Why not park at disneyland?

[NVDisMom]

Okay, so I'm looking at hotels that are within walking distance and others that are a tad on the far side of walking distance. My husband thinks we should spend $400 more and stay within walking distance. I am having a hard time spending $400 more when the total cost is already a lot of money. So, I was thinking, if parking only costs $14, why not get the lower cost hotel, and then drive to and park at disneyland? Is there some reason why parking at disneyland should be avoided?

Absolutely, unless you enjoy wasting time sitting in your car waiting to get into the parking garage, then to an available spot, then waiting for the tram, then the tram ride, and then you STILL have to walk from DTD. It takes time, sometimes alot of time. Some of the crankiest vistors I have seen were getting off of those trams from the parking lots. They hadn't even made it to the parks yet and they were tired, impatient and irritable. I am not that patient and neither are my children. And you have to do it all in reverse at the end of the day.

I see time as money. I am already spending quite a bit of money for my DL trip, a little more in order to spend more time doing what I originally came to do is money well spent. I came to DL with the intention of touring the parks, seeing shows, and riding rides. None of that magic happens in a parking lot or garage or on So Cal freeways. We park our car once and it doesn't move until we say goodbye to the Happiest Place on Earth.

I also like the freedom of going back to the hotel for an afternoon break. We eat off property more often than not (a cost savings) and enjoy a swim/nap/glass of wine or bottle of beer break. It gives your feet a rest and the kids a bit of time to just be. When they were little that nap was absolutely necessary in order for us to see F! and fireworks. Otherwise they and we were simply too tired.

If there is one piece of advice I can honestly say has made a profound impact on our DL trips, it was the advice to stay within walking distance. I give this piece of advice to everybody we know that goes. And without fail, those that choose not to listen and stay further away do not have a superb Disney experience. Some realize their mistake, others simply assume that Disney is not for them. I see it as a make or break for the Disney vacation experience, but, as always, YMMV.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, I'm definitely in the Stay On Harbor Camp. I would feel totally useless waiting for a tram! It would drive me nuts!

Oh good! I kept reading your post, thinking "that could go either way".

 

[DangerMouse]

Hydroguy has two tips that offer great advice on this topic:

Hidden Time Losses When Using a Car At DLR

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1381580

Hydroguy's Hotel Rule

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

 

[Leofoenget]

It looks like parking at disneyland costs $14. Why not get a lower cost hotel and drive to disneyland? I'm looking at spending a total of $400 or more to stay across the street from disneyland.

In the off season (like now) sure why not. But when it gets very busy and parking is a HUGE PAIN it's worth it to be able to stroll across the street and pretty much not have to move your car the whole time you are there.

 

[Jazziered]

I have done both... And I would never do the drive into the park thing again. It is several different reasons, one IS the tram thing. At the end of the night, it can be a hassle, and I am tired.. And I want to getter going... AND I want to be able to go for a short break in my room in the middle of the day, because I like to be at rope drop AND close down the house, and this can be hard if the park is open full hours and on a multiday trip, because I do get tired.

 

[PinkBudgie]

For some reason, I seem to be the only one who thinks it isn't all that bad to park at DLR. We always stay a mile or two away and drive in. Some of the places we like just happen to be further away. If I could pick them up and move them closer, I would. If you drive over before park opening you can enter Pinocchio and not even go through the parking garage. We always get pretty close spaces. But you have to get there early. We wouldn't dream of arriving mid morning.

And I have never had trouble with the trams. In the morning and in the evening during summer, we have never had to wait for more than one tram. Usually, we can get on the first one that comes by. Each section has room for several lines. If you have a stroller, however, I can see how a tram would be a pain. What I swore never to do again was take a bus to and from the hotel. Now that was a mess and everyone crowds on, not in lines like the tram, and then you have to stand up on the bus.

Now, that all said, next trip we hope to try Candy Cane Inn and see how it is to walk over. Then I will be able to compare. The advantage I do see with walking is being able to leave in the afternoon and not worry about loosing your close parking space!

 

[SeattleTink]

Dh is convinced. I'm going to do some checking and calling around just to make sure, but I think we'll be making reservations at the Anaheim plaza hotel and walking. I'm glad to hear it isn't far to disneyland from there.(I didn't think it was, but it is good to hear from people who know.)

I find this interesting. He is convinced based on what? Has he stayed at the Anaheim Plaza before and walked to Disneyland? I really don't mean to be snippy, but there are a lot of people on this board who really DO know what they are talking about based on experience and not just a map. It appears you believe all the good suggestions and advice...now, you just have to convince him!

Maybe you should have your DH read all these responses on this board?

Good luck.

 

[Leofoenget]

Well I think the problem is with the parking lots being torn up and such, driving in can be a pain. I love the idea of parking my car once at the hotel and never having to move my car again (assuming I don't need to run to the store or something.) And walking back to my hotel mid day for a rest is wonderful

 

[wvnative]

I think you'll be fine at the Anaheim Plaza. The rooms are pretty big and the ground level one we stayed in had an enclosed patio. The walk really isn't any worse, IMO, than the walk from HOJO.

I've considered staying further away and driving in, but I've deicded that for us, it's better to be able to just walk. I very much dislike traffic.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Where are you staying? I thought HoJo's but some think the Plaza, I'd only stay at the Plaza if I couldn't get the ent rate @ HoJo's.

