New to Disneyland

[abbie13_15]

We have been to Disney World many times, but never Disneyland.

We are going to stay at a neighboring hotel. We are looking at the Ramada Maingate or Fairfield Inn by Marriott. What are your thoughts or experiences?

We don't know if we are renting a car yet. But, we would like to take in Sea World and Universal Studios Hollywood also. How far would it be from our hotel? Not sure about using a bus service either. We have always rented a car in Florida.

Thanks!

 

[Disgram23kids]

We are staying at the Ramada Main Gate from Dec 9th through 14th. We usually stay with relatives who live about 10 minutes away but that gets hard because we hate to be out too late and always feel we have to spend a certain amount of time with them. Hate to just use them as a hotel. We got a great rate at the Ramada Main Gate. We are using Ramada points and paying $15.00/night + taxes. Too good to pass up. That said, our first choice was the Fairfield Inn. My daughter & her friends stayed there last year and loved it. I have seen a lot of people on the boards seem to like Fairfield Inn. I will be happy to send you a review after we return from DL.

 

[sonnyjane]

If you can, I would just rent a car, at least for the days you are going south. It's about a two-hour drive (90 miles plus traffic) to SeaWorld in San Diego!

 

[Flitterific]

We have been to Disney World many times, but never Disneyland.

We are going to stay at a neighboring hotel. We are looking at the Ramada Maingate or Fairfield Inn by Marriott. What are your thoughts or experiences?

We don't know if we are renting a car yet. But, we would like to take in Sea World and Universal Studios Hollywood also. How far would it be from our hotel? Not sure about using a bus service either. We have always rented a car in Florida.

Thanks!

Hi abbie! Welcome to this part of the boards...Disneyland is amazing so I'm sure you're going to enjoy Walt's original park You'll definitely want to read up on HydroGuy's tips: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483, especially the "DLR Guide for WDW Vets", which can be found here: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599.

Of the hotels you mentioned, I've only stayed at the Fairfield Inn. I thought it was an okay place. I thought the room we were in was kind of dark and the pipes/air conditioning unit was super loud at night which bothered me and I'm not even a light sleeper. For the same price or cheaper, I'd much rather stay at the Howard Johnson (HoJo) two doors down. HoJo often offers the Entertainment Rate, which is 50% off the regular price of the rooms. Anyway, both hotels are less than a 10 minute walk to the main entrance of Disneyland so no need for a car.

As for getting to Universal Studios Hollywood (USH), there are a lot of tours that pick you up from your hotel to USH. You can Google them or ask the concierge at the hotel for more information. Sea World may be a bit far (about 2-2.5 hours away from DLR) so you may want to rent a car if you decide to go.

Have a magical first trip to DLR!

 

[abbie13_15]

So it looks like Sea World might be out. I am wondering about maybe getting a hotel close to there for the first night and then driving to check in to a disneyland neighboring hotel after Sea World. Is there a airport close to Sea World we could use instead of the one close to Disney World if we decide to go there first???

 

[abbie13_15]

So it looks like Sea World might be out. I am wondering about maybe getting a hotel close to there for the first night and then driving to check in to a disneyland neighboring hotel after Sea World. Is there a airport close to Sea World we could use instead of the one close to Disney World if we decide to go there first???

oops...Is there a airport close to Sea World we could use instead of the one close to Disneyland if we decide to go there first???

 

[sonnyjane]

oops...Is there a airport close to Sea World we could use instead of the one close to Disneyland if we decide to go there first???

San Diego Airport (code SAN) would be the closest to Sea World, but it is usually much more expensive if you fly into one city and leave from another. I believe that some of the hotels in Anaheim might offer a day trip package to Sea World (through Gray Line Tours?) but if you go that route, you are on their schedule, so you might not be able to see everything at the park, as they leave earlier to return to Anaheim.

 

[HydroGuy]

oops...Is there a airport close to Sea World we could use instead of the one close to Disneyland if we decide to go there first???

This thread will explain it all:

"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

As for hotels I am a diehard walking distance hotel fan. WDW vets are used to buses and boats and are too quick IMO to give up on one of DLR's best advantages - the close hotels. Some DLR hotels have hotel room doors closer to the park gates than some of the bus or boat stops at WDW to park gates there.

