First Trip to Disneyland - How To Start Planning

[BeckWhy]

Well, it took me a while, but I've gone through that awesome thread comparing WDW and DL. It almost seems like it would be easier to plan a trip to DL since you don't really worry about dining so much. But my next batch of questions are a little more specific:

1) DUMB FLYING QUESTION - having never flown to the west coast, do the flight times (ie: 7hrs from Philly to LAX) take into acccount the difference in the time zones? (please say yes)

2) The good neighbor hotels within walking distance - do you have to cross any busy streets to get to the DL gate? And which ones are the most highly recommended? We plan on seeing other stuff in southern CA, like Hollywood, Sequoia Natl Park, etc.

3) How does the Matterhorn compare to BTM?

4) Does Grizzly River Run put Kali River Rapids to shame?

5) I'm trying to convince my 12 year old daughter that DL will be just as good as WDW. She's been to Orlando 4 times and is worried that she won't have as good of a time. I tell her that it will be a whole new Disney experience, without having to cram onto busses and monorails. Hard to believe, but how can I get her to look forward more to this trip?

6) Is mid-May a good time to visit?

1) Example: Flight time out of Buffalo is 6:30 am EST (there is an hour and ten minute layover). Arrive time is 11:05 am PST (is it PST?). It says the flight takes a total of 7 hours and 40 minutes or something along those lines.

2) Someone posted a map of the Disneyland Resort and it listed some of the good neighbor hotels. You have to cross at least one street with all of them, I believe. I can't recommend one, since I've never been.

I actually can't answer the rest of the questions.

I plan on posting a trip report, so if you are interested in following it, PM and I can let you know when I get started.

 

[sonnyjane]

1) DUMB FLYING QUESTION - having never flown to the west coast, do the flight times (ie: 7hrs from Philly to LAX) take into acccount the difference in the time zones? (please say yes)

I'm very sorry to say that a direct flight from PHL to LAX is a little more than 6 hours in duration.

2) The good neighbor hotels within walking distance - do you have to cross any busy streets to get to the DL gate? And which ones are the most highly recommended? We plan on seeing other stuff in southern CA, like Hollywood, Sequoia Natl Park, etc.

Yes you have to cross a street for a lot of the hotels on Harbor, but it is very well-lit and has a huge crosswalk. Some of the most popular are HoJo, Ramada Inn Maingate, Best Western Park Place Inn, Park Vue Inn, Candy Cane Inn, and Tropicana.

3) How does the Matterhorn compare to BTM?

Matterhorn is more tame than BTMRR, but I'm sorry to say that Matterhorn is currently closed until mid-June for a big refurb.

4) Does Grizzly River Run put Kali River Rapids to shame?
I haven't been on Kali but I've heard that GRR is better.

5) I'm trying to convince my 12 year old daughter that DL will be just as good as WDW. She's been to Orlando 4 times and is worried that she won't have as good of a time. I tell her that it will be a whole new Disney experience, without having to cram onto busses and monorails. Hard to believe, but how can I get her to look forward more to this trip?

One suggestion would be to focus on the things that WDW doesn't have, like all the cool stuff at California Adventure and rides like Indiana Jones at DLR that isn't in WDW.

6) Is mid-May a good time to visit?

It is. depends on when exactly in May. It's it's off-season, then the nighttime entertainment (Fantasmic!, fireworks) will only be on weekends, so that's something to keep in mind.

Above in bold

 

[8timesblessed]

Well, it took me a while, but I've gone through that awesome thread comparing WDW and DL. It almost seems like it would be easier to plan a trip to DL since you don't really worry about dining so much. But my next batch of questions are a little more specific:

