HEADED TO DISNEYLAND! Any suggestions

[codimouse]

Tomorrow (saturday, my day off) I am going to start planning a quick trip to Disneyland! I found we have 9 days with absolutely nothing to do the last week of june. No children's activities and I work from home and hubby has some time off he can use anytime.

So we can either fly or drive. Makes no difference to us. However we want to stay offsite within walking distance to the parks. Any suggestions?
Our dates of stay would most likely be June 27th-July 2nd.

I am so excited! We just went to WDW this past March.

I feel a bit crazy and impulsive doing this but we deserve it. LOL

 

[mystic_path]

Well if your looking at some off site hotels, then look at this map. Right in front of Ihop and Captain Kidds (Right of Disneyland) is the crosswalk to the entrance of Disneyland. Those hotels along the strip cant be beat. I have stayed at the Howard Johnson, the Carousel, and the Tropicana. All I can say is that I love all 3 of these. The Tropicana and the Carousel being closer to DL, and only a 5 minute walk from your hotel room door to the park, which means NO SHUTTLES! .


http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8092436&lon=-117.9152432&z=19&l=0&m=b


Also I am going to suggest Flying. Its way faster, and you can get a taxi, a shuttle or a bus from the airport to your hotel, and no transportation during your stay is required. Unless of course you want to rent a car to get to Sandiego or LA for the day. But then there are also tour companies like "Southern California Grayline" which offers tours to The Zoo, Sea World, Legoland, Medieval Times, Knotts, Universal, Shopping excursions and more. Every SCGL tours includes transportation from your hotel and back at the end of the day. It makes car rentals unnecessary.

 

[codimouse]

thanks!!
last time we stayed at Motel 6 (we loved it) but dont wanna deal with ART. Just want to walk.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Sorry to tell you but that'd be an awful time to go as far as crowds go ~ anytime at Disney is a good time but still....

Check out these posts ~
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34912064&postcount=1
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=16769108&postcount=1

You might be better off going over the 4th of July weekend or definitely anytime July-mid August.

 

[mystic_path]

thanks!!
last time we stayed at Motel 6 (we loved it) but dont wanna deal with ART. Just want to walk.

Yah Ive stayed farther away once at "America's Best Inn's" Up on Ball road. NEVER AGAIN!!!

Some people dont mind taking ART which is totally fine as they may have gotten great rates at a farther away hotel, but personally, when I am tired, I dont want to wait around for a bus and dropping others off in the process. Also its nice to be able to go to DTD for dinner or catch a movie or something after park closing and not have to worry about catching ART back to the hotel as it stops running an hour after park closing. I think for a few extra dollars (And sometimes this is not the case as some hotels like the Hojo have entertainment rates), you will save yourself time, money, and hassle to stay closer. Specially if you have little ones that need to go back to the hotel for an afternoon nap.


If you have options, I say stay closer. You have more options of a more relaxing vacation.

 

[mystic_path]

Sorry to tell you but that'd be an awful time to go as far as crowds go ~ anytime at Disney is a good time but still....

Check out these posts ~
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34912064&postcount=1
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=16769108&postcount=1

You might be better off going over the 4th of July weekend or definitely anytime July-mid August.

Yah that time is busy but hey... Any day at Disney is a good day, and you will have fun no matter what. There are options. Fast Passes, Ridemax, and the fact she has like 6 days she can leisurely see everything in. You can see all of DL in about 4 days on a medium busy day. But since DisneyMomma81 is correct, If a flight was caught where you come in early on the 27th and leave later on the 2nd, then that gives you extra time in the park too if you really wanted it.

Definitely check out the links DisneyMomm81 posted. It may help you get a bit more of an understanding of that time of year.

 

[codimouse]

LOL been there same week 2 years ago. Crowds were not that bad to us. Not compared to WDW at same time. Or this past spring break...we hardly did anything. And the weather is a LOT better in CA this time of year for me compared to Florida. I am asthmatic and florida humidity kills me.

Any word on Desert Inn??

Sorry to tell you but that'd be an awful time to go as far as crowds go ~ anytime at Disney is a good time but still....

