Thinking of 1st trip to DL

[mikewdw]

Ok, so we are a family with 2 adults and 3 adult age children (22, 20, 20). We are WDW yearly visitors (wife and I over 30 trips, kids over 20) but have wanted to go to DL the last few years. At WDW we are always onsite, always early entry rope drop guests and use meal plan (usually quick service) anytime we can get a discount on it. We live in Alabama so we would have to fly. Looking at either late May next year or 1st week of June. We want to really enjoy the trip so not planning on super tight budget but also with 3 kids in college definitely not looking to blow money either. I have some basic worth it or not questions and would like opinions on the basic plan.

Basic plan --- fly in. 4-5 days at DL and maybe 1-2 days on other outside activities ( tours, other sights to see etc). Really enjoy trip but also save money on things not worth the cost for the level of enjoyment
Trip dates --- I know around Memorial Day is not the least crowded time but my wife and I are both teachers so we a set in a summer vacation timeline . Would later in the summer be better?
Onsite hotel vs off site - is cost/convenience worth it?
meal plan (if available) - what type at DL
Transportation there -- if off site is vastly cheaper what about transportation to parks?
Must see shows/fireworks/experiences
Park hopper tickets? --- would it be worth if for new visitors or should we stick with one park per day?

I know you can't know our particular families likes/dislikes but looking for any other tips, info, opinions for a 1st time visitors would need. All info is greatly appreciated!

thanks
mikewdw

 

[truecoat]

Pull up google maps and look at the hotels across from the esplanade on Harbor Blvd. you’ll save a bunch of money and you’re right across the street. It’s the best place to stay if not on property.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

If it’s in your budget - on property is still worth it in my opinion. Especially for a first visit. Just like in Florida - it’s over priced for what it is, but it’s “Disney” and the feeling really is there. All 3 of the on property hotels are an easy walk to the parks.

Harbor Blvd. is very busy - I avoid hotels where I use that entrance. On my last trip I stayed at the brand new Westin which is only 1 block from Pixar Place hotel - very nice hotel!

 

[drizgirl]

The onsite hotels at DLR are massively overpriced. And you can stay just as close (or closer) at the right offsite. This is not a WDW sort of situation. Just make sure you choose something that really is walkable (some say they are but aren't).

There is no meal plan.

We never buy hoppers at WDW but always do at DLR. It's like one big park and you will enjoy having the flexibility to pop back and forth.

You will want some sort of meal package to see Fantasmic.

Have a great time. You're going to love it there. We started at WDW but have been just as much now to DLR. My daughter was raised on WDW but considers DLR her favorite now.

 

[PiratesMansion]

There is no offsite lodging stigma at Disneyland, you'll want to stay as close to the Harbor Blvd pedestrian crossing (at the IHOP) so that you can walk to the parks. If you're a little further out you might look into taking the ART shuttle (www.rideart.org) or, if along Harbor south of Katella or Katella east of Harbor you might consider walking to the Toy Story Lot and taking the shuttle there to the parks. Ideally, however, you will be close enough to walk. DO NOT hold on to a rental car during your Disneyland days, as it takes longer to park than to walk, and almost every hotel in the area will charge for parking.

For airports, you have multiple options, and it might be prudent to NOT fly into LAX if possible, as it's a chaotic airport that isn't particularly close to the parks. See if you can fly into Long Beach (LGB) of John Wayne/Orange County (SNA) instead, ESPECIALLY if you can get a non-stop flight there OR if the prices are comparable or cheaper.

You would want to see the big 70th entertainment (Wondrous Journeys fireworks, Paint the Night light parade, World of Color Happiness) as your first priority.

Definitely do parkhoppers. The park entrances face each other and you can move from one to the other (after 11 AM) without having to re-enter security.

As a fellow teacher, I actually like July. Reason being is that you don't have to worry about grad nights as you do in June, summer heat and humidity is much less intense in California than Florida, and the APs are blocked for pretty much the entire month.

