DL auestions about where to stay About This Page:

[2010dlt]

Hi this is my 1st post and was hoping for some inside info if anyone has any I am planning a surprise trip for December 2010 for my family my hubby will have turned 40 in April and my son will be turning 11 when we are down there my daughter will have turned 6 I have been to disneyland when I was 11 and again just in Sept of 2008 for my 36th bday with my sister for a sisters only trip . I had a blast!! couldn't wait to get back I am really lucky with info about disneyland because my sisters hubby and in laws have been more times then I can count and her mother is a travel agent My sister was in DL for my nieces 7th bday and stayed at the howard johnson (we stayed there when we where kids) and liked how close it was and the kdis liked the pool. She tells me that PARK PLACE right across the street from the main gate would be the place to stay if not HOJO since it is the 1st time and not sure if the kids can handle the long hot days without a break and to he truthful I don't really want to lug them back when the firewrks are over Has any one ever stayed there? I have done some $ comparisons and Hojo did come in a little cheaper

[MelC]

Hi and welcome to the boards! I am clueless about DL - I was there one time many,many years ago and only for the day so can't help you here. If you scroll down on the message forum page, there are several threads specifically for DL. Perhaps they can help you there! Good luck and have fun!

[jimmymac]

Welcome to the boards

[olendl01]

Welcome to the boards....I have not stayed at either places...We stay in one of the DLR's. So much nicer to be able to take naps and pool breaks from the parks in you are a resort on property.

[HeatherD]

I have! We stay at the Best Western Park Place every December when we visit Disneyland. Depending on what you are looking for, we think it's the best place to stay. Our priority is location, location, location! The rooms are typical rooms...not large, not luxurious, but clean and comfy, with a nice seating area (with a couch). The "free breakfast" at Capt Kidd's next door sucks totally and completely (and I'm being nice) but that's not a deal breaker for us - we've started bringing in our own breakfast stuff for convenience anyway. But, if a good breakfast included in the price carries weight with you, then I wouldn't recommend BWPP.

Make your reservations early! We've had our ressies for this December since Winter, sometime early in the year.

[Meggera]

I haven't stayed in either of those, but we did stay at the Candy Cane Inn and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a quick walk to the main gates of DLR, offers a free shuttle there and back if you don't want to walk, and has a wonderful continental breakfast each morning. I had mentioned that we were there celebrating my DDs birthday, and they had balloons and goodies for her when we arrived. We would definitely stay there again. Just my two cents on another option.

By the way, to the boards!

[Sallykl]

We often stay at the Tropicana Inn & Suites, next door to Park Place, and same owner. The prices have gone up, but they are right across the street from the gate and have a nice store with fruit, ice cream, and a cafe next door for coffee etc in mornings. Ihop is also next door on the other side. HoJo is almost a block further away, but just opened a new kid's play area last month. So it depends on how tired you are and how far you want to walk. Both hotels will keep your car, while you walk over, so no parking fees. Candy Cane Inn is also very nice, on the same side of Harbor as the park, but equally as far as HoJo in the opposite direction. Try their websites, as that usually has the best deals, but December gets very busy and fills up early. Use Disney Dining to make priority seating for any restaurants you want to go to 60 days in advance, otherwise you may not get in at that season. Bring coats and rain ponchos as it may be cold and/or wet.

[2010dlt]

Thanks for the input! When my sister and I went in Sept 08 I got a look at Candy Cane in and it didn't seem to far away I was thinking of getting some breakfast stuff from Target (they are like Walmart with a food section right no Target in BC Canada) and then I can give the kids a bowl and pack some tide me over snacks they will be to excited to eat but will probally only make it down main street before they smell cinnamon buns and have a hunger meltdown. The weather if NOT Wet but cool would be ok would prefer warm and sunny(you know how wet BC gets) most of my friends photos from December trips they are in jeans and hoodies but may if like some where saying that it could rain then will revel when to book Heard that Aug is when the December info comes out for schdual does anyone know what the hours are in the winter?? I figure the park closes earlier

[Bee]

I'm in a stand still I can't decide where to stay I was looking at the candy cane inn or alpine or maybe just bucking up and staying at dlr.

