Need some advice...

[bunny213]

We are two families (one is military) driving down from Lompoc to Disney sometime the last week in October. One family has 5 children, the other 6 (Brit friends). We were planning to spend the day and then drive back to Lompoc that evening. We're wondering how doable it would be (we're on a tight budget) to spend the night, visit the other park and then drive home the following night (making it a two day trip). What suggestions would you have for us? Is there a inexpensive motel/hotel within walking distance to Disney? It would be wonderful if it had a "breakfast" included! We are planning to pack lots of drinks, snacks and sandwiches (and Tylenol for the adults. ) The children range from 2 years to 15. We appreciate any and all help you can give us....this is our first time to ever do anything like this! We are just back from a service tour in England!
Meagan - Barb from Texas' daughter

 

[zukeeper]

Look at the sticky at the top of the posts for hotel info. Desert Inn and Suites has a 2 bedroom, 2 bath that you could all fit snugly into I think. There are floorplans on their website at anaheimdesertinn.com. Just across the street from DL on Harbor. It wasn't my favorite place to stay, but it was ok and the price was right. The breakfast was meager, but McDonalds is close and cheap. I liked to get fresh fruit in the park. You could just bring some food along since there is a fridge and micro in the hotel room.

 

[HydroGuy]

Here is a helpful link to the local DL hotels by "Bret"

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

In August we stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn (BWPPI). We are family of six (kids 9, 10, 12, 13). We got a suite with two queen beds and a queen roll-out. The BWPPI is right across the street. You cannot get any closer except for the GCH on Disney property. Rates are reasonable, and it is clean and gets good reivews. The Park Vue Inn is next door to BWPPI, and has suites as well, is a little cheaper, and reviews are not as positive.

The suites at BWPPI and Park Vue have microwaves and small refrigerators. We brought a lot of food and drinks. We ate breakfast in our room, and usually lunch as well (we stayed five nights). The BWPPI had coupons for breakfast at Captain Kidds restaurant right next door. We never used these, as we did not want to take time to sit down for breakfast.

If you want to get a lot of useful information, keep up with this board. Many people found my detailed August trip report very useful for a wide range of information. See http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=886607.

Finally, it sounds like you are on a budget, so you may not be able to do this. But if you can, I would recommend you get at least two nights at the hotel if you decide to go for two days. After paying so much for DL tickets, it is a shame when everyone is too tired to enjoy it. If you can stay the night before your first day, you can get a good nights rest, get up early, and get to the park gates 30 minutes before it opens. You can get so much done in the first hour of two, especially if you have a plan of some kind.

Oh yeah. Have fun!