Help, Quick last minute trip to DL, Las Vegas, and long drive

[Mickey527]

My son was just discharged from the Marines and I am flying from CT to help him drive his car home from Miramar near San Diego. I haven't seen him for almost 3 years so I am really looking forward to him coming home.
The Marine corps will pay for his belongings to come home but not ship his car so he is driving it. I don't want him to drive alone so I am on my way on the 11th for the long drive.
I hate the thought of going to CA and not seeing DL. I am trying to plan a really cheap, last minute trip.
He cannot buy military tickets himself because he has already been discharged but still staying on base till he leaves. His roommate said he will buy the tickets if that will help us.
I am looking for a hotel in the area within walking distance since I don't want to unpack his stuff from the car and will leave it at the hotel.
I do own DVC so if we do decide I might just book there if I can get something but am looking for as cheap and as close to DL as possible if DVC is not available.
We are going to drive to Las Vegas and spend a night there to see the lights and some of the free shows so if anyone knows of a good (cheap) place to eat let me know.
We will be taking I-40 most of the way home till around Ohio where we will get onto I-80

 

[skiingfast]

If you use DVC and can get into the GCH villas that is fine but some of the hotels on Harbor are closer. On Harbor you have about ten places to choose from that are an easy walk to the gates. 10 minutes of less.

Anaheim Plaza Inn and Del Sol are the cheapest.

Park Vue Inn and Candy Cane Inn are the nicest.

In Vegas the cheapest meal I've had was the buffet at South Point. But you need to stay there and join there players card club. It's a great and cheap hotel, but not on the strip.

From Vegas why backtrack south to I-40 instead of continuing up I-15?
In Utah I-70 splits off I-15 and after Denver I-70 has a connector(76?) up to I-80. Or you could take I-70 across to at least Ohio before moving to a northern route. But east of there I'm a little fuzzy.

Last time I took I-40 I was going to the South East.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

Yeah, I-40 is the Southern route that doesn't take you through Vegas. Since it's still summer, any of the routes available shouldn't be a problem. The route I used to always take to the Midwest was I-40 but I've also taken skiingfast's route through Utah and Colorado in the summer and when I wanted to hit Vegas.