Trying to plan our first DL trip and need advice!!

[GMU MOM]

I'm trying to plan our very first trip to DL and I really could use some help!
We will be taking our 3rd trip to WDW this Nov and although I don't consider myself an expert on WDW, I feel more comfortable when planning our trips. However, I am clueless when it comes to DL.

First, am I crazy for thinking of taking our first DL trip during Christmas week? We will spend 5-6 days at DLR, we won't be visiting anything else as the kids are obssessed with cars and they have been talking non-stop about visiting carsland. So, if we arrive early to the parks, take a mid-day break and then return to the parks in the evening, will we be able to manage?

Second, I have been searching hotels and reading reviews for the past few days and I still don't know what to book. We will definitely stay offsite at DL due to high cost of on site hotels even though we only stay on-site at WDW.
I keep reading that it's best to stay at one of the hotels across the street but during Christmas week, their rates are $140/nt or more for just a standard room. Is the shuttle service really that bad? How different is it from the buses at WDW (other than the cost of course)? So far, the only hotels I have found around $100/nt are Hotel Menage and the BW Raffles Inn. The BW offers bkfst too.
The Hilton Anaheim and the Doubletree are also pretty reasonable but don't offer comp bkfst.
What are your opinions about these hotels? Does anyone have any suggestions on getting a discounted rate at the hotels across the street during Christmas week?


Sorry if this was so long but I know I will have more questions.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[skiingfast]

If you go during Christmas Week you need 5 days and 6 will be nice. It's super busy, have you done WDW during that week, if not you have no idea. Hard to move in the parks, very long lines for everything. If possible can you slide over to the week before or after the week between Christmas and New Years?


Are you going to WDW again within a year of going in November? If so look at getting a Premier Annual Pass you can use at both parks. If not consider getting one for the room, and food discounts. You may be able to make up for the cost if the person who pays the bills has one.

This is what staying at a hotel on Harbor is like. You know at WDW when you take Disney Transport and finally pull into the parks. Then you just have to walk to the front gates and go through the turnstyle. That last part going from the bus to turnsytles, that is what it's like going from a across the street Harbor Hotel to the Disneyland Resort gates. 10 minutes or less walking hotel to turnsyles at DLR. Comparing the two that short walk is very pleasant.

If you take a shuttle from Menage or Raffles it does add 15 to 40 minutes of time waiting and riding the shuttle. At Christmas you may have to wait for the next shuffle adding 30 minutes because they can fill up before you get on.


This is why the basic motels at $140 are not that bad. Raffles and Menage are pretty basic too.

 

[Cinderpamela]

I would highly recommend Hydroguys Hotel rule thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Pretty much sums up why you need to stay within walking distance. At $40 more a night it is totally worth it IMO to not have to wait for a shuttle .... during Christmas season that's probably 2 or 3 shuttles.

A huge advantage that DL has over WDW is the fact that you don’t have the hassle of transportation (unless you choose to). I would be willing to bet that you will be thankful, that at that busy time of year, you saved yourself the aggravation.

 

[Bungle]

Are you rope drop people? If not I would opt to stay farther out. We have stayed across the street before (hojos) and while being in walking distance was a perk we never went to rope drop, we are more of the stay late and enjoy the park at night type so there is no mad rush to get there in the morning. This time we are choosing to stay farther offsite to get breakfast included. For us it is an incredible money savings to not have to buy breakfast every morning. Or to at least stay at a place that has one for a small fee.

We are staying at embassy suites our next trip PinkBudgie has a review with pictures here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2220664

I know that they do have a discount for paying in advance, although I'm not sure what the rates will be during the time you want to go. A more affordable option is the Hyatt, but I think you have to pay for the breakfast.

 

[lana772]

We are also going that week, but there is no way I would consider staying off site, The crowds make it way too hard to take that "mid day break".
Just remember the farther away from the maingate that you are the more you have to go through to get from your room to the park and back. If your family is the type (like mine) that needs a nap or pool break in the middle of the day, take into consideration that if the park fills to capacity (which it has been know to do at Christmas) you will not get back in so you had better love your hotel. It filled to capacity one time when we were there on Veterans Day and we were staying at the HI... BIG BUMMER!

 

[lana772]

I would highly recommend Hydroguys Hotel rule thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Pretty much sums up why you need to stay within walking distance. At $40 more a night it is totally worth it IMO to not have to wait for a shuttle .... during Christmas season that's probably 2 or 3 shuttles.

