Insane Impromptu Road Trip to Disneyland!?

[Elias1901]

Okay, so, here's the deal...

One of my closest friends has kind of been in a funk recently and I am frantically trying to find ways to lift their spirits... I always knew they'd been wanting to visit Disneyland but have never done so in their life. I said that we should go on a crazy road trip to Disneyland like tomorrow or something and this is insane, but we are going to go for it! We're so excited!! I have never done a long-haul road trip like this to Disneyland before so I just want to make sure I have some bases covered. We will be driving down from Alberta, Canada... and our approximate driving time reads out at roughly 25 hours. Ouch!

So my first question is this, what time should we leave home? We want our first park day to be this Wednesday... MAYBE Tuesday if we can push that. I don't get tired easily and usually stay up for long periods of time. So the drive doesn't scare me as much as it might others. I am looking for a suggested time of day and date we should depart. I am OK with driving at night. I just want to get there!

We already have our park tickets taken care of and I think I found a cheap hotel in the area that we would like to go for, however... I am a bit confused as the room details don't mention what type of beds are exactly in the room because we definitely need two separate beds. I don't care about the size... but it only says "Room Type: Standard 9600968 EUROPEAN PLAN EP" and then underneath reads, "Occupancy: Double occupancy". Does double occupancy usually mean that there will be at least two beds?

Second, I have taken into account fuel costs and did a rough estimate based on my vehicle. I'll manage. The only thing I wonder about is if we will hit any toll roads on the way... we'd be alright with napping in the vehicle when required until we reach our destination. I have a pretty large SUV with plenty of fold-down space, if needed.

I have a Disney Premier Annual Passport and I am correct in saying that parking at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure is free, correct? I personally don't have much experience driving in the area and have never been inside the parking structure before... where is the entrance to the garage? Is there an address I can enter into my GPS that will guide me directly into the garage? If so, what's the address? To attain free parking, would I just need to present my AP to a CM at the garage's entry booths? ALSO!! What time do the trams from the parking structure start running? Do they coincide with Magic Mornings? If we wanted to be there 30-40 minutes before opening... how much time should we allow ourselves when driving from our hotel (less than 5 minutes away), parking, catching the tram, and walking through DTD to get in line at security/the turnstiles?

I lastly would like to know how much US cash I should approximately bring down with me for eating in the parks? So, to feed two adults for five days in the parks. I don't plan to be feasting on the most expensive stuff every day we are there and for some of the days (when the park closes early) we would probably just grab supper at McDonald's. I would like to take my friend to one MAYBE two of the classic sit-down meal experiences, but other than that I plan to try and eat on the cheap not go terribly gung-ho. So, I was thinking of bringing down like $500 in US cash... too much? Too little? Just right? I guess my AP discounts on food might help a bit too! I do plan to stuff some backpacks with energy/protein bars and snacks and drinks for the trips there and back... I'm sure that will hold us over to and from the Happiest Place on Earth.

Any other tips and suggestions ya'll can give are much obliged!

 

[sechelt]

I've only done one straight through drive but that was to B.C. and I was the only driver. We left Anaheim at 6 a.m. and were in Seattle at 9 a.m. the next morning. I had three kids with me so there were bathroom and food breaks in there as well as rest breaks for me. Even if you have two drivers and don't stop to eat, I'd allow more than 25 hours, just to be safe.

Double occupancy usually just means two people and doesn't guarantee two beds. Does the hotel have a toll free number for you to call and ask? If you haven't already, check out this link for an idea of accomodations and their proximity to DLR.

http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

Since you have a vehicle, perhaps go to a nearby grocery store and stock up on things like water, granola bars, fruit cups, and other things that don't need a fridge. Or, bring them from home. I always brought a big camping cooler, filled with food that I knew could cross the border (no fruit). I rarely buy food in the parks other than fruit and my treat lunch at Blue Bayou. I've even brought cans of soup, with pull tabs, and eaten it cold.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...l=33.835203,-117.917719&spn=0.052972,0.079908

Can't really answer your questions about the parking structure but I seem to recall it was pretty easy to find and well marked.

Hope you have a blast on your insane impromtu road trip! They're usually the best.

 

[lalasmama]

Sounds like a great road trip!

For when to leave, I'd plan on allowing 2 full days, so maybe leave tomorrow? I know driving doesn't bother some people, but I think it's a lot of time cooped up in a vehicle, and a nice break in the middle (northern California perhaps?) would make the driveuch more bearable, and leave you better rested for Disneyland. There should be plenty of cheap hotels on the way (Motel 6, or Super 8).

Double occupancy means nothing more than being approved for 2 people. It could be 1 king, 2 queens, 2 doubles, or even a bunk bed. I promise it's not a bunk bed Where are you staying? That will give people a better clue about what the room situation could/would be. With the "European" wording, I'm wondering if its the Motel 6? If so, it's 2 beds, either queens or doubles.

