resort rates and weather questions..

[pat fan]

My DH and I are thinking of going to DL next year, but I'm finding it a lot more difficult to get info than I do for WDW!!

I looked on the "official" site, and as crazy as it sounds, the same trip was going to cost me a lot more to go to DL than WDW! Is this right? I can't find any room costs or seasons, and speaking of seasons, what's the weather like there? Thinking of summer (June/July) or fall (October/November) or spring (May). Any help would be appreciated.

Also, how feasible is it to go to Yosemite then to DL? Or vice versa?

 

[tdashgirl]

You can price out different packages (using different dates) on disneyland.com if you want to book through Walt Disney travel. If you're a Costco member, you can also use their travel website, which goes to Walt Disney travel but gives you some free extras (was a $20 gift card and premium character dining, but that may change).

You can also check the hotel review threads if you want to pick an off-property hotel. Unlike the world, disneyland has LOTS of off-site hotels that are just as close, or sometimes closer than the disney hotels. And usually less expensive too. It depends on what you want/expect from a hotel.

I think there's a sticky thread on peak/non-peak season at DL too. DL is kind of interesting the last couple of years - they made a big push to increase their local attendance with very inexpensive Southern Cali APs, and this has altered what peak/non peak season means at DLR to a certain extent.

Having said that, I personally enjoy peak season because that means 1) longer hours, 8am-12am for example 2)minimum of rides on re-furb. Take a look at the calendar on disneyland.com if these things are important to you.

And Yosemite (gorgeous and breath-taking) is waaaaaaaay up North. It's a few hour drive from where I live (SF Bay area) and it's gotta be an all-day drive from Anaheim.

 

[kim3339]

With the weather, October/November will be cooler than May-July, it's fall. As for the weather in May, it's nice not hot, not cool. In June and July, usually nice, warmer but not hot and there could always be heat waves. In June you also get coastal fog in the morning which will keep the temps down a bit. Crowds are usually better in October/November, except Thanksgiving and closer to Halloween for the Halloween events. IN May/June the parks close early for grad nites, and crowds will be higher b/c school is out, summer etc.

Resort rates shouldn't be that bad. Prices might be high right now, b/c it is so early out. They will probably go down in a couple of months. You might be looking at the Park Resorts, but there are a tooonnn of hotels along Harbor and Katella. Everything is right next to the parks unlike WDW. If you get a hotel on Harbor you just have to walk up/down a block and maybe cross the street depending on what side of the street you're on. They always have a ton of deals at the motels as well. A lot of them are really nice and if you have AAA, you get discounts. I know I booked one of the Best Westerns across the stret from DL last October for this Sept, and it was only $89 a nite!

As for Yosemite, it won't be a problem. DL is on Hwy 5. Hop on Hwy 5 north for a couple of hours(depending on traffic). In Santa Clarita, you go over "The Grapevine" and on the other side of the Grapevine, you can get on Hwy 99N which will take you NE towards Yosemite. From 99 you get on another Hwy, not sure which one, and it will take you right to Yosemite.

Hope that helps!

 

[HydroGuy]

My DH and I are thinking of going to DL next year, but I'm finding it a lot more difficult to get info than I do for WDW!!

WDW is a true tourist resort. My understanding is that 85% of visitors there are from outside of central Florida. As you know Disney has 20 hotels at WDW.

DLR is located in a much higher density population area (20 million people live in SoCal) and has always been more of a locals resort. Only about 30% of the visitors are from out of the area. And DLR has only two parks and gets less than half the visitors than WDW. Disney has three hotels at DLR.

Since there are less out of town visitors to DLR than WDW the need for planning resources is much less. On the flip side DLR does not require as much planning as WDW. No dining reservations 180 days our are needed or even allowed. You can get dining reservations 60 days in advance and even then they are not in high demand.

