Originally Posted By mom2ian Hi! I just stumbled across this discussion board while planning my trip to DL. I'm trying to decide the best time for our trip. We're driving down from Vegas for 3 days at the park. The dates I'm considering are: Dec. 8-11 (taking dd out of school for 1 day) or Dec. 18-21 (school is on break). I like the second set of dates since it isn't the weekend and school is on break, but will most kids be out of school and therefore the park more crowded with people taking their trips before XMas? Also, which hotels within walking distance are the best? We're on a budget, but I don't want to stay in a dump. I've been reading reviews on different travel sites, but there is no consensus since what one person says is fine someone else calls terrible. Thanks for your help!
Originally Posted By minniefan I don't know about the dates, but I can recommend Best Western Park Place Inn. It's THE closest hotel (right across the walkway), great on a budget, clean, comfy, etc etc. We just stayed there for 6 nights last week. I liked the free breakfast (cereal, bagels, toast, coffee...the basics), it helps save a lot of money! Definitely not the Ritz, but fit the bill for us! And welcome to LP! This is an EXCELLENT site for Disneyland planning! Good luck!
Originally Posted By mickeynewe That is what is so hard about asking and receiving recommendations for hotels because everyone has a different idea of what is acceptable to them. I expect a little more from a hotel and will pay a little more for a better experience. Does it mean that we don't have to worry about a budget, of course not! Trust me, we are not rich...not poor...but definitely not rich. My family isn't the type that really goes out to dinner on weekends, or to the movies. We are the type to kind of hunker down and spend a lot of bonding time together. Although, we do have "movie night" at home every weekend. We just don't enjoy going out to nice restaurants on the weekends because its usually just too busy and noisy. LOL...don't get me wrong, we do occasionally, but its not the "norm". Therefore, the money we would normally budget for such things goes into our vacation budget instead. It allows us to be able to afford a little bit nicer hotel (and if I can still manage getting a deal on a room I feel like I have really scored) and we eat all our meals out. I don't want to have to worry about eating meals in the room, etc. To me, that is not a vacation. I have to cook meals at home. So, its a trade off. I can tell you which hotels are my favorite and you can check them out for yourself. But, just remember when getting feedback from everyone that we all might have different "perspectives" as to what is acceptable. List of favorites: 1. Grand California 2. Paradise Pier (trying DL hotel this visit for the first time in years, but I really like the PPH when GC isn't in the budget) 3. Embassy Suites (requires shuttle or driving into the parking garage) 4. Candy Cane Inn (has their OWN shuttle and within walking distance) This trip we are staying at Hojos one night to see if we want to add them to our "backup" list and to see how well we like it. My requirements for a hotel: It must be CLEAN and it must have a friendly staff. I also like a large enough room that I don't feel like I am stuck in a shoebox.
Originally Posted By lightfello I'm thinking of going the same time period. 17-21st or so. I'm just curious about how crowded it will be. I've gone during the summer (this last July) and the week between Christmas and New Year's (Never Again!) I'm just wondering how it compares. Any help? I can second the Park Place Inn. I've stayed there several times and it's been clean, quiet and staff is pleasant. Enjoy your trip!
Originally Posted By mom2ian Thanks for your ideas. I looked into the BWPPI, but it is sold out according to BW and on Expedia for $400/night. Yikes! Just a little out of our budget. LOL We went to DL twice in 2002, the first time staying at BW Raffles Inn which was nice since we were upgraded to one of the new 2 bedroom suites which worked well since we had 5 adults so the 2nd bathroom was perfect. Our second trip DH was working at the convevtion center so we were put up by his co. at the Hilton. That was nice (other than having ants in our room - on the 6th floor!) but not our style. No breakfast without paying an arm and a leg. The ART wasn't as crowded as the one on the route for BWR so that was a plus. I have been looking at some of the Holiday Inns that are supposed to be close to the entrance, but DH isn't big on free continental breakfasts that only have cereal and bagels. He usually wants something more than that so I may just go with Embassy Suites which has a nice breakfast. Plus the HI's were running in the $80-90 range and I found a room at ES for $109 so for the extra $20 we can get breakfast at the hotel and not have to go to a restaurant. We may end up taking 2 teenage nephews so that would actually be a savings not having to buy breakfast for 6 people. Thanks again!
Originally Posted By wendebird JUST FYI, it will be very busy for your second set of dates. It's the busiest time of the year. Have you read the thread in DL General about this weekend? <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/default.asp?WCI=MsgBoard&WCE=T-69277-P-1&Refresh=1112103902" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/de fault.asp?WCI=MsgBoard&WCE=T-69277-P-1&Refresh=1112103902</a> You can have a great time despite crowds if you plan accordingly. Go early, grab fast passes, take a break when it gets packed & then ride your fast pass rides in the evening. You asked for a hotel withing walking distance. Is this for adults only? The closest is the Grand & the best, IMO, especially if you can get a great AP rate. next closest would be the BWPPI, another great choice, just no "grounds" to speak. My next choice would be Ho Jo's. Although, if you have young kids, by the end of the day, really isn't within walking distance. It's just a tad too far after walking all day in the parks, so we always opt for ART for the ride home. Have a wonderful visit!