A huge advantage that DL has over WDW is the fact that you don’t have the hassle of transportation (unless you choose to). I would be willing to bet that you will be thankful, that at that busy time of year, you saved yourself the aggravation.

GREAT ADVICE!!

 

[GMU MOM]

Thank you everyone for the feedback.

We have nver been to WDW during Christmas week and honestly I usually hate travelling anywhere during a holiday but this time the whole purpose of the timing is to be away during that week...I don't want to spend it at home!

We will be going back to WDW next August but after pricing the premier AP it actually came out more expensive than all the tkts we would be buying plus we go during free dining so the AP discounts don't help much.

We are definitely rope drop people. We like getting into the park when it's not so crowded and then taking a mid-day break for a swim or nap.

I guess it's back to the drawing board for me...

Has anyone stayed at Hotel Menage? I thought it was only an 8 minute walk but I guess the closer the better.

 

[lana772]

You have the exact same reason as I do for putting up with the holiday crowds! I figure the stress at DL is better than the stress at home.

 

[Cinderpamela]

I haven't actually stayed at the Hotel Menage but I will say that I have driven by it on the shuttle to and from the Sheraton Anaheim.
When driving by I was assessing if I would want to stay there ever, since the price is always so tempting. That walk across the freeway overpass from Hotel Menage could be kinda scary... I mean there is a sidewalk and all but its not very wide.

When you factor in the easy walk from the hotels right across the street it just doesn't seem worth it to me. Just down from the Menage is the Anaheim Sheraton (where we have stayed several times) and they have their very own dedicated shuttle which runs every 30 minutes and is only for their guests. I would do that hands down before The Menage.

When we stayed at the Sheraton, the shuttle drove right past the Menage (as I said before) and I never saw anyone walking over that freeway overpass to and from that hotel. Not to mention that it is nestled right at the corner of a huge intersection (6 lanes each road) and the freeway (8 lanes I think) so there is constant traffic noise from all 4 sides.

If you are just looking for a clean bed at a low price, the Ramada Maingate is also a good inexpensive option. We have done that, and it was a clean room, that we weren't spending any time in but to sleep.

 

[juliebug1997]

You have the exact same reason as I do for putting up with the holiday crowds! I figure the stress at DL is better than the stress at home.

I can't wait until 2014 when DH and I are talking about going to Italy for Christmas. It should be low stress compared to going to my ILs.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Have you looked at the Best Western Stovals? A lot of people on here seem to like it. The walk would be down past the Paradise Pier and into the Grand Californian, and then cut through to Downtown Disney.

We did this walk when staying at the Paradise Pier and it was quite nice every morning to stop and get my morning coffee in the CG on our way to the parks. Not quite as close as the ones right across the street on the other side, but I have read some positive things on price and I believe someone said they offer breakfast. It seems like it would be a closer and less trafficked walk than the Manage.... and further removed from the freeway noise for sure.

Check it out the map to see where it is:
http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

 

[sunny45]

Also check the Desert Palms Hotel and Suites. www.desertpalmshotel.com
There is a thread on here recently about it. They offer a free breakfast and have separate rooms for you and your children or you can all sleep in the same room if you prefer with different combinations of beds/sofa/bunk beds. They have a heated outdoor pool.
It's #8 on Tripadvisor


There's also another thread about the Motel 6 you might want to check out that was also recently started. No breakfast is included there.

We are planning our first trip and I am compiling a list of places I am interested in that aren't that much money either.

I had the Hotel Menege on my list but took it off after reading some comments on it being a long walk, loud noise from the interstate and the pool is open 24 hrs a day. We are a middle aged couple and I don't want a place that is loud and with a 24 hr pool not at a theme park anyway. I need to sleep.



Good luck!!

 

[lana772]

I can't wait until 2014 when DH and I are talking about going to Italy for Christmas. It should be low stress compared to going to my ILs.

Oh... that sounds like a dream.

 

[GMU MOM]

Have you looked at the Best Western Stovals? A lot of people on here seem to like it. The walk would be down past the Paradise Pier and into the Grand Californian, and then cut through to Downtown Disney.

We did this walk when staying at the Paradise Pier and it was quite nice every morning to stop and get my morning coffee in the CG on our way to the parks. Not quite as close as the ones right across the street on the other side, but I have read some positive things on price and I believe someone said they offer breakfast. It seems like it would be a closer and less trafficked walk than the Manage.... and further removed from the freeway noise for sure.

