Decisions, decisions, decisions

[brutus]

My DS (13th B-Day during trip) and I will be heading to SoCal for 4 days in September for the Ohio State/usc football game.

We are big Disney fans and have been many times to DW, but not many to DL.

We will spend 3 days part of the day Saturday (before the game) Sunday and Monday in the parks.

The thing I am fighting over is where to stay. We love staying on Disney properties, but like the idea of having an Embassy/Double Tree Suite to spread out in.

Mt first question is does anyone have any positive recommendations from the list of “Good Neighbor” suite hotels.

However, I’m afraid we will be disappointed if we aren’t staying on site.

Money isn’t a big issue with me…I can afford either. Just want to have a fun weekend.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[DL4my2kids]

For sure stay on site.

I love GCH. Rooms are a tad small but if it is just the 2 of you going then you'll be fine.

I also love the DLH. I am staying there in November. Rooms are a bit bigger.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

You can stay offsite at certain places and be closer to Disneyland than staying in some of the deluxe resorts at WDW. Offsite will be cheaper, but if money isn't an issue, than you may as well stay onsite.

As far as the game goes, what time is kickoff? L.A. traffic can be an absolute nightmare, so you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to make it there, and that may impact how much time you have in the parks that morning/evening(assuming you have time to go to the parks after the game which may or may not be possible).

 

[avalon451]

If it's just you and your son, and money isn't an issue, I'd stay at the Grand Californian. The rooms aren't huge, but with just 2 of you, it will be plenty big enough. Nothing beats that private entrance to DCA! If you get soaked on Grizzly River Rapids, just take 5 minutes to run up to your room and change, because the entrance is right by GRR!

Again, if money isn't an issue, ask for a Downtown Disney view room. You can see the fireworks from your balcony, and watch the people below and hear the music from the street musicians in DTD. Shut your balcony doors and it's all quiet. Really, really cool!

You will have a fantastic time!

 

[brutus]

As far as the game goes, what time is kickoff? L.A. traffic can be an absolute nightmare, so you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to make it there

That's a great point (and raises another question).

The game time is 5pm, Saturday - 9/13 - west coast time. How far is the drive? Are there easier methods to get there besides drive my rental? (public transit..anything to avoid lots of traffic)

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Others may disagree with me, but I would leave at least 2 hours before you want to be there. So, if you want to be at the game at 4:00, leave at 2:00pm. When I went to the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank in February we gave ourselves 2 and a half hours to get there, only to find that horriffic traffic that morning made us late in spite of our best laid plans. Fortunately we had the sense to leave so early that we didn't lose out on the tour. (If we had only planned for an hour or so of traffic, it would have been a complete disaster). If you're anything like me, you'd rather be 1 hour early to the game than 5 minutes late.

I'm not much help on public transit since I've never used it down there.