Lazy Questions

[barrbr]

I admit that I am lazy. I have not searched for answers to these questions.

Setup...I know next to nothing about DLR. I have looked and some of the info on the Info Thread but not much. Until now really never even considered going to DLR but have been to WDW numerous times. Thinking about going in October 2012.

Now to the questions:

1. How are the crowds in October?

2. Does DLR do magical express like WDW? If so from which LA area airports?

3. I am thinking 4 full days total for the two parks. Is that enough?

4. What is the basic differences between the Disney Hotels and the Good Neighbor Hotels?

I will leave it at that for now!

Thanks In Advance for your help!!

 

[My sister's princess]

I admit that I am lazy. I have not searched for answers to these questions.

Setup...I know next to nothing about DLR. I have looked and some of the info on the Info Thread but not much. Until now really never even considered going to DLR but have been to WDW numerous times. Thinking about going in October 2012.

Now to the questions:

1. How are the crowds in October?

2. Does DLR do magical express like WDW? If so from which LA area airports?

3. I am thinking 4 full days total for the two parks. Is that enough?

4. What is the basic differences between the Disney Hotels and the Good Neighbor Hotels?

I will leave it at that for now!

Thanks In Advance for your help!!

I have none of these answers, but am looking for almost the exact same info LOL. Feel free to see my thread about the dining for other newbie answers

 

[ssuriano]

Both of you should take a look at this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599
It's one of HydroGuy's many great info threads.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I admit that I am lazy. I have not searched for answers to these questions.

Setup...I know next to nothing about DLR. I have looked and some of the info on the Info Thread but not much. Until now really never even considered going to DLR but have been to WDW numerous times. Thinking about going in October 2012.

Now to the questions:

1. How are the crowds in October? Crowds are getting worse during October due to the Halloween festivities. Also, many AZ schools have fall break during the middle of the month which adds to it. However, it is manageable.

2. Does DLR do magical express like WDW? If so from which LA area airports? There is a shuttle from LAX to Disney, however it is not free and they do not magically transport your luggage to the resort.

3. I am thinking 4 full days total for the two parks. Is that enough? Yes, 4 days is a good amount of time to visit both parks.

4. What is the basic differences between the Disney Hotels and the Good Neighbor Hotels? $$$$$ DLR resorts can be expensive and are often times farther away from the gates than the Good Neighbor hotels. The Good Neighbor hotels are along Harbor Blvd. You can stay right accross the street or down a ways. All are decent and clean places to stay.

I will leave it at that for now!

Thanks In Advance for your help!!

Have fun planning!

 

[dmked]

Now to the questions:

1. How are the crowds in October? I have not been in October, but heard the crowds are down, except DO NOT go during UEA, it is Fall Break in Utah and I think everyone and their dog goes there, from everything I have heard/read do not go during this time if you do not like huge crowds

2. Does DLR do magical express like WDW? If so from which LA area airports? The Disneyland Express bus goes to/from LAX and SNA to any Disneyland area hotel http://www.anaheimoc.org/member_details/member_detail.asp?memberID=16394

3. I am thinking 4 full days total for the two parks. Is that enough? Yes, I think 4 days is a good amount. You can get everything done in 3 days, but I think 4 days is a more relaxing vacation and you can re-do your favorites on the last day

4. What is the basic differences between the Disney Hotels and the Good Neighbor Hotels? If you have the money go for a Disney property hotel! But the "Good Neighbor Hotels" are not that far away, we love Hojos which is a quick 8-10 min walk to the turnstiles (even with a big double stroller!)

 

[TeddiBarra]

1. How are the crowds in October? Crowds are getting worse during October due to the Halloween festivities. Also, many AZ schools have fall break during the middle of the month which adds to it. However, it is manageable.

Ditto that. It will be hectic on Fridays, and weekend dates that have the Halloween parties.

2. Does DLR do magical express like WDW? If so from which LA area airports? There is a shuttle from LAX to Disney, however it is not free and they do not magically transport your luggage to the resort.

Yep, what s/he said. It's transportation to and from. It's not free and it doesn't have some welcome video.

3. I am thinking 4 full days total for the two parks. Is that enough? Yes, 4 days is a good amount of time to visit both parks.

I agree as well. If you could even do 5, that's even better. While there are "only" two parks- both DL and DCA are packed with more attractions.

4. What is the basic differences between the Disney Hotels and the Good Neighbor Hotels? $$$$$ DLR resorts can be expensive and are often times farther away from the gates than the Good Neighbor hotels. The Good Neighbor hotels are along Harbor Blvd. You can stay right accross the street or down a ways. All are decent and clean places to stay.

I disagree. Well, actually, yes the Disney resorts cost more than most of the Good Neighbor hotels. This is true. To say that they are closer is not true. GCH is of course prime real estate- no other hotels are actually closer, esp to DCA. If you end up at a Good Neighbor Hotel RIGHT across from the Harbor bus entrance, yes you are closer of a walk than you are going to have from DLH or PPH. However, both DLH and PPH are closer if you consider using the monorail.

If you want to have a more immersive experience, with some nice perks (like a free character call, being able to do early entry every day it's offered, and at other times other perks too) then you are going to want to stay onsite. To me, it is worth to do sometimes (keep in mind we like to go at least once a year, and up to three times if possible) and even having been many times even *I* like the "never leave the magic" feel. You can stay at other hotels, sure, but they won't have onsite character dining. Both the Grand and DLH have very nice pool areas (Paradise Pier my KIDS love, I consider it just pretty good. It has a slide the kids love BUT lacks Disney theming). On a GOOD discount rate/promo offer the PPH is going to cost SIMILARLY to say, a moderate level in WDW. DLH is going to be, usually, the "moderate deluxes" (like AKL and/or Wilderness lodge) whereas the Grand will be like the other... well... Grand. They will all feel more hotel-ish and less resort-ish for the most obvious reasons. BUT they are ALL much more "Disneyish" experiences than staying anywhere off-site.

If you want a very Disney experience, you book into one of the DLR hotels, and while you are smack in the middle of suburban super sprawl, you could very easily never leave the DLR. You can be cacooned in your Disney hotel, eating at the parks and Downtown Disney and never leaving Dsiney property.

 

[miry]

1. How are the crowds in October?

It does get a little busier in October when you start getting close to Halloween time, but it is so much fun to be there for the Halloween party, just as good as WDW. Personally, as much as I love Disney I want to keep loving it so I never go in the summer, but the crowd level in October has been just fine for me.

2. Does DLR do magical express like WDW? If so from which LA area airports?

There is no magical express, there are paid shuttle and bus services from most if not all the airports around Anaheim. We have done shuttles from both LAX and John Wayne. Unfortunately, you deal with your own luggage.

3. I am thinking 4 full days total for the two parks. Is that enough?

Four days should be great. For our upcoming December trip we are doing three and a half and expect that we will see everything, some multiple times.

4. What is the basic differences between the Disney Hotels and the Good Neighbor Hotels?

The major difference is the theming and the feeling that you aren't part of the outside world, but all about Disney. Many of the good neighbor hotels are in very easy walking distance from the parks, the rest are on the Anaheim Resort Transportation route (similar to the bus system that you take at WDW to get from the resorts to the parks). While in WDW we always stay on property (generally at Moderate or Value resorts) at Disneyland we never stay on property because the rates are so much higher than most of the good neighbor hotels. For a price comparision think WDW Deluxe vs Value.


Hope it helps and that you have a great time if you decide to go!