Wow... Where to start, Back to DLR

[NaturalNine]

Feel's like home (This forum!)

Traditionally,we travel to Disney from Australia once a year for our family vacation, this year being the exception as the economy in Australia hasn't been amazing and we bought a new home so funds were stretched. Anyway, We've just booked flights to L.A for March 2017

Our last trip to DLR was March 2014, last December (2015) we did WDW and what a difference it was. Gotta say I think I prefer DLR over WDW, but that's a conversation for another thread

Our 2013 trip comprised of 5 days at DL/CA, we stayed at the PPH and really didn't see huge value other than the early morning entry, we also packed WAY too much into our last two trips and spent the whole 3 weeks rushing from city to city following a jam packed itinerary. This trip i'm planning to do differently, We've got 22 nights in California and rather than paying the $$ to stay "on site" I'm going to save money by either staying at an airbnb or a good neighbour hotel, and stretch our Disney days out to 9 days, spread over two periods, 6 days between the 1st and the 8th of March (One day is spent in San Diego as RHCP concert that night) and then another 3 days towards the end of our trip between the 20th of March and the 23rd of March (I know this will be a lot busier than early march due to Spring Break)

As we're travelling with three children (Eldest daughter will turn 15 while at DL, middle son is 8 and youngest daughter just over 2 years old) I'm hoping that having 9 days will enable us to do things at a much more leisurely pace and have plenty of time to take it all in.

My Q's to you fine people are (For now):

1)Is 9 days *too much*? We are disney freaks but not sure if it's going overboard, plus we're lucky that as Australian's we can purchase a 10 day pass for not much more than a 5 day park hopper (About $25 USD per person more)
2) What has changed since we were there in 2013? I gather TOT will be closed by the time we arrive, and F! is closed due to Star Wars Land *ugh* but anything else that has happened/closed/opened/changed?
3) Has anybody on here done the airbnb thing in Anaheim? How was it compared to a cheaper hotel?
4) Since we're 6 months out, do you think i'm too late to consider renting DVC points and seeing if we can stay on site using DVC's? Even if it's just for some of the time?

 

[Disney_Alli]

Feel's like home (This forum!)

Traditionally,we travel to Disney from Australia once a year for our family vacation, this year being the exception as the economy in Australia hasn't been amazing and we bought a new home so funds were stretched. Anyway, We've just booked flights to L.A for March 2017

Our last trip to DLR was March 2014, last December (2015) we did WDW and what a difference it was. Gotta say I think I prefer DLR over WDW, but that's a conversation for another thread

Our 2013 trip comprised of 5 days at DL/CA, we stayed at the PPH and really didn't see huge value other than the early morning entry, we also packed WAY too much into our last two trips and spent the whole 3 weeks rushing from city to city following a jam packed itinerary. This trip i'm planning to do differently, We've got 22 nights in California and rather than paying the $$ to stay "on site" I'm going to save money by either staying at an airbnb or a good neighbour hotel, and stretch our Disney days out to 9 days, spread over two periods, 6 days between the 1st and the 8th of March (One day is spent in San Diego as RHCP concert that night) and then another 3 days towards the end of our trip between the 20th of March and the 23rd of March (I know this will be a lot busier than early march due to Spring Break)

As we're travelling with three children (Eldest daughter will turn 15 while at DL, middle son is 8 and youngest daughter just over 2 years old) I'm hoping that having 9 days will enable us to do things at a much more leisurely pace and have plenty of time to take it all in.

My Q's to you fine people are (For now):

1)Is 9 days *too much*? We are disney freaks but not sure if it's going overboard, plus we're lucky that as Australian's we can purchase a 10 day pass for not much more than a 5 day park hopper (About $25 USD per person more)
2) What has changed since we were there in 2013? I gather TOT will be closed by the time we arrive, and F! is closed due to Star Wars Land *ugh* but anything else that has happened/closed/opened/changed?
3) Has anybody on here done the airbnb thing in Anaheim? How was it compared to a cheaper hotel?
4) Since we're 6 months out, do you think i'm too late to consider renting DVC points and seeing if we can stay on site using DVC's? Even if it's just for some of the time?

