Budgeting question

[tobikaye]

I wasn’t planning on renting a car since it is walkable to the parks. Do you DL vets think I’ll need one?

If you are just doing the parks, then no. I did not rent one this past August. We used a car service to get from LAX to the Hilton Anaheim. I just rented a car from the lobby for the 1 day we went to Knotts Berry. On our last morning, I walked over to Paradise Pier to pick up a rental that I returned in Las Vegas. It was cheaper than renting for the entire trip and paying parking at the hotel.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I wasn’t planning on renting a car since it is walkable to the parks. Do you DL vets think I’ll need one?

If you plan to stay mainly/completely in the DLR area, then I agree with the pp that you won't need a car. Walking and ride share/taxi/shuttle/car service should be fine for your airport transfers and any other transportation needs. Will your kids need car seats or boosters? CA laws are strict about that. (You can Google to find the 2020 CA laws on that.)

 

[Malcon10t]

Definitely have stairs. Safety hazard if they didn’t. But with 15 floors bring your walking shoes

I have stayed DLH and GCH. I recall a bit of a backup in the mornings in the DLH towers. Not much of a backup at GCH that I can recall (which at 6 stories is the shortest of them all).

The DLH stairwells are locked from the inside. So if you enter, you can only exit on the ground floor, and even funnier, if your teens think it would be a riot to race up the stairs, when they try to exit at the 10th floor, they will have to walk all the way back down....... And security will be there to check on them!!

Fwiw if COVID protocols are still active the Springhill may offer a bagged breakfast or no breakfast at all. Different Marriott’s are taking different tactics. (Although Fairfield doesn’t offer a breakfast at all in Anaheim from my recollection, luckily Panera is right next to it.)

Our next visit is at the Residence Inn and they too are doing a bagged breakfast for limited hours (7a-830a.) When we were at Fairfield a couple weeks ago, Panera and McDonalds were both closed. Nearest open food was DTD or 7/11. CVS and Walgreens didn't open until 9am.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The DLH stairwells are locked from the inside. So if you enter, you can only exit on the ground floor, and even funnier, if your teens think it would be a riot to race up the stairs, when they try to exit at the 10th floor, they will have to walk all the way back down....... And security will be there to check on them!!

Our next visit is at the Residence Inn and they too are doing a bagged breakfast for limited hours (7a-830a.) When we were at Fairfield a couple weeks ago, Panera and McDonalds were both closed. Nearest open food was DTD or 7/11. CVS and Walgreens didn't open until 9am.

Good info -- thank you for the update. Do you know if the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf or Starbucks by the Walgreens will be open? Those might help add to your breakfast options.

 

[MarBee]

If you plan to stay mainly/completely in the DLR area, then I agree with the pp that you won't need a car. Walking and ride share/taxi/shuttle/car service should be fine for your airport transfers and any other transportation needs. Will your kids need car seats or boosters? CA laws are strict about that. (You can Google to find the 2020 CA laws on that.)

Thanks! We have the bubble bum travel boosters for the kids, so I think we are good!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Thanks! We have the bubble bum travel boosters for the kids, so I think we are good!

Yes, that or the Mifold should work just fine! Just wanted to prevent a situation where you show up without a booster and discover that you must have one. (We've had posters in that situation before!)

 

[Bossy22]

We drive to DL so never need to rent a car but our car parks in its spot for 8 of the the 9 days we are there. We usually go to target and Joe's Crab shack one day. Other than that we walk everywhere!!!

 

[Malcon10t]

Good info -- thank you for the update. Do you know if the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf or Starbucks by the Walgreens will be open? Those might help add to your breakfast options.

Last trip, CB&TL was not open when I was on a food hunt at 845am. I waited at CVS for them to open (should have gone to 7/11) at 9am. I will check out Starbucks next trip. (Labor day weekend...)

 

[Malcon10t]

Last trip, CB&TL was not open when I was on a food hunt at 845am. I waited at CVS for them to open (should have gone to 7/11) at 9am. I will check out Starbucks next trip. (Labor day weekend...)

Of course, when DLR reopens, I am sure everything on Harbor and Katella will reopen.

 

[crystal1313]

Denny’s is open on Harbor! They have a tiny bit of outdoor seating and take out.

 

[BrokeMack]

We just Uber from SNA to DLR and stay in the bubble.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We just Uber from SNA to DLR and stay in the bubble.

Keep up to date on this story -- it affects a lot of people traveling to DLR:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/20/tech/uber-lyft-california-shutdown/index.html

 

[Chickinvic]

I don't bother with a car at DL. I stay offsite at hotels that are an easy walk. For anything else (like if I go to Knotts) I'll Uber. I usually take the bus or a van from the airport.

I personally don't ever stay on site. Seems like way too much money for very little (if any) real benefit to me.