Disneyland in July

[vicarrieous]

Talk to me about Disneyland in July!

How is the weather? Hot? Rainy?

I am also assuming crowds are high.

We are debating a trip to San Diego with 3-4 days in Anaheim. If we opt to stay at a closer hotel, what would you recommend?

 

[starkweatherink]

The weather is always going to be warmer in Southern Cali; not much rain little humidity. If school is out, you can usually count on higher crowd volumes, especially as the world opens up more from Covid.

 

[vicarrieous]

The weather is always going to be warmer in Southern Cali; not much rain little humidity. If school is out, you can usually count on higher crowd volumes, especially as the world opens up more from Covid.

This is what I was about expecting. Any suggestions on tips traveling then like where to stay or ways to prepare?

 

[ktlm]

It is all relative depending on where you are from. We have been in July several times (pre-2020). We have found the weather to be fantastic. Beautiful in the mornings and evenings and sometimes a little hot in the afternoon. It has always been cooler than it is at home, and nothing like being at WDW between June and September. We heard locals complaining about the heat- but to us the weather was really nice.

We have found the crowds manageable in July. Surprisingly the weekends have had lower crowds than weekdays- which was probably due to AP blackouts. We always used FP/Max Pass and actually really enjoyed going in July. Of course, everything is different now. We went in October this year and it was way more crowded than what we were used to pre-covid July. Without Max pass or FP we got way less done than we usually do in July.

Most years we spent half the week in DLR and half the week in the San Diego area (one year we went north to Universal/LA instead). It is a good split. We love the San Diego area. I would not recommend staying in San Diego and driving to DLR every day. I would stay near DLR for part of the week and then move down to San Diego (or start at SD and then move up to DLR). With you being used to deluxe in the WDW bubble, I would stay on property at DLR if possible. We typically like the Disneyland Hotel. We have stayed off property for part of of trip once and being used to the WDW bubble for years, decided we prefer the DLR bubble as well.

 

[starkweatherink]

This is what I was about expecting. Any suggestions on tips traveling then like where to stay or ways to prepare?

Any of the hotels directly across from the main entrance are great. It's a lot smaller than WDW in terms of getting around; 2 minute walk to the gates from the hotels there

 

[vicarrieous]

Any of the hotels directly across from the main entrance are great. It's a lot smaller than WDW in terms of getting around; 2 minute walk to the gates from the hotels there

Yes, we have been to DL but always in the winter and stayed at Grand Cal so needed an off site recommendation.

 

[vicarrieous]

It is all relative depending on where you are from. We have been in July several times (pre-2020). We have found the weather to be fantastic. Beautiful in the mornings and evenings and sometimes a little hot in the afternoon. It has always been cooler than it is at home, and nothing like being at WDW between June and September. We heard locals complaining about the heat- but to us the weather was really nice.

We have found the crowds manageable in July. Surprisingly the weekends have had lower crowds than weekdays- which was probably due to AP blackouts. We always used FP/Max Pass and actually really enjoyed going in July. Of course, everything is different now. We went in October this year and it was way more crowded than what we were used to pre-covid July. Without Max pass or FP we got way less done than we usually do in July.

Most years we spent half the week in DLR and half the week in the San Diego area (one year we went north to Universal/LA instead). It is a good split. We love the San Diego area. I would not recommend staying in San Diego and driving to DLR every day. I would stay near DLR for part of the week and then move down to San Diego (or start at SD and then move up to DLR). With you being used to deluxe in the WDW bubble, I would stay on property at DLR if possible. We typically like the Disneyland Hotel. We have stayed off property for part of of trip once and being used to the WDW bubble for years, decided we prefer the DLR bubble as well.

Thanks this was helpful. Our current plan is 3 nights in San Diego then move up to DL for 5 nights. Our one hurdle is planning how to transfer. We would prefer not to rent a car and drive. Any advice on a car service or other form of transportation? We are thinking we may stay at Grand Cal, but if not was thinking the Howard Johnson. I am leery to leave the bubble only because we really enjoy it and like to take a break mid day.

 

[disneycat321]

I see by your signature you've been to WDW in July....so you'll be fine, weather wise. July in Orange County can be pretty hot, but it's not Orlando hot/humid/rainy/sticky. You're highly unlikely to encounter any rain at all.

