Disneyland newbie and I need help!!!

[Disney Ron]

We go to WDW every year since we live in Rhode Island, but are thinking about going to DL next August. I am very knowledgeable when it comes to WDW, but am just the opposite when it comes to DL. I have some questions that I need the experts here help with. We plan on staying on site and not in a Good Neighbor resort. So please excuse some of the questions if you think they are dumb, but I'm really a newbie when it comes to DL.

1) Since we want to stay at a Disney resort are there on hotel deals that come out for August?

2) Do we need to make ADR's for dining?

3) Do they have Fastpass +?

4) Does DL show up on My Disney Experience? And if not do they have an app like MDE?

5) Would LAX be the best airport to fly into to get to DL?

6) Besides renting a car, what options are there to get from the airport to DL?

Those are it for now. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know we'll have more questions and will look for help when we come up with them.

TIA!!!

 

[goldmay]

2. It's recommended. Sometimes the restaurants take walk-ins but it depends on how busy they are. You don't always have to make reservations right at the 60-day mark to get a good time though.

3. No

4. No, but there's a Disneyland app that shows wait times, show schedules, etc.

5. Personally I would say SNA would be better because it's the closest airport, and you'd have to deal with more traffic coming in from LAX.

6. Taxi (expensive if you decide on LAX), shared shuttle, and also the Disneyland Express. I think you have to pay extra for it.

 

[BadPinkTink]

2) Do we need to make ADR's for dining?

Yes but its no where near as stressful as WDW. I usually do an ADR for Blue Bayou, as its one of my must do restaurant's and I go to Disneyland California during June / peak time. This year I did the Fantasmic Dining Package at Blue Bayou. Most ADR can be done at 60 day mark

3) Do they have Fastpass +?

No Disneyland California does not have Fastpass +. You get a paper Fast Pass from a machine beside the ride / attraction. Not all rides / attractions have Fast Pass. The Fast pass system is also in operation for Fantasmic and World of Colour but they are not connected to the ride Fast Pass. This means you can get a World of Colour Fast Pass at 10am and straight after get a Radiator Springs Racer Fast Pass

5) Would LAX be the best airport to fly into to get to DL?

I always fly into LAX but thats cos I fly international. People have all sorts of stories about flying into LAX but I have been using that airport for 7 years now and it is what it is, a major international airport.
7

6) Besides renting a car, what options are there to get from the airport to DL?

I use www.supershuttle.com Its a shared ride shuttle, which starts pick ups at Terminal one and then depending on locations and how many are in the van, may or may not pick up at the other terminals. It cost $17 per person per journey

 

[Nicolette11785]

) Since we want to stay at a Disney resort are there on hotel deals that come out for August?

Not usually

2) Do we need to make ADR's for dining?

You should but it depends on what kind of dining. It is very different from WDW dining. You do not have to do it right at 60 days though.

3) Do they have Fastpass +?

Not right now. However, you are coming in a year from now so things can always change.

4) Does DL show up on My Disney Experience? And if not do they have an app like MDE?

There is a Disneyland app for both android and iphone

5) Would LAX be the best airport to fly into to get to DL?

LAX is sometime cheaper to fly to but SNA is much closer. Check prices and see what's worth it to you.

6) Besides renting a car, what options are there to get from the airport to DL?
Taxi, shuttle, disneyland express shuttle, Uber

 

[Sith]

2) Do we need to make ADR's for dining?

You could get lucky and get a table without a reservation, but I wouldn't chance it if there is somewhere specific you would like to eat. And, there's no harm in making a reservation. As long as you cancel at least 1 full day ahead, then you will not be charged. If you cancel later than that or are a no show, then they charge your credit card $10 per person.

 

[Watchtower]

LAX is the most accessible airport hub in the area, but it's also the biggest, most crowded, most complicated to navigate, and further away than a couple other options. Both SNA (aka John Wayne Airport and/or Orange County Airport) and LGB (Long Beach Airport) are closer to the resort and much more....pleasant....to fly into. LGB is a major JetBlue Airlines hub, and they usually have good deals, so if you can hop a JetBlue flight out of Rhode Island, I'd check it out. LGB is a very small airport; you can get off the plane, grab your bags and be out on the curb within about 10 minutes. LGB is NOT serviced by the Disneyland Express, but they do a $45 flat-rate taxi that gets you to the resort in about 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. SNA is a little bigger, but still a nice airport. You can hop the Disneyland Express from here; it's not free like in WDW, not sure about their current prices, though. SNA is also about 30-40 minutes from Disneyland Resort. LAX could take you an hour or more in traffic to get to DLR.

