Thinking about a 1st trip to DisneyLand. Many questions!

[mikewdw]

Ok, so we are a family with 2 adults and 3 adult age children (22, 20, 20). We are WDW yearly visitors (wife and I over 30 trips, kids over 20) but have wanted to go to DL the last few years. At WDW we are always onsite, always early entry rope drop guests and use meal plan (usually quick service) anytime we can get a discount on it. We live in Alabama so we would have to fly. Looking at either late May next year or 1st week of June. We want to really enjoy the trip so not planning on super tight budget but also with 3 kids in college definitely not looking to blow money either. I have some basic worth it or not questions and would like opinions on the basic plan.

Basic plan --- fly in. 4-5 days at DL and maybe 1-2 days on other outside activities ( tours, other sights to see etc). Really enjoy trip but also save money on things not worth the cost for the level of enjoyment
Trip dates --- I know around Memorial Day is not the least crowded time but my wife and I are both teachers so we a set in a summer vacation timeline . Would later in the summer be better?
Onsite hotel vs off site - is cost/convenience worth it?
meal plan (if available) - what type at DL
Transportation there -- if off site is vastly cheaper what about transportation to parks?
Must see shows/fireworks/experiences
Park hopper tickets? --- would it be worth if for new visitors or should we stick with one park per day?

I know you can't know our particular families likes/dislikes but looking for any other tips, info, opinions for a 1st time visitors would need. All info is greatly appreciated!

 

[LAS2AMS]

I always remind people, DLR is not WDW. It is an urban theme oark converted into a resort area.

There are three hotels. Including tax (but not including parking), expect to pay over $600 per night for Pixar Place, nearly $800 for Disneyland Hotel and over $1,000 for the Grand Californian. Discounts of 15 to 30 percent are regularly offered for stays of 3/4+ nights.

None of the hotels will provide a WDW-like experience. The Grand Californian will come close, plus its unique in that it’s built directly in California Adventire. Pixar Place and Disneyland Hotel were both acquired properties. DLH has been completely reimaged and has a Disney feel. Pixar Place has “sorta” been reimagined but many don’t feel it’s Disney enough.

It’s up to to you to decide if these prices are “worth it.” There are many people who have to have the Disney Bubble and will spend every penny they have to enjoy it. Note that as real estate is far more valuable in SoCal, you will not find the huge, sprawling resorts built throughout Orlando.

DL does not have a dining plan. Dining in the hotels will cost more than dining in the parks, a contrast to WDW. Thankfully the parks are open later than WDW.

Most visitors are local and the food reflects that. Counter service fast casual style is very popular here in SoCal and the DLR reflefts that. You will find fewer sit down restaurants, smaller menus but more diverse choices reflecting the local population (Asian and Latino foods heavy on spice). Healthy choices are more abundant and you won’t readily fidn the oversized meal portions common at WDW.

That said, I’m sure you’d enjoy your trip. DLR has far better weather than WDW. Most likely evenings will be chilly and you’ll need a jacket of some type.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Ok, so we are a family with 2 adults and 3 adult age children (22, 20, 20). We are WDW yearly visitors (wife and I over 30 trips, kids over 20) but have wanted to go to DL the last few years. At WDW we are always onsite, always early entry rope drop guests and use meal plan (usually quick service) anytime we can get a discount on it. We live in Alabama so we would have to fly. Looking at either late May next year or 1st week of June. We want to really enjoy the trip so not planning on super tight budget but also with 3 kids in college definitely not looking to blow money either. I have some basic worth it or not questions and would like opinions on the basic plan.

Basic plan --- fly in. 4-5 days at DL and maybe 1-2 days on other outside activities ( tours, other sights to see etc). Really enjoy trip but also save money on things not worth the cost for the level of enjoyment
Trip dates --- I know around Memorial Day is not the least crowded time but my wife and I are both teachers so we a set in a summer vacation timeline . Would later in the summer be better?
Onsite hotel vs off site - is cost/convenience worth it?
meal plan (if available) - what type at DL
Transportation there -- if off site is vastly cheaper what about transportation to parks?
Must see shows/fireworks/experiences
Park hopper tickets? --- would it be worth if for new visitors or should we stick with one park per day?

I know you can't know our particular families likes/dislikes but looking for any other tips, info, opinions for a 1st time visitors would need. All info is greatly appreciated!

I think two or three days is much better for being in actual Disneyland as opposed to five.

With respect to the crowds, it really doesn’t matter if it’s Memorial Day or June… the crowds will definitely be high in both cases. Lightning Lane is an absolute must around this time of year.

