Possible November trip

[princessap]

We may be out in California in November and will be about 2 hrs from disneyland. Am thinking of driving over for one night and doing the park the next day. Having never been there before i have some questions
1. is it worth it for one day? my girls are 2,4 and love ariel so I was looking forward to the mermaid ride if it is open

2. what is weather like november?

3. which hotel would u recommend for one night?

thanks so much!
Our girls love wdw so would love to see them at disneyland too.

 

[Hoku]

Totally worth a day trip with hotel, IMO. Only problem is the Little Mermaid Ride (which is open) is in California Adventures, not Disneyland. So you'd need a park hopper, which is more expensive.

Lots of great hotel choices. You looking for budget, proximity or just plain cool?

 

[princessap]

thanks for the info. I didnt know that the little mermaid ride wasnt at dl. We would have to see it!!

For hotels I am looking for preferably a suite so we can relax while girls sleep. somewhere close where we can walk to park

what is weather like in november?

 

[Hoku]

Weather should be comfortable. Bring sweaters for early morning and evening. I'd say there's an increased chance of rain, but still unlikely.

Given that you only have one day and your interested in suites, my first recomendation is Grand Californian. It's the most expensive, but it's super nice and it's proximity can't be beat. This means you can go back for a mid-day rest without loosing too much park time, which really matters if you only have one day! Slightly less expensive is the Disneyland Hotel. A bit further, but close to the monorail. However, the monorail only take you to Disneyland and not California Adventures.

 

[jacs1234]

We go in November and find it quite cool. Last year we were freezing at night and needed thick jackets, beanies and gloves. We're Aussies though so maybe we feel the cold more. I would definitely go for a day if I were 2 hours away, you wouldn't keep me from it. Just make sure you have a rough plan of the things you definitely want to see. Aladdin is highly recommended (by me) and something that's not at WDW. Maybe you could eat at Ariels Grotto and meet Ariel and the princesses. We'll be staying at the Carousel Inn suites this year and it looks pretty nice and is fairly close to the parks and about $320 a night.

 

[HydroGuy]

Here is some weather info:

"Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

There are a variety of opinions on hotels but I am in the camp of using walking distance hotels. These are discussed here:

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Examples are BWPPI and Tropicana. CCI is also a step up and has a shuttle to boot. Hojo's is another step up but is a little further. The Disney hotels (DLH/PPH/GCH) are pricey but much nicer.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm not sure if I overlooked it somehow but princessap, did you mention when in November you are planning to make your day trip to DLR? That might have some impact on what the temperatures will be, as well as which activities are up and running.

For example, if you head to Disneyland before 11/14, you will miss It's a Small World because it will be closed while receiving its beautiful holiday overlay (although I have a strong suspicion that IASW Holiday might have a soft opening in the weekend leading up to 11/14). There is also a possibility that the Storybook Land boats could be closed while they, too, get their teeny tiny Christmas decorations. Pirates of the Caribbean is supposed to be closed until November 23 (big refurb going on).

Otherwise, if you go after 11/14, you will get to experience the wonderful holiday season, meet Santa, see reindeer at the Reindeer Round-Up, watch the snow fall on Main Street, see the Winter Castle light up in icicles at night, eat peppermint goodies, ride IASW Holiday, watch the holiday parade, etc. If you go before Veterans Day, the crowds will be lighter and you will see some decorations, but you will miss out on all the entertainment, Santa, the Round-Up, etc.

 

[princessap]

thanks. It sounds amazing there at the end of November. We would be going around the 17th.

What hotels would you recommend for one or two nights?

Is it possible to do DL and DCA in one day? i want to do little mermaid ride and woc at DCA.

 

[Sherry E]

thanks. It sounds amazing there at the end of November. We would be going around the 17th.

What hotels would you recommend for one or two nights?

Is it possible to do DL and DCA in one day? i want to do little mermaid ride and woc at DCA.

Okay, so November 17. You will definitely be there for the holiday season.

If it would be at all possible to extend the trip to more than one day, you'd be able to get so much more done, especially now that we know you will be there for the holiday festivities...which expands the list of things to do.

