Trip planning to DL in Sept...

[chicknoodle99]

Hi there,

Everyone here is so full of information that I thought I would ask for advice. Dh and I would like to go to DL this year instead of WDW. We have been to WDW many times but would like to see the 50th Anniversary Celebration in DL. I have a few questions as not familiar with DL...

Is it best to stay in a Disney hotel? Is it worth the extra $$ over staying at one of the good neighbor hotels? If not, which good neighbor hotels would you recommend?

What is the best way to get from SNA to DL? Do they have a shuttle service like Mears in FL?

Going in Sept what should the crowds be like as value season? What about the weather?

Is the dining option worth adding on to our package? Never used dining options before...

What should we NOT miss while we are there?

Thanks in advance....

 

[Judy from Boise]

On the Sept issue, it is a great time weather wise, and crowds I think would be good excluding weekends. You do need to know that as of right now SM would not be opened yet.

 

[LucyKate]

We stayed at the Howard Johnson and loved it - people here tend to fall into two categories:
1. If you can afford it, Grand Californian, everyone agrees is the best place in town, if not might as well stay at a good cheaper offsite hotel (Howard Johnson, and Candy Cane regularly come up as good places to stay)
2. If you can afford it, Grand Californian, if not, stay at another Disney property to ensure the Disney magic - Disneyland Hotels is means to be much better than Paradise Pier.

I'm in category 1!

As for rides:
DL
Peter Pan is brilliant and vastly underrated
Splash Mountain is great fun
Thunder Mountain, Priates, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones are all sensational.
Small World is surprisingly good, as is Pooh, even for adults.
Matterhorn, Star Tours and Honey I Shrunk the kids are also very good.

DCA
Tower of terror is the best ride, period. Magnificant detail and thrils
Soarin over California is a very close second - amazing conccept superbly done
Grizzly river run will absolutely soak you (take pnchos) but is great fun and not at all scary.
Screamin is good if you like coasters
Bugs life 3D is very god - but will terrify small children.