Which day for Day 6?

[AliciaS]

We will be traveling to DL from San Diego on Monday December 3rd, staying at GCH, and leaving the morning of Sunday the 9th. I’m already sad about the leaving part!

When we go to WDW every couple years, we park the car at the official Disney hotel, and stay in the Disney bubble. We love the Disney bubble! That is why, despite the insane price, we are staying at GCH. I totally shouldn’t spend that kind of money, but I also know walking across intersections and such will diminish the trip for me.

I would like to go to Griffith Park, though, and see merry-go-round, observatory, Hollywood sign, and maybe swing by the Disney Studios nearby...that sort of thing.

Should we:
*Drive past DL from San Diego and do Griffith Park on Day 1 before turning in the rental car or
*Turn in the car and rent another one a few days later as a break from the parks?

I could see dying to just get to DL already on Monday, but I also think I wouldn’t love leaving the bubble once we are in it.

What do you think?

I’m also worried about getting stuck in traffic.

Thanks so much!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The Griffith Park Observatory is closed on Mondays, and the merry-go-round only operates on the weekends, though you can certainly go there and visit it, maybe sit one one of the benches like Walt did.

I would visit the Observatory, merry-go-round, and have lunch at the Tam-O-Shanter, one of Walt's favorite restaurants (even has a table dedicated to him) on Wednesday or Thursday. Disneyland is open later on Fridays & Saturdays, so would stay there for the weekend and enjoy the parade and fireworks.

 

[AliciaS]

Thank you so much for your insight, MaryJo! I hadn’t thought about things being closed on certain days. You mean all of SoCal doesn’t have the same hours as DL?!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

If choosing between Wednesday and Thursday, Wednesdays historically are my very favorite for the parks... more often than not the least crowded day of the week.

 

[bumbershoot]

That is why, despite the insane price, we are staying at GCH. I totally shouldn’t spend that kind of money, but I also know walking across intersections and such will diminish the trip for me.

The small dark rooms won't diminish the trip for you? They sure do that for me! My obnoxiously-placed room at the Grand was literally almost as far a walk to the center of the esplanade as it was walking from the sidewalk outside of HoJo (I mapped it out on mapmyrun). And the walk from HoJo was simple, straight forward, and uncrowded! Unlike dealing with DTD!

You don't seem to WANT to spend that money, and I just want you to know that there are plenty of really decent places, and since everyone staying at those places is going to Disney, you're still very much in a "bubble" of excited people. WDW's "bubble" involves 50 mph roads around it and long long walks, so I'm not sure what the difference really is.