prefer Carousel, Park Inn or Tropicana.

 

[pauldolling]

We just stayed in Days Inn ans Suites on Harbour Blvd Just down from Jct with Katella. Great rooms and nice location. I think the address was 2210 Harbour Blvd. I can highly recommend it.