Originally Posted By mom2ian We are bringina 2 yr old, a 6 yr old and possibly 2 teenagers. I don't mind the ART, but it gets to be a hassle with a stroller depending on which "bus" you get. When we stayed at BW Raffles we always got the small trolley type bus which was packed and usually couldn't pick up all of the people waiting. Add strollers to the mix and it was even more of a pain. It would be nice just walking across the street to get back for naps. I am a little worried about the crowds, but I hope with 3 days we should be able to do everything we want. DH hates the crowds and really will only go because I want to. I'm only picking this time because DH is really slow with work and won't miss anything if we go. Whereas I would rather go when dd has track break in Jan/Feb, but that is his super busy time and there's no way he can take off. I did play with my dates a bit and can get into BWPPI for $104 if I take dd out of school. So we may do that. I've got to make a decision before I can't get anything. Does Disneyland ever stop letting people in if the park gets full? We were at WDW once and there was a sign that said "Expecting full capacity. No re-entry" or something like that. I think they may have turned people away later in the day. We were turned away at one of the water parks when they were full. Also, has anyone used the ridemax and does it work as well as they claim?
Originally Posted By wendebird I've heard great things about ridemax, but I've never used it. Also, this weekend DL & DCA both hit capacity & stopped letting people in. It's not unusual for that to happen close to the Christmas holiday. More so the week between Christmas & New Years.
Originally Posted By wendebird I don't mean to scare you, but I'm dumbfounded DL & DCA reached capacity on Veteran's weekend. I can't imagine what it's going to be like over Christmas. I just hope it rains later this week while I'm there!
Originally Posted By mom2ian I am a little worried about the crowds, but we are now looking at going either Dec. 4-7 (at the park Mon-Wed) or Dec. 11-14. A lot of the hotels have really low prices for the 11-14 so I'm hoping that means they not very busy so far at that time. I would rather go the 4-7, but I think there is some kind of testing going on at dd's school and she needs to be there. I'm asking the teacher tomorrow and getting a room booked!
Originally Posted By mj9401 Wendebird last time we went at Christmas it was in the first week of December so I have been trying to get my family to understand how busy it is going to be.....but I didn't think it would reach capacity in November....that is what is freaking me out. At least we will be prepared for the worst and I have already subscribed to Ridemax.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe Yeah, but you have to understand the days it reached capacity was a holiday weekend. Sure, it will be busy, but I don't think it will reach capacity the weeks before until you actually get right up near Christmas vacation dates. But hey, that is just my opinion!
Originally Posted By Beaumandy I'm looking at going Dec 11-14 also. Darkbeer..anyone.. doesn't those dates fall in a ' dead zone " of crowds?? Also, has anyone ever stayed at the Castle Inn? This place seems like it might be a total dive, but the room rates are the lowest I have seen anywhere. We like Ho Jo's, The carousel or the Canycane Inn.
Originally Posted By mom2ian I made my reservations and can't wait for our trip! We are going Dec. 11-14 and staying at the Carousel Inn. Now, I need to order my tickets, hopefully get a reservation for the Princess Lunch and figure out a plan of attack for the possibly crowded parks. I think I'm going to try Ridemax, but with a 2 yr old I have to figure out how to put aside my control freak nature and relax and have a good time even if we get off schedule. I know he will like the rides - we took him to Circus Circus and he had a ball! But dd6 freaked out at 3 yrs old when we went on the "dark" rides which I hope he doesn't. I'm going to have to work on her probably still to try any of those. Thanks for all of your help!
Originally Posted By wendebird >>Yeah, but you have to understand the days it reached capacity was a holiday weekend. Sure, it will be busy, but I don't think it will reach capacity the weeks before until you actually get right up near Christmas vacation dates. But hey, that is just my opinion!<< I don't think you'll see near capacity crowds until you get to the weekend of 12/17. mickeynewe, it will be busy though. I usually go to DL in September & it's normally very slow on the weekdays. September is a slower season than early December. Let me tell you, it was busy, even on week days in September. I have never seen DL like that in September. Anyway, you can go & have a great time despite the crowds. Just go early, grab fast passes early, take breaks & enjoy the evening using your fast passes. Beau, your dates should be pretty good. I would plan on it being a bit busier than usual though. You have week days working in your favor. FWIW, I haven't heard anything good about the Castle Inn. Have you read the reviews here: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g29092-d75490-Reviews-Castle_Inn_and_Suites-Anaheim_California.html" target="_blank">http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hot el_Review-g29092-d75490-Reviews-Castle_Inn_and_Suites-Anaheim_California.html</a> ?
Originally Posted By Beaumandy Wede, I just read the Castle Inn reviews and now I am totally confused. You have people who want to level the place and call in the hazmat crew, and others who said it was delightful. LOL
Originally Posted By mom2ian I was looking at Castle too after I found what looked to be a great deal on it, but after reading the reviews I decided to look for something else. I'm only paying about $15 more total so I'm happy I shopped around. I booked PS for the Princess lunch on Dec. 12 this morning. I was looking for the 12th or 13th and they had both available. I wanted to start our trip at DL and go to DCA the 2nd day, but I know dd will want to meet the Princesses and the whole point of going to the lunch is to see as many as we can there to keep from standing in the autograph lines. After that we can look for the ones we didn't see at the lunch.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy What and where is the princess lunch? How much is it? I have a 6 year old daughter who would freak out if we did this.
