DL in June - wanna help me know what to do?

[nzdisneymom]

We're going to Disneyland in June. Arriving June 10th and checking out June 18th. We're using our DVC points to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. We are flying in and out of Santa Ana / John Wayne airport. That's as far as we've gotten in planning

I am overwhelmed by how much info is here on the DIS and am turning to you DL-experts to help me learn as much about DL and how things work as possible. We are Florida residents and go to WDW pretty regularly, but we haven't been to DL since 1999 and DCA was still being built.

What are the parks ticketing options? Can you get discounts on tickets? What are different ways we can purchase tickets ahead of time (online? through the hotel? etc.)

Can you rent a car from the DL hotels / immediate area? We are thinking of doing a day-trip to San Diego ... we don't want a rental car for the whole time we're there as DH thinks we can get a shuttle / bus from the airport to the DL hotel (another thing I need to collect information about).

What about Hollywood / area tours? When we were there in 1995, we were able to do a tour on a bus that left from our Anaheim hotel -- is there anything like this available from the DL hotels or perhaps nearby hotels?

Our travel party includes me, DH, and our two boys (one of whom will be turning 13 while we're there and the other is 11). We did get the older boy registered for the birthday thing and want to use the voucher option since it's on the 16th and we'll have been there several days already.

Any tips or suggestions or things for a newbie to know would be appreciated!

 

[HydroGuy]

What are the parks ticketing options? Can you get discounts on tickets? What are different ways we can purchase tickets ahead of time (online? through the hotel? etc.)

DLR has had trouble keeping DCA filled (which is why there is the huge reconstruction going on right now - see http://micechat.com/forums/disneyla...-california-adventure-project-tracker-ii.html) so all tickets of two days or more are automatically parkhoppers.

You can buy them from Disney or online. I have found the online versions from Ares www.arestravel.com to be the best or close to the best on price, and usually cheaper than those directly from Disney.

Can you rent a car from the DL hotels / immediate area? We are thinking of doing a day-trip to San Diego ... we don't want a rental car for the whole time we're there as DH thinks we can get a shuttle / bus from the airport to the DL hotel (another thing I need to collect information about).

I am sure there are auto rental places nearby but have never needed one so do not know.

A rental car for a San Diego trip is a good idea.

What about Hollywood / area tours? When we were there in 1995, we were able to do a tour on a bus that left from our Anaheim hotel -- is there anything like this available from the DL hotels or perhaps nearby hotels?

I have heard about tours to USH but not Hollywood. Others will have to chime in.

We're going to Disneyland in June. Arriving June 10th and checking out June 18th. We're using our DVC points to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. We are flying in and out of Santa Ana / John Wayne airport. That's as far as we've gotten in planning

I am overwhelmed by how much info is here on the DIS and am turning to you DL-experts to help me learn as much about DL and how things work as possible. We are Florida residents and go to WDW pretty regularly, but we haven't been to DL since 1999 and DCA was still being built.

...

Any tips or suggestions or things for a newbie to know would be appreciated!

Mid-June is grad night time. See schedules here - www.grad-nights.com/gradnightcalifornia.htm

Pay attention to park schedules as mid-June is when DLR transitions to summer hours and increased entertainment. You may have reduced entertainment in the early part of your trip. As a guide check what happened in June 2008 here as far as park hours and entertainment: www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-dlr2-200806.asp

For summer touring tips see:

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

For an update on DLR since your 1999 visit see:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Last year some folks asked about June visits. Here is a link: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1691444

Have a great trip!

 

[nzdisneymom]

HydroGuy - thanks so much for the response.

Another question - does the DLHotel have guest laundry? (washers, dryers for individual use?)

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Can you rent a car from the DL hotels / immediate area? We are thinking of doing a day-trip to San Diego ... we don't want a rental car for the whole time we're there as DH thinks we can get a shuttle / bus from the airport to the DL hotel (another thing I need to collect information about).

There is an Alamo Car Rental in DTD. It's off to the side, but it is there. We have rented from there and it is very convenient. The car is parked in the lot across the street from the Grand - so about halfway between the DLH and the Grand.

I agree with HydroGuy about renting a car to go to San Diego. There are Grey Line tour busses available, but they seemed limited with the timing and choices. Just what we thought. The drive down to San Diego is not a bad one, just avoid rush hour.

We love to go in early June, even with the odd hours. It has not seemed too crowded and yet it is warm and most things are open and ready for summer.

Have fun.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Golfing Goofy - thanks for the information about Alamo. We'll have to check GreyLine for the LA area tours to see if we can find one that will work for the tour of Hollywood that the boys want to do.

