By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
In my last blog entry, I talked about the advantages of staying on-property vs. off-property at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Now let’s move over to the west coast and talk about the Disneyland® Resort. On-Property Staying on-property at Disneyland® Resort can be quite a bit different for those used to the dozens of resorts at Walt Disney World® Resort. Disneyland Resort only has three on-property hotels: Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel, the Disneyland® Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa. However, unlike at Walt Disney World, there are no value-priced on-property resorts. Disney's Paradise Pier is roughly equivalent price-wise to a high-end Walt Disney World moderate resort, while the Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa are priced similarly to Walt Disney World deluxe resorts. Each of the three on-property hotels is located very near the theme parks, with Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa even having its own private entrance into Disney California Adventure® Park. Disney's Paradise Pier and the Disneyland Hotel are a short ten-minute walk to the main gates, making all three extremely attractive from a location perspective. One of the biggest perks of staying on-property, other than being immersed in the Disney magic, is that your entire party gets to enter one of the parks an hour early every morning, letting you get a huge jump on crowds. Off-Property But what about off-property? At Walt Disney World, off-property is usually only an attractive option if you’re traveling with a larger group that needs a suite or a vacation house. Staying at an off-property location usually means a long trek to the theme parks, using either a hotel shuttle or your own rental car. Staying off-property in the Disneyland Resort area is a whole different ballgame, though— there are off-property hotels within easy walking distance. A few are even closer to the parks than the on-property hotels, believe it or not! It’s entirely possible to stay off-property with no need for a rental car and never setting foot on a shuttle. Unlike the on-property Disneyland Resort hotels, off-property hotels come at all price points and at a wide range of amenity levels. Most located closest to the parks are older properties with fewer amenities, while those located a bit further away are more luxurious properties. Many, even within easy walking distance, have suite configurations designed for larger groups. So when it comes down to it, which is the better choice— on-property or off-property? There really isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ answer; it all comes down to what you want in a hotel. Are location and luxurious amenities most important to you? On-property may be right for you. Or, if you’re a traveler who cares more about price and being close to the parks, you’ll probably be really happy with a nearby off-property hotel. If you’d like to talk more about Disneyland-area properties, drop me a line at davidp@mousemastertravel.com.
2 Comments
A doubly-unique experience at Disney California Adventure® Park By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
Ariel’s Grotto has the unique status of being the only character meal at Disney California Adventure® Park, and the only Disneyland® Resort character meal where you’re guaranteed to meet princesses. The sea-themed restaurant overlooks Paradise Bay, fitting in perfectly with the ocean/pier theme of Paradise Pier. If you have a princess fan in the family, you’ll want to consider a reservation at Ariel’s Grotto at Disney California Adventure Park. Rather than spending a long time waiting in line to meet princesses at Princess Fantasy Faire Royal Hall at Disneyland® Park, guests at Ariel’s Grotto can get up close and personal with a host of royal visitors. Unlike many character meals, Ariel's Grotto is not a buffet. Ordering from a prix fixe menu combines the benefits of knowing your cost in advance with no worries about missing a character while you're at the buffet for food. For a fixed price of $42-$48 for adults and $22-$26 for children (prices as of Oct 2016), guests get breakfast or lunch and face time with 4-5 princesses, who might include Ariel, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, or Belle. A town crier periodically announces the arrival of each princess before she visits each table and poses for pictures with adoring fans. Note that while Ariel’s Grotto does serve dinner, at this time only breakfast and lunch are character dining experiences —dinner at Ariel’s Grotto is presently a World of Color dining package. David's Mouse Master Tip: Don't waste precious early morning park hours eating breakfast. Make a 10:30 a.m. reservation instead. Use those first couple of park hours to enjoy your favorite attractions while the lines are shorter. Then enjoy your breakfast (preferably with a FASTPASS you grabbed just before breakfast in hand to use after your meal) while the park crowd is getting larger and wait times are getting longer. By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
For the first time, Disneyland® Park gets its own Halloween Parade! It's had Mickey's Costume Cavalcade anchoring Mickey's Halloween Party for a few years now, but Disneyland recently announced a full-fledged parade that sounds really amazing. It features the Headless Horseman, Jack Skellington, Dr. Facelier and various other Disney villains, and all of our favorite grim grinning ghosts from the Haunted Mansion! It's not too late to book a trip to see the new Frightfully Fun Parade. From Disney's official release: "Beginning this year, you are invited to gather for chills and thrills when the all-new “Frightfully Fun Parade” takes to the streets at Disneyland® Park, featuring a spectacle of spooky spirits from the deepest bayous of New Orleans to Halloweentown and beyond. The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow sets the mood as he arrives on his ghostly black steed just ahead of the parade itself, carrying a flickering jack-o-lantern as a warning to everyone along the parade route. From “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Jack Skellington the Pumpkin King brings greetings from Halloweentown, as residents arrive to celebrate their favorite time of year. Grim, grinning ghosts come out to socialize when Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion attraction comes to “afterlife,” with swirling ballroom dancers, ominous gravediggers and a trio of hitchhiking ghosts. Inspired by Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” Dr. Facilier calls on mystical powers, summoning his Shadow Men from the bayou to loom large over his strange and twisted Voodoo parlor, and the mischievous Disney Villains appear out of the darkness, ready to stir up some trouble. A dark and dungeon-like lair takes over the parade route, bringing with it a wicked gathering of villainy from Hades and the Evil Queen to Jafar, Cruella and more! The “Frightfully Fun Parade” will be presented exclusively during Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separately ticketed event at Disneyland Park hosted over 17 nights from Sept. 23-Oct. 31, 2016." By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
