[Experiment6-2-6]

Originally Posted by ssn

Thanks for all your responses!

We'll be flying in from Hawaii - so my first step is to decide if I want to come in at 5:30 am after an overnight flight or arrive at LAX at 10:30 pm which souds like I wouldn't get to my hotel until after midnight. So that's the 1st decision. Do you make advance reservations for the airport shuttle?

Having flown up from Hawaii for the past fourteen years, you don't want an overnight/redeye right before your first day at Disneyland. Unless you don't mind the half day you'll get before you fall down go boom..

If I were you, enjoy the time in Hawai (something I've never had a problem doing, and arrive to Disneyland late that night. You can make advance reservations online for the airport shuttle. In fact, this would be better, your longest wait would be for your luggage, as traffic and the number of passengers/stops would be minimal at that time.

Originally Posted by ssn

On the way home I am going to fly Southwest, so is it easier to fly out of the Orange County airport? If so is there a shuttle from the hotels to that airport?

You can also grab a shuttle to Orange County. Super Shuttle is great, and worth the expense. While a rental car is neat, Voldemort & I did the shuttle thing. The worst part was not having the "ability" to drive your car to the parking garage. But I had a premium pass, so parking at Disneyland was free. But I did save the "parking fee" from the hotel, so in the end it was a cheaper route to take.

Originally Posted by ssn

I really do want to stay at the DLH. I am going to wait until the rates come out for next year to defiantely decide - but it is only for 3 nights so what the hay!! At WDW I never consider off-property b/c I want the "whole" Disney experience, but from what I read the off-property hotels at DLR are just as good. We'll have to see what the $ difference is. I just don't want to stay at a "yucky" place!

For whatever reason, I have never found a "yucky" place in Anaheim. I think the standards are fairly high, and occupancy is highly desired. Priceline, as I said before, allows five star hotels for a good bit under $100.00 a night. As of three years ago, I was staying for $50.00 a night. It's a bit more now, but cheaper than the Disneyland Hotel.

In the end, the Disneyland Hotel is worth it, if you want the "whole" Disney experience. And while the hotels nearby aren't yucky, they certainly aren't DISNEY. Three nights shouldn't set you back, and if you get a package it will probably be affordable.

Originally Posted by ssn

I'm really looking forward to being able to walk everywhere - that sounds great! We'll only have 2 full days there.

Thanks again for the help and I'm sure I'll have many more questions b/f April !

Two full days should be enough to hit the major rides. My recommendation would be to get there at the rope drop, and get in line for the e-ticket rides, and fast pass as much as possible. Two days will go by way too fast.