On site vs off site help needed please!!

[vincev33]

I am very torn! Taking the DW away for a surprise 40th BD trip to DL/Vegas in Dec. This will be our first trip to DL and our first trip without kids in 10 years. We are long time WDW vets! I am really torn between the onsite/offsite debate! Would love to save the money, but don't want to ruin the trip with a sub par hotel stay. Any and all advice is appreciated!!!! I am an avid planner for our WDW trips and not knowing DL is driving me nuts..... Thank You!!!

 

[sonnyjane]

Can I ask how long you plan to stay at Disneyland? I'm inclined to say that for a special occasion trip such as this, I'd probably opt for an on-site experience, but if it's a long stay in particular, that can really break the bank.

If you have not already, please read this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[vincev33]

Great call out! We will either be two or three nights. I booked the air already into LAX and out of LAS. Not sure which one will be 3 and which will be 4. We will not have a car which is another good piece of info. I will be renting a car from DTD the day we leave for LAS.

 

[vincev33]

I did read that post. Thank you for the link!

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

For a surprise trip with out kids for the first time in 10 years, I'd say onsite wins. It's the icing on the already awesome cake as it were.

Can you save money on your hotel in Vegas instead?

 

[sonnyjane]

If it wouldn't do too much damage to the pocket book then, for two or three nights I'd try for on-site. Grand Californian is the nicest (and closest) but also the most expensive. Disneyland Hotel will be your second most expensive, Paradise Pier the "cheapest", but still a bit expensive. Occasionally they have special offers though, but I'm not sure what they might be in December, if they have one.

Sounds like a fun trip! Vegas is tied for my favorite U.S. getaway (along with Key West). I have been to both of those places at least a dozen times, and in fact I'm going to Vegas next week for three nights. A combination Disneyland/Vegas trip would put me over the moon as a birthday surprise

 

[specialks]

We are splurging for the GCH this time because it is only a 3 night stay vs our typical 7. Also, just in case your interested...there os a company called LuxBus that has bus service from Anaheim to LV. Someone on these boards did a review on it once.

 

[skiingfast]

Also, just in case your interested...there os a company called LuxBus that has bus service from Anaheim to LV. Someone on these boards did a review on it once.

That is a good suggesting if the aren't planning on using a car. Here is that review thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2584174&highlight=luxbus

 

[vincev33]

Thanks for the suggestions on the bus! It looks like a great idea. I have a free rental day and I am actually looking forward to the drive, but we may use this if we go back!

 

[kailuagirl]

What fun!! We went to Vegas for DH's 40th and found out we were pregnant while there, was awesome!!

If you can swing it, I'd stay at the Grand. We stayed there for the 1st time last year and I kept debating whether to spend the extra money for it, we could use it elsewhere, the whole bit, all the way up until we got there, then we pulled up into the parking and I knew we made the right decision. Oh my! I was in awe from the minute we got there until the minute we left. DH wants to stay again next time and have more days just to "hang out" at the hotel, haha. It really made us feel like we were on vacation. There are so many cool nook's to hang out in at the Grand and it's so romantic.

But you could save your money and stay elsewhere to. Where are you staying in Vegas? It's fun to stay at a nicer hotel there too! So since you are doing both, I think you should choose either Vegas or DLR and pick one of them for an upgraded hotel

Have fun and let us know what you decide!!

 

[vincev33]

That is good news to receive while on a trip. I was actually looking at PP since it is the cheapest and all the reviews that I have read have been pretty positive. I don't know how much time we will be spending in the hotel so I might have a hard time paying the Grands prices. I am really counting on a good discount coming out for my dates. We are going the first full week of December which from the crowd calendar looks pretty slow. I am not sure where we will be staying in Vegas either. I have been keeping a close eye on the travel discount boards. Prices there don't break the bank as quickly as DL. There have been some nice specials at some pretty nice hotels. Still to early to qualify for my dates.

My concern is not so much the actual hotel, but losing the Disney feel. We have been to WDW so many times and we loving being in the magic the entire time. I am worried about losing that if we stay offsite. Hoping they come up with some late November-Early December promotion, but I know that it may not happen and that I should plan for a backup at an offsite.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Lilbunnyk]

I just got back from PP for my birthday and absolutely loved it. This was my first time staying at a DL hotel but have stayed dozens of time at offsite hotels. This stay was 1000 times better then any of the other trips. Staying on site made such a huge difference in the feel of the trip and my birthday was really magical. The park view rooms at PP are amazing and definatley worth the money.

 

[KigerKat]

Thanks for the suggestions on the bus! It looks like a great idea. I have a free rental day and I am actually looking forward to the drive, but we may use this if we go back!

We're doing the same thing in December! We haven't booked anything just yet, but we're looking at Best Western Stovall's. No children here, otherwise a surprise first trip might call for an on-site stay. Since it's just DH and I, we're okay with our hotel not being quite as "magical" as the on-site properties.

We'll be renting a car on our 5th day and touring Hollywood for the day, and then driving to Las Vegas the next morning. I know it's a lot of dessert, but I think it will be a fun road trip! Plus, I like the control of being able to stop when we want to and take pictures or grab some lunch or just to stretch our legs.

 

[summer0407]

If it's only 2-3 nights I would stay at the Grand. It is amazing and the proximity can't be beat. If you have not done so yet just as a suggestion sign up on an e-mail list for whichever Las Vegas hotel you are thinking about( just go to hotel website and sign up). I get deals almost every week for anything from 20-40% off hotel stays. It usually beats most of the travel websites. Have a wonderful time it sure sounds like it's going to be great

 

[Hawleys]

Hi vincev33,

Your wife is a lucky woman! I'm sure she is going to be thrilled with this trip.

Just curious, when you visit WDW where do you usually stay? Value, moderate or deluxe? Knowing what kind of hotels you are "used to" can help us make a recommendation.

 

[vincev33]

Thank you everyone for the feedback and advice! I will definately try the hotel web sites. What are your favorite hotels in vegas? Maybe I should post something on the vegas threads.

I am looking forward to the drive (not sure why because I usually hate to drive long distances). Just seems like it will be different than anything we have done before.

We have stayed at both moderate and value in WDW. We keep going back to Pop because we love the theme. It really feels like we are at Disney. I have a pretty storng feeling that The Art of Animation will be our new favorite.

 

[skiingfast]

The drive is ok, I like going down or up Cajon pass, a few of the pass in the desert and driving down in LA, and of course the vast city of LA.

But I would consider the cost of Lux bus against the rental.

Unless you go to Hoover Dam you don't need a rental in Vegas, and you don't need on at DLR.




In Vegas aim for midstrip, being there makes it easy to walk around.