Disneyland in November???

[AmyBeth68]

Hello. I'm new to these boards. I have visited WDW many many times and LOVE it . However, I've never been to DL. I just returned from WDW last weekend and I'm already planning my next Disney vacation. I have been thinking about Disneyland in November 2004. BUT...I have no idea what to expect so maybe you guys can help me out a bit:

1. What is the weather generally like in Anaheim in early November? Is it possible to swim at all???

2. I would imagine that crowds are quite low...but does that also mean that shows would be seriously cut back? For instance...do they show Fantasmic! during the weekends still in early Nov?

3. How many days would you recommend to really get a feel for Disneyland and C.A.? I was thinking of five days possibly (including a weekend).

4. In general...would you recommend visiting at this time of year? Will we be able to see enough of the parks, attractions, rides to make it a "magical" vacation ?

5. What can you tell me about the Disneyland Hotel? I'm intrigued and think it would be fun to stay there. However, I've heard that there are GREAT deals on neighboring hotels that shouldn't be ignored. What do you Disneyland experts advise?

6. When do the Christmas holiday decorations typically go up at DL?

7. FINALLY...and I promise I'll shut up after this....if you could do ONE non-Disney thing while visiting the Anaheim area, what would it be? There seem to be lots of options .

Thanks a million!

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Hi!
Let's see............
1) The weather is generally fairly warm during the day but can be quite chilly at night. It's actually been raining a bit lately...OK it was pouring at DL last night!

2) Crowds are usually low during the week but weekends are packed. Veteran's Day (2 days ago) was REALLY busy and the parks stayed open later than normal. Yes, I believe Fantasmic is playing on the weekends.

3) I think 5 days is more than enough to do everything at a pretty leisurely pace.

4) Early Nov. is the best time to see DL!!!!! The weather is usually still good and, as of the first full weekend in Nov., all of the Christmas decorations are up and the Holiday Fireworks are going. Unfortunately, the Holiday parade doesn't start until Thanksgiving weekend.

5) Honestly, I don't know much about staying at the hotel as I am local.

6) Please see #4

7) That's a tough one! It depends on where you are coming from and what you like to do. There is everything from visiting some great beach towns to the whole L.A. Hollywood scene. There isn't much else going on in Anaheim itself

Hope this helps a little!!

 

[psimon]

AMYBETH68, thanks for asking the questions. I was about to do the same. We also just came back from WDW (we were there 11/2 - 11/8). This year we spent Halloween at Universal Citywalk in Orlando.

My wife wants to try something different next year. By my calculations, we would be at DL from 10/29 - 11/6/04. That puts us squarely in DL for Halloween. What is it like at DL for the holiday? Is there trick or treating in the park? Is it crowded? Is it a seperate ticketed event as it is at WDW? What are/were the additional charges for Halloween?

My goal for our trip is to do DL, CA, Knotts Berry Far, Universal Hollywood and Legoland. Does my schedule offer enough time to do everything without being rushed?

Does any of the Disney hotels have indoor pools? Heated? Is it really worth the $$$ to stay at a Disney property? At WDW it makes a big difference, but it appears (and from what I remember from 20 years ago) the layout is different enough that it may not be necessary for DL. Any thoughts?

All comments appreciated..... Paul

 

[daannzzz]

What is showing in November varies from year to year. Sometimes Fantasmic closes on Labor day and doesn't return until May. Sometimes it shows until Christmas. This year they have been having shows on weekends through Christmas. The Haunted Mansion Holiday is usually open for Halloween and stays until after Christmas. it's a small world holiday opens in early November. The parks will be easily toured on weekdays. Friday Nights are busy. Saturdays are PACKED, and Sundays can be inbetween.
Because the two parks are right next to each other, you can tour them easily. Imagined Disneyland as Futureworld at Epcot. DCA is World Showcase (though not nearly as big).
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html

I love the Disneyland hotel. Even though the 3 towers are bland and older the inerior rooms are great, particularly in the Sierra tower. The decore is semi formal yet still very fun. The rooms are good size and the gorunds of the hotel are nice. It is a 5-7 minute walk to the gates of the park. Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is awesome. Designed buy the architect who did the AKL and WL it isn't as nice lg on the outside but the interior is great. It is located "in" DCA and has a better location than any of the WDW hotels do, relative to their parks. But, because Disneyland is in an urban evinronment there are motels right across the street that can be had for good prices with the walk being similar to the Disneyland hotel. My favorites and generally well reviewed are
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel. They have interior corridors here. Most other places have exterior corridors.
Candy Cane Inn
Park Inn
Tropicana Inn
Park Place Inn and Mini Suites
The Anabella
There is a Hilton and Marriott real close as well. These often come up on Priceline for a good price.

To see both parks in depth you need at least 3 days. 4 days would good for a nice mellow time. Other things to see in the area depend on if you have a car. I like visiting the Queen Mary, J Paul Getty Museum, and San Diego where you have the big Zoo, Sea World and Wild Animal Park. Lots of people go to Hollywood which can be a bit disappointing but driving througn Beverly hills and seing all the old mansions is really nice. Universal Studios is good in that it has the real backlot with some historical (film wise)
sets.

 

[sters]

Thanks for the feedback, as I'm also planning a trip for about that time. I saw some deals for a 5 day for the price of 3 or something... not quite as good as the recent Fairy Tale Package at WDW, but still sounded good to me. But I thought 5 might be overkill. I'll see if I can find it again.