Thanks this was helpful. Our current plan is 3 nights in San Diego then move up to DL for 5 nights. Our one hurdle is planning how to transfer. We would prefer not to rent a car and drive. Any advice on a car service or other form of transportation? We are thinking we may stay at Grand Cal, but if not was thinking the Howard Johnson. I am leery to leave the bubble only because we really enjoy it and like to take a break mid day.

Southern CA (actually most of CA) is very car dependent, so this is tricky. I've taken the train between Orange County and San Diego before, so that's an option you could look into. I guess you could Uber or Lyft to and from the train stations.

The hotels across Harbor (including HoJo, which is a bit further than some) are closer to the parks than most of the deluxes are to the parks at WDW. I've done a midday break at Harbor hotels before. That said, if money was no object I'd choose the Grand. We just haven't been willing to splurge for it yet, but it'll probably happen one day.

We have never found the crowds in July at DLR to be that big of a deal. We went to WDW in July 2019 and felt the crowds there in July were far worse than DLR's. Yes, it'll be crowded, but not unmanageable. At least, from a historical standpoint. Things are pretty weird and unpredictable these days...

 

[vicarrieous]

I see by your signature you've been to WDW in July....so you'll be fine, weather wise. July in Orange County can be pretty hot, but it's not Orlando hot/humid/rainy/sticky. You're highly unlikely to encounter any rain at all.



Southern CA (actually most of CA) is very car dependent, so this is tricky. I've taken the train between Orange County and San Diego before, so that's an option you could look into. I guess you could Uber or Lyft to and from the train stations.

The hotels across Harbor (including HoJo, which is a bit further than some) are closer to the parks than most of the deluxes are to the parks at WDW. I've done a midday break at Harbor hotels before. That said, if money was no object I'd choose the Grand. We just haven't been willing to splurge for it yet, but it'll probably happen one day.

We have never found the crowds in July at DLR to be that big of a deal. We went to WDW in July 2019 and felt the crowds there in July were far worse than DLR's. Yes, it'll be crowded, but not unmanageable. At least, from a historical standpoint. Things are pretty weird and unpredictable these days...

Thanks, this was really helpful. All was about what I was thinking, but it was helpful to hear someone else with more experience to confirm and give insight.

 

[ktlm]

Thanks this was helpful. Our current plan is 3 nights in San Diego then move up to DL for 5 nights. Our one hurdle is planning how to transfer. We would prefer not to rent a car and drive. Any advice on a car service or other form of transportation? We are thinking we may stay at Grand Cal, but if not was thinking the Howard Johnson. I am leery to leave the bubble only because we really enjoy it and like to take a break mid day.

The drive between San Diego and DLR is not bad. We have done it many times. It is nothing like the traffic we driving to and from LA and DLR. We also haven't found driving in the San Diego area bad at all, as long as you aren't in direct rush hour traffic.

We find that we don't need a car at DLR. We go to the Disneyland Hotel and stay in the bubble until we leave. Rental and parking for that is a waste, especially since the DLR parking rate has increased so much. What we do now is take an Uber/Taxi from John Wayne airport to DLR and then when we are ready to go to San Diego, we take an Uber/Lyft back to the airport, pick up a rental car and go from there. We usually fly in and out of John Wayne, so we rent from there and return to the same place when we depart.

There is a train between Anaheim and San Diego that a lot of people take. We have not done that. I think it is about $30 a person each way. Then you also have to factor in your uber/lyft costs to the train station from wherever you are staying. You also would have to factor in your uber/lyft prices in San Diego, which is pretty spread out depending on what you want to do. We would much rather have a car for the San Diego portion of our trip--- we have never had any issues with driving or parking there.

Are you flying in and out of the same airport, or are you flying into San Diego and out of John Wayne?

 

[RunnerMom71]

I would either rent a car (you can do one way!) from San Diego to Anaheim *or* as someone else mentioned take the train if a station is convenient to where you will be in San Diego. I took the train from LA to San Diego for work just before COVID and it was really easy: but it might be cheaper to rent a car if you are a family. There use to be a car rental location in DTD that you could drop the car off at.

