First timer at Disneyland

[rteetz]

Hi guys!

I have never been to Disneyland and am starting to look into a 2018 trip. I have been to WDW 10 times and always stayed onsite. Now for Disneyland I probably won't stay at a Disney resort to save some money. Being a college student I do not want to break the bank. I am looking for recommendations on hotels in the area. I want walking distance but not breaking the bank. I also don't want a hotel that is a dump. I am not certain on time of year yet either as it will be during a break period for me so either spring break 2018 or summer 2018. Any advice would be great thanks!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread will have lots of helpful info for you (most of it is up to date): A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.

Fortunately for you, there are many good options for staying off site near DLR that won't break the bank and aren't horrifying. Look for hotels that are walking distance on Harbor for the most convenience (although the rates may be a bit higher because of that convenience). If you are willing to take a shuttle, the hotel rates go down the further you get from the parks. So hotels in Garden Grove (about a mile south of DLR) will be cheaper than hotels in Anaheim. Both Super 8 motels (on Disneyland Dr. and on Katella) and the Motel 6 (none of them on Harbor, but all very reasonable) get good reviews.

 

[rteetz]

This thread will have lots of helpful info for you (most of it is up to date): A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.

Fortunately for you, there are many good options for staying off site near DLR that won't break the bank and aren't horrifying. Look for hotels that are walking distance on Harbor for the most convenience (although the rates may be a bit higher because of that convenience). If you are willing to take a shuttle, the hotel rates go down the further you get from the parks. So hotels in Garden Grove (about a mile south of DLR) will be cheaper than hotels in Anaheim. Both Super 8 motels (on Disneyland Dr. and on Katella) and the Motel 6 (none of them on Harbor, but all very reasonable) get good reviews.

Awesome thanks!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hi guys!

I have never been to Disneyland and am starting to look into a 2018 trip. I have been to WDW 10 times and always stayed onsite. Now for Disneyland I probably won't stay at a Disney resort to save some money. Being a college student I do not want to break the bank. I am looking for recommendations on hotels in the area. I want walking distance but not breaking the bank. I also don't want a hotel that is a dump. I am not certain on time of year yet either as it will be during a break period for me so either spring break 2018 or summer 2018. Any advice would be great thanks!

Welcome to the other side Ryan!

Lots of good walking distance options that are reasonably priced as @theluckyrabbit mentioned. My favorites are in my signature: BWPPI (Best Western Park Place Inn), CCI (Candy Cane Inn) and Tropicana. I love this Wikimapia link and it may help you:

http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.809212&lon=-117.918813&z=19&m=b

Some time this summer I hope to get the DLR Guide updated.

 

[Geemo]

Here's a link to street view of Harbor. You can move along the street to see the places to stay.
It opens on Harbor Blvd, right at the current crosswalk to the esplanade.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8095259,-117.9153589,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sFg68Ki6SVHY1sogs_0Saiw!2e0!6s//geo3.ggpht.com/cbk?panoid=Fg68Ki6SVHY1sogs_0Saiw&output=thumbnail&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&thumb=2&w=203&h=100&yaw=145.89604&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i13312!8i6656

Booking early generally will get you the best rate.
With the new pedestrian overpass planned, construction noise might be an issue for some.

 

[22Tink]

You're going to love DL!!! Our 'go to' hotel is usually the Best Western Park Place Inn but this year we're staying at the Tropicana because it was quite a bit cheaper when I booked. There are so many great hotel options on S. Harbor that are a short walk to the parks. Happy planning!!

 

[superme80]

Sooo happy for you. Please tell me you will do a trip report???!!!! I am staying at the Candy Cane Inn for the first time this fall. I will let you know how I like it.

 

[Princess Jes]

Sooo happy for you. Please tell me you will do a trip report???!!!! I am staying at the Candy Cane Inn for the first time this fall. I will let you know how I like it.

Hey Ryan!! Fancy seeing you over here, and you too Superme!!

Ryan, I'm staying at the HoJo in August, so will let you know how that is, but it was pretty reasonably priced. It's a good Neighbour hotel too.
We looked at the Grand Legacy, which is right by the Tropicana i believe, and was pretty cheap also, but isnt a good neighbour and it does help us to have a good neighbour hotel as it means we can use Dreams Unlimited which then means we have someone in the country to make any calls we need etc.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We love the Candy Cane, too, and will be staying there again this summer. If you have AAA, you can get a discount rate.

 

[SteveMP]

We live an hour and a halfish away, but when we stay, we usually stay at CCI, always been a good experience and decent price. You have the option of 10 minute walk or shuttle. Aaa or military discount, and a $10 off coupon if you return within a year, which you can use with aaa discount.

Although, a couple weeks ago we stayed at the Portofino and it was fine too. We used to stay at Anaheim Inn and Suites back when it used to be cheap, but they remodeled and are way overpriced now.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For Spring Break vs. summer, I would lean toward summer. Spring Break/s (since they are so spread out in So. Cal.) can be very crowded in a rather compressed period of time (especially the two weeks before and two weeks after Easter). The weather might be better than summer heat, but in Southern California there aren't any weather guarantees. There could be a heat wave in Spring, too. At least with summer, the crowds seem to be more evenly spread out (excepting July 4th and Labor Day), especially after the lower 2 passes are blocked. You know the weather will be hot, so you can be prepared. You'll have many more dates to choose from. And the full summer entertainment schedule will be going strong (usually rolled out starting Memorial Day Weekend), so you can see the fireworks, parades, shows, etc. For example, this year The Summer of Heroes and the accompanying hoopla had not yet started over Spring Break. Summer of Heroes is in full swing now. And, of course, when you can get the lowest air fares and hotel rates will make a huge difference in your choice of dates.

