Disney World veteran going to Disneyland for the first time

[PopArtGal]

What can you tell me?

We are hesitating between the Grand Californian and the Disneyland hotel.

I was looking into booking the LA/Hollywood tour. The one that Disney offers and lasts 10 hours I think.

Can we make dining reservations online?

Anything else I'm missing? Any suggestions?

 

[DisMike]

If you can afford it, GC hands down.

Go on the rides that they don't have at DW. Indiana Jones is a must. California Screemin' is great too. Obviously don't miss WOC.

The nice thing about DLR vs. DW is that you can walk everywhere. If you stay at GC you're literally in DCA. You walk out one side and you're a 30 second walk to Soarin'. The other side you're over in DTD. No waiting for buses, ferries or any other transportation.

Don't know about the tours. Never took one.

One thing that will no doubt surprise you is that while you need a good solid week at DW to pretty much do everything you only need about 3-4 days at DLR. There are far fewer attractions but just about as many rides. If you like rides more than the attractions, you'll love DLR.

Have a great time.

 

[Sherry E]

Hi there!

Other folks will pop in to give you lots of good info but I can say that, no, you can't book the dining reservations online. (DLR dining is handled much more casually than WDW dining is, I think.) You can only book the dining reservations as early as 60 days in advance, and that's by phone - 714-781-DINE, I think is the number.

As for hotels, I love both the GCH and the DLH for different reasons. There is quite a drastic difference in price between the two. I also love the PPH - all 3 hotels have their appeal in different ways.

That tour you mentioned that you are thinking of - if I recall, that's the one that includes Hollywood Boulevard, as well as the Santa Monica Pier and the Original Farmers Market/The Grove.

I don't have any handy recent photos of Hollywood or the SM Pier, but I do have tons of recent photos of Farmers Market and The Grove (lots of food porn!!) in my Trip Report. I think that, on the tour, you only get about one hour at FM and The Grove. But take a look at the photos to see if there is anything there that interests you.

The photos of Farmers Market and The Grove go from Page 61 to Page 63:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1979268&page=61

Have fun planning!!!

 

[Renysmom]

What can you tell me?

We are hesitating between the Grand Californian and the Disneyland hotel.

I was looking into booking the LA/Hollywood tour. The one that Disney offers and lasts 10 hours I think.

Can we make dining reservations online?

Anything else I'm missing? Any suggestions?

Would love to know more about this tour as well. Thanks

 

[HydroGuy]

I am kind of partial to this thread:

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

 

[PopArtGal]

I am kind of partial to this thread:

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

Thanks for the link!

 

[PopArtGal]

When we walk out of the hotel, is there anything else other than parks and Downtown Disney? Or do you need a car to visit the neighborhood?

 

[HydroGuy]

When we walk out of the hotel, is there anything else other than parks and Downtown Disney? Or do you need a car to visit the neighborhood?

Not really. You can walk to other places around DLR but frankly very few would want to do that. It is not bad, it just "off-site".

 

[ktlm]

Fellow WDW vet here. We stayed at DLH in June and absolutely loved it! It felt like complete classic Disney to us. We loved walking through Downtown Disney to get to the parks too. Now, DLH is doing alot of remodeling right now, so I don't know how bad that might affect your trip. We decided against GC, but we went to visit it. To us, it was just a scaled down version of WL at WDW. It is beautiful, and the entrance to CA is great, but we stayed at WL in 2008 and 2009 so we wanted something different and DLH was the right choice for us. That is not to put down GC because it is absolutely beautiful, just too similar to where we have stayed multiple times at WDW. It doesn't look like you have stayed at WL before, so you might absolutely love GC!

 

[Sherry E]

If you end up staying at the GCH, you can walk around the DLH - there's lots of cool artwork, photos and vintage memorabilia around the hotel. Likewise, if you stay at the DLH, popping over to the GCH to enjoy the gorgeous lobby and its earthy, cozy atmosphere (nice fireplace, piano player, dim lighting, comfy chairs and sofas, bar/lounge a few feet away) is worthwhile.

GardenWalk is also nearby - I think it's sort of walkable, but it's offsite and further away. It's basically a shopping center, but it expands the dining horizons quite a bit.

 

[farmfresh]

I'd say go GCH if $$ are no issue. As the OP says , it's like WL at DW (but with park access you don't have to swim to!) We have stayed at DLH several times, but most recent was last year... so no renovation info. When possible though we pick GCH.

There isn't much to see immediately outside of the resort...just roads, cars, and a vast number of different accommodation options! It's fine, just not really tour material.

If you do have a car, you could explore Hollywood/LA yourself.

Enjoy your stay

 

[PopArtGal]

Any ideas where I can get real up to date updates of the Disneyland hotel? We are leaning towards that hotel.

 

[keahgirl8]

Here I am, barging in on another question. I wouldn't say I'm a DL "veteran" but I have been there several times. I'm planning on going again for Halloween. Due to financial reasons, I've never stayed on-site. Now, I'm considering it, but is it really worth spending the extra money?

 

[PopArtGal]

Here I am, barging in on another question. I wouldn't say I'm a DL "veteran" but I have been there several times. I'm planning on going again for Halloween. Due to financial reasons, I've never stayed on-site. Now, I'm considering it, but is it really worth spending the extra money?

I always thought that staying on-site is great at WDW because of the busses mostly. But with Disneyland I could say that not having the shuttles would be a great plus.

 

[keahgirl8]

I have stayed across the street before, which made the shuttles unnecessary. I don't know...just kind of thinking "out loud" here, so to speak.

 

[jlmarr]

Anything else I'm missing? Any suggestions?

Lots of stuff to do in this great metropolis. I'd suggest keep monitoring this forum as others bring up various topics. If you're into sports it's always some pro sports season around here - you might be interested in seeing the Anaheim Ducks hockey (or whomever they're playing). Warner Brothers has a studio tour, and I've heard good things about the Universal Studios VIP tour. A visit to the beach might be nice, even if it's just a walk on the pier to visit Ruby's Diner (at Balboa, Huntington Beach, and Seal Beach). The Hollywood Bowl season runs from May to September. TV tapings are always free if you can get tickets ahead of time (and waiting at the venue). Lotsa stuff.

 

[Capt Silly]

We have stayed at the Hyatt, Red Lion, WAY off site (Capistrano Beach), and most recently at DLH. In my opinion, staying on site is worth it, if you can swing the finances.

We were in the Wonder Tower a couple weekends ago, and even with all the construction we were well taken care of. The extra morning hours are a huge plus, and being able to walk though DTD or GCH made it feel as if you were always in the park.

The only advantage to off site in my opinion is the price, but I agree with HydroGuy that you always want to be within walking distance. We loved the Hyatt, but all the perks of the hotel didn't make up for the waits for the shuttle. And being able to go back to the room for an afternoon nap/brake is so nice.

 

[PopArtGal]

Oh, studio tours and tv tapings. Anyone have links?

 

[PopArtGal]

oh I just saw that Ellen Degeneres tapes in Burbank! Would a taxi cost a bundle?

 

[jlmarr]

oh I just saw that Ellen Degeneres tapes in Burbank! Would a taxi cost a bundle?

Definitely. You could take Amtrak to the Burbank station (ANA to BUR) and a taxi to get to/from the station on each end, but I'm not sure how late the tapings run so there might be a problem getting a return train. Alternatively rent a car for the day.