1) DUMB FLYING QUESTION - having never flown to the west coast, do the flight times (ie: 7hrs from Philly to LAX) take into acccount the difference in the time zones? (please say yes) Sorry to say it is a long flight. We just did Seattle to WDW and it was 6.5 hours. We a non stop to Atlanta 5.5 hours and then a quick 45min flight to Orlando. It was most of our kids first flight and they did fine. We arrived at night which for us was 3 hours earlier but we went to bed and then were able to get up early to head to Cape May's. So if you don't arrive until 11pm PST time it's really 2am your time. It might need a day to recover. Also look at other airports to see if the flights are cheaper SNA or LGB are closer to Disney and small hotels so easy to get in and out of.
2) The good neighbor hotels within walking distance - do you have to cross any busy streets to get to the DL gate? And which ones are the most highly recommended? We plan on seeing other stuff in southern CA, like Hollywood, Sequoia Natl Park, etc.
Yes it's a street but it had huge crosswalk and tons of people will be crossing with you. Hopefully a great rate will come into play so you can stay in one of three Disney hotels. It does make it magical to walk from your hotel through downtown Disney and be in the parks in less then 15min. Tell your DD that. Our kids first trip to DL we had bought into DVC so we stayed at the GrandCalifornia in a GrandVilla and it was perfect! So close to all the action!3) How does the Matterhorn compare to BTM?
The matterhorn to me is more of a whip you around the corner ride and BTM is a up and down and around roller coaster. Our whole family did it and I told myself I was going to do it even though I hate those things because I wanted to create memories with my kids and not sit on the sidelines. I'm hoping I will like it after they refurbish it this year.
4) Does Grizzly River Run put Kali River Rapids to shame?
I liked both for different reasons. GRR seems like it is faster and rough and you got really wet. It was raining and I had a poncho on already so I thought I would do it. I got soaked along with the two men that had been riding.
5) I'm trying to convince my 12 year old daughter that DL will be just as good as WDW. She's been to Orlando 4 times and is worried that she won't have as good of a time. I tell her that it will be a whole new Disney experience, without having to cram onto busses and monorails. Hard to believe, but how can I get her to look forward more to this trip?
Will it be May of this year or next?? If next I think it's a great time to visit. It's warm but not hot we have dry heat anyway. But carsland is opening up June 15th and I would hate for you to miss it. Christmas here is beautiful and IASW has a holiday overlay that is super cool and so does HM.Do you plan to get the southern CA city pass?? You can extend those tickets to longer then 3 days if you want if your going that wrong. Just thought you might like to know.

6) Is mid-May a good time to visit?

She will love Disneyland! Tell her it's the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios side by side with a less then 5 minute walk between the two parks. Then it has extra rides she's never done in the magic kingdom, she will have Indiana Jones (like the dino ride but much better), Star Tours, Pirates much better, she can watch Fantasmic all in the same park as well as all the other rides. We have Lincoln and the small magical castle. No people mover but a different space mountain. Splash is better in WDW but that's about it. It's a small world has an amazing outside of the building.
WOC is amazing as well as Aladdin. There is just so much to do in a small space!!


Hope this message works. I tried to highlight my answers in blue.

 

[KCmike]

Well, it took me a while, but I've gone through that awesome thread comparing WDW and DL. It almost seems like it would be easier to plan a trip to DL since you don't really worry about dining so much. But my next batch of questions are a little more specific:

1) DUMB FLYING QUESTION - having never flown to the west coast, do the flight times (ie: 7hrs from Philly to LAX) take into acccount the difference in the time zones? (please say yes)

2) The good neighbor hotels within walking distance - do you have to cross any busy streets to get to the DL gate? And which ones are the most highly recommended? We plan on seeing other stuff in southern CA, like Hollywood, Sequoia Natl Park, etc.

3) How does the Matterhorn compare to BTM?

4) Does Grizzly River Run put Kali River Rapids to shame?

5) I'm trying to convince my 12 year old daughter that DL will be just as good as WDW. She's been to Orlando 4 times and is worried that she won't have as good of a time. I tell her that it will be a whole new Disney experience, without having to cram onto busses and monorails. Hard to believe, but how can I get her to look forward more to this trip?

6) Is mid-May a good time to visit?