As far as hotels go, I would definitely try to stay offside instead of at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel. There are plenty of non-Disney hotels like the Holiday Inn Express, one of the locations in Anaheim is within a walkable distance to the Disneyland entrance. Absolutely worth it + free breakfast… including the best cinnamon rolls in the world…

As far as park hopping… I wouldn’t recommend it full time. If I were you, I would focus on one park each day to start and then park hop on your last park day. You’ll be able to sneak in other attractions that you may not have been able to experience initially with that park hopper.

Additionally, I also recommend avoiding eating at places that you can find back home (McDonald’s, Panda Express, etc) and try to find places that are unique to the area… even if it’s a chain that you can’t find back home.

 

[WITN-E]

There is not as much incentive to stay on-site at DL unfortunately, and definitely not enough to justify the massive cost difference IMO. There are a ton of hotels very close by (within easy walking distance) and there is a very easy to use and cost-efficient shuttle system that drops you off right at the park for most hotels that are on the main routes in the vicinity (check out Anaheim Regional Transit or "ART" busses). I usually stay at a hotel in the convention center area for example and there are multiple ART routes that stop at those hotels, but its also not outrageously far to walk either if you want to use your foot-energy for that!

 

[bakofarmgirl]

some of our favorite things are staying at the Grand Californian Hotel onsite, going to Blue Bayou sit down restaurant in the pirates of the carribean ride, downtown disney we enjoy eating at naples.

everything is walking distance unlike the bus system in wdw so for us we like to do hoppers but have a magic key so that helps

 

[mikewdw]

Also, would it be cheaper to fly into LAX or John Wayne Airport

 

[LAS2AMS]

Also, would it be cheaper to fly into LAX or John Wayne Airport

There’s typically a premium involved with flying into SNA, especially from the East. SNA is far more convenient but LAX isn’t as bad as people on here make it out to be.

I typically fly out of LAX and pass by SNA (and LGB) in doing so. I can usually bet better pricing, more flight options and better aircraft (widebodies) from LAX.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Also, would it be cheaper to fly into LAX or John Wayne Airport

Avoid LAX at ALL COSTS!!! Definitely fly into SNA, ONT or a different SoCal airport. Much more peaceful and stress free experience.

 

[LAS2AMS]

There’s no reason to avoid LAX. If you can handle MCO, you can handle LAX. SNA is more convenient, but for most families traveling through LAX will save a few hundred bucks.

If you have the option of a direct flight to LAX and it’s competitively priced, that’s your best option. Connecting always increases the risk of flight irregularities. I like to point out that last summer, we paid more to fly SNA-CLT-MCO than LAX-MCO. We disconnected due to storms in Charlotte. We had to split out party up, arrived in MCO over 24 hours late, lost out first night at the AKL and paid double for a car rental.

 

[katyringo]

So Disneyland has as much packed into their two parks that WDW does in their 4 parks- but everything is within walking distance. I am pro 4-5 days at Disneyland. We did 3 our first trip and every trip since we have done 5. Park hopping at Disneyland takes 5 minutes. No bus, no monorail. So the general consensus is usually to buy park hoppers. With the age of your kids I would agree with that. There is more "thrill" at DCA and you might find yourselves wanting to be over there more than you think. Thank being said- our last family trip we did not buy hoppers and it was also nice to just focus intentionally on one park.

One thing you don't mention in your post is lighting lane. It's important to know it works differently at Disneyland. There is no pre-booking. There is not booking them until you are scanned into the park. For everyone. They also don't run out of the most popular right away. You will see the times push out and they will run out first but usually noon or later they run out.

Hotel. So another thing to keep in mind is WDW has the Disney bubble. The one thing I think Disneyland is lacking is value hotels ran by Disney. Those don't exist at Disneyland. The three on site hotels cost a premium and staying at them is the only way to achieve the bubble. Disneyland hotel is pure magic and grand California- well it has its own entrance into DCA soo... but there are tons of off site hotels within very short walking distance. Like one stop light and your on Disney property. This is what I think is the biggest culture shock to WDW folks. You will have your very tropical best western hotel within one street crossing to Disneyland. But it is a public street in an urban setting. The hotel question really comes down to your purpose for the hotel. The trip we stayed at Disneyland hotel we were staying for 8 nights and had break days. We used the pool several hours each day and did resort activities. If you just need a place to lay your head then I would look at the off site ones. The only on site perk is early entry. Disneyland and DCA rotate the early entry days. So if you stay off site you just start at the park no having early entry that day.. so it's not really that big of a deal.

no meal plan- we always load up and use Disney gift cards. Kind of a way to have a meal plan..

You must see world of color- and the 70th anniversary should still be happening so paint the night parade! Fantasmic at Disneyland too- it's not a copy of the Florida version and happens in a completly different setting. Worth it.

And the most important- don't compare it to DisneyWorld. I always tell people that they should be treated as two different experiences. Disneyland has its own very vibe.. it has its name as the locals park for a reason. Of course there are us out of towners but the locals breath life into Disneyland.