1) I don't think so, we came down from Canada in August and did 8 days in the parks. But then the August before that we did 24 days in Orlando and were in a theme park every day but one. I definitely think it's worth it - we had to buy APs to get the extra days and those cost a lot more than an extra $25/person
2) There is a thread about this very topic around here somewhere I'll try and find the link but off the top of my head: New Soarin' ride video, updated Big Thunder Mountain, Fantasyland rides were updated and cleaned up (especially Alice)
3) Sorry can't help aside from letting you know that Anaheim was trying to eliminate short-term rentals and I believe there are some on-going legal battles about it
4) Probably but I can't currently access the member site to double check for you - sorry.

 

[smartlabelprint]

The city has made air b n b illegal. That's out. How many do you have? There's lots of great places on harbor. HomeWood suites, desert inn & suites, Camelot, among others.

Get the 10 day pass. Great value!

 

[agamble]

Pretty sure the airbnb ban doesn't start yet. Didn't they give the owners a long time to comply?

I like that you're planning to spread your 9 days out over two different trips within your long trip. I think 9 days is fun if you can do it. Do your tickets allow you to use them over that many days? I know you said 10 day tickets, but most tickets have to be used within 14 days.

 

[BecAus]

Hi, the kids & I did 7 days last year & it wasn't too much for us.
I got the 10day ticket thru 'My Personal Travel Planner' (it's a Qld company & I purchased online)
Just had a quick look at their website & it does state the 10day ticket does have to be used within the 14day period so you might want to check that before you get too far in to planning the Disney part of your trip. ;-)

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread lists some things that have changed since 2014: List of changes since summer 2014. Agree that the 10 day pass is a great value and NOT too much time in the parks. You and your family will be able to relax, take time to enjoy all the little details, hit all the favorites and then do them again if you want, eat at places you want to try, see shows, and be soooo flexible with your schedule. You'll also have time to do things outside the parks.

 

[Imdboss]

I'd totally take advantage of 9 days at DL! I think the way you have it broken up is a good plan. Last I checked AirBnB is being banned but the city is issuing licenses to certain people to be able to still operate. That being said I think I'd still opt for a hotel on Harbor Blvd, there are so many great options, likely find several options for less than what AirBnB would cost.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Is 9 days *too much*?

Since you are coming from so far away, I think it will be fine. You can always break up your days with visits to the beach or something else such as Knott's Berry Farm if full days at Disneyland get to be too much. You also may find a hotel that has a water park or something else that will be entertaining.

Has anybody on here done the airbnb thing in Anaheim?

It has been banned from Anaheim, but owners were given a decent notice before they have to stop renting. I do not know when that is. I'm sure you can find out on the website for the rentals.

Since we're 6 months out, do you think i'm too late to consider renting DVC points and seeing if we can stay on site using DVC's?

There are only 48 total rooms at the DVC. You may be able to get some of your nights. You'd need to contact a broker or an owner today to get that set up. There are dates available at the end of March (at least to rent directly from Disney). The cost of the rentals from owners runs about $15/point, which can be around $500 - $1,000/night - at least for the dates I was looking at. The benefit would be having the full kitchen, which works well for our dietary restrictions, but way too expensive for me.

There are less expensive places to stay on Harbor Blvd and you can read about those here in the threads. It sounds like Howard Johnson, Courtyard and Great Wolf Lodge all have waterparks/significant water play areas if that interests you. You can stay about a mile away at Hampton Inn and Suites or Homewood Suites and have a full hot breakfast every morning and a full kitchen if you want to do any of your own meals. The cost is about 1/3 of staying at a Disneyland hotel, but you'd have to walk a mile or pay for transport.

 

[hsmamato2]

my only thought is that 10 day pass you can buy, does it expire 14 days after first use (like our USA options)? will it still be usable if you wait till the end of your trip? 9 days sounds fun to me, but we love Disney a lot! oh wait I see someone else answered this..... why not do all your disney days together then?

 

[GatorChris]

9 days at DL does seem like a lot. With our APs, we've done two long trips the past two years. By the time we hit day 7, we're pretty much filled up on Magic. 9 days at WDW? That's doable because of the 4 parks. But 9 days at two parks... that might get to you after a while. But since you don't get to come out that often, and it IS a long trip, it's a good way to fill up to the point you don't want to come back as soon as you get on the plane. It might take you a few trips to Meat Candy before you "need" to come back to Plaza Inn for their version of fried chicken.

