First time

[Bochini9]

Hi. I'm planing our first time at disneyland. We've been 4 times to disney world but never been on the west coast.

I know is too early but were planing to be in california by July 14th 2018 and we are staying max. 4 days

We don't know where to start, hotel, tickets

How about the crowds on those days?

 

[HydroGuy]

Start at the sticky thread at the top of the forum. This may help too:

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

 

[VandVsmama]

I second Hydroguy's suggestion. You'll be there in the summer. It will be crowded. For our family, the #1 thing we do to ensure a good & enjoyable, yet not too cranky or exhausting, time is to stay within walking distance.

#2 thing to do:
Take a break in the afternoon at the hotel. This is why you stay w/in walking distance. For us, "walking distance" is ~10 min of a walk. If it's a 20 min walk, we'd take ART. But taking ART to/from the parks makes taking a break at the hotel more challenging.

#3:
If your budget allows for it, get park hopper tickets. This gives you flexibility when it's crowded. Park hopping takes <5 min from 1 park gate to the other.

#4:
Buy your tickets ahead of time so you get a Magic Morning entry to DL on Tues, Thurs, or Sat. And use the MM entry early in your trip. MM/EMH at DL in the summer is usually 7-8 am. It's totally worth it to get up that early. Then take a break at your hotel (see #2).

#5:
Have each person in your group pick THE #1 thing that they want to do on the trip and try to make it happen on the first day. So if their #1 thing is down or fireworks are cancelled, you have the rest of your trip to still make it happen.

All of the above I got from reading Hydroguy's tips compilation threads. Speaking from personal experience following the above suggestions a few times now, it totally makes a difference.

Also, staying "on site" is not as much of a "must do" at DL compared to WDW.

 

[The Hunchback]

Low cost and very walkable is the Alpine Inn. It is a motel style arrangement. They had a light breakfast which was great for us. Micro and small fridges too. Not fancy but clean and close with small pools. Would love to back.

 

[Midnightred]

Never too early to start planning, lol! This is how I break it down:
1) Pick your date and try to stick with it. I have heard the week of July 4th is actually not bad.
2) Book your hotel then rebook if you find a lower price.
3) Start looking at airfare and book when there's a sale.
4) Buy your Park Hoppers.
5) I buy a Disney Gift Card one for each day we are there to help budget and not overspend.
6) Last I buy ART passes and transportation to and from the airport.

Also I try and plan something special like a WOC Dessert package!

Midnightred

 

[Bochini9]

I second Hydroguy's suggestion. You'll be there in the summer. It will be crowded. For our family, the #1 thing we do to ensure a good & enjoyable, yet not too cranky or exhausting, time is to stay within walking distance.

#2 thing to do:
Take a break in the afternoon at the hotel. This is why you stay w/in walking distance. For us, "walking distance" is ~10 min of a walk. If it's a 20 min walk, we'd take ART. But taking ART to/from the parks makes taking a break at the hotel more challenging.

#3:
If your budget allows for it, get park hopper tickets. This gives you flexibility when it's crowded. Park hopping takes <5 min from 1 park gate to the other.

#4:
Buy your tickets ahead of time so you get a Magic Morning entry to DL on Tues, Thurs, or Sat. And use the MM entry early in your trip. MM/EMH at DL in the summer is usually 7-8 am. It's totally worth it to get up that early. Then take a break at your hotel (see #2).

#5:
Have each person in your group pick THE #1 thing that they want to do on the trip and try to make it happen on the first day. So if their #1 thing is down or fireworks are cancelled, you have the rest of your trip to still make it happen.

All of the above I got from reading Hydroguy's tips compilation threads. Speaking from personal experience following the above suggestions a few times now, it totally makes a difference.

Also, staying "on site" is not as much of a "must do" at DL compared to WDW.

Can you explain more about magic mornings and emh

 

[Niltiac]

Can you explain more about magic mornings and emh

If you buy certain tickets ahead of time (I think it's 3+ day tickets), you get one magic morning, which lets you into DL one hour before opening. Only fantasyland and tomorrowland are open. It tends to be less crowded, especially if it's early and everyone else is sleeping in. It's usually offered every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (but you can only use it once).

Now if you were to stay at one of the Disney hotels, you would get that early entry to DL every day it's offered, instead of just once, and on the other days you would be allowed into DCA one hour early. Just about everything is open during the extra hour at DCA and it's even less crowded since only hotel guests are allowed. It's really nice, but it means paying for an onsite hotel which comes with quite a pricetag.

 

[HydroGuy]

Can you explain more about magic mornings and emh

See "Early Admission (MM/EMH/APEE) Super Thread" by DLR29 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403