Considering visiting DL first time, many ??

[msr709]

I've been to WDW about 4 times in the past 2 years and I love it but I was thinking of visiting DL. Now I'm on the eastcoast, PA to be exact and its a long trip so I would like to make it worthwhile since it will probably be my one and only time in a long while.
I don't drive so I need to stay at a hotel that is convenient in walking distance and I will be probably with my 70yo Mom, just us two no kids (at least on the first trip).
Any recommendations on hotels, that would compare to the moderates at WDW (which is what I can afford).
I've seen about the meal deals, has anyone used them and where?
Transportation to airports: I can get a flight to LAX or Orange County, which is more convenient and do they have shuttle service or something like that?
I want to visit both DL/DCA, how many days would you recommend? (Keeping in mind that I might have to rent a wheelchair for Mom since the walking can be a bit much for her.)
I love ALL rides but Mom doesn't, while she expects me to ride the rides I want, I would like to also visit some nice shows, she loves those and she also likes the tamer rides, any suggestions?
I know these are a lot of questions, maybe someone could post a link that I can fiind out more information on DL?
TIA!

 

[Pixie glitter]

msr,

I can't answer all of your questions, but here's some info.

Orange County is closer to DLR, and it's MUCH smaller and easier to get around in. I highly recommend that you fly into this airport if it doesn't cost more. Super Shuttle is $10 per person (one way) between SNA (John Wayne/Orange County) and DLR, and the service is very quick.

I would budget three or four days to do both parks if you're going in the off-season. There are several decent hotels right across the street from the parks, and there is good shuttle service from hotels that are a bit farther away (but still only a ten minute walk from the maingates).
The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland is an excellent guidebook that will answer many of your questions--should be available in your local library if you don't want to purchase a copy.

Also, check out some other online discussion boards and read their trip planning and hotel sections. I don't know if we're allowed to list other links, but I think the most comprehensive sites for DLR info are laughingplace.com and mouseplanet.com.

 

[hookedup]

Wow, I will do my best to give my opinions that may help you figure some stuff out.
Your choices to stay at DLR are not inexpensive but if you shop around you can get a good deal depending on the time of year youre visiting.
Of the 3 onsite properties the Paradise Pier will be the cheapest. You can walk into CA Adventure from there and then go into Disneyland afterward. Or you can walk to the mononrail and take that into DL directly.
If you want to save some money there are some nice offsite properties close to DL (unlike WDW they are walkable BUT if you are with someone who is not a healthy walker I would not recommend it as it is a hike!) they do have shuttle services that take you up to the front entrance plaza for both DL and DCA. You will save a lot of money by reasearching these out. Someone gave me a link to an ariel view of the resort area and you can get a perspective of the distances and properties. One important note this map DOES NOT show the names of all of the properties offsite (like the Candy Cane Inn which I have heard great things about) probably only the hotels who paid to be listed or something. Here is the URL: beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html
Definately fly into OC if you can!
The other recommended sites above are good and have more DL info as compared to some sites that focus mainly on DLR also try mouseinfo.com too.
Hope this helps!

 

[year2late]

Orange County

Candy Cane

Supershuttle.

 

[Uncle Buck]

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

Here's a good map (only a few omissions).

*Long Beach Airport (LGB) is another great small airport to consider. It is served by American and America West from the East Coast.

 

[Planogirl]

The Candy Cane Inn is right next to the resort and has wonderful shuttle service. This is an attractive little inn with comfortable rooms, good continental breakfasts included and a super nice staff. You can't hardly beat the prices either!

http://candycaneinn.net

By the way, the hotel is not decorated like a candy cane. I mention this because my DH told me how relieved he was to see no red stripes after we checked in!

