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[trr3601]

Okay, so we are going to DL for three days. The first day is May 23rd. Almost my entire inlaw family will drive with us from Oceanside to Disneyland that morning. On the 26th and 27th my husband, my daughter, little brother and myself are planning on going back to DL. Since we are going two days in a row we think it would be smart (and cheaper) to stay at a economy priced hotel instead of driving back and forth from Oceanside both days. But now I am trying to figure out how we would do that. Would we leave DL at 3pm to go check in? And then go back? I don't know. Also if anyone can reccomend a hotel close to disneyland that would be awesome!

[HeatherD]

That's a good thought that will either give you more time in the parks or more sleeping time, since you will avoid an hour drive home on the 26th AND another hour drive back on the 27th. There are a lot (a LOT) of inexpensive hotels on Harbor, right across the street from Disneyland. Several, such as the Best Western Park Place Inn, are as close a walk as the Disneyland Hotel and most are only a bit longer. Look at Disney's Good Neighbor list and go from there.

Since the hotels are so close, it's not a big thing to jump out of the park really quick to check in. Or, you could note a late check in on your reservation and just do it when you are done in the park. I'm sure that happens a lot with people who go straight into the parks when they get there.

The only drawback I can see is that the dates are so close, you may not be able to get the really good hotels that are "right there". No matter what, I don't think your options will be so limited as to make it silly to do this....you just might need to walk a little bit further down Harbor or catch a shuttle (Anaheim resort shuttle or some hotels).

[trr3601]

Thank you! I was checking hotels.com this morning and I found a few close hotels. I am going to read the reviews either tonight or tomorrow.

[w-steele]

We live ever further south than Oceanside and when we go up for the weekend we stay at either the Ramada Maingate (right across the street from DL) or the Super 8 Motel on Katella Ave (just a couple of blocks away). The Super 8 is less expensive than the Ramada and you might have a better chance of a late reservation.
As an example;
For May 26th-27th at the Ramada Maingate it is $95. 45 for 2 Adults/2 Kids
at the Super 8 Motel it is $50.83 for 2 Adults/2 Kids
They both have Continental Breakfast and are very nice motels. I for one would rather have the $44.62 in my pocket to spend on something other than the closeness to DL.
As far as checking in goes, we leave San Diego about 6 am and by the time we get to DL area it is about 7:20 so we stop by the Motel and do an early check in (you won't get a room assigned at this time but they know you are 'staying') and then we go over the the paking structure and take the tram over to the main gate, getting there usuallyu about 8:00 to maybe 8:15. Then around 2:30 we go back to the motel, get our room, rest up for an hour or two and then go back to the park for the rest of the evening. It seems to work great for us but we're 55 and 64 years old and have no kids. I would imagine it would work with kids as well as they have a chance to rest and prepare for an evening of more fun.
Just our thoughts and the way we do our over night stays.

[trr3601]

Originally Posted by w-steele

We live ever further south than Oceanside and when we go up for the weekend we stay at either the Ramada Maingate (right across the street from DL) or the Super 8 Motel on Katella Ave (just a couple of blocks away). The Super 8 is less expensive than the Ramada and you might have a better chance of a late reservation.
As an example;
For May 26th-27th at the Ramada Maingate it is $95. 45 for 2 Adults/2 Kids
at the Super 8 Motel it is $50.83 for 2 Adults/2 Kids
They both have Continental Breakfast and are very nice motels. I for one would rather have the $44.62 in my pocket to spend on something other than the closeness to DL.
As far as checking in goes, we leave San Diego about 6 am and by the time we get to DL area it is about 7:20 so we stop by the Motel and do an early check in (you won't get a room assigned at this time but they know you are 'staying') and then we go over the the paking structure and take the tram over to the main gate, getting there usuallyu about 8:00 to maybe 8:15. Then around 2:30 we go back to the motel, get our room, rest up for an hour or two and then go back to the park for the rest of the evening. It seems to work great for us but we're 55 and 64 years old and have no kids. I would imagine it would work with kids as well as they have a chance to rest and prepare for an evening of more fun.
Just our thoughts and the way we do our over night stays.

Thank you! Very useful info. So do you park at the hotel or at DL? I think that is what we will do... it just seems silly to drive back to Oceanside to sleep when it will cost about the same if not less to stay at a hotel. I was looking at the super 8 and the Days inn. Normally i'd be more picky about a hotel but we are only going to be sleeping there.

[w-steele]

Originally Posted by trr3601

Thank you! Very useful info. So do you park at the hotel or at DL? I think that is what we will do... it just seems silly to drive back to Oceanside to sleep when it will cost about the same if not less to stay at a hotel. I was looking at the super 8 and the Days inn. Normally i'd be more picky about a hotel but we are only going to be sleeping there.

If we stay at the Ramada Maingate, we just park the car and leave it there. If we stay at the Super 8, like we will next weekend, we drive to the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure. Our parking is free are we have the Premium Annual Passes but with you, if you stay at the Super 8, you would have to pay to park but keep the parking stub so you don't have to pay twice in the same day. This way you can check in at the motel first thing in the morning, go to DL (pay for your parking), enjoy the day, leave between 2 and 3 and go back to the motel to get your room. Then when you go back to the parks later that day, just show your parking stub and you will get in free. I hope this helps you out. Again, enjoy your stay at the "original" Disneyland. Hahaha.

[disney777]

I also check into the hotel first thing in the morning, usually around 7:00am. We park the car at the hotel. Then we go have breakfast then head for the parks. We usually go back in the afternoon, since we are tired by then and ready for a little rest. (I go every couple of weeks at least for an all day visit, so I don't have to do the parks commando style) I often stay at Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites, and you can't get much closer to the parks than this. It's right next to Denny's. I checked, and the 1 room rate is $69 with 2 queen beds. My friend and I share a Family B suite so we have our own bathrooms and "space". these are $139/nt

[trr3601]

Thank you everyone for your replies. this gives me several hotels to choose from. We are making our final reservations monday. Cant wait!

[trr3601]

We made our reservations for the super 8. Thank you to everyone for your replies!