Is Miracosta Hotel “worth it”?

[MinnieMouse3]

Hi everyone. Is anyone able to give me an opinion on if Miracosta is “worth it”? I know highly subjective but looking for some advice. My husband and I (early 30s) will be coming to Japan for a first trip for our honeymoon in March. I’m a huge Disney fan and my husband humours me. We have a 2 night vacation package with Enjoy Attractions Even More at Ambassador’s but need a hotel for the night before. I was able to secure a night at Miracosta after ++ refreshing on the website. Once the excitement died down though I started to wonder if it’s really worth the $800 Canadian for 1 night? I was able to get a DisneySea AquaSphere View (harbour view was unavailable). Our plan for check in day would be to get an evening ticket at DisneySea. Next morning would be Disneyland park. Thoughts on splurging on Miracosta for 1 night, or if I should save some money for other “once in a lifetime” experience in Japan and stay at the Sheraton or Hilton? Is early entry at Disneyland that important if we have all our attractions covered? We would just want to purchase DPA for parades. Thanks in advance!

 

[gmi3804]

Since you’ll be at DS that day, it’d be really nice to retire to your room right in the park after the evening festivities. You could have a drink after you get back (parks close at 9 sharp, and they don’t let you linger) and enjoy your last evening. How often do you have a chance to visit Japan and Disney, and you’ll have gone that far already.

 

[Smugpugmug]

(parks close at 9 sharp, and they don’t let you linger)

Not related to OP's question but I was just at Disneysea and they were letting people walk around to take nighttime photos in the Fantasy Springs area but would not let people go near ride entrances and the store. I was staying at the FS hotel which is why I was over there at park closing so if you're not staying there they won't let you do that.

Personally I found having Happy Entry to be worth it. I did your plan but had the Tokyo Disneyland hotel booked instead of Miracosta. I was able to walk right onto Beauty and the Beast before it sprung up to a 3 1/2 hour wait and I got the DPA for the Harmony in Color parade. The 40th anniversary Fastpasses also go extremely fast in the morning especially for Pooh and Monster's Inc so you can grab one of those rides before regular park guests can (unsure if those will still be around by March though).

 

[thanxfornoticin]

That's a very subjective question! We just got to stay 3 nights at MC, and it's absolutely amazing. On the one hand, I'm not sure how much savings you would see if you did Sher/Hilton instead. Yes, $800 is quite a lot. But if Hilton or Sheraton are $600, the savings is smaller than you might think. If it's more around $400, then 50% less could be a motivator. Keep in mind, you'll need to get up that first morning of the package to get to the Ambassador to pick up your tickets and perks for your vacation package before you head to the parks. It's a simple monorail ride, but you will likely want to be checked out of MC early to begin enjoying your VP. Your time at MC will be limited.

So a difficult decision that only you can judge. I do know that Disney will move your luggage room to room if you stay at MC. I don't know if that's the case if you're at Sher/Hilton. You might want to check, else you'll need to make other arrangements to get your bags to Ambassador. If they won't, then that perk might make the convenience of your split stay worth it. We moved from TDR resort to TDR resort, and it was really nice leaving our packed bags in one room and having them waiting for us that evening in our new room.

 

[Smugpugmug]

That's a very subjective question! We just got to stay 3 nights at MC, and it's absolutely amazing. On the one hand, I'm not sure how much savings you would see if you did Sher/Hilton instead. Yes, $800 is quite a lot. But if Hilton or Sheraton are $600, the savings is smaller than you might think. If it's more around $400, then 50% less could be a motivator. Keep in mind, you'll need to get up that first morning of the package to get to the Ambassador to pick up your tickets and perks for your vacation package before you head to the parks. It's a simple monorail ride, but you will likely want to be checked out of MC early to begin enjoying your VP. Your time at MC will be limited.

So a difficult decision that only you can judge. I do know that Disney will move your luggage room to room if you stay at MC. I don't know if that's the case if you're at Sher/Hilton. You might want to check, else you'll need to make other arrangements to get your bags to Ambassador. If they won't, then that perk might make the convenience of your split stay worth it. We moved from TDR resort to TDR resort, and it was really nice leaving our packed bags in one room and having them waiting for us that evening in our new room.

