Karen's 2017 Birthday trip

[DisneyKaren]

I hope it's ok to start up a new thread for my trip next year even though we don't leave for another 2.5mths.  My sister and I are looking to visit Aulani but not actually stay there, do a character breakfast with Hawaiian Mickey and look around the resort.  We sent an email to find out how much we could look around and they advised we could do the shops and dining.  Does anyone know if it's possible to look around the gardens if you're not a guest?

While I'm asking any thoughts on places to eat at Disneyland/Cal Ad where you get a special view or experience?  This time we're going to try and skip most of the character meets we've already done and just wander, enjoy and take in all the little things Disney do.

Thanks for any assistance you can give, Karen

[KeithS]

Hi Karen - no worries in starting a thread - you can start as many as you like!

Aulani is great - and yes, from memory you should be able to walk around the gardens, I can't remember having to use my room key to head outside.  So if you are having breakfast there, you should be free to wander around the grounds.

[DisneyKaren]

Thanks Keith, sadly we found out they now use wrist bands and apparently you can't get around the gardens.  We're now looking to stay one night on our way back and do a character breakfast - must meet Hawaiian Mickey!

We're also looking at the hotels at Disneyland, I'm concerned for the price of Paradise Pier it's not worth the location.  Any thoughts from those of you who have stayed at the Disney hotels or even the good-neighbour hotels?  I don't mind paying if worth it, so many things to choose to spend my money on. 

[Mel]

I've stayed at Paradise Pier and Grand Californian and would jump at staying at GC again (if I could afford it) but not PP.  We are very rarely in our room at DL so we just like cheap and cheerful and CLOSE and PP is just a little too far away.  We stayed at the very, very basic Desert Inn last month and it was perfect for us.  Right across from the crosswalk, next to Denny's and IHOP and less than half the price of PP.

The GC is spectacular.  We had a theme park room and could watch WOC from our balcony.  We stayed there three years ago and my two older boys - who were four and six at the time - still talk about it.  It was so awesome to send my husband and eldest down to Grizzly River for a quick ride while the rest of us were still getting ready  and then they could come back and get changed into dry clothes before we headed off for more theme parks

[DisneyKaren]

Thanks Mel, I was a little concerned about the distance of PP for the cost. We stayed at Desert Inn last trip and I agree that it's a great little place.  My sister is super keen to stay at Paradise Pier (and I'm happy to try it) so hopefully there are some benefits in staying at a Disney hotel.  We're hoping we can cross the road and go through GC to get to CalAd or Downtown.

GC is my dream but probably out of our budget for this trip.  I'll certainly put it on my dream list though as that park view room sounds totally amazing!

[DisneyKaren]

My sister is now super keen on Grand Californian if it's worth the money.  I'm not sure how much we'll really be in the room so am concerned that it's a fortune for a bed for a few hours but would also be great to be so close.  Also looking at Tropicana, Park Vue Inn, Camelot or Desert Inn and Suites for affordability and still close.

Any thoughts from anyone?  

Would love to hear from those of you who visit frequently and are huge Disney fans if you enjoy the trip when staying at the cheaper ones just as much or if it's truly worth the extra money for GC.

[KeithS]

Unfortunately we always stayed at the Carousel Inn but that closes in December and will be demolished, so we'll be looking for a new discount hotel for next time too. I'm keen to see what other responses you get here.

[mushu mama]

I've stayed at both the Best Westerns across the road multiple times and that is my first choice every time.  I would LOVE to stay at a Disney hotel in Anaheim but I always think of what I could do with the money I've saved and book a good neighbour anyway.  
I think they're all pretty good as far as the good neighbour hotels go, so I'd say go with whoever has the best deal going.   Across the road is still super close to everything by WDW standards, so it'd be hard to go wrong.  

[DisneyKaren]

Thanks everyone for your feedback.  We've now booked Park Vue Inn as they had a pretty good price, are pretty much at the crosswalk and have a good proportion of happy and satisfied reviewers.

Keith I'll let you know next year whether it's worth putting on your list.  We did consider one of the Best Westerns as well (the other is booked out), however Park Vue was a little cheaper and a couple of steps closer.  PP & GC just didn't quite seem worth it for the money, will save that for more travelling!!

[Mel]

When we stayed at GC we got a great deal since we were renting points through a friend.  The boys were 2, 4 and 6 so we spent a bit more time in the room than we would now.  It's hard to justify spending so much money when you're not going to be in the room much at all.  I like spending a night or two at a hotel to experience them.  We've stayed at the Mira Costa at TDL for one night (AMAZING being IN the park!), GC at DL for two nights and we stayed at the VWL for two nights on our last trip before moving to the more economical POR.  I've loved ALL of those experience hotels, but I couldn't afford or justify staying longer than a couple of nights in each - except for maybe VWL, but we got free dining at POR which was much, much, MUCH better value for us.

I also stayed at Paradise Pier for just a couple of nights, but it was a bit more of a bonus back then.  It's when they use to have the entrance gate to DCA over near Goofy's Sky School (or what WAS called Mulholland Madness) so you had really close access to DCA.

[DisneyKaren]

Thanks Mel, I can see you could turn out to be a very bad influence on my bank balance!! Definitely one day I'd love to stay at GC - and I'd get a park view as well.  This trip I want to spend any spare time in the parks enjoying the architectural and artistic details they put in.  I usually get too caught up in the excitement of the big picture.

POR = Port Orleans Resort?  VWL = ??  Sorry, still learning all the hotels, apparently I need to visit more.  Mira Costa sounds perfect for when we do our Asian Disney trip in a few years, I'll start saving once this holiday is over.

[DisneyKaren]

In just over 12 hours we fly out and I still need to pack (I procrastinate as long as possible).  I have my Minnie Ears ear warmers all ready :) for the Canadian Rockies and am excited about seeing the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disneyland.  I'll post a more detailed recap of my days at Disney and will see how I go for other days, however as I can't figure out how to post photos, you'll need to go to my blog.  We are hoping to post photos and more limited wording on our blog.  Unlike Keith, I can't see me having time at Disney to update anything, that may be done on the road to San Fran.  My sister has assured me there is no time for sleeping at Disney!

https://karenstravelphotos.wordpress.com/  - I can't promise how good this will be or how often it'll be updated but we're going to give it a go.

[calisota]

You'll be in the air as I type this but...have a good flight and just know that we're all really jealous.


Greg

[KeithS]

Hey Karen - hope you had a good flight and arrived safely!

[DisneyKaren]

Arrived safely and loving Hawaii! First blog up for Oahu. Hoping to finish Oahu in a couple of days.

Moana is everywhere on Oahu, they're certainly making the most of having a local Disney Princess and who could blame them.