1. Yes flight times are accounted for.
2. HOJO, Fairfield Inn are the two favorites. It's an easy walk and its very easy to cross the street.
3. Matterhorn is similar to Big Thunder but Matterhorn is very low to the ground. It is a fun ride. One of the first tubular rollercoasters. Not scary at all.
4. GRR is better and so much fun.
5. It's California and that should be reason enough. The ocean is amazing. There is so much to see and do. Disneyland resort is just as fun as WDW.
6. Mid may would be good but know that refurbishments will still be in full swing. Only the weekends will have fireworks, fantasmic! and all the extra entertainment.

 

[azdisneylover]

Well, it took me a while, but I've gone through that awesome thread comparing WDW and DL. It almost seems like it would be easier to plan a trip to DL since you don't really worry about dining so much. But my next batch of questions are a little more specific:

1) DUMB FLYING QUESTION - having never flown to the west coast, do the flight times (ie: 7hrs from Philly to LAX) take into acccount the difference in the time zones? (please say yes)

2) The good neighbor hotels within walking distance - do you have to cross any busy streets to get to the DL gate? And which ones are the most highly recommended? We plan on seeing other stuff in southern CA, like Hollywood, Sequoia Natl Park, etc.

3) How does the Matterhorn compare to BTM?

4) Does Grizzly River Run put Kali River Rapids to shame?

5) I'm trying to convince my 12 year old daughter that DL will be just as good as WDW. She's been to Orlando 4 times and is worried that she won't have as good of a time. I tell her that it will be a whole new Disney experience, without having to cram onto busses and monorails. Hard to believe, but how can I get her to look forward more to this trip?

6) Is mid-May a good time to visit?

1) The last time I flew was back in 2001, so I am no help there.
2) Yes, you do cross the street to get to the Good Neighbor Hotels and even to Paradise Pier.
3) Never been to WDW, but been on the Matterhorn many of times and I think it is a great ride.
4) Same as answer #3, but sub in Grizzly River Run for the Matterhorn.
5) Let your daughter know it will be as good as she wants it to be. If she wants to find fun, she will find fun, if she wants to find a horrible time, she will find that too. It's her mindset. Walking back to and from the two parks and to downtown Disney is fun. I would suggest you pull up a few youtube videos of Disneyland and California Adventure. Check out trip reports that are on this site of people that are regular WDWrs and let her see how they enjoyed the DL parks, especially since they are so different.
6) I would say, anytime is a good time to visit Disneyland. I am begging to go in May for Mother's Day!

 

[CamoMama]

Well, it took me a while, but I've gone through that awesome thread comparing WDW and DL. It almost seems like it would be easier to plan a trip to DL since you don't really worry about dining so much. But my next batch of questions are a little more specific:

1) DUMB FLYING QUESTION - having never flown to the west coast, do the flight times (ie: 7hrs from Philly to LAX) take into acccount the difference in the time zones? (please say yes)

2) The good neighbor hotels within walking distance - do you have to cross any busy streets to get to the DL gate? And which ones are the most highly recommended? We plan on seeing other stuff in southern CA, like Hollywood, Sequoia Natl Park, etc.

3) How does the Matterhorn compare to BTM?

4) Does Grizzly River Run put Kali River Rapids to shame?

5) I'm trying to convince my 12 year old daughter that DL will be just as good as WDW. She's been to Orlando 4 times and is worried that she won't have as good of a time. I tell her that it will be a whole new Disney experience, without having to cram onto busses and monorails. Hard to believe, but how can I get her to look forward more to this trip?

6) Is mid-May a good time to visit?

1. I flew from Sacramento to Orlando in February, flight time was about 6 hours in total. We had one nearly 2 hour layover each way, we left CA at 6am and arrived at MCO at 4:50pm Florida time, 1:50pm CA time.

2. You do have to cross the street, but lots of people are doing the same thing and there are crosswalks with signals.

3. The Matterhorn is great, but remember, we have Big Thunder as well.

4. Yes.

5. My kids have now been to both parks, we love them both for different reasons. You can spend so much more time in the parks in CA because you're not spending so much time on transportation.

6. Anytime is a good time to visit Disney.