first visit to Disneyland

[diberry]

Hi!! We are planning our very first trip to Disneyland California for next August from UK and I'm VERY excited!!! We have been to WDW 7 times and go to Disneyland Paris several times a year but would welcome any handy hints anyone would like to offer as we know nothing about the California area or parks at all so far. I'm looking forward to several happy months researching and planning so would really be grateful for the experts' tips please!! Thank you!!
P.S. I'd be grateful for any websites with photos please.

 

[bclydia]

Well, congratulations on your upcoming trip! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.
Can you give us a little more information on how long you are planning to go for, who you're going with (kids, adults and how many) and what you are looking for in a hotel? This board is packed with information and lots of us would love to help. It would just be simpler if we had a little more direction!

 

[diberry]

Thank you for replying - I'm really looking forward to all your tips!! "We" are just my husband and myself - both in our 50s but very young at heart!! We plan to come over for 2 or 3 weeks and really just want a basic hotel - Holiday Inn or similar. I've been reading about the "Good Neighbor" hotels which sound great. In the UK we aren't used to such vast distances and though we'd love to do San Francisco, the Grand Canyon etc, I don't think we'd manage it in a first trip so we're really just interested in Disneyland, Los Angeles and probably Seaworld but we're more than happy to take advice. Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I really think you could have a great DL experience in a 5 day week, especially in August with extended hours( of course that would mean hitting the DL early, leaving to DCA till mid afternoon, getting out of dodge for a nice rest, then taking advantage of DL after dark). That would leave you at least a week for San Diego, so you could do either greater LA/beach, or San Fran if you wanted to fly. Other wise an option would be start in San Fran, drive leisurley down the coast....Monterey , San Simeon, Cambria, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, then straight to DL for your last week.

 

[bratman777]

Hi
My family is staying at the Best Western Raffles. I got a family room for 149 a night. It seems to get good reviews I hope it is good. We are going to go new years eve. The forecast says it is going to rain, which I hope not. Good Luck

 

[diberry]

From reading other threads I have a couple of questions - is it usual for hotels to charge extra for parking? I hadn't come across that before. Also, am I right in thinking there are no seats for Fantasmic?
Thanks!!

 

[iceskatejen]

Don't know about hotels and parking (though I think the Disney ones include parking in their resort fees), but for Fantasmic you do sit on the ground unless you want to pay for one of the dessert buffets.

 

[daannzzz]

Be prepared for a different atmosphere surrounding the parks. Disneyland is in the middle of the suburbs and is surrounded by motels, housing tracts and businesses. Here is a shot from the air to give you an idea.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html
The beautiful green winding roadways are not present here. They have done a nice job fixing up the surrounding roads. The 3 Disney hotels are fun and it is better to stay there if money is not tight but at the Disneyland resort you can get an inexpensive hotel / motel room and be closer to the parks than you would at WDW. The Grand Californian is the most like the themed WDW hotels. The Disneyland Hotel is older (3 generic towers) and not themed but the rooms are very nicely decorated, fun and , in general, very large. The Paradise Pier Hotel is fine and was just remodeled but doesn't have much in the way of grounds or a pool.
Be prepared to enter Disneyland and feel let down at the size of the castle.
Things in Disneyland are more compact but there is a lot stuffed in there.
The following websites are great

www.laughingplace.com
www.mouseplanet.com
www.mouseinfo.com

 

[Buttercup26]

If you don't stay onsite, then I highly recommend the Anaheim Howard Johnsons. http://www.hojoanaheim.com/index.html

It is a very clean, well maintained hotel. It is a 7 - 10 minute walk from the hotel to the main entrance of either DL or DCA. The HoJo has a very relaxing atomsphere that is nice to come back too after a day at the parks. The staff is just brilliant, very accomodating. You can get a room with a view of Tommorowland in DL. You can also see the fireworks from the main pool area.

While at DL be sure to have a meal at the Blue Bayou, the restaurant inside the POTC ride. Lunch is less expensive than dinner and typically easier to get a waterside table.

I would suggest you do one of the tours, the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour is fun and you learn a lot of park trivia. But any of the tours would be good.

I would plan on 3 - 5 days at DL/DCA, as a previous poster stated, there is a lot crammed in there to see and do! If you only want to Sea-World, than 1 day in San Diego will be enough. The San Diego Zoo is also a great treat, it's another full day as well.

