Help! Going to DL for 1st time

[accjones]

We have decided to take our kids ages 3,8,12 to DL over Xmas. What do you recommend to go see and how many days should we expect to spend in DL. Also any good hotels that are cheap?

 

[mikayla73]

There are good neighbor hotels all around DL that are within walking distance that you can usually get for a good price. A lot of people on here rave about the Howard Johson and Candy Cane Inn, although I haven't stayed at either. I just recently stayed at Best Western Anaheim Inn it was clean and close. There are several Best Westerns in the area so be sure you know which one you are looking at if you decide to check those out. Check this site out it has some good info on the hotels. http://www.dlresortinfo.com/ and this one is a map http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

I found both those from others on the DIS. Also make sure to check out the reviews on trip advisor for any that you consider. There's also a good thread from hydroguy that has hotel info, I don't have that one now, but if you seach for hydroguys hotel rules, it should pop up.

As for the # of days, I like to go for at least a week or more at a time, but a lot of people go for 3 or 4 days and that is usually plenty to see everything. I would say it really depends on when at Christmas time you are going and if DL/DCA is the only thing you are going to do. The closer to Christmas it is, the busier it gets.

I hope that helps and have a great trip!

 

[hidetherum]

We recently took our sons (ages 2 & 4). I would highly reccomend staying for a minimum of 3 days if possible. We did a 2 day hopper and didn't get to see it all.
We stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn. You couldn't beat the location for the price. It's within walking distance of several dining establishments--IHOP, McDonalds, their own Captain Cook's Family Restaurant, etc. and directly across the street from the Disneyland entrace.

Have a great time!

 

[hlbtimes2]

Typically I recomend the candy cane inn for an offsite hotel, but for family of 5, I would probably say the BW park place inn. It gets great reviews and has larger room. Including some small suites. You'll want at least 3 days, but if you can do more I recomend it. For the time of year you'll be there, 5 days would be better. If you plan on seeing other things in the area, a week would be easy to fill.

Christmas to New Years are the busiest days of the year in the park. You'll want to plan to get the park early, in line before opening time. Take a break midday, then head back for the evening hours. You'll want to be sure to know the ins and outs of fast pass before you go. Hydroguy has a great thread on it somewhere. You'll also want to be sure to use your early entry day (all 3 day or more hoppers come with one day).

If your travel dates are at all flexible, I recomend coming in early to mid Dec. and avoiding the holiday crowds.

 

[Andrew812]

Wow your first time to D.L, you and your family are going to love it. There are alot of good neighbour hotels, some offer a continental breakfast. You can go to expedia.com and check out reviews of your selected choices of hotel to see how people rated them.
As for how long to stay over the Christmas time, I would recommend at least 7 days. With the various ages of your children you don't have to rush and you have pleanty of time for your 3 yr old to have naps, he/she is bound to get tired and need a break. Time for you to go back to the hotel have a break and still have pleanty of time to enjoy the wounder and magic of your Disney Vacation.
Since you haven't been yet, let me tell you one thing about Disney at Christmas, you are going to be amazed at the way this place is done up I promise you that.
Have a great time when you go and plan your trip so you and your family can enjoy it without rushing in

 

[Wannabe-Imagineer]

To me it seems odd seeing people go there for 7 days, i guess thats just cause im there atleast once a year. We can do both parks in 2 days and that is plenty for just 2 people. But seeing as there are kids and its your first trip you dont want to rush it so 4 or 5 days i think would be good. And i guess since your going near Christmas than that 7 days might not sound bad either, seeing how it will be very busy especially since Nemo will be open!

 

[jtoast]

We have decided to take our kids ages 3,8,12 to DL over Xmas. What do you recommend to go see and how many days should we expect to spend in DL. Also any good hotels that are cheap?

I think that depends on your defination of cheap.

Me and my family of 6 (me, DW, DSX2 and DDX2) are going to be staying at the Homewood Suites Main Gate. It's costing us $1030 for 8 days/7 nights during a holiday weekend (7/3-7/10). That works out to just under $150 a night which sounds expensive but its really not when you consider that we would have probably ended up in 2 rooms somewhere else.

They also have a pretty decent breakfast, a light evening meal, and a free shuttle to the park that are all included in the price.