Planning trip to DLR with in-laws

[Dd1wifey]

Planning june 4-8th offsite, arriving at John Wayne with a one long haul flight and one 3 hr flight with two toddlers (1 and 2 y/o).
I posted on the WDW site but after looking at airline ticket prices, I'm not sure we can do it! So I've come back to the Disney I know the best, Disneyland
Does anyone know if booking this in advance inflates your airline ticket fares and hotel fees? Ticket fares are almost double than usual for that date, and the Embassy is also up in price. Last two trips were booked 3 months in advance or under. However, because I want to take the in-laws, I'd rather not last minute book and make time for change of plans and for my MIL to ask for days off. They live in CA, we do not so they can join us the day of the parks if they'd like since kids will be cranky on travel day.

Do any hotels offer good adjoining room at value price?
Looking at Embassy suites south because of how the suite can be 2 bedrooms (baby in living room like it's her own room at home) and 2 y/o sleeps with us in king bed.
Recs on date for mommy and daddy during day time hours while grandparents spend time with babies?

thanks!

 

[DizMe]

Others will have better information for you, but off the top of my head I'd say that it might be a busy time with schools getting out, grad nights, and the beginning of the summer trips.

 

[SpaceMan5]

Does anyone know if booking this in advance inflates your airline ticket fares and hotel fees? Ticket fares are almost double than usual for that date, and the Embassy is also up in price.

Based on booking airfare and hotel several months ago for travel from WA to John Wayne aka Orange County aka Santa Ana in Jan 2024, I found the prices to be reasonable. I did find the hotel prices to be higher than from a year ago which has been confirmed on other threads here on the boards. We are also traveling Alaska Airlines.

We normally stay at BWPPI but it was higher than BW Anaheim Plus, both on Harbor Blvd which are so close to the park entrances. So we booked with BWAP. Very nice after a long day! I am not sure if they have adjoining rooms? There was a fairly recent thread about adjoining rooms, take a look

With staying at the Embassy Suites you will need to use the ART system which is kinda suspect based on recent reviews. I am sure others will have pos things to say but I wont stay at a place where I have to use ART.

Recommendations for mom and dad daytime dates......Any place that serves adult beverages

 

[irlandaise]

Recommendations for mom and dad daytime dates......Any place that serves adult beverages

Maybe the Lamplight Lounge or Carthay Circle Lounge?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

If you plan to stay that far away from the parks (1.5 miles), you'll want to consider how you plan to get two and from the parks with babies and strollers. It will be hard and time consuming to come back to the room for naps. Staying close (a hotel on Harbor right across from the esplanade) would be easier.

 

[SpaceMan5]

Maybe the Lamplight Lounge or Carthay Circle Lounge?

Oh yes! My vote is for the LL
Cheers!

 

[TinkAgainU]

If at all possible do a walking distance hotel! That is something on Harbor, between the front gate driveway (where buses drop off) and Katella. Best Western Park Inn has a decent, free, hot breakfast and an incredible location by the front gates entry. That, or Candy Cane Inn, would be my first option - and I'd pay up to $50/nite extra for either of those without blinking - they add that much value in breakfast and easy access.

+1 on an adult meal, with (shared) desert, and an adult drink, at Cathay Circle

 

[chezcurrie]

Ditto that with kids that young you should consider staying closer. We found when traveling with our boys when they were young the necessity to have a “separate room” was negated by how tired we all were. Something to consider - as PP said I would trade the extra space for a closer walk in the blink of an eye. Especially with strollers. Strollers + walk past Katella, or the ART would honestly ruin my vacation. Even staying at the JW Marriott this past weekend with my sister (grown adults, used to walking lots) we took Ubers back mid day and at the end of the night!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Ditto that with kids that young you should consider staying closer. We found when traveling with our boys when they were young the necessity to have a “separate room” was negated by how tired we all were. Something to consider - as PP said I would trade the extra space for a closer walk in the blink of an eye. Especially with strollers. Strollers + walk past Katella, or the ART would honestly ruin my vacation. Even staying at the JW Marriott this past weekend with my sister (grown adults, used to walking lots) we took Ubers back mid day and at the end of the night!

And you can't do that with little ones who need car seats. It's walk or ART, which could be a lot of waiting around.

