Why not park at disneyland?

[christineka]

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.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I'm not sure I understand what you are asking.

 

[Sherry E]

I am not quite clear on the question either. Are you asking why not park at Disneyland or why not park at one of the hotels (onsite or offsite)? One thing (other than the $14) that turns some folks off of parking at DLR is the tram situation. Sometimes, if you leave at night, the lines for the trams can be maddening and you could be waiting a long time to board. In that case, parking at your hotel, or at one of the DLR hotels, can be worthwhile.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think what the OP is saying is that for $14/day, you can get a hotel that is not close to Disney for less money, and save overall by driving to the parks.

A lot of people do do that, but there's something to be said for being so close you can literally walk from your hotel to the parks.

 

[christineka]

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?

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

I think what you are asking is...why not get a hotel away from the DLR and just drive daily into DLR?!?! Are hotel that much cheaper? Also, you have to be careful where you are staying.

I think for me, is the ease of being close to the hotel room, etc. Not sure if parking at DLR has in and out of privelages. Also, the magic of being RIGHT there...I love seeing SM, Matterhorn, etc.

2 times ago we drove in just for the day and the longest line we waited in ALL day was the line for the tram.

Maybe if you stay at DL ALL day/night, it might be fine, but for us, not so much!

 

[mareed]

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?

I believe it's because parking can be a hassle and can add a lot of time to your commute to the park. I stay at HoJo and can easily be at the park entrance gate 10 minutes from the time I leave my room. If we drove and parked, I'd say it would easily be 30 - 45 minutes from the time we left our room.

We've stayed a bit further away and have driven to the parks before, and we just built in the extra time, and justified it by the money savings as you said. But that was before the current parking situation with the huge # of AP's (most of whom drive). I understand the parking situation has gotten much, much worse and you could even spend time in line in traffic just getting to the parking structure depending on what time of day it is, so I think the 30-45 minute estimate I gave could easily be longer sometimes. I don't want to start my day each morning waiting in traffic just to park.

 

[pixiewings71]

Just so you know parking at DLR can be a nightmare. We had Premium APs so we drove a lot on our trips last year (Premiums get free parking) and we spent a lot of time trying to park in the morning, waiting for trams and then trying to leave at night it can be difficult as well. We got used to it and it worked for us but honestly when we stay across the street we rarely paid more then $60 a nite for our hotel. Most hotels that are farther away are about the same costwise so it wouldn't be that much savings for us. You need to research hotels a little more, check out the Anaheim Plaza and the HoJo, both have really great rates available if you book at the right time.

 

[christineka]

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.

 

[geekypeach]

You can get an NQQ3 (two queen beds per room) at HoJo at those dates for $69 a night + tax. That's roughly $149 including taxes. Plus, the parking there is free. It'd be a very hard thing to talk me into driving when you can be across the street in a very good hotel for families.

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

Is there anywhere in particular that you're looking at to drive from? Just curious.

 

[geekypeach]

Also, I think you said on another thread that you and your DH have 6 little ones? By the end of the day, the two of you will be physically carrying those children out of the park. There've been many comparisons of HoJo (or other Harbor hotel) and parking and the time/logistics of it. We have 2 little ones, and carrying them out sleeping at the end of the day was physically exhausting, and we are young and in good shape!! Of course, with more children, you definitely could be more accustomed than I.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Seems close enough to me to walk....

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Also, is a 2 room suite, 2 FULL bedrooms or it is the bedroom with the extra room that has a pull out sofa thingy?

 

[christineka]

Anaheim plaza hotel is $465 for 5 nights with 4 queen beds.
The hojo with the entertainment book is $716 for those 4 queen beds. That's better than paying $400 more, but it is still a bit more.

I plan to have a sling or other carrier for the baby. I picked up a freecyced double stroller, but not sure if I want to deal with a bulky thing. We have a single stroller too. I should probably go play with that double stroller as I think it would be convenient to have it to transport little tired kiddies.

 

[geekypeach]

Now that I think of it, with your kids being as young as they are, I'm not sure how you'd feel about having them in two seperate rooms (it's near impossible for anyone to 'guarantee' a connecting room).

The Plaza is not too far to walk, so long as you plan accordingly. Have you looked into ART as an option?

 

[DDhunter]

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?

Just my 2 cents, but if hubby wants to spring the extra $400 to stay on site, do it. I have done both and I would always opt to stay on site if at all possible.
1) The parking structure is sometimes closed at various times throughout the day.
2) The trams once you get out of the parking structure can be extremely crowded and you end up walking into the park anyway (short walk of 1/2 mile or so).
3) The trams at the end of the evening are supremely crowded.

At the end of a long day of fun at DL, it is nice to take a short stroll through Downtown Disney to your hotel, no tram, no parking garage and no traffic.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, I think you said on another thread that you and your DH have 6 little ones? By the end of the day, the two of you will be physically carrying those children out of the park. There've been many comparisons of HoJo (or other Harbor hotel) and parking and the time/logistics of it. We have 2 little ones, and carrying them out sleeping at the end of the day was physically exhausting, and we are young and in good shape!! Of course, with more children, you definitely could be more accustomed than I.

I don't know what "side" you're on, but it's worth noting that waiting for the tram can, IMO with just ONE kid, can be just as hard, if not harder, than jsut walking to the hotel. Sounds crazy, right?

Well, first you leave the park go through the exit of the bag check area, and walk up through DTD to the tram. Then you wait with crazed people who seem to think they are the only ones in the park. With strollers you get to close them up, get on the tram. Then you still have to walk from wherever your particular tram car stops, and this is only assuming you're parked at Mickey and Friends...wait for the elevator car to open so you can all get in it (b/c you're not going to want to take strollers on the escalator). Then find your car; our car was always the farthest away you could be!

That's opposed to just walking out of the park and bag check (going to a Harbor hotel I've noticed it's not as congested compared to the DTD side), then continuing to walk until you are at your hotel. At least you're doing something while walking to a hotel! So much better than standing in line foer the tram... That's my opinion.

Regardless, you've got walking and standing in your future either way...


This is worth a read about time losses while parking at DL lots.

 

[pixiewings71]

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 absolutely not too far to walk. Your DH is wrong. Seriously, even with kids in strollers it will be about 10 minutes tops. As for strollers, take your own and at the end of the night you won't be carrying sleepy kids, you'll be pushing them. You will walk out of the parks and turn right, go to the stop light and cross then you'll cross again and there's the AP, it's on the corner so you won't have to walk too far.

Just my 2 cents, but if hubby wants to spring the extra $400 to stay on site, do it. I have done both and I would always opt to stay on site if at all possible.
1) The parking structure is sometimes closed at various times throughout the day.
2) The trams once you get out of the parking structure can be extremely crowded and you end up walking into the park anyway (short walk of 1/2 mile or so).
3) The trams at the end of the evening are supremely crowded.

At the end of a long day of fun at DL, it is nice to take a short stroll through Downtown Disney to your hotel, no tram, no parking garage and no traffic.

Was your DH meaning to stay on site? Because IMO the walk to the DLH is about as far as the AP. The closest on site hotel is the GCH, the cheapest is the PPH and the PPH is farther then the AP.

 

[christineka]

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.)

 

[geekypeach]

I don't know what "side" you're on, but it's worth noting that waiting for the tram can, IMO with just ONE kid, can be just as hard, if not harder, than jsut walking to the hotel. Sounds crazy, right?

This is worth a read about time losses while parking at DL lots.

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