"Disneyland Challenged"

[Suzy Mouse]

My DH and I are thinking about heading out to California next summer and spending some time is Disneyland. While I know so much about Disney WOrld and can plan a trip for anyone I have no clue as to where to start here.

I have a couple of questions that perhaps could be answered here....

1. Do the hotels have bus services?

2. How far are the hotels from the park?

3. How many days is a good amount of time to spend here?

4. Which hotel is the most "kid-friendly"?

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[MamaKate]

1. There is no bus service, because the hotels are centrally located either next to or inside the resort.

2. Hotel Distance: Grand Californian has it's own entrance to DCA & is only a 3-minute walk to Disneyland. Disneyland Hotel is located at the end of Downtown Disney and you can take the Monorail to Disneyland or it's about a 5 minute walk to both Disneyland & DCA. Paradise Pier is the farthest, but is within a reasonable distance. They have there own entrance to DCA & about a 8 minute walk to Disneyland or you can walk to the Monorail at DTD.

3. 3-Days is a good amount if you do not plan to do everything. If you'd like to take your time and see everything, I would say 4-5 days is good.

4. Definately the Disneyland Hotel! My kids & I have stayed at all three and they always want to go back to the Disneyland Hotel. They LOVE the neverland pool, they have a waterfalls & coi ponds, at night there is a small water pageant, Goofy's Kithchen is located here and the rooms have cute Disney touches. The Grand Californian is great for adults and by far is the best location, but my kids just thought is was so so. Paradise Pier: When we stayed here it was pretty plain and the pool was boring, but they are currently doing renovations that should be complete by May 2004. The rooms will be brighter w/Disney touches and they are adding theming to the pool including a Slide. We are going to try Paradise Pier again after the renovations to check it out.

Hope this helps and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

,
Katie

 

[fan_of_wdw]

1) No, but not to worry.

2) Let talk about the lay out...
The entrances of DCA and DL face each other across a plaza... about 75 yards. To the side of this plaza is the start of Downtown Disney (think Floriday but only about 2/3 as long). At the far end of DTD (west), you find the oldest hotel, Disneyland Hotel. About 200 yard south of this hotel is Paradise Pier Hotel. It snugs up against the side of DCA and has its own private entrance (about 75 yards from hotel lobby to park gate). Then there is the Grand Californian Hotel... it is practically INSIDE of DCA... The lobby is just across the screet from Paradise Pier and it has its own entrance to DCA, and another point of access right smack in the middle of DTD.

So you can see why there are no busses!

In the middle of DTD is a monorail station that takes you right into Tomorrowland.

3) Three full days at the park is nice... my daughter and I did this in March (we were some of the last riders of Space Mountain, the day it closed).

4) We stayed at Paradise Pier, but for kids, I think the Disneyland Hotel would be better (PeterPan/Captain Hook themed pool). The Grand CA hotel is posh. Layed out like Wilderness Lodge but in a Arts&Crafts/Misssion/FrankLloydWright style.

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Ten minutes to late!

At lease MamaKate and I are are consistent!

Over and Out!

 

[daannzzz]

Here is a link to show you how small the Disneyland resort is.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html
It is located in the middle of suburbia and is way different than going onto WDW property. But it is really easy to navigate. The Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotels are older places though good (similar to the Contemporary) but were built by other companies and then bought by Disney. the Grand Californian was built by Disney and designed by the Architect who did the Wilderness Lodge and the Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you stay at the Grand Californian you will find yourself right in the middle of everything and much more convenient than anything at WDW. However if you wish to save some money you can stay offsite and be as close or closer than the other two Disney hotels.
The Disneyland Hotel has more Disneyland and Disney references in the room decore and the rooms are, in general bigger than at the GC and PP. The pool is also more fun at the Disneyland hotel.
You will need 2 days at Disneyland and 1 day at Disney's California Adventure if you want to see most everything and not rush through it. $ days would be great.

 

[YCFAN]

My kids enjoyed the Disneyland Hotel. We stayed concierge and the rooms were spacious and well appointed. It was a very short walk to the monorail that took us directly inside to Tomorrowland. The hotel grounds are especially pretty at night with the lights and the bridges over the ponds. The pool area is nice and has a Neverland theme. There's a snack bar/bar in the middle that stays open late and has decent snack foods as well as burgers/fries, etc.