Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier?

[disney-super-mom]

I think given our limited time and the likely cool weather, I think the pool experience is very low down on my list of priorities. If ti were higher, I might want the HoJo over the DLH or PPH.

I appreciate the input!

Well if swimming is low on the totem pole for the little ones, then I would pick the DLH. Of course you can go swimming in their awesome Neverland pool if you change your mind.

 

[Hound 109]

I think you might find it helpful to review HydroGuy's tip thread compilation. Particularly his "DLR for WDW Vets" thread....& also for DLR29's MM Superthread & my "Park Hop" thread. All are found in this link & all offer info & opinions on your questions:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


I have a few other opinions & questions below:

OK, I was able to squeeze in a day and a half of Disneyland (two nights) and I don't know when I'll be able to go back - especially for more than one day. I want to give my kids (& me!) the best experience. Here are the deals:

WHAT DAYS OF WEEK OR DATES WILL YOU BE VISITING?

• Flying in to LAX at 11am - whatever I get that day is my half day
• have 6 yo & 3 yo - minimize walk to & from parks
  
  POSSIBLY BEST TO ENJOY FANTASYLAND DURING MM WITH THOSE AGE GROUPS & WITH YOUR LIMITED TIME.
  
• jetlag from NYC
• will likely be up early - enjoy the hotel?

With this, I'm trying to decide whether Disneyland Hotel, PP, or stay in hotel right outside main gate. I'll throw out my thoughts, but I'd love to hear more:

Half day at DL - need to go to gate because my tickets need to be taken there (redeem old DL/WDW passport). Monorail is out to get to park, but OK for coming back. Decent for DL Hotel, but if really not worth it, off property hotel near gate.

Whole day at DCA, at least until Pixar Play Parade. Wake up early (jetlag) and get to TSMM first! Advantage PP Hotel to walk to Grand Cali entrance, but we can take our time walking, considering we'd be up at 5am...

PARK HOP DAY. PARK HOPPING IS MUCH DIFFERENT AT DLR THAN AT WDW. IT'S AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF TOURING....ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE UP EARLY AND AT DL EARLY FOR MM.

RULE OF THUMB FOR DLR IF YOU HAVE LIMITED DAYS:

- DL FOR MM (OR REG ADM. ON NON MM DAY) ROPE DROP.
- 2-4 HOURS OF TOURING & FP COLLECTING.
- DCA FOR A FEW HOURS (or rest at hotel).
- REST AT HOTEL (or DCA for a few hours) during the crowded at DL afternoon.
- BACK TO DL IN THE EVENING (& use the FPs gathered in the morning).


Next morning - no park (going to San Diego this AM), but maybe enjoy hotel/Downtown D?

A 3 DAY PARK HOPPER IS A FEW DOLLARS MORE THAN A 2 DAY. DL IS EMPTY THE FIRST 3 HOURS. IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING DOWNTOWN DISNEY THAT AM.....WHY NOT INSTEAD GO BACK TO AN EMPTY DL THAT MORNING & SEE WHAT YOU'VE MISSED ? (or re-do what you want to).


In case you haven't figured, I'm leaning to DLHotel, but convince me yes or no!

I'm curious of the day's of week......if the third morning is an MM morning, even more reason to consider the 3 day hopper.....if only for a 2-3 hour final blitz thru a wonderfully uncrowded DL.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's park.

 

[challer]

I think you might find it helpful to review HydroGuy's tip thread compilation. Particularly his "DLR for WDW Vets" thread....& also for DLR29's MM Superthread & my "Park Hop" thread. All are found in this link & all offer info & opinions on your questions:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


I have a few other opinions & questions below:



I'm curious of the day's of week......if the third morning is an MM morning, even more reason to consider the 3 day hopper.....if only for a 2-3 hour final blitz thru a wonderfully uncrowded DL.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's park.

Sun 2/8 arrival in early afternoon till Tues 2/10.

New wrinkles:

No Pixar Play Parade on Monday! (maybe DCA on Sunday instead?)

Due to the fact I'm redeeming 2 days on my old WDW Passport, I will not have a parkhopper (unless one can upgrade there???), and therefore no Magic Morning.

My son is just under 40" tall. My daughter wants to try new "big kid things." Don't know what to do with this.

I'm loving the input. Keep it up!

 

[bigpuma]

Due to the fact I'm redeeming 2 days on my old WDW Passport, I will not have a parkhopper (unless one can upgrade there???), and therefore no Magic Morning.

Wouldn't you get to use MM if you stay at PPH or DLH?