Whatever you decide, have a 'magical' holiday!!!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree that the Howard Johnson's is a good bet if you decide to stay offsite. The thing I liked best about the HoJo were the grounds and staff. They have beautiful twinkling lights in the trees year round making it very nice in the evenings. The pool area is a great place to watch the fireworks at night. The staff has a lot of pride and knowledge. They were very professional. I have also heard very good things about the Sheraton Anaheim and will probably try that for our next offsite trip. They have a free shuttle to take you to the park. I believe they may also have nice grounds. We love the Disneyland Hotel best but sometimes the price just doesn't make it worth it. If you want to spend that kind of money it is a wonderful place to stay. Otherwise the HoJo is a great alternative. I also agree about the Blue Bayou. It is our favorite place to eat. We prefer lunch so we can get the Monte Cristo! You will have a wonderful time, enjoy!

 

[kirstyfly]

excellent just the thread for me too.

I am going to Disneyland for the first time in September so will be watching this thread with interest.

i agree with the Howard Johnson from what i have read with online rewviews and the price in the travel brouchers.

I am not to sure about time wise to spend in the parks maybe i should get a 3 day hopper.

We are doing a lot in this trip La, Las Vegas, San Francisco and New York.

I can't wait to check out Disneyland.

 

[diberry]

Thank you so much everybody who's posted - I really appreciate the help and it makes the holiday seem so much more real!! I've been trying to "investigate" all the good neighbor hotels and have more or less got it down to the HoJo (thanks for all the positive feedback), the Candy Cane and I particularly like the sound of the Best Western Park Inn across the street from the parks - has anyone heard anything good or bad about it please?

 

[daannzzz]

I have stayed at all 3.
The HoJo is my favorite over all. I like the interior corridors and balconies. The grounds are pretty and the rooms comfortable. Some rooms in the tower building have nice views of Disneyland and the fireworks. The room decore is fine but no big deal. The have no free breakfast. They have two nice pools here, one surrounded by pine trees. It is a 7-10 minute walk to the front gates of the parks.
The Candy Cane Inn was also comfortable with very pretty decor inside. The grounds are smaller than HoJo but are also very nicely landscaped. They have a good free breakfast. They have one small pool here on a nice patio. It is a 7-10 minute walk to the front gates of the parks.
The Best Western Park Place Inn had fairly comfortable rooms with nice tropical decor. I could hear more noise outside the room than at the other two places. There is not style on the building, architechtually speaking and there are no grounds to speak of. There is one small pool in a bland courtyard. The free breakfast was good. The location is outstanding and we could walk to the parks in 3-4 minutes if the light was green at the crosswalk!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I may be the exception, but i am never "dissapointed" when i walk down Main st USA at DL ! And I have been to WDW 8 times! Dl is so much more imersive and charming than WDW. The castle is so much more "approachable" it always feels welcoming to me, not so grandly impressive but lacking in a certain warmth......well I am getting a little to zen for the DIS!

Just want to say, don't be prepared to be dissapointed, prepare to feel welcomed by Walt's special park.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree about not being disappointed! After our October trip (our first ever) to WDW, I thought that Sleeping Beauty's Castle would never look the same. I was wrong. Seeing it all pink and spruced up a few weeks ago made me realize sometimes bigger isn't better, its just bigger! My 8 year old daughter sighed and said "I love that pink castle". Also again, the Matterhorn is your big visual cue in DL. I now think about WDW and DL, kind of like two beloved family members: I love them both the same for being their individual wonderful selves!

 

[diberry]

I can't wait to see the DL castle especially with its 50th anniversary makeover!! I go to Disneyland Paris several times a year as it's so close and that castle is different also but just as beautiful and always an amazing sight as you walk up Main Street USA. I really think I will be on when I finally get to see the DL castle for myself!!

 

[Judy from Boise]

Great attitude! You will enjoy the castle hub also, it has great trees with twinkle lights and benches, again the word "charming" comes to mind!

 

[vjc715]

DL's Magic Kingdom is my absolute favorite place! In fact, the Magic Kingdom is a welcomed site after being at WDW. To me...it's NEVER a disappointment to see!

Have a wonderful time!!!! Enjoy your magical visit!

 

[RobinMarie]

After many trips to WDW we too are venturing to DL this August for the first time pre-repo cruise.

We are staying at the HOJO but have no set plans as of yet. I appreciate the Blue Bayou advice.

I'll be watching for more tips! Thanks in advance!

 

[coinkc]

Can you make a PS for the Blue Bayou? Also, how far in advance? Is there any place online that you can see a copy of the menu? We are also planning our first trip to DL in May!