As for DVC, I'd give it a shot. If you don't ask, it's no for sure. If you do ask, you may get Grand Cali for a steal. I wish they had studios that fit 5 in their DVC section. I'd be there every trip if that were the case.

 

[tzeitel]

For places to stay I would look asap, not just on travel sites (travelocity etc) but check directly with the motel/hotel. A few months ago the only place that had 2017 open at all was Desert Inn and Suites. I was able to book for May at a $95 a night. Most (if not all) motels on Harbor have no penalty if you cancel within 48 hours of arrival, so you can book something and if prices go down you can change it. We have stayed at Tropicana, Desert Inn & Suites, and HoJo. Can recommend all, nice employees, clean rooms, very close to the parks - although there will be construction soon (?) once Disney starts building the new parking structure and bridge.

 

[NaturalNine]

Thank you so much everybody, super helpful advice!

So yes, the ticket is only valid for 14 days, ran into the same issue with the 2 day universals being only valid for 7 days, which meant we had to shift a bit around - draft itinerary is below (In brackets next to the Disneyland days are the crowd levels as predicted by Touringplans)

Reason for the split in the Disney days is a few reasons 1) we found last few trips going to the park every.single.day got exhausting and the kids started to take the magic for granted 2) we're working around seeing 3 x Red Hot Chilli Peppers concerts and 3) we have enough time and flexibility to avoid majority of the weekend crowds by going weekdays.

I've requested a few DVC dates, if any come up I'll be extatic but not holding my breath, in the mean time I've locked in the Embassy Suites for the first three nights, followed by Airbnb when we get back from our overnight in San Diego (Still tossing up whether to drive back to Anaheim after the RHCP concert or drive back in the morning after).

Please let me know if there is anything on my itinerary that jumps out to you as being silly or could be done better, would love any and all feedback!!

 

[kaitmaree]

This is the info I could find about Airbnbs in Anaheim. I'm using one in Feb of '17 and it looks like it won't be a problem for either of our trips.

 

[NaturalNine]

Any other thoughts on the above itinerary?

 

[smartlabelprint]

I've read from locals to stay away from air b n b because although the ban isn't in effect yet if the people sell the place in the meantime, which a lot are apparently planning, you could show up and have nowhere to stay. It is a risk with air bnb anyway without the ban. Or that it's filthy. One of our friends walked in & out of a CA airbnb it was so filthy.

 

[GatorChris]

Any other thoughts on the above itinerary?

Looks like you're in San Diego a bit. In your picture, you have a young son. He'd love a trip to LegoLand if you're there in the area. My kids loved it! They liked it a lot more than the SD Zoo. If you squeeze that in, your son will be talking about that part of the trip more than anything else.

 

[goooof1]

Do Universal studios when you are staying nearby in LA, as you have scheduled for the 21st....if you go from Anaheim (15th?) you will be spending lots of time on the freeways in traffic.

 

[Kontos]

Oh no that's too bad about the air bnb ban. I was there in May and stayed about a 10 minute walk from DTD and it was awesome since we had a group of 7 staying in a 4 bedroom 3 bath house with a pool to relax in. And I'm guessing it's a ban on vacation rentals and not just a ban on air bnb specifically? Cause most those places are also listed on VRBO and other sites.

But as someone else suggested do Universal when you're in LA. We uber'd in from Anaheim and left just before 7am on a Friday and it took just over an hour which wasn't bad. Coming home at 7 took us 3 hours though cause of the freeway traffic on a Friday

9 days in DL/DCA should be fine, you can take your time with each park the first 5 or 6 days and then the remaining days you can do the ones you really liked again. Sounds like an awesome trip and you're seeing the RHCP 3 times? I'm jealous

 

[sheetz]

I agree with others that you should be doing Universal Studios while you are staying at the Universal City Hilton. It makes no sense to travel there all the way from Anaheim when you will be staying 3 days within walking distance.

 

[Kindermouse]

If youre interested in hotel with a good water play area I would look at the Courtyard Anahiem or Great Wolf Lodge. Your 9 and 15 year olds woulnt be impressed by the water park at hojo as its made for small children. You can book Great Wolf for a as low as 175 on select days and 250 a night on higher demand days but its not that close to DL. I havent stayed at the new Courtyard and I have been resistant to try a hotel so much further down harbor without a shuttle but my kids saw the Courtyard's water park while riding the monorail last week and they were all abuzz about how we MUST stay there next time.