Disneyland with a 3 and 5 year old - Which hotel? Which park?

[ethanwa]

Hi everyone.

Thinking about a 4-night stay at Disneyland this March. I have a 3 year old girl and 5 year old son.

What is the best hotel and park to go to with kids that age? Disneyland or California Adventure? (I'm assuming Disneyland). Which hotel is the best to stay at for the recommended park?

Also, any deals that I should know about (besides the 4th night free deal that is currently going on)?

Thanks for the quick responses!

 

[DahliaRW]

Go to both parks, no reason not to. You'll probably have a parkhopper ticket anyways.

As for hotels, what's your price range. On site or off site? With kids that age and probably going back for naps on occassion, I'd recommend walking distance.

 

[ethanwa]

Go to both parks, no reason not to. You'll probably have a parkhopper ticket anyways.

As for hotels, what's your price range. On site or off site? With kids that age and probably going back for naps on occassion, I'd recommend walking distance.

Price is unlimited. I'd prefer something as close to the park as possible. Also, just the best overall hotel experience for young kids.

 

[brookies_mommy]

Price is unlimited. I'd prefer something as close to the park as possible. Also, just the best overall hotel experience for young kids.

If the price in unlimited then you should stay onsite. GCH is amazing! But DLH I think is more kid friendly.. I really LOVE their pool area!

 

[ethanwa]

If the price in unlimited then you should stay onsite. GCH is amazing! But DLH I think is more kid friendly.. I really LOVE their pool area!

Is Disneyland Hotel considered "onsite"?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DLH onsite?!?! Heavens yes! You really need to read the info/sticky/newB thread ~ *Here* it is Spend some time there and come back with ?s if you have any after that. Of the 3 Disney hotels *DLH, Grand & PPH - the Grand is my least favorite ~ too $$$ and I didn't care for the room *dark and "woodsy"* the lobby is lovely but anyone can visit the lobby. DLH is my fave of the 3. The HoJo on Harbor is quite nice and has a great water play area for kids.

 

[ethanwa]

DLH onsite?!?! Heavens yes! You really need to read the info/sticky/newB thread ~ *Here* it is Spend some time there and come back with ?s if you have any after that. Of the 3 Disney hotels *DLH, Grand & PPH - the Grand is my least favorite ~ too $$$ and I didn't care for the room *dark and "woodsy"* the lobby is lovely but anyone can visit the lobby. DLH is my fave of the 3. The HoJo on Harbor is quite nice and has a great water play area for kids.

But don't you have to cross the street to get to the parks?

I guess I just thought the Grand was better because it was pretty much right in the middle of the parks.

I will read the thread, thanks!

 

[DLtorgo]

You don't have to cross a street when you stay at the DL hotel. You go through Downtown Disney though. The only Disney hotel you need to cross a street for is the Paradise Pier hotel. I would stay onsite for sure if money were no object. You will get all the MM (early entry on days starting with T and S) during your stay and that is a great perk.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

But don't you have to cross the street to get to the parks?

I guess I just thought the Grand was better because it was pretty much right in the middle of the parks.

I will read the thread, thanks!

Cross the street?? Do you mean from the DLH? If so ~ no you just walk through Downton Disney. If you were to stay on Harbor you usually cross Harbor *and that isn't a big deal *many places are as close or closer to the parks as the DLH and some aren't much further than the Grand.

 

[ethanwa]

I was just looking at the map and it looks like a street, but maybe it's nothing. I will be picking the Disneyland Hotel. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I was just looking at the map and it looks like a street, but maybe it's nothing. I will be picking the Disneyland Hotel. Thanks for the advice everyone!

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel once, and the experience was awesome. What you may not be aware of though is that the DLH is undergoing massive construction right now. If seeing and hearing construction work on the grounds might be upsetting to you and disruptive to the "magic" as you experience it, you may want to reconsider. My brother stayed in September and had only a standard room in the tower that was under construction at the time. He was not real happy with his experience. If you stick with the DLH and money is no object, you will want to book a premium downtown Disney view room, if they will even let you be so specific in their booking right now (I have seen mixed reports on this).

If you don't want to have to worry about construction and still want to be as close to the park as possible and money is no object, reconsider the Grand.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I was just looking at the map and it looks like a street, but maybe it's nothing. I will be picking the Disneyland Hotel. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Enjoy your stay *when are you visiting?? Hopefully construction will be pretty much done. If you request a DTD view in the Dreams tower *I'm not sure what it's called now construction shouldn't be a problem. We've only stayed in what was the Dreams tower - it's fantastic!

 

[bumbershoot]

My son's fave DLR hotel is Paradise Pier. He's 6, and his first stay there was when he was 3. Sure, you cross a street with a nice long crosswalk, but it's no big deal at all. Big, bright, airy rooms, a big surfer-goofy greeting you in the lobby, it's a fabulous place! And it's the least expensive of the 3, so that's always helpful.

California Adventure has bug's land, which is just so superior, to my family, to Fantasyland it's not even funny. Yes DS loves the carrousel and Dumbo and other rides in Fantasyland, but most of the other rides can scare him because of content or the darkness of the line/ride (Peter Pan is a ride he LOVES, but the line is dark once you get under the structure...Alice in Wonderland is freaky... Snow White has "scary" right there in the name... it's not fun to go into the mouth of Monstro the scary whale, etc etc). In bug's land, as long as you avoid "it's tough to be a bug", which can terrify even adults (those that are arachnophobic like me), the rides are nice, bright, out in the opening, and non-dark. LOVE bug's land.


So do both!

 

[DahliaRW]

Technically, there is a tiny 2 lane road you cross from the DLH to get to DTD. But there is no traffic on it usually. It's just there so resort guests can get to the parking lot I believe. The only traffic I saw on it the whole time was the street sweeper. It's really no big deal.

Request the dreams tower and you should avoid the construction.

 

[kiwitravel]

This link has the walk times from each hotel:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2639647

With two children that young I would opt for GCH (if price is no option) as it is by far the closest, no renovations and the pool area is still very good.