 

[Leofoenget]

I went in June last year but it was after all the grad night stuff. It was wonderful. I'm thinking of making June my normal visit time instead of Christmas. But you could run into heat but oh well

 

[Corpsebride]

Here are some things I think are vital for a long summer trip:
1.sunscreen.
2.comfortable shoes
3. extra socks
4. a back pack for water. it will be hot so you want to stay hydrated
5.extra batteries for your camera
6.snacks for when you are hungry RIGHT NOW!!
7.always get fast passes always!! Maybe designate a runner to get them while one of you waits in line for another ride.
Here are my pics for when the other lines are too full, but you want to do something:
Mark Twain River Boat -on the Rivers of America , FrontierLand
Jungle Cruise Adventure Land
Tiki Room (ahhhh air conditioned) Adventureland
Disney's 50 years show with Steve Martin Opera house on Main St. by the Bank (again air conditioning)
House of the future Tomorrow land
The Train -I like to start on Min St.
The Monorail -Tommorow land by Autopia
The Winnie the Pooh ride -Critter County
Be flexible with your plans. After all, you are on vacation.
Purchase preferred seating for Fantasmic! You will get great seats and a nice snack.
Make preferred seating for all the restaurants that you want to visit.
And HydroGuys tips are awesome. With some planning on your part, you are going to have a blast!!

 

[hardingk]

We're going to Disneyland in June. Arriving June 10th and checking out June 18th. We're using our DVC points to stay at the Disneyland Hotel.

We are going in July and are going to use DVC points as well. I am debating on what hotel to stay at. What made you choose DLH?

Since the Monorail only goes between Grand and DL, how do you get to the parks from the other hotels?

 

[HydroGuy]

We are going in July and are going to use DVC points as well. I am debating on what hotel to stay at. What made you choose DLH?

Since the Monorail only goes between Grand and DL, how do you get to the parks from the other hotels?

Not sure if by Grand you mean Grand Californian (GCH), but if so the monorail goes thru the GCH but does not stop there. Even if it did stop it would be pointless. You cannot get any closer to DCA from GCH unless you were sleeping in DCA. And the walk to the DL security booth is two minutes for slow walkers.

The monorail station is near the DLH and PPH. However, the walk from these two further hotels to the DLR gates is 10 minutes.

Bottom line is use the monorail when convenient but otherwise walking offers a more reliable arrival time (by the time the monorail shows up you can often do the walk).

 

[nzdisneymom]

We are going in July and are going to use DVC points as well. I am debating on what hotel to stay at. What made you choose DLH?

Since the Monorail only goes between Grand and DL, how do you get to the parks from the other hotels?

We chose DLHotel because it was the lower number of points for when we'd be there. It was purely based on math and what else we're wanting to do with our point this year.

 

[hardingk]

Not sure if by Grand you mean Grand Californian (GCH), but if so the monorail goes thru the GCH but does not stop there.

Yeah, I meant GCH....my mind is going faster then I type!!
Thanks for the info, I didn't realize that the Monorail didn't stop there. So which hotel would you stay at? We will be traveling with a 11mo old and are looking for convience!

 

[kerickson]

The monorail doesn't go from the Grand to DL, it goes THROUGH the Grand but doesn't stop. It doesn't stop at any of the hotels, the stop is in Downtown Disney - it's closest to DLH and PPH. All 3 of the hotels are considered on property, so none are very far. Grand is the closest, followed I believe by DLH then PPH.

We are going to the Grand on DVC points in May. I had to use up a bunch of points, so we chose the Grand (Concierge actually). The Grand would have probably been my choice anyway, but I hear the DLH is fun for kids (I haven't stayed there in 15+ years).

If you are looking for a hotel similar to the WDW theme hotels, the Grand it is. The lobby is gorgeous. Rooms are nice but small. It also has it's own entrance to DCA (which is nice if you want to run up to your room while you are at the park), and is the closest to both parks. If you want to save points then I would not opt for a room with a view. You aren't in your room that much and the standard rooms themselves are just as nice. The Grand is the only hotel built by Disney. The other 2 were conversions of other hotel properties.

Many people like the DLH because it is the original Disney hotel and has more Disney magic (hidden Mickey's, better themed pool) but it is older, a bit farther than the Grand (at the end of DDD).

I haven't stayed at PPH, but from what I've heard that would be 3rd on my list.

Edit:
Just saw your post about your 11mo old. I'd stay at the Grand then. I've heard the walk through DDD to the DLH can seem long late at night with a little one. You might also be more likely to go to your room for an afternoon nap if you are staying at the Grand. But, everything is close at DLR relative to WDW, so any 3 hotels will be fine proximity wise. We stayed off property 2 years ago with a 9mo old and 3yr old and it was fine. They have shuttle buses that were very convenient, but we did stay at the park all day. Would have taken a chunk of time to go back during the day for a break. Now that I've stayed on property it will be hard to do otherwise in the future...