Help!! Hotels? Morning hours? Xmas party????

[jmkmum]

We are trying to plan a trip to DL (from OZ), but have been looking at the good neighbor hotels across the road from the parks. We have three young children who don't like to walk back to the hotel after running wild in the parks all day. Last time we visited, we stayed at paradise pier and made good use of the early morning entry. We have annual passes, and would like to know if the annual pass early entry will get us in with staying at a good neighbor hotel, or will we still need to stay in pp again? Also, we want to try for the Xmas party, but I can't find dates for it yet, if anyone has an idea of when it starts, I would love to know. We are looking at coming back home to Australia on the 13th nov, but would hate to book the flights and miss the party by a day or two. Also, if anyone has good tips on getting from the airport to the hotels I would love to hear them also, last time we got a shuttle, but it was pretty expensive, I know that WDW has their coach, but does DL have anything similar?
Thanks in advance for all the advice and help!!

 

[KittyKat1978]

Disneyland doesn't have an Xmas party. But they do decorate. I don't think the dates have been released yet for when all of the decorations will be up.

No an annual pass doesn't get you in early. You have to stay at a Disney Hotel (PP), the not the GN hotels to get in early.

Disneyland doesn't have a free Magical Express because there are 3-4 possible airports you could fly into.

I have used the Disneyland Express, but you have to buy tickets. I have used getawaytoday.com. Right now they have adult tickets for the price of kids.

 

[Girimama33]

The APEE is slated to end in September. No word as to what is going to happen after that...especially if staying at a GNH. I believe I read that the EMH was going to alternate again vs having it available everyday for either park. On site guests will probably be able to take
advantage of it, but who knows what is in store for AP holders.
DL does not have a Christmas party like WDW.


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

I believe the Xmas decorations will be up inthe parks by Nov12 but not the hotels.

 

[jmkmum]

Thanks!! I can't believe they don't have a Xmas party like the magic kingdom does! Hopefully they will continue the early entry for annual pass holders, there is quite a big price difference between pp and the gnh, but the extra hour made a huge difference last time we were there with making sure we got on the rides. The kids were much younger then and didn't like to wait in lines very long, but they coped with the dw lines last year, I think it was the fact that they understood that they were waiting for a ride an not just standing around. I've read on here that the best way to get a fast pass for radiator springs racers is to line up during the magic mornings. Do the FP machines start distributing tickets then, or just when the park opens for everyone?
Thanks again!

 

[skiingfast]

Do the FP machines start distributing tickets then, or just when the park opens for everyone?

Not until the park opens for everyone.

 

[Girimama33]

Thanks!! I can't believe they don't have a Xmas party like the magic kingdom does! Hopefully they will continue the early entry for annual pass holders, there is quite a big price difference between pp and the gnh, but the extra hour made a huge difference last time we were there with making sure we got on the rides. The kids were much younger then and didn't like to wait in lines very long, but they coped with the dw lines last year, I think it was the fact that they understood that they were waiting for a ride an not just standing around. I've read on here that the best way to get a fast pass for radiator springs racers is to line up during the magic mornings. Do the FP machines start distributing tickets then, or just when the park opens for everyone?
Thanks again!

Personally, I would utilize the EMH to ride the Carsland rides and TSMM. I would line up gor the RSR FP line about 15 minutes before the park opens to the general public.