Do not make the common WDW vet mistake of concluding DLR is somehow inferior to WDW. It has numerous areas where it exceeds WDW and in truth gets more attention to details and maintenance from Disney than the WDW parks.

Here is a good place ot start: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

I looked on the "official" site, and as crazy as it sounds, the same trip was going to cost me a lot more to go to DL than WDW! Is this right? I can't find any room costs or seasons, and speaking of seasons, what's the weather like there? Thinking of summer (June/July) or fall (October/November) or spring (May). Any help would be appreciated.

If you stay at the Disney hotels then DLR can be quite expensive compared to WDW. You can really drop the cost by staying off-site. But off-site at DLR does not mean the same thing as WDW. There are lots of folks like me who prefer onsite at WDW but are happy to stay offsite at DLR. It is not as much of a drawback.

In general DLR has better weather - more moderate temperatures, much less rain and no humidity of which to speak. See "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

Also be careful about off-season at DLR. It works differently than WDW. See

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

"Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens " http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602

"Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

Also, how feasible is it to go to Yosemite then to DL? Or vice versa?

It is feasible and worth it as IMO Yosemite is the most beautiful place I have seen in the world. I have been to Hawaii four times, to the Caribbean four times, all over this country and it's National Parks and to four other continents. I live in beautiful Colorado. Yosemite takes them all for beauty and majesty.

It will be a bit of a hike from DLR - maybe 6 hours? And you need to plan Yosemite and get reservations there for camping or rooms or rental tents (that have cots inside).

Have a magical trip!

 

[Sherry E]

It's actually entirely feasible (though not reasonable!) that WDW hotel rates would be less expensive than DLR hotel rates - for a much shorter trip, too. Case in point: one of my friends took her family to WDW 3 years ago and they stayed at Port Orleans for an entire week - like a full 7 days - with tickets for the entire stay. And, it was in December - peak holiday season. It was less expensive to take that 7-day trip than it was to book a 3-night stay in December at the Grand Californian Hotel at DLR!

I cringe at the DLR hotel prices, and it's too bad because I LOVE staying onsite in any of the 3 hotels, as it enhances my overall DLR experience so much to stay onsite. If they could only lower them a bit - like lower them by $100 a night or something - it would be so much more manageable for people to stay there. Even the PPH is getting ridiculously expensive. This is one big reason why people get APs - they jump on the good AP rates for the hotels!

The weather in October/November can range from very cool and breezy, to dry and hot (hence, wildfires every year), to rainy and gloomy! We have been having a pretty mild summer in SoCal so far (below average temps for many weeks, which has been awesome!), so I keep thinking that Mother Nature is going to play a trick on us and make Fall and Winter exceptionally hot just to 'catch up.' Let's hope not!!

 

[pat fan]

It will be a bit of a hike from DLR - maybe 6 hours?
it's gotta be an all-day drive from Anaheim.

My DH said he figured 3 hours! Guess we'll have to think about that one.

I LOVE staying onsite in any of the 3 hotels, as it enhances my overall DLR experience so much to stay onsite.

Right. I've been off-site at WDW once and been a firm believer in on-site ever since. I want the same "magic" in my DL experience. Do you all think it really doesn't lose anything to be off-site there? I kinda had my heart set on the DLHotel, and if it's just the two of us, maybe we'll just splurge on it.

HydroGuy
Thanks for all the links! Can't wait to check them out. So I know June?July are summer, but I've never been to Ca. How is it compared to Fl.? I know in Ma. it can be hot, cool, rainy or sunny, but Fl. in the summer is brutal, and we are used to going to WDW in that. (although my DH says never again after this summer)

 

[cindyland]

Oh I wish it was 3 hours from Yosemite area to DL. We live about an hour from the Yosemite entrance, and we're looking at a much longer drive than that. Not impossible, but not a day trip if you plan on walking around the park! So worth seeing though, one of the most beautiful spots on the planet. But like DL, you're going to run into crowds, especially spring with the waterfalls.