See "HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

 

[jenseib]

I know somewhere someone once pointed me to a map that shows all the good neighbor resorts aroud DLR. Can someone direct me to it again. I thought I saved it, but can't find it, and I am not finding it so far in my searching in the DL forum.

 

[A Small World]

San Diego Airport (code SAN) would be the closest to Sea World, but it is usually much more expensive if you fly into one city and leave from another. I believe that some of the hotels in Anaheim might offer a day trip package to Sea World (through Gray Line Tours?) but if you go that route, you are on their schedule, so you might not be able to see everything at the park, as they leave earlier to return to Anaheim.

We did the day trip to Sea world with Gray Line when we were there in October. We were staying at Hojos and were picked up there and taken to the main depot where we then got on different buses depending where we were going. We had a full day in Sea world and the drive there didnt seem too long - the driver pointed out places of interest on route. He picked us up half hour after the park closed (we shared a bus with others who had gone to San Diego zoo) and on the way back we had a dvd to watch (or slept). It was worth it as it was quiet and we got to see everything we wanted

 

[HydroGuy]

I know somewhere someone once pointed me to a map that shows all the good neighbor resorts aroud DLR. Can someone direct me to it again. I thought I saved it, but can't find it, and I am not finding it so far in my searching in the DL forum.

One of these?

"Accomodations Near Disney" - http://www.accommodationsneardisney....nd/default.asp

Anaheim Resort Map - http://www.disboards.com/showpost.ph...84&postcount=1

Interactive Map of DLR - http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.809...2&z=19&l=0&m=b

Lots other maps here: MAPS and AERIAL SHOTS + Airport/Transportation Info

 

[jenseib]

Thanks. The first one was the exact one I was looking for.

 

[lillybug]

We did the day trip to Sea world with Gray Line when we were there in October. We were staying at Hojos and were picked up there and taken to the main depot where we then got on different buses depending where we were going. We had a full day in Sea world and the drive there didnt seem too long - the driver pointed out places of interest on route. He picked us up half hour after the park closed (we shared a bus with others who had gone to San Diego zoo) and on the way back we had a dvd to watch (or slept). It was worth it as it was quiet and we got to see everything we wanted

We went on this tour 2 years ago and really enjoyed it. We were able to see everything we wanted at Sea World and we didn't have to fight traffic. If I remember right the bus ride was free.

eta: here's a link to the tour we took grayline

 

[crazycatlady]

Hi abbie! Welcome to this part of the boards...Disneyland is amazing so I'm sure you're going to enjoy Walt's original park You'll definitely want to read up on HydroGuy's tips: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483, especially the "DLR Guide for WDW Vets", which can be found here: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599.

Of the hotels you mentioned, I've only stayed at the Fairfield Inn. I thought it was an okay place. I thought the room we were in was kind of dark and the pipes/air conditioning unit was super loud at night which bothered me and I'm not even a light sleeper. For the same price or cheaper, I'd much rather stay at the Howard Johnson (HoJo) two doors down. HoJo often offers the Entertainment Rate, which is 50% off the regular price of the rooms. Anyway, both hotels are less than a 10 minute walk to the main entrance of Disneyland so no need for a car.

As for getting to Universal Studios Hollywood (USH), there are a lot of tours that pick you up from your hotel to USH. You can Google them or ask the concierge at the hotel for more information. Sea World may be a bit far (about 2-2.5 hours away from DLR) so you may want to rent a car if you decide to go.

Have a magical first trip to DLR! [/QUOTE

How do you get the Entertainment rate? Do you have to have the Entertainment book for California or is it an off-season special?

 

[abbie13_15]

We went on this tour 2 years ago and really enjoyed it. We were able to see everything we wanted at Sea World and we didn't have to fight traffic. If I remember right the bus ride was free.

eta: here's a link to the tour we took grayline

Wow! This seems to good to be true...there is only a $1 charge??? It stated the pick up time, but what about the departure time? Guess I just need to call.