 

[christineka]

We're staying at HoJos. I had decided the other based on walking distance, then learned about the entertainment rate, read reviews, and changed over to hojos.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We're staying at HoJos. I had decided the other based on walking distance, then learned about the entertainment rate, read reviews, and changed over to hojos.

Good choice!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

IMO....ART, trams, etc. are no way to travel with little ones and strollers!!

It was crazy when we did it in December. My 3 girls (ages 8, 4 and 2) had to stand (no one was nice enough to offer a seat). My 2 yo was squished between my leg and DH with the double stroller & umbrella stroller, holding on for dear life. I had my 1 yo in one arm and used all my strength to hold on with the other (the driver kept slamming on the breaks and no one can convince me it wasn't on purpose). We would've waited 20 minutes for the next bus, but then we would've missed the DEP which was the main point of going back to the park that evening.

 

[La2kw]

It looks like parking at disneyland costs $14. Why not get a lower cost hotel and drive to disneyland? I'm looking at spending a total of $400 or more to stay across the street from disneyland.

We always Priceline rooms and get 3-4 star hotels for around $40/night. The hotels we stay at are much nicer than the 60's era motels within walking distance of the parks. We do often park in the structure, but I would much rather have a nice hotel, than a dated motel.

 

[clb79]

We're looking at 2 rooms. The HoJo is $198 for two rooms per night. The anaheim plaza hotel is $93 for the two room suite. My husband thinks the anaheim plaza inn is too far to walk. I like the price.

We are going the first week of february. Is disneyland that busy then? I think also that disneyland doesn't open till 10am that week, right? It wouldn't be a huge hassle to get the kids and all up and ready to go at 8am and sit in traffic for an hour.

The Anaheim Plaza is only a block and half. It was less than 10 minutes to walk (pushing a stroller with a 5yo and 2yo passed out cold) and you don't even leave DLR property until you hit the crosswalk.

We have APs and have also parked in the parking structure and did the tram thing and it was far more of a hassle (time consuming and physically) then walking to the Anaheim Plaza.

FWIW the Anaheim Plaza isn't any further than Hojo's (I actually think it feels closer...)

That being said when you can get the Entertainment Rate like you did then the Hojos is the way to go, otherwise the Anaheim Plaza can't be beat for the price...

 

[disney-inspired]

I think some people don't like parking the Mickey and Friends parking structure because of the hassle of paying for parking (those lines can get very long), parking and then waiting for a tram. I've clocked the time it took me to actually get in the park (paying, parking, tram ride, security and entering the main gate) and it took me 30 minutes. That's half of my commute to Disneyland from home!

I'd much rather stay at Hojo's and just walk over. It's nice not to have to deal with that in the morning. But since we're only going for one day on Monday we'll just have to be sure to get there early.

 

[pixiewings71]

The Anaheim Plaza is only a block and half. It was less than 10 minutes to walk (pushing a stroller with a 5yo and 2yo passed out cold) and you don't even leave DLR property until you hit the crosswalk.

We have APs and have also parked in the parking structure and did the tram thing and it was far more of a hassle (time consuming and physically) then walking to the Anaheim Plaza.

FWIW the Anaheim Plaza isn't any further than Hojo's (I actually think it feels closer...)

That being said when you can get the Entertainment Rate like you did then the Hojos is the way to go, otherwise the Anaheim Plaza can't be beat for the price...

ITA with this, when we stay on Harbor we walk. For us walking distance is anything between the CCI & the HoJo. We will walk from any hotel in between.

 

[issapowers]

We just stayed at Anaheim plaza hotel a couple of weeks ago. We have a 2 year old and a 3 year old. We live 2 hours away from disneyland but wanted to stay a couple of nights for my daughters birthday. We also have annual passes. It is not a long walk to Anaheim plaza hotel. it's a 10 minute walk from the exit gates of disneyland. We usually just drive to disney and drive home for a one day trip. It takes aprox one hour just to park, get a tram and get into the gates at disney. That's without strollers because my husband normally drops me and the kids off at the 15min loading zone on harbor, just to avoid loading a stroller and all the stuff you have to take with two toddlers. I've never stayed at hojo's but it doesn't look that much closer to hojo's to me than to anaheim plaza. Anaheim plaza is an old motel but we like it cause we have found it to be VERY clean, very nice staff, and they have the little patios connected to most rooms so we can have our own private outside area for the kids to play in.
If we had lots of money we would get a hotel room everytime we went to disney just to avoid the parking and the drive after a long day!

 

[ladylyons]

Personally I have stayed at both Hojos and Anaheim Plaza and we keep going back to Anaheim Plaza. The rooms are a lot bigger in my opinion. We've had 2 adults and two kids both in pack in plays in a king room at the Anaheim Plaza and still had room to walk around the room and for the kids to play on the patio outside which was really nice especially since I have a 2.5 year old and a 1.5 year old. We love being able to walk to the parks and not worry about trams or buses. The walk to Anaheim Plaza was less than 10 mins and if I remember right the walk to Hojos was a little bit longer. For the price of the Anaheim Plaza I think we will continue going here for our yearly Christmas Trip.