Is DisneyLand more exspensive then DW?

[bcarson]

We have always went to DW. I thought maybe, just maybe we would try to swing a short trip for my dd's bday. Jan 24-28. So 4nights. We would only do 3 days in the parks. One would be her birthday. Anyway. I called to price and I just thought the prices quoted were high. I did the good neighbor hotel ect... But it just seemed I have went to DW longer, with the dining plan and it was more economical. They also told me DME was not free at DL?

What's the tips here to go DL on a budget. Get your own hotel?

 

[Krissy Marissy]

We have always went to DW. I thought maybe, just maybe we would try to swing a short trip for my dd's bday. Jan 24-28. So 4nights. We would only do 3 days in the parks. One would be her birthday. Anyway. I called to price and I just thought the prices quoted were high. I did the good neighbor hotel ect... But it just seemed I have went to DW longer, with the dining plan and it was more economical. They also told me DME was not free at DL?

What's the tips here to go DL on a budget. Get your own hotel?

I think WDW is cheaper per day than DL. If you were to stay at the value resorts that is. And yes DME is not free since it isn't disney run like it is at WDW, completely different setup. Where are you coming from? I think you should shop around a bit and see what you can find...there are some cheap airfares out there and disney has tickets for the price of childs admission through april. Which hotel were you looking at? Perhaps some of us DISers can help with a few more details

 

[jlmarr]

... disney has tickets for the price of childs admission through april.

So a 3 day park hopper is $149 at that rate, vs $262 for a 3 day hopper at WDW ($229 for kids).

The LAX Disneyland Express bus (operated by Gray Line Tours) is $30/rt for adults, $22/rt for kids. $5 cheaper to/from SNA.

I think a big factor would be travel costs, and the OP didn't say where she's from or if she flies or drives.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

So a 3 day park hopper is $149 at that rate, vs $262 for a 3 day hopper at WDW ($229 for kids).

The LAX Disneyland Express bus (operated by Gray Line Tours) is $30/rt for adults, $22/rt for kids. $5 cheaper to/from SNA.

I think a big factor would be travel costs, and the OP didn't say where she's from or if she flies or drives.

That why I was asking. If you get great airefare they have that deal at WDW right now that you pay for 4 nights and get 3 free. So a 7 day trip there can cost the same as 4 at DL. Need more info though

Also if they are going in January as in this january they might be eligible for that 200 dollar disney giftcard as well. So that is something to consider for sure!

 

[bumbershoot]

I've definitely noticed that DLR is more expensive, even down to the sales tax being higher in CA than in FL.

I had a brilliant idea to use the new offer for hubby's birthday in March, but hubby had a freakout about the flight costs, and chose to do a whopping 3 days at DLR in under 2 weeks. Especially because we're buying DS and DH their Deluxe APs, the cost is higher (including airfare) than the cost of the non-flight WDW trip. A week vs 3 days. Though we are staying at PPH for two nights.

But those flights sure do get higher, going across the country, than down to Anaheim! And that keeps stopping us, even though I have family in the Orlando area.


But DLR is great, and even WDW-lovers consider it to be terrific, and worth visiting!



Oh, and it's worth doing quite a bit of research before deciding on a way to visit. Look at packages directly through disneyland.com, costco travel, AAA (if you belong to those), getawaytoday.com, Ares Travel, and even southest vacations, and any other place you can think of.

Then compare it to buying things on your own.

Off site hotels at DLR are often CLOSER to the parks than the 3 Disney hotels, and are often quite nice. A favorite of the Dis and other fan forums is HoJo; check out the Discussion Boards at hojoanaheim.com to find info on the Entertainment Book discount you can get depending on when you're going.


When we took our first big DLR trip in September '07, we went with a package through Costco, but then we decided to get Annual Passports (upgraded our 5 day tickets when we got there). And with APs, or the plan to get them, we could have gotten our tickets and room at Paradise Pier Hotel for quite a bit less, at the time that we went that year, through a special AP rate. Oh well, live and learn!

Good luck in your research! There's good info about DLR for WDW "veterans" in the "sticky" threads.

 

[disneychrista]

A while back there was a comparison thread and yes things were more expensive at DL vs WDW. Unfortunetly as bumbershoot airfare, coupled with more to see/do it can be much more expensive then Disneyland overall. Depending on what your plans are.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Having just returned from 7 days at WDW- I'd say WDW was more expensive. Food was more expensive, especially once your meals were off the DDP. I only had 3 days on the DDP, and while that was most certainly worth my while, it made the other days much more costly than they are when we are at DL. Of course, at DL we are driving, and so can either eat offsite for a meal (usually breakfast, or midday), or bring in food for lunch typically. If you are onsite at WDW without a car you are captive to eating at the resorts or the parks. WDW also has a huge drop off in ticket prices once you are past the 3 or 4 day ticket. It cost our family $36 to upgrade all 4 of us (1 child and 3 adult tix) from 4 day hoppers to 7 day hoppers. Had we not had the ability to upgrade so cheaply, and use hotel points for DTD stay for the next 3 nights, we would not have stayed for 7 days.

Even the pictures taken on the rides were more expensive!!! The cheapest we could find was $21.95, and some were much more than that for the cheapest photo set. Needless to say, we only bought one photo from rides the whole trip.

