Many questions from a first timer!

[sugarmagnolia]

Hello!

We are contemplating a trip to Disneyland. We usually go to WDW, but we thought we might try DL for something new! This trip will be for our anniversary. We are on a budget, but we want to make this trip special.

We will be traveling end of June/beginning of July. I know a ton about WDW, but am definitely a newbie to DL, so I was hoping you could answer some questions for me:

1) Which airport do you recommend flying to? We will be traveling from Massachusetts, but will likely fly from Hartford airport (we will close to CT)

2) Does Disneyland do the Magical Express (free bus from airport to DL)? If not, what is the best way to get to DL from the airport?

3) Any current specials going on with hotels?

4) If we stayed off site to save $$, can we walk to the park? Which hotel would you recommend for affordability, cleanliness, & convenience?

5) Is there a bus that might take us to Universal Studios park during our trip?

6) How many days trip would you recommend to leisurely see all of DL & Universal?

Also, I'm a teacher, so any teacher discount info would be helpful!!

Thank you & I look forward to hearing from you!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I'm an AP holder so can't help with much but as to which airport, you have a few to choose from that are fairly close to DLR. I would check the prices on all of them and go with the cheapest.

LAX-Los Angeles International-the biggie
ONT-Ontario International-closest to me. I love this airport-easy to navigate. Never seems too crowded. Quick in and out unlike LAX
LGB-Long Beach-Smaller airport, less people
SNA-John Wayne, Orange County. Also a smaller airport-flights here can be higher due to restrictions on arrivals and departures (Newport doesn't like the noise )

Hope that helps and I'm sure others can help you with your accomodation questions.

 

[eryn the pooh]

OK I cant answer all your questions, but some I can:

2. Disneyland does not do a free bus from the airport, but there is a bus that goes to the Resort hotels and many of the good neighbor ones. I dont think its too much for a round trip.

3&4. Howard Johnsons Anaheim. You can get the entertainment rate sometimes or a disboarders rate. Theyre close enough to walk, some are closer, but not by much. Beautiful grounds. Great pool. Wonderful staff.

5. You can get Universal Studio tickets with transfers.

6. I think 4-5 days at the park, 1 at Universal and 1 to do nothing but rest and relax.

Have fun!

 

[nancy drew]

Hello!

We are contemplating a trip to Disneyland. We usually go to WDW, but we thought we might try DL for something new! This trip will be for our anniversary. We are on a budget, but we want to make this trip special.

We will be traveling end of June/beginning of July. I know a ton about WDW, but am definitely a newbie to DL, so I was hoping you could answer some questions for me:

Welcome!

I did my first "grown up" DLR trip last year with my kids, having spent the previous 3 vacations at WDW. The most interesting thing, to me, was that I could instinctively navigate parts of the park, even though I hadn't been there for more than 10 years, and had only previously spent one day there. Its similar enough to MK that you will kind of be able to "feel" your way around.

1) Which airport do you recommend flying to? We will be traveling from Massachusetts, but will likely fly from Hartford airport (we will close to CT)

We flew into SNA (Orange County) and it was great. Its a smaller airport, so you don't have a long trek from point A to point B, and its about 20 minutes to DLR.

2) Does Disneyland do the Magical Express (free bus from airport to DL)? If not, what is the best way to get to DL from the airport?

There is a Disneyland Express, but we haven't used it so perhaps someone else can explain. My understanding is that it differs from Magical Express.

3) Any current specials going on with hotels?

Not sure, will let someone else answer this.

4) If we stayed off site to save $$, can we walk to the park? Which hotel would you recommend for affordability, cleanliness, & convenience?

There is a map with all of the walking distance accommodations here.

5) Is there a bus that might take us to Universal Studios park during our trip?

Probably. I'm sure someone else knows.

6) How many days trip would you recommend to leisurely see all of DL & Universal?

We spent 5 days at DLR and it seemed like enough, though I could always spend more time there. We like riding the same rides again and again, and this allows us to do that.

Also, I'm a teacher, so any teacher discount info would be helpful!!

Thank you & I look forward to hearing from you!!

Don't know of any teacher discounts, but would be interested to hear about this as I plan on going back to teaching soon. Have fun planning!

