Originally Posted By TiggerRulz East Coaster here making my first trip to DL. Will be there Dec 16 and 17. Will it be extremely crowded that weekend? Also trying to decide which hotel we should stay at. Should we stay at a hotel within walking distance or is driving to the park not that big of a deal? Thanks for any advice you can give.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins I prefer to stay in walking distance. But if the Disney hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian, Paradise Pier) are too full (or too expensive), the motels on Harbor, the 1600 or 1700 blocks, even the 1500, I believe, are within walking distance. Please, somebody verify the numbers because I'm not absolutely sure and I don't have time to look it up right now. But, these are all economy motels. I think they're fine, but if you have certain standards you might be happier in a chain such as Sheraton or Hilton, etc. which are further away. Most have shuttles or you can drive and no, that's not that too big of a deal, but if you plan to go back and forth more than once a day, it is a little more time consuming.
Originally Posted By markedward Nemopoppins is absolutely right that the shuttles, and certainly parking, can be a bit of a hassle and eat up valuable time. This is especially true if you take many people's advice and return to your hotel for a rest. So I strongly recommend one of the hotels within walking distance. I tend towards one of the Best Western motels near the park. There are higher end choices, and certainly choices - um - with more character. But for our needs, Best Western works. Since you're visiting on a weekend, it's safe to assume it will be crowded. But I'll leave it to someone more in the know as to whether there's any reason why it'd be especially so. Have a great time.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Since it is around Christmas time, the crowds will be more intense, but they shouldn't be too terrible. I would expect the crowd of a moderate summer weekday. There will be lines for everything but it should all be managable, especially if you plan your time wisely (eat meals at strange times, like 2:00-4:00 and after 8:00). Try to avoid areas of the park where the crowds seem particularly bad, and use FastPass to your advantage as much as possible. There will be plenty of people there, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Originally Posted By 4Disnee We also like to stay with in walking distance. Do you already have ressies for a Hotel? I would call asap because everything has been booking up really quick if it is not already. I have been calling for over a month to get something for my Uncle at DLH with no luck so he his staying at the CCI. I hope that you have a wonderful trip! Enjoy the Christmas Decor!
