Surprise Trip & Hotel Questions

[cas714]

Hey everyone! My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Disneyland for Christmas! Super excited! I’ve been to Disney World more times than I can count, but have never been to Disneyland or California. He booked the Paradise Pier Hotel for the week after Easter in April, but we were thinking about doing a couple of days at the beach too. Would you change hotels to one off property to save money to use for other fun perks during the trip or stay with the reservations at Paradise Pier to take advantage of the extra magic hours? Also any dining suggestions or fun outdoorsy things to do in SoCal would be appreciated. Thanks for your help!!

 

[katyringo]

Never been to any of the Disney hotels around Disneyland, but you will find that most of us stay “off site”. If your purchase a 3 day or more ticket in advance you get one day of early entry into Disneyland park anyway. There are off site hotels that are much closer than paradise pier. The hotels on harbor are a 5 min walk to the gates. If it were me I would switch!

 

[cas714]

Thank you so much! I will have to check into this! Do you have a favorite hotel you stay at?

 

[azdisneylover]

I would suggest you checking out www.dapperdays.com. It is held twice a year (April, November). It is so fun to dress up and to see all the people dressed up in the parks and DTD. We have stayed at the three hotels. When my children were younger, they liked the DLH. Now, as teens, they love GCH (can't beat the location when riding Grizzly Rapids and you are soaked from heat to toe). The parks are open longer during Spring Break, so, the Magic Morning/ Early Entry into the parks an hour makes a big difference in crowds, especially in DCA. You can get a lot done in that time. What ever you decide, hope you have lots of fun!

 

[cas714]

I would suggest you checking out www.dapperdays.com. It is held twice a year (April, November). It is so fun to dress up and to see all the people dressed up in the parks and DTD. We have stayed at the three hotels. When my children were younger, they liked the DLH. Now, as teens, they love GCH (can't beat the location when riding Grizzly Rapids and you are soaked from heat to toe). The parks are open longer during Spring Break, so, the Magic Morning/ Early Entry into the parks an hour makes a big difference in crowds, especially in DCA. You can get a lot done in that time. What ever you decide, hope you have lots of fun!

Dapper Days sound so much fun and it is happening the first full day we are there! Thank you for the help!

 

[azdisneylover]

Dapper Days sound so much fun and it is happening the first full day we are there! Thank you for the help!

You are welcome!

 

[smartlabelprint]

Dapper Days sound so much fun and it is happening the first full day we are there! Thank you for the help!

Then sign up for dapper days updates and stay at DLH or DGC with their discount. Ended up around $300/night.

Skip PP and stay offsite otherwise.

 

[katyringo]

Dapper Days sound so much fun and it is happening the first full day we are there! Thank you for the help!

we’ve stayed at the hojo. We like their renovated rooms and splash park for the kids. The absolute closest you can get is best western park place or park vue in. We are staying at the desert inn a suites next trip because we just need beds and a shower...

 

[cas714]

Then sign up for dapper days updates and stay at DLH or DGC with their discount. Ended up around $300/night.

Skip PP and stay offsite otherwise.

Thanks for the help!!

 

[cas714]

we’ve stayed at the hojo. We like their renovated rooms and splash park for the kids. The absolute closest you can get is best western park place or park vue in. We are staying at the desert inn a suites next trip because we just need beds and a shower...

Okay I started looking into the Best Western Plus. We stay at one when we go to Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia and like it. Looks to be nice in Anaheim and close to the parks so we may switch our reservations from PP to the Best western. Thanks for your advice!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Dapper Days sound so much fun and it is happening the first full day we are there! Thank you for the help!

If you decide to use the Dapper Days discount rate, please consider supporting the convention by buying Expo tickets and maybe some DD merchandise, too. This prevents abuse of the convention discounts. The tickets are very inexpensive (and there is a lower price if you buy online ahead of time) and the Expo is a fun event. Dressing up is fun, but puts no money in the DD accounts!

Okay I started looking into the Best Western Plus. We stay at one when we go to Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia and like it. Looks to be nice in Anaheim and close to the parks so we may switch our reservations from PP to the Best western. Thanks for your advice!

The BWPPI is a favorite on this board. You can't stay closer to the crosswalk on Harbor! Your feet will thank you at the end of each day in the parks!

 

[cas714]

If you decide to use the Dapper Days discount rate, please consider supporting the convention by buying Expo tickets and maybe some DD merchandise, too. This prevents abuse of the convention discounts. The tickets are very inexpensive (and there is a lower price if you buy online ahead of time) and the Expo is a fun event. Dressing up is fun, but puts no money in the DD accounts!


The BWPPI is a favorite on this board. You can't stay closer to the crosswalk on Harbor! Your feet will thank you at the end of each day in the parks!

Thank you so much! We switched to the BWPPI appreciate all your help saved some money too so now where to spend it in the parks haha

 

[katyringo]

Thank you so much! We switched to the BWPPI appreciate all your help saved some money too so now where to spend it in the parks haha

just another recommendation: a really good use of available funds is the world of color desert party...

 

[mouschievous]

just another recommendation: a really good use of available funds is the world of color desert party...

H about has me convinced to stay on Harbor and then use our splurge money for WOC, BB, etc. I'm about 98% there.

 

[katyringo]

H about has me convinced to stay on Harbor and then use our splurge money for WOC, BB, etc. I'm about 98% there.

DO IT. It’s what we always do..

 

[cas714]

just another recommendation: a really good use of available funds is the world of color desert party...

I will have to look into that! Disneyland has different reservation windows compared to Disney World right?

 

[mouschievous]

I will have to look into that! Disneyland has different reservation windows compared to Disney World right?

60 days in advance...usually. Apparently there were some issues this past fall and reservations weren't available until about 30 days out

 

[cas714]

Okay awesome. Thanks for the heads up!