Oh no..I lost all the help you all gave me!

[DMRick]

We thought about going to Disneyland a few months ago. So many of you helped me both on line and in PM's. I printed it all out. Then I chickened out, I know so much about DW, I just didn't comfortable making plans myself for hubby and I to DL. I put all the paperwork aside. After a trip to DC, where it went very well (again thanks to Diser's), I decided I could plan an unfamiliar trip, and went to find my papers. I think I cut them up for scrap paper, because they are gone!! I need help all over again!

We thought we would go the first week in December, if we can still get a room. I had two hotels in mind (I think one was a HJ) based on what many told me (although I really want to stay on property, but it looks pretty expensive). I need to fly SW, so need the airport they fly into from ALB that would be the closest. I think someone said Alamo was the better/cheaper car rental. I can't remember how many days you all said I needed to stay, and we also talked about driving up to Universal. I think someone said that was better than the one in FL. Did someone say the weather was nice the begiing of Dec? We can pay another $50 to have our free SW tix extended and go in Jan if that's better.

Where do we stay, where do we eat, oh no, I feel panic again!

So here I am begging for help again. Throw it all at me. This time I promise to hold onto the info. Darn, I had so much info..I'm kicking myself.

Thanks to all of you willing to help me out once again.

 

[CalGal]

Do go the first week of December if you can. You shouldn't have trouble getting a hotel room, and the park will be decked out for the holidays. Haunted Mansion Holiday, Small World Holiday, the Christmas parade, and lovely decorations and music all around ... And the crowds will be light! (Most of us can't go until later in the month) It's a fabulous time to go! Weather is usually pretty nice in early December. It could be a bit wet, but tends to be rain more in Jan. or Feb. It can be warm enough to swim...

Which hotel? Many on this site will recommend HoJos, Candycane or perhaps BW Park Place Inn as comfortable and convenient offste hotels. You might still consider the DLH since you may be able to get off-season rates with the 4th night free if you are planning on staying that long. The DLH is really nice during the holidays. The PPH is nice too, but not as festive as the DLH. The GCH is wonderful but more expensive and the 4th night free is less likey to still be available for it.

I'd check through Southwest's website which airport they will fly into. LAX is usually cheaper, but SNA (John Wayne/Orange County) is closer and more convenient. I'll usually pick SNA unless LAX is at least $25/person cheaper.

Where to eat? Work on the hotel and flight first ... you'll have time yet to plan your meals and PSs.

GO!!!

 

[safetymom]

Doris, you should go to DL. You will have a great time. It is different than WDW but in many ways it is almost the same.

We did 4 days in August and had a great time. We took a shuttle from the airport and didn't miss having a car at all.

We also used Albertsons to order groceries for our room. They delivered for less than $10 and saved me from finding a grocery store.

 

[DMRick]

Thanks Calgirl!

Thanks to you also Kathy. What shuttle did you use? Although if we use a shuttle, we wouldn't have a car to get to Universal. Do you know if there is any other way to get there? Which airport did you come in from, and what shuttle did you use? Which hotel did you stay at? Disney's looked sort of pricey, even with the free night for the time I was looking at.

 

[safetymom]

We used Super Shuttle. It was $15 each way. They picked us up at my requested time of 3:45 AM with no problems.

We flew into LAX. We stayed at the Anaheim Hilton. You can see the park from your window. We got a great price and had a corner room to see the fireworks and Anaheim.

We used the Anaheim Resort transit to get back and forth to the parks. It was $12 total for each of us for 4 days. We used this instead of a car because the hotel charged for parking. We never waited very long for the shuttle and it sure beat walking.

http://anaheim411.com/

This is a site I used for information. We had thought about going to Universal so I looked into tours. I didn't find it that expensive but we decided to just stay at DL.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/ is another great source of information.

 

[CamColt]

I know exactly how you feel. Thats how I was about a year ago when I first booked my first trip to DL....panic stricken!

However I am happy to be able to say that I have gone to DL, had a wonderful time, and will probably go back again. If you would like a WDW Vet's first time at DL perspective, I have posted a 4 part trip report on the trip report boards.

 

[Amy&Dan]

DMRick: I would defintiely look into the Hilton, The Sheraton, The Candy Cane and possibly the Best Western Park Place Inn in addition to the HoJo. I have stayed at the Howard Johnson's and thought it was fine but I have seen some not so terrific reviews of this property lately. Mainly centered around getting rooms near the freeway side that are beyond noisy. I know a lot of people who are used to moderates have been disappointed with the HoJo. It does have some pretty grounds and two pools as well as large rooms but since it is an older property some find it to be dated. I absolutely love the Disneyland Hotel and enjoy Paradise Pier as well (but not as much as DLH) but it is pricey. If I stay offsite in the future I will try the Candy Cane which has a free shuttle and a free breakfast, or the Sheraton which also has a free shuttle and looks really nice from the website. Disneyland onsite properties do offer the stay 4 nights get one night free from time to time which really helps out but still puts the nightly average above staying offsite. I have never heard one bad review about the Candy Cane on the this board. You might check Expedia for onsite accomodations as they also offer the one night free special sometimes. There is also a sticky at the top of this board with a ton of info and pictures of on and offsite hotels.

