Now that I'm done planning my WDW vacation... Help!!

[Lucky82061]

Time to start planning my DLR Vacation! Couple of questions:

1) I am planning on going Sept 2 - 7, 2007... Is that a good time to go? Weather/Crowd wise?

2) Is the Grand Californian worth it? I am using DVC points to trade and if I stay at Disneyland hotel I can stay an extra day... but the Grand Californian just looks like such a nice hotel

3) Are dining reservations necessary at places like Napa Rose?

4) Should I purchase a So Cal pass with the 3-day hopper and USH/SD-zoo admission on it? Is 3-day's enough to see DL/DCA? Also how far is USH from DLR?

Thanks in advance... sorry if any of the questions are dumb... I just don't know any better

 

[Trebor]

Time to start planning my DLR Vacation! Couple of questions:

1) I am planning on going Sept 2 - 7, 2007... Is that a good time to go? Weather/Crowd wise?

2) Is the Grand Californian worth it? I am using DVC points to trade and if I stay at Disneyland hotel I can stay an extra day... but the Grand Californian just looks like such a nice hotel

3) Are dining reservations necessary at places like Napa Rose?

4) Should I purchase a So Cal pass with the 3-day hopper and USH/SD-zoo admission on it? Is 3-day's enough to see DL/DCA? Also how far is USH from DLR?

Thanks in advance... sorry if any of the questions are dumb... I just don't know any better

1. Can't speak from experience, but since that's the last weekend before most schools start, the Sunday and Monday could be pretty crowded. I'd expect the rest of the week to be fine. Weather should be great that time of year.

2. Worth it is such a hard thing to define. Given the choice between staying at that hotel and an extra day, I'd take the extra day. When it comes down to it, the part you care most about is that they have two beds, a shower, etc. You can always walk over and check out the lobby of the GCH. All the hotels are so close to each other and to the parks, I don't think you'd be too sorry if you didn't stay there.

3. This I can't answer. I've never made reservations at any of the places I normally eat (except for Character Lunch at Ariel's Grotto) and have never had much of an issue with it.

4. I think three days are enough to see DL/DCA. USH is at the complete opposite side of Los Angeles that DLR. Traffic through LA is pretty bad, as you can imagine, so it could take you a couple of hours to get up there. The San Diego attractions are probably about 90 minutes away.

Hope this helps.

 

[stampinshauna]

Isn't that over Memorial Day? It will be crowded.

As far as using DVC points, we stayed at the Grand Californian in September and absolutely loved it. Just DH and myself and it was perfect. It was peaceful, relaxing, and low key--quite a break from the parks. Kids would probably like the Disneyland Hotel theming a little more, both are great, but I just love the Grand. The Grand is also a lot closer, so much easier to run back to your room (to charge that camera battery that died in our case).

ADRs are not as big of a deal in Disneyland as they are at WDW. You can only get them 60 days or less before the trip and sometimes they don't fill up. However, if you're pretty sure that you want to eat somewhere, you might as well make the ADR, you could always cancel if you change your mind.

If you get a Citypass, do you have a Costco membership or know someone who does? They have it and it is cheaper.

Have a great trip.

 

[Lucky82061]

Thanks for the responses! I figured from reading some other posts that I should atleast be there for a few days when it would be busy since they seem to close certain rides/attractions when its real slow... I have no kids so its just me and DW but I just love the way the GCH looks in pictures.... oh and yes I do have a Costco membership, did not realize they had those passes. Thanks again for the replies!

 

[Barbday62]

That is Labor day weekend and next labor day is when they moved the marathon weekend to. Maybe be harder to predict. I know this year many hotels filled during marathn weekend and it was third week in September last year. Book early if you want aparticular hotel that weekend.

 

[Lucky82061]

Yeah I already have the GCH with a DCA view room booked for Sept 2-7. Got that as soon as I was allowed to with DVC... Afterwards I will be staying at a hotel (yet to be determined) in LA for about 5-days for sightseeing and such, also want to hit USH while I am there... I am so used to planning for WDW but now I feel so out of my element I guess I have alot of time to figure it out tho

I thought of a couple more questions...

Anyone have recommendations for a hotel in LA? Also, do I need a rental car for the whole trip? I figure I will need one for atleast the day I am going from DLR to LA.. but other than that is public transportation available/easy to use and can it take me to USH? Thanks again