I know they won't transfer luggage to/from Hilton, which was one of the reasons why I changed my reservation from Hilton to the Disney owned hotels.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I know they won't transfer luggage to/from Hilton, which was one of the reasons why I changed my reservation from Hilton to the Disney owned hotels.

And that takes away a potential headache when doing a TDR split stay.....!

 

[MinnieMouse3]

Thanks everyone for your helpful feedback so far! I am very tempted to keep the reservation but it just seems like a LOT especially since like people have pointed out we will have to leave bright and early check out day to check out and get to Disneyland to maximize our day there. I have seen the Sheraton for $300 so that is tempting me. The other option is I could do ambassador’s in the same room category so I could just check in once and wouldn’t have to move our bags. Just seemed like a lot (it’s about $600) to avoid taking the monorail over and leaving bags morning of? But we have limited time in the parks so I do want to try and maximize our time.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Whatever you decide, have a great time. It's a fun, beautiful place to enjoy.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Thanks everyone for your helpful feedback so far! I am very tempted to keep the reservation but it just seems like a LOT especially since like people have pointed out we will have to leave bright and early check out day to check out and get to Disneyland to maximize our day there. I have seen the Sheraton for $300 so that is tempting me. The other option is I could do ambassador’s in the same room category so I could just check in once and wouldn’t have to move our bags. Just seemed like a lot (it’s about $600) to avoid taking the monorail over and leaving bags morning of? But we have limited time in the parks so I do want to try and maximize our time.

I did exactly what you're planning (went from TDL hotel and moved to FS hotel). I was in line physically at Tokyo Disneyland at around 7:00 am but had to wake up an hour earlier to give my bags to bell services, go over to the FS hotel, pick up my vacation package and then return to TDL. You cannot pick up your vacation package the night before. I asked and they said no.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Not related to OP's question but I was just at Disneysea and they were letting people walk around to take nighttime photos in the Fantasy Springs area but would not let people go near ride entrances and the store.

When we were there last month you could freely walk into the Fantasy Springs merch store at night at least the night we were in Fantasy Springs at night. It wasn't near park closing but around 8ish. However, the 1-day passport to Fantasy Springs (for those at Fantasy Springs hotel and those with a vacation package) is going away March 31st 2025 and I suppose they could do away with that earlier. That might change how they care about access towards the end of the evening.

Personally I found having Happy Entry to be worth it.

Just for the OP at least at Disneyland if you didn't get into the parks at the beginning of Happy Entry you were going to be part of the normal guest pack. For instance on our full Disneyland Day they opened the parks to the general public at 8:45am, announcing happy entry would start around 8:30am. When we were inside the park there were still a decent amount of people trying to get in under happy entry and we were already in the park before they were.

For that day we were in line at Disneyland around 6:45am ish and there were soooooooooo many people already there. We had to be brought to the security areas in large separated out groups. Those at the Disneyland hotel only got a marginal lead. They separated out people waiting for Happy Entry and regular park guests for the lines but we were in the same line, it was just they had a gap between the two.

For both of our Disney Sea days they opened the park for the general public at 8:30am and 8:25am meaning happy entry was closer to 8am there (a few mins after 8 but yea closer to that time).

We were going during Halloween season which may bring in more crowds than come springtime.

 

[gmi3804]

Remember that check-out time is noon, so you could always commando tour DL in the morning and then go back to have your bags transferred to the next hotel, maybe even have a nice lunch at either hotel after. Or just go back to the park.

 

[Smugpugmug]

When we were there last month you could freely walk into the Fantasy Springs merch store at night at least the night we were in Fantasy Springs at night. It wasn't near park closing but around 8ish. However, the 1-day passport to Fantasy Springs (for those at Fantasy Springs hotel and those with a vacation package) is going away March 31st 2025 and I suppose they could do away with that earlier. That might change how they care about access towards the end of the evening.


Just for the OP at least at Disneyland if you didn't get into the parks at the beginning of Happy Entry you were going to be part of the normal guest pack. For instance on our full Disneyland Day they opened the parks to the general public at 8:45am, announcing happy entry would start around 8:30am. When we were inside the park there were still a decent amount of people trying to get in under happy entry and we were already in the park before they were.

