Advice on duration @DLR - 4 or 6 days?

[MsMinne]

I'm now having second thoughts on my itinerary so thought I would post for some advice

Original plan was to spend tue-fri at DLP / DCA with one of those days being the Halloween party. Check out on sat and head back to LA for last night there and maybe some shopping and tour as we fly out late on sun night. Now I'm thinking, bugger LA, lets just stay the weekend as well and take a shuttle directly to LAX from Anaheim. However this means we will not see any of LA city during our 2 week holiday. I sort of felt we should but then I'm weighing it up against the convenience of staying in the the same location for longer. But then, maybe the weekdays that we are there means we will get to see everything we want so extra 2 days is not warranted - what would you do?

 

[WAMUMOF4]

I would stay the extra days at DL

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Why don't you stay the extra night in Anaheim, but use one of your days to do a day tour of LA.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Why don't you stay the extra night in Anaheim, but use one of your days to do a day tour of LA.

This!

 

[alicia1506]

Why don't you stay the extra night in Anaheim, but use one of your days to do a day tour of LA.

this is what we are doing! 6 full days in anaheim, and if people want a break from the parks, we will do a day tour to LA for the sights, or just go shopping etc.

for me, deciding factors were:
- you'll get (most likely) better value for your money in terms of accommodation, especially if you are just adding the weekend at your existing anaheim hotel rather than shelling out $$$ at weekend rates for a LA hotel etc.
- you can book the disneyland resort express for a family of up to 5 people for $99 round trip from lax to disneyland resort area & back
- you can book LA tours through the same company and they pick up and drop back off at your anaheim hotel, for almost the same price as the tours that depart directly from LA...


for me, it's win/win to stay in anaheim rather than LA

 

[DizOz]

I would definitely stay at DL and head into LA for the day. LA at night depending on where you are staying can be a bit intimidating (trying not to offend anyone living in LA).

DTD is a lot more pleasant to wonder around at night with a family.

 

[Melbourne5]

We did a split last year and had a few nights at Hilton universal city. Very close to city walk and a Quick cab ride to Hollywood and walk of fame, farmers markets etc. we really enjoyed this part of our trip as previously we made long day trips to la from Anaheim . Also city walk is just as much fun , maybe even a little more grown up than dtd as a change.

 

[MsMinne]

Great advice! Doing a LA tour from Anaheim is something I haven't considered before. That could work. Only problem I have now is whether I split the accommodation between two hotels. I think I would have actually saved staying in LA because I want to stay at DLR.

if you were to stay at different hotels one Disney and one neighbouring, which one would you stay at first?

Is there much to see/do at Disneyland hotel that warrants spending a decent amount of time for? For those of you that have stayed there, do you spend any quantity of time just hanging at the hotel? I know my kids would love the pool but is there anything else?

 

[5ofus]

Be warned that weekends at DLR are considerably more crowded than weekdays. On touringplans.com for September, most weekdays are rated a 1 for crowds and weekends are 7 and up (out of 10 with 10 being most crowded). There are over a million AP holders that descend on the park on weekends.

Having said that, we're spending TEN days at DLR I don't like LA and our boys are too little to be interested in movie stuff anyway so we have no reason to visit it. We will spend three weekend days in the parks, but these will be our 'go slow' days where we spend a lot of time just chillin and soaking in the atmosphere, shows and parades, not really doing a whole lot of rides.

How old are your kids?

 

[MsMinne]

My boys will be 9 and 6 when we are there. We're never going to do universal because I think they could do that when they are older. And besides we went to the one in Singapore a couple of years ago.

Maybe we could make a couple of day trips instead to the coast instead?

You have made some good points though...my kids probably don't quite understand the fuss about Hollywood, Beverley hills etc. Maybe we will save that for a future trip (who says one cant plan for a second trip while still planning the first

Is DH worth staying at for early magic hour (is that what it's called?) during such a historically quiet time? We def want to stay there but not sure if I should make it for the whole time....think I would rather the extra shopping money

 

[5ofus]

Is DH worth staying at for early magic hour (is that what it's called?) during such a historically quiet time? We def want to stay there but not sure if I should make it for the whole time....think I would rather the extra shopping money

What kind of tickets are you getting? Some of the multi day park hopper tickets include one day of early entry. Might be worth checking out.

I've never stayed at the DLH, but will be spending one night (our first night) at the Grand Californian on this trip

 

[MsMinne]

What kind of tickets are you getting? Some of the multi day park hopper tickets include one day of early entry. Might be worth checking out.

I've never stayed at the DLH, but will be spending one night (our first night) at the Grand Californian on this trip

Probably either 3, 4 or 5 day hoppers. It depends on whether I can score Halloween tickets. I will probably opt for 4 day if that's the case since the party covers entry from 2pm (Im sure i read that?) we can take the opportunity to explore elsewhere during the morning. I think I am swaying towards staying there for the weekend.

The GCH is lovely!! Lucky you I had my eye on there but it's out of the budget.

I see you are going to Vegas too! We are starting our holiday there. My kids are looking forward to going.

 

[Franrose]

DLH with its refurbed rooms is pretty lovely

 

[Franrose]

...but, if you wanted to save $$$ for shopping, a split stay would be a great idea!

 

[cola]

What kind of tickets are you getting? Some of the multi day park hopper tickets include one day of early entry.

The multiday park tickets that have one early entry, if you are staying off Disney property, only allow early entry into DL not DCA. If DCA demand settles down (lol!!!!) that may change. You've got to read the small print very carefully, they don't make it obvious