Suggestion for hotels

[Starsky6]

Hi!
First time visiting, any suggestions for hotels? What airport to fly into? And do I need to rent a car?

Thank you!

 

[azdisneylover]

Congrats!! For hotels, I suggest either the DLH or the GCH. With that said, pretty much any lodging on Harbor (across from the parks) will do you fine too. John Wayne Airport is good if you can get a decent price on airfare. It depends on what you have planned to do whether or not you should rent a car. Many will use Uber, Lyft, etc.

 

[gerilyne]

Yay for first time visiting!!! My first choice when I can afford it is the GCH, followed by the DLH. I prefer the Grand Californian for the proximity to the parks, and for the EMH every morning, I find real value in that. But as azdisneylover said you can stay across the street on Harbor and be just fine. I like the Fairfield Inn personally but only because that is the only one I have stayed in; I am sure you will get a ton of recommendations from others.

As for airports, I always try and fly into John Wayne (SNA). It is smaller and easier to navigate IMO and is only a half hour away from the Disneyland resort. It costs a little extra but the convenience to me is worth the cost. It would have to be a significant savings to have me fly into LAX again. Others have also suggested Long Beach airport but I have no personal experience with it.

I have never rented a car but that is mostly due to the fact I never go anywhere else but to Disney and back to the airport. We have used the Disneyland resort express bus, but once they changed the pick up schedule to once an hour at SNA it was no longer worth it. If you miss the pick up time, then you are stuck at the airport for another hour. That and it makes so many stops at the DLR hotels before it goes to the Harbor hotels (and doesn't always drop you off right at the hotel's entrance on Harbor- at least that was my experience). When I can afford it I usually go with Lansky towncar service. It is more expensive than Lyft/Uber or taxi's but we enjoy their help with luggage and the water in the car when we land. They will also do a quick stop at a grocery store on the way to the hotel if you need something like that.

 

[Starsky6]

Thank you so much for all the advice. What's the best way to reserve everything directly with the hotel or through a travel agent? When we went to WDW in Florida, I did everything myself.

 

[goooof1]

"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/

This thread will give you lots of information about the DLR area hotels. Short walking distance is GOLDEN at DLR.

Yes, you can reserve everything directly yourself and get better deals than a package.
SNA airport is closest and pretty easy to get around …. short taxi ride to DLR. LGB (Long Beach) is also close, and small and even easier to navigate. Again, short (a bit longer than SNA) taxi ride to DLR.

@HydroGuy has tons of tips for planning, etc in the above "stickies"... lots of good reading!​

 

[smartlabelprint]

I book direct with the hotel. Offsite I’ve stayed at best western park place inn (many times but last trip was 12/2018), desert inn & suites (avoid unless low budget), my sis stayed at best western Anaheim inn (meh), camelot inn. They’re motels and those come with people walking by at all hours, etc. I can’t stay at one in the future. I’ve become sensitive to noise and I’m not in the park all day anymore.

We really like homewood suites convention. But it’s quite a walk. We plan to uber to parks next trip.

I’m interested in Hyatt house, Spring Hill suites convention center and courtyard by Marriott.

 

[pennym]

I like Homewood Suites convention too. You can catch a shuttle to and from the parks at the toy story lot next door.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

From the stickies at the top of the first page:
* DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here! -- TONS of great information here!
From the above sticky thread:
HydroGuy Tips Compilation -- so many helpful threads found here!
Hotels:
"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/
Airport Info:
"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by @3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297
Whether you rent a car depends on what you want to do in addition to DLR. If you will be focusing mainly on DLR and staying within walking distance to the parks (ideal), then you probably won't need a car. Using Uber/Lyft should work fine, unless car seats are an issue. If you will want to see other sites that are farther away, e.g. USH, then renting a car may work out for you. But it won't be necessary just for DLR.