 

[HydroGuy]

For Spring Break vs. summer, I would lean toward summer. Spring Break/s (since they are so spread out in So. Cal.) can be very crowded in a rather compressed period of time (especially the two weeks before and two weeks after Easter). The weather might be better than summer heat, but in Southern California there aren't any weather guarantees. There could be a heat wave in Spring, too. At least with summer, the crowds seem to be more evenly spread out (excepting July 4th and Labor Day), especially after the lower 2 passes are blocked. You know the weather will be hot, so you can be prepared. You'll have many more dates to choose from. And the full summer entertainment schedule will be going strong (usually rolled out starting Memorial Day Weekend), so you can see the fireworks, parades, shows, etc. For example, this year The Summer of Heroes and the accompanying hoopla had not yet started over Spring Break. Summer of Heroes is in full swing now. And, of course, when you can get the lowest air fares and hotel rates will make a huge difference in your choice of dates.

Once again I totally agree with @theluckyrabbit . Spring tends to be a little too crowded. I would choose summer.

If you have complete flexibility on schedule, I can give you specific dates that are likely to be best. One of the young ladies who works for me was at DLR last week Tuesday (6/20) and Friday (6/23). She just got back in to the office this morning and I chatted with her for 5 minutes this morning. She was shocked at how low the crowds were on Friday (an AP blockout day), although she said Tuesday was a lot more crowded (not an AP blockout day). Personally I already had my eye on the same week next year if the DLR AP blockout schedule is similar in 2018 than this year.

Specifically what I would choose (and am planning to choose myself) is the equivalent next year of Wed-Fri June 21-23 plus Saturday 6/24 if you want a 4 day trip. We are taking our grand-daughter for her first trip to a Disney park next summer. This time frame has the SoCal AP Blockouts in place and also it is after the end of grad nights.

This link below will only last a few more days for June 2017 until it goes off Disney's calendar but following it is a screen shot where White squares mean blockout days. We have been discussing just this week the issue of AP blockouts on this old thread which is still relevant: "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/?month=6

 

[Rabb it]

The hotel closest to the entrance to the park that isn't Disney is Park Vue Inn, it's directly across the street. I do think it's a tad bit more expensive than the surrounding hotels but people normally like that place. I stayed there once and thought it was nice. Other people swear by the Howard Johnson or the Candy Cane Inn, both are a couple blocks from the park entrance, walking distance.

 

[HydroGuy]

The hotel closest to the entrance to the park that isn't Disney is Park Vue Inn, it's directly across the street. I do think it's a tad bit more expensive than the surrounding hotels but people normally like that place. I stayed there once and thought it was nice. Other people swear by the Howard Johnson or the Candy Cane Inn, both are a couple blocks from the park entrance, walking distance.

The CCI is probably about as far as HoJos. But CCI has a shuttle that runs every 30 minutes like clockwork. You can walk if you have to or want to (8-10 minutes) or take the shuttle.

 

[rteetz]

Sooo happy for you. Please tell me you will do a trip report???!!!! I am staying at the Candy Cane Inn for the first time this fall. I will let you know how I like it.

Of course I will but I need to take the trip first

 

[rteetz]

Hey Ryan!! Fancy seeing you over here, and you too Superme!!

Ryan, I'm staying at the HoJo in August, so will let you know how that is, but it was pretty reasonably priced. It's a good Neighbour hotel too.
We looked at the Grand Legacy, which is right by the Tropicana i believe, and was pretty cheap also, but isnt a good neighbour and it does help us to have a good neighbour hotel as it means we can use Dreams Unlimited which then means we have someone in the country to make any calls we need etc.

I have looked at the Hojo a bit. I am waiting until 2018 pricing for DL comes out and I need to settle on my dates too.

 

[rteetz]

For Spring Break vs. summer, I would lean toward summer. Spring Break/s (since they are so spread out in So. Cal.) can be very crowded in a rather compressed period of time (especially the two weeks before and two weeks after Easter). The weather might be better than summer heat, but in Southern California there aren't any weather guarantees. There could be a heat wave in Spring, too. At least with summer, the crowds seem to be more evenly spread out (excepting July 4th and Labor Day), especially after the lower 2 passes are blocked. You know the weather will be hot, so you can be prepared. You'll have many more dates to choose from. And the full summer entertainment schedule will be going strong (usually rolled out starting Memorial Day Weekend), so you can see the fireworks, parades, shows, etc. For example, this year The Summer of Heroes and the accompanying hoopla had not yet started over Spring Break. Summer of Heroes is in full swing now. And, of course, when you can get the lowest air fares and hotel rates will make a huge difference in your choice of dates.

Thanks! I was first looking at Light Side race weekend but nobody knows what is happening with that. Now for my first trip at DL I am thinking to just do DL and not add a race onto it. I am used to WDW heat so the heat won't be a major issue for me.

 

[Blue32]

Another vote for Summer. One of the best times to visit IMO. Go when most AP's are blocked if possible like others have stated.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

CCI also has a free continental breakfast (pretty good variety and filling), which really helps with the budget over a multi-day trip. I don't think HoJo offers breakfast, but there are lots of places for quick meals on the way to the parks, e.g. McDonald's, Starbucks (in DTD and in the parks), Panera, etc.

 

[rteetz]

CCI also has a free continental breakfast (pretty good variety and filling), which really helps with the budget over a multi-day trip. I don't think HoJo offers breakfast, but there are lots of places for quick meals on the way to the parks, e.g. McDonald's, Starbucks (in DTD and in the parks), Panera, etc.

Thanks, I'll take that into consideration!