 

[cruisehopeful]

July is a great time to visit and as mentioned above, Saturday is often a better day than a weekday. There can be humidity if there's any monsoons (usually early August), but it's very manageable.

If you aren't staying onsite, look at the new Westin. There are actually a lot of better hotels now, but not across the street on Harbor. Those hotels are more like motels and might be totally fine for you. Candy Cane Inn should be open by then. It's being redone right now. You said you stayed at the Grand before and it's a significant step down to stay in any of the Harbor hotels.

Tons of good places to stay in San Diego area and completely different parts of the city. If you don't want a car, your hotel will need to be close to whatever you want to do.

The train from San Diego to Anaheim is worthy of a ride, due to scenic route. Currently, it's $41. Pp for business class. Since the ride is short, you don't get a lot of extras in business class, but I recommend it anyway. You can either take the bus from the Anaheim train station or call a Lyft to get to your hotel. A car is more convenient but then you have to waste time renting it, dropping it off and figuring out transportation before/after the rental if you are only renting it for the day.

 

[vicarrieous]

July is a great time to visit and as mentioned above, Saturday is often a better day than a weekday. There can be humidity if there's any monsoons (usually early August), but it's very manageable.

If you aren't staying onsite, look at the new Westin. There are actually a lot of better hotels now, but not across the street on Harbor. Those hotels are more like motels and might be totally fine for you. Candy Cane Inn should be open by then. It's being redone right now. You said you stayed at the Grand before and it's a significant step down to stay in any of the Harbor hotels.

Tons of good places to stay in San Diego area and completely different parts of the city. If you don't want a car, your hotel will need to be close to whatever you want to do.

The train from San Diego to Anaheim is worthy of a ride, due to scenic route. Currently, it's $41. Pp for business class. Since the ride is short, you don't get a lot of extras in business class, but I recommend it anyway. You can either take the bus from the Anaheim train station or call a Lyft to get to your hotel. A car is more convenient but then you have to waste time renting it, dropping it off and figuring out transportation before/after the rental if you are only renting it for the day.

Thanks for all this great feedback! I think we are leaning on taking the train to Anaheim from San Diego. My in laws did it and said it was enjoyable and it seems like less a hassle then renting a car and paying for parking etc.

I am still trying to hammer out a hotel in Anaheim. I will have to look at the Westin. We obviously want something that is nice, safe and reasonable, but also easily either walkable or transportable from the parks via rideshare. I haven't looked at too many options but if we cannot get the Grand Cali again, we are looking at the Howard Johnson, Hilton or Wyndham....and now the Westin Depending on cost, I may look at the DL hotel or Paradise Pier.

 

[shosh1530]

Another place off Harbor you could look at is the Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance. It is pricier than Howard Johnson's I believe, but also has a small water park onsite and is a bit closer. I've had friends stay there who said it was very nice.

 

[ktlm]

There use to be a car rental location in DTD that you could drop the car off at.

That reminded me- the time we all went back to the airport to rent the car was when we stayed at Newport Beach a couple of nights after DLR. We went from Newport to the airport for the car. There is a car rental at the Paradise Pier Hotel at DLR where you can rent from or drop off unless that has changed. That is what we usually did- my DH would go to Paradise Pier and get the car and pick us up at the DLH-he didn’t go all the way to the airport for the car.

 

[JC1984]

IMO take Amtrak from SD to Anaheim and get an Uber to your hotel. The Surfliner is an awesome ride and the coastal portion is unsurpassed. For hotels I would look at JW Marriott, Residence Inn or Springhill Suites. I have stayed at JW and Residence and will be staying at the Springhill Suites in January. If you like more classy the JW is the place to be. July will be more crowded because of summer break but weather will be nice and probably hot. Not too much rain to worry about or June Gloom.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Depending on cost, I may look at the DL hotel or Paradise Pier.

Whatever you decide, check prices again as you get much closer. I had a DLH stay where the price dropped overnight by over $200. Keep in mind that cancellation policy of whatever you have booked. DLH is going to have construction for a long time. I don't know if that is why the prices drop when it gets closer. I haven't seen it happen with the Grand.