Here’s the deal. Taking a vacation at the end of Sep, and have to be in LA for a few days sorting out visa’s and other errand stuff around LA. China Bambina is 4 and needless to say would be in heaven in Disneyland. China wife will be around week 24 in the prenancy, and she’s real pregnant with twins. Will have a rental car and $150-200/day hotel budget.
Thinking about getting a hotel near Disneyland with a pool and a couple day pass to Disneyland. That way use the hotel as a base, do multiple several hours trips to Disneyland, relax at the hotel.
Any advice on if this sounds reasonable, hotels, tour packages, how to buy Disneyland tickets, etc.
Easiest way is to go directly through Disney through their website. It’s not all that more expensive than doing everything yourself, generally, and you make up the difference in convenience.
From the site, you can book a room at one of their hotels (the Disneyland Hotel is nice, right there at the park, and has a great pool), or at one of the “good neighbor” hotels. When we don’t stay at the Dland hotel, we usually pick the Tropicana Inn. It’s right across the street from the park entrance, but be aware that it’s pretty “budget” and is probably not what you’re looking for if you’re coming all the way from China.
I would get a 3-day park hopper pass, because your idea is exactly the right one – take several breaks to go back to the hotel, check out the pool, or just take a nap. Your pregnant wife and your child will definitely appreciate it.
Many years ago, I worked with a guy who used to work at Disneyland. I don’t know if his suggestions are still valid, but here is what he had to say back then:
The slowest day of the week is Sunday. I know that sounds odd, but Disneyland, unlike other theme parks in California, is mostly filled with out-of-state visitors. And when is travel day? Sunday. Thus, fewer people (certainly not empty, but fewer) go there on Sunday. Monday, however is VERY busy as the kids have been screaming Disneyland, Disneyland all day Sunday and everybody thinks it will be empty on the first workday of the week.
It is worth the extra bucks to stay at the Disney hotel. It might seem like more money, but a few things to consider - if you are a guest, you get into the park an hour earlier than the others - considering your child is so young, that might not be a big factor, but to get on the “good rides”, the extra hour lets you get on them without much of a line. Plus…he said going in the morning, then taking the tram back to the hotel for a drink and a nap when the first afternoon crowd came, was worth the expense alone. Then you can take the monorail back into the park for the parade and fireworks later in the evening, and you don’t have to schlep out to the parking lot when it is over. It used to be when you stayed at the Disney hotel, you got free admittance, but I don’t think that is true anymore…like I say, these tips are from quite a few years back.
Another personal tip I give to friends here in Las Vegas going there is to go to Laguna Beach if you are in that area for more than a day or two. It is the beach everybody expects to see in California…beautiful, with great shops and restaurants and I think September will be a fine time to go…especially considering the weather has been really hot this year. Also, Knott’s Berry Farm is practically across the street and you might like to go there as well…might even be more fun for a 4 year old.
I can’t imagine that Sunday could possibly be the slow day, but early in the workweek is definitely good. We were there on a Monday about a year ago, and we hardly ever had to wait more than 25 minutes to get on a ride.
Since you mentioned your hotel budget, are you aware that a single-day visit for the three (five?) of you will likely cost at least as much as your hotel for that day, what with admission, food, souvenirs, etc.?
It doesn’t apply to you, but I was there once on Christmas, and the park was deserted. I haven’t been there since the late '90s, but I used to live in LA so everybody who came to visit wanted to go there.
One thing to keep in mind is what will be closed when you go there, China Guy. For example, if you have your heart set on doing Haunted Mansion, it may still be closed for rehab because they do a holiday overlay for Halloween/Christmas every year. If you check the www.disneyland.com site, you can enter in your dates of travel and find out what is scheduled to be down for rehab for the days you’ll be there. You can also find out the park hours for those days as well.
Sundays are busy, just not as busy as Saturdays. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the lightest in terms of crowds. (This is just IMO.)
Good sites to do research at are www.mouseplanet.com and www.miceage.com. Mouseplanet will have more info just because they’ve been around longer, but they both have lots of info, not just on rides, but things like shows, resturants, etc.
Like DMark pointed out, if you have the means, staying on the park property is especially convenient, because you can go back to the room to have a rest, etc. The Grand Californian Hotel is worth a look even if you don’t stay there, because it’s a gorgeous Arts and Crafts style hotel.
Absolutely stay at an on-premise hotel. As DMark said, take the kids back to the hotel in the early afternoon, a nap, a swim, and take them back out later.
I used to work at Busch Gardens in Florida so here is my best advice for theme parks in Florida:
Get there as soon as the park opens. Find whatever skyway/tram/train there is and ride it to the OTHER SIDE of the park. Enjoy about an hour of peace as the herd slowly moves its way across the park. Ride rides in the morning, see air conditioned shows in the heat of the afternoon and ride more rides at night, after it’s cooled down and some people have left for the day.
