First Timer...help!

MinneTinK

MinneTinK
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Messages
240
Hi everyone...while I am a WDW pro, I have never been to DL. My boyfriend and I are planning a trip there for mid-march and I have no idea where to stay or how to handle the planning. I would love to stay at a Disney hotel but for the money it doesn't seem worth it, please reccomend a nice, clean hotel within walking distance for two 22 year olds(we would prefer free parking and breakfast but not a big deal)

Also, we plan on renting a car and doing DL for 2 or 3 days and also doing Universal and some of the LA stuff, maybe San Diego as well, any advice on how to do this and what to see would be greatly appreciated!

One last thing, what can i expect weather wise for March 15-21? Thanks so much!!!
 
We always stayed at the Candy Cane Inn. Good prices. Clean, pretty, pool, jacuzzi. Free continental breakfast. Definitely a nice hotel. Within walking distance, but there is also a free shuttle (although we tipped the driver). Really, really nice. Although, having said that, we now stay at the Disneyland Hotel, because, although expensive, it added to our trip...we never felt like we left DL, you know? Mickey, or Goofy, or someone was always strolling around. Hope this is helpful?
 
We stayed at the Park Vue Inn, it has free breakfast and I think it's one of the closest places you can stay. I'm pretty sure it has free parking, but I'm not completely sure, because we didn't have a car.

I personally would have thought that going to San Diego would either be a really long day trip, or an over nighter? :confused3 But I've never been, so someone else would be better off helping with that.

I think taking a car into L.A is a good idea, as apposed to taking one of the tour thingys in. They may be handy, because they take you everywhere you want to go, but I found that we spent too short a time in places that I could have spent hours at, and hours at places that I thought were barely worth a glance... We probably wont be getting a car on our next trip - we're Aussies, so still that little bit too scary... But we'll either get a Taxi or a bus from LAX.
 
Hi everyone...while I am a WDW pro, I have never been to DL. My boyfriend and I are planning a trip there for mid-march and I have no idea where to stay or how to handle the planning. I would love to stay at a Disney hotel but for the money it doesn't seem worth it, please reccomend a nice, clean hotel within walking distance for two 22 year olds(we would prefer free parking and breakfast but not a big deal)

We stayed at the Portofino and walked over to the Timon parking lot to catch the tram into the park the only downfall is no breakfast. Best Western Stovalls Inn is nice, a good breakfast and managable walk to DCA and DL if you cut through GC to use their private entrance to DCA If I were booking offisite I would want to stay at Fairfield Inn (I like the reward points and it is across the street) or Candy Cane Inn ( I have heard good things)

Book for 3 days so you can use the MM. It comes with your ticket and is worth it insead of the EMH at WDW.
 

Hotels:
Best Western Park Place Inn (the closest)
Fairfield Inn - next to a McDonalds
HOJO - Farthest walk but really like on these boards.

San Diego is an hour and a half away. It is beautiful though and the ride down really isn't bad at all. Hollywood is dirty and not so great. The highways in LA can be very crowded at certain times. Beware. Newport and Laguna are great beaches. If you go to San Diego visit Hotel Del Coronado and walk that beach it is wonderful.

Disneyland is awesome. At first it will feel so small, but the park itself blows away so much at WDW. It is now our family's favorite park. We were WDW vets before and now we've been to DL two years in a row.

So much to tell you and so little time. Keep asking those questions.
 
Thanks for the quick responses...what is MM that comes with the 3day tickets?

also any thoughts on the weather march 15-21?
 
I always stay at the Ramada inn maingate because its literally across the street from the park. Its just a regular motel, but since all I ever do is sleep there it works out.
 
Thanks for the quick responses...what is MM that comes with the 3day tickets?

also any thoughts on the weather march 15-21?

Magical Morning, same as the EMH but you actually want to use the extra hour.

I think the average weather would be in the 60's-70's but of cource you never can tell.:confused3
 
Hi everyone...while I am a WDW pro, I have never been to DL. My boyfriend and I are planning a trip there for mid-march and I have no idea where to stay or how to handle the planning. I would love to stay at a Disney hotel but for the money it doesn't seem worth it, please reccomend a nice, clean hotel within walking distance for two 22 year olds(we would prefer free parking and breakfast but not a big deal)

Also, we plan on renting a car and doing DL for 2 or 3 days and also doing Universal and some of the LA stuff, maybe San Diego as well, any advice on how to do this and what to see would be greatly appreciated!

One last thing, what can i expect weather wise for March 15-21? Thanks so much!!!

Definitely get a 3 day (or more) park hopper ticket if staying at a non-disney hotel. (& many disers stay off-site DLR...even though we would ALWAYS stay on-site at WDW....completely different resorts & different strategies.).

But if staying non-disney, consider a "short walking distance" hotel on Harbor Blvd, like the one's mentioned above &/or Hojos, Candy Cane, BWPPI, the Fairfield or a handful of others on Harbor.


This would be a good thread to review for the WDW vet:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599


& this has alot of good info on MM:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403


& you should review most of the other tip threads listed in HydroGuy's sticky as well:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park. :thumbsup2
 
Just a FYI, that is prime Spring Break time, so the parks may be very busy. Plan your weekdays in the parks and your weekend, if your are going for a weekend, at the other LA/San Diego areas.

Check out my siggie, we always stay off property and all of these places are in walking distance. FFI does not have breakfast, but McD's is right next door. PPI does have a small breakfast and so did the Ramada MG.

Have a great time!
 
I'm a Marriott Rewards member and can get a significantly cheaper price if I stay at the Marriott, I know that it is further than "walking distance" hotels but would it still be possible to walk? (We are two fit 22year olds)

Also, can anyone recommend nightlife in the area..other than going all the way to LA?

And finally, where is the gardenwalk in proximity to the Marriott and/or the parks and what will we find there? Thanks!!!!
 
I'm a Marriott Rewards member and can get a significantly cheaper price if I stay at the Marriott, I know that it is further than "walking distance" hotels but would it still be possible to walk? (We are two fit 22year olds)

Also, can anyone recommend nightlife in the area..other than going all the way to LA?

And finally, where is the gardenwalk in proximity to the Marriott and/or the parks and what will we find there? Thanks!!!!

Are you saying that you could stay at the FFI by Marriott? It is very much within walking distance. We prefer this hotel. It is clean, the staff has been very helpful and we have not be disappointed any of the times we have stayed there.
 


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