Disneyland Resort Advice

[staciperkins]

I am wondering if anyone can provide feedback on the best on site resort to stay at next month? I saw Disneyland Hotel is being remodeled? Should we avoid that one? We are only going for 3 nights - just a day at each park. Any advice would be appreciated!

Staci

 

[skiingfast]

The Grand Californian is the premiere place to stay. Disneyland Hotel is done with its remodel, it has a fantasic styling througout it.

Get a park hopper and use it. Don't do a park per day, it's not a good use of time.

 

[sonnyjane]

The Grand Californian is the premiere place to stay. Disneyland Hotel is done with its remodel, it has a fantasic styling througout it.

Get a park hopper and use it. Don't do a park per day, it's not a good use of time.

Continuing with that thought, if you're staying for three nights, you should really get a 3-day park hopper. They have a special price for the next few months making it pretty cheap to bump up to a three-day hopper from a two-day - $199 for a three-day but $173 for a two-day. That's only $26 more for a whole day. Even if you only go to the park for a few hours on the day you arrive it's totally worth it. And skiingfast is absolutely right; don't do one park per day, you'll be greatly cheating yourself.

The Grand is the closest but by far most expensive. Many like Paradise Pier, which is the least expensive. Disneyland Hotel is the farthest but just completed their renovation so there's a lot of new stuff to see. Don't think that you have to stay on-site. Many hotels are much, much closer and about a third of the cost. That said, if you have lots of money to spend, staying at a Disney hotel is nice.

 

[Eeee-va]

There have been a lot of mixed reviews for the Paradise Pier lately--I'm not sure anyone said it was bad, but several people (myself included) don't really think it was worth the price.

If money is no object, the Grand Californian would be amazing. Otherwise, I'd really look into the off-site hotels...many of them are actually closer to the parks than the Disneyland Hotel. Some are a little farther walk but almost as nice, for half the price or less.

And I agree that at LEAST 3 days is best. We actually stay for 4 nights and get a 5-day park hopper, so we visit the parks on our arrival date and departure date both. It doesn't usually cost very much to add a day or two, and I think it's worth the price difference to get that extra day in. (Frankly, I'd stay off-site instead of on-site if it meant I got 3 days in the parks instead of 2.)

Have a great trip!

 

[larina]

I think the view at PPH makes a huge difference. So does concierge service and/or having a suite. Concierge is only worth it if you USE it and go back during the day to take advantage. I have a three year old and go with my parents so we go back to the room a lot. We time it right to catch snack and dessert (beer and wine too) times. We get coffee, water, and lots of fruit every morning, plus cereal and sometimes bread or rolls for the kids. We get afternoon/evening snack most days we are there, if not all of us, some of us. We work it, so it works for us. It doesn't work for everyone.

I love PPH, but the remodeled Disneyland Hotel looks pretty great and the rooms are beautiful. A lot depends on what you want to spend. There are lots of great places to stay off site as well. Lots of people love the Howard Johnson's (we may check that out next summer after Cars Land opens).

 

[Eeee-va]

I think the view at PPH makes a huge difference.

I forgot about that...view rooms were a touch out of my budget (of course, so was the regular one! ) but I think it would've been a lot closer to worth it if we'd been able to look out at DCA. I'm starting to love that park!

 

[staciperkins]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I guess I should have clarified we are military so will be using the military tickets - the promo right now is a 3 day hopper for 97. We just moved from Florida and have done WDW many times but DL is new to us. It's just a personal preference doing one park per day. We have always done that, it seems to work for us. I will say though that I always try to plan our trips when the crowds aren't an issue. I am thinking the Disneyland Hotel, I just love staying on site. And luckily we have accumulated enough Disney $'s to maybe pay for our room! Thank you again for your feedback!

 

[sonnyjane]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I guess I should have clarified we are military so will be using the military tickets - the promo right now is a 3 day hopper for 97. We just moved from Florida and have done WDW many times but DL is new to us. It's just a personal preference doing one park per day. We have always done that, it seems to work for us. I will say though that I always try to plan our trips when the crowds aren't an issue. I am thinking the Disneyland Hotel, I just love staying on site. And luckily we have accumulated enough Disney $'s to maybe pay for our room! Thank you again for your feedback!

Hey! Knowing that you're a military family (so are we!) means that you are also eligible for discounts at the three Disney hotels, so please be sure to call and ask for the military rate! I understand that you plan to just do one park per day, but that is just because you've only been to WDW. When you see how close the two parks are here in California, I think you'll change your mind. It takes about 90 seconds to walk from the gates of one to the gates of the other. I just encourage you to leave it open as a possibility.

 

[staciperkins]

Good to know! I will definitely call then! And thank you for the tip on the proximity of the 2 parks. I will keep the park hopper option then. Any other tips for a newbie?

 

[sonnyjane]

Good to know! I will definitely call then! And thank you for the tip on the proximity of the 2 parks. I will keep the park hopper option then. Any other tips for a newbie?

Well....since you asked

Since you are familiar with WDW, you have to have to have to read this thread (A DLR Guide for WDW Vets): http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Then read the links in this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276