Trying to book - need help

[Caitsmama]

Hi! Here is my situation: I am visiting So.Cal. in Feb. for the most part, we are staying at a timeshare in Newport Beach. However, the last 2 days- we are thinking of heading up to Disneyland Resort - and i would LOVE to cap off our So.Cal. trip with a stay AT Disneyland (in either DLH or PP hotel) - now, my question is..
Should i book the hotel separate and then buy a 2 day PH for me and dd.. or should i book some kind of package deal? Do they even have deals for 2 days?? We would be going there (DLR) on 2/23 (Sat.) and checking out on 2/25 (Monday) but no parks on monday.. so parks would just be Sat. and Sun.
Also, we would be looking to take some kind of transportaion to the JW airport to fly home on Mon. am. I know it was mentioned that Disneyland has a bus service that you can get..
I have also read about the Candy Cane Inn.. and have heard good reviews on it.. But, i can't get the fact out of my head that i would love to stay on site.. BUT, if there is a substancial price difference, i might reconsider..

Any advice for me on this??

Also, IF i do book a package.. do i give a deposit up front? When does it need to be paid for by?

And if i DON'T do a package, and just book a room, What kind of deposit do they need?

Thanks so much.. I am a WDW vet, but haven't been to DLR in over 10 yrs... so i need a bit of help!

 

[bumbershoot]

Package = $200 deposit.

You should check out the prices booking and buying separately, then check out the prices straight through disneyland dot com, getaway dot com, and Costco Travel and AAA if you are a member of them already.

Have you seen the So. CA City Passes? They include 3 days at Disney, a day at Universal, one day at the San Diego zoo or the wild animal park, and I think one other thing. IF you thought about going to those other places, price it all out, see if the city pass is a deal. I've seen it for sale at Costco.

We just stayed 4 nights at PP, and 2 nights at HoJo. Now, I like luxury. But I also like value. And PP was NOT a value. It's AGES away from the park, and the walk to the park (while not difficult) was obnoxious with a 3 year old (and my 35 year old husband, LOL), because he just wanted wanted wanted the WHOLE time. And since we walked back and forth 2 and 4 times a day...that's a lot of "I wants" to deal with!

I liked the straightforward walk to HoJos. Their grounds were nice. Being "on site" isn't anything like what I've heard about being onsite at WDW.

In the future, unless I can get an amazing concierge (food food food) deal that actually is cost-effective vs buying all that food at the parks, we're going off site.

And CCI is DEFINITELY on that list, from what I've heard about it.


Lastly, have you read the Hydroguy sticky up at the top of the forum? He has DL info for WDW "vets".

 

[Caitsmama]

Thanks so much! I will look into HoJo's as well..

 

[Caitsmama]

Now, who do you use if you stay at a G.N. hotel, like HoJo's to get you to the JW airpt. ?

 

[bumbershoot]

Disneyland Express actually stops at all the GN hotels. Google their name and click to find the PDF brochure, and it has all the info in it. Although they have DL in their name, they aren't run by DL. They are a Grey Line service.

If you're looking at HoJo, check out the Entertainment coupon book. Actually, either call IN-house reservations directly (you have to talk to the people AT the hotel) and see if the terrific Entertainment deal is available on your dates, or go directly to that specific HoJo's website (something like hojoanaheim dot com?) and put in the code SD50. If a $54 rate, or something similar comes up, that's the terrific Entertainment rate. You can book it without an Entertainment book, but you'll have to show the card (that comes with the book) at check-in.

That's alot to consider!

HJ doesn't have a continental b'fast, by the way. That's one reason why CCI is high on my list for next time, b/c they do.

Have you seen this map, by the way? http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html


Back to transportation...depending on the price of Disneyland Express (we drove so I have forgotten my research), you could also look into a cab. JW airport is also called SNA, right? I think that's just about the closest airport, and I've heard of $30 being a flat-rate from the airport. But I've also heard that it costs more to get BACK to the airport...

 

[Caitsmama]

thanks again! I just saw that HoJo's doesn't have a breakfast.. which may just throw them out of my list.. I know with 4 of us, breakfast is important to be included.. especially since 2 of us (my mom and sis) won't be going to the parks 1 of the days, they will probably want to sleep in and have bfast later.. LOL

I didn't know that info about the disneyland express, i will have to look into it.. although i am assuming that is the least of my problems.. We also have lots of relatives in Garden Grove, (actually, my uncle lives 1 mile from DLR - i use to walk there as a kid ) and maybe they can take us to the airport.. so the shuttle may not even be an issue..

I have looked at a few hotels, and i like the CCI so far the best.. however, i like the deluxe queen room, which would be 144.00 a night. But, with 4 of us, a lil' larger room would be great..
Also, the carousel inn's kid's suite looks interesting.. it has a queen bed and a sep. bedroom with a bunk bed.. which would be for me and my dd.. LOL and theirs is 139.00 per night.. so very similar to CCI. But, i think the esthetics of CCI is winning me..

Then, there is the Tropicana, which was 111.75 night. 2 qu. beds.

These are all using AAA discounts.