 

[PinkBudgie]

DH is a teacher also and through the teacher's union there were some small discounts on things through a company they partnered with. Last summer was when I looked this up. I think I searched on the NEA website which then linked me to this other place. I didn't think the discounts were that much and didn't seem worth the hassle of going through them. But maybe they have a better deal for Universal.

 

[LuLusApple]

The disneyland express by greyline is nonstop to DL from LAX and SNA I think it's about 27-32$ rountrip per person

 

[toni1227]

Here is some info. on transfers from/to the airport.
http://www.mousesavers.com/shuttle.html

Here is a coupon you can print per person for the disneyland resort express greyline bus/shuttle.

http://www.mousesavers.com/DisneylandResortExpress.pdf

 

[avalon451]

Some of the best tips and tricks you can find anywhere on "how to do Disneyland" are in our very own Hydroguy's Tips compilation: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

It's a must-read; I found it more helpful than the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, which is probably the best guidebook out there.

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

Hello!

We are contemplating a trip to Disneyland. We usually go to WDW, but we thought we might try DL for something new! This trip will be for our anniversary. We are on a budget, but we want to make this trip special.

We will be traveling end of June/beginning of July. I know a ton about WDW, but am definitely a newbie to DL, so I was hoping you could answer some questions for me:

1) Which airport do you recommend flying to? We will be traveling from Massachusetts, but will likely fly from Hartford airport (we will close to CT)

2) Does Disneyland do the Magical Express (free bus from airport to DL)? If not, what is the best way to get to DL from the airport?

3) Any current specials going on with hotels?

4) If we stayed off site to save $$, can we walk to the park? Which hotel would you recommend for affordability, cleanliness, & convenience?

5) Is there a bus that might take us to Universal Studios park during our trip?

6) How many days trip would you recommend to leisurely see all of DL & Universal?

Also, I'm a teacher, so any teacher discount info would be helpful!!

Thank you & I look forward to hearing from you!!

Ok I'm so bad with the quotes that I'm just going to answer them all underneath!


1) We Flew into and out of LAX, I really enjoyed getting to see the city before going to DL

2) Disney has the Disneyland Express I Believe it's $22 one way but a discount if you go both.

3/4) If you have an entertainment card, depending on your dates, check out the HOJO because they have wicked deals, someone will probably be along with the link to the website for the date deals, I don't have it handy! (But seriously, I absolutely loved the HOJO and so did my friend, who refuses to stay in anything but 5 star hotels)

5) No clue!

6)I never did Universal, I only shopped outside of it We ended up adding another day onto our five day park hoppers however, we were also going back to LA and Fashion Island etc.

Also, there's a discount Disney store that's literally a five minute drive from the HOJO. I'm not on my computer at the moment so I don't remember the name of it. But when I was there I saw some really cool Mickey Mouse Pens and such that I had to have (I'm also a teacher)

 

[sugarmagnolia]

Thanks everyone!! & thank you for the helpful links!!

I felt like such a know it all with my WDW trips, but so lost with our trip to DLR!!

Now, where can I find good info on dining reviews at DLR?

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Hello!

We are contemplating a trip to Disneyland. We usually go to WDW, but we thought we might try DL for something new! This trip will be for our anniversary. We are on a budget, but we want to make this trip special.

We will be traveling end of June/beginning of July. I know a ton about WDW, but am definitely a newbie to DL, so I was hoping you could answer some questions for me:

1) Which airport do you recommend flying to? We will be traveling from Massachusetts, but will likely fly from Hartford airport (we will close to CT)

2) Does Disneyland do the Magical Express (free bus from airport to DL)? If not, what is the best way to get to DL from the airport?

3) Any current specials going on with hotels?

4) If we stayed off site to save $$, can we walk to the park? Which hotel would you recommend for affordability, cleanliness, & convenience?

5) Is there a bus that might take us to Universal Studios park during our trip?

6) How many days trip would you recommend to leisurely see all of DL & Universal?

Also, I'm a teacher, so any teacher discount info would be helpful!!

Thank you & I look forward to hearing from you!!

Where do you live in Massachusetts? Since you mentioned that you use Bradley Airport, I'm thinking that you might be near where I'm from originally. I grew up in Springfield.

