Please help me plan the perfect trip to DL

[Koz]

Hey DL folks. I'm normally on the east coast board and we are frequent DL visitors, with the kids going on their 3rd trip in 3 years this December. I'd like to start laying the groundwork for a DL trip next fall and come to you with a few very important questions.

1) Is October, say the middle of Oct, typically a good time to visit DL?

2) How many days should we dedicate to our stay, understanding that we want to fully imerse ourselves in the experience at both DL and CA Exp? I was thinking 2 days at each but wonder if it's too much or not enough time?

3) What recommendations do you have regarding hotels, both on site and out of the park gates (HOJO?). Are there some real benefits to staying on-site where we shouldn't consider anything else?

4) Looks like meals/adr's aren't nearly as much of a big deal compared to DL, is that true?

5) Figured that we could package in a day at Universal or perhaps Sea World as well. One day for each would be sufficient I'm sure, right?

Thanks in advance for any helpful tips you might have!

 

[DLR29]

1. October has wonderful weather and lots of fun Halloweentime activities such as the Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday makeovers. However, there are some things you should be aware of.

a) Because it's not the most crowded of seasons there will be at least a couple attractions down for refurbishment. It happens every year. Last year Pirates and California Screamin were closed in the fall. This year it's Indiana Jones, Casey Jr. and Storybookland. You just have to know that going into your trip.

b) Again because it's not peak season they only run major nighttime entertainment on weekends (fireworks, fantasmic, etc.). This is quite different from the way WDW does it but it's due to city regulations in Anaheim. If you want to see the fireworks, plan at least 1 weekend day (F, Sa, Su)

c) As much as I've said that crowds are lower, they are only low during the week. Pretty much every weekend in October has some kind of special event or holiday or "fall break" that really increases crowds. The addition of many Halloweentime offerings has significantly increased crowd levels in October over the past 5 years.

2. To have a relaxing first time trip I'd say 4 days minimum with a strong recommendation of 5. And, again, I would include at least 1 weekend day to try and see some of the nighttime stuff.

3. I've only stayed onsite once because all of the other times we can't justify the price. We're usually in the parks all day so the hotel is only a place to sleep at night and maybe grab some breakfast on our way out in the morning. However, there are several people who swear by the immersion factor, which I understand. Staying offsite means technically leaving Disney property and walking down a city street. To me it's still magical but others would rather walk down Downtown Disney or take a monorail to their nicely themed resort.

In terms of distance to the parks, the Grand Californian is by far the closest hotel. But after that there are a handful of offsite hotels that are closer or about the same distance as the Disneyland Hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel.

Assuming that they continue this perk, onsite guests do get to have Extra Magic Hour every day of their visit (the park that offers EMH alternates every other day though). Offsite guests who buy a ticket of 3 or more days get to use Magic Morning once during their trip.

4. Very true. You can get reservations to some of the big TS restaurants at DLR the day of. Also DLR's dining plan is highly inferior to WDW's...don't even consider it.

5. Yes 1 day would be sufficient for each of the other parks. Universal is about an hour drive north of DLR in Hollywood. Seaworld is about a 1 1/2-2 hour drive south.

 

[Koz]

1. October has wonderful weather and lots of fun Halloweentime activities such as the Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday makeovers. However, there are some things you should be aware of.

a) Because it's not the most crowded of seasons there will be at least a couple attractions down for refurbishment. It happens every year. Last year Pirates and California Screamin were closed in the fall. This year it's Indiana Jones, Casey Jr. and Storybookland. You just have to know that going into your trip.

b) Again because it's not peak season they only run major nighttime entertainment on weekends (fireworks, fantasmic, etc.). This is quite different from the way WDW does it but it's due to city regulations in Anaheim. If you want to see the fireworks, plan at least 1 weekend day (F, Sa, Su)

c) As much as I've said that crowds are lower, they are only low during the week. Pretty much every weekend in October has some kind of special event or holiday or "fall break" that really increases crowds. The addition of many Halloweentime offerings has significantly increased crowd levels in October over the past 5 years.

2. To have a relaxing first time trip I'd say 4 days minimum with a strong recommendation of 5. And, again, I would include at least 1 weekend day to try and see some of the nighttime stuff.

3. I've only stayed onsite once because all of the other times we can't justify the price. We're usually in the parks all day so the hotel is only a place to sleep at night and maybe grab some breakfast on our way out in the morning. However, there are several people who swear by the immersion factor, which I understand. Staying offsite means technically leaving Disney property and walking down a city street. To me it's still magical but others would rather walk down Downtown Disney or take a monorail to their nicely themed resort.

In terms of distance to the parks, the Grand Californian is by far the closest hotel. But after that there are a handful of offsite hotels that are closer or about the same distance as the Disneyland Hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel.

Assuming that they continue this perk, onsite guests do get to have Extra Magic Hour every day of their visit (the park that offers EMH alternates every other day though). Offsite guests who buy a ticket of 3 or more days get to use Magic Morning once during their trip.

4. Very true. You can get reservations to some of the big TS restaurants at DLR the day of. Also DLR's dining plan is highly inferior to WDW's...don't even consider it.

5. Yes 1 day would be sufficient for each of the other parks. Universal is about an hour drive north of DLR in Hollywood. Seaworld is about a 1 1/2-2 hour drive south.

Thanks very much DLR, I do appreciate the feedback!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hey DL folks. I'm normally on the east coast board and we are frequent DL visitors, with the kids going on their 3rd trip in 3 years this December. I'd like to start laying the groundwork for a DL trip next fall and come to you with a few very important questions.

1) Is October, say the middle of Oct, typically a good time to visit DL?

2) How many days should we dedicate to our stay, understanding that we want to fully imerse ourselves in the experience at both DL and CA Exp? I was thinking 2 days at each but wonder if it's too much or not enough time?

3) What recommendations do you have regarding hotels, both on site and out of the park gates (HOJO?). Are there some real benefits to staying on-site where we shouldn't consider anything else?

4) Looks like meals/adr's aren't nearly as much of a big deal compared to DL, is that true?

5) Figured that we could package in a day at Universal or perhaps Sea World as well. One day for each would be sufficient I'm sure, right?

Thanks in advance for any helpful tips you might have!

Koz, I am really confused by your post! You seem to be using "DL" to mean both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. Is that true? Is your intro statement about visiting DL three time referencing California or Florida?