Who has booked the 3 night 50th Anniversary Package

[djm99]

I've never stayed on Disneyland's Property. I've even read that the Paradise Pier is further away than some hotels across the street. If I stay onsite that's where I'm staying. Or maybe I'll stay across the street. Any suggestions.

 

[Minderbinder5]

Paradise Pier and the other DL hotels are right across the street from DCA, but it actually could take you longer (only the difference of a couple minutes) to get to a park entrance than if you stay at non-Disney hotels. We always stay at the Anaheim Fairfield Inn by Marriott. It's right across the street from the Harbor Blvd. entrance, and a very quick walk. We also like it because, if you get a room facing the parks, you can see all the attractions at night in DCA from your room. Always clean, but no frills.
We are going to be out there a week from tomorrow, and then again for the 50th.

 

[Tink's_Club]

I have stayed onsite at the DL Hotels and I can tell you that PP is directly across the street from DL Grand Californian Hotel... To me it still seems that PP is closer than the other hotels across the street (I have stayed in some of those too) but PP also has some advantages that the outside hotel's across the street might not have. PP has a walkway that leads directly into Downtown Disney and once in this area you can get a ride on the DL Monorail into DL.

If still seems to far to walk back and forth from PP hotel to DL you can always hitch a tram directly from the PP hotel to DL and back.. It doesn't take that long either. They have trams running all the time... And lastly, there's always something magical when you stay onsite anyways, you feel like your right in the middle of all that Disney Magic, kinda mushy I know but that's just the way it is...

Hope this helps you...

P.S. Me and my hubby are staying the first weekened of the the Happiest Celebration on Earth (May5-8) too. I hope you have lots of fun and find magic wherever you go....

 

[disneychrista]

It was my understanding that there is no longer a tram from PP to DL. Of course i could be wrong, since I have no first hand experience.

 

[JC Butterfly]

since your question was about who booked the 3 day package, I thought you'd like to know that that isn't the only package available (just the only one you can currently book online). But if you call directly you can book just a room, or pacakges of varying lengths and prices.

It's hard to give suggestions without knowing some preferences. Is saving money your top priority? Is having a fully-immersed Disney experience important? Do you need to be the closest possible to the parks for small children or special needs or is it just a preference?

I have stayed at the Paradise Pier and enjoyed myself. It was before the refurb so I found it a bit bland but it had a beautiful view overlooking the California Adventure theme park. I think we paid about $180 a night for the view.

I have stayed at the Carousel Inn across the street. I found it to be a quick walk to the parks, had a view of the monorail. They had a breakfast room where you could have a lovely view of Disneyland. It was a mini-suite with fridge for like $60 a night.

I have stayed at the Best Western Park Place. Wouldn't go back. Staff was rude and things were stolen from our room.

When I go back for the 50th next year I really debated what i wanted to do but settled on the Disneyland Hotel because I've always dreamt of staying there and it's "the original".

good luck with your choice.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I'll be there that week but I'll be at the HOJO up the street


-em

 

[Goofydiane]

I'm not booking any packages for the anniversary. I've got my room already booked at the Anaheim Hilton for both the May celebration and the July celebration. I'll have an AP, so I won't have to worry about tickets. Now if the flights can just stay low and cheap!

If I had a choice of any of the resorts, it would be Disneyland Hotel. The etching off the park on the tv doors and the glow in the dark room border is what disney is about.

 

[eileenfk]

The packages that I saw, were the worst DL vacation deal I have ever seen.
They include a 3 day pass. A 4 day pass is only about $2 more then a 3 day pass (or at least this was the case the day I did my price comparisons). After I subtracted out the cost of the park pass, it left a price of over $400 per night for the room. Even the Paradise Pier was over $300. The packages included only the cheapest rooms in each hotel (the standard view). There was no option to get a better room, yet the prices were more then I had ever paid for any room.