 

[sugarmagnolia]

Where do you live in Massachusetts? Since you mentioned that you use Bradley Airport, I'm thinking that you might be near where I'm from originally. I grew up in Springfield.

We live in Easthampton, about 20 minutes from Springfield!

 

[DLR29]

Thanks everyone!! & thank you for the helpful links!!

I felt like such a know it all with my WDW trips, but so lost with our trip to DLR!!

Now, where can I find good info on dining reviews at DLR?

First I'd like to show you a SOOPER helpful thread for WDW vets coming to DLR, written by the amazing Hydroguy:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Then, for the dining reviews, there is a stickey at the top of the DLR boards:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1253888

It's like 80pgs or something over a span of 2 years, so you might want to look towards the back of the thread for more recent reviews.

You can also get some decent reviews at allears.net:
http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=137

 

[jakoky]

HI there, have fun planning your trip

1...we flew into lax our first two trips, in may we are flying into LGB...we never had any issues with lax, but like that LGB is smaller and closer so want to give it a try

2. We have never tried any of the busses, we have always gone private shuttle (for our family of 5 it is basically the same price)...this way it is only us and our luggage so no stops for others plus we have always been lucky to get a grocery stop on the way to our hotel...

3. We are staying at the HOJO for the ent. rate of 59 dollars for 9 of our 10 nights there...(here is a link to the dates http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14)

4. We did DW in 04 and stayed at the pop and would never stay offsite there..as for disneyland, i am not sure i will ever stay onsite unless i am feeling really rich ...we have stayed at the Candy Cane Inn and HOJO and loved them both...very clean and close...I think the HOJO took us about 7-8 minutes (at most) to walk...i think we did more walking than that at the pop just to get from our room to our bus

5. There is a bus that takes u to universal, we did it our first trip...Most hotels can help you set up something i believe ( i know that hojo does)

6. We always do 5 day hoppers at DL...we get to ride our favourites probably close to 20-25 times in there ....add a day in for universal, and an extra day for relaxing and the pool...We are doing 10 nights for our 3rd trip in a row....

Have tons of fun planning and even more fun going!!! We are at 54 sleeps til we leave
sharon

 

[mechurchlady]

There are tour companies like Greyline that offer Universal Studios trips. The only way to get to Universal Studios from DLR area is taking a bus on Harbor past my house and on to Los Angeles then getting to Red Line then Red Line to Universal then take a shuttle to the top of the hill. That or Amtrak to Los Angeles then get to the red line.

Short answer: Greylline type of tour, drive, taxi or limo.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

We live in Easthampton, about 20 minutes from Springfield!

Wow....you are so close to my family there! Back in my "single" days...LOL, I had a boyfriend who lived in Easthampton, so I know it well! We will be flying back to Springfield in June, so I'm looking for great flights in the opposite direction as to what you are trying to do right now...LOL.

 

[sugarmagnolia]

Wow....you are so close to my family there! Back in my "single" days...LOL, I had a boyfriend who lived in Easthampton, so I know it well! We will be flying back to Springfield in June, so I'm looking for great flights in the opposite direction as to what you are trying to do right now...LOL.

Small world! We live right by the Easthampton Diner!

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Small world! We live right by the Easthampton Diner!

Wow! Yes....what a small world! My whole family (except for 1 sister) still live back there. I have family in Springfield, Belchertown, and Agawam. We are thinking of going to six flags when we go in June. Have you been there and how is it? I used to go there as a kid when it was still Riverside Park! Wow....talking to you has made me REALLY miss my home.

 

[sugarmagnolia]

Wow! Yes....what a small world! My whole family (except for 1 sister) still live back there. I have family in Springfield, Belchertown, and Agawam. We are thinking of going to six flags when we go in June. Have you been there and how is it? I used to go there as a kid when it was still Riverside Park! Wow....talking to you has made me REALLY miss my home.

Well, to be honest, I haven't been to the Six Flags since it was Riverside!! We just moved here in the Fall, but I did my undergrad at UMASS in the 90's & went to Riverside alot then. We are planning to go to Six Flags once this snow ends & the sun comes out, so I will let you know how it is!!