 

[mikewdw]

We have only flown on one vacation, 10 years ago . Went with friends who travel a lot so they knew everything Never been to MCO. That will be a new experiemce for us.

 

[brightlined]

The People Mover at LAX should be open by then, which should drastically simplify getting in and out of there, too.

You'll need to scout flights. Off-hand, I think most of the airlines have cut their directs to L.A. out of Alabama. If you're remotely close to ATL or MSY (New Orleans), you'd probably save a lot by flying direct to LAX from either of them.

If it were me, I might consider slightly later in June. The two lowest Keys (APs) will be blocked out as of June 5th, which might help with crowds a little bit. Grad Nites usually run during those first two weeks of June, and that can be kind of annoying. Honestly, the early part of this past week (starting with Father's Day) was relatively light - Father's Day week might be something to aim for if it's doable.

Btw - I'm a longtime WDW AP, too - it's definitely worth treating it as a unique experience and ignore as much of the WDW mental programming as you can. I made the mistake during my earliest DLR trips of trying to focus on the non-WDW stuff - and it's so much better if you can try to do it all and adjust to the differences. (I'm at the point now that I actually prefer DLR to WDW.)

DLR is almost like if you pushed two of the WDW parks together and had Boardwalk right next to it - you've basically got the entire resort within walking distance as soon as you're through security. LLs could be useful - you can basically treat both parks as one big park if you get parkhoppers - but I might recommend doing a day or two without LLs and just buying it in the park if you want to hit everything on a later day of the trip.

The parkhopper vs one-park ticket is tough. It's hard to treat DL and DCA as equals since there's so much less to do in DCA - some people suggest doing four-day one-parks with 3xDL and 1xDCA. But your kids are older, and Guardians is awesome. If you can afford the parkhoppers, I would consider that so that you can play it by ear - currently, it's not as easy to switch tickets at DLR. (Also, they've been running summer ticket offers starting in the spring - might be something to keep an eye out for next year. You won't need to buy early or book reservations early for your dates, unless they announce something special on a specific day.)

It'll be challenging to give you a whole lot of advice this far out. DLR has been switching up their entertainment offerings over the last year - it'll be interesting to see what all will be available closer to the time of your trip.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I was going to warn you about DCA Grad Nites and to be aware those dates will be more expensive and very busy.
If I could afford it I would definitely stay on property but I do like staying at the Best Western Park Place location on Harbor Blvd. They have family suites that I prefer to book.
I have never stayed at the Grand Legacy on Harbor but have gone to their rooftop Bar to watch fireworks .
I think AAA has discounts and DIsney might offer teacher, military discounts ,. etc.
If I were to retturn I would want to consider the Hollywood Bowl but if you go that far , you might as well check out Universal for 2 nights.

 

[LAS2AMS]

If it were me, I might consider slightly later in June. The two lowest Keys (APs) will be blocked out as of June 5th, which might help with crowds a little bit

Yesterday and today were the most crowded I’ve seen the parks in a long time. I get that yesterday was a Federal holiday, but considering the lowest two MK are blacked out, and the lowest allegedly houses the majority of MK users, I’m stunned.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Priceline and Obitz/ Expedia have had some great deals on local hotels packaged as “member’s pricing” (accessible to all if you register for a feee account). Anaheim Hilton is less than $130, including taxes & fees, most of this summer.

I came of age during the Great Recession and am admittedly often picky about how i spend my money. I could not imagine spending $750/night on the DLH or $1,050/night on GCH. You can get way more hotel in WDW for several hundred dollars less.

Ultimately, there’s only a limited number of Disney-owned rooms in DLR, and tons of money in SoCal alone, so those rooms sell for a ridiculous premium.

Maybe one day Candy Cane Inn and Desert Palm Suites will be leveled and replaced with Radiator Springs Resort…

 

[brightlined]

Yesterday and today were the most crowded I’ve seen the parks in a long time. I get that yesterday was a Federal holiday, but considering the lowest two MK are blacked out, and the lowest allegedly houses the majority of MK users, I’m stunned.

I should have said it - but I was definitely keeping the 19th in mind. It'll be on Friday next year - four days Sun-Wed might slide in perfectly. (Or even backing it up Sat-Tues/Wed.)

 

[DL1WDW2]

I have to “ remind” myself to remember June 19 is a Federal Holiday .
If you are considering those dates you should not delay making a reservation with a cancel policy just in case.

 

[brightlined]

I definitely wouldn't schedule a trip over the 19th - no reason to deal with the crowds. But we were talking in another thread about how light Father's Day weekend was (and often is at theme parks) - there's probably space to hit the lighter part of that weekend and get out before the holiday.