Experienced Disneylanders, please help?

[Amunet]

Okay, so I haven't been to DL since I was 17 (turning 25 next month), so I'm a bit rusty. I'm also more used to WDW.

So then, I need your help witha few thing, if you could spare your knowledge?

1} What would be the best transportation from LAX?
I have read various threads and I understand that the shuttles are less expensive (better value) but can take longer. How long does it take?
We are planning on staying at a hotel right across the street from DL entrance (Best Western).
It will just be me and my husband, would a taxi be quicker but more expensive? Do you know the current rates of how much it would cost?

We want to spend the most time that we can, we are flying in on a thursday morning and leaving in the evening on Friday.

2} Best way to maxamize time in DL/CA?
As I said, we are only there for a short time. We plan on getting a park hopper, but I don't know if I should buy tickets for only 1 day or 2?
Also, any tips on what best to enjoy in a small amount of time?
We're thinking about focusing on CA because I've never been there before. Would we miss a lot if we just spent the time in CA?

I also understand that CA has been particularly crowded since Cars Land has opened. Would it be better to just visit DL and come back later in the year for CA when the hype has died down?

3} Best Western ... your experience?
My company has a discount with Best Western, so we wish to stay at the one right across the street. Have any of you had experience with it? I have read some reviews on travel sites, but I'd also prefer some DIS people reviews ... since I trust yours a lot more

Any other advice would be wonderful, such as places to eat. Oh yes ...

4} Is Ariel's Grotto (is that the restaurant?) worth the price/wait?
Is there a wait? If so, how long? Reservations?

Thank you!

 

[skiingfast]

1. Taxi is fastest, it's curb to curb. It will run in the $100 neighborhood. Shutles like PrimeTime and Super Shuttle are a little under $20, but they are shared which add time for multiple pick up and drop offs. Disneyland Resort Express is $30 round trip. DLRE can take longer as well as it may pick up a few airport locations, then at the Disneyland Hotel you may transfer and then have mulitple stops.

DLRE coupon. http://anaheimoc.org/coupons

2. The more days the better, there is much to see. You may want to focus on what is unique to DLR and different from WDW. Look at part 7 of this link.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

You could focus on DCA. If you have a hopper you can collect FastPasses in both parks and maximize your trip.

3. The BW Park Place Inn? I would recommend it.

If you could come back in an offseason period, everything will be less crowded. Cars Land attractions will be busy for possibly a long time.

4. You will want reservations. It has just changed, it is now a Princess character meal all day long. During breakfast everything is served family style. I believe for lunch and dinner, you appetizer and dessert are family style but you order your own main coarse.

 

[Amunet]

1. Taxi is fastest, it's curb to curb. It will run in the $100 neighborhood.
DLRE coupon. http://anaheimoc.org/coupons

2. The more days the better, there is much to see. You may want to focus on what is unique to DLR and different from WDW. Look at part 7 of this link.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

You could focus on DCA. If you have a hopper you can collect FastPasses in both parks and maximize your trip.

3. The BW Park Place Inn? I would recommend it.

If you could come back in an offseason period, everything will be less crowded. Cars Land attractions will be busy for possibly a long time.

4. You will want reservations. It has just changed, it is now a Princess character meal all day long. During breakfast everything is served family style. I believe for lunch and dinner, you appetizer and dessert are family style but you order your own main coarse.

Thank you so much! This is very helpful

How much time does it take to use the shuttles? Hours?

Yes, we will be coming back during off seasons However, we cannot add more days since I am very limited with my days off (for now). But in the future, we do plan on staying for a few days to explore EVERYTHING! ... on off seasons of course ^_^

 

[HydroGuy]

Thank you so much! This is very helpful

How much time does it take to use the shuttles? Hours?

Yes, we will be coming back during off seasons However, we cannot add more days since I am very limited with my days off (for now). But in the future, we do plan on staying for a few days to explore EVERYTHING! ... on off seasons of course ^_^

This might help with ground transport:

"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

There are 3-4 Best Westerns around DLR. The BWPPI mentioned by Ski is the closest and in truth the closest of any non-Disney hotel.

Maximizing time? If during the summer this might help:

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

 

[Amunet]

This might help with ground transport:

"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

There are 3-4 Best Westerns around DLR. The BWPPI mentioned by Ski is the closest and in truth the closest of any non-Disney hotel.

Maximizing time? If during the summer this might help:

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

Oh! Thank you so much for the links! I'll be sure to check those out when I get home

I forget the name of the specific Best Western, but it is directly across the street and is next to the carosel hotel and that other hotel with the cute dutch type facad (sorry, forget the name).
I'll look up which one when I get home

 

[nannyz]

The shuttle service is good, as long as you get a private shuttle.
We made the mistake of going with a group on a van and thought we would never get to our hotel because the van stopped so many times to take other riders to their destinations. And some of those were at private residences, which took us out of the way.

 

[texasteacher35]

subscribing...our first DL trip is coming up in November 2012...

 

[mouseymommy]

1. Taxi is fastest, it's curb to curb. It will run in the $100 neighborhood. Shutles like PrimeTime and Super Shuttle are a little under $20, but they are shared which add time for multiple pick up and drop offs. Disneyland Resort Express is $30 round trip. DLRE can take longer as well as it may pick up a few airport locations, then at the Disneyland Hotel you may transfer and then have mulitple stops.

DLRE coupon. http://anaheimoc.org/coupons

2. The more days the better, there is much to see. You may want to focus on what is unique to DLR and different from WDW. Look at part 7 of this link.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

You could focus on DCA. If you have a hopper you can collect FastPasses in both parks and maximize your trip.

3. The BW Park Place Inn? I would recommend it.

If you could come back in an offseason period, everything will be less crowded. Cars Land attractions will be busy for possibly a long time.

4. You will want reservations. It has just changed, it is now a Princess character meal all day long. During breakfast everything is served family style. I believe for lunch and dinner, you appetizer and dessert are family style but you order your own main coarse.

We have stayed at BWPPI many times and we have been very happy with it .

OT, but it's nice to see you on here again Ski! Several of us were wondering where you were and hoping you were ok. Hope everything was ok!

 

[Girimama33]

I agree with Skiing...the more days in the parks, the better.
Experience with Super Shuttle is iffy. You never know what the trip will be like. It could be less than an hour, or much, much longer depending on how many drop offs and where they are located.
I highly recommend Ariel's Grotto. It was DH and my favorite meal during our last trip.
Have fun!