Planning DL Trip w/Questions

[Mom2Joce]

Going to DL with hubby and 4 year old daughter this June for 4 days (want to celebrate the 50 year bday) and have a few questions.

Wanted to make things easy and stay as close as possible to the parks so was planning on Grand California, but have heard that the local hotels are just fine (ie. park inn and suites). Any pros, cons, or personal experiences anyone would like to share?

Also, is the disneyland.com website the best place to do this? Or are there other websites, travel agencies, that can get us cheaper hotel/ticket packages?

Last, I was considering the meal vouchers (4 day) but I don't get how they work and if they are really worth it?

Any help would be most appreciated,
Kelie

 

[got2travel]

If you can afford it, the Grand Californian is your best choice. If you want to budget on the room and splurge somewhere else, then there are many fine properties right on Harbor. My favorites are Carousel Inn, Howard Johnson and BW Park Place Inn. Unless I can get a great annual pass rate the the GC, I choose to stay at the Carousel. Basic, clean rooms with a continental breakfast and a closer walk to the parks than the DL hotel or Paradise Pier.

If you have AAA, then you will get better rates through them rather than the Disney website. You can also sometimes find good rates for the GC on expedia.com or travelocity.com.

I haven't used the dining program so I can't comment on that.

 

[Mom2Joce]

Thanks so much for your reply and help! I'm going to check out the websites you recommended to see if I can get anything cheaper?!?!?!
Thanks, Kelie

 

[Buttercup26]

I agree with Got2travel. If you can afford it, stay at GC it's wonderful. Otherwise many of the offiste hotels are just fine. We really like Howard Johnsons http://www.hojoanaheim.com/index.html. It's a true hotel, with indoor corridors to your room. Many of the offsite places are motels.

MousePlanet http://www.mouseplanet.com/cgi/reviews/do/find.cgi
has reviews of many of the hotels. Tripadvisor.com also has lot's of reviews.

 

[boscoj]

The other travel agency that is really good is getawaytoday. In the package deal, they usually include two 3 day passes as well as all parking fees and taxes.

 

[LucyKate]

Grand Californian will cost you 4-5 times what the places across the street will cost, so, as others say, if you can afford that it sounds like a great place to stay.

If not, we stayed at the Howard Johnson, a 10 minute walk, and loved it.