May 2019

[sbd78]

If you don't mind more of a motel type place, Getaway Today has the Castle Inn for $572 total for your dates. They are on Harbor across from the parks.

 

[lynzi2004]

So you are driving from Anaheim to Yosemite but do you have a full day allocated for the drive? If you have allocated a full day of driving you could swing towards the coast and take Highway 1 up to San Luis Obispo and then cut inland to yosemite. Difference in drive time is about 1.5 hours but you'd get some beautiful coastline.

Yes we would have all of Wednesday. I will check that option out. Thanks!

 

[lynzi2004]

Won't the time change/jet lag work to your favor in terms of an early morning? Like, 10am for you would be 8am here?

The early morning hours are the absolute best hours of the day, and Sunday would be your only day to enter a non-MM Disneyland, so rope drop on Sunday would be your best time to hit Fantasyland.

If you're not going to get to the parks until noon, Sunday vs. Monday may not really matter...

I actually hadn’t thought of that part. They may not be able to do late at the parks so well. It’s the opposite when we go to Orlando. These tickets give us one Magic Morning...would Saturday or Tuesday be more beneficial?

 

[lynzi2004]

If you don't mind more of a motel type place, Getaway Today has the Castle Inn for $572 total for your dates. They are on Harbor across from the parks.

I will check into this one. Thanks!

 

[smartlabelprint]

I will check into this one. Thanks!

Hmm...not the best choice.

Fairfield inn
Camelot inn

I’m trying to think of others closer and better that haven’t been mentioned up thread.

 

[Becca1007]

The difference in price between 3 day and 4 day hoppers is $76 for the special priced tickets for your group. So I would think about skipping the car rental on your arrival which saves you some dollars both on rental days and parking fees (just uber/lyft/shuttle from airport to hotel within walking distance). Then you have an extra day in the parks. You are running up against the expiration date of those tickets so the park will be crowded with people who bought them and forgot that they had to use them before May 23rd. So the extra day will allow you to take a relaxed approach to seeing everything. With a 5yo and a 1yo you are going to need naps in the afternoon. So a walkable spot where you can take a break in the middle of the day is going to make your life SOOOO much easier, especially if you want to see anything in the evening.
There aren't a lot of must see LA spots for the younger kids, so a sightseeing day is just going to involve a lot of time in the car for them. If you head up the coast to San Luis Obispo and then over to Yosemite there are lots of places to stop off for a quick beach visit (the water will be COLD even in May) so you aren't going to want to have a full beach day but a picnic and some playtime might break up your driving day quite nicely.
There is an enterprise rental car office on Katella (and a couple other options nearby) so you could pick your car up early on Wednesday morning and be off on your road trip rather quickly. Hopefully the savings on the rental car will make it easier to stomach the higher price for the hotel close by.

 

[lynzi2004]

The difference in price between 3 day and 4 day hoppers is $76 for the special priced tickets for your group. So I would think about skipping the car rental on your arrival which saves you some dollars both on rental days and parking fees (just uber/lyft/shuttle from airport to hotel within walking distance). Then you have an extra day in the parks. You are running up against the expiration date of those tickets so the park will be crowded with people who bought them and forgot that they had to use them before May 23rd. So the extra day will allow you to take a relaxed approach to seeing everything. With a 5yo and a 1yo you are going to need naps in the afternoon. So a walkable spot where you can take a break in the middle of the day is going to make your life SOOOO much easier, especially if you want to see anything in the evening.
There aren't a lot of must see LA spots for the younger kids, so a sightseeing day is just going to involve a lot of time in the car for them. If you head up the coast to San Luis Obispo and then over to Yosemite there are lots of places to stop off for a quick beach visit (the water will be COLD even in May) so you aren't going to want to have a full beach day but a picnic and some playtime might break up your driving day quite nicely.
There is an enterprise rental car office on Katella (and a couple other options nearby) so you could pick your car up early on Wednesday morning and be off on your road trip rather quickly. Hopefully the savings on the rental car will make it easier to stomach the higher price for the hotel close by.

I like the idea of a 4 day! The rental is cheaper in Anaheim by a little bit as well just doing a quick search. I've done a little looking at the maps the last couple days and it appears it would be MUCH better driving-wise to fly into SNA, but we would lose a direct flight and it is much higher point wise. What's your thoughts on this? Especially as we will be driving back to catch the plane later in the week from Yosemite...

 

[lynzi2004]

Hmm...not the best choice.

Fairfield inn
Camelot inn

I’m trying to think of others closer and better that haven’t been mentioned up thread.

We are Marriott rewards members, I will look at the Fairfield! Although, I think we've about convinced ourselves to stay at the Best Western that's right there. It just stinks bc that's way more than what we pay for the Values at Disney world with all the Disney statues, theming, etc. We were hoping this would be more of a budget trip but its becoming anything but! lol

 

[smartlabelprint]

I like the idea of a 4 day! The rental is cheaper in Anaheim by a little bit as well just doing a quick search. I've done a little looking at the maps the last couple days and it appears it would be MUCH better driving-wise to fly into SNA, but we would lose a direct flight and it is much higher point wise. What's your thoughts on this? Especially as we will be driving back to catch the plane later in the week from Yosemite...

You can fly in and out of different airports.

I’ll be at the bwppi tomorrow!

 

[lynzi2004]

You can fly in and out of different airports.

I’ll be at the bwppi tomorrow!

I realize that but isn't SNA closer both directions (Disneyland and Yosemite)? And I'm kinda partial to direct flights with 3 little kids. lol

Enjoy your time at Disneyland!

 

[smartlabelprint]

I realize that but isn't SNA closer both directions (Disneyland and Yosemite)? And I'm kinda partial to direct flights with 3 little kids. lol

Enjoy your time at Disneyland!

If the times are good i’d pick direct with kids.

 

[Becca1007]

Lynzi I sent you a PM because I think there are a lot of options that you might not have considered.

 

[sbd78]

We are Marriott rewards members, I will look at the Fairfield! Although, I think we've about convinced ourselves to stay at the Best Western that's right there. It just stinks bc that's way more than what we pay for the Values at Disney world with all the Disney statues, theming, etc. We were hoping this would be more of a budget trip but its becoming anything but! lol

Best Western is definitely closest...but if you'd like some Disney themeing, have you looked at the HoJo? Their Building 1 remodeled rooms are Disney themed and look really cute! They also have a pirate themed waterpark. Both mousesavers and the Disboards have 15% off codes.