ADR's are recommended for the major sit-down restaurants like Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, and Character meals like at Goofy's Kitchen (in the Disneyland Hotel) or Storytellers (in the Grand Californian Hotel). ADR's can be made 60 days out, but the official park schedule isn't posted until about 6 weeks out, so you may have to wait to make ADR's until that point if you want to coordinate a breakfast time around when the parks open.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread should provide you with lots of helpful info: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets
Start there and come on back with any more questions! And don't worry, since DLR is smaller than WDW, planning is generally much more casual and less stressful.

 

[tarheelalum]

You don't have to make dining reservations the way people do at Disney world. You could wait until a week or two to make them. Or even the day before.

 

[HydroGuy]

Lots of good answers so far. Trying here not to repeat other answers and add where you might need more help:

1) Since we want to stay at a Disney resort are there on hotel deals that come out for August?

I have done onsite and off. It is highly unlikely you will see any deals. hat does happen when the economy is down but not now. In off season you will find that kind of thing.

Be aware there are many dual WDW/DLR vets that will only stay onsite at WDW but are happy staying offsite at DLR. There is some real sticker shock at DLR for hotels and when there are decent options for 1/3 to 1/4 half the price very close to DLR then many take that route.

Last month we went back to the BWPPI for the first time in many years. With my kids older and our large crew we are now at the point we have to get two rooms. The DLR hotels can be a real killer. My DS23 asked last month about the price comparison between GCH and BWPPI and I told him it is was 4 to 1. Four nights at BWPPI (which is what we stayed this time) to one night at GCH (roughly $150 a night vs. $600 a night - times 2 for us for 2 rooms).

2) Do we need to make ADR's for dining?

See "What WDW Vets Need to Know About Dining at DLR" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2914467

3) Do they have Fastpass +?

Not now and probably never will in the way WDW has it. MDE and MBs? Probably yes. But FP+? Hard to ever see that for many reasons discussed at length in other threads here.

4) Does DL show up on My Disney Experience? And if not do they have an app like MDE?

Sort of, as others have pointed out. Only for rides.

5) Would LAX be the best airport to fly into to get to DL?

I detest LAX. It is a dirty, crowded airport in a bad part of town and very unmagical when visiting DLR. I avoid it whenever I can but sometimes I just can't.

From the east coast it may be unavoidable for you. I go to SoCal several times a year for many reasons including DLR but also for business and family (I used to live there). When visiting DLR I try very hard to fly into John Wayne (SNA) as it feels a lot like MCO in Orlando IMO - but smaller.

6) Besides renting a car, what options are there to get from the airport to DL?

If only visiting DLR you do NOT need a car. At all.

See "Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

 

[Disney Ron]

Thank you everyone for the responses they were unbelievably helpful.

HydroGuy, we figured first time at DL coming all the way from RI we should stay on property, but I agree with you, if we do go to DL it looks like it will be off property. I looked at the DL hotel prices and we don't want to pay that especially with the cost of airfare from RI to Cali. Our only concern is ending up in a dirty hotel which has happened to us on previous trips elsewhere. We are a family of 4 with a 7 and 9 year old next August. We want a clean hotel with a decent pool close to DL. Where could I get this info from?

TIA!

 

[Geemo]

I'll give you a few links for the DLR area.

This one has several places right around DLR.
http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

This one is an Anaheim Resort area map. It's from a few years ago, so a few things have changed since then.
http://anaheim411.com/2008_mapFRONT_xl.jpg

When I want to know the distance from place to place, I like to check it using Wikimapia
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=3...&m=h&gz=0;-1179189741;338091968;0;0;37549;665

This is a thread from 2011. It maybe getting an update in the days to come. When you read the info be sure to see the date related to it.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/walking-distance-hotel-list-w-discussion-details-of-hotels.2796786/

I agree with flying into SNA if possible.
We grab a mini van taxi for the 5 or 6 of us. It's generally a rate of $35 to $45 one-way.

Good luck with your planning

Geemo

 

[Disney Ron]

Thanks Geemo I'm going to those links right now.

 

[HydroGuy]

HydroGuy, we figured first time at DL coming all the way from RI we should stay on property, but I agree with you, if we do go to DL it looks like it will be off property. I looked at the DL hotel prices and we don't want to pay that especially with the cost of airfare from RI to Cali. Our only concern is ending up in a dirty hotel which has happened to us on previous trips elsewhere. We are a family of 4 with a 7 and 9 year old next August. We want a clean hotel with a decent pool close to DL. Where could I get this info from?

You will get many different answers to this question. There truly are many good options and very few bad ones.

