Disneyland Half Weekend Hotel Question

[dragitoff]

DW and I are going to complete the Coast to Coast Challenge next August for our 15th anniversary. I'm planning to run Dumbo Double Dare and she will do the Half. I've been to DL twice, but DW has never been.

Between honors programs and other incentives for work, I can stay off-property at a really nice local hotel like the Hilton (even with theme park view room) for almost half of what a room at Paradise Pier is. I know it's a little bit of a walk to the parks, although it's not too bad IMO, but for those who have attended the races there, was there any difficulty getting to and from your hotels off-property that weekend? I'd prefer to put that money towards a nice anniversary dinner at Napa Rose or something like that rather than just overpaying for a room because it's technically "on property".

As a follow-up question, how were the crowds that weekend? I've only been to DL in mid-October so the crowds were fairly light by DL standards.

 

[kim3339]

The walk isn't too bad. Also, there will be race shuttles throughout the weekend. I'm pretty sure that the Hilton is on the list, and they go from 3 or 3:30 in the morning until I think 12am. So you can not only have that option for the races, but going to the park afterwards.

Crowds aren't too bad. It won't be as empty as mid-Oct but not as bad as summer or Thanksgiving/X-mas. While a lot of people stay for the weekend, it's also a big local race, so a lot of people just run and go home.

 

[jfinke]

We stayed at the Hilton Anaheim this year for the DDD. Coming from a WDW perspective, it is closer than anything you can get at the world. I think it took us 10-15 minutes to walk to the park entrances. I would recommend the hotel.

Disneyland Hotel is where most of the race action was at. It would have been nice to stay there, but considering I paid $100/night at the Hilton vs. $400+/night for the DL Hotel, there was no contest.

 

[ironz]

Stayed at the Hilton (or very near there) one year, on Harbor another year, and at Stovall's this year. All very close and easy to walk/shuttle where you need to go. (Also stayed at DL Hotel one year and that was primo, but yes, you pay much more for it.)

As for crowds...this year, we had to do our park days on Friday and Saturday due to other travel plans....Friday was fine, but Saturday was a ZOO! Labor Day weekend and warm weather....I was miserable and we pretty much wasted a ticket day riding 3 rides and getting the heck out of there. BUT...I saw reports from a friend that by Tuesday (holiday weekend over), the parks were empty and very very pleasant.

Fun races...I love the entertainment at the DL half...even when you are not on property, there are hundreds of cheerleaders, several bands, a few dance troupes, classic cars, and the ballfield. So not classic Disney characters for much of the race, but much more entertaining than running by and seeing 2 characters off to the side with a line of people.

 

[dragitoff]

Stayed at the Hilton (or very near there) one year, on Harbor another year, and at Stovall's this year. All very close and easy to walk/shuttle where you need to go. (Also stayed at DL Hotel one year and that was primo, but yes, you pay much more for it.)

As for crowds...this year, we had to do our park days on Friday and Saturday due to other travel plans....Friday was fine, but Saturday was a ZOO! Labor Day weekend and warm weather....I was miserable and we pretty much wasted a ticket day riding 3 rides and getting the heck out of there. BUT...I saw reports from a friend that by Tuesday (holiday weekend over), the parks were empty and very very pleasant.

Fun races...I love the entertainment at the DL half...even when you are not on property, there are hundreds of cheerleaders, several bands, a few dance troupes, classic cars, and the ballfield. So not classic Disney characters for much of the race, but much more entertaining than running by and seeing 2 characters off to the side with a line of people.

Thanks everyone for the updates. Since I'm a Hilton Honors member and also had some other perks for work to use, I went ahead and booked us at the Hilton. We're coming in early Friday morning and staying through until Monday. We'll have Friday, Saturday and Sunday to do the expo, races, and parks. Since it's just the two of us, and I've been to DL a few times, I'll plan us out a "must do" list so we can focus on those attractions. Things like Indiana Jones that we don't have at WDW are definitely at the top of that list!

 

[ironz]

Thanks everyone for the updates. Since I'm a Hilton Honors member and also had some other perks for work to use, I went ahead and booked us at the Hilton. We're coming in early Friday morning and staying through until Monday. We'll have Friday, Saturday and Sunday to do the expo, races, and parks. Since it's just the two of us, and I've been to DL a few times, I'll plan us out a "must do" list so we can focus on those attractions. Things like Indiana Jones that we don't have at WDW are definitely at the top of that list!

That was our strategy, too.
We went to DCA and did Carsland on Friday after the 10K. We're not joined at the hip, so did single rider line to get on RSR twice. and the lines for California Screamin' and TSMM were not bad.

On Saturday, the very crowded DL day, we FP'd Space, did Buzz, line for Matterhorn was atrocious so had to skip it and FP'd Indy. That was enough heat and crowds for us. Unfortunately, the nice California weather forecast was not accurate and it got pretty hot and humid this year.

 

[dragitoff]

That was our strategy, too.
We went to DCA and did Carsland on Friday after the 10K. We're not joined at the hip, so did single rider line to get on RSR twice. and the lines for California Screamin' and TSMM were not bad.

On Saturday, the very crowded DL day, we FP'd Space, did Buzz, line for Matterhorn was atrocious so had to skip it and FP'd Indy. That was enough heat and crowds for us. Unfortunately, the nice California weather forecast was not accurate and it got pretty hot and humid this year.

I thought the 10k was Saturday and Half on Sunday? I hope that's the case or I need to change my reservations!

 

[kim3339]

On Saturday, the very crowded DL day, line for Matterhorn was atrocious so had to skip it

They have a single rider line for Matterhorn too now. It's not advertised very well and not always in effect, but it is if it's crowded. You can just go up front at tell the CM that you want to do single rider and then you can pick which side you want to ride.

 

[jfinke]

I thought the 10k was Saturday and Half on Sunday? I hope that's the case or I need to change my reservations!

You are correct, it was Saturday and Sunday.

From our perspective, Sunday was much more crowded than Saturday this past year. And we were in the parks for only half the day on Saturday so we could rest for the 1/2 on Sunday.