Need some advice from So Cal Disers

[extreme8]

It turns out that I'm being sent on a business trip to Long Beach for a week this September.
I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've never had the opportunity to visit Walt's park (although I've been to WDW dozens of times), and I just can't stand the idea of being 30 minutes away without spending some time there.
I can use some guidance.

I'm scheduled to be there from Sunday till Saturday - flying into Long Beach airport.
I'll be busy with work until 5 or so each afternoon.

Plan one;
was to get a 5 day pass and try and spend my nights at the park.
According to the DL website MK closes at 8PM during the week, so I'm assuming it would be foolish to do that.

Plan two;
extend my stay by one day, spending all day Saturday at DL, getting a hotel near the park Saturday night, then drive back to Long Beach for a flight back on Sunday afternoon.

I'm guessing #2 is my best bet - agree/disagree?
Any suggestions on reasonably priced hotels within walking distance (don't want to waste valuable time driving & parking)?
Should I consider two parks in one day, or just skip DCA entirely?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[avalon451]

Here's a compromise, plan 3:

Plan on the Sunday flight out. Make it late afternoon or evening, if possible.

Purchase 3-day park hoppers from GetAwayToday. http://www.getawaytoday.com/TicketListing.aspx?dest_id=2 With the DL travel company and most other travel companies, you get 1 Magic Morning (early entry one hour before general admission) to the parks. GAT is the only one authorized to give 2 MMs with their 3-day or more parkhoppers. They cost the same as the other online agencies. Use discount code "podcast" and they will waive the $10 processing fee-- making them exactly the same cost as from DL travel. MM are different at DL: at WDW they are to be avoided, but at DL they are gold. You can get a ton done, with short lines, in that first hour, with early entry into FL, and also Buzz and Space are open.

Plan on going one evening after work. You can explore the park, ride some rides that don't have long lines (PotC comes to mind) and see "Disneyland: the First 50 Years" on Main Street. On a weeknight in September you probably won't have big crowds; it's low season.

Move to a good neighbor hotel on Friday after you get off work. Here's an aerial map with links to the close by hotels. http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html I'd suggest Howard Johnson for the Entertainment book rate, but it probably won't be available on a weekend. You can probably stay right at the crosswalk for between $80-$120 a night, if you book soon. The Desert Inn, the Camelot, Best Western Park Place Inn are all favorites around here on the DIS boards for being close by, clean (if plain) and reasonable.

Attend MM on Saturday and Sunday at 7 a.m. This extra hour in the morning will get you a big jump on the crowds; if you collect FPs for later use, you'll never wait in lines more than 30 mins, and usually less than 10-15. Parkhop over to DCA when it gets crowded in DL, continue collecting FPs over there.

For strategies on how to do this, read Hydroguy's sticky tips thread at the top of this forum: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483 He has the best tips on how to use FP, how to get the most out of the parks on a busy day, and the differences between WDW and DL. All in one handy spot!

Sunday morning will still be worth it to you to explore some more. Even if you have to leave for the airport by 1 or 2 p.m., it's still 6 hours of prime DL time, at least.

Hope these suggestions and links help! You could really see a lot, this way. Enjoy your planning!

 

[pumpkin5156]

I personally like DCA, so I wouldn't skip it. but if you HAVE to choose one or the other, I'd choose all day at DL.

As for your options: I think you might want to consider getting a two-day hopper, and visiting the parks Friday night and Saturday all day. Friday night they are both open late( midnight for DL and 10 for DCA), and Saturday you can do what you couldn't the night before.

Granted, these are the most busy times to be in the park, but if you are going solo, that shouldn't hinder you much.

 

[msteddom]

I agree with Avalon, that sounds like a wonderful plan! You get plenty of time at Disney, but you won't be stressed out all day about trying to make it down there every night (most of what you've heard about So. Cal. traffic is true!). Have a wonderful time planning!

Melissa

 

[Hound 109]

Plan 3 - An 8 day hopper for a few dollars more than a 3 day hopper.

http://www.getawaytoday.com/TicketListing.aspx


C'mon..... you know you wanna do it.