So Cal summer weather is not unbearable like Florida summer weather. This has been a very mild summer. We're planning a trip to DL this week and looking at low 80s! Hottest trip we've made to DL was October. And yes, during wildfire season which affects the air quality and made us think twice about going.

If you decide to save some money and stay off-site keep in mind a bunch of properties are the same distance from the parks as the Disney hotels. HoJo and Marriott Fairfield are very nice and about a 15-minute walk, tops. But it is fun to stay at DL Hotel, great themeing and pool. You will not be getting door to park transportation, the best you can hope for is the short walk from the hotel to the monorail which will bring you to Tomorrowland at DL. Another (more expensive) option is the Grand California which overlooks Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure, and has a private entrance into the park.

I find that planning for a DW trip is much more challenging. On-site, off-site, ADRs, Dining plans, park-hoppers ($52 extra, seriously?), water parks, etc. Haven't gone for 20 years, first time with kids, hours of research involved!! But it's all fun!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Sherry E]

: Right. I've been off-site at WDW once and been a firm believer in on-site ever since. I want the same "magic" in my DL experience. Do you all think it really doesn't lose anything to be off-site there? I kinda had my heart set on the DLHotel, and if it's just the two of us, maybe we'll just splurge on it.

Well, here is the way I look at it. I'm such a staunch believer in staying onsite if humanly and financially possible, simply for the fact that it enhances my overall DLR experience. I will sit there and scheme and crunch numbers and do whatever possible to stay onsite. I like to be fully immersed in Disney from the second I get out of the car and arrive on DLR soil to the second I get back in the car to go home.

I love all 3 DLR hotels for different reasons. I love the DLH because it is the original Disney hotel and has sprawlings grounds with beautiful waterfalls and koi fish, as well as many classic Disney character touches (topiaries, statues, hidden Mickeys in the hallway carpets, etc.). I love the GCH because it is elegantly rustic (meaning it sort of has that mountain lodge feeling, in a way) and beautiful - the dark wood, fireplace in the lobby area and dim lighting really enhances the overall ambiance. And I love the PPH (the cheapest of the 3 hotels) for its fun surf/sun/beach/ocean theme, its pastel colors, its generously sized rooms and its nautical touches in the rooms (Lifeguard Mickey lamps, lighthouse lamps, seashell soap dish, surfboard room number sign, etc.) - and the adorable Mickey ears bath products.

I also like having the option to use a Magic Morning (which you get by staying onsite - and sometimes you get more than one MM, depending on which days of the week you go - MM days are usually Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday). I like being able to have my purchases in the parks sent back to my hotel so I don't have to schlep them around or get a costly locker. I like having the Key to the Magic room key/charge card with my name on it and the festive folder they hand out at the front desk with my check-in materials, maps and brochures! I like waking up at 5:00 a.m. and knowing I am already on Disney property! The hotels are all so close to the 2 parks and Downtown Disney - and the 2 parks are right across the Esplanade from each other - so no buses, boats or other transportation is needed!

So I would say that if it won't break the bank for you and if it is important to have that 'all-Disney-all-the-time' experience, you may want to stay onsite. It would also be good if you don't think you will be back to DLR for a long time.

But, if money is an issue (and we all have that issue at some point or another) and the DLR hotels are out of the ballpark, there are plenty of DIS-ers on this DLR side of the board who will tell you with 100% confidence that the Good Neighbor hotels are all great and that they have just as wonderful a time staying offsite as they do onsite. Many, many people love HoJo's because they can get a great Entertainment Rate with the Entertainment Card (found each year in the Entertainment Book) - sometimes they can stay at HoJo's for something like $59 a night - a far cry from the hefty rates of the 3 DLR hotels!

 

[pat fan]

Sherry E
A lot of what you said is how I feel re:staying on site, so I guess if we do make the big trip to DL, I'll make sure to stay on site as it will probably be our only trip there (unless we fall in love and want to come back).