For that day we were in line at Disneyland around 6:45am ish and there were soooooooooo many people already there. We had to be brought to the security areas in large separated out groups. Those at the Disneyland hotel only got a marginal lead. They separated out people waiting for Happy Entry and regular park guests for the lines but we were in the same line, it was just they had a gap between the two.

For both of our Disney Sea days they opened the park for the general public at 8:30am and 8:25am meaning happy entry was closer to 8am there (a few mins after 8 but yea closer to that time).

We were going during Halloween season which may bring in more crowds than come springtime.

Yeah I was referring to after park close. They had 0 issues with people walking around and taking photos (saw some people with professional looking cameras taking pictures) but blocked off the area near the store. Also all of the Fantasy Springs QS restaurants close an hour before the park does.

I made it near the front when getting in line at around 7 am when doing Happy Entry for TDL Hotel. I arrived at the FS hotel entrance gate around 7:30 and was about 5 people from the front.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yeah I was referring to after park close. They had 0 issues with people walking around and taking photos (saw some people with professional looking cameras taking pictures) but blocked off the area near the store. Also all of the Fantasy Springs QS restaurants close an hour before the park does.

I made it near the front when getting in line at around 7 am when doing Happy Entry for TDL Hotel. I arrived at the FS hotel entrance gate around 7:30 and was about 5 people from the front.

They were doing security and entrance protocols differently between Disneyland and DisneySea.

For DisneySea you weren't allowed through security until just before they were opening the parks with a brief wait at the tapstiles before being let in for the general guests so Happy Entry is likely handled differently there as far as the lines. I'm sure the Fantasy Springs hotel entrance would have far fewer people trying to get in which is a definite advantage to Fantasy Springs in particular.

For Disneyland you were brought in large groups at a time (didn't matter if you were there for happy entry or not with exception to Disneyland hotel which had it's own spot to wait at the hotel entrance) through security then you would line up at the tapstiles and they had taped boxes to denote where happy entry people should stand which is in front of the general public guests with a gap in between so depending on which line you were in those in the general public can make it in before happy entry does as it depended on each line and how many happy entry guests were in front of you. There was already a lot of people at the Disneyland hotel waiting at the gate at Disneyland hotel when we arrived.

I would imagine that happy entry is still worth it at Disneyland but without a doubt we had the ability to purchase DPA and get 40th anniversary passes before a chunk of happy entry guests. That particular day we had DPA for Beauty and the Beast at 9-10am, Baymax DPA 10:10am-11:10am (purchased after redeeming the Beauty and the Beast), Buzz 40th anniversary at 10:15-11:15, etc. We also were able to purchase DPA again for Beauty and the Beast. So being in line as early as we did really helped us.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I don't think it's worth it unless you are insanely curious about what it's like to stay at the Miracosta or really want to get back to the hotel ASAP in the evening. I'd recommend staying at the Ambassador the whole time for most normal visitors.

Staying at the Hilton or Sheraton would mean taking the monorail both in the evening and in the morning and carrying luggage. It's a bit inconvenient but in addition to the cost savings, a lot of foreign visitors find the beds at the Disney hotels too firm and sleep better at the Sheraton.

If you'll be taking the train from Tokyo to get to Disney on your first day and don't mind smaller rooms (29 sq m vs 38 sq m), you could also consider Hotel Dream Gate. It's about a 10 minute walk to the Ambassador hotel and you can easily drop off your luggage before taking the monorail to DisneySea on your first day rather than haul your luggage all the way the the Sheraton or Hilton. Hotel Dream Gate is also one stop on the monorail from DisneySea in the evening vs. 3 stops to get to the Sheraton and Hilton.

I would consider Happy Entry important for your visit. If you're visiting on or before March 16, you'll need it to get DPA for Vanelope's seasonal parade. If you're visiting after that, you'll be visiting during Spring Break, the time of the year with the longest wait times for many attractions. It'd be helpful to arrive early to ride something that doesn't have a priority line.

 

[jimmymc]

I'm leaning towards not worth it, especially since your package starts with Disneyland. You'll still have to take the monorail in the morning to get to the park. I would see what the prices are at Disneyland Hotel, which is equally impressive IMO. If that's not available, then I would probably go back to the Hilton or something else cheaper.