Disneyland packages? What are your thoughts?

[riverbelle]

How and when are you receiving your tickets?
If you have your hopper tickets before your DH stay, I would say that you can start using them before your stay at DH.
But call Costco Travel to verify.

I think it would only be a problem if for some reason, you were picking up tickets at DH at check in.

One thing to be aware of is that the hopper has to be used within a certain time period. It might be 13 days but not sure that it is still the case.

 

[LovesTimone]

I concur. Plus they're virtually non-refundable/non-cancellable. Even at half the price of a standard room, that still too much money to flush down the 'throne' if something happens and you can't go.

good point for sure.[/QUOTE]

 

[LovesTimone]

Don't consider the point rentals for DVC. There is only one resort (Villas at Grand Californian) and they routinely book up quickly as they only have a very limited number of rooms.

OP here,

this is a very good point on the DVC, with kids you just never know what going to happen...

Right now we are leaning to offsite, looking at Hilton and a few others... We stayed at Majestic Gardens ( I think it was called something else?) the only time we have been to Disneyland, it is a older hotel, the rooms were nice, and pretty big rooms - if I remember correctly, plus they have a bus that goes back and forth to the park. DH said maybe we look at like family suite so that he has room move around, so right now I am chasing that down... Yet DH for our grandson it might be worth it to just stay on site...

A friend said that there are several family suite hotels close by... Suggestions? Please

I know on here that Candy Cane and the Tropicana get pretty fair reviews. I mentioned this one to a friend she said they both were dumps... they actually planned to stay and booked for one night at Candy Cane ( before Covid) and she said that her DH took one look at the room, and said NOPE... he stopped her at the door and said don't go in, its disgusting....they had a late flight and just needed it to sleep, and shower, and get ready to move to another hotel for the actual trip... He ended up getting on line, right then and booking another hotel, and moving over to the Hilton for the one night... The thing about this guy he is super laid back, and is a go with the flow kinda guy, with him saying nope it really gave me pause, for him to say NOPE.... to think well that there might be something to this...

Thoughts...[/QUOTE]

 

[sjmac42]

Many here would disagree with your friend about Candy Cane Inn and the Tropicana, they are popular and well rated although I haven’t stayed at the Tropicana.
Hilton is fine, that was our hotel Christmas 2019 but you can get closer if you want (it’s a bit less than a 20 min walk). Anaheim Desert Inn has Family suites which are basic but fine and it’s right across the street as are Park Vue Inn and Best Western Park Place Inn. If you’re that close, you don’t need a shuttle (same goes for Candy Cane Inn). For something a bit newer or more upmarket, there are several options. For Hotels under a 10min walk you have Fairfield Inn (exterior corridors) and Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. All the above are closer to the turnstiles than the Disneyland Hotel btw.
Nicer/newer places a little further (around 15-20 mins walk) are Springhill Suites, Hyatt House, Residence Inn Convention, Sheraton Park, Anaheim Marriott and the Hilton.
You seem to keep mentioning shuttles but do remember they drop you outside security which is still a few mins from the turnstiles. Think the walk from the parking lot Tram drop off at Hollywood Studios to the gates.

 

[LovesTimone]

Many here would disagree with your friend about Candy Cane Inn and the Tropicana, they are popular and well rated although I haven’t stayed at the Tropicana.
Hilton is fine, that was our hotel Christmas 2019 but you can get closer if you want (it’s a bit less than a 20 min walk). Anaheim Desert Inn has Family suites which are basic but fine and it’s right across the street as are Park Vue Inn and Best Western Park Place Inn. If you’re that close, you don’t need a shuttle (same goes for Candy Cane Inn). For something a bit newer or more upmarket, there are several options. For Hotels under a 10min walk you have Fairfield Inn (exterior corridors) and Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. All the above are closer to the turnstiles than the Disneyland Hotel btw.
Nicer/newer places a little further (around 15-20 mins walk) are Springhill Suites, Hyatt House, Residence Inn Convention, Sheraton Park, Anaheim Marriott and the Hilton.
You seem to keep mentioning shuttles but do remember they drop you outside security which is still a few mins from the turnstiles. Think the walk from the parking lot Tram drop off at Hollywood Studios to the gates.

