Traveling to the BCS National Championship Game on 1/7 and considering Disneyland Too

[islandbound1day]

Hello. I live in Georgia and need some help. My son (11) and I have visited Disney World in March of this year and had a wonderful trip. We stayed 7 nights at the Contemporary with a Themepark View of the castle. I went all out with that vacation.

Now fast foward to now. I am taking my son to see Alabama play in the National Championship Game on January 7th. We have never been to California. He has always talked about me taking him to Disneyland but I never thought it would be reasonable to do that since we live so close to Disney World and there are more parks at Disney in Florida. Well I looked up the distance between Pasadena and Disneyland at it is only 25-30 miles so I am considering staying at Disneyland and just driving to Pasadena for the game on that Thursday. My plans are to fly in on Wednesday 1/6/10 and stay through Sunday 1/10/10.

So I need a little help. I am not really impressed that there are only three Disney onsite hotel options at Disneyland. Saying that, if you could stay anywhere onsite or off, where would you stay. I absolutely loved having the monorail transportation when we stayed at the Contemporary this year so that would be great to have again. I plan taking him to both parks while we are there. I am just really torn on deciding to stay near Disneyland and visit the parks or staying in another area in Los Angeles or a beach town and skip adding Disney to this trip.

ANY THOUGHTS or HELP would be great. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

 

[jlmarr]

Sorry that you're not impressed that there are only 3 hotels at DLR. You really need to read Hydroguy's tips for people who have only been to WDW:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[gatorfreud]

Well, first, congratulations on the victory. You certainly whooped our butts and I hope you do the same to Texas!

Anyway, we are usually WDW folks, being from FL - but have been to DLR more and more lately since we are out here on the west coast now.

Disneyland is a very different experience than in FL - not better, not worse, just different. I really like the Disneyland Hotel - we have stayed there quite a few times and we like it. The Cove pools are very warm in case the weather is at all swim-able! Onsite is much more expensive out here - so, many people choose offsite. We usually stay at HoJo when we stay offsite. But be prepared - it is just a hotel, not at all the same experience as at WDW. Even Disneyland Hotel is not the same as a resort at WDW, but I do like it.

Disneyland has many positives - everything is so compact, it is so easy to get anywhere by walking, even from many offsite places - no need for monorail really, although you can take it from DLH, but it is often not faster. So easy to park hop. Lots of old charm. And some cool stuff that WDW does not have, like the Redwood Creek Challenge in DCA, my boys love that.

I think there are some buy 3 get 5 type deals or something going on for January - check in to that.

Have fun! Jealous of the game of course! Have a great trip.

Kim
Go Gators! ~,==,<

 

[Bama_C]

Hi Stacey,

Hubby and I are trying to plan a trip out ourselves. We are waiting until tomorrow to see if we'll get BCSCG tickets... and if so, the planning begins! I am so excited, as I have never been to CA or to DL (hubby has been to CA but not DL). We've been to WDW a number of times in the past few years and love it so much. We have the Walt Disney Treasures Disneyland Secrets dvd, and it has made us really want to get to DL. This should be our perfect opportunity. Hubby has been on the computer all day looking at flights, hotels, etc. We will probably stay off site, but since we will have a rental car we can drive wherever we need to go. We always have a car at WDW, too, so that would be nothing new for us. We are planning to get PH tix and the dining plan. I am going to be reading posts to see if I can get more information.

RTR... let's go get #13!


TO KIM aka GATORFREUD: What a class-filled post! Wish all SEC fans were like you! Thanks for the info, too.

 

[gatorfreud]

You guys should have a blast! I can't imagine a better trip than Disneyland and an NC game! Sweet!!

So my almost 7yo is a super Gator fan too... he is really used to winning since in his short football life (since he has sort of "gotten it") there hasn't been much else for him to watch! So after the game he was like "Now what? Do we still like the Gators?" So we are trying to explain to him OF COURSE we still love the Gators, that is our team, and they are always #1 to us, even if they are no longer THE #1. And we are also letting him know that NOW we cheer for Bama - that is like our family - we can fight with them, but then when they fight someone outside the "family" (SEC) then we cheer for our family member. So I think he is getting, although he is sad that WE are no longer #1! Ha! Me too!!

Anyway, have a great trip - should be awesome!!

Oh ETA - don't get the dining plan - it is not the same at at WDW and they just give you little paper money vouchers - not necessary.

Kim

 

[marcielm]

I don't have much DL experience, but I wanted to say I'm over here researching for a client going in April.

