Getting ready to book - some final questions

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Strangely enough, we have to figure out when we are going to DL within the next few days, even though it's still 4 months away (scheduling other stuff in life for the kids, and we are trying to plan around a DL trip that isn't even booked yet!!)

Q1) Any difference "crowd wise" between April 28th to May 3 or May 4 to May 10? Schedule of hours doesn't show up on DL.com yet, and that was my main tool to anticipate how busy the park might be. Any holidays occuring those weeks that I am not aware of? Hoping Spring Breakers will be done by then, and Summer Vacationers won't have started yet. Anything else I should consider?

Q2) Transfers from LAX - how does everyone get from the airport to the hotel if you aren't renting a car? I'm guessing a cab would be a fortune? Is there a shuttle of some kind? We are hoping to book our flights with points (saving $$ any way we can), booking the hotel through the cheapest online vendor (which right now seems to be on the hotel website itself - is that strange?), and arranging our Hopper passes online as well (seems to be cheaper than purchasing at hotel or onsite - correct?) (I know there is a closer airport, but we can't get direct flights from here, and connecting with 3 little ones may be far more hassle than arranging transport from LAX!)

Q3) Does everyone book thru a TA, or just do it themselves? Any drawbacks to me "going it alone" as described above?

Q4) Is there a grocery store close by the Desert Inn and Suites? (hotel I want to book). Looking to have some snacks and goodies in the room for the kids who get the muncies at the strangest times!

Q5) What is the benefit to a "good neighbor" hotel - I notice the DIAS is not on the good neighbor list, and I am wondering if this is a bad thing?

Thanks in advance - you guys are a fabulous resource!

Carm

 

[hlbtimes2]

Q1) Any difference "crowd wise" between April 28th to May 3 or May 4 to May 10? Schedule of hours doesn't show up on DL.com yet, and that was my main tool to anticipate how busy the park might be. Any holidays occuring those weeks that I am not aware of? Hoping Spring Breakers will be done by then, and Summer Vacationers won't have started yet. Anything else I should consider? Mothers day is May 11, which will bring more people to the prak the weekend of the 10th. The last weekend in April will probably be the food and wine festival. I've been during for the food and wine the last couple years (by chance, not because I did any of the events). Crowds were not bad either year (last weekend of April/ first one of May)

Q2) Transfers from LAX - how does everyone get from the airport to the hotel if you aren't renting a car? I'm guessing a cab would be a fortune? Is there a shuttle of some kind? We are hoping to book our flights with points (saving $$ any way we can), booking the hotel through the cheapest online vendor (which right now seems to be on the hotel website itself - is that strange?), and arranging our Hopper passes online as well (seems to be cheaper than purchasing at hotel or onsite - correct?) (I know there is a closer airport, but we can't get direct flights from here, and connecting with 3 little ones may be far more hassle than arranging transport from LAX!) If you choose a good nieghbor hotel you can use the Disney bus through grayline. Go to airportbus.com for prices and schedules. If you haven't already booked air, you might consider SNA airport, if its an option from your location. You can also try super shuttle (supershuttle.com) Both are far more affordable then a cab. A cab will be close to $100 each way.

Q3) Does everyone book thru a TA, or just do it themselves? Any drawbacks to me "going it alone" as described above? We've used disney travel for our last few trips. We've been able to take advantage of the kids fly free special. I also like that I can make payments to them. I've never found it to be cost effective to book it all on my own.

Q4) Is there a grocery store close by the Desert Inn and Suites? (hotel I want to book). Looking to have some snacks and goodies in the room for the kids who get the muncies at the strangest times! there are a few mini mart type places you can walk to, no full size grocery stores within walking distance.

Q5) What is the benefit to a "good neighbor" hotel - I notice the DIAS is not on the good neighbor list, and I am wondering if this is a bad thing? It would be bad if you wanted to book a package through disney travel, costco or AAA.

 

[bumbershoot]

The only thing I know about crowds is that April 28 is the end of the Dis Ladies Only trip.

But with Spring Break, with all the different schools and colleges...I don't count on SB being over until well into May. Figure I'll be less badly surprised that way.

From LAX you can take the non-DLR-related Disneyland Express. Or a shuttle like Super Shuttle. Those are the two that I have thought of.

I booked my package through Costco Travel, and they use Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC). Now that we have APs I'll just be using hotel websites and such to book that.

 

[mystic_path]

Well as much as I would like to answer all the questions I cant because I honestly dont have all the answers, but I do know some things and I will be happy to let you know what I do know.

Transfers from LAX - how does everyone get from the airport to the hotel if you aren't renting a car?

American Cab Co.(888) 482-9466
Super Shuttle - $15 per person to/from LAX and $10 per person to/from SNA (ONE WAY)
Airport Bus - $18/adult, $13/child

I know that if you take Supershuttle you call up the company and tell them that you want reservations for _____ people and tell them when your flight comes in and what time you would like to be picked up at the airport and brought to your hotel. Then for on the way back, at the same time you make reservations for pick up at the airport at the start of your trip, you tell them you want to be picked up at your hotel on the day you leave and you once again give your flight number and they pick you up and take you back to LAX.


Does everyone book thru a TA, or just do it themselves? Any drawbacks to me "going it alone" as described above?

I usually book my flight and hotel together through travelocity, expedia, or Orbitz, and with the package include the supershuttle for pick up and drop offs. Then I go through getawaytoday.com to get my disneyland passes as I find this website to be the cheapest around yet. And I buy my other passes to other attractions through their website.


Is there a grocery store close by the Desert Inn and Suites? (hotel I want to book). Looking to have some snacks and goodies in the room for the kids who get the muncies at the strangest times!

I dont know if there is a store attached to the hotel your staying at, but I know that some hotels just down from it like the Tropicana has a little store that anyone can go to, to purchase drinks and munchies. The Tropicana is slightly closer to the park entrace then the DIAS but you can stop there on the way to the park or on the way back to grab things.


What is the benefit to a "good neighbor" hotel - I notice the DIAS is not on the good neighbor list, and I am wondering if this is a bad thing?

No thats not a bad thing. There are loads of off site hotels and the one that your staying in is in a great location. Its like a 5 maybe 10 min walk to the main gate. I have heard loads of wonderful reviews on it and its central so the walk to the park is very minimal. Great if you have young children who need naps and you dont want to wait for a bus to pick you up and bring you back to the hotel later or wait for a very crowded monorail to take you back to one of the really expensive resort hotels. Staying off site can save you money too so thats another great benifit.

Hope this helps a bit