Need help planning a trip for summer 2012

[erocrobro]

I am trying to plan our summer 2012 family vacation to Disneyland, but it seems so difficult compared to planning last summer's trip to Disney World. It seems like there are so many more choices to be made for DL vs. WDW. All I had to do last year was call and tell them where I wanted to stay, for how long, and what meal plan I wanted. I think the problem is that for WDW we just knew we were spending a week on vacation and it would all be spent there. I don't see us spending a week at DL, so I also have to find other things to do in CA. Now I have to decide whether to stay off or on site, meal logistics (probably without a meal plan), whether to buy DL tickets or a citypass, and figure out transportation. Am I making this too hard, or is DL not as "user-friendly" as WDW? There are 4 of us, myself and my 3 sons, ages 10, 7, and 5.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I am trying to plan our summer 2012 family vacation to Disneyland, but it seems so difficult compared to planning last summer's trip to Disney World. It seems like there are so many more choices to be made for DL vs. WDW. All I had to do last year was call and tell them where I wanted to stay, for how long, and what meal plan I wanted. I think the problem is that for WDW we just knew we were spending a week on vacation and it would all be spent there. I don't see us spending a week at DL, so I also have to find other things to do in CA. Now I have to decide whether to stay off or on site, meal logistics (probably without a meal plan), whether to buy DL tickets or a citypass, and figure out transportation. Am I making this too hard, or is DL not as "user-friendly" as WDW? There are 4 of us, myself and my 3 sons, ages 10, 7, and 5.

Yes, you're making it too hard for yourself. Check out the sticky notes at the top of this forum, especially Sticky #5, Hydroguy's Disneyland tips for WDW vets.

Haven't heard of any meal plans at DLR so yes, you'll need to work without one, but you won't have to make a bunch of ADR's six mos in advance.

As for places to stay, the Disney hotels are nice, but there are several other options within walking distance of the park.

We've been to both WDW and DLR in the summer, and really prefer DLR because we don't have to deal with Florida's humidity.

 

[erocrobro]

Thanks! I am reading through the tips and stickies as time allows, it just seems like there are so many different options. I will take all of the advice I can get!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

While I can ALWAYS spend a week at Disneyland (have have on several occasions), I do suggest trying some other stuff in Southern California for a day or two since it seems like this is your first trip out here. WDW doesn't have that many more rides than Disneyland (I think its something like 10% more). Plus the new Carsland is opening next summer in DCA. One thing's for sure and that's PARK HOPPERS ARE A MUST!!!

Hotels: Unlike WDW, staying onsite isn't a necessity. There are some great hotels right across the street on Harbor Blvd. Some popular ones are Howard Johnson, Fairfield Inn, Desert Inn & Suites, and Candy Cane Inn. They are all a less than 10 minute walk (even with kids), and just as close or closer than the onsite hotels.

Meals: Disneyland's meal plan is just vouchers which if not planned carefully can cause you to loose money. For example your meal is $8.99 and you give them a $10 voucher, they won't give you change back. If you give them a $5 voucher you pay the difference. If you want to budget and prepay meals, put the money on a Disney Gift card and/or get gift cards for some of the DTD restaurants.

 

[dgr1973]

I know I feel the same way! We have been to WDW 3 times over the last 3 years and we were planning to go back in June 2012 but now I have been thinking about DL and giving it a try since we have never been to California. I think what I am most nervous about is driving in and around LA, yes I am from Chicago but I have heard traffic in LA is NUTS!!! I also feel like we wont be able to spend the whole week in the parks and I would love to see the ocean and other things but I dont know what or where. I am also concerned about the safety of certain areas, in orlando even though its not all great areas I never feel unsafe anywhere we have been.

 

[erocrobro]

WDW doesn't have that many more rides than Disneyland (I think its something like 10% more). Plus the new Carsland is opening next summer in DCA. One thing's for sure and that's PARK HOPPERS ARE A MUST!!!

Hotels: Unlike WDW, staying onsite isn't a necessity. There are some great hotels right across the street on Harbor Blvd. Some popular ones are Howard Johnson, Fairfield Inn, Desert Inn & Suites, and Candy Cane Inn. They are all a less than 10 minute walk (even with kids), and just as close or closer than the onsite hotels.

Meals: Disneyland's meal plan is just vouchers which if not planned carefully can cause you to loose money. For example your meal is $8.99 and you give them a $10 voucher, they won't give you change back. If you give them a $5 voucher you pay the difference. If you want to budget and prepay meals, put the money on a Disney Gift card and/or get gift cards for some of the DTD restaurants.

Thank you! This is exactly what I need to hear. I am going to grab The Unofficial Guide this weekend and check out some websites for other attractions as well. I have been told that the Candy Cane Inn is nice and has reasonable rates, but I may wait and see if any summer special rates come out for onsite hotels.