 

[toocherie]

Although it's not "official" when you make reservations, for the past few years guests staying at DLH, PPH and GCH have been given the right to go to Magic Mornings--usually Fantasyland rides and Tomorrowland rides are open (and sometimes Nemo, although often late). So, since your time is limited, if you are going to be there on a MM morning, I would recommend staying at one of the Disney hotels rather than Hojo to take advantage of MM. I can usually do all of the "dark" rides within half an hour (remember, Peter Pan FIRST, then Dumbo).

Personally, I prefer PPH to DLH, but it's just a matter of feeling more at home in one over the other.

 

[pixiewings71]

As a guest at a DL resort property you will get MM with your stay. So even tho you won't have hoppers you'll still get to use MM.

 

[challer]

How do you get passes for MM? Is it at check in? No I need to request this?

 

[Hound 109]

Sun 2/8 arrival in early afternoon till Tues 2/10.

New wrinkles:

No Pixar Play Parade on Monday! (maybe DCA on Sunday instead?)

Due to the fact I'm redeeming 2 days on my old WDW Passport, I will not have a parkhopper (unless one can upgrade there???), and therefore no Magic Morning.

My son is just under 40" tall. My daughter wants to try new "big kid things." Don't know what to do with this.

I'm loving the input. Keep it up!

I hope someone can comment on redeeming your WDW passport into a parkhopper (or upgrading into one). Maybe post a separate question on this...IMO with 2 total days at DLR (one of them a Sunday), park hopping would be handy & efficient.

Puma, Toocherie & Pixiewings are all correct, staying at the DLH or Paradise Pier (or the GCH) gets you MM for all days offered (including your arrival & departing day). Because of this & because the time change works in your favor, & because Tuesday is your last morning......for me it would be a slam dunk....I'd be doing MM on Tuesday.

Because of this, I'd get a 3 day hopper (since you'll want a hopper for Sunday & Monday).

DLR & WDW are completely different from a logistical perspective, hopping & FP collecting is MUCH easier & more productive at DLR. (especially if you're an early riser).

I've heard others say this & i agree....to me, DCA is more like CaliforniaLand as opposed to a seperate park & (except for FP collecting) i treat it as such. It's also a great place to escape to when DL gets too crowded & DCA has some GREAT eating spots.

In addition to HydroGuy's Tip thread (with a dozen or more threads with useful tips), here's a couple of examples of how the parks could be toured....I found it helpful even if i wasn't following a planned itinerary to see how tips & tricks can save minutes & hours.

For me, this was the thread that helped me GET how to tour DLR....while i read this i had the abreviation list handy & a DLR map in front of me.....after the third time i read this the clouds parted & it all made sense :

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132


And here's an example of how i did a one day touring plan (a couple of months ago).....again, not that anyone would or should follow this, but it gives an idea of how one can tour in a way that one is constantly zigging while others are zagging. Note: I haven't finished the final hour on this report, but you'll get some ideas on FP strategies & how close DCA is.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1975805

Find out about upgrading the WDW passporters to 2 (or 3) day PARK HOPPERS. If the cost isn't prohibitive, i'd consider it....especially if this is your one big shot at Walt's Park.

.

 

[Hound 109]

How do you get passes for MM? Is it at check in? No I need to request this?

When you check in at a DLR hotel, you'll get a key that will open your room door.....& will also allow you all to enter MM (you show the key at the front gate). Same key....you'll get one for each member of your party.

 

[Sherry E]

And also, Challer, when you check into the DLH (or PPH or whichever of the 3 DLR hotels), if the person behind the front desk (who is checking you in and giving you your pink folder and other materials) is on his or her game, they should tell you all about the MM when they have you sign the paperwork and take care of any check-in related procedures. I have only experienced one time where the CM behind the Front Desk was out of it or preoccupied and did not tell us anything about the MM option (and also forgot to give us a parking pass as well). So just in case he or she neglects to mention MM to you in their 'Welcome' speech, make sure to double check with them on the MM days, because I have heard on DIS that occasionally they change the MM days and you want to be sure you know when you can get in early. So if you are a guest at one of the hotels, they will give your Key to the Magic (aka room key card), which you show along with your ticket at the turnstiles. You can also charge purchases and meals to your Key to the Magic, if you choose to. If you are not staying at the hotel but have the 3-day Hopper or longer, then I would guess you just show the Hopper and that's it.

It will be a breeze once you get there. You will see how many rides you can get done in Fantasyland and/or Tomorrowland during that golden MM hour and how crowded the lines for those rides are later in the day, and you will be glad you took advantage of it!! When we did the MM 2 weeks ago, we were wondering why we hadn't been using the MM option on our last few trips!!

