Panic! Last minute trip to Disneyland

[zavandor]

Not really last minute, but my company will send me to San Francisco by the end of the month to attend a conference and since airfare is so expensive from Italy, I'll take some day off work in order to be able to visit San Francisco and Los Angeles. As you can guess, in Los Angeles I'll go and visit Disneyland

I'm used to start planning this kind of vacations at least 6 months in advance, now I have really no more than 3 weeks.

At the moment I'm looking for this schedule:

From Saturday (6/2) to Tuesday morning visit San Francisco
Tuesday (6/5) flight to Los Angeles
From Tuesday evening to Sunday morning Disneyland, except Thursday, when I'm planning to go to Universal Studios with a day tour.

Sunday evening flight back to Italy.

I'm already planning another vacation next year in California, so I'll have more days (two weeks or more) to visit more places. This is a surprising extra and I would just take it easy and low cost.
So I'll not rent a car because it's quite expensive being by myself (I would have to pay full car insurance since Italian car insurance does not cover renting).

Do you have any tip for a first time solo visit of Disneyland? A not too bad cheap hotel within walking distance? (I'm not planning to stay in the hotel for much time)
Must dos in San Francisco, apart from Disney Museum (already planning it)?


I'm so exited, I'm leaving for Disneyland Paris tomorrow, I've been to WDW last January and I'm heading to Disneyland Resort by the end of the month.
Three Happiest Places on earth in just 6 months!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Sounds like fun! Check out some of the sticky threads above.

We like Park Vue Inn-right across the street. Anaheim Plaza Inn is also a decent place if your aren’t spending much time in the room, about a 7-minute walk, is cheaper and is nice and clean. Howard Johnson (HOJO) is popular on this site, never stayed there myself, but it gets rave reviews.

I have done a one-day solo trip before and it was great. You get to go at your own pace, see the things you like. I would get there about 30 minutes before opening. You can get a lot done in the mornings, utilize Fastpass and single rider.

SF:

Pier 39 is way crowded on the weekends, nice views of the bay though. If you want to do a tour of the bay or see Alcatraz, they generally take off from here. We like to go further down, past Pier 47 towards the SF Maritime Museum. Good places to eat, some interesting things to see, and Ghirardelli Square a few blocks up the street.

Golden Gate Park-California Academy of Sciences, De Young Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, Strybing Arboretum, Strawberry Hill. So much to do there and it is all worth doing.

Exploratorium is cool with kids, might be worth a visit solo. Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill is also a bit different, great views if you go to the top. The Cliff House restaurant has great views, Seal Rocks nearby.

 

[perugiagirl]

You are in the right place! With the helps and tips you get on this forum, you should be able to plan a great trip-even with only a short time to plan. Read the stickys and superthreads for general information (Hydroguys' posts are particularly helpful) and when you have specific questions, the experts here are great!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Goofy_Mom]

What's cheap to you? What do you need in your room besides a bed and shower (some people like a fridge or microwave)? The entire area is service with a shuttle service. You may get a better deal a bit further away from the parks and take the shuttle to and from the parks. Since you're not driving you won't have to worry about parking fees some hotels have. Is name you own price from Priceline available to you? Since I've discovered this treasure I haven't stayed within walking distance. However, my hotel is nicer (3 1/2 - 4 stars) and costs less than the hotels across from the entrance (2 1/2 - 3 stars). I don't spend more than $75/night (usually $69/night)

 

[pixiewings71]

Walking distance from the park I suggest the HoJo, the CCI and the Anaheim Plaza, Anaheim Plaza being the most inexpensive but still nice. They have a mini fridge and microwave in each room and we regularly stay there for around $69 a night. CCI is more expensive but they have a free shuttle that takes you back and forth to the parks, it's a dedicated shuttle so only CCI guests can use it. The HoJo has a great Retro Rate but to qualify you do need to have something called an Entertainment Card or an AP for that rate. They are a nice place to stay, have nice rooms and a great staff and are walking distance (all 3 I mentioned are about the same distance, for us about a 7-10 min walk) but the cheapest is the Anaheim Plaza.

As for SF, drive across the Golden Gate for sure, do an Alcatraz tour, you can do a "city tour" but I'm not sure what is all included in that, my friend from NJ just did one last week and she seemed to enjoy it. Go to Pier 39 and wander around, heck, walk all the piers if you like (my friend and her DH did lol), if you're a baseball fan maybe consider a SF Giants game.....

 

[WaltsMartini]

Walking distance from the park I suggest the HoJo, the CCI and the Anaheim Plaza, Anaheim Plaza being the most inexpensive but still nice. They have a mini fridge and microwave in each room and we regularly stay there for around $69 a night. CCI is more expensive but they have a free shuttle that takes you back and forth to the parks, it's a dedicated shuttle so only CCI guests can use it. The HoJo has a great Retro Rate but to qualify you do need to have something called an Entertainment Card or an AP for that rate. They are a nice place to stay, have nice rooms and a great staff and are walking distance (all 3 I mentioned are about the same distance, for us about a 7-10 min walk) but the cheapest is the Anaheim Plaza.

As for SF, drive across the Golden Gate for sure, do an Alcatraz tour, you can do a "city tour" but I'm not sure what is all included in that, my friend from NJ just did one last week and she seemed to enjoy it. Go to Pier 39 and wander around, heck, walk all the piers if you like (my friend and her DH did lol), if you're a baseball fan maybe consider a SF Giants game.....

Do you book through the hotel to get a rate this low or through an expedia type site??

