Summer 2013 .. Best places to stay and how many days

[coastermom]

We want to go to DL instead of WDW ... We are 3 adults a 18 year old and a 11 year old ... We wanted to stay on site for some of the trip but where ? and how many days do we need to do all of DL ? Anyone also stay at the Residence Inn at the main gate ? thanks !

 

[HydroGuy]

We want to go to DL instead of WDW ... We are 3 adults a 18 year old and a 11 year old ... We wanted to stay on site for some of the trip but where ? and how many days do we need to do all of DL ? Anyone also stay at the Residence Inn at the main gate ? thanks !

Onsite? It depends on your priorities. The GCH is the grandest of the DLR hotels and by far the closest to the parks. But it is huge with long hallways so you may end up deceptively far away from the parks. We always stay in the east wing as that is closer. The GCH is kind of a cross between WL and AKL at WDW.

The DLH is considered the most magical of the three Disney hotels. It is cheaper than GCH and further from the parks.

The PPH is the lowest cost of the three and slightly further than DLH.

You will need four days minimum for DLR which is roughly equivalent to seven days at WDW. Enough time to spend significant time in the parks at a non-rushed pace and experience most everything that is worth experiencing.

Five days will be a little better than four days for first timers still learning their way around.

We have never stayed at RI but a couple summers ago had reservations there. In the end Disney offered a steep discount at the GCH and we canceled RI. It is kind of far from the parks (3/4 of a mile?). Consider that carefully. This thread may help:

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Also be careful of the time of year you choose to visit. See

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

 

[coastermom]

We can only go in July or Aug as we work in the NYC schools .. Thanks for the info !

 

[Bungle]

I would figure 4 days in the park so you can move at a slower pace because it will be hot! I've never stayed at the residence inn but I think a lot of people here do so a search might turn something up.

Is this your first time to California? Planning a few extra days to go to the beach or take in some sights would be a good idea too. As for timing I think it is going to be crowded no matter when you go but around the 4th of July will probably be the worst.

Have fun planning

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Residence Inn Maingate is great! Clean, fantastic staff, hot breakfast, manager's specials several evenings a week, on the ART route, walkable (given the ages in your group, if no one has any mobility issues). You can drop off a grocery list in the morning, and the staff will have your groceries put away in your room by the time you get back from the parks.

 

[coastermom]

UGH was just looking at this again ... It is so much easier for me to just book WDW LOL .. This is going to be one of our last vacations as a full family with my kids at the ages they are at . We want to go to the ocean one day as well as go to Six Flags Magic Mountain because for us it is FREE!!! we know we will rent a car but we will most likely do 3 days in the parks . We do all 4 parks in 4 days and have not missed anything in WDW ! I want to know does anyone know how far the HOLLYWOOD sign is from the area ? I know that SFMM is about 1 and 1/2 hours away but my kids really want to go there too !! Thanks for any and all info .. thinking of splitting my stay between a Disney resort and another hotel in the area . I am hearing mixed reviews of the area around Disney Land . Any info guys ??

 

[Bungle]

Going to the hollywood sign really depends on traffic but I would say an hour each way. In my opinion it isn't really worth the trip, I would rather be on a beach somewhere. The area directly surrounding DL is fine. We have stayed at good neighbor hotels and walked back at midnight and felt totally safe. The way is well lit and chances are you will be part of a mass migration of park goers and not just walking by yourself.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

UGH was just looking at this again ... It is so much easier for me to just book WDW LOL .. This is going to be one of our last vacations as a full family with my kids at the ages they are at . We want to go to the ocean one day as well as go to Six Flags Magic Mountain because for us it is FREE!!! we know we will rent a car but we will most likely do 3 days in the parks . We do all 4 parks in 4 days and have not missed anything in WDW ! I want to know does anyone know how far the HOLLYWOOD sign is from the area ? I know that SFMM is about 1 and 1/2 hours away but my kids really want to go there too !! Thanks for any and all info .. thinking of splitting my stay between a Disney resort and another hotel in the area . I am hearing mixed reviews of the area around Disney Land . Any info guys ??

We are planning a similar trip in July as well (I work in the school system as well and thus am only able to take holidays then as well!). We would like to do a few things in LA as well as San Diego. We originally planned to just stay in Anaheim - at The Residence Inn Maingate and travel to LA but from everything I have read - and I have done ALOT of research - it will be easier to stay in LA for a night and do what we would like to see then move on to Anaheim. We have stayed at The Ramada Maingate and at the Park Vue Inn, both on Harbour and found them both to be clean and convenient but we wanted a kitchenette this time as we hope to spend 8 days there and want to cut costs just a little by cooking some meals. They also seem to have a wonderful hot breakfast which my family really appreciates. We plan on 5 days in the parks, a day at Huntington and a day at San Diego Zoo.
Hope this helps!!