Personally I value proximity to DLR above hotel quality. So I prefer a decent medium quality hotel right near DLR to a more upscale one further away. My opinions are here: "HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Best Western Park Place Inn is the absolute closest. The pool is small. The rooms are decent and clean. The walk from your hotel room door to DLR is literally five minutes. Like closer from many WDW hotel room doors are to the hotel bus stop - let alone the parks.

Candy Cane Inn is more like a 8-10 minute walk but has a dedicated hotel shuttle that runs every 30 minutes. It is slightly nicer than BWPPI. Tropicana is next to BWWPI and just fine. HoJo's is a bit farther away (more like 10-12 minutes from your hotel room door) but also a step in quality of rooms and pools. The new Courtyard Marriott opened in July and is getting a good reputation for quality and is a little closer than HoJo's. There are some nicer hotels like Hilton further south on Harbor and some folks prefer the tradeoff in quality.

Good luck!

 

[Blue32]

You will get many different answers to this question. There truly are many good options and very few bad ones.

Personally I value proximity to DLR above hotel quality. So I prefer a decent medium quality hotel right near DLR to a more upscale one further away. My opinions are here: "HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Best Western Park Place Inn is the absolute closest. The pool is small. The rooms are decent and clean. The walk from your hotel room door to DLR is literally five minutes. Like closer from many WDW hotel room doors are to the hotel bus stop - let alone the parks.

Candy Cane Inn is more like a 8-10 minute walk but has a dedicated hotel shuttle that runs every 30 minutes. It is slightly nicer than BWPPI. Tropicana is next to BWWPI and just fine. HoJo's is a bit farther away (more like 10-12 minutes from your hotel room door) but also a step in quality of rooms and pools. The new Courtyard Marriott opened in July and is getting a good reputation for quality and is a little closer than HoJo's. There are some nicer hotels like Hilton further south on Harbor and some folks prefer the tradeoff in quality.

Good luck!

The hotels Hydroguy listed here are probably the ones highest regarded here on the DIS that are in close proximity. The Fairfield Inn is another very popular choice.

Not to hijack BUT..... no trip report this year Hydroguy?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If the pool really matters to the OP's kids (and I've had friends say the pool was a deal maker/breaker, only to have the kids want to spend all their time in the parks and not swim!), then the HoJo and the new Courtyard are the first hotels that come to mind. And both hotels are very family friendly. Otherwise, we love the Candy Cane Inn and have recommended it to many friends.

 

[HydroGuy]

If the pool really matters to the OP's kids (and I've had friends say the pool was a deal maker/breaker, only to have the kids want to spend all their time in the parks and not swim!), then the HoJo and the new Courtyard are the first hotels that come to mind. And both hotels are very family friendly. Otherwise, we love the Candy Cane Inn and have recommended it to many friends.

I agree. Hojo's has nicer pools and I saw the water slides (from afar) at Courtyard.

The walk is a little farther and it will not seem like much. Until at the end of a long day at DLR. Been there and done that. Had to hire a taxi to get back to the "short walk" to Hojo's.

 

[HydroGuy]

The hotels Hydroguy listed here are probably the ones highest regarded here on the DIS that are in close proximity. The Fairfield Inn is another very popular choice.

Not to hijack BUT..... no trip report this year Hydroguy?

Not planning one this time. I did not have much to say after last month's trip. The new parade and fireworks were very cool. Saw them from Main Street towards the hub. The new WOC not so much (I updated the WOC Superthread). The new PP effects were meh. Got on the ToT ride and - I am not kidding here - the elevator broke! We never got to ride it. DW was a little freaked and we passed on the offer of a re-ride.

 

[my2boyz]

I think it depends on when in August you plan to go. We have been 2 times in August and just this past August (23-28) we received if I remember correctly 30% off room.

 

[GenGen22]

For airports SNA or LGB are the closest. I use Supershuttle for my shuttle service. I use a discount from here: http://visitanaheim.org/coupons I also suggest booking your hotel from getawaytoday.com as they have good hotel deals that sometimes have 3rd & 4th night free deals. I would also go to mousesavers.com as it has lots of helpful information. HoJo is a good hotel choice for near by. It depends if you want to walk or take a shuttle ART is the area shuttle service. I also like Embassy Suites Anaheim South but you need a shuttle for this hotel. They have an excellent buffet breakfast that's free with your hotel stay. There are a lot of hotels in the area that offer free breakfast.

 

[PlazaInnChicken]

Since you live in Rhode Island, you should fly out of Logan to Long Beach using JetBlue. That's the flight I take when I visit my buddy in Boston and in laws in New London Connecticut. It's cheap and a short distance away from Disneyland.