1st Timer DL...Help?

[senecabeach]

I have just returned from my yearly trip to WDW and had a fantastic time. It was my 1st year @ the BC as a DVC member.

I have received an invitation to the DL NFFC Disneyana Convention in July @ the Crown Plaza Resort (4 days).

My plan is to extend my visit and see only DL while I'm there. I will be traveling alone..and..need any tips you care to give..i.e...hotel, safe walking distances, car..etc

Don't want to spend too much $$..help.

IYO..How many extra days will I need??

Is the CPR the place to stay? Whats close to DL? Think I should stay on property?? How about the Marriott Res. Inn??

Will I need a car??

All your thoughts will be welcomed and much appreciated........
Thanks....

I sure feel like a duck out of water on this one.....

 

[daannzzz]

This shows the Disneyland area and some of the motels and hotels next to it. The Crown Plaza is about a mils south of the parks and is not in the photo. http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html

Staying onsite at DL is not as important as at WDW but if you can affordt it, you will enjoy it. The Grand Californian is an awesome place and getting to and from the parks is easy. There is an entrance from the hotel into DCA and the walk to Disneyland is about 5 minutes or less. If you don't want to pay to stay at a DL hotel the following are fine places to stay and rigght acros the street with a 5-7 minute walk to the parks.
The Howard Johnson Plaza
The Park Inn (Not the Park Vue)
The Best Western Park Place Inn (Closest of all)
The Desert Inn and Suites
The Caousel Inn
The Candy Cane Inn

To see only DL you will need 2 days. If you want to see DCA as well add another day and if you wante to relaxe while seeing them and fitting in Downtown Disney add one more day.

If you stay at the Crown Plaza you will need to use the ART shuttle which is $3 a day. The Crown Plaza is pretty new and has good reviews.
If you stay at one of the places across the street you can walk over and back when you feel like it and not have to rely on shuttles though the ART goes to all of them. The Candy Cane Inn has its own private shuttle.
If all you intend to do is the Disney parks you will not need a car.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

If you are looking for cheap I recommend the Super 8 on Katella- Its about a 10 min walk to DL but its fairly inexpensive and clean- (plus ya get doughnuts in the morning) Ive stayed there 12+ times and never had a problem-

With the NFFC that'll put ya at the end of july and I'd personally recommend 4 days at the park- 2 DL days 1 DCA day and 1 day to finish all ya missed-

-em

 

[jordanyosh]

I am an advocate of staying onsite vs offsite. It's hard to put into words, but it's just a feeling. When I am at WDW, the resort is part of the experience, not just a place to sleep. If that is not how u view things then the above suggestions are fine. If you do stay onsite, the GC is the nicest, but Paradise Pier is the most affordable....

 

[LuvTigger]

I concur with daannzzz comments. Most of the hotels he mentioned are directly across the street. HoJo is slightly farther down, but still walking distance, and I think they also have a shuttle too. I am slightly partial to HoJo because they are a little more hotel-like with interior walkways, etc.

Another thought if money is a factor is Priceline. Per some advice I got here on the boards, I tried it last year because people had mentioned they got hotels like Hilton, Hyatt, etc. for around $35 for the highest level hotel Priceline offers (I think the highest on their scale is 3 stars). I didn't quite get $35, but I got the Hyatt for $44. It is not walking distance, but their shuttle is pretty good, and the hotel is beautiful! It was also very close to some restaurants and a Target or Walmart (can't remember which).

While staying onsite is nice, I don't consider it a "must" like I do at WDW. Everything is so close and convenience is not as much of a factor. Depends what your budget is and if you can find a deal. Sometimes you can find PP on Expedia for around $120.

As for the car, if you just stick around DL, it's not necessary. YOu can take the Super Shuttle from the airport to your hotel.

 

[daannzzz]

I do agree with jordanyosh in that if I could afford to I would stay at the Disneyland Hotel or The Grand Californian every trip but that isn't doable, unfotunately. I save my money for the Disney Resorts on My trip to WDW where it makes a bigger difference. If you can afford to, go for one of the Disney Hotels.