Am I going to get lost in California?

[palmtreelover08]

DD (6) and I go to WDW often. As a single parent, I feel totally safe, getting from airport to WDW hotel, using Disney Transportation, and staying at Disney Properties. DD wants to try DisneyLand..soon. I feel like a fish out of water. Does DL have that same "family, safe" feeling that DW has? What is the closest airport to fly into? Does Disney offer transportation to its hotels? Do I "need" to rent a car? I'd feel safer if I could just take a cab back and forth to the airport, but if it is going to cost me $300 in cab-fare because the closest airport is 100 miles away, I would have to rent car.

At WDW, I know all the ins/outs, where to be and when to be there, how to get there, and the best strategies. I somehow feel like she has asked me to book a trip to the moon. Can somone point this well seasoned WDW person in the right direction please. I keep reading the boards, but I feel more and more uncertain about this trip. Help..

 

[HydroGuy]

DD (6) and I go to WDW often. As a single parent, I feel totally safe, getting from airport to WDW hotel, using Disney Transportation, and staying at Disney Properties. DD wants to try DisneyLand..soon. I feel like a fish out of water.

Welcome to DIS DLR!

Here are some links to start with:

* DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!

and this thread (my DW loves the author ) which has gotten about 30,000 views and is popular around here:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Does DL have that same "family, safe" feeling that DW has?

"DL" (Disneyland) is a theme park at DLR (Disneyland Resort), and, yes, DLR has a similar magical, family feel to WDW. Since DL came way before WDW, it was the place where Disney theme park magic was born and still burns brightly after 55 years!

What is the closest airport to fly into? Does Disney offer transportation to its hotels? Do I "need" to rent a car? I'd feel safer if I could just take a cab back and forth to the airport, but if it is going to cost me $300 in cab-fare because the closest airport is 100 miles away, I would have to rent car.

John Wayne (SNA) is the closest airport but there are many options. No Magical Express. There are other transportation options. You will not need a car at DLR. If you venture to other SoCal locations you might.

See "Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

At WDW, I know all the ins/outs, where to be and when to be there, how to get there, and the best strategies. I somehow feel like she has asked me to book a trip to the moon. Can somone point this well seasoned WDW person in the right direction please. I keep reading the boards, but I feel more and more uncertain about this trip. Help..

Your WDW experience can either be a help or a hindrance depending on how you use it. DLR is full of Disney magic and has numerous areas where it exceeds WDW. It is smaller but equally magical.

If you hang around this forum long enough we will have you fully prepared for a DLR visit and help you get the most out of the trip while avoiding common pitfalls.

 

[palmtreelover08]

I don't know why I am so stressed about visiting DL vs. WDW, but I am sure this vast amt. of inforamtion will help calm my fears. Much thanks!

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

We always drive to DL, so we have a car. But other than a day trip to Legoland, we have never used our car once we arrive.

We always stay at the Park Vue Inn, which is right across the street from the resort property (all you have to do is walk across one wide/busy street, and you are there!). I always feel completely safe walking, because we have always been surrounded by other vacationers. If you were to stay at one of the three DL hotels, walking would be just as easy and safe.

I can't comment on getting to and from the airport, but once you are at the hotel, you would be fine. If you are at one of the DLR hotels, or one of the hotels near the crosswalk on Harbor blvd (the street that borders the eastern edge of the resort), you can easily walk to DL, California Adventure and Downtown Disney. I would recommend looking at a labeled arial photograph or a map of the area (I believe the previous poster included those) to get an idea of the area. Its all very close together and compact.


I would feel very safe travelling there alone with my 6 year old DD.

Good luck planning!

 

[palmtreelover08]

All of your help is making me more excited about planning this trip than scared. Thanks again!

 

[annacali]

I am a single mom of two girls and did Disneyland last year (my girls were 6 and 4). We flew into LAX and I did rent a car because we spent a few days with friends in Carlsbad/San Diego too.

The Disneyland part was really easy...I almost sighed with relief when I finally pulled into the parking lot of the DLH and didn't have to touch the car again for 3 days. You can walk everywhere (but be warned it is a LOT of walking--I did wish I had brought a stroller even though we hadn't used one at our last WDW trip---all the walking from park to park and park to hotel really wore my little ones out and the rentals have to stay inside the park, so no help with that long walk back to the hotel at night!). Disneyland is different than WDW but equally fun and we enjoyed it a lot!

But if I had to do it again, I would fly into the closer airport, take the Disneyland bus from airport to hotel and avoid driving at all costs. That was stressful enough for me (having to leave DLH at 6:30 am for an 11:30 am flight home because of traffic etc) to almost be a trip ruiner. We will do SoCal and Disneyland separately from now on---it was too much for us to do it all together!

 

[palmtreelover08]

I def. want to avoid renting a car and getting lost w/DD. I plan on taking an evening flight, so the flight doesn't "seem" so long to my DD. We would be flying from NJ, and she has only flown to Orlando, so this plane trip is going to be new to her. I agree about doing So. Cal and Disney seperate. For a one week trip (which I will be taking), it would be too much stress to try and cram it all in.

 

[Huff]

Disneyland Resort is quite a bit different than WDW. It's a theme park resort in the middle of a city. There are chain motels and restaurants directly across the street. Whats great is that you will not need a car even if not staying onsite. There are several airport shuttles. Others may know which is the most cost effective.

If staying offsite there are quite a few very nice hotels within a mile or two of Disneyland. Most of them are serviced by the Anaheim shuttles. It is not free but very inexpensive and some of the hotels include the cost or have their own shuttle to/from Disneyland.

John Wayne Orange County (SNA) airport is the closest at about 15 miles. Next would be Long Beach. Both of those airports are small so flight availability is more limited than Los Angeles, Burbank or Ontario but shuttle cost should be less. I believe LAX has bus service to/from Disneyland but not sure on the cost.

Once at Disneyland Resort you won't need a car nor even use a shuttle like at WDW. The two parks and Downtown Disney along with the three onsite hotels are all designed for walking between them. Park hopping is EASY, 5 minutes from one park to the other.