 

[chezcurrie]

And you can't do that with little ones who need car seats. It's walk or ART, which could be a lot of waiting around.

Exactly. My sis is trying to figure out their May visit with her 4-year old and we walked up and down harbour and she was like: nope! Tropicana, Candy Cane (walk/shuttle) or Park Vue!

 

[BobaFettFan]

Took my father in law, wife, and 2 year old in 2021.

There were MANY issues that popped up that we did not expect.

The saving grace of the trip? BWPPI ( Best Western park place inn). For the price, you get free breakfast, super quick access to hotel rooms, and very helpful staff.

It's cheap (er).
It's close.
It solves transportation issues.


Make sure you bring car seats in case you need to Uber with the kids. Something I lived and learned.

 

[wabbott]

If you are the least bit interested in Hollywood history and old movies, Carthay Circle just can't be beat. It's our favorite restaurant of all in WDW or DLR/DCA. The Old Hollywood vibe just oozes out of the walls and runs out on the floor. Black and white photos of Walt and other movie stars. Wood paneling. Good food. Spendy, but it is a memory that will last a lifetime. If Walt Disney were to walk in and begin acknowledging guests, you would think it not out of the ordinary.

 

[SpaceMan5]

The saving grace of the trip? BWPPI ( Best Western park place inn). For the price, you get free breakfast, super quick access to hotel rooms, and very helpful staff.

It's cheap (er).
It's close.
It solves transportation issues.

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes Couldn't agree with you more.

 

[BobaFettFan]

I wanted to elaborate on the issues since they were numerous and might help you nip them in the bud.

Let me preface this by saying I love my father in law. I'm lucky to have as great a guy as him. It's why we wanted him to join the trip.

We invited my FIL because he's older and "You never know" if this would be the last trip. He's spritly and lives alone in his house, so by no means is he some feeble old man in our minds. We did not invite him to take care of our kid. We paid for his plane ticket and he stayed in our hotel room. He just needed to pay for his park ticket.


Issues that popped up in no chronological order:

He would just walk away. He didn't have a "stick in the group" mentality and would just wander off. He keeps his phone in his sock so when we would call him, he wouldn't answer.

Left to use the bathroom. Came back 20 minutes later angry because he couldn't find one. I asked if he went to an employee and he said he did not get help. I then walked him to all bathroom breaks (but on the sligh so he would not get upset being helped).

He could not figure out how to get from Star wars land to toon town even with a map. He got angry when I wouldn't tell him and asked him to figure it out.

He got lost going from our hotel (across the street) to meet us in downtown Disney. It was raining. He said he got lost, but I think he just wanted to go explore and used it as an excuse because my wife talked to him about walking off.

He would tell us something he felt we wanted to hear "I'll meet you in 30 minutes." But then do his own thing and leave us waiting.


The day got very hot and our 2yo son needed a nap and to cool down as he was over heating. We asked him if he wanted to take our kid back to the hotel and he said yes. Later we found out he had side trips on the way back to the hotel instead of going directly there with our son.

He put zero effort into planning or preparing for the trip. Expected us to be tour guides but then disagreed with plans.

Fought us on him getting a mobility scooter after the first day. (He later thanked us for it. Game changer.)

Again, this guy showed no issues before hand in terms of capability. He can prep a boat for sea and all other kinds of stuff but for some reason travelling made him act differently.

We've gone on trips with him later knowing what he's like and things have gone so much smoother.


Now onto the baby issues!

Getting back to the hotel for a nap in a cool hotel room was quick! BWPPI is so close that you only lose an hour or two when hitting the hotel. Our son would fight the nap so hard! But because we were so close, once he woke up we were right back at it.


Did the baby mess himself? Quick trip to hotel.

Forget something? Quick trip to hotel.

Buy a bigger item and don't want to hold it all day? Quick trip to hotel.

Kiddo just having a bad day and fussy? Quick trip to the hotel for cartoons.

Letting one parent stay while the other took the baby? Easy quick solo walk to hotel.

Since we were at BWPPI, we didn't need a vehicle. No paying for parking, worrying about damage to rental car, saved money on renting.

Getting picked up for the flight home at the hotel? Go spend some time in downtown Disney on your last day. It's only a few hours but it makes leaving easier.