Check it out the map to see where it is:
http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

Thank You for this suggestion. I was able to get a reasonable rate considering it's Christmas week but I still haven't decided which hotel to book. Do you happen to remember how long the walk took you from BW Stovall's to DLR?

Also check the Desert Palms Hotel and Suites. www.desertpalmshotel.com
There is a thread on here recently about it. They offer a free breakfast and have separate rooms for you and your children or you can all sleep in the same room if you prefer with different combinations of beds/sofa/bunk beds. It looks like they have an indoor pool too.
It's #8 on Tripadvisor


There's also another thread about the Motel 6 you might want to check out that was also recently started. No breakfast is included there.

We are planning our first trip and I am compiling a list of places I am interested in that aren't that much money either.

I had the Hotel Menege on my list but took it off after reading some comments on it being a long walk, loud noise from the interstate and the pool is open 24 hrs a day. We are a middle aged couple and I don't want a place that is loud and with a 24 hr pool not at a theme park anyway. I need to sleep.



Good luck!!

I also took Hotel Menage off my list. I was not aware that we have to walk on the crossway to get to DLR. The Desert Palms hotel looks good. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[skiingfast]

We will be going back to WDW next August but after pricing the premier AP it actually came out more expensive than all the tkts we would be buying plus we go during free dining so the AP discounts don't help much.

I would runs those numbers again. Also look at a Tables in Wonderland Card for WDW. You know with an AP you will get a room discount in WDW?

 

[GMU MOM]

Ok, the more reviews I read the more difficult it becomes to choose a hotel. I've narrowed down my options to the three BW hotels:

- BW Raffles Inn - I just saw a thread that people walk from this hotel to the Toy Story lot and take the tram to the main entrance. I'm not sure if the tram will run early in the morning so we can be there for RD.
However, I can get a really good rate here - about half the price of BWPPI for some of the nights and about a $40-45 difference per night for others.

- BW Stovall's Inn - this one is only about $10 cheaper per night than BWPPI

- BW PPI - across the street, comp bfst, good reviews - rate is $120 per night.

We are going during Christmas week which will be very crowded and that is making my decision so much harder. If we were going at a different time, we really don't mind taking the tram/shuttle.

What do you all think?

Other options with similar or slightly higher prices than BWPPI are:
- Desert Palms Inn and Suites
- Desert Inn and Suites
- Del Sol Inn
- Hilton Anaheim

I've never had such difficulty choosing a hotel. We normally stay at either a Marriott or Hilton property with great TA rates but this time, the only Marriott property within walking distance is the FFI and their rates are way too expensive for that week.

 

[skiingfast]

BWPPI is worth that much more. Warm breakfast is nice but being so close is so much more important.

You can walk into the Toy Story lot and get on the shuttles which are buses, not trams. It opens an hour before the parks open.


The other hotels are not as nice as the BWPPI except for one and if they cost more don't consider them. Do keep in mind that the Hilton is a more comfortable hotel than the others, but it's poor location keep its price down.

 

[Mazel]

BWPPI & Park Vue book very quickly I have found. The only way I could get a room at BWPPI was to book through Disney otherwise it was sold out when I wanted to go. I'm also going around MLK weekend so I'm guessing that has something to do with it.

I'm holding that reservation for now. I can do FFI through lastminutetravel.com for a bit less, but it's a longer walk. On a normal day that walk wouldn't bother me at all, but after all day in the parks with a 6y/o I wanted to be as close as possible. I've never had such a hard time picking a hotel. Usually I just decided and I'm good.

 

[IBLarsen]

I would go with the BWPPI...the location will make it worth that extra $! We always stay at the FFI, and are very happy with it, but their pricing has gotten higher and if the Holiday rates are that much more, I would likely do the BWPPI, as I said for location alone. It's an easy walk... just cross Harbor at the crosswalk and the rest of the walk is all on Disney Property.
During super busy times, I wouldn't want to deal with Trams or Shuttles. And at the end of the day, you will beg for as short of walk as possible.

 

[sasywtch]

If the BWPPI is only a few dollars more, I'd definitely go with that one. It's got the breakfast plus it's closer than the Disney Hotel. People will be jealous of you just walking straight to your room while they still have a hike to go. You walk across Harbor (light/crosswalk) and you are on the Disney sidewalk going up to the bag check.

I know I'm a lone ranger but I also like the Anaheim Plaza. No breakfast but we bring our own.