 

[disneyholic family]

we go to WDW every summer for 3 weeks and have been to WDW over 30 times in the last 30 years....
this summer, after our 3 week stay in WDW, we hopped on a plane from orlando to LA for our first visit ever to disneyland/california adventure...

it was lots of fun.....we LOVED disneyland.....it's actually much prettier than the magic kingdom....however, one word of warning: don't expect much from the castle....you'll be terribly disappointed after the castle in WDW (the castle in DL is smaller than my house i think)....

so....something that both you and your mom will enjoy....
we hadn't read anything about it so we just went in because my kids know that my husband and i love patriotic things....
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.....it was FANTASTIC!!.....it uses the really cool earphone technology that they use in 'sounds dangerous' in MGM at WDW......
anyway, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is an absolute MUST SEE for both you and your mom (my teenage kids also LOVED it)...

the only other "must see" in my opinion is Indiana Jones....it's a remarkable ride (ride it first thing in the morning or use fastpass as the line gets deadly)....i'm not sure if your mom can ride it or not....if she can ride Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom then she can ride indiana jones....it's the same sort of ride (but indy is much much much better)...

rides that have the same name but are different than in WDW:
Enchanted Tiki Room - this is the original show (not the way it is now in WDW)....it's very cute and your mom will enjoy it.....
Pirates of the Caribean - much nicer and much longer than at WDW - both you and your mom will enjoy it...
Haunted Mansion - slights differences (like the entrance)....your mom can ride it....
Space Mountain - this is a big NO if you have motion sickness problems.....the one in DL is terrible compared to the one in WDW.....i can ride space mountain in WDW repeatedly and often do.....i nearly died on the one in disneyland....i really thought i was going to die because of my motion sickness.....definitely stay off this one if you have a similar problem....it's way way way more intense than the one in WDW..
Innoventions - sort of like innoventions in EPCOT....lots of interesting science displays, presented in a clever way.....do this in the afternoon when you've done the other things with lines...
Splash Mountain - i think this was built before the one in WDW and you can tell because everything's sort of not as good as WDW....however, having said that, this was my second favorite ride in DL.....it's different than WDW but still lots of fun.....(the logs are single seats, not the double seats in WDW)....this line also gets very very very long....ride right after indy or get a fastpass (or both)....

there are a few other repeats, but before i forget, your mother will probably very much enjoy fantasyland.....and maybe you will too....i totally love fantasyland at DL...it's much much much better than at WDW.....my favorite rides in the DL fantasyland are Alice in Wonderland (a really lovely ride), Peter Pan's Flight (better than in WDW), and Casey Jones Train (this was my favorite - i could have ridden this train all day....and i'm not embarrassed to admit it......it was much better than the big train that goes around disneyland)...

ok..i have to rush to work.....have fun...we certainly did...

 

[honeymom]

Staying onsite actually requires a lot of walking unless you stay at the Grand Californian (the most expensive of course). Paradise Pier (the equivalent of a WDW deluxe, but the least expensive) is a short walk to California Adventure. However, it will be a hike to either Disneyland or the monorail. The Disneyland Hotel (which we stayed at) was a short walk to the monorail, but quite the hike to California Adventure. You might actually get closer to park entrances if you stay offsite and take a shuttle. I can't speak to that as I haven't done it, but it looked like the shuttle area was near the entrances to both parks. I don't know why they haven't added a monorail station for California Adventure, but I think they want to keep people walking (and shopping) at Downtown Disney.

 

[IandGsmom]

I think there are plently of rides for you and Mom including most in Fantasyland and shows and parades and POC and Haunted Mansion and the list could go on.
Check arounf for hotels. My opinon is if the hotel has their own shuttle or bus its better than if it has to share with many other hotels. Candy Cane was alright but there are so many you will do fine.

 

[msr709]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR RESPONSES!! They've put me on the right direction, now all I have to do is convince Mom that the plane ride will be OK!! LOL! I thinking of going even if she doesn't want to come, you all have definitely peaked my interest. Thanks again. I've found that Mouseplanet.com has a very comprehensive guide posted.