One week in Cali? Disneyland and where else?

[offtoseemickey]

Hi all

Hoping some of you can weigh in on my holiday plans please

I am very excited to be planning on spending one week in mid January (Saturday-Saturday) in California. The main reason for the trip is to visit Disneyland, but I haven’t decided how many days we need there. I’m thinking at least 3?

I want to stay in one of the hotels in walking distance to the parks - any recommendations would be helpful please.

As for the rest of our trip.. are there any day trips we could do from Anaheim that would allow us to stay in the same hotel? Or should we entirely relocate somewhere else?

I’ve read so much about traffic - I really don’t want to be stuck in a car queueing for hours on end. Are trains an option? Can I get away with not renting a car at all?

I’m so used to planning for FL but this is all new, I’d really appreciate some thoughts and opinions, please.

What did you do that worked well? I’m mainly thinking about transport, hotels and things to do right now.

😊 thank you!

[YorkshireT]

I am doing 7 nights there next summer.

Spending 4 nights at Garland so we can do Universal, Hollywood and general sights, then 3 nights at Grand Californian (I hope) which has its own entrance into the parks.

[Bozza]

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for four nights and it was amazing.

Yes, the Disney hotels cost more than off-site, but it's worth it IMO.

I'd suggest splitting the week - some time at Disneyland and then some time closer to Hollywood which will enable you to take in whatever you fancy in the area - Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, Santa Monica etc.

[Stitch73]

Following, as I just posted the same

[KarenG]

I’ve stayed onsite at Disneyland and offsite. The cost difference can be massive and the offsite hotel we once stayed at was closer to the parks than at least one of the Disney hotels.

So we tend to stay offsite and use the significant savings for other things.

There are loads of perfectly acceptable hotels within a very close walk to the parks.

[offtoseemickey]

Originally Posted by KarenG

I’ve stayed onsite at Disneyland and offsite. The cost difference can be massive and the offsite hotel we once stayed at was closer to the parks than at least one of the Disney hotels.

So we tend to stay offsite and use the significant savings for other things.

There are loads of perfectly acceptable hotels within a very close walk to the parks.

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Thank you. We will definitely be staying offsite unless there’s a steal of a deal onsite. We are trying to stick to a budget trip, this is a ‘bonus’ holiday in the year; we’ve already had our main holiday. Also, I know we’ll spend very little time in the hotel, so I don’t want to waste money on something I’m not going to make use of.

[offtoseemickey]

Originally Posted by Bozza

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for four nights and it was amazing.

Yes, the Disney hotels cost more than off-site, but it's worth it IMO.

I'd suggest splitting the week - some time at Disneyland and then some time closer to Hollywood which will enable you to take in whatever you fancy in the area - Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, Santa Monica etc.

See more...

I don’t think I can justify the cost for onsite, but it definitely looks lovely!

I like the idea of splitting with Hollywood. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to travel between the two locations please?

[Bozza]

Originally Posted by offtoseemickey

I don’t think I can justify the cost for onsite, but it definitely looks lovely!

I like the idea of splitting with Hollywood. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to travel between the two locations please?

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I suggest visiting Trader Sam's at the DLH if you can - it's a great experience!

I'd just get an Uber.

[offtoseemickey]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

I am doing 7 nights there next summer.

Spending 4 nights at Garland so we can do Universal, Hollywood and general sights, then 3 nights at Grand Californian (I hope) which has its own entrance into the parks.

See more...

Thank you, this is really helpful.

Is Garland a hotel or an area?

[Peko]

Originally Posted by offtoseemickey

Is Garland a hotel or an area?

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It's a hotel

thegarland/