Toll roads are nearly non-exsistant in this part if the country. In fact, I still have never seen one!

I have no help with the parking... We walk from our hotel. But I would allow a good amount of time to get parked and to the gates, say maybe 45 minutes.

For food, I'd being more than $500 for 2 people, if you can swing it. Snacks are about $5, quick service meals about $10, counter service meals about $15-20, and table service $20+ (places like Blue Bayou will come out at at about $70 for 2 in my experience, and Carthay Circle is always $100+ for 2 when we go). Even McDonalds across the street seems more expensive. My normal plan is $60/pp per day, with one $90 day to account for eating somewhere a little more fancy (ie, Blue Bayou). If your hotel provides breakfast, then you can get away with less. I just hate to have to think about nickles and dimes when I'm deciding what to order

 

[Elias1901]

Thanks for the responses!

Where are you staying? That will give people a better clue about what the room situation could/would be

I'm hoping to stay at the Rodeway Inn kinda up by the parking structure.

 

[Malcon10t]

I am a bit confused as the room details don't mention what type of beds are exactly in the room because we definitely need two separate beds. I don't care about the size... but it only says "Room Type: Standard 9600968 EUROPEAN PLAN EP" and then underneath reads, "Occupancy: Double occupancy". Does double occupancy usually mean that there will be at least two beds?

Worded like this, I would say there is one bed. Do you know the name of the motel? We can probably help more with that info.

I have a Disney Premier Annual Passport and I am correct in saying that parking at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure is free, correct?

Yes. Just present your AP.

ALSO!! What time do the trams from the parking structure start running? Do they coincide with Magic Mornings?

You stated you have an AP. If you are not staying on property, you won't have Magic Morning access.

If we wanted to be there 30-40 minutes before opening... how much time should we allow ourselves when driving from our hotel (less than 5 minutes away), parking, catching the tram, and walking through DTD to get in line at security/the turnstiles?

Sometimes it is faster to use the Toy Story lot instead of going to Mickey and Friends. Once you arrive at Toy Story, it would be about 7 mins to the park. Mickey and Friends is closer to 15.

 

[larryz]

Ah, yes... the Great American Road Trip!

Sounds like fun -- good luck and keep the shiny side up and the grungy side down!

 

[goooof1]

If it's Rodeway Inn on Ball St. near the Mickey & Friends parking, you won't need to drive. It is probably about a 10 minutes+ walk to the tram (which you can use) at the garage. Or if you don't use the tram and continue walking it is about 10 more minutes to the park entrances through DTD. Check out the link from the pp with the map of the area accommodations. Even with free parking, walking distance is much easier! We like S. Harbor Blvd. right across from the entrance to the parks (from Hojo's up to Candy Cane on Katella).
Most of all.....HAVE FUN!!

 

[endy]

As previously mentioned - no tolls between here and Anaheim. I love road trips and have done this one likely 20 times only going to San Diego first.

Looks like your in Edmonton, I'm in Calgary and it's a 23-25 drive for me. I love driving too but I also need some sleep. Straight south from Lethbridge, no highway changes til around Riverside. Very easy and sometimes boring drive. There's a stretch thru southern Utah where the speed limit is 85mph. Driving at night means there could be deer on the road all the way to NV.

There's good, cheap Motel 6's just north of Salt Lake. That would be just over halfway. Or Mesquite is also a great overnight stop. Sun-Thu you can get a room for under $30. From there it's 6-7 hours.
If you're both driving then leaving Monday would put you there Tuesday even if you stop overnight. Have a good sleep and be ready to hit the parks early Wed. The border crossing should be fairly slow early in the week but there have been times where I waited close to an hour.
Absolutely bring and watch what you have in the cooler at the border. I usually stop in Great Falls or Butte at Walmart to stock up on lunch and snack supplies for the drive. No taxes in Montana.

Try fueltripcalculator.com or fueltripcostcalculator.com (my computer is acting up otherwise I would post the correct web name)

It's been pretty accurate for me. I use Great Falls as starting point because it's only US cities. Last few summers I had an Escape and fuel costs were right around $600 return to San Diego and in between and we drive everywhere. I usually stop at truck stops for gas, most have a fast food place and lots of snacks, good to stretch your legs for a few minutes. Most gas stops are pre-pay.

Have a great and safe trip.

 

[Amommy21]

Good luck with that. We have done the drive from Seattle to Southern California a couple times. Bothe times planning 2 days and barely made it! It's just a loooong drive. Don't go down the coast. It's not as pretty, but if you need to make up time driving the that coast highway takes too much time.

Be safe! Good luck!