From what I have found, the Grand Californian might one of intrest for you & your son... it's an "onsite" property, and the look reminds me a bit of the Wilderness Lodge at WDW (but that's just what I've seen in pics). The theme is supposed to be a "California" look with "grand timbers & authentic landscapes".

There are also many Good Neighbor hotels (and if you book soon, you can get the buy 3, get 2 free deal -- possibly even on the onsite properties if there is availability) that allow you add your park tickets, plus a meal plan (which I've been told by colleagues isn't worth it like it is at WDW), or even just 1-2 character meals. For the Good Neighbor resorts there is an option to add a shuttle service pass (for my fam of 6 it was $50... not sure how the price would be for 2 people).

As an Aggie fan, I hope you beat the he!! outta' t.u. (I'll keep our traditional yell to a pg level for the DIS).

 

[islandbound1day]

Thank you so much to everyone that has offerered their help and suggestions. I really do appreciate it. I also appreciate the well wishes for Bama! I am so excited about the game and now about experiencing Disneyland too! Now I just have to narrow down where to stay. Do the 3 Disney Hotels at Disneyland allow you to have the charging options inside the parks like they do at WDW?

 

[islandbound1day]

I will be crossing my fingers for you regarding tickets! Also don't forget that Ticketmaster will be selling a limited amount of tickets to the general public on December 15th at 10 am central time via their website or by phone.

I too agree that KIM aka GATORFREUD is one classy fan!

Hi Stacey,

Hubby and I are trying to plan a trip out ourselves. We are waiting until tomorrow to see if we'll get BCSCG tickets... and if so, the planning begins! I am so excited, as I have never been to CA or to DL (hubby has been to CA but not DL). We've been to WDW a number of times in the past few years and love it so much. We have the Walt Disney Treasures Disneyland Secrets dvd, and it has made us really want to get to DL. This should be our perfect opportunity. Hubby has been on the computer all day looking at flights, hotels, etc. We will probably stay off site, but since we will have a rental car we can drive wherever we need to go. We always have a car at WDW, too, so that would be nothing new for us. We are planning to get PH tix and the dining plan. I am going to be reading posts to see if I can get more information.

RTR... let's go get #13!


TO KIM aka GATORFREUD: What a class-filled post! Wish all SEC fans were like you! Thanks for the info, too.

 

[marcielm]

Thank you so much to everyone that has offerered their help and suggestions. I really do appreciate it. I also appreciate the well wishes for Bama! I am so excited about the game and now about experiencing Disneyland too! Now I just have to narrow down where to stay. Do the 3 Disney Hotels at Disneyland allow you to have the charging options inside the parks like they do at WDW?

I just found this on the TA site:
The Disneyland® Resort has launched a “Key to the Magic” card which allows Guests staying at any Disneyland® Resort hotel property to use their room key as a charge-to-the-room card.

I hope that helps!!

 

[marcielm]

Now I just have to narrow down where to stay.

Playing with some numbers (because I'm trying to get use to the DL booking window), I just pulled up the Paradise Peir for 1 adult + 1 junior (your 11yr old) for 5 nights (buy 3, get 2 free) for $1089 (btw, dates are Jan. 5-10). The prices include the 5 day park hopper ticket as well.

The Disneyland hotel comes up as $1242, and the Grand Californian came up at $1554. These are all for "standard view" rooms.

 

[HydroGuy]

For hotel information check the links in this thread:

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

Disney hotels are great but expensive. Others have given you the scoop.

If you want to go good neighbor the links above will help. HoJo's and CCI get lots of good recommendations around here. I have stayed at HoJo's and it is a good option. There are closer hotels. We like the BWPPI for a few reasons including that it is the closest.

If you do not know what BWPPI and CCI are you need to start learning DLR abbreviations:

"DLR Abbreviations List" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520784

 

[islandbound1day]

Thank you so much! Considering I spent over 3K for this years WDW vacation, these rates look great !

Playing with some numbers (because I'm trying to get use to the DL booking window), I just pulled up the Paradise Peir for 1 adult + 1 junior (your 11yr old) for 5 nights (buy 3, get 2 free) for $1089 (btw, dates are Jan. 5-10). The prices include the 5 day park hopper ticket as well.

The Disneyland hotel comes up as $1242, and the Grand Californian came up at $1554. These are all for "standard view" rooms.