We did have a wonderful trip to WDW, and hope to go again in 2010. It's an entirely different experience than a multiday trip to DLR, no doubt. For the rides, DLR wins, hands down. For a resort atmosphere and interesting dining experiences, WDW wins. I'd love to do it more often, but the airfare to Florida was a killer! If you've never done DLR, I'd highly recommend it. And if you can swing it on a birthday, so much the better!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Maybe it depends on where you live. For us, being on the West coast, the costs of airfare alone is what we normally spend on a whole trip to DL. Not even adding in hotel/tickets/food/fun money. The last time I priced a WDW trip it was something like two-three times our DL trips.

 

[KCmike]

DL has always been cheaper for us. One reason is that we stay off property when we go to DL versus on property at WDW. Tickets and meals were way cheaper. Flights from KC are usually a little more expensive though.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

The initial cost may be greater but sometimes is you break it down by the day staying a week there is cheaper than 3/4 days at DL. And again...it does all depend on how you travel and where you stay.

 

[bcarson]

I'll try to remeber all the questions asked. There would be 4 of us 2 adults 2 kids 7(turning 8 on trip) and 10 year old. They had us staying at a Best Western, Good Neighbor hotel. I actually looked at the plan again. It looked better on paper. I didn't see the $200 gift card. My guess is because it wasn't a Disney hotel? But there was some other add ons supposedly for free. It was like $985 for the 4 nights, 3days of tickets. Also no dining plan. But the hotel has free breakfast.

Airfare would be the big one if we decide to do this. We live in Illinois, but usually go to Indy. Could go to Ohare or Midway. Thanks.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

So are you going with a package then with someone? I've found it to be cheaper to book everything myself, the packages always seem more.

 

[Gisele]

Jen,

I've found it to be cheaper to book everything myself, the packages always seem more

I continue to see that too, and have read many posts stating the same on this site.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll try to remeber all the questions asked. There would be 4 of us 2 adults 2 kids 7(turning 8 on trip) and 10 year old. They had us staying at a Best Western, Good Neighbor hotel. I actually looked at the plan again. It looked better on paper. I didn't see the $200 gift card. My guess is because it wasn't a Disney hotel? But there was some other add ons supposedly for free. It was like $985 for the 4 nights, 3days of tickets. Also no dining plan. But the hotel has free breakfast.

Airfare would be the big one if we decide to do this. We live in Illinois, but usually go to Indy. Could go to Ohare or Midway. Thanks.

How many days, and which exact hotel? (there are a couple best westerns, as far as I recall)

There are other maps that are probably better, but I've been using this one so it's the only one I can think to look at , but anyway, it shows where things are: http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html


Check out allears.net and their Disneyland section for menus, so you have ideas on what they have and what it costs.

Often the free b'fasts from hotels don't really work, b/c they are bad (*cough*Carousel*cough*), start too late (someone here just posted about their hotel's b'fast starting at 7am, which is when Magic Morning starts on the MM days), etc. So often that free breakfast either slows down your morning (not good for many people's touring plans/ideas) or they need to buy more breakfast later. We personally like having just a granola bar when we get up, then go to the park for a couple hours, then have a late breakfast (Mickey pancakes at RiverBelle Terrance, or the Tomorrowland Terrace b'fasts, for instance).

Just be sure to really check out the prices of the individual things, look at the benefits you get with the packages (for some Mickey's ToonTown Morning Madness is really important, for some it's not...some places like Costco Travel have a character breakfast included, some don't, etc), and think think think. Don't just leap into it, that's my main advice. Know what you are getting and what you could get by doing other things.

And read the sticky threads, especially HydroGuy's thoughts on DLR and WDW!

 

[Marciern22]

You have to...You must...You've just GOT to come to DISNEYLAND!!!! If you have only ever been to WDW, you've got to make the trip out here!!!!!
There are so many ways you can do it. You can get one of us to buy you a SoCal select AP for $134, if you go during Jan, I think it is only blocked on Sat and Sundays, but if you go on a blockout day, it only costs $40.

 

[Marciern22]

Blockout days on 24th and 25th but the 24th won't count cuz it is the first day you use the pass, so you pay $40 on the 25th and it covers you the other days

 

[Marciern22]

OOps... I guess thats more, but its a good idea huh? Cuz then you get the % off on dining

 

[Marciern22]

3 day park hopper online is $179. SoCal select is $134 plus the discount off dining

 

[Judy from Boise]

In my experience I have found airfare to Orlando to be cheaper than LAX! I am going to Orlando in a few weeks for $275 RT and pretty good connections. This is always on Delta.

 

[Queenbillabong]

If you have an entertainment card (which whichever city you want), all those nights are eligible at the Hojo (so either $69 or $79/night depending on which room you choose). GAT has 3-day park hoppers for $149/person, including one MM.

I would look into different pricing options - the flight will probably be the big one though!

If you register beforehand, the birthday person will get a gift card in the amount of the one day park hopper (if you already have the tickets). I think the $200 gift card is only if you stay at one of the DLR hotels (which would be more than $200 more).

On Travelocity.ca I found airfare from Chicago to LA for $316/person Canadian.... (that's way cheaper than I can get from Vancouver to LA!!)