Every night (& a couple of days) at DL or DCA.


hound

 

[extreme8]

C'mon..... you know you wanna do it.

Every night (& a couple of days) at DL or DCA.


hound

Oh yeah I want do do it, but I can't justify laying out too much cash to hang around DL while the wife and kiddies are sitting home in Connecticut.
(that might not stop me though).

Thanks for all of the advice so far. It's really been helpful.

Since work will pick up the cost of my room on Friday night I'd rather not move until Saturday am to save a few bucks (although it does make a lot of sense)- what do you estimate the actual travel time would be to return from DL to Long Beach after midnight. I expect the Friday afternoon trip to Anaheim will be a nightmare, so I'm not asking for estimates on that one.

 

[DisneyMom70]

Depending on where you are staying in Long Beach (it is a rather large and funny shaped city) it could be 20-40 minutes at midnight. I live in Lakewood, next city east of LB and can get home in 12 min. If you are downtown in LB, it will take more like 40 min depending on the proximity to the freeway. Do you know where you will be staying?

 

[extreme8]

Do you know where you will be staying?

According to the company, the office building is; "Ocean Center Building at the intersection of Ocean Blvd and Pine Ave"
I expect I'll be staying within a few blocks of there. If the cost of the hotel rooms is any gauge it seems like a nice area.

I'm just trying to decide if it's worth "commuting" for the one night to save the cost of a hotel room in the DL vicinity.
It may turn out to be worth the $100 or so just for the convenience & a couple of extra hours sleep.

Thanks for the help.

 

[msteddom]

That is Downtown Long Beach which is quite a ways from Disneyland. The drive could take up to 45 mins. I can't say whether it is worthwile to commute or not, but just know that it could be a long drive.

Melissa

 

[tinkerbelt]

I like Avalon's plan. The park should be open until midnight on Friday night, so you'd have a good chunk of time there (plus fireworks/fantasmic).

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I can't justify laying out too much cash to hang around DL while the wife and kiddies are sitting home in Connecticut.

Yes you can if you're bringing home souvenirs, pictures and autographs...

As for heading out there on Friday night and then driving back to LB for the night, it depends on your stamina and what time you expect to be done. Let's say that you'll have no problem staying up until midnight and that you get done at 6. Hop in the car, arrive by 7, leave at 11, get back to the hotel by midnight. You'd have 4 hours in the park right there. For me, that'd be worth it, especially if it could give you MM for Saturday morning and you'd be able to be awake in order to get over there for MM. If you do stay the night and leave Sunday, then you could leave your car in the morning in the parking lot of the hotel where you will be staying the night and not pay for parking.

 

[extreme8]

To be honest, I'm considering not telling the kids about my little side trip at all. No sense stirring the pot. They're as bad as I am when it comes to the whole "Disney freak" thing. I must have raised 'em right.
I might just tell them I'll be away on business until Sunday.

I talked to the corporate travel folks here and it seems they're just fine with the idea of changing hotels on the last night (Friday) and spending $100 instead of $250. Don't know why I didn't think of that earlier.
So now I can move to the DLR area on Friday afternoon, stay until park closing on Friday and still make it to MM (still can't get used to that - It'll always be EMH to me) on Saturday as was suggested. These seminars never run until quitting time on the final day so I might even have a few extra hours.
I'll head back to my room on Saturday night and fly out early Sunday afternoon.
Even with the weekend crowds that should give me of time to look around DL, and maybe even see some of DCA.
With the 3 day pass I could even go for a few hours one day during the week, or Sunday morning as Avalon451 suggested.

I've got the WDW touring down to a science, so now I have to figure out my west coast FP strategy...
I'm bummed that HM & IASW is down for refurb, but as l understand it the differences between those attractions at WDW and DL are minimal now that we've gotten the new HM effects. I'm really looking forward to seeing the real POTC though.

Thanks again for all of the advice.
Anything else you'd like to share with this clueless east-coast DL first timer is appreciated.