HELP! Be my DisneyLand TA. What are your tips?

[Forevermarypoppins]

I'm a WDW veteran. I've been visiting WDW enough to say I could give some advise. For quite awhile I've thought about going to DisneyLand. I know staying at one of the 3 onsite resorts will be out of my comfortable price range. IF you were my TA, tell me what you'd suggest.

My initial questions are:

How to I get to the Hotel/motel from the airport? What is the easiest?
I do not want to be more than 1 mile from the park because I would prefer to walk if possible. But to have the info: Do any of the Good Neighbor hotels offer free rides to the parks? Or does one hotel offer something better in terms of transportation over another?
I'm traveling with my sister and we're both a bit older so pools aren't that important. Are there any hotels a bit more adult atmosphere? Is the closest HILTON more geared to adults?
Tell me about Downtown Disney and what should I not miss?
If I want to avoid the busiest seasons when is a good time to visit?

I'd really appreciate any/ all input!!

 

[bjscheel]

We went in August and stayed at Park Vue Inn. You truly can't get any closer- so easy to cross the street and you're already there. The room was nice. Idk if it is adult oriented or kid oriented, it is motel style and the pool is in the parking lot. We went to the hot tub every day and there was usually no one else around. There is no breakfast but Ihop is in the parking lot and Denny's right on the other side. We ate at Denny's quite a bit.

We did Uber from SNA and back. Didn't need to schedule ahead, just get on the app when you're ready.

You definitely want park hopper. It was just the two of us so we sprung for PH and the lightning lane. Use your lightning lanes in one park and then when that's played out start over at the next! And you get all your photos with that ticket which was a nice surprise.