First time in a LOOOONG time...

[surgefest]

We are starting to plan an upcoming trip to Disneyland. We had been there probably about 15 years ago... Obviously a lot has changed since then... what tips can you guys give me?? We are planning on staying in one of the disneyland hotels.... We are leaning toward the Grand Californian. from what i've read it sounds like the location is worth it. (for anyone who's been there, what are your thoughts?) And then just what other tips can you give me..... Things that we must do... I know i had read something about early openings on certain days...Whats that all about??? How far in advance do you suggest we book our trip?? I am concerned that some of the bigger rides may be down for rehab since we are probably going to have to go somewhere around May..... Any thoughts??? pretty much any advice you can give me as far as booking and things that need to be done this far out would be great. Thanks!

 

[pixiewings71]

When are you going? We can give better info on ride closures if we have that info.

The GCH is the best hotel!!! Absolutely gorgeous and you will get full advantage of Magic Mornings for every day it's available. MM is when they open Fantasyland and parts of Tomorrowland early.

 

[Sherry E]

The GCH is the best, as long as money is not a huge concern. Not only is it gorgeous, but it does have that great location. I know that, technically, if you measure footsteps and all, it is not that much closer in distance than some of the offsite hotels, as people on DISboards have pointed out, but it sure seems like it is and that counts for a LOT!!! We like to go back to whatever hotel we are in for mid-day rest breaks, if possible. Then I like to go back into the parks after a break. When we have done this before and stayed at PPH, for example, my friends didn't want to leave the PPH and go back to the parks after the rest breaks because the walk seemed too daunting for them. OR, if we DID go back into the parks after a break, my friends would want to leave DL earlier than I would prefer to start heading back to the PPH for the night because to them, it seemed like PPH was SOOOOO much farther than it actually was. So I felt like we got less accomplished because my friends had their minds set that the walk to and from PPH or any other hotel was SO far and was going to be a big ordeal. And at the end of a long day at DLR, if you already have orthopedic problems to begin with, you are no doubt dead tired, in pain and ready to collapse, and the prospect of walking back to the PPH was ominous...even when we took the shortcut THROUGH the GCH lobby to get to and from the PPH.

So sometimes, even if something isn't a fact - like even if the GCH is not that much closer to the gates of DL and the PPH is not that much further - your mind is set that it is. So when we stayed at GCH, we got so much more accomplished. There was less resistance to go back into DL after a rest break, our time in the parks at night lasted longer, and we were better rested to be able to get more stuff done in the parks. The GCH is not as Mickey-fied as the other two hotels are, but that prime location really is what you are paying for!

 

[surgefest]

Great info so far! We are probably going sometime the beggining of May......
like i said i am very hopeful that Indy and some of the other attractions that are different from WDW are not being rehabed... but i am getting nervous since its the off season i guess... Also any other information at all that i should know or that will help me plan....

 

[jakoky]

hi there, we are also going at the beginning of may (2nd-12th)...We went in may 06 also, and it was a great time to go...the crowds were low, the weather was great...i wish i could remember what was down..i think it may have been pirates of the caribbean...all the major rides were up and running that we wanted to ride!!! ...We did wdw in 04 (first disney trip for my dh and my kids) and i kept talking about pirates (remembering if from DL when i was growing up)....i told how great it was and after they rode at WDW, their words were "that was it" , it was so disappointing, well, last september, they got to ride it at DL, and they loved...we went on many times(at WDW, we only rode it once)...it is the one ride that my kids found a HUGE difference on)...i cant comment on GCH, but it looks beautiful...i just booked the HOJO for 864 dollars for 10 nights!!! ...I think you will be very happy with the time of year you have booked...to see fireworks and fantasmic you will need to go on a weekend night as DL does close early during the week...Have a great trip, i know we will!!!
sharon

 

[avalon451]

Surge, I'd recommend you read Hydroguy's tips compilation, a sticky thread at the top of this forum: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Lots of great info on what's what in DL!

We loved GCH when we stayed there for our first trip. It's beautiful. If money is no object, it's definitely the best. That said, I'd never stay there again because of the cost. I can stay at a hotel across the street that is clean, nice, and closer than the Disneyland hotel, for 1/4 the cost of GCH. In fact, we just did that two weeks ago, when we stayed in a deluxe room at HoJo for the Entertainment book rate of $74 a night-- our 4 nights cost less than ONE night did at GCH in March. Just something to consider.

Have fun planning!

 

[pixiewings71]

We went early May last year. The only ride closures we experienced were the "standard" daily closures. You know, Indy shut down for an hour or two, Pirates shut down for an hour or two, etc etc. Nothing was shut down for an extended period of time that I can recall. Keep watching the calender, they've got February up now so May should be up soon!

 

[Gisele]

Ah, that is nice, that you will be returning after such a lengthy duration of separation.
I hope that you and your family will have a fantabulous time while visiting Disneyland. And that y'all will have a wonderfully great and smooth trip as well.