Considering a change of plan. What should we do?

[wishusluck]

Hi all,

We are a family of two adults and two kids, aged 10 and 8.

Currently we are booked to stay at Springhill Suites Convention Center, checking on Sun Sep 17, checking out Sat Sep 22.

The night before (Sat 15) we are staying at the Waterfront Resort in Huntington Beach. Arriving early on Saturday at Huntington, to be able to have as much time as possible.

We have 5 day Parkhoppers. We also have MHP on Friday 21 (not using our park ticket for that day).

On Sunday we have the BB F! Dining package booked for 5.30pm. Our plan at this stage is to check out of the Waterfront at 12noon on the Sunday, then drive to Anaheim and try to check in. The problem is, if we can't check in until the normal check in time of 4pm then we will not have a chance to rest, so that we can enjoy the rest of our day/ night properly.

I am worried about this unknown portion of my plan. I would hate for the kids to be overtired and not enjoy their very first taste of DL.

So, now I am considering cancelling our stay at the Waterfront, and just going to visit Huntington Beach first thing on the Saturday, then in the late afternoon we would go to Springhill and stay that night (Sat 15th), so we could go to DL first thing on Sunday morning, maybe come back to rest in the middle of the day, then back to DL for BB F! dinner and fireworks.

Sorry, this is so long. I just feel like I can't decide. The Waterfont Resort looks great and we were looking forward to the pool, but I don't know if it is worth it to risk being super tired for our first time at DL?!

Thanks for reading. Any advice would be much appreciated : )

 

[Butterfly123]

I like your new plan of just staying at Springhill. I love starting out fresh at Disneyland in the morning. There is something very exciting about walking in to the park first thing in the morning when everything is prepped and ready for the new day. It really feels different than walking in to an already crowded park. And not having tired kids so they can enjoy the show and fireworks is important. So I vote for your second plan!!

 

[az4boys]

I'm assuming you mean you will be checking in on Sunday the 16th (not 17th)... I would call Springhill suites early and ask about the possibility of early check in. Then call again the day of. Sometimes large chain hotels have apps that let you check in before you get there. I think if you sleep in on Sunday and check out as late as possible, followed by a slow paced indoor lunch, you'll be fine on rest for the evening. I guess it depends on your kids and how late you plan to stay out that night though.

ETA: I think your second plan sounds good too. I like Disneyland in the mornings, although you do have 5 days plus a party, so you may not need it.

 

[wishusluck]

Yes, sorry.. I did mean Sunday 16th.

Thanks for the replies. I am torn between wanting to arrive fresh in the morning, and having the variety of staying at the Waterfront for a night. Does 7 nights at Springhill seem too much? Waaa! I really don't know. We are usually morning people, and the thought of arriving at DL at 4pm feels weird! But I can also think of it as a 'sneak peek' where we will mainly be having dinner/ fantasmic/ fireworks. Then fresh the next day.

Would I contact Springhill now about early check in? Or closer to the time? We have Gold Marriott membership so I think they sometimes give upgrades, which I assume I may not get if I check in on the app.

Thanks again : )

 

[smartlabelprint]

I don’t know how it is at the Springhill but at homewood suites you get a huge discount for booking a full week. Hs has free dinners Monday-Thursday nights too. I’d consider their rates.

I like your plan of staying in one hotel. It’s not relaxing to pack up. IME Disney area hotels are not ready to go to your room by 12 or even 1. They have very little vacancy!

 

[TinkerTay]

Are you planning on being in the park that last Saturday too? If you’re basically considering Sunday to be kind of a “bonus day” per se, I would do whatever is less stressful for you. If you’re trying to spend max time in the parks, then I would have to say get there as early as you can. I’ve usually found hotels to allow you to be able to check in a bit earlier than the posted time, but you may want to call and make sure.
If you really want stay in Huntington, you could always try to check out of there earlier (10 or so) and then head to the park. If the room isn’t ready, they usually can hold your bags till later, but again, I’d call the hotel to confirm.
Personally, I’d prob do things pretty leisurely, if it’s more of a relaxing vacation, since you’ll be there for a good amount of time. Just think of how much time everything takes collectively. Probably close to an hour to check in, haul bags in, gather thoughts/make immediate game plan. I assume a shuttle to the park, so time waiting, riding, getting to the gates and getting tix all initially scanned/pics taken for everyone... but if by chance you are NOT able to check in until 4, that would be cutting it pretty close for a 5:30 reservation. In that case, staying the previous night would definitely make things easier. Hopefully I made a little sense, and didn’t make your head spin with all that, lol... I will be there in September also, and the Sunday I arrive (the 9th) we are debating getting a rental car and driving elsewhere during the day since it’s not a park day for us. That, or hanging in DTD and getting some early shopping done... so I get the whole back and forth thinking about things... good luck, and whatever you decide will work itself out, surely

