November at Disneyland

[TheLeonhardts]

My husband has a convention at the Anaheim Convention Center November 14-21, 2004. It looks like a perfect opportunity for me and my then 11 year old daughter to tag along and really immerse ourselves in Disneyland and CA. I would love some advice from all the regulars out there:

Hotel recommendations when visiting the convention center and Disney -- I'm primarily debating between onsite at Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier or Portofino Inn and Suites, kid suites. Embassy Suites with rental car is a distant fourth. I love suite hotels, but we love Disney more. Any thoughts?

Swimming and weather. What are temps like in mid-November?

Crowds. We'll be heading home just before the Thanksgiving rush. Is that a good time for Disneyland?

We're WDW veterans, as we're east coasters. But, I've been to Disneyland and CA while on business travel, and can't wait to share it with my daughter.

Thanks, in advance!

Judy

 

[dis4me]

Hi Judy We just returned and stayed at the Residence Inn. We always stay on site at WDW but I wanted to save some money and have a full kitchen so we stayed here. The shuttle seemed efficient.We enjoyed the short walk(10-20) minutes to the park everyday. It gave us some exercise and it built my dds excitement up.They had a continental breakfast everday with donuts,bagels waffles,cereal, and oatmeal so we ate breakfast there everyday. They also had a hospitality hour at night but we never seemed to make it. the pool was decent,nothing spectacular though. It was clean and the staff was pleasant.
We were there in Nov 2000 and felt it was too cold to swim but it may have been a bad year. I am sure one of the many locals can help you.
I would definately go though. You will have a blast.

 

[Snurk71]

We went to DL Nov 9 - 16, 2002 for a "conference" too. If your husband's work is picking up the tab for the room, I would stay on-site (though we also stayed on site in May when we were paying). We stayed at DLH both times. The rooms were nice and big, the resort is pretty Disney-themed, and the Neverland pool is the best themed pool around.

Regarding weather and temps, the weather was perfect park weather - could wear shorts and t-shirts every day during the day. We did start a couple of days in a jacket, and would wear a jacket again at night with maybe some pants. We did swim one afternoon because DD (2 yo) wanted to. It was pretty chilly, but we weren't the only ones there.

Crowds - were perfect for us. We were soooo spoiled, outside of the Sunday we arrived. The weekdays were amazing. Practically everything was near walk-on, especially at CA. It almost felt like we had CA to ourselves the crowds were so good.

 

[dsnylndmom]

We've been twice in NOv. Once in 1999 we were there from the 16-19th and the weather was perfect for jeans and t-shirts during the day and jeans and sweatshirts at night. The crowds were VERY low and the park was so beautiful and decorated for Christmas.

In 2002 we were there from the 7th-11th and it rained Thurs., Fri. and Sat. But the parks were dead. Sunday and Monday it was PACKED but the weather was in the high 80's. It was Veteran's Day weekend though, so I don't think that's the norm.

Like the above poster said I would choose onsite if hubby's work is picking up the tab. We stayed at the Embassy in May and loved it. It was very nice, great great full hot cooked to order breakfast, manager's reception with snacks every night and a great staff. They do have a shuttle that runs every 20 minutes and it's a full sized tour bus! Also, if need be a cab only cost us $7 from there(we missed the shuttle once when we were shopping heehee)

Good Luck!
Tina

 

[TheLeonhardts]

Wow! Thanks, everyone!! The perspective helps alot!

My husband's employer will be paying for the hotel room, but we're both Feds, so we're limited in the LA area to $99 a night. I know WDW resort hotels don't offer the Government rate, so I'm assuming the same for DL. But, I'm more than willing to pick up some of the slack.

The Disneyland hotel is at the front of the list. Followed by Paradise Pier, if the Disneyland rate scoots up much above the Paradise Pier rate. Since we're going to be in town for at least a full week, we'll probably get annual passes and see if we can get a good annual pass rate.

I love Embassy Suites, but the hotel closest to DL doesn't appear to offer much better rates than I can hope to get from the Disney hotels off season.

Thanks for the heads up on the pools and weather. My daughter loves Disney pools and they're generally heated -- so she'll probably get some pool time.

She and I watched the Disneyland vacation planning video yesterday and bemoaned the fact that the convention is in 2004 instead of 2003. . .

Thanks, again!

Judy

 

[Snurk71]

For reference, I think our rate in Nov02 at DLH was $150-$160/nt - before all the taxes and add-ons.

 

[disneymom1]

There are packages available through Disney where you get a fourth night free at the 3 Disney on site hotels and some offsite hotels when you stay 3 nights. This brings the cost per night at Paradise Pier to about $102 plus the resort fee of $7 per night plus tax for the period you will be there. If you stay 8 nights, you can get 2 free. You wouldn't have to pay much yourself with the $99 gov't allowance you have.

There are rates at offsite hotels for even less than this.

To get this rate through Disney, you must buy a package which includes park hopper tickets and a few freebees. I think you can buy just 2 hopper tickets for you and your daughter with the package, but I'm not sure about this.

You can also get this room rate without a package through Expedia.

The rate is about $50 more per night at the Disneyland Hotel with the fourth night free deal

 

[TheLeonhardts]

Ah -- thanks for the insights on 8 nights with 2 nights free. We'll definitely be there 7 nights, and I was thinking of stretching it out. If they are offering the same deal for 2004 reservations, I'll definitely grab it.

Thanks, again, everyone!

Judy

 

[missypie]

Watch these boards and also mousesavers.com for the latest rate codes as they come out.

DLH is great. I'd recommend one of the onsite hotels if possible. It's very nice to stay in the Disney cocoon of nice landscaping, pretty music, nice buildings, etc. and walk everywhere you go.