It's so hard to think of planning a trip that's not to my favorite place on earth though! I feel disloyal somehow, is that weird or what? LOl!!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I have stayed on site (on property) and off property--and I am 100% in the stay on property if at all possible camp. It makes such a difference to us! All three of the resort hotels are within walking distance to each other and to the parks, and all are great. Out of the three hotels I recommend the Disneyland Hotel hands down. I know people love the Grand Californian, and it does have a great lobby and pool area--but for that Disney magic I love the Disneyland Hotel so much more. I also like the tall towers at the DLH over the low level buildings at the Grand. Paradise Pier is roomy and nice as well (with great views of California Adventure)--but again, I would only stay there if we couldn't book at DLH.

As far as the cost, things are just more expensive overall in California compared to Florida--including the hotels! Example 1: Here I sit in my humble little hovel (the real estate agent called it "cottage style", which my husband thought was code for delapidated shack) in the Bay Area--yet if we spent the same amount of money to buy a house in Florida I would be typing from Jasmine's palace! Welcome to California!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

It's so hard to think of planning a trip that's not to my favorite place on earth though! I feel disloyal somehow, is that weird or what? LOl!!

That's exactly how I feel about planning a trip to WDW! I thought I was being a little weird about that, so it's nice to know I'm not the only one. Just the same, I'd love to get my family to the other coast for a trip in a few years when my younger DD is old enough to definitely remember the trip.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry E
A lot of what you said is how I feel re:staying on site, so I guess if we do make the big trip to DL, I'll make sure to stay on site as it will probably be our only trip there (unless we fall in love and want to come back).

It's so hard to think of planning a trip that's not to my favorite place on earth though! I feel disloyal somehow, is that weird or what? LOl!!

I'm sure I would feel like a complete fish out of water trying to plan a WDW trip - not to mention disloyal, somehow!!

I think staying onsite will be very rewarding if you can manage it. It's hard to convince myself sometimes why it's worth it but then when I get to the hotel (whichever one it is), I remember why.

If you are accustomed to the very elaborate, detailed resort hotels of WDW, your best bet will definitely be to stay at GCH or DLH. PPH is much smaller than those two. In fact, I think the GCH was designed by the same person/people who designed the Wilderness Lodge (unless I am mistaken).

Because DLR is so much smaller than WDW, you will find that everything is so easy to get to and convenient. Picture this layout. Think of Downtown Disney (DTD) as a main thoroughfare or road that connects to all things. At one end of DTD you will find the Disneyland Hotel. From there you start the walk through DTD, you pass by ESPN Zone, Rainforest Cafe, the Monorail station, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, Naples, and all kinds of shops and other restaurants.

About mid-way through DTD (roughly), on your right-hand side will be the turn-off into the Grand Californian. If you decide to carry on through DTD and not turn into the GCH, then you walk a short way and you arrive at the security check point and the Esplanade, along with the ticket booths and turnstiles. So the Esplanade is basically at the opposite end of DTD. Look to your left and the gates to Disneyland are right there. Look to your right, and it's California Adventure. Or, if you are a hotel guest you can enter DCA through the special GCH entrance.

And if you exit out the front entrance of the GCH, you can cross the street and the Paradise Pier Hotel is right there.

So, yes, if you don't think you will be getting back to DLR any time soon, try to splurge and stay onsite to get the full DLR experience!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

It is feasible and worth it as IMO Yosemite is the most beautiful place I have seen in the world. I have been to Hawaii four times, to the Caribbean four times, all over this country and it's National Parks and to four other continents. I live in beautiful Colorado. Yosemite takes them all for beauty and majesty.

It will be a bit of a hike from DLR - maybe 6 hours? And you need to plan Yosemite and get reservations there for camping or rooms or rental tents (that have cots inside).

