Need some recommendations

[iankh]

I'm planning a mini-vacation to DL. We live in Chicago and typically go to WDW, but thought that this would be a nice change. The last time I was there was in 1981, so I'm sure it's changed.

First Dates:

I can't decide between going August 8th through 12th or September 5th through 9th. Any difference in crowds, etc?

Then the choice of hotels. This is a really short trip and I really don't want to rent a car since most of our time will be in either the parks or DTD.

Here are the hotels I'm considering:

• Candy Cane Inn
• Howard Johnsons
• Carousel Inn
• Hotel Menage

Any input or recommendations for this DL newbie would be most appreciated!

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

Go in september aug sucks bad lots of people everywhere hot and muggy.

I hear hojo is great and candy cane is good I like the desert inn and suites right accross the street nice place to lay your head.

 

[iankh]

Go in september aug sucks bad lots of people everywhere hot and muggy.

I hear hojo is great and candy cane is good I like the desert inn and suites right accross the street nice place to lay your head.

Thanks for the feedback. I am leaning heavily towards September.

This is a funny situation, because I'm so familiar with WDW. I'm even a DVC member.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I have to disagree with PP. Yes, while August and Sept. are both hot, we do not get muggy here. Unless something freakish happens with the weather you are looking at hot, dry days and cooler nights.

As for your choice of dates, I would go after Labor Day v.s. before. Then alot of the AP holders's kids will be back in school. (Except for mine, she's off track in Sept.! But we'll be in WDW Sept. 2-12).

Can't say for accomodations, since we always stay at home.

One thing to consider is that usually after Labor Day DLR will not be open as late and not all entertainment will be available (shows, fireworks, parades, etc.) But I would still pick 5th to the 9th.

 

[ironpig70]

there was a great post here on hotel menage poster said it was a great hotel but to far to walk so you'd have to take the bus or shuttle. there is a huge following here for hojo and if you get the ent rate that would be a huge bonus.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

The HydroGuy Tips Compilation is very helpful!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Especially these 2 threads:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

"HydroGuy's How To Avoid Long Lines Rules" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199856
(especially Rule #5)

The entertainment calendar for Sept 2008 hasn’t been released yet, but the entertainment calendar for August 2008 has been released.

DLR’s Entertainment Calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nthly/monthly?name=CalendarMonthlyPage&bhcp=1

Here are the calendars from last year.

August 2007 and Sept 2007:
http://www.laughingplace.com/guide-cal-DLR2-200708.asp
http://www.laughingplace.com/guide-cal-DLR2-200709.asp

HTH

 

[iankh]

there was a great post here on hotel menage poster said it was a great hotel but to far to walk so you'd have to take the bus or shuttle. there is a huge following here for hojo and if you get the ent rate that would be a huge bonus.

What is the ent rate?

 

[silence]

if you have an entertainment book, you can get a discounted rate.

check this page out: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14&sid=a4eda963b3e85b8591f17efe6dc4ce6c

for $59 a night, it really can't be beat if you are on a budget.

we have gone at the end of Aug and at the begin of Sept before. Love this time, parks aren't busy. However, they do usually close at 8PM on weekdays and several rides may be closed (Haunted Mansion and possibly Matterhorn).

 

[bumbershoot]

The very special rate you can get at the Anaheim HoJo (not any other HoJo) if you have the card from the Entertainment Book (any Entertainment Book, not just the Orange County one). If your dates fall into the dates that the EB rate is offered, it can be $59 a night. We just had 4 nights at HoJo for well under 300, thanks to that rate.

 

[bumbershoot]

Good point with Haunted Mansion! I would go in August, just to make sure I got on it one more time before the Holiday overlay is put on.

Without renting a car I wouldn't stay at the Menage, unless you want to deal with shuttling there. The walk from HoJo isn't bad at all, the walk from the Carousel is closest (but I didn't much enjoy my one night there), and Candy Cane Inn is walkable OR they have their own dedicated shuttle (one of two hotels with that, I believe...everyone else has to use ART).

 

[stacymomof2]

Ack! Why is the Matterhorn closing? Will it be back open for Oct/Nov time?

I know about the HM...but the Matterhorn is definatly the winner over those 2 rides....

 

[RevBob]

Thanks for the feedback. I am leaning heavily towards September.

This is a funny situation, because I'm so familiar with WDW. I'm even a DVC member.

Why don't you use your DVC points to stay at one of the onsite hotels? Currently, until they get the DVC resort finished there, you don't have to pay the $95 fee in order to do this and the points to do so aren't all that bad. We have a stay for Nov. reserved at the Disneyland Hotel using DVC points. Will be my first time back to DL since 1987.

 

[silence]

Ack! Why is the Matterhorn closing? Will it be back open for Oct/Nov time?

