Off-season visitor needs advice for July visit

[MinnieMom13]

We're off-season DL travelers. As my children are now in middle school, I no longer pull them out of school so we've been going the last week of August when the crowds die down. We aren't able to go the last week of August next year, so we're looking at a July 2015 trip. I'm hoping to get some input from my fellow DISers.

1. Do the onsite hotels ever dip below $300/nt. in July? I imagine GC and DLH wouldn't, but maybe PP?
2. Is EE/MM always at 7:00 am that time of year? I'm secretly hoping so since my kids don't get up until 7:00; it will make the sting of being off-site easier.
3. We haven't stayed off-site in a long time. I'm having a hard time deciding whether to stay close (Desert Inn and Suites) or at a nicer hotel that is a bit more of a walk (Portofino, Red Lion, or Sheraton Park). Has anyone stayed at those hotels and used the Toy Story lot shuttles? Does it end up taking as long as walking? My other deciding factor is how quiet the rooms are.
4. Other than the 4th and the 60th anniversary, are there any other days to avoid that month?
5. Any other words of wisdom on how to adjust to the crowds? I'm hoping the So. Cal. annual passes don't return to help keep the crowds at bay (sorry locals!).

 

[Kristina4109]

We're off-season DL travelers. As my children are now in middle school, I no longer pull them out of school so we've been going the last week of August when the crowds die down. We aren't able to go the last week of August next year, so we're looking at a July 2015 trip. I'm hoping to get some input from my fellow DISers.

1. Do the onsite hotels ever dip below $300/nt. in July? I imagine GC and DLH wouldn't, but maybe PP?
2. Is EE/MM always at 7:00 am that time of year? I'm secretly hoping so since my kids don't get up until 7:00; it will make the sting of being off-site easier.
3. We haven't stayed off-site in a long time. I'm having a hard time deciding whether to stay close (Desert Inn and Suites) or at a nicer hotel that is a bit more of a walk (Portofino, Red Lion, or Sheraton Park). Has anyone stayed at those hotels and used the Toy Story lot shuttles? Does it end up taking as long as walking? My other deciding factor is how quiet the rooms are.
4. Other than the 4th and the 60th anniversary, are there any other days to avoid that month?
5. Any other words of wisdom on how to adjust to the crowds? I'm hoping the So. Cal. annual passes don't return to help keep the crowds at bay (sorry locals!).

I can't answer all these questions but I just know someone will pop on who can. Here's what I do know:

2) As far back as I can remember, EE is at 7:00am during the entire month of July.

3) My favorite off-site hotels are the Best Western Park Place Inn and Mini Suites (directly across the street from the pedestrian entrance to Disneyland) and the Howard Johnson Anaheim (on Harbour Boulevard, still within walking distance.) The Best Western is surprisingly quiet considering the location. The HoJo was quiet except at fireworks time - it sounded like we were being attacked. However, if you're going to be in the parks during that time it won't be a problem.

5) Just be prepared that it will be crowded and you'll have a good time anyway. We once went to DL July 5th, 6th and 7th. I mentally prepared myself for monstrously huge crowds. When we got there, I was pleasantly surprised - it was crowded, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. At one point in the middle of the day the lines were long and we decided to take a break and have lunch in Downtown Disney. We were able to walk right into the House of Blues and have a relaxing, air conditioned lunch (the place is pricey, though!) and then went back to the park refreshed and ready to go.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Re: Question 3
We stay often at the Sheraton Park and never use the TS shuttles. If your kids are in middle school, walking to and from the parks shouldn't be a problem. The walk is about 10 minutes (15 at most), straight north on Harbor, then left to the shuttle drop off and bag check. (Sometimes waiting for a TS shuttle can take that long or longer.) The nice part about walking is that you will pass a 7-11 and the ABC Mart -- great for picking up drinks and snacks to take into the parks and for getting supplies for taking back to the room at night. We like the rooms at the Sheraton Park (and at the Sheraton Anaheim, too -- and that hotel has its own private shuttle) -- just be aware that the bathrooms are a bit small. I can't remember a bad stay there. The rooms are quiet enough -- obviously you can't control how noisy your neighbors are -- but the only noisy times are when people leave for the parks (lots of excited chatter and thumping) and when people return after park closing. Nothing extreme. Hope this helps.

 

[ehrawn]

4/5. Most of what I've seen is that there really is no "off season" anymore. So, reframing your questions, you aren't really losing anything by going during the peak of summer. DL management is very adept at managing crowds: rides at max capacity, no scheduled refurbs, AP blackouts, long opening hours, multiple parade/show times, etc. Our July/Aug 2014 trip was actually quite pleasant...before 1200. We averaged 10 rides before a mid-day break every day (including RSR on one day). We ate lunch and dinner out of the park before heading back for evening rides and shows. We were working on a 2 a 3 y/o's limitations, so we weren't going to stay that late, anyway, but crowds never factored into our decisions during the day.