Originally printed in the June 2016 issue of NW Kids Magazine I visit Disney (both Land and World) a lot, and friends often ask what the perfect age to take your kids is. My answer: any age. Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort aren’t just for young kids. While there certainly is something to be said for taking your 4-8 year olds who see Disney parks with wide-eyed wonder, those same parks can be just as exciting for toddlers and teenagers. Babies/toddlers “Why should I take them now? They won’t remember it!” That’s the number one statement I get from parents thinking about a Disney trip with younger kids. I’ll let you in on a secret: it isn’t all about the kids. Disney vacations are about creating magical family memories. You’re creating and strengthening a bond with your younger kids when you soar through the air for the first time on Dumbo the Flying Elephant or buckle in for their first magical journey on Peter Pan’s Flight. While they might not remember their very first trip, YOU will—and you’ll have lots of pictures and memories to share with them as they grow older. Disney parks are extremely baby- and toddler-friendly, with lots of rides, character meets, and shows with no height requirements. You’ll find Baby Care Centers in every park with plenty of feeding areas, child-size pottys, and private nursing areas. These quiet centers can be an oasis for over-stimulated children needing a mid-day break. Preschoolers/Elementary Kids “They’re the perfect age! I want to go now!” This seems to be a ‘magical age’ to take kids to Disney parks. For preschoolers and early elementary-age kids, everything around them is absolutely real. They don’t doubt for a second that they’re meeting the Mickey Mouse and the Anna & Elsa. For older elementary kids who may have started figuring things out, they’re now hitting that magical height of 46” when they can ride almost everything in the parks. Speaking from personal experience, there’s nothing like seeing your daughter proudly walk up to Space Mountain, have a Disney cast member declare her tall enough, then launch into a space adventure only dreamed about back when she was still a ‘little’ kid. Tweens/Teens “My kids are too old for Disney!” Here’s another Disney secret: they’re probably going to love it. Walking through those turnstiles and down Main Street reignites the childlike wonder in most tweens and teens. You may find your nostalgic teenager wanting to rub shoulders with Mickey Mouse or take a selfie with Ariel. Even if they don’t shave off a few years of attitude during their trip, tweens and teens alike will still revel in the glory of such thrill rides as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Star Tours, and Space Mountain. They may also enjoy the freedom to explore the parks on their own for a bit, something they may have wanted to do for years when younger. By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
So you've booked your Disneyland® Resort package. Now comes another question: how do you get there? If you're more than a few hours away, you're likely going to choose to fly. Unlike flying to Walt Disney World® Resort where you're pretty much locked into Orlando International Airport, the Los Angeles area has a ton of different airports to choose from. Let's examine the three most likely candidates for a Disneyland Resort trip: LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) This airport is probably the default for a lot of people, because people think "L.A." and automatically think LAX. It does have some limited advantages-- you'll have a multitude of choices for flights, particularly if you're flying internationally. But it's also got a lot of downsides: it's HUGE. Allow at least an hour to get from your gate to baggage claim and your ground transportation. On your return trip, getting through security will likely be an ordeal, as lines are almost always lengthy. It's also the furthest of the three airports I'll discuss here; while theoretically it's possible to get to Disneyland Resort from LAX in about 45 minutes, let's be realistic: this is Los Angeles. 60-90 minutes is more likely, depending on traffic. But on the transportation plus side: there's a shuttle bus (the Disneyland Resort Express) that runs fairly regularly to Disneyland Resort until 8:00 PM. The Lowdown: May be your only option if flying internationally. This should be your last choice of airport, if you have other options. While it can be inexpensive, you'll waste lots of time waiting on baggage, waiting in security lines, and waiting in traffic. SNA (John Wayne Airport) Also known as the Orange County Airport or the Santa Ana Airport, SNA is a great choice for Disneyland Resort travel. It's several orders of magnitude smaller than LAX, while still having a decent number of airlines serving it, giving you lots of choices for decent, inexpensive flights. Baggage claim and rental car service are a breeze, and security lines, for the most part, are short. SNA is just 15 miles from Disneyland Resort, making it a fairly quick and easy drive of about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. The Disneyland Resort Express also serves SNA, but Uber or Lyft are also viable options (don't forget a car seat or booster seat if you're traveling with kids!). The Lowdown: SNA is the sweet spot of having lots of airline choices and convenience. It's the closest of all the airports, it's fairly easy to navigate the medium-sized airport, and you won't spend a lot of time waiting on anything. LGB (Long Beach Airport) I have a soft spot for LGB. It is TINY. To give you an idea of how tiny it is: on my first flight into LGB, I deplaned (none of those fancy jetways here; you walk down a staircase onto the actual runway!), got my bags, walked to the rental car counter, and was actually in my rental car within ten minutes. On your return flight, you'll encounter virtually no security lines; I've flown from LGB at least a dozen times, and can't recall a time I waited more than five minutes. Being small, though, it doesn't have nearly as many flight options as SNA or LAX. Your transportation options are a *bit* more limited than LAX or SNA, but not by much. It's about 17 miles from Disneyland Resort, making the drive time fairly equal to coming from SNA. There's no Disneyland Resort Express, but cabs are plentiful and relatively