As far as dining, our favorite character meal is Goofy's Kitchen which is located right in the Disneyland Hotel. A lot like Chef Mickey's. We also love the Blue Bayou which inside POC. We prefer lunch there as it is cheaper and that is when they serve their famous Monte Cristo! Disneyland does not have as many sit down options but with DTD right there too you have a lot of nice restaurants right there. Also, Whitewater Snacks inside the Grand Californian is a great place for a quick bite and you can check out the Christmas decorations at the GCH.

Good luck with all of your planning! We were in Disneyland last year, the second week of December and it was just beautiful.

 

[DMRick]

Thanks. I keep going back and fourth..prob our one and only to DL, should stay on site. But then I think...what's the point...we are only going because we have free tickets, why spend the extra money, since many say it makes no difference LOL. I know I need to reserve soon..I just can't make these decisions. Of course I had no problem making a reservation in Oct for WDW when SouthWest announced a sale LOL. Thanks for the great info I'm getting. Even more than the last time (which I lost)!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

We are going the first week in Dec too. We are staying at Best Western Park Place Inn. We usually stay at DLH but couldn't justify the cost this time as this is an "extra" trip just to see DL dressed up for the holidays (spent eleven nights in July between BC, Poly, and AKL at WDW). One time when DLH hotel was filled we stayed at Candy Cane Inn. It was fine, nothing fancy. Basically a clean cheap motel. I'm not sure where the raves saying its so "cute and charming" come from. It seemed pretty basic. We thought the walk from the parks was a little long when it was chilly at night, so this time we chose one directly across the street from the main gate. I've never stayed at Best Western Park Place Inn before but Tripadvisor has really good reviews for it and we got a great rate for a minisuite which allowed us to invite my brother along too. I love staying onsite, but look at it as gravy. You will have a wonderful time either way, staying onsite will add to it (who doesn't love waking up to Mickey??), but staying offsite certainly didn't seem to lessen our wonderful trip at all.

If this is your one and only DL trip you HAVE to eat at Blue Bayou in the Pirates ride. Lunch is alot cheaper then dinner and I actually prefer the lunch menu.

 

[DMRick]

One time when DLH hotel was filled we stayed at Candy Cane Inn. It was fine, nothing fancy. Basically a clean cheap motel..

I just spent hours agonizing if we should stay on site, and decided on the Candy Cane (yup, the free breakfast and parking is what swayed me). Hmm..lets go look at the Best Western. See how easily I'm swayed LOL? The HJ had free hi speed computer hook up..that was also a plus.

 

[DMRick]

I still haven't picked a hotel..I just haven't been able to decide. Please keep giving your opinions of places you have stayed at. Hopefully soon.

For airports, here is where Southwest flies into in CA (we have free tickets). If we go with a rental car, LAX is very expensive. We would get in around 10 am CA time..how would the drive be to the DL area? We would also leave around 8 am for the airport to get back.

LAX, OAK, ONT, SNA, SMF, SAN

If we decide to take the shuttle, and not rent a car since we want to go to Universal for a day, is there any bus that goes there from the DL area? Is there a place close to the Howard Johnson/Candy Lane/Best Western area across from the entrance to DL where we can rent for a day or two?

 

[DMRick]

OK..I did it. I booked the air (SNA on advice from this board), which was free ($10 security charge) using our free rewards from SW..cost would have been over $1000 from Albany, NY.
Booked our hotel..Best Western Park Place Inn, which has free high speed internet in half the rooms, and we got one of them.

Next, should we get a rental car? They are $219 at this airport using a code and free day. If we don't get it, the shuttle is $60 (is there any other way to Disneyland?), and a trip to Universal is an additional $60 in addition to tickets (but we won't have to pay for gas!). We have one free day with National, and might walk up (I was told it was less than half a mile to the National place from our motel) and get a car for a day for sightseeing.

Tickets. We thought about using our old park hoppers from DisneyWorld, that I was told we could get..but they are much more valuable at DW, so we'll have to buy them. How many days to see everything (no rollar coasters, or any similar rides..we'd both end up sick), leasurely? 3 or 4?

Anything I'm missing? First day we'll spend looking at the DL hotels, and downtown Disney...last day is wasted, since we leave early, so we have 6 full days, minus a day to Universal. Any of the bus tours a must do, for someone who prob won't be back anytime soon, if at all?
Thanks again for all the help.