Safe Parking??

[Mickey527]

I am flying in to CA to help my son drive his belongings home. he is being Discharged from the Marines and is not at Miramar near San Diego.
He is packing all his stuff in his car and the back seat will be stuffed.
I have never been to DL and want to see it for a day, maybe two but I am worried about all his belongings.
Anyone have any idea where we can park where things might be safer for the day or two.
I haven't booked a hotel yet, but I know things wont be safe at the hotel if we take a shuttle. I was thinking of either valet parking or leaving the car in the lot at DL since I think it will be safer there than at the hotel. (I am looking for inexpensive)

 

[sonnyjane]

Unfortunately for your situation, you cannot leave vehicles in the Disneyland parking lot overnight or else they will be towed. This is a predicament. I have had to do this while moving cross country. We put a crappy blanket over the items in the back seat and just hoped for the best and hit the road early. While I wouldn't say the DL parking lot is dangerous by any means, it is also not immune to problems. DL is very big on making sure people parking in the structure know that they are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

First of all - Thank you to your son for his service to our country.

We did a massive road trip in June. We went from Salt Lake City to Yosemite to Sequoia to Disneyland to Vegas and then home. We had a roof rack on our SUV and the car was full of stuff. So by the time we got to Disneyland there was a ton of bags, souvenirs, etc. We parked in the hotel parking lot very close to the entrance. We took the shuttle to/from the park for 5 days. My husband went out a few times just to make sure everything was secure but we had no issues. We stayed at the Homewood Suites.

 

[Mickey527]

We parked in the hotel parking lot very close to the entrance. We took the shuttle to/from the park for 5 days. My husband went out a few times just to make sure everything was secure but we had no issues. We stayed at the Homewood Suites.

Did you park at a DL hotel or Homewood Suites? I haven't even found a hotel yet, I know, last minute.... but he just told me he would go to DL with me, he wanted to stop at Las Vegas.
I would love to stay at one of the DL resorts but can't afford it even for 2 nights. I do own at DVC and will call tomorrow to see if I can find a room there but I doubt it.
I know I will try a blanket but he has a TV, his stereo etc, I told him to put the good stuff in the trunk and his clothes in the back seat but he never listened to me when he was young why should he start now.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Did you park at a DL hotel or Homewood Suites? I haven't even found a hotel yet, I know, last minute.... but he just told me he would go to DL with me, he wanted to stop at Las Vegas.
I would love to stay at one of the DL resorts but can't afford it even for 2 nights. I do own at DVC and will call tomorrow to see if I can find a room there but I doubt it.
I know I will try a blanket but he has a TV, his stereo etc, I told him to put the good stuff in the trunk and his clothes in the back seat but he never listened to me when he was young why should he start now.

We parked at the Homewood Suites for the entire time. It seemed very safe in the area and being parked so close to the entrance seemed even better as someone might notice someone messing with our car.

I would agree that the valuables should be kept in the trunk. Another idea would be to use a cart and take those things of value into the room. I would think it would be quite safe in the room.

As for Vegas - I think it took us 5 hours to get there from DL. You can get a room at the Southpoint for $44 a night. It is on Las Vegas Blvd but not considered the official strip. Hotel is really a resort in itself. You can take a shuttle to the strip of that's what you want to see.

From Vegas will you drive up to Salt Lake City and then take I80 across to I90 all the way to CT? Last December we drove from Salt Lake City to Buffalo (New York). Very easy drive on I-80/I-90.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Holiday Inn Express on Katella has an underground garage with a ton of cameras. About as secure as you're gonna get

 

[Nonsuch]

The Grand California valet parking is a dedicated underground garage, with no public access. The hotel is expensive, but might be worth the piece of mind

Not specific to Disneyland, but I know several people who have had packed cars looted -- it is very common and you are correct to be concerned

 

[Mickey527]

Thank you all for your help. Here is what I decided to do.
I booked one night at DL hotel using my DVC points. The DVC resort was booked so I had either DL hotel or the Paridise Pier.
I will feel much safer having the car parked at the hotel while we are at the parks. We will do the first day, stay overnight, check out but leave the car in the lot while we do the 2nd day at the parks. When we leave the parks we wills tay at an offsite hotel for the night and get on the road in the am for the drive home.
I am hoping we can stop along the way and see some sights, but my son is giving in by letting me visit DL, he wants to get home. He said he can't wait to sleep in a normal bed again.