Really need to finalize trip, but still so confused

[ellibelly]

I hope someone here can help. We are heading for our first trip to DL this January over MLK weekend, I really need to book but am so overwhelmed by all the choices!

Here is what I know, we are arriving very late on Thursday the 12th, probably close to midnight. We will be two adults, a 9 month old baby and a 6 year old girl. Originally we were going to spend Friday and Saturday in the park and head home Sunday. On the way home we were going to stop in the American Girl Store in LA.

Now here is where I am feeling unsure, now I think we should stay an extra night, even though coming back on Monday will be tough for Dad. However if we stayed till Monday, that means we would still be going to the American Girl store on Sunday. I'm figuring going into LA will take half the day, so is it worth the extra expense to basically only get a half extra day at Disneyland. Will two and a half days be so much better than two?

The other BIG issue is where to stay. We will be heading back to the hotel once in the middle of the day for sure. There is also a possibility, depending on how the baby handles things that I will head back another time with him. It is $300 more plus parking to stay at the BWPPI as opposed to somewhere a little further down Harbor. Would you spend that much more to be close?

Thank you so much! I really want to get this trip booked!

 

[larina]

I think it is worth it to pay more to stay someplace decent close by, especially if you plan to go back to the room during the day. I've been tempted by the HoJo's, but I don't think I'd like to do that walk more than once a day (we had to go back multiple times on our last trip because we had a sick child and kept switching out who stayed with her). I find there's enough walking as is, you don't need to add to it by staying further away.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I would also pay extra for staying closer within walking distance. Shuttles or parking is one thing I pay to not have to deal with

 

[smiles33]

We originally planned one day, then we decided we'd do 2 days, and when we arrived earlier than expected, we went into the park at 3 pm on a Thursday (when it closed at 8 pm) and got A LOT done. Thus, I wouldn't discount an extra half day, but it may be more difficult to get a lot done on a Sunday when it's a MM day and more local AP folks come out.

As for the hotel, that's a highly personal question. $300 isn't exactly chump change to me but I know we could have afforded to stay closer than HoJo on our recent trip. Yet I wanted the nice Kids' Suite at HoJo, so the walk was totally worth it to get that really nice layout with 2 full bathrooms and 2 bedrooms with a door that can close (my DD2 would otherwise stay up for hours if I'm in the room with her).

I did 7 round trips in 3 days to HoJo (had to walk my girls back for their nap as DH was in an ECV and couldn't push the double stroller). I really didn't think it was that bad. Now, I did have a stroller, so I didn't have to carry a 15+ pound baby. Are you bringing a stroller or wearing your little one?

I think it really depends on how much you're willing to spend. If $300 is easy money for you and you don't care about the suite or some other amenity offered by a hotel further up Harbor, then yes, change to a closer hotel as it would be nice to save the tiem it takes to go further up Harbor to another hotel. If HoJo is about a 5 minute walk from BWPPI, that's 10 minutes you save per round-trip. That's 20 minutes per day assuming you make 2 round trips, and 30 minutes you save if you make 3 trips! If you're tired and cranky, or your DC are, then those extra minutes spent walking can be tortuous! Luckily, my girls were always in the strollers so they were happy all the time.

 

[NiceOneSimba]

We just got back from the BWPPI, and thought it was great! Clean, comfortable, and SO CLOSE! We have a 2.5 year old DD, and went back for naps in the middle of the day. The walk back was so quick. I have stayed at the Anabella before, and while that walk was fine for me, it certainly woudln't have been okay on this trip!

As for an extra day, if you can utilize a magic morning on Sunday, it might be worth it to stay for even half a day. Even without using a MM, we found Sunday morning to be pretty slow, and you could probably get in a lot of rides if you got there for rope drop.

 

[kailuagirl]

We stayed at the BWPPI 2x and loved the location! It was so easy to go back and forth to the parks! Are you a costco member? If you make your reservation through their website you get a discount. Did you check any of the other hotels that are right around BWPPI for their rates? I personally would love to stay at HOJO's, but there was one night we walked down to millies or mimi's, whichever is the farthest and we thought it was far from the BWPPI, but to some the walk is nothing.

Good luck!!

 

[starshine514]

We're going that weekend as well - just booked our room at Desert Inn and Suites. It's pretty cheap then and almost directly across the street from the pedestian entrance.

 

[Maddie2]

We stayed at the Park Vue Inn (directly across the street at the crosswalk) last January and loved it. So convenient to go back to the room plus free breakfast, free light supper (5-7pm), free bottles of water, apples and cookies in the lobby 24/7. We stayed 7 nights @ $99 in January 2010. I think the rates have gone up a little, but work checking out. usually gets great reviews on tripadvisor too.

 

[ellibelly]

Thanks for all the great responses! Yes, $300 is a huge deal for us, but we have never taken a family vacation before or been to disneyland so we want to have the best easiest fun time.

So the 5 cheapest hotel on Get Away Today are Jolly Roger, Quality Suites and Inn, Comfort Inn, Del Sol and Castle Inn. How is the walking from those compared to being right across the street?

 

[starshine514]

The Del Sol is the closest of the cheaper ones you listed. It's very close to the pedestrian entrance (it's right next to the DI&S, where we're staying). The Castle Inn is just a little further down. Quality Inn is in the direction of Hojo, but a little further down Manchester; it is still walking distance. I have no idea where the Jolly Roger is, probably because it isn't walking distance.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Don't bother booking your hotel through GAT - it's usually much cheaper and easier *you have control over your reservation* to book directly through the hotel *call it's local 714 # or you could try LMT using this fantastic tip - check out my post here to see what we got using that trick.
This is a great map

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Go to http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/ and see what their rates are like. They're not on GAT and you can generally get a cheaper rate there than at other hotels They are RIGHT across the street from the park