Advice for first timer

[disney-akj]

About us: Traveling with 6 (My husband and myself, DD17, DD16, DS12 (who has low functioning autism, and grandma-75- she does things rather slowly and has a little trouble getting around quickly, but does her own thing in the parks for the most park). We travel a lot and have Disney World, Universal, and Sea World multiple times in FL. We have done almost every character dining experience at WDW as well.

Advice needed on the following:

1) Right now we have a room booked at the BW Park Place Inn. Was debating about switching to Desert Inn to save $90 (The price comparison includes parking, resort fees, etc.), but have mixed feelings about this after reading reviews. The only thing I can't seem to find in the reviews is if there are restaurants/small grocery stores close to both locations? Was in sticker shock with the price to actually stay at a Disneyland hotel...lol

2) Right now leaning towards arriving June 9 and leaving June 13, getting 3 day PH. We are pretty much a go-go family and close the parks down. We will probably fly home on June 16 or 17. Thinking of renting a house in the Santa Monica area for 3 days or 4 days. (Then exploring a few parts of LA/Hollywood and the pier/beach)? Clueless about this. Don't know if this is realistic or a good plan/location. With son and grandma, the switching rooms every night isn't the easiest.

3) My daughter is graduating in June and this is a trip she wants to do. We will not be participating in Grad Nights and might try to avoid those nights, but I can't seem to find the 2018 dates? When do these come out? I plan on buying her grad ears, but anything else fun I should do?

4) What add on to our tickets do you recommend beside PH? We don't have tons of money to blow and this trip is getting expensive fast, but want to get the most from this trip to Disneyland at the same time so we want to make sure we are putting our money where it is most beneficial. (Character Dining worth it? New Max Pass? etc)

Thanks in advance!!

 

[GatorChris]

1. Stay at Park Place. While it's not a Marriott or Courtyard, the Desert Inn is a turd. You don't want to stay there just to save money. Plus Park Place has a really good breakfast next door at the restaurant.

2. I'd try to get 4 full days in the parks. But at a bare minimum, 3 full days. One full day in each park and then the third you can go back and do everything you missed or want to do again.

3. Don't know about grad nights. Just take a look at this year and last year for specific days of the week and plan accordingly.

4. Park Hopper is all you need. And it's worth it for sure. Don't spend money on MaxPass. You can get paper FP easy enough because of the small size of the parks - just use a kid to be a runner. As for Character dining, only Goofy's Kitchen does something besides breakfast. And only the breakfast at Paradise Pier has a meal with Mickey. If you're watching the budget, these may not be what you want to do. I've not enjoyed the character meals nearly as much as I do the ones at WDW.

 

[Winnowill]

As for Character dining, only Goofy's Kitchen does something besides breakfast.

Ariel's Grotto does lunch, as well. It's all Princesses, though.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread will have lots of helpful information for you: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.
If the budget allows, booking the WOC Dessert Party might be a special way to celebrate your DD's graduation trip. That is the only package option to view WOC with an actual seat. You will get a dessert plate, beverages (alcohol for the adults, if desired) with a refill or two, special light up cups for the kids, and a good view of the show. This would also make viewing much less stressful for your son and your mom.
Agree that 4 days would be better if you can swing it. 3 days non-stop can be exhausting, especially if we get a heat wave while you're here. Grad Nites start in May and go well into June, usually. Do a search on this forum for Grad Nites -- there is a list of the dates for this year. How are you with driving in traffic? Santa Monica isn't close to Hollywood, and traffic can really add on to the drive time. If doing Hollywood and things like studio tours (WB does a good one) is more the priority, with a day spent at the beach also, then I would stay closer to L.A./Hollywood or even Burbank (cheaper, usually) and drive to Santa Monica on your beach day.

