First trip to Disneyland Questions

[codyreinold]

I am considering taking the family on their first trip to DLR. We typically visit WDW annually for ~9 days. This would be the first time at DLR though...so not quite sure what to expect.

1. How long should we stay? Not sure how DLR compares to WDW.
   
   
2. Where should we stay? There is a lot of discussion about Good Neighbor v. actual Disney owned hotels. Seems theres not as much reason to stay at a Disney owned hotel here (it just feels strange, as I've never stayed at a non-Disney hotel while visiting WDW). Hard to justify $250+ more to stay at the DLH standard view vs. a Fairfield Inn Resort (Fireworks?) View.

 

[Girimama33]

Hi ~ The max # of days for a ticket @ DLR is 5 days. That would be a good amount of time to spend in the parks.

I prefer to stay off site in order to save money and be within walking distance.
I like HoJo's, The Fairfield Inn, Park Vue Inn, Candy Cane Inn and Red Lion.

Here is a really good thread to help with planning: http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/

 

[AngiTN]

We just got back from our first (and expected to be only) DLR trip a couple weeks ago.
We did feel it was worth the costs to stay at a DLR hotel. We stayed at DLH. Would have picked GCH but it's a clone of WL so we went with DLH instead. But only you can say what is "worth" it to your family. I wanted to have the hotel as part of our vacation experience. A hotel is more than just a place to put our head. We stay Deluxe at WDW so the costs of DLH are what we are used to. It doesn't matter to us that we can stay cheaper there any more than it matters to us that we can stay cheaper at WDW. We stayed where we wanted to stay.
I suggest 5 day PH tickets (the most you can get at DL). This is what we did and we rode every ride we wanted to ride, saw every show and did every parade. Some more than once. And we didn't go open to close in the parks.
And yes, a PH ticket is a must there, in my opinion. Not having a PH would be like going to Epcot and not doing both WS and FW.

 

[Butterfly123]

I think five days would be great. It's enough time to really enjoy the parks. And I would get hoppers. So much more flexibility than one park per day tickets.

I've never stayed on site...financially off site works better for us. Off site means we can spend a little more on meals and extras without breaking the bank! That said, if I was going on a special trip, or wouldn't be coming back often, I would try to stay on site. I think it would add a little extra "specialness" to your trip.

 

[Baklava]

We like 5 days so we're not rushed.

We always stay at one of the hotels right by the main gate. Someone measured and thee closest is (within 10 feet) the same distance from the park gate as the DLH. You lose the pool and the theming, but those aren't a big deal for us. We like the Tropicana, the Carousel (rooftop pool and an excellent fireworks viewing) and the Park Vue. Carousel was our favorite but more expensive, although if you were prepared to pay for DLH, it will seem downright reasonable and the pool on the roof instead of the parking lot is a nice perk. That pool we actually used.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Actually, I've never seen the DLH for as cheap as $250. Whenever I look for our summer trips it ends up being at least $350 to $400 a night. Toss in that you still have to buy breakfast, and I just can't do it. We stayed at POFQ for only $220 a night for a garden view and it was worth every penny. LOVED IT! But at DLR, we like Candy Cane Inn. Walking distance, friendly, free breakfast easy to grab on the way to the parks, free shuttle if you need it. You may have trouble finding a room anywhere at this late date just because of the 60th.

If you find a good place, I suggest 5 day park hoppers. At WDW we did 10 day park hoppers, if that helps. We like to maximize our Disney!

 

[codyreinold]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Girimama33, thanks for the link to the comparison guide--it was just what I was looking for!

 

[maltdizzy]

Actually, I've never seen the DLH for as cheap as $250. Whenever I look for our summer trips it ends up being at least $350 to $400 a night. Toss in that you still have to buy breakfast, and I just can't do it. We stayed at POFQ for only $220 a night for a garden view and it was worth every penny. LOVED IT!