 

[zavandor]

Thanks for your suggestions, I just booked the Anaheim Plaza
I've not found a better rate than the one on their website, but it's $69, $89 in the weekend, that should be not too bad.
I can cancel the reservation without any fee, do you think it's worth to look for an hotel not in walking distance but with a better price? I've read Hydroguy's posts and I understand the advantage of being near (in Disneyland Paris everything is within walking distance and I love it).
I'll be on my own for this trip, but next year I'll use my DVC points to stay at the Grand Californian Villas with my family and friends, so maybe I might just stay very cheap this trip. Can someone suggest a not so bad hotel with a great rate reachable with public transportation?

 

[pixiewings71]

Do you book through the hotel to get a rate this low or through an expedia type site??

through the hotel website, it's very easy. We've also called the hotel directly to book at these prices. I think it's simply anaheimplaza.com but I may be wrong on that.

Thanks for your suggestions, I just booked the Anaheim Plaza
I've not found a better rate than the one on their website, but it's $69, $89 in the weekend, that should be not too bad.
I can cancel the reservation without any fee, do you think it's worth to look for an hotel not in walking distance but with a better price? I've read Hydroguy's posts and I understand the advantage of being near (in Disneyland Paris everything is within walking distance and I love it).
I'll be on my own for this trip, but next year I'll use my DVC points to stay at the Grand Californian Villas with my family and friends, so maybe I might just stay very cheap this trip. Can someone suggest a not so bad hotel with a great rate reachable with public transportation?

Honestly, I would keep my reservation at the API, it's been a great place for us to stay when looking for a cheap place. I like to stay walking distance and it's a very quick/easy walk from API to the security lines. The problem with the public transit is it can (and does) get very full, you might have to wait a couple of times for a bus you can actually fit on. Unless you change your stay to the CCI (which is another I mentioned above) that has a dedicated shuttle. Of course, you can stay much farther away at the Hyatt or Sheraton in Garden Grove, they have free shuttles as well, but I've never stayed at either so I can't give opinions on the hotels or prices of said hotels.

 

[WaltsMartini]

through the hotel website, it's very easy. We've also called the hotel directly to book at these prices. I think it's simply anaheimplaza.com but I may be wrong on that.



Honestly, I would keep my reservation at the API, it's been a great place for us to stay when looking for a cheap place. I like to stay walking distance and it's a very quick/easy walk from API to the security lines. The problem with the public transit is it can (and does) get very full, you might have to wait a couple of times for a bus you can actually fit on. Unless you change your stay to the CCI (which is another I mentioned above) that has a dedicated shuttle. Of course, you can stay much farther away at the Hyatt or Sheraton in Garden Grove, they have free shuttles as well, but I've never stayed at either so I can't give opinions on the hotels or prices of said hotels.

I'm definitely going to check out APl, thanks for the tip!

I have not stayed anywhere at DLR where you could use the hotel shuttle for transportation. However, I have done that at WDW, and I have to warn you, if you're used to walking, or even a continuous loop of transportation, hotel shuttles can be a real PITA ( pain in the ---!) Unless they operate continuously, you may be left either waiting 30-45 minutes for a shuttle, or running to catch one. And who wants to have to worry about what time the shuttle comes when you're at the happiest place on earth?

 

[pixiewings71]

I'm definitely going to check out APl, thanks for the tip!

I have not stayed anywhere at DLR where you could use the hotel shuttle for transportation. However, I have done that at WDW, and I have to warn you, if you're used to walking, or even a continuous loop of transportation, hotel shuttles can be a real PITA ( pain in the ---!) Unless they operate continuously, you may be left either waiting 30-45 minutes for a shuttle, or running to catch one. And who wants to have to worry about what time the shuttle comes when you're at the happiest place on earth?

Yes, your comments about shuttles are very true, with the exception being the Candy Cane Inn, that shuttle runs very smoothly and on time!! Probably because it's so close to the parks.

 

[zavandor]

Thanks all for the feedback, I've not posted for a few days because I was in Disneyland Paris this last week end.

While a marvelous trip, as usual (and the new night show, Dreams, is wonderful) I'm now convinced to keep my reservation with the Anheim plaza. I was in an off site hotel that required to take a train and 15 minutes walk from the park, and while doable I really much prefere if the hotel is nearer.

Had anyone tried a day tour to the Universal studios?
I've found this one, is it ok?
http://www.allanaheimtours.com/Body.asp?tour=ANA-B0004&Page=TourDetails

 

[SeattleRedBear]

What's cheap to you? What do you need in your room besides a bed and shower (some people like a fridge or microwave)? The entire area is service with a shuttle service. You may get a better deal a bit further away from the parks and take the shuttle to and from the parks. Since you're not driving you won't have to worry about parking fees some hotels have. Is name you own price from Priceline available to you? Since I've discovered this treasure I haven't stayed within walking distance. However, my hotel is nicer (3 1/2 - 4 stars) and costs less than the hotels across from the entrance (2 1/2 - 3 stars). I don't spend more than $75/night (usually $69/night)

We've had pretty good luck with Priceline as well but I don't think I would priceline unless I was renting a car. I personally dislike relying on either hotel shuttles or Anaheim Resort Trolley and PL can put you outside of comfortable walking distance. We have one premium AP in the family so we don't pay for parking at M&F...yes some hotels charge and some don't.

My favorite PL get was $25/night at the Anaheim Extended Stay America...our hotel was more expensive than our car rental!!