World Wizard, California Clueless

[KaystotheKingdom]

Hey all-
My husband and I are going on the Disney cruise from Vancouver to San Diego next year (first time cruisers). We get into San Diego on Friday early AM. We have to fly home on Sunday.

I have a few questions.

1. I have never been to Disneyland, it is a lifetime dreamof mine. Am I setting myself up to disappointed if i really only have one full to explore?

2. is it difficult to get from San Diego to Disneyland? What is the best transportation option in your opinion.

3. grand Californian is unfortunately out of our budget. Suggestions? My husband is truly OCD so cleanliness would take higher priority than being right at the park entrance, though if a hotel kills two birds with one stone, even better.

4. how would you spend your day if you only had one day to spend there? Unfortunately I’m sure with it being a Saturday it is likely to be busier than other days.

thanks for any and all help. I am always so overly in the know for our world vacations that this is overwhelming Me.

 

[Ross Kratter]

1. If you're planning on just staying in one park, I think one day can be enough to do the "greatest hits", especially if you have MaxPass.
2. The best option for transportation from San Diego would likely be to rent a car.
3. There are so many hotels surrounding Disneyland; it's just a matter of which brands you prefer, honestly. There's really no need to stay on property; the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel are actually farther from the park entrances than some of the off-property hotels. I personally liked the Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn. It's very close to the Harbor Blvd entrance, it's clean, and the rooms are pretty spacious and relatively newly renovated. I also like the Hilton and the Marriott over at the convention center. Those are a bit of a walk from Disneyland, but they're good hotels.
4. With just one day, especially with that one day being a Saturday, I would make sure you have MaxPass. That'll allow you to book Fastpasses for your next ride as soon as you scan into one. I don't know if I'd park hop with just one day there. I would try to make sure you catch Fantasmic, as it's a very different, and, in my opinion, far superior show to the one at Hollywood Studios. Space Mountain is a very different experience at Disneyland as well. I'd also try to check out the Matterhorn, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and all of the other DL-exclusive attractions.

 

[pblack]

I would definitely consider 2 days if you're getting in Friday morning. That leaves you all of friday afternoon/evening to explore the park(s).

 

[Ross Kratter]

I would definitely consider 2 days if you're getting in Friday morning. That leaves you all of friday afternoon/evening to explore the park(s).

That's true. You could totally do 2 days if you headed straight up to Disneyland from the ship.

 

[kristensideaoffun]

From the cruise ship, you can disembark and walk directly to Santa Fe Depot. From there, you can take the Pacific Surfliner (train) to Anaheim station. From there, you can take a Lyft (faster) or bus to your hotel. I think this option will be much faster than finding transportation to a rental car company and then renting a car and driving.

My picks for offsite hotels, as far as cleanliness goes, are the Courtyard, the Fairfield, and Residence Inn. The Fairfield is closest, followed by the Courtyard and the Residence Inn. If you want to do one day, I recommend just doing Disneyland and getting a Maxpass. It’s definitely possible to get everything done in one park if you rope drop and plan well. Enjoy your trip!

 

[KaystotheKingdom]

This is all great information, thank you. Is max pass something you buy in advance or an upgrade you can make when you get there? I don’t know anything about it other than that Pete loves it haha.
I am the bigger Disney fan between my husband and I but I’m hoping he will appreciate the history of the original park. The imagineering show on Disney plus made me fast track this pipeline trip because I feel like I’m missing out lol.

 

[Ross Kratter]

This is all great information, thank you. Is max pass something you buy in advance or an upgrade you can make when you get there? I don’t know anything about it other than that Pete loves it haha.
I am the bigger Disney fan between my husband and I but I’m hoping he will appreciate the history of the original park. The imagineering show on Disney plus made me fast track this pipeline trip because I feel like I’m missing out lol.

MaxPass is something you can buy day-of. It just gets added to your ticket. It works a lot like FastPass+, but without any kind of advance booking. You book your first FastPass upon entering one of the parks. MaxPass also gives you PhotoPass. It costs $15 per person, I believe.

 

[KaystotheKingdom]

MaxPass is something you can buy day-of. It just gets added to your ticket. It works a lot like FastPass+, but without any kind of advance booking. You book your first FastPass upon entering one of the parks. MaxPass also gives you PhotoPass. It costs $15 per person, I believe.

For $15 why wouldn’t everybody get this?? Or do they? It seems more than reasonable, that’s the cost of a quick service cheeseburger!

 

[Ross Kratter]

For $15 why wouldn’t everybody get this?? Or do they? It seems more than reasonable, that’s the cost of a quick service cheeseburger!

A lot of people do get it. I believe it also comes with some levels of annual passes.

 

[Jerryp49]

Since this may be your only visit to Disneyland, I would suggest getting a Park Hopper so you can see both parks.. They are right next to each other....... Highlights : Carsland Racers, Grizzly Peak Rapids, Soaring,

 

[Paigesmom2013]

We are doing MaxPass for 4 of us for 3 days in the parks. Why some people might not do it is because the cost adds up quickly! It stings my wallet to pay for it, but we are going during a busy time, it's our first trip and I sure don't want to run to FP kiosks! I was thinking having the free Memory Maker would offset the cost in my mind but I'm not sure how plentiful the Photopass stops are compared to WDW, based on what others report.

 

[MillauFr]

I would take the train as well. The views are stunning. Just sit on the left side of the train going northbound. The station is very close to the cruise ship terminal. You can take Lyft/Uber from the Anaheim station to your hotel. It is a few miles away.

We stay at the Candy Cane Inn. An older motel but it is very clean, the price is reasonable, service is great, and it is close walk to the front gate. They do have a shuttle as well.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Here are some threads to help with your trip planning:
* DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here! -- from the sticky threads at the top of the first page -- SO much helpful information found here!
From that sticky:
A DLR Guide for WDW Vets -- a classic thread and a must read for you!
HydroGuy Tips Compilation -- a treasure trove of helpful threads for you!
From the above link:
"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/ -- The recs for the FFI, Courtyard, and RI are good. Ask any questions about other hotels in this hotel thread.
"Maxpass/Fastpass: an overview and some strategy" by @Skyegirl1999 - www.disboards.com/threads/maxpass-fastpass-an-overview-and-some-strategy.3726246/ -- DLR doesn't have FP+, we have MP -- read through this very helpful superthread, then ask all your questions there -- you'll get great help! Almost all WDW vets love MP the first time they use it and prefer it strongly over FP+.
Before your trip, download the free DLR app and start playing with it -- make sure it works on your smartphone/s (some people report trouble on older phones) -- make sure you download the latest version (the app gets wonky before an update). Have a credit card on file so that you can get MP as soon as you activate your tickets at the gate (if you don't pre-purchase MP) and so that you can use Mobile Ordering.
Look over the menus on the DLR website before your trip to narrow down which restaurants will work best for you -- most WDW vets agree that DLR has better CS food than WDW. With only one day, Mobile Ordering will help you make the most of your time.
Disneyland Daily (website and FB) has some great posts on how to get the most out of one day in the parks. Take a look at those to get an idea of what you can do in one day. And discuss with your husband about what are the priorities for each of you. What are the must do's, the would like to do's, and the take it or leave its. Then you'll know what are the things you have to hit when you visit.
Let us know if you have any more questions -- we're here to help! You're going to have a great trip!

 

[Pamela M]

For $15 why wouldn’t everybody get this?? Or do they? It seems more than reasonable, that’s the cost of a quick service cheeseburger!

Well if you are a family of 4 going for 3 days paying $15 per person per day adds up quickly. Plus some people just don't know it's offered.