Thank you for the great info... I want to have the option to save steps, our grandson is pretty active, yet all day walking in the parks he is going to get tired, so while maybe only a few less steps, they will be welcomed after a day or two I'm sure... When we take him to WDW and spend the weekend ( we are local to WDW and AP holders staying in the bubble with him) we always take a break mid day for a swim, and some down time in the room... then go back for dinner and nighttime festivity ... It seem's like that really isn't done at Disneyland going back to the room... as well not sure what to expect with the weather in March?

You have given me some great ideas... to take a look at.

 

[sjmac42]

Oh I go back to my room plenty at DL because it’s usually under a 15 min walk, many do. Just wanted to make the point how close some of these places are, closer than the onsite hotels in many cases. Also that onsite hotels do not have shuttles.

 

[jknc]

Regarding Costco DL package.

I booked 3 nights @ Tropicana followed by 4 nights @ Disneyland Hotel (booked via Costco w/ 4 day hopper tix).

I assume we can access our hopper tickets while @ the Tropicana, but I’m not sure now that I think about it. Maybe the tickets aren’t active until the day we check in @ Disneyland Hotel?

Does anyone know? Thanks.

Answer: because we bought package we can access park reservations in advance and tickets will show online several days in advance of arrival. Thanks.

 

[riverbelle]

I now see the benefit of booking a package.
Before covid and having to make park reservations,
I preferred to book room and tickets separately.
I could cancel the room up to 5 days prior without penalty.
And I could wait to buy my tickets just prior to my trip.

Now with park reservations and the need to buy your ticket before you can make a reservation,
a package seems like a good way to go.

The cast members at Walt Disney Travel Company are very helpful.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Pre Covid, I wouldn't have booked a package as you can almost always book everything individually for much cheaper. However, with the uncertainty of Covid and the reservation system, I would do a package now, since the entire thing is refundable. After sitting on tickets we purchased in Jan 2020 for 18 months, I don't ever want to have that kind of money just sitting out there.

We book through Costco when we do book a package.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

OP here,

this is a very good point on the DVC, with kids you just never know what going to happen...

Right now we are leaning to offsite, looking at Hilton and a few others... We stayed at Majestic Gardens ( I think it was called something else?) the only time we have been to Disneyland, it is a older hotel, the rooms were nice, and pretty big rooms - if I remember correctly, plus they have a bus that goes back and forth to the park. DH said maybe we look at like family suite so that he has room move around, so right now I am chasing that down... Yet DH for our grandson it might be worth it to just stay on site...

A friend said that there are several family suite hotels close by... Suggestions? Please

I know on here that Candy Cane and the Tropicana get pretty fair reviews. I mentioned this one to a friend she said they both were dumps... they actually planned to stay and booked for one night at Candy Cane ( before Covid) and she said that her DH took one look at the room, and said NOPE... he stopped her at the door and said don't go in, its disgusting....they had a late flight and just needed it to sleep, and shower, and get ready to move to another hotel for the actual trip... He ended up getting on line, right then and booking another hotel, and moving over to the Hilton for the one night... The thing about this guy he is super laid back, and is a go with the flow kinda guy, with him saying nope it really gave me pause, for him to say NOPE.... to think well that there might be something to this...

Thoughts...

Depends on what you consider close by. There is Residence Inn, Doubletree, Portofino, Hyatt House, etc.

It is interesting to me that he disliked Candy Cane Inn (I've never seen a bad review on it), but liked the Hilton. It's ok, but nothing to write home about. But I guess that's what makes the world go round.

 

[furiousrainbows]

Answer: because we bought package we can access park reservations in advance and tickets will show online several days in advance of arrival. Thanks.

@jknc Did you pay for the Costco package in full or did you just pay a deposit and were able to access park reservations? Thanks!

 

[DizMe]

@jknc Did you pay for the Costco package in full or did you just pay a deposit and were able to access park reservations? Thanks!

You can access park reservations even if you've only put down a deposit, as long as you're within the reservation period. The downside to a package is that your reservation has to be paid in full a month prior and you can't cancel it at that point. I just cancelled my package and rebooked room only because I bought a Dream Key and there was no way to change the existing reservation to drop one of the hoppers, which seems silly. Since I was rebooking anyway, I decided not to do the package since there is some worry that my sister won't be able to go and I want the 5-days-prior cancellation ability instead 1 month.

 

[Speedracer5]

I bought a Costco package in June for my October reservation. I made the reservations at the same time I booked the package. I put down the deposit and just paid off the remainder of the package yesterday (1 month from my arrival date).