 

[SueTGGR]

Anyone know about DLH in-room babysitting?

From what I have read your kids are not in diapers, correct? Don't really need in-room babysitting but we have used their suggested service before & were VERY happy. Another advantage of staying in a Disney property is Pinocchio's Workshop. It is at the Grand CA but all 3 have access to it. Last time we used it for my DS (9yr old) I believe it was $13 or $14 per hour. DH & I will use it so we can go on the "scarier" rides and maybe get a nice dinner in DTD. They will even take them up to watch fireworks in the concierge lounge and you can pay for a dinner for them, all depending on the times they are there. I believe they can stay until Midnight. It is a great room and the ladies who work in there are great. They have a big screen TV with movies playing, toys, crafts & my son's fav, Video games! And an area for them to curl up if they get tired. He actually BEGS to be taken when we go.

BTW, I vote for DLH as we love the pixie dusting when we turn the lights out at night. . I also don't think it is much further to go through the grand CA entrance from DLH as we take the shortcut through DTD into the lobby. That special entrance is also a quick way to go to get fast passes for Soaring, too. We were @ DLH early Dec & had an wonderful view down DTD & the fireworks.

 

[challer]

From what I have read your kids are not in diapers, correct? Don't really need in-room babysitting but we have used their suggested service before & were VERY happy. Another advantage of staying in a Disney property is Pinocchio's Workshop.

I know about this, and my kids are potty trained, but don't the kids need to be minimum 5 yrs old? Also, considering jetlag, my kids may be passing out by 6:30pm, so I thought an in-room babysitter would give me the most time out. Pinocchio's Workshop may still work for me for part of the night, though, so if my 3 yr old can go, I'm sure they'd love it.

I hope someone can comment on redeeming your WDW passport into a parkhopper (or upgrading into one). Maybe post a separate question on this...IMO with 2 total days at DLR (one of them a Sunday), park hopping would be handy & efficient.

[...]

Find out about upgrading the WDW passporters to 2 (or 3) day PARK HOPPERS. If the cost isn't prohibitive, i'd consider it....especially if this is your one big shot at Walt's Park.

I know - this is becoming a key piece to the puzzle here. Had I no tickets, I'd be buying a 3 day PH easily, but I could be saving a ton with these passporters. I'll do a separate post. I'll also see if a call to them may help, but I have come to not 100% trust that what is said on the phone will come to fruition at the ticket booth.

Best would be if I could switch it at my local Disney Store or at World of Disney NYC, but they can't accommodate this.

And also, Challer, when you check into the DLH (or PPH or whichever of the 3 DLR hotels), if the person behind the front desk (who is checking you in and giving you your pink folder and other materials) is on his or her game, they should tell you all about the MM when they have you sign the paperwork and take care of any check-in related procedures. I have only experienced one time where the CM behind the Front Desk was out of it or preoccupied and did not tell us anything about the MM option (and also forgot to give us a parking pass as well). So just in case he or she neglects to mention MM to you in their 'Welcome' speech, make sure to double check with them on the MM days, because I have heard on DIS that occasionally they change the MM days and you want to be sure you know when you can get in early.

Thanks - I'll put this (and the parking pass) on my "Things to get at check-in" list. If there is anything else I should ask for, keep me updated.

This is fabulous everyone - the input has been invaluable!

 

[challer]

Anyone know if there is access to a microwave at DLH?

 

[challer]

OK, I'm getting more and more pessimistic about converting the passporters to park-hoppers, even with shelling out $$$. I am even considering just skipping the passporters & blowing a 3 day PH for myself. It may be an "at-the-ticket-booth" decision.

I need a solid Plan A & Plan B.

Right now I have Plans A-K.

 

[SueTGGR]

Pinocchio's Workshop

Enjoy a night out and treat children ages 5-12 to an evening of arts and crafts, computer games, Disney films, dinner and snacks with a caring, licensed supervisor in an environment created for them (available to Resort Hotel Guests; additional fee)

Sorry, yes, it is min 5 yr old.
But I remember using thier in-room babysitting about 5 years or so ago. The woman was wonderful. She brought her own basket of toys. My DS loved having her with him. It is a lot of paperwork so plan ahead just to be able to get the paperwork done ahead of time. I remember that part!

I don't recall any microwaves.
Good luck on the passes!