I know about the HM...but the Matterhorn is definatly the winner over those 2 rides....

I'm not saying it will be closed, sorry if I caused concern!

In the past, it has been closed on our trips during this month. However, if it doesn't need a refurb this year, I'm sure you are fine. Typically this is the month they do several refurbs, after summer season and before the holiday season begins.

 

[iankh]

if you have an entertainment book, you can get a discounted rate.

check this page out: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14&sid=a4eda963b3e85b8591f17efe6dc4ce6c

for $59 a night, it really can't be beat if you are on a budget.

we have gone at the end of Aug and at the begin of Sept before. Love this time, parks aren't busy. However, they do usually close at 8PM on weekdays and several rides may be closed (Haunted Mansion and possibly Matterhorn).

Wow thanks for the link. The book would be worth it just for the discount. We're not locked into any particular dates, so it is very possible to work the dates around getting the discount.

 

[iankh]

The HydroGuy Tips Compilation is very helpful!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Especially these 2 threads:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

"HydroGuy's How To Avoid Long Lines Rules" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199856
(especially Rule #5)

The entertainment calendar for Sept 2008 hasn’t been released yet, but the entertainment calendar for August 2008 has been released.

DLR’s Entertainment Calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nthly/monthly?name=CalendarMonthlyPage&bhcp=1

Here are the calendars from last year.

August 2007 and Sept 2007:
http://www.laughingplace.com/guide-cal-DLR2-200708.asp
http://www.laughingplace.com/guide-cal-DLR2-200709.asp

HTH

Thanks for these links! Fantastic information.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

If you can go after Labor Day, I think that would be best. We've gone in July and August and find the heat miserable. So we won't do that again!

As for hotels, of your choices there, I'd go with the Carousel Inn. We just got done staying at Hojo's for 5 nights, and we weren't impressed. The room was nice, so was the Disney View with the balcony. The walk didn't even both us (which was one of my concerns). But it was quite noisey! And I'm not talking about the freeway. That actually didn't bother us at all (although we could here it, we were on the 4th floor). Instead it was the buses all night long coming and going. People talking loudly outside (they sounded like they were on our balcony). Tuesday night we had some car over in the Mimi's parking lot thumping bass super loud at 1 am. And then Thursday, OMG. It was a Grad night. If you ever want to know what Grad night sounds like, stay there. We had BLARING music (constant really, with thumping bass), screamng, and people on microphones ALL night long. Till like 5 am. No sleep at all. My husband even tried to go sleep in the car! LOL It was awful, and since my husband said he could hear it all over the property on the way to the car, I can't imagine any building being any better. So, yes, the entertainment rate was nice. And we did like the room, but the noise did not make it worth it for us. Next year we'll be back at the Tropicana or onsite. Our last night on this trip was at the Disneyland hotel, it was the only good night sleep we got. Wish we had a better experience, as we were really looking forward to being fans like so many here.

 

[RuthieT]

I would recommend going to HOJO. They are GREAT there and how can you beat that price?? I think your dates after Labor Day would be best for crowds and most kids being back in school by then.

 

[avalon451]

If you can go after Labor Day, I think that would be best. We've gone in July and August and find the heat miserable. So we won't do that again!

As for hotels, of your choices there, I'd go with the Carousel Inn. We just got done staying at Hojo's for 5 nights, and we weren't impressed. The room was nice, so was the Disney View with the balcony. The walk didn't even both us (which was one of my concerns). But it was quite noisey! And I'm not talking about the freeway. That actually didn't bother us at all (although we could here it, we were on the 4th floor). Instead it was the buses all night long coming and going. People talking loudly outside (they sounded like they were on our balcony). Tuesday night we had some car over in the Mimi's parking lot thumping bass super loud at 1 am. And then Thursday, OMG. It was a Grad night. If you ever want to know what Grad night sounds like, stay there. We had BLARING music (constant really, with thumping bass), screamng, and people on microphones ALL night long. Till like 5 am. No sleep at all. My husband even tried to go sleep in the car! LOL It was awful, and since my husband said he could hear it all over the property on the way to the car, I can't imagine any building being any better. So, yes, the entertainment rate was nice. And we did like the room, but the noise did not make it worth it for us. Next year we'll be back at the Tropicana or onsite. Our last night on this trip was at the Disneyland hotel, it was the only good night sleep we got. Wish we had a better experience, as we were really looking forward to being fans like so many here.

Yikes. So sorry you had that noisy experience. I am pretty sensitive to hotel noise myself, but I found a solution that has always worked for me: a white noise machine. Just loud enough to mask any other noise outside, but it's a gentle rain noise in our room. I take our machine with us wherever we go now.