 

[bumbershoot]

IME Disney area hotels are not ready to go to your room by 12 or even 1. They have very little vacancy!

Agreed.

The OP could throw money at the problem and book apringhill for the Saturday and just call tonlet them know thy are delayed but that they’ll be there late. That way they will have the room held that night and they’ll have a room to go straight to on Sunday.

My ex does this ALL the time when traveling for work since he has to be ready to go and with a hotel room when he lands.

I’ve usually found hotels to allow you to be able to check in a bit earlier than the posted time, but you may want to call and make sure.

Almost all hotels will let you do the checkin process early, but the OP wants a room available to rest in before checkin time.

That’s the hard part.

 

[lalasmama]

I'd go with your second plan: add another night to Springhill, and start fresh at Disneyland Sunday morning. Maybe you could do Huntington Beach at the end?

My thought process is simple: There's so much to see, so much to do, that I think a first day at Disneyland should be done on a full-night's sleep... When I fly and go to the park the same day, I never get as much done, and I spend the whole rest of the vacation playing "catch up," even if I didn't really miss anything.

 

[wishusluck]

Thank you so much everyone. I am glad I posted this because all of your advice has made it much clearer for me! Just what I needed.

We have decided to add the Saturday night at Springhill and go to DL first thing Sunday morning. On Saturday we will go to Huntington Beach and spend the day there, then head to Anaheim around 3.30pm.

Do you think the Springhill will allow us to drop our bags early on Saturday morning on the way to Huntington Beach? I am not too keen to have suitcases in the car all day.

The added bonus of cancelling the Waterfront Resort is that now we have $200 extra that we can spend on extra MaxPasses if we decide to!

Yes, when I went over it in my mind it felt crazy to leave so much to chance (check in time, tiredness, delays). Disneyland is the whole reason we are coming to the US (from Australia), so I don't know what came over me, thinking we could do it the other way. Luckily all my best thinking is done in the shower, so it was a lightbulb moment to cancel the Huntington stay

Thank you everyone! Feeling a lot better about it all now. All the best. (and hope you've worked out your plans TinkerTay! )

 

[lalasmama]

Do you think the Springhill will allow us to drop our bags early on Saturday morning on the way to Huntington Beach? I am not too keen to have suitcases in the car all day.

Most hotels in the resort area allow this without issue.

 

[Butterfly123]

I cant imagine having trouble dropping off your luggage early. Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[CateinPhoenix]

Thank you so much everyone. I am glad I posted this because all of your advice has made it much clearer for me! Just what I needed.

We have decided to add the Saturday night at Springhill and go to DL first thing Sunday morning. On Saturday we will go to Huntington Beach and spend the day there, then head to Anaheim around 3.30pm.

Do you think the Springhill will allow us to drop our bags early on Saturday morning on the way to Huntington Beach? I am not too keen to have suitcases in the car all day.

The added bonus of cancelling the Waterfront Resort is that now we have $200 extra that we can spend on extra MaxPasses if we decide to!

Yes, when I went over it in my mind it felt crazy to leave so much to chance (check in time, tiredness, delays). Disneyland is the whole reason we are coming to the US (from Australia), so I don't know what came over me, thinking we could do it the other way. Luckily all my best thinking is done in the shower, so it was a lightbulb moment to cancel the Huntington stay

Thank you everyone! Feeling a lot better about it all now. All the best. (and hope you've worked out your plans TinkerTay! )

Looks like you made your decision but I was also going to say add an extra day at the Springhill Suites! The Huntington Beach Hilton is nice and yes it's convenient for your beach day but after staying there and having to pack up, I probably wouldn't do it again. Just a hassle to re-pack!