You can do a sort of 'highlight tour' of both parks in one day. You will not be able to see/do everything in one day, though, and you'd have to really pick and choose which things were most important. But you can have a great time in a one-day trip. The Little Mermaid ride will be no problem at all. As for World of Color, you will have to allow time for that and make sure to schedule it in.

I would hate for you to miss IASW Holiday (the ride is totally transformed in a holiday theme, inside and out), Haunted Mansion Holiday (with a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay), the nighttime Winter Castle glowing in icicles, the snow on Main Street, Santa's Reindeer Round-Up, the Storybook Land boats if they are open and ToonTown (which has a lot of fun, whimsical colors and designs in its holiday decor). So you will need to spend a good deal of time in Disneyland itself, and in order to experience the snow on Main Street and the Winter Castle all aglow, you'd have to be in Disneyland for part of the evening, which will be tricky to juggle with World of Color in DCA, but it's possible! Do you think your girls would enjoy the Christmas Fantasy Parade? That runs in the daytime and at night.

In California Adventure, in addition to WoC and the Little Mermaid ride, be sure to check out A Bug's Land, which is decorated in giant Christmas lights and ornaments.

So those are just the specific holiday highlights I think your family would enjoy - that's not even counting any of the other rides and attractions.

If one day is all you have, plan wisely, pick the priorities and make the most of it. If you can somehow work in an extra day, that will be even better!

Are you looking to stay off-property and a non-Disney hotel? Many people swear by HoJo's for both service and low rates. Some like the Candy Cane Inn. Some like the Desert Inn.

 

[princessap]

You are amazing!! thank you. it sounds like the snow on main street would be neat to see.

I would like to stay at disneyland hotel but no availability
So am looking offsite as we wouldnt use the pool and amenities anyway.
Is the hojo walking distance? what do u do with luggage and car when u check out??

You are awesome!!
Anything else you would recommend for my daughters 2 and 4?

 

[Sherry E]

You are amazing!! thank you. it sounds like the snow on main street would be neat to see.

I would like to stay at disneyland hotel but no availability
So am looking offsite as we wouldnt use the pool and amenities anyway.
Is the hojo walking distance? what do u do with luggage and car when u check out??

You are awesome!!
Anything else you would recommend for my daughters 2 and 4?

Thank you for the kind words. I've never personally stayed at HoJo's, so I will have to leave all the HoJo's stuff in the hands of the experts. But it constantly gets rave reviews. I'm sure they will hold your luggage for you at the hotel, or if you have a car with you, you can bring the luggage to the car, leave the car at HoJo's and then pick the car up at night. They probably get lots of guests who leave their cars there after they check out and then leave at night.

HoJo's is within walking distance - some people think it's a bit too far after a long day in the parks. Others think it's not so bad. I think it takes about 10 or 15 minutes or so to walk back, but I could be wrong on that.

Well, there are tons of things you and your daughters shouldn't miss, but I just don't know what kind of time you'll have. All of the stuff I mentioned above will take some time and will have to be carefully planned out, on a schedule, to be sure you don't miss it. Chances are, the girls will want to ride most of the rides in Fantasyland. Monsters, Inc. in California Adventure is fun. Get some gingerbread men with mouse ears cookies! Try some peppermint fudge.

If you go to the Reindeer Round-Up to see the reindeer you can also catch Santa there, so that takes care of a couple of things right there.

New Orleans Square has its own special Mardi Gras-style of holiday decorations, which may be more appreciated by the adults than the kids, but they are still quite beautiful.

As jacs1234 mentioned above, maybe taking the girls to Ariel's Grotto in California Adventure for a Princess character meal would be fun. There's also Pixie Hollow in Disneyland, where you can meet Tinkerbell.

 

[jacs1234]

I was going to say that HoJo's would be too far away for the little ones if they don't have a stroller each, but, it will only be the one day so it would be fine. We stayed at HoJo's for 10 days and it would have been too much if my little ones had to walk to and from each day but we had a sit and stand stroller, sometimes with 4 children on it lol.