where to stay; park tickets

[dmen]

HI,

I am looking to go to Disneyland--it will be a short 3 day trip. I am trying to decide on a hotel and have narrowed it down to GC, DLH, PP, the Marriott Aneheim, and the Hilton Anaheim. My main concern is how do I get to the parks from these places? I know GC is in CA, PP has its own entrance to CA, but how do you get to the Disneyland park? And how do you get to both parks from DLH? I assume that I'll have to drive and park from the Hilton and Marriott, which is fine and expected. But I'd hate to have to drive from a Disney hotel.

Also, with the tickets I heard that some come with an extra magic hour in Fantasyland. Where can I find more about that? And can I still get those tickets from a good neighbor hotel?
Thank you so much!

 

[Michelle2]

Nope, you do not have to drive from a Disney hotel!!
I do not know how you get to the parks from the Marriott or the Hilton (I am sure they have shuttles), but I have stayed at all 3 on-site DIsney hotels. Yes, GC has its own entrance into DCA, but there is another entrance that leads right into Downtown Disney that will take you to the Disneyland park. It is just a short walk away from Disneyland's main gates. It is the quickest/shortest walk to both parks.

DLH and PP are located at the other end of Downtown Disney. All you have to do to get to Disneyland or DCA from both of these hotels, is just walk through Downtown Disney, and I think it is an actually pretty walk myself! You enter into a big courtyard where both parks are located across the way from each other.
PP has a tram really close by that you can take over, and DLH is closest to the monorail that you can take over as well....The monorail will let you off in Tomorrowland though, and not at the main gates like WDW's does.

All of the onsite hotels can take any of the transportation methods I listed above though. It all depends where you happen to be when you feel like getting to/from the parks. We always liked walking because you don't have to wait to do it.

And yes, you can get an early entry ticket for one day of your choice if you stay at a good neighbor hotel. I think any multiday ticket that is bought from a WD travel affiliate can have this early day option. But if you stay onsite, you can get into early entry every day that it is offered during your stay. I know we did every time it was offered! Of course this was in September, so things could have changed since then. As far as I know it is the same though.

 

[simba_one]

PP no longer has its own entrance to DCA. You have to use the GC's entrance instead. If you stay at the DLH then you can either walk to the DD Monorail station and take the Monorail in (Disneyland only though) or walk. And it really isn't a long walk... at all. You'd DEFINITELY NOT have to drive if you stay on-site at the DLR. Both the Marriott and Hilton are lovely. Having never stayed at either I wouldn't like to say which is better but depending on which Marriott you're talking about, I'd personally go for the Hilton.

 

[FWDisFan]

We returned last night from a stay at the GC. It was FABULOUS! It is extremely convenient to all things Disney. Everything Disney is within walking distance (even for my kids who usually don't like to do alot of walking. No stroller this time! They ARE 6 and 9 now!) We LOVED the entry into CA. If CA is open you can enter there and cut through the park and exit and walk across the esplanade (which is about the same as crossing a street without the cars) to Disneyland OR walk through Downtown Disney.

The proximity of everything and ease of transport was one of the best features of DL! Good luck deciding.

We ate at the PPH (Lilo and Stitch Breakfast) and that walk isn't bad either. You can walk across the street and cut through the GC I suppose OR walk through via Downtown Disney.

The MOST convenient has to be GC (we flew in to Orange County at 9 am, caught the super shuttle and checked in and we were in the park (CA) by 10:30 (no exaggeration!) BUT all 3 are extremely do-able and walk-able! At the end of a long day it was nice to be so close in the GC! (We would stay there again for the convenience alone!)

 

[dmen]

Thank you so much for all the insightful and informative responses. I know Florida so well, but am completely lost as far as California. Your answers really helped. Still need to make a decision, but feel comfortable doing it now!

 

[abby]

We stay at the DLH and love it. We can either take the monorail or walk. We actually walked mostly. It's me and dd who was almost 5 last time we were there. If you have kids I think the DLH is great, very disney.

 

[tmt martins]

WE stayed in PP in June it was very nice .
Walked through DLH to DTD to monorail or just to the end for DL or CA.

But as we had hoppers most of the time we just Walk through GC to CA then on to DL .

None of the walks are that far and 10 mins at most if your not browsing at the sights as you go.
You should also do the fireworks 1 night from PP pooldeck they are great to watch from there

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I assume that I'll have to drive and park from the Hilton and Marriott, which is fine and expected.

ART handles Hilton and Marriott...Good neighbor hotels also participate in ee