 

[starry_solo]

You might consider getting the Southern California City Pass (a sponsor of Disboards) here:

http://www.citypass.com/southern-california

5 theme parks for $279/adult or $239/child

3-day park hopper for DL/DCA
1 day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood
1 day admission to Sea World (San Diego)

Then maybe stay 3-4 nights at a property near DL/DCA, head to LA and spend a night there and go to Universal Studios, then spend a night or two in San Diego for Sea World.

I believe, if you want to go longer at DL/DCA, you can pay to upgrade the ticket to a longer park hopper (though I'm not sure). While you're in SD, you might want to take in the zoo or wild animal park. And while you're in LA, you might want to look at the Getty Museum, Graumann's Chinese Theatre, Disney Soda Fountain (DSF) in Hollywood.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I agree with PP that of you want to head to San Diwgo to stay there for a night or two. The PH on the city pass can be upgraded to a longer pass. I'd do Disney for a minimum of 4 days.

 

[Paulakoala]

We are going in early July, staying for eight days at the Desert Palms Inn. My daughter will be almost 12, my niece will be 15, older son turns 6 on the trip and younger son will be 4. We got 6-day hoppers as there was only a 30$ difference between that and the 5-day hopper and I figured it gave us extra flexibility on arrival day. We are driving down from the Calgary, Canada area and will be spending three nights in Vegas on the way home.

We debated Universal but that that's still up in the air - it depends on whether Grandma and Grandpa decide to fly down for a few days or not as DH desperately wants to do the VIP tour and youngest son is too young.

Re dining....check out the menu forum on this site...the have all the DLR menus - including the snack bars - uploaded, so you can plan out your days and your budget. When we went in Sept '09 we found that food was our biggest underbudgeted expense.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks! I am reading through the tips and stickies as time allows, it just seems like there are so many different options. I will take all of the advice I can get!

Here is another one that might help:

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

 

[GenGen22]

I have been to DLR many times and this will be my first time to WDW and what I am noticing is that with WDW you have to plan a lot & way in advance which can be more stressful where as DLR is a more relaxing trip for me. I would just eat whenever I wanted to eat and no reservations and no problems. Another thing about the restaurants is you can leave the park to go and eat and there are many restaurants on Harbour Blvd which is a main strip that has hotels too and is extremely close to DLR. It costs less to eat outside of the park and better food in my opinion. Here is a website that I use to look up restaurants: http://www.visguideoc.com/ This magazine is located in most hotels in the area as well. A park that I like a lot in addition to DL is knotts berry farm located in Buena Park about 1-2 exits from Ball Rd. which is where DLR is located. There are also a lot of restaurants there as well. To name a couple I like are Fuddruckers (build your own burger restaurant) and PoFolks (Family restaurant with homestyle meals). Universal Studios is AWESOME!!! And Sea World is the best animal park I have been to yet and I have been there and also Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA) as well as Zoos (San Diego, Oakland, SanFrancisco). I have never stayed at an onsite Disney hotel as there are soooo many in the area. I would look at expedia and tripadvisor to look at the general cost of the hotel, read reviews and look at pics and read the stats of the hotels then price check against AAA, costco and the actual hotel website for the best price and book. LA traffic is bad but once you are there, you are there. The freeway is bad not the regular streets.

Enjoy your trip

 

[buyerbrad]

You might consider getting the Southern California City Pass (a sponsor of Disboards) here:

http://www.citypass.com/southern-california

5 theme parks for $279/adult or $239/child

3-day park hopper for DL/DCA
1 day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood
1 day admission to Sea World (San Diego)

Then maybe stay 3-4 nights at a property near DL/DCA, head to LA and spend a night there and go to Universal Studios, then spend a night or two in San Diego for Sea World.

I believe, if you want to go longer at DL/DCA, you can pay to upgrade the ticket to a longer park hopper (though I'm not sure). While you're in SD, you might want to take in the zoo or wild animal park. And while you're in LA, you might want to look at the Getty Museum, Graumann's Chinese Theatre, Disney Soda Fountain (DSF) in Hollywood.

You forgot: San Diego Zoo OR San Diego Zoo Safari Park

 

[skiingfast]

You forgot: San Diego Zoo OR San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Actually the post was correct. CityPass is not including either of those attractions in 2012.

 

[erocrobro]

Wow! Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think we have it roughly sketched out to: 3 or 4 days at DL, 1 day at Universal Studios, 1 beach day somewhere, and 1 day seeing the highlights in Hollywood/LA. I know we can't possibly fit everything in, but this should give us a taste and since my kids are still pretty young I don't want to overwhelm them.

 

[skiingfast]

Wow! Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think we have it roughly sketched out to: 3 or 4 days at DL, 1 day at Universal Studios, 1 beach day somewhere, and 1 day seeing the highlights in Hollywood/LA. I know we can't possibly fit everything in, but this should give us a taste and since my kids are still pretty young I don't want to overwhelm them.

Unless you want super relaxed or a huge amount of things packed in at each location. You can go to Hollywood and then over to Venice Beach later in the same day.