[Desurae]

We always stay at La Quinta. The rooms are nice, they even have family suites. There is a free breakfast every morning. The walk to the park from the hotel is only about 10 mins if you're taking your time. They also offer a shuttle if you don't want to walk. We have stayed here the last 4 times we have visited and never had a complaint.

[loly75ddl]

We stayed at the HOJO and it was amazing - super clean room - great kids pool It's a pirate ship they can play in and the hot tub was wonderful. Fridge in the room and a short walk

[HeatherD]

Originally Posted by 2010dlt

Thanks for the input! When my sister and I went in Sept 08 I got a look at Candy Cane in and it didn't seem to far away I was thinking of getting some breakfast stuff from Target (they are like Walmart with a food section right no Target in BC Canada) and then I can give the kids a bowl and pack some tide me over snacks they will be to excited to eat but will probally only make it down main street before they smell cinnamon buns and have a hunger meltdown. The weather if NOT Wet but cool would be ok would prefer warm and sunny(you know how wet BC gets) most of my friends photos from December trips they are in jeans and hoodies but may if like some where saying that it could rain then will revel when to book Heard that Aug is when the December info comes out for schdual does anyone know what the hours are in the winter?? I figure the park closes earlier

The Targets in CA have some foodstuff, but not like the Walmarts that have a grocery section. Mostly it's dry goods with a freezer/fridge against the wall. It'd be fine if you were looking for cereal and milk, but not fresh foods.
There are plenty of grocery stores that are as close as any Target or Walmart. We checked into our room this past December and, leaving the kids with their grandparents, ran out to Albertson's to grab some fruit, donuts, cereal, juice and milk. Since it's our normal grocery store where we live, we weren't spending any more money than normal on groceries and certainly less than breakfasts in a restaurant! We passed a Target on our travels to the store, so they aren't more than a block or so apart.

Though, I am trying to convince DH that we should go to Cafe Orleans one morning for Mickey shaped begneits and Monte Cristo French Toast!

Hours in December are shorter, but still good. Usually, on weekdays, DL is open 8 - 8 or 10 and DCA is open 10 - 6 or 8. Weekends may be later. But, don't wait for hours to book your hotel! August is way too late to look for good prices and locations - the ones on Harbor (and not across any cross streets) usually sell out before summer hits.

[2010dlt]

Thanks HeatherD!!
So I was thinking that I should book for a 2010 December trip...around May of 2010 or what do you think? I know it will be probally the Howard Johnson or the Park Place so you figure that will give me enough time to get a decent price or do you think earlier Because 7mths in advance seems like a long time yet I know that my sister and family are headed to WDW at the end of March till mid April (17 days) and they booked their flight now because of really great prices they also booked their hotel my sisters MIL is a travel agent and found this great place their is going to be about 7 people involved in the trip. I thought they booked early but what do I know ???

[HeatherD]

Well, since you don't have to pay right away, is there a reason you would wait? I just asked DH what his opinion is and he reminded me that we usually book the hotel in Feb/March. That's the only thing we worry about that early. We also keep an eye on the price and may adjust our reservation, if necessary, to get a better price. However, with the way things have been trending since the 50th in 2005, prices don't really go down!

We won't worry about tickets until closer to the trip (we order online or get from the Disney Store), though we do make sure to get them ahead of time. And we drive, so we don't have to worry about flights. That can be handled like any other trip, though, with your comfort level on when to book the flights. There are several airports to chose from (LAX, John Wayne and Long Beach), so I doubt you'd run out of options and prices to chose from.

[disney777]

Park Vue Inn is the closest hotel/motel to DLR, closer than Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel. It's a basic "motel", no frills. But it's wonderful to just walk across the street and be "home". I booked my last 2 December trips in Feb/March. Candy Cane is a very nice place, but a further walk, and I believe it costs more. Check refund policies on the place you choose to make sure you can cancel without penalty.