 

[pinktink83]

If you're not impressed by the 3 DL Hotels, you may need to adjust your expectations for DL! LOL! Its definitely NOT Disneyworld. You could easily ride every single ride, and go to every single attraction, in BOTH parks in 2-3 days. The hotel experience is probably not going to be the highlight of the trip...so if you're just looking for a little fun, but not paying a lot, I'd stay at a Good Neighbor Hotel.

 

[islandbound1day]

One other thing that I will need to take into consideration when choosing my hotel is that I like QUIET and high end bedding inside my room. I was VERY PLEASED with how quiet my room was at the Contemporary. I was scared that the noise from the monorail inside the hotel and Chef Mickeys was going to annoy me but the room was completely soundproof. Many hotels claim this so even though I read this before I picked the Contemporary, I had to experience it to really belive it. As far as the bedding, I will admit that I am a stickler for high end bedding such as down comforters and high thread count sheets. Sounds silly to most I know. While i did not get this bedding at the Contemporary, the bedding there was very nice as well. It may be best for me to stay at a good neighbor hotel. Decisions, decisions, decisions

 

[marcielm]

Thank you so much! Considering I spent over 3K for this years WDW vacation, these rates look great !

I was thinking the same thing... we might need to head west one year!

 

[gatorfreud]

HoJo has really nice beds!

For those rates - personally I would choose DLH for just the little bit above PPH.

Kim

 

[HydroGuy]

If you're not impressed by the 3 DL Hotels, you may need to adjust your expectations for DL! LOL! Its definitely NOT Disneyworld. You could easily ride every single ride, and go to every single attraction, in BOTH parks in 2-3 days. The hotel experience is probably not going to be the highlight of the trip...so if you're just looking for a little fun, but not paying a lot, I'd stay at a Good Neighbor Hotel.

You are right on that DLR is not WDW. However, I am not so sure about easily riding every ride and doing every attraction in 2-3 days. Is it possible? Yes, maybe. But not easily.

It depends a lot on your knowledge of the parks, FP, Magic Mornings, your hotel proximity, age and energy level of children, etc.

Here is an example of my family, FWIW. We have teen kids. We stay at walking distance hotels. We know DLR, Magic Morning and FASTPASS inside and out. We arrive to the park gates 30 minutes early. If we focused we could do every ride, attraction and show in three days. If we wanted to do it easily it would take at least four days. Maybe five. My two cents.

For someone who goes off-season and is able to find an uncrowded week (do those exist anymore?) they could fit in more rides but will likely have more ride closures and shows not scheduled. So it would be hard to do everything but they could do a lot.

 

[Jackie H.]

We are headed that way too!
We are staying at the Paradise Pier Hotel. Got a room on expedia for less than $170, standard view.

My son is a freshman on Alabama's team and we are so giddy we can hardly think straight!! My daughter and I are huge Disney fans. Son will be with the team and we will be hitting Disneyland. DD has been asking to go to Disneyland for years...but like the others, WDW was so close and DL so far.

Now not only do I get to take my DD to Disneyland...we get to see our son in the Rose Bowl stadium for the National Championship! WOW!!!!

ROLL TIDE!!!

 

[islandbound1day]

Jackie that is sooo wonderful. Congratulations to your son. What a way to start off his Freshman football year at Alabama by getting to go play inside the Rose Bowl. That is Magical alone! I am hearing that the team will be staying in south Orange County too so maybe he can hang out with you too at Disney. My dad's good friend is the equipment manager for the team and has been with Bama for well over 20 years and he is excited about the trip out to Pasadena too. I guess it will be a magical experience for all Bama fans of all ages!

We are headed that way too!
We are staying at the Paradise Pier Hotel. Got a room on expedia for less than $170, standard view.

My son is a freshman on Alabama's team and we are so giddy we can hardly think straight!! My daughter and I are huge Disney fans. Son will be with the team and we will be hitting Disneyland. DD has been asking to go to Disneyland for years...but like the others, WDW was so close and DL so far.

Now not only do I get to take my DD to Disneyland...we get to see our son in the Rose Bowl stadium for the National Championship! WOW!!!!

ROLL TIDE!!!

 

[Jackie H.]

Thanks Stacey. I forgot to mention how my husband feels about all this! He loves Disney - in fact, he took me to WDW on our honeymoon (many, many years ago). But he is also very "careful" with his money...LOL.

But he is so happy about the BCS he said to DD and I.."Hey! Let's stay at a Disneyland hotel!"

We are up for anything!