Disneyland trip help.

[adisneyfan]

Hi everyone! Im working on planning a trip to Disneyland that may or may not happen once I graduate, and I'm trying to figure out a rough price so my mom and I can start saving towards the trip. We're regular WDW visitors, but this will be our first to Disneyland so I'm hoping to get the most out of it.

The first question I have is Airport, we would be departing from Miami and based on what I've read flying into SNA. Is that the closest to Disneyland? Also, if anyone had some experiences flying into that airport or flew into another and found it cheaper I would appreciate your input.

Second question is hotel. Personally, being a huge Disney fan, I want to stay at a Hotel on property and am stuck between GCH or DLH, which has better views, service, and is the extra 300+ dollars worth it at Grand Californian? Further, how early is the early opening when you stay at GCH, and do you find that you can get anything done with it? (side note: I enjoy photography, so are the crowds relatively low during this "early" opening?)

Third, tickets. From what we have discussed we figured roughly 4 to 5 days for the trip, and maybe only 2 or 3 in the parks. Would we be able to get everything done with 2 days, or is 3 a better choice? Also, is it worth it to get parkhoppers, or just save the money?

Finally (for now), should we get a dining plan? Would it save us money in the long run?

Thanks for all the help in advance!

~~~~Edit~~~~~

Oops, forgot to ask about time to visit. I will be graduating (Highschool) in 2014 and I believe its at the end of May or early June. Is it wise to wait and go another time, or should we just go then? Realistically I will be starting college within a month to two months after graduation so waiting too long will be a problem.

 

[dsny1mom]

Hi everyone! Im working on planning a trip to Disneyland that may or may not happen once I graduate, and I'm trying to figure out a rough price so my mom and I can start saving towards the trip. We're regular WDW visitors, but this will be our first to Disneyland so I'm hoping to get the most out of it.

The first question I have is Airport, we would be departing from Miami and based on what I've read flying into SNA. Is that the closest to Disneyland? Also, if anyone had some experiences flying into that airport or flew into another and found it cheaper I would appreciate your input.

Second question is hotel. Personally, being a huge Disney fan, I want to stay at a Hotel on property and am stuck between GCH or DLH, which has better views, service, and is the extra 300+ dollars worth it at Grand Californian? Further, how early is the early opening when you stay at GCH, and do you find that you can get anything done with it? (side note: I enjoy photography, so are the crowds relatively low during this "early" opening?)

Third, tickets. From what we have discussed we figured roughly 4 to 5 days for the trip, and maybe only 2 or 3 in the parks. Would we be able to get everything done with 2 days, or is 3 a better choice? Also, is it worth it to get parkhoppers, or just save the money?

Finally (for now), should we get a dining plan? Would it save us money in the long run?

Thanks for all the help in advance!

~~~~Edit~~~~~

Oops, forgot to ask about time to visit. I will be graduating (Highschool) in 2014 and I believe its at the end of May or early June. Is it wise to wait and go another time, or should we just go then? Realistically I will be starting college within a month to two months after graduation so waiting too long will be a problem.

Airport: SNA is the best, closest, and easiest. LAX may be a bit cheaper but it will cost you more in ground transportation to get to and from DLR and the time you spend to get to and from the airport is much less when you fly into SNA.

Hotel: I love DLH so I am biased. Both have great views if you get the right room. Both have excellent service, as well. DLH is more Disneyish than GC but the GC is closer (unless you use the monorail). All three DLR hotels have same the EMH. It is one hour before opening and you can get LOTS accomplished during that hour.

Tickets: We usually stay 10 days or more, so I guess I'd not be crazy about 2 or 3 days. To even get a look at everything you'd need at least 3 full days. If I am paying the DLR hotel prices I go to DL/DCA every day. If I wanted to see other things in SoCal I'd stay elsewhere on those days. Parkhoppers are the way to go at DLR. The two parks are steps away from one another and unlike WDW very easy to bounce back and forth between the two parks.

Dine Plan: Totally not worth it. Very different from the plans at WDW. Also no need to plan meals out 180 in advance. The only eating venue that even needs 30 days out ressie is the F! dessert seating.

Timing: I'd wait until the lower passes are blocked out for the summer. That's usually the very end of June.

Happy Planing!
dsny1mom

 

[HydroGuy]

Hi everyone! Im working on planning a trip to Disneyland that may or may not happen once I graduate, and I'm trying to figure out a rough price so my mom and I can start saving towards the trip. We're regular WDW visitors, but this will be our first to Disneyland so I'm hoping to get the most out of it.

The first question I have is Airport, we would be departing from Miami and based on what I've read flying into SNA. Is that the closest to Disneyland? Also, if anyone had some experiences flying into that airport or flew into another and found it cheaper I would appreciate your input.

Second question is hotel. Personally, being a huge Disney fan, I want to stay at a Hotel on property and am stuck between GCH or DLH, which has better views, service, and is the extra 300+ dollars worth it at Grand Californian? Further, how early is the early opening when you stay at GCH, and do you find that you can get anything done with it? (side note: I enjoy photography, so are the crowds relatively low during this "early" opening?)

Third, tickets. From what we have discussed we figured roughly 4 to 5 days for the trip, and maybe only 2 or 3 in the parks. Would we be able to get everything done with 2 days, or is 3 a better choice? Also, is it worth it to get parkhoppers, or just save the money?

Finally (for now), should we get a dining plan? Would it save us money in the long run?

Thanks for all the help in advance!

~~~~Edit~~~~~

Oops, forgot to ask about time to visit. I will be graduating (Highschool) in 2014 and I believe its at the end of May or early June. Is it wise to wait and go another time, or should we just go then? Realistically I will be starting college within a month to two months after graduation so waiting too long will be a problem.

Take three days minimum for DLR.

This thread might help: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Be careful with May/early June. It has pluses and minuses. Great weather. Lower crowds. But often reduced hours and entertainment, often some refurbs happening, and lots of grad nights.

See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

 

[minjo]

My family went early June in 2011 (6/6 - 6/12). We found the crowds not bad but did have a grad night where the parks closed early ( around 8 pm). I noticed for 2013 there are more grad nights scheduled during that time. We usually stay 6-10 days but 3 should be fine.

 

[IBLarsen]

Just to throw out there, that staying on property at DLR is not necessary as it is with WDW.... Most often people will stay at one of the hotels across the street and walk in. The walk from these hotels is closer or equivalent to the walk from the DLH. This would save a ton of money. Of course the EMH hours are not offered for the good neighbor hotels, but you get one emh to DL side for 3 day hopper passes. However, if you don't mind the extra money, of course the on property hotels are great, don't get me wrong. Just wanted to point out that it's not necessary as it is with WDW

I would say 3 days would be a minimum. We do 4 days each time and could easily do 5. (We have to fly in as well, so to make it worth the trip I want to feel like we can do pretty much everything, and that is 4 days min for us to really enjoy everything).

I would absolutely get the hopper passes. DCA is almost like an extension of DL, there is a sidewalk between the two parks turnstiles which face each other. My kids don't even realize that it's two parks. They call it the California side of Disneyland We go into each park each day, even though some days we spend more time at one or the other.

Good luck!

 

[DisneytheKid]

I'll just jump on a couple of things.

1. Definitely read hydroguys threads. Lots of great info.

2. As said already, SNA is the closest but compare the savings you can get from a LAX flight with ground transportation to the cost of SNA. Usually SNA is the cheaper option but on our upcoming trip LAX took the prize.

 

[adisneyfan]

Read through everyone's posts and they are all exactly what I was looking for. Thank you all so much!