 

[Butterfly123]

Here is a question. Are all six of you staying in one of the mini suite rooms at BWPPI? We have stayed there with five adult size people and it's pretty tight. The pull out sofa bed will really only fit one person unless it's two small children.
I see that GatorChris thinks DI&S is a "turd", but lots of people on this board stay there. We are going to try it for the first time next trip just because we need the space, and the price is right. So I may be concurring or disagreeing with Chris...guess I'll find out.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

For myself, I don't use the park hopper and just concentrate on one park per day. Others love it and I understand their desires, but I just don't see it. If you are going to use a park hopper you may want to look into the maxpass system as it could save time with obtaining fastpasses between each parks. I prefer to save the money and use it on something like a character dining event. We usually do the Minnie's breakfast at Plaza Inn and have never been disappointed. Thena again, my kids are only 8 and 6 so not sure what you are more inclined to do. If I only had three days I would do two at disneyland and one a california adventure.

 

[Sue M]

This thread will have lots of helpful information for you: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.
If the budget allows, booking the WOC Dessert Party might be a special way to celebrate your DD's graduation trip. That is the only package option to view WOC with an actual seat. You will get a dessert plate, beverages (alcohol for the adults, if desired) with a refill or two, special light up cups for the kids, and a good view of the show. This would also make viewing much less stressful for your son and your mom.
Agree that 4 days would be better if you can swing it. 3 days non-stop can be exhausting, especially if we get a heat wave while you're here. Grad Nites start in May and go well into June, usually. Do a search on this forum for Grad Nites -- there is a list of the dates for this year. How are you with driving in traffic? Santa Monica isn't close to Hollywood, and traffic can really add on to the drive time. If doing Hollywood and things like studio tours (WB does a good one) is more the priority, with a day spent at the beach also, then I would stay closer to L.A./Hollywood or even Burbank (cheaper, usually) and drive to Santa Monica on your beach day.

Thanks for the link! That's us, WDW vets but DL newbie! We booked the WOC dessert party for a splurge! Staying at The Plaza.

 

[disney-akj]

This thread will have lots of helpful information for you: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.
If the budget allows, booking the WOC Dessert Party might be a special way to celebrate your DD's graduation trip. That is the only package option to view WOC with an actual seat. You will get a dessert plate, beverages (alcohol for the adults, if desired) with a refill or two, special light up cups for the kids, and a good view of the show. This would also make viewing much less stressful for your son and your mom.
Agree that 4 days would be better if you can swing it. 3 days non-stop can be exhausting, especially if we get a heat wave while you're here. Grad Nites start in May and go well into June, usually. Do a search on this forum for Grad Nites -- there is a list of the dates for this year. How are you with driving in traffic? Santa Monica isn't close to Hollywood, and traffic can really add on to the drive time. If doing Hollywood and things like studio tours (WB does a good one) is more the priority, with a day spent at the beach also, then I would stay closer to L.A./Hollywood or even Burbank (cheaper, usually) and drive to Santa Monica on your beach day.

Thanks for the info and link! We might look staying closer to Hollywood then. It is so overwhelming when I try to research and narrow down ideas

Here is a question. Are all six of you staying in one of the mini suite rooms at BWPPI? We have stayed there with five adult size people and it's pretty tight. The pull out sofa bed will really only fit one person unless it's two small children.
I see that GatorChris thinks DI&S is a "turd", but lots of people on this board stay there. We are going to try it for the first time next trip just because we need the space, and the price is right. So I may be concurring or disagreeing with Chris...guess I'll find out.

We are. Two skinny teenage girls should be fine a double bed, they have done it before. We spend such little time in the room, we are more concerned about location to the parks, food options, and cleaniness. Is BWPPI closer? I've read lots of bad reviews regarding cleaniness of Desert Inn, which makes me nervous. Maybe I'll book both rooms and cancel closer to time?

For myself, I don't use the park hopper and just concentrate on one park per day. Others love it and I understand their desires, but I just don't see it. If you are going to use a park hopper you may want to look into the maxpass system as it could save time with obtaining fastpasses between each parks. I prefer to save the money and use it on something like a character dining event. We usually do the Minnie's breakfast at Plaza Inn and have never been disappointed. Thena again, my kids are only 8 and 6 so not sure what you are more inclined to do. If I only had three days I would do two at disneyland and one a california adventure.

I hate not to get park hopper since we have never been and do not know what park my kids will enjoy more? It is gives us more options (and with 2 older girls, they will probably be off on their own more). I agree at WDW we never do park hopper anymore, but this seems more compact and easier to park hop which is why I'm leaning towards it. We were looking at that character meal. We are also looking the the WOC dining options too though as well as the Dessert party.