Check out these posts ~
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34912064&postcount=1
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=16769108&postcount=1

You might be better off going over the 4th of July weekend or definitely anytime July-mid August.

 

[codimouse]

thanks!!!

Yah that time is busy but hey... Any day at Disney is a good day, and you will have fun no matter what. There are options. Fast Passes, Ridemax, and the fact she has like 6 days she can leisurely see everything in. You can see all of DL in about 4 days on a medium busy day. But since DisneyMomma81 is correct, If a flight was caught where you come in early on the 27th and leave later on the 2nd, then that gives you extra time in the park too if you really wanted it.

Definitely check out the links DisneyMomm81 posted. It may help you get a bit more of an understanding of that time of year.

 

[mystic_path]

thanks!!!

Of course. Let us know how it goes!!!

 

[HydroGuy]

LOL been there same week 2 years ago. Crowds were not that bad to us. Not compared to WDW at same time. Or this past spring break...we hardly did anything. And the weather is a LOT better in CA this time of year for me compared to Florida. I am asthmatic and florida humidity kills me.

Any word on Desert Inn??

1. Two years ago the APs were blocked out in late June. Now Disney is extending the summer blockout to not start until July 2. This is a whole different ball game.

2. Two years ago the total number of AP holders was under 500,000. Now it is over 1,000,000 due to successful marketing by DLR to the SoCal region.

3. Two years ago a major new show like World of Color was not opening right before the AP blockout. This year it opens June 11.

ITA with DisneyMomma. Not trying to scare - but just sayin' - late June on non-blocked days is going to be extremely crowded.

FWIW here is the calendar - MousePlanet's Integrated Blockout Calendar

Whatever you decide have a magical trip!

 

[codimouse]

LOL not scared. i have 5 days for nothing but Disney. It is VERY manageable.

I booked two hotels. Will cancel one next week on what I decided and hear may be best of the 2.

Fairfield Inn and Suites with 2 free nights thanks to my rewards! Also Desert Inn and Suites for $445
plus resort parking which brought it up a tad.

Each from June 27-July 2nd.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

LOL not scared. i have 5 days for nothing but Disney. It is VERY manageable.

I booked two hotels. Will cancel one next week on what I decided and hear may be best of the 2.

Fairfield Inn and Suites with 2 free nights thanks to my rewards! Also Desert Inn and Suites for $445
plus resort parking which brought it up a tad.

I'm sure you'll have a great time ~ just go prepared with a plan and you'll be set. Too bad you didn't get your 5 day hoppers before today, www.lastminutetravel.com had great prices until today! I paid $155 for my 5 day PH and $135 for my DD's ~ today they're $190/$162!

 

[mystic_path]

I'm sure you'll have a great time ~ just go prepared with a plan and you'll be set. Too bad you didn't get your 5 day hoppers before today, www.lastminutetravel.com had great prices until today! I paid $155 for my 5 day PH and $135 for my DD's ~ today they're $190/$162!

Either way that's a fantastic deal!!! I just got a 7 day hopper and paid $220

 

[50sjayne]

You can still have a good time on those unblocked days. If it is, possible though, could you maybe push it back one day? That way you'd at least have that Saturday which is blocked out for everyone. At least the cheapest passes are blocked during your time. We're going to have 2 unblocked days, the 21 & 22nd. I tried to get husband to push it back a day so we'd have our unblocked sat. too but he doesn't want to drive all day then be back at work the next day...
We'll have our GAD fast passes for 3 days of the trip and will utilize mm the 22nd. I'm actually looking forward to our first 2 days becuase I want to do the stuff we didn't do last trip like the Lincoln exhibit, Pirates Lair, (we haven't seen that since it was Tom Sawyers island) Pixar parade. We haven't rode the monorial for 10 years and I'd like to get a Billy show in and Aladdin. Also the Mark Twain will be something to do when it's crowded I'd like to see the changes on the river. My husband and son delight in any monetary change. I won't even try to do WOC the first day, will maybe check it out the second if I know of any tricks learned from the boards. I'm really looking forward to seeing the new dragon and fantasmic in all it's new to me refurb'd glory.