Newbie and going to DL in November

[texastinkerbell]

My husband just informed me that the only week we can take off is the week of Thanksgiving so we are hoping to go to DL. We'll be driving.

I've joined here and am reading as many posts as I can and have decided to join AAA for $50 for the two of us. It seems like it will be a great help since we are driving anyway. I'll try to get the parking pass too.

But what else should I do, consider?

I am going to be saving like mad, too, in the meantime.

I know that with 6 total (4 kids, 2 adults) we might have trouble finding cheap hotel accomodations. Anyone know where we can stay? Didn't there used to be a hotel review of DL hotels?

We'll have to save on food. What grocery stores are in the area.

Thanks, in advance. I am really excited and hope to plan this out well.

 

[HydroGuy]

Lots of tips and info here:

HydroGuy Tips Compilation: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

We have four kids and the mini-suites at BWPPI work well for us (2 queens and a roll out queen), plus a small fridge and microwave. Plus BWPPI is the closest walk to DLR. If I were you I would book a place for TG week ASAP.

If you have your own car, then the proximity of grocery stores to DLR is not that important. You can go anywhere nearby for groceries.

 

[silence]

i know it is not part of the "good neighbor" hotels, but we really like the Hawthorne Suites in Orange. in fact, we are staying there again in Sept.

It's a 2 room suite, with 2 dbl beds in the bedroom and then a couch that folds out into another dbl bed in the living room area.

it has lots of space, a free shuttle to the park and free HOT breakfast each day. we figure with 5 of us, that saves us a lot of money over the course of a week.

anyways, i guess my advice is to look around, not just what is labeled as a "good neighbor" hotel. orange is only 1-2 exits up the freeway.

 

[texastinkerbell]

Thanks for the quick response. I'll check out that link, HG. What is BWPPI, btw?

Silence--what do you like about the hawthorne? Did you take the shuttle? Was it convenient?

 

[texastinkerbell]

See, we'd really prefer to walk. We plan to get to the gates at opening, walk back to the hotel for lunch/siesta eat a quick dinner and return for the night and closing. So I think hotel's within walking distance are what we need.

...now off to read that link and figure out what BWPPI is.

 

[texastinkerbell]

BWPPI - Best Western Park Place Inn

Yeah, hydroguy! You rock. Thanks for all those lists you created. I have a feeling I'll be using those links a lot.

So I'll go check out that hotel but how can I get them at a discounted rate? Any suggestions?

 

[tink2008]

We have stayed at the cortona inn and suites twice. We have 4 kids. It use to be the Days Inn and was just remodled. We stay in the kids suite It has one king bed in a seperate room with another room without a door so the kids dont wonder outside. And it has a bunkbed and a sofa sleeper and its own TV and dresser. My kids loved it. It has a microwave and a mini fridge and and office table. I used this to prepare our meals. It was really nice and clean. The parking is a bit tight but managable. It has a cont. breakfast not the best. But ok. Juice, cereal, pastries, muffins, coffee and Milk, toast etc. We are not really big breakfast people so it was ok for us.

We are going again in November from the 22nd - December 1st and I called and swindled them down to 116 per night which is really good. I recomment it.

 

[HydroGuy]

BWPPI - Best Western Park Place Inn

Yeah, hydroguy! You rock. Thanks for all those lists you created. I have a feeling I'll be using those links a lot.

So I'll go check out that hotel but how can I get them at a discounted rate? Any suggestions?

There are AAA rates. Also, if you book online with them directly there is a discount, but no AAA. FWIW, I have never gotten a better deal booking a package thru Disney than I did booking room and tix separately. But some people have.

 

[texastinkerbell]

Thanks for the information tink. I am trying to book the BWPPI right now and am running into snags. So if I can't make this work, I'll check that out. Is it in walking distance?

HG--that hotel is great. It looks right across the street. IS it?

I have some detailed questions. I'll PM you. Love your sig, btw.

 

[texastinkerbell]

Argh. I can't get 6 days in a row.

What about the La Quinta? Anyone know about that hotel?

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for the information tink. I am trying to book the BWPPI right now and am running into snags. So if I can't make this work, I'll check that out. Is it in walking distance?

HG--that hotel is great. It looks right across the street. IS it?

I have some detailed questions. I'll PM you. Love your sig, btw.

Hmmm. I am surprised you are having trouble getting a res this far in advance. I would have thought that would be easy.

Other places close to DLR with suites are the Park Vue and Desert Inn, both of which get mixed reviews. I have never stayed at either. Another option is the Residence Inn which is further and probably a little pricier, but I would expect nicer.

Make sure you check out this link:

Bret's Disneyland Lodging Map www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

 

[texastinkerbell]

Hmmm. I am surprised you are having trouble getting a res this far in advance. I would have thought that would be easy.

I know. I thought that too. I got the first three days but its not available online the last three. My husband wants me to call them on the phone and see what's available.

