Hotels 101?

[pjtm]

I am beginning to work on a trip for next May and I know nothing about Disney Ca. But I can't wait to learn!!

Is there a Hotel 101 thread somewhere that I can learn about the hotels on site?

We are going to do DL and then legoland and Sea World so I have a ton to work on!

Thanks

 

[Sy-]

Sea World and Legoland first. Then Disneyland...

Save the best for last!

 

[Danauk]

If you would like to know about hotels read the important sicky at the top of this board about maps and hotels. The one thing you will find though is that many like to stay off site at DL.
I also suggest you read hydroguys sticky at the top as well. He provides lots of great tips.
Have fun planning.

 

[50sjayne]

I will solve all of your problems. Stay at Howard Johnsons. They don't have the entertainment rates yet for next year but they should be out by next month.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I just spent hours on the PC yesterday morning looking up hotels to stay at for our trip at the end of the month. It was a last minute idea so I had to get going on it.

I used hotels.com and checked prices and read reviews. Also went to Trip Advisor and read more reviews. If you get a hotel in your mind, that place will bring up lots of sites with prices for that hotel and you can pick the best. We ended up using Travelocity to book ours.

I also went to google maps and looked at the hotels I was thinking of. You can see what the area really looks like and also get some street views.

Also know what you want before you start searching. For us, being close to DL wasn't a must because we have teens and we plan to drive and park their with our free parking from AAA. We also wanted free parking at the hotel. Some make you pay. Knowing what you wants lets you narrow the search.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

I second the HydroGuy Tips Compilation. Two thumbs up, way up!

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

And I also second the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel (www.hojoanaheim.com/), especially if you can get the Entertainment Rate.

Here's some more hotel info:

www.accommodationsneardisney.com

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

"How far is it?" shows actual distances (in feet) from the hotels to the DLR entrance plaza.

The hotel info in the Unofficial Guide to DL 2008 is good, although you would be better off checking it out at the library. The next edition, UG to DL 2009, will probably be available in late August or mid-September.

HTH

 

[JadeDarkstar]

wait ent rates for next year are out next month?

hojos or desert inn (havent stayed yet but i just switched from desert inn for hojos being lucky. I would still try desert inn sometime but if hojos works for us i think wer will plan on staying there as long as they have there special ent rate. (next year we know were going in dec im waiting for the ent rates to come out to get a room on hold for then. I will have a back up pln too}

 

[DisFan29]

I just spent hours on the PC yesterday morning looking up hotels to stay at for our trip at the end of the month. It was a last minute idea so I had to get going on it.

I used hotels.com and checked prices and read reviews. Also went to Trip Advisor and read more reviews. If you get a hotel in your mind, that place will bring up lots of sites with prices for that hotel and you can pick the best. We ended up using Travelocity to book ours.

I also went to google maps and looked at the hotels I was thinking of. You can see what the area really looks like and also get some street views.

Also know what you want before you start searching. For us, being close to DL wasn't a must because we have teens and we plan to drive and park their with our free parking from AAA. We also wanted free parking at the hotel. Some make you pay. Knowing what you wants lets you narrow the search.

Where did you find out about free parking with AAA? I'm not going until next May but I haven't seen anything about free parking. This is my first DL trip also. Many, many trips to WDW. But they don't have free AAA parking.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I've bought tickets for DL from AAA before. If you look up Disney Destinations on the AAA site and then click on buy tickets, you will bring up a page of ticket prices. It isn't good on 2 day tickets, only 3 or more.

 

[avalon451]

I would strongly suggest that you ditch the idea of driving to DL and parking in the parking garage, free parking or no; instead, stay at a good neighbor hotel across the street (as close as most of the rooms in the 3 onsite hotels, much much cheaper) and walk to the parks. Please read Hydroguy's sticky tips thread, especially this one: 'Hidden Time Losses when Using a Car at DLR" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1381580

I second the Howard Johnson's recommendation. Get an Entertainment book and book your stay during the days the Ent rates are available: $75 a night for deluxe rooms, facing the parks with a balcony and a fireworks view. It's the nicest hotel for the best price in walking distance except for possibly the Candy Cane Inn (but you won't get the same price there).

Get your park hopper tickets from GetAwayToday and receive 2 Magic Mornings (early entry) instead of just one. They cost the same as DL travel company, and you can use discount code "podcast" and they will waive the $10 transaction fee.

Nothing like stating my opinions, huh? seriously, though, those are just some ideas, but they've been tested and found very good deals by many people here. I've only been once, but after reading extensively here for months, the above is my strategy for our Oct. trip, and I'm saving thousands over what we paid the first time, booking a package through DL and staying onsite.

Good luck and have fun planning!