Thanks everyone!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Hey welcome to my neck of the world! Sending you a message in FB can help you there! Excited you are finally going to DL! Will be such a fun trip!

 

[Butterfly123]

We love hoppers, I bet you will, too. So much flexibility!

 

[ddwlms]

I'm going to disagree with GatorChris as well. My philosophy is pay a ton, if you're wanting to relax and have downtime at the hotel, so that you have a hotel (resort, DL resort more specifically) that you can actually enjoy. Or stay at the DI&S, if its just a place to sleep at night. We've stayed at many of the hotels on Harbor (motels actually) and DI&S is our favorite for a place to sleep at night. BWPPI as also just a place to sleep at night. It usually cost a lot more, and I didn't find it to be any nicer then DI&S. (ok, maybe just a teenie weenie, but not for the increase in cost.) In fact, the Unofficial guide rated DI&S as 7th in value of area hotels, and hotels 1-6 were not right across the street. Both hotels are right across the street. DI&S is a 50-100 foot farther walk. Dennys and IHOP are both right there, and McDs is close.

I wouldn't purchase the Park Hopper, as you can always upgrade once you're there if you decide that it is worth the cost. (and maybe it will only be worth it for DDs)

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

We just did DL for the first time at the end of June into July for my son's high school graduation (autism also). We flew from the East Coast, and like you, have been to WDW a lot. I ordered ears in advance on Etsy (park ears, but I wanted them embroidered to give to him as his surprise gift on Graduation day with his tickets). Being that it was our first time there, we did not get park hoppers. We wanted to soak up everything in one park all day, and it worked out great. We did have 5 day tickets though, and spent all 5 days in the park, coming back mid day for a little break.

We booked the World of Color dessert party and that was AWESOME, highly recommend it. They did a special graduation writing on my son's plate, he enjoyed that. We had a graduation dinner the first night at Chef Goofy's. They brought him a cute cupcake with a graduation pin on it, and gave him quite a bit of attention. It's just like Chef Mickey's really....and very expensive I might add. But he enjoyed it.

I'm not sure if you will need max pass next year. We did very well with paper FP and we got my son a DAS. Between those two things, and the fact that the park was NOT mobbed, we had a great experience.

Grad nights do run in June, and from what I was reading on various sites, the parks get packed those nights, and every blogger said to avoid!

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Oh, and definitely get some graduation shirts! I made some for my son, and he loved the fact that so many kept telling him congrats (along with his graduation ears).

 

[disney-akj]

Awesome info everyone! After looking at this year's grad nights, I am thinking of changing our reservations to a little later in June to avoid the chance of landing on the same night. Still debating between the the 2 hotels...lol...will talk to my DH tonight. Great shirts and I love the ears!! Thanks!!

 

[Wahlee]

I've stayed at the Desert Inn twice and both times found it clean and comfortable. The only downsides are the indoor pool (although that was actually a plus on my last trip, as it was cold and rainy but we could still swim) and the continental breakfast being lackluster (easily remedied by supplementing with foods you enjoy in your in-room fridge). It's not a Hilton, but I wouldn't call it a turd, either.

 

[disney-akj]

Decisions, decisions. I guess that's part of the fun of planning a trip though

 

[Butterfly123]

Decisions, decisions. I guess that's part of the fun of planning a trip though

Since we are staying at Desert Inn and suites next week, I will try to report back after our stay and compare it to BWPPI, which is our usual and favorite place to stay.

 

[ExcitedMama]

You won't regret Park hoppers. It's great to bounce back and forth according to what you want to do. Especially for night shows and parades. Plus you won't know crowd levels or favorite rides until you get there. I can't imagine spending all day at DCA and I had a lot of time to kill with small children there and went to all the shows.

 

[disney-akj]

REALLY on the fence about the turd now...lol

 

[disney-akj]

Since we are staying at Desert Inn and suites next week, I will try to report back after our stay and compare it to BWPPI, which is our usual and favorite place to stay.

That would be great