I'll check out the other suggestions too.

 

[Hound 109]

Hmmm. I am surprised you are having trouble getting a res this far in advance. I would have thought that would be easy.

Other places close to DLR with suites are the Park Vue and Desert Inn, both of which get mixed reviews. I have never stayed at either. Another option is the Residence Inn which is further and probably a little pricier, but I would expect nicer.

Make sure you check out this link:

Bret's Disneyland Lodging Map www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

Thanksgiving Week. Maybe they have availability Sun - Wed, but not Th - Sat?

If everything "across the street" is booked on Thur - Sat & it was my family, & I had 6 full days......I would consider nailing down the days that I could at BW (or another Harbor Blvd motel next to it for easy walking) & then move to the second choice the final two or three days.

3-4 days across the street from DLR is better than none. Let us know how the reservations come out. I bet alot of folks are going to start asking about lodging over Thanksgiving, so it will be good to know.

Good luck.

hound

 

[MulanFan]

The Tropicana is also good, we stayed there. It's right across from the DL entrance, and they also have free continental breakfast (not great, but enough to get you going). Good luck, you will have so much fun! Also, look for the Fairy Godmailer thread for ppl going to DL between now and then. You can get a postcard for the kids, and all you have to do is pay it forward. Califgirl has been great for doing this (thanks!!!).

 

[texastinkerbell]

Thanksgiving Week. Maybe they have availability Sun - Wed, but not Th - Sat?

If everything "across the street" is booked on Thur - Sat & it was my family, & I had 6 full days......I would consider nailing down the days that I could at BW (or another Harbor Blvd motel next to it for easy walking) & then move to the second choice the final two or three days.

3-4 days across the street from DLR is better than none.

Ah yes, I totally agree and I told him just that a few hours ago... but my husband is an unpack once kind of man and since this is our first planned vacation in ten years of marriage. I oblige. He wants to be in one place, walking distance to DL, with a fridge and coffeemaker. His wish is my command. ETA: its also his birthday that week.

But I need to do this on our slim budget so I REALLY appreciate any tips, tricks, etc. in doing this.

Hey hydroguy. What was parking like at BWPPI? We have a big truck.

 

[silence]

if you want to walk, we have stayed at the Howard Johnson and REALLY enjoyed it. However, we were in a room with 2 Queen, we have not stayed in their suites.

good luck.

As for the Hawthorne, the shuttle was easy, we just called and they came and got us. the hotel is in a business office park, so not too many tourists use it i think, especially since they aren't part of the "good neighbor" listing, which i think hotels have to pay for??? not sure. The biggest selling point for us was the breakfast I think though.......great deal for 5 of us.

 

[tink2008]

You could walk its about two blocks. But we took ART it will only cost us $36.00 for the 9 days we are there because our kids can go free. It is worth if and it drops you off right infront of the ticket counters at disneyland. I really liked it because at night my kids were exausted.

 

[texastinkerbell]

Yes, a hot breakfast sounds good any day of the week. Yum.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I have to sleep. I've read and linked a lot tonight. I'll continue on Monday.

I am really glad I found this place. Y'all are wonderful. Thanks.

 

[Jenlan]

A second vote here for Howard Johnson's. It has beautiful grounds, pools, an arcade room, a great gift shop, large clean rooms with fridge and coffeemakers(bring your own coffee if you're a coffee snob, like us!), and a truly great staff. Mimi's is right next door, and Millie's (great stop for breakfast on your way to the park) and McDonalds are right there as well. Some folks complain about the walk, but it is not more than 10 minutes and my DS at 6 had no problem with it - even after a big day at the Parks. Check it out. We've been repeat visitors for six years now.

 

[texastinkerbell]

Six years? That says a lot. Oh we love to walk. The walk time isn't daunting at all. I will check it out although I am holding out for BWPPI b/c of number of people in our party. I have to put more minutes on my phone and I'll call them this week to see if I can book the last three days.

Y'all have been great. Please keep giving me any thoughts. I had much panic this morning when I thought about how much money this is going to be but the time is now...we just aren't sure what his job will be like next year and we have this opportunity now and the kids will enjoy it. I am excited but have to go forward on faith.

My husband told me we have to have things really slim for the next few months, which is fine, we've been through a lot financially. However, this fall is also the first time we are going to do lessons for my oldest daughter in the two areas she loves and I don't want to give those up for disneyland. I have to be really creative with our food, meals, gas, clothing, and budget and plan.

Its funny I've been thinking of money this morning in terms of that much more to disneyland. For example, I was going to run to the store for a few things and I thought of that money towards disneyland or lessons this fall. And I decided to open my pantry and get a bit creative.

I have a feeling the next few months are going to be like this, eh?

Anyway, thanks for your suggestions and for listening to be ramble. I am going to go bake some bread for the week and save $7 in bread.