1st Trip to Disneyland

[tigergrad]

Like many others noted on the board, I am planning a 1st trip to Disneyland. This is a family trip for our 25th wedding anniversary. We will be a family of 6 (me, DH, DD (17), DS (11), DD (23), and DSIL (27). We will be flying from Charlotte, NC. The best priced flight I can find arrives at LAX @ 10:00 pm. Would we be better off to stay in a hotel close to LAX and then take a taxi to Disneyland the next morning? Any suggestions? My kids really want to stay on site - suggestions? Lastly, We will be there June 8-13. Does anyone know when grad nights are?

 

[ballarinamom]

I would come in the night of your flight so you can make rope drop on the first morning. It's important if you want to do the major rides without much wait.
We LOVE the Disneyland Hotel. It has so many Mickey touches and much easier to get to the park than Paradise Pier. Grand California is beautiful but not as Mickey as DLH

 

[daisy_77]

The Disney hotels are all great....I prefer the DLH, though. I thought it was a beautiful hotel and not too far of a walk to the monorail or the esplanade.

DL Grad Night dates have not been released.

 

[Hound 109]

Like many others noted on the board, I am planning a 1st trip to Disneyland. This is a family trip for our 25th wedding anniversary. We will be a family of 6 (me, DH, DD (17), DS (11), DD (23), and DSIL (27). We will be flying from Charlotte, NC. The best priced flight I can find arrives at LAX @ 10:00 pm. Would we be better off to stay in a hotel close to LAX and then take a taxi to Disneyland the next morning? Any suggestions? My kids really want to stay on site - suggestions? Lastly, We will be there June 8-13. Does anyone know when grad nights are?

Are you flying in at 10pm on Sat. night or Sunday night?

I think that Grad nights usually were Wed. or Thurs. & would only affect one night (& DL would still be open till 8pm i think). I doubt they have been posted yet but hopefully someone will offer more specific info on grad nights.

Where do you normally stay at WDW & why?

Sounds like a great trip. Have fun planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[DoomBugger]

Get anniversary buttons!

 

[tigergrad]

We will be arriving on Sun night. The only reason I am thinking about a hotel at LAX is because DLH is so expensive. This would save one night.

We have been to WDW many times. We have only stayed onsite 3 times though. I would never stay offsite again. We have stayed at the Swan, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Wilderness Lodge. All three were great.

 

[jlmarr]

Maybe you could fly JetBlue to LGB for better flight times. Just a thought. It's much closer to DL as well.

 

[ballarinamom]

Have you considered any of the Good Neighbor Hotels? They are very close and still give you the Disney Perks if you book it through Disney or AAA. They could save alot of money. A few of them are actually closer than DLH or Grand Californian

 

[Hound 109]

We will be arriving on Sun night. The only reason I am thinking about a hotel at LAX is because DLH is so expensive. This would save one night.

We have been to WDW many times. We have only stayed onsite 3 times though. I would never stay offsite again. We have stayed at the Swan, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Wilderness Lodge. All three were great.

If coming in on a Sunday, I agree (with posters above) that it would be better to drive (or take a cab/shuttle) to DLR Sunday night (probably an easy 40 - 50 min. drive). I wouldn't try to drive Monday morning (rush hour) from LAX to DLR.

I agree DLH is relatively expensive & have some thoughts given your posts above.

- Drive (cab) from LAX to a Harbor Blvd Motel (there are several very good ones mentioned here that are a closer walk - 5 min. - than the DLH).
- I'm not exagerating on the walk from the Harbor motels at the crosswalk to the DL gate. It's a shorter walk than the walk was from our PO Riverside room to the PO Riverside Lobby bus stop....& there are NO buses to fool with.
- Stay Sunday & Monday night at motel. (Suites or Two rooms I assume given your party)
- Move over to DLH (a one mile drive) on Tuesday during your mid day break. & spend two to three nights there. Use the several hundred dollars of savings to have a ball with your group.

Another DLR, MM/EE Geek thought would be...instead of moving over mid day Tues.:

- Get up EARLY on Tuesday & either pack & drive to the DLH as a family (parking in the lot) or...
- Send a runner (or runners) over to DLH to check in & pick up hotel receipt so family can enjoy MM/EE on Tuesday (then move over to the DLH at your mid day break). So you can enjoy MM/EE on both Tues. & Thurs.

Lots of options at DLR depending on what you want to spend & what you want to do. If you haven't read HydroGuy's tip threads (sticky at the top of the DL page) do so....especially his "DLR for WDW Vets" thread....this is absolutely essential reading.

BUT...drive to the DLR area Sunday night (not Monday morning) & if considering a non-DLR hotel for a night or two....select a property on Harbor (so you can walk).

 

[Samantha Dorothy]

The disney hotel would complete your trip by taking you to the world of fantasy
cheers!!!!

 

[Echie]

The DLH truly is magical - is has the special disney magic feel! It's our favourite hotel!

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

If you liked the Wilderness Lodge you'll love the Grand Californian. That would be my choice for such a special occasion.

 

[tigergrad]

Thanks for all the great advice. I wish that the Grand Californian was in my budget. Flying 6 people from NC will take a big chunk out. My only question is: Is it really worth the extra cost to stay onsite at Disneyland?

 

[ballarinamom]

You know, we LOVE the Disneyland Hotel. It's the only place we'll stay at because it does have a wonderful feel to it. BUT, you have to decide if the little time you'll spend in the hotel if it's worth the cost to you. The Good Neighbor Hotels are also good. I have read great reviews about many of them- the Candy Cane, Carousel and Best western in particular. Put out a thread about the Good Neighbor Hotels to arm yourself with the most info possible and then make your decision

 

[mindylovesmickey]

If you only plan on spending time at the hotel to sleep and get ready in the morning, and then spend the majority of your waking hours in the park, then DLH may not be worth it to you. If you plan on spending time at the hotel for breaks away from the park to do the pool and other fun amenities, then the DLH may be worth it, you will also be able to use MM all of the day it is available, which can increase your ride time, if you stay onsite.