Recent Visit

Bowen9475

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 29, 2002
Messages
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We returned this past week from a visit to Southern California. We were there from June 19-30. We stayed offsite for the first week at the hotel "formerly known as Hawthorn Suites, soon to be La Quinta Inn & Suites" according to the sign, from Saturday through Saturday. We had 5 day park hoppers and basically spent 3 days in DL and 2 in CA with one off day, spending time in Downtown Disney. We LOVED both parks and the close proximity of everything. (We've been to WDW several times, staying both on and off site) We drove down to Carlsbad Saturday morning and spent 2 nights at Holiday Inn Carlsbad by the Sea, with Saturday and Sunday in Legoland. For the last 2 nights we returned to Anaheim and stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, just exploring the resort, relaxing and swimming. We had a great trip and felt it was a good amount of time to see just about everything without feeling rushed. Just thought I'd share and I'd be happy to answer any questions I can.
 
cool sounds like you had a great time. Anything new and exciting going on there? Does it seem like anything may be happening?
 
Since you stayed both off and on property during the same trip, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the issue of "on/off" and also any thoughts specifically about the DL Hotel, as that's where we're planning to stay for next year's trip.

Also, please elaborate more on the Holiday Inn in Carlsbad, as we're also planning on a night in Carlsbad and a day at Legoland. Does "By the Sea" mean that you can walk the beach and wade in the ocean?

Thanks!
Kimberly
 
This was our first visit to Disneyland in 10 years so I can't say if much was new or different. To us it was new and different from WDW where we have been several times. We definitely plan to return to DL sooner than another 10 years. We chose to stay off property because we wanted a suite type room and wanted to stay within a budget.
The Holiday Inn was very nice. It has a TGIFridays on site where kids eat free. We got coupons for one meal for each of the kids for each day. We used them for dinner one night and breakfast the other two mornings. The dinner was off the regular menu and breakfast was a buffet. We got a package through the hotel for 2 nights stay and 4 2 day passes to Legoland. I believe there was a one night/one day package too. I wouldn't say you could walk to the beach but it was a very short drive. We only stopped for a short time on the morning we left to say we had touched the Pacific Ocean and let the kids play for a bit.
We really liked the Disneyland Hotel. We stayed for the 2 nights on DVC points. Our main reason for choosing this one was the themed pool which the kids (7, 5 and 1 1/2) loved. The room was pretty basic with 2 Queen beds, a table and chairs and a large entertainment center. We had plenty of room to set up a crib also. The sink was separate from the tub and toilet which was convenient. We had a view of a parking lot which I didn't love but we weren't in the room all that much. We walked from the hotel to Downtown Disney and the other two hotels. All were a very quick and easy walk. We would stay here again. After seeing how close everything is we would consider using points again and staying onsite next time. If only going to DL and CA we would not need a car which we did have this time so that would save some money.
 

What ride(s) did you like the most at DL/DCA?
 
We stayed at Holiday Inn Carlsbad by the sea for two days prior to our DL vacation. We liked the hotel alot, older and a bit musty smelling but very pleasant with a fridge and microwave and free internet. We loved our patio with view of the gazebo( even though I'm a balcony person) We drove north to the beach because we wanted more of boogie boarding and less surfing.

We then spent 5 nights at the Disneyland Hotel and loved it!! THe last two times we stayed offsite and won't again. It was great not to deal with a shuttle. The rooms were big (5 of us) and nicely decorated, the pool was great, Lost Bar was great and Tortilla Joes has great cheap tacos in DTD.

I bought an annual pass and got the room for $129. very worthwhile!!!
 
Thanks for your replies!

Timmbco--what time of year did you stay at DL to get that kind of AP rate?
 
Our favorites at CA were Grizzly River Run, Soarin' Over California and California Screamin'. At DL my husband and son liked Matterhorn, we all liked Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain and Small World. It was great for the kids to try out some of the different rides they don't have in WDW.

We didn't have any musty smell at the Holiday Inn. We were also there during the time they call "June Gloom" but we had great weather. It was overcast every morning but we never had rain and the temps were high 70's - mid 80's and not humid.
 












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