Just wanted to agree that Yosemite is absolutely beautiful! I grew up going there every summer and now that we live in AZ, we go every few years. We are planning another trip for next year, the campgrounds that take reservations book 5 months in advance and they are gone usually within minutes, in our experience.

I agree with Hydroguy that the drive would be about 6 hours. We split the drive up into 2 days when we go. We stayed in the Beaumont area last time which was about half way for us.

 

[pat fan]

I agree with Hydroguy that the drive would be about 6 hours.

I told my DH this and he said it would be ok if we spent 2/3 days at Yosemite and 2/3 days at DL and have one day just for travel without trying to do anything else.

Of course, I reminded him that it would mean going in the summer (which after WDW this July he said never again!) and he said we could try April vacation. Only problem with that is, I hear a lot of rides could be down then in DL because it is one of their "off" times. Ring true to you all or not? Personally, I'd rather just go in the summer, or barring that, what I'd REALLY like to do is not do both things in one trip. To me a Disney vacation is a Disney vacation. Please don't muck it up with all that nature stuff I'd love to do Yosemite, but not with DL. We'll see who wins!

So, what airports are in/near Yosemite & DL? It looks like if we do this we'd be coming & going from 2 separate places.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

The airport that is closest to Disneyland is SNA ---also known as John Wayne Airport. It is a really easy, nice airport to fly into. Once you land, there are a bunch of cabs or cab vans lined up to take you to Disneyland. It takes about 10 minutes to get to DL from that airport. I have also flown into LAX and Long Beach, but by far the Orange County Airport is the best location close to DL.

As far as not mixing DL with Yosemite, I hear what you are saying and am on Team Pat Fan.

 

[HydroGuy]

Do you all think it really doesn't lose anything to be off-site there? I kinda had my heart set on the DLHotel, and if it's just the two of us, maybe we'll just splurge on it.

It is not that it does not matter. It just does not matter as much as WDW because the benefits are less and there are many off-site hotels closer to DL and DCA than either the DLH or PPH. Plus the DLR hotels cost more per night than comparable WDW hotels. Many people do not see the price difference as worth it.

And finally, many DLR vets spend all their waking hours at the parks. So a nice, expensive hotel is just not worth it to many people. It is wasted if you only use the hotel for sleeping.

HydroGuy
Thanks for all the links! Can't wait to check them out. So I know June?July are summer, but I've never been to Ca. How is it compared to Fl.? I know in Ma. it can be hot, cool, rainy or sunny, but Fl. in the summer is brutal, and we are used to going to WDW in that. (although my DH says never again after this summer)

Summer at DLR is way more tolerable than WDW. We just finished up five days at DLR and weather was great - actually unseasonably cool. We love DLR in the summer. I would never go to WDW in July on purpose.

See "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

 

[pat fan]

The airport that is closest to Disneyland is SNA ---also known as John Wayne Airport

John Wayne airport? Really? well, you know I'm flying into there, Rooster Cogburn & the Lady is one of my all time favorite movies!

Summer at DLR is way more tolerable than WDW.

That's good to know. Thanks

 

[cindyland]

If you are looking for a "major" airport near Yosemite, you're out of luck. You will fly either into the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose), Fresno, or Sacramento. Also not a short drive to Yosemite. Fresno would probably be the closest, great entrance on highway 140. You can drive from Fresno, over to 99, and down 5 over the grapevine to Disneyland.

May in Yosemite is incredible, full-on waterfalls. But a little chilly at night, you're going to want to stay inside, we about froze in tents over Mother's Day Weekend (and had snow over Memorial Day one year). You can check out Yosemite Lodge or the Awannee. There used to a Marriott in Fish Camp, right outside of the park entrance. Oakhurst is also very nice. The highway 120 entrance from Groveland is very curvey.

Early June in Disneyland has what's known as "June Gloom." We had to buy sweatshirts for our whole family because it was chilly. Not so much in May.

If you don't have to take kids out of school, I'd go with early May (and stay INSIDE at Yosemite).