Yep. A Standard room at the DLH will run about $380 (after 18% resort tax). But comparison, I can book a Standard Room at any Deluxe WDW resort for off at get it for $280 night (tax and all). Why? Because I can often get 30% off at WDW Deluxes several times a year; DLR usually only discounts rooms to AP's, rarely to the general public, and then usually only early in the year. Now, the PPH is lower cost and bigger rooms, but it's still not the value you can get across the street.

 

[AngiTN]

Yep. A Standard room at the DLH will run about $380 (after 18% resort tax). But comparison, I can book a Standard Room at any Deluxe WDW resort for off at get it for $280 night (tax and all). Why? Because I can often get 30% off at WDW Deluxes several times a year; DLR usually only discounts rooms to AP's, rarely to the general public, and then usually only early in the year. Now, the PPH is lower cost and bigger rooms, but it's still not the value you can get across the street.

We did get a general public discount at DLH for our trip earlier this month. I forget now what that exact percentage was but it was more than 15%. I had booked with Orbtiz with 15% off and when Disney released the discount I cancelled with Orbtiz and booked direct with Disney because it was less

 

[Micahisgood54]

Hey I would def. do like 4-5 days you can enjoy the park and have fun...if you don't want to spend the money on a Disney hotel, stay on south harbor blvd they have closer hotels and its an easy walk to the park!

 

[codyreinold]

Any thoughts on Fairfield Inn vs. Candy Cane Inn Premium vs. Disneyland Hotel?

 

[chickapin parterre]

elevators, walkways, all hours folks.....how do you feel about those elements in crowded facilities

 

[codyreinold]

I need someplace that is quite, safe and clean. Obviously DLH is going to be the ideal choice here, but not sure how it balances out at double the price... Can someone equate CCI or FFI to a WDW resort? All Star? POFQ?

 

[chickapin parterre]

farifield will be clean and being a Marriott you will be helped to the utmost that can provide. But I will never return because the complex does not have infrastructure to handle the lodging capacity. It is clean and safe, but not quiet with bouncy outdoor walkways.

 

[alicat8]

OK jumping in with a possibly dumb question...what do you mean by 5 is the max # of days? If we stay longer, we can't add on days for less? Does that mean we have to start all over again and buy full price tickets for our 6th day? Hope I'm missing something!!!

 

[chickapin parterre]

OK jumping in with a possibly dumb question...what do you mean by 5 is the max # of days? If we stay longer, we can't add on days for less? Does that mean we have to start all over again and buy full price tickets for our 6th day? Hope I'm missing something!!!

check with your local travel agent before leaving for the US. Because us folks in the lower 48 only get 5 days!!!

 

[NannyBeBe]

You won't need more than 5 days unless you have very young children, physically challenged folks, etc.
Definitely get hoppers.

 

[alicat8]

check with your local travel agent before leaving for the US. Because us folks in the lower 48 only get 5 days!!!

Uhh I'm in the US..now I'm really missing something!
Ok, I looked it up and it looks like it's back to full price tickets for day 6. I had no idea this was a thing or I would not have spent hundreds more dollars to extend my trip....blaaaah!!

 

[thumpie's mom]

We have stayed at all 3. The Candy Cane Inn was clean, had a nice pool and has a shuttle that runs between the hotel and DL. It is not a bad walk, but if walking late at night, it might be better to take the shuttle for safety reasons. The Fairfield Inn was nice and clean as well and a little closer than the CCI. It has the advantage of a small self-serve style food area. Both places tend to be a little noisy due to the number of kids and proximity to the roads. Both would be similar to the value resorts at WDW. I believe you can get Disney themed rooms at the Fairfield Inn. DHL is beautiful with good service and plenty of restaurants to choose from, plus Downtown Disney is just a few steps away, but it has become very pricey. Five days is a good amount of time to be able to see and do everything...much easier to go between parks than WDW for sure! Have fun!

 

[chickapin parterre]

Uhh I'm in the US..now I'm really missing something!
Ok, I looked it up and it looks like it's back to full price tickets for day 6. I had no idea this was a thing or I would not have spent hundreds more dollars to extend my trip....blaaaah!!

criminal................is it not??????