 

[Touchdown]

While they are overpriced, if you can afford the GCH, it’s pretty magical. Particularly with its access to DCA. Want to do the raft ride but don’t want to wear wet clothes all day? No problem, your room is <5 min away. Also, enjoy WOC, and then ditch the crowd to walk back towards Grizzly Peak and your exit. It’s also the closest resort to DL and you will be the first people at the gates for entry to MSUSA.

Early Entry is pretty great too, you can polish off FL at DL and at DCA hit Guardians, Sometimes web slingers, and then line up for RSR and then enjoy Pixar Pier in realitive tranquility while everyone else is doing the rides you already did.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Honestly. Get a park hopper with genie + ticket, and you are golden.

We did 4 days last June 19-22 as our park days, and it worked perfectly. Just after grad nites ended, so no grads to deal with.

We stayed at the Element Anaheim, and it was a further walk to the parks, but still doable.

 

[mikewdw]

What would be the best 3 off site hotels within walking distance? I can't see prices for next june for the 3 onsite. But from what I have read does 800-1000 a night sound about right for on site hotels?

 

[Disney Analyst]

What would be the best 3 off site hotels within walking distance? I can't see prices for next june for the 3 onsite. But from what I have read does 800-1000 a night sound about right for on site hotels?

I haven’t stayed at any apart from the Element Anaheim, which is a bit further.

We were going to be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim resort for this summer, but we cancelled due to the Canada / US relations stuff.

Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim Resort · Anaheim, California

maps.app.goo.gl

It looks really nice; newer hotel. Closer then Element.

 

[Touchdown]

What would be the best 3 off site hotels within walking distance? I can't see prices for next june for the 3 onsite. But from what I have read does 800-1000 a night sound about right for on site hotels?

June they are normally discounted, so more like 600-800 for base rooms.

 

[DLR92]

I rather stay in the Westin or JW Marriott over the Disney hotels. If it not the Disneyland signature suites. I wouldn’t bother to book a stay for a standard Disney hotel room.

Allocate that for park hopper too. You won’t regret it. I wouldn’t bother to stay a day at Disney California Adventure.

 

[CoastalElite64]

There's tons of things to do in California, so make the most of your offsite dates too depending on your family's interests. There's a train station near Disneyland to travel by train to San Diego or up north.

On a future visit rent a car and drive the PCH north to San Francisco. It's one of the most scenic roadtrips in the country.

Check these YT channels for park updates before visiting:

Lisaland

Hi, I'm Lisa! ✨ I like to go to Disneyland. I have soft pose-able arms and legs and a nose made out of a button @lisaoflisaland

youtube.com

Magic Journeys

Welcome to Magic Journeys, Get Ready for Fun Disneyland Adventures every week! Come with me as we Discover all the Disney Food from the Disneyland Resort! Join all of us Wonderful Disney Foodies as we take you on many Disney food adventures with new episodes of The Wonderful World of Food every...

youtube.com

Jake and Georgia

Hey Strangers! We’re Jake & Georgia, a British couple living in Canada, trying to see the world one adventure at a time! 🌎 From thrill-packed theme parks and bucket list road trips to discovering the best eats and hidden gems, we’re here to share the highs (and occasional travel mishaps) of our...

youtube.com

 

[Touchdown]

For more theme park fun, particularly if you also own a Six Flags All Park Passport, Knotts Berry Farm (legacy Cedar Fair Park) is only 15 min away and is a charming little park with a mostly old west vibe with some quality coasters, the inspiration for Splash Mountain, and a unique dark ride (Caluco Mibe Ride) that is worth a visit. The other Six Flags park, Magic Mountain is a major coaster park but is clear across town and over an hour away.

Universal Studios Hollywood is 45 min away and near by San Diego has Sea World.

 

[PiratesMansion]

There are so many amazing things within two hours of the park, and you can find excellent examples of pretty much anything you might be interested in outside of Disney itself without too much effort. Theme parks, as mentioned above, but also beaches, national parks, movie studios, museums, unique architecture, food, zoos, etc. You name it, Southern California's got it. The main trick is that not everything's actually in LA proper and many of the highlights are technically in independent cities that happen to be LA adjacent. It's all very, very sprawling.