 

[challer]

Pinocchio's Workshop

Enjoy a night out and treat children ages 5-12 to an evening of arts and crafts, computer games, Disney films, dinner and snacks with a caring, licensed supervisor in an environment created for them (available to Resort Hotel Guests; additional fee)

Sorry, yes, it is min 5 yr old.
But I remember using thier in-room babysitting about 5 years or so ago. The woman was wonderful. She brought her own basket of toys. My DS loved having her with him. It is a lot of paperwork so plan ahead just to be able to get the paperwork done ahead of time. I remember that part!

I don't recall any microwaves.
Good luck on the passes!

Thanks for the tip. Although with jet lag, I may be putting the kids to sleep at 6-7pm and then leaving the sitter with them.

 

[challer]

OK, thanks for all the help. Here's what I'm thinking:

DLH!

Get in for afternoon in DCA on Feb 8th - I'm assuming no park hoppers (Passport ticket), and my kids would love Pixar Play Parade, which is only happening on Sunday. Put the kids to bed 6-7. Either babysitter to go back to DCA till 10, or save sitter for next night in DL.

By choosing my Sunday half day in DCA, I miss out on my night in DL when its open till midnight. I think the kids' Pixar play parade would be worth sacrificing 2 extra hours in DL for my selfish experience.

Next day - crack o' dawn wake (jet lag), breakfast with characters, and at DL for rope drop. Maybe do babysitter for this night for me later (need Space Mountain).

I've gotten so much help here. Thanks.

Any more tips?

How early does the Plaza resturaunt in DL open for character breakfasts?
How late/early do the Downtown Disney shops open?

 

[challer]

Trip Report:

Thank you everyone for the advice - I'm back and I wanted to say everyone's advice was well appreciated.

Got into LAX at 10:45am Sunday, and after getting luggage, getting car, and getting VirginAmerica to get my bluetooth headset I left on the plane back to me, we checked into DLH at 1:30pm. Got kids ready and we headed to DCA. Kids had 2 day nonparkhopper, and I had my passporter - they stamped it and I got a parkhopper for the day! Kids lasted until 5:45pm and we walked back to DLH and kids were asleep by 6:30pm (NY jetlag). Fullerton babysitter came 7:30 and I headed back to DCA (Tower of Terror, Soarin, etc) then to DL (Spcae mountain, fantasmic, Indy x 3!). Returned 12:30am.

Monday morning - kids up at 5:15am, Goofy's Kitchen for 7am, rope drop at 9. Here's the best: when I went up to redeem my last space on my passporter, the supervisor at the gate (JUDY - thank you!) gave me a parkhopper, then looked at my kids tickets and said, "Becuase of the wet weather and low crowds, let switch these for you" and she handed me 2 kids parkhoppers! Spent most of day in DL, but ended at DCA for Pixar Play Parade!

One downer - ran kids to exhaustion expecting a monorail ride back. Monorail was 101. Had to do the walk with 2 miserably tired kids.

Had a great time. The park hopper for me Sunday night with the babysitter and the kids parkhoppers for the next day was the ideal situation that I didn't expect.

Other random thoughts:

it's a small world (new version) - thumbs down
Subs with Nemo - thumbs "sideways" (as my kids say)
TSM - thumbs up!
Pixar Play Parade - thumbs up!

Disneyland Hotel - was it worth it? I'm glad I did it. Not necessarily worth the money, not much happened on site to make it a *wow* experience (way to cold for pool), so practically & financially not too great. Monorail was fun though. However, there was magic there that the Best Western wouldn't have given us, and I think the kids & I sensed that. Good choice for us this time, but not a must for each trip. Glad I did it.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[Sherry E]

Yay! Sounds like it was a great trip! Isn't the Toy Story ride fantastic? Definitely my new favorite, or in the top 2! Did you enjoy Goofy's Kitchen? It is my favorite of all the restaurants in DLR. Yes, it is costly, but I feel it is worth it for the wide variety of food to choose from and the character interaction.

I am so glad you guys had a wonderful time.

 

[Hunnypaw]

Here's some walking distances I saved on one of my maps.

DLH to the Downtown Monorail Station: 537 feet
DLH to the Grand Californian private entrance to DCA: .36 miles
DLH to the front gates of Disneyland: .44 miles
DLH to the front gates of DCA: .44 miles


PPH to the Downtown Monorail Station: 1,160 feet
PPH to Grand Californian private entrance to DCA: 1,300 feet
PPH to the front gates of Disneyland (cutting through GCH to DTD): .42 miles
PPH to the front gates of DCA (cutting through GCH to DTD): .42 miles

Thanks for the breakdown!

We like DLH a bit more, but it is older inside for sure.