This got long, but just expect the unexpected. A close hotel makes it easier to deal with these things. Disneyland hotel is crazy expensive and actually farther away than BWPPI which is why I always go there.

 

[TinkAgainU]

This got long, but just expect the unexpected. A close hotel makes it easier to deal with these things. Disneyland hotel is crazy expensive and actually farther away than BWPPI which is why I always go there.

Sorry, but I probably enjoyed your story more than I should have - good to know we ALL have family challenges lol.

On the car parking (or even bringing your own) ... some of the closer hotels now require you Valet park because they don't have enough space. This can be an issue for some people with stuff in their cars, or even with a rental where you worry about it getting bumped (or the cost of daily insurance is ridiculous). Also, be sure to ask when you need to have the car out (ie cost to leave it) as some go to something like $15/HOUR after check out time.

 

[Dd1wifey]

Based on booking airfare and hotel several months ago for travel from WA to John Wayne aka Orange County aka Santa Ana in Jan 2024, I found the prices to be reasonable. I did find the hotel prices to be higher than from a year ago which has been confirmed on other threads here on the boards. We are also traveling Alaska Airlines.

We normally stay at BWPPI but it was higher than BW Anaheim Plus, both on Harbor Blvd which are so close to the park entrances. So we booked with BWAP. Very nice after a long day! I am not sure if they have adjoining rooms? There was a fairly recent thread about adjoining rooms, take a look

With staying at the Embassy Suites you will need to use the ART system which is kinda suspect based on recent reviews. I am sure others will have pos things to say but I wont stay at a place where I have to use ART.

Recommendations for mom and dad daytime dates......Any place that serves adult beverages

Thank you so much for the insight!
We have stayed at the Embsassy (just us two and ART was definitely sketch but both park days we were able to snatch it at the same time (7:02am). With kids, taking ART is a no for us like you said

 

[Dd1wifey]

update: looking into booking Disneyland hotel to get early entry and save the stress to getting kids in the rides they can actually ride

 

[BobaFettFan]

I just reread your original post.

Prices for hotels have only gone up, so the earlier the better. Many times if the prices go down, you can ask for an adjustment.


I always book flights earlier so we get the good seats up front together. I don't care if I save $50.

Date night for my wife and I was just walking around at night with a dole whip and a churro. Lamp light lounge has drinks, so a PM reservation would be sweet. I hear it's not good seating for world of color so getting the dessert party for that might be rad for you guys.

When I took my 2yo to Disneyland, the most fun he had was playing with rocks near the pin traders. He loved autopia and the bubble wand.

 

[Dd1wifey]

If you plan to stay that far away from the parks (1.5 miles), you'll want to consider how you plan to get two and from the parks with babies and strollers. It will be hard and time consuming to come back to the room for naps. Staying close (a hotel on Harbor right across from the esplanade) would be easier.

Thanks for the reply! Sorry I’m getting back so late with this. Life happened . My 2y/o doesn’t nap anymore, or will take a nap randomly if in a moving car. My current infant takes naps whenever I can put her down for one, in her crib or on the go. No problem with on-the-go naps.
I would looove a hotel thats close but I think I need a suite for the girls ( a door that separates them) and I think suite-hotels that are closer are like top dollar

 

[Dd1wifey]

I just reread your original post.

Prices for hotels have only gone up, so the earlier the better. Many times if the prices go down, you can ask for an adjustment.


I always book flights earlier so we get the good seats up front together. I don't care if I save $50.

Date night for my wife and I was just walking around at night with a dole whip and a churro. Lamp light lounge has drinks, so a PM reservation would be sweet. I hear it's not good seating for world of color so getting the dessert party for that might be rad for you guys.

When I took my 2yo to Disneyland, the most fun he had was playing with rocks near the pin traders. He loved autopia and the bubble wand.

Love that date night idea. I havent been able to book because of things that have caused me to doubt the dates. Now I’m looking into this december actually, with similar pricing.

All the advice here has been wonderful. We are now discovering our 2 year old may have high functioning autism and kinda worried about her freaking out at leaving a ride car (she gets obsessed with things she likes, typical toddler maybe). Unsure how to navigate all that but the in-laws might cone in clutch here