Some of my favorite activities over the years have included:
-The Getty
-Warner Bros. Studio Tour
-San Diego Zoo (and/or the Safari Park)
-The Gamble Home (Pasadena)
-La Brea Tar Pits (technically free if you don't go into the museum)

If you're considering adding another theme park into the mix, the aforementioned Knott's Berry Farm makes the most sense, not just for its proximity but also for the interesting ways it has intersected with Disneyland over the years. The Calico Mine and Log Rides definitely inspired subsequent Disney attractions in addition to being excellent rides in their own right, and a lot of Imagineers have gone on to do different projects for Knott's over the years and vice versa. You might argue it was the original California Adventure in many ways.

It's a bit outdated in the sense that it hasn't been much used recently and some of the photos in the earliest several pages are gone, but here's an old thread on some of the highlights within a few hours of the park: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-official-explore-southern-california-thread.872243/

Finally, if you're going anywhere further out than Knott's Berry Farm, you'll probably want to move hotels (and make sure you have that rental car for those non-Disney days). The traffic is such that you really don't want to be in it any more than you have to, and staying in close proximity to where you want to go will help a great deal in minimizing your commuting times.

 

[truecoat]

There's tons of things to do in California, so make the most of your offsite dates too depending on your family's interests. There's a train station near Disneyland to travel by train to San Diego or up north.

On a future visit rent a car and drive the PCH north to San Francisco. It's one of the most scenic roadtrips in the country.

Check these YT channels for park updates before visiting:

Lisaland

Hi, I'm Lisa! ✨ I like to go to Disneyland. I have soft pose-able arms and legs and a nose made out of a button @lisaoflisaland

youtube.com

Magic Journeys

Welcome to Magic Journeys, Get Ready for Fun Disneyland Adventures every week! Come with me as we Discover all the Disney Food from the Disneyland Resort! Join all of us Wonderful Disney Foodies as we take you on many Disney food adventures with new episodes of The Wonderful World of Food every...

youtube.com

Jake and Georgia

Hey Strangers! We’re Jake & Georgia, a British couple living in Canada, trying to see the world one adventure at a time! 🌎 From thrill-packed theme parks and bucket list road trips to discovering the best eats and hidden gems, we’re here to share the highs (and occasional travel mishaps) of our...

youtube.com

The Magic Journeys main focus is food they give you a good idea on quality and price for the items that try.

 

[mikewdw]

The hotel decision will be important for us. Whether to stay onsite or if the cost will be too much off site. My wife really likes a nice clean hotel and is sort of picky. We have never stayed off site at WDW. Would like recommendation for any off site hotels with in walking distance that would compare to Disney hotels on cleanliness and safety. Amenities not as important. We would be at parks all day probably except maybe for afternoon rest/nap. I know we won't be able to predict exact rates for next summer but I am guessing 600-800 a night for Disney hotels so looking for something probably 250-400 a night. Trying to do a lot of research this summer while out of school. Thanks everyone for the info and help

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The Westin Anaheim Resort is by far the nicest resort that is so close to Disneyland property - it’s 1 block away from Pixar Hotel so it’s a super easy walk to lesser used entrances and exits.

When leaving Disney you can even take a shortcut through Grand Californian Hotel.

 

[Touchdown]

The hotel decision will be important for us. Whether to stay onsite or if the cost will be too much off site. My wife really likes a nice clean hotel and is sort of picky. We have never stayed off site at WDW. Would like recommendation for any off site hotels with in walking distance that would compare to Disney hotels on cleanliness and safety. Amenities not as important. We would be at parks all day probably except maybe for afternoon rest/nap. I know we won't be able to predict exact rates for next summer but I am guessing 600-800 a night for Disney hotels so looking for something probably 250-400 a night. Trying to do a lot of research this summer while out of school. Thanks everyone for the info and help

If you want a good room for that rate you probably should go with the JW Marriott Anaheim. It’s stretching the limit of being walking distance to the park, but, it is a much easier walk to walk to the Toy Story Parking Lot Bus depot and then hop that to the parks. Back when the bus stop was closer to the convention center and I was more price conscious I would stay at the Homewood Suites or Hilton and did that trick.