Help for a DL first timer

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

Alright guys I now have a pretty good idea of when I am going to be hitting Disneyland on my California swing but I have some questions:

1. I will be arriving and spending one day at the park and then staying there, Then the next day will be another day in the park. I would like to stay at the Disneyland hotel but the online booking says I must book a longer stay than 1 night. Is this true or could I book this by calling? I am not doing DCA just DL so I figure 2 days is enough.

2. How far away is the DL hotel (or paradise Pier)?

3. What are some good DLand planning books? I know I have the WDW 2007 one is there any for DLand? Or Dland history books?

Thanks for any help.

 

[primetime52]

Alright guys I now have a pretty good idea of when I am going to be hitting Disneyland on my California swing but I have some questions:

1. I will be arriving and spending one day at the park and then staying there, Then the next day will be another day in the park. I would like to stay at the Disneyland hotel but the online booking says I must book a longer stay than 1 night. Is this true or could I book this by calling? I am not doing DCA just DL so I figure 2 days is enough.

2. How far away is the DL hotel (or paradise Pier)?

3. What are some good DLand planning books? I know I have the WDW 2007 one is there any for DLand? Or Dland history books?

Thanks for any help.

I'm not a Disneyland vet by any means, but I went to DL for the first time last fall- so I can give you the perspective of an East Coaster who finally went to DL for the first time.

Are you planning to stay at the DL hotel during the weekend? I know that alot of hotels don't like to book for just one night during a weekend, since they probably assume that they could book your same room to someone else for 2 or 3 nights once the time comes closer to your trip. The DL hotel is a very popular hotel so it's probably safe for them to make this assumption. Maybe if you call them you might have better luck.

The DL hotel is within short walking distance from the parks. It's located on the other side of Downtown Disney, which is between the parks and hotels.

Before my trip I read the 2007 UNOFFICIAL guide to Disneyland, which was very helpful in every way. The 2008 edition is probably out by now so you might want to check for that.

I only had 2 days to do both Parks, and I got done at least 85% of what I wanted to do (we did have to rush around every now and then though). I would definitely guess that 2 days for just one park would be enough. Of course the hardcore DL'ers might tell you that you need 3 or 4 days..... but you should be fine with 2 days unless you want to see the Tiki Room, Storybook Canal Boats, and Innoventions 7 or 8 times each.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

Okay thanks, I have talked to some people who go there often and they said it isn't a big deal to stay off property. Was the Disneyland hotel worth it?

 

[primetime52]

Okay thanks, I have talked to some people who go there often and they said it isn't a big deal to stay off property. Was the Disneyland hotel worth it?

I actually didn't stay there. I had wanted to, but ended up staying at the Residence Inn by Marriott right around the corner. It was a relatively nice hotel and it was walking distance from DL. It didn't feel like we stayed off property since we could walk to the parks.

We did go inside the 3 on property hotels and the only one that is impressive and themed is the Grand Californian. The DL hotel and (especially) the Paradise Pier are just like any regular hotel. They seem nice, but they don't give you the same feeling as the WDW on property resorts. If you are willing to fork over the money, the Grand Californian is probably worth it. Otherwise I'd say off property is fine.

 

[nemofinder22]

As for Disneyland Hotel its nice not as greatly themed as GCH but its still nice the rooms are themed to DL itself in the way of bed spreads with attraction embeded into it, the original rendering of DL on the tv thing, and some other nice touches.

Staying off site isnt a big issue either, both on site and off site are really close to the entry plaza.

I'd say for a first time you might as well spend a little more and stay on site, you also get the magic mornings which are offered on certain days but I think you also get that if you buy a hopper pass.

You can also pretty much do all of DL in 2 days. Beware of some of the big crowd issues that come up around 9pm since theres a showing of F! at 9pm followed by Remember 2 mins after F! finishes.

HM an Pirates are walk on when F! is playing so thats always a good choice to do.

As for books I have no clue but theres a great book of DLR that came out for the 50th called Disneyland- Then, Now and Forever. Its since gotten a new cover but is the same book I think they still sell it in the park.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

As for Disneyland Hotel its nice not as greatly themed as GCH but its still nice the rooms are themed to DL itself in the way of bed spreads with attraction embeded into it, the original rendering of DL on the tv thing, and some other nice touches.

Staying off site isnt a big issue either, both on site and off site are really close to the entry plaza.

I'd say for a first time you might as well spend a little more and stay on site, you also get the magic mornings which are offered on certain days but I think you also get that if you buy a hopper pass.

You can also pretty much do all of DL in 2 days. Beware of some of the big crowd issues that come up around 9pm since theres a showing of F! at 9pm followed by Remember 2 mins after F! finishes.

HM an Pirates are walk on when F! is playing so thats always a good choice to do.

As for books I have no clue but theres a great book of DLR that came out for the 50th called Disneyland- Then, Now and Forever. Its since gotten a new cover but is the same book I think they still sell it in the park.

Thanks, do you know if DLand hotel take one night reservations? I might be able to add another night but that would be very iffy.

 

[nemofinder22]

I just ran it through the DL website and was able to go with one night just make sure that you click on the "Hotel only" option but I wasnt able to get 1 night under the "hotel and ticket" option. Hope that helps.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

Thanks so much that helped alot, I didn't even see that option. That way we can get the tickets we want too.:sohappy:

 

[nemofinder22]

^Welcome

Oh as for your question about how far they hotels are from the entry plaza there not that far about a 10 min-ish walk and then add like another 4-5mins to PP its really not that bad of a distance or amount of time for the walk plus you get to walk through DTD which is very nice to walk around in the morning before the afternoon/evening crowds start.

The monorail is also an option to take but it currently only has one monorail running so wait times might get kinda long for it, word has it though the new Mark VII might be ready by mid-April.

Hope you have a wonderful trip. Just and FYI you can also pick up first time guests buttons at City Hall or the info booth at the hub(just outside the Adventureland entrance) info booth is probably better since theres not a big line like at City Hall.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

Thanks for all your help, Do you pick up the monorail in DTD? or is it connected to the hotel? I know I saw it used to be connected. I might ride the monorail just to get on those new ones.

 

[Nicole220]

The monorail only stops at DTD and Tomorrowland. It doesn't go to any of the hotels.