In fact, after my evaluation of the packages (which were the only way to get a reservation on line), I pretty much decided to stay on Harbor Blvd.
As far as walking distance goes, I have done both. I found the walk to the Magic Kingdom (the piece we have always called Disney Land) to be not significantly different, although from the Grand Californian it was a slightly shorter walk. However the walk to the California Adventure was easier from both the Paradise Pier and the Grand Californian. The DL hotel does not seem any closer to the DisneyLand entrance then the Harbor Blvd hotels that are closest to the cross walk.
I also found, that when I stayed in a Disney owned hotel, I walked over to Harbor Blvd, often enough, to get cheaper water and meals, that my total walking was actually more then when I stayed on Harbor Blvd.
At the end of the day, I liked using the monorail.
When I stayed in the Grand Californian

Despite the additional walking, I would still stay at a DisneyLand resort hotel, if the price was no more then 150% as much.

My favorite Harbor Blvd hotel is the Park Inn International (not to be confused with Park Place Inn Best Western). The Park Inn International had a pool, that (although small) was not so closed in. Park Place Inn advertised a view of fire works, but such a view really only existed from a few key points. Park Inn International really did have a view of fireworks. Due to being next to McDonalds (which is not a high rise) there was more view clearance then offered by hotels that are stuck between two other high rises.
I would not stay in Desert Inn again either.
I still have not tried out the Carousel Inn or the Mariott Fairfield Inn.

- Eileen

 

[lark]

You can now also book the Resort Magic 2005 package on line, in addition to the Happy Homecoming, for dates in 2005. The Resort Magic was a little cheaper, and it also allows you to do more fine tuning. (For example, you can only get the standard room on HH, but can choose different view options with Resort Magic.)

I agree with the above poster who said it's not a great deal. If you were to buy park tickets separately, the Resort Magic comes out at about $400 a night for the GC. We're planning to go in September, and if this year is any indication, we'll be able to get rooms for about half that. My plan is to book a room only early through disney to make sure I have a room, and then see if I can get a better deal as time goes on, and then cancel the original reservation.

The package has a few little perks you don't get if you do things separately, and it's certainly easier, but it's not a deal.

 

[Blondiex46]

Still thinking about going to CA thanks for the information. When I realy decide then I have to come here of course for the info.

 

[poohj80]

We just started looking at the packages available for May 2005 and it seems that DL packages are similar to WDW Packages in that they are more for convenience and not savings.

I just started reading this forum today (I'm a regular over on the DVC forum) as we are finally starting to plan this trip for next year and could use any suggestions from you vets out there. I used to live in San Diego so visited DL all the time, but since graduating high school and slowly moving East, I haven't been back since Christmas 96 so have never been to DCA.

We have already decided we're staying at the GC but is it really worth the extra for a Downtown Disney or Park view? I have seen some nice monorail pix on this board from city view rooms. Also, how many days/nights would you suggest to make sure we see and do it all without being rushed? What restaurants are not to be missed? I always remember seeing folks eating inside Pirates but we never did anything other than counter service as a kid so I plan to finally eat at Blue Bayou!

Also, what happened to WHo Wants to be a Millionaire? I wanted a chance to get a polo shirt from both coasts!

Thanks for all the help!

PJ

 

[yensiD naF]

I agree with those who thought the DLR packages were too expensive for the 50th anniversary celebration. DL is not WDW in the sense the you can be "in the magic."

The last time I stayed on property they no longer offered tram service to the parks, forcing you to walk through Downtown Disney to get to DL and back. It's ok the first couple of times, but it gets very tiring, especially at the end of a long day of walking. And to me the walk to Paradise Pier is too long.

I like the Disneyland Hotel, but I'm not a fan of PP, even though the view of DCA from some of the rooms is very nice. I haven't stayed at the Grand Californian yet, but will someday.

When I was looking into the DLR resorts for the July 2005 events, I was shocked at the prices. It's true that the average was $400 per night after the park hoppers. I chose to stay at the Anaheim Marriott Suites and saved over $600 on the package.

One would be crazy to stay at the DLR hotels over the July 17 weekend. It's just going to be too crowded to handle.

In any case, I just can't wait to be part of this historic event.

 

[poohj80]

Originally posted by yensiD naF
One would be crazy to stay at the DLR hotels over the July 17 weekend. It's just going to be too crowded to handle.

In any case, I just can't wait to be part of this historic event.

A couple people have mentioned this weekend in July but I don't know what's happening since the celebration starts in May. Can anyone fill me in please?

Thanks!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Doing the three night DCL add on pre cruise @ DGCR.

 

[iceskatejen]

The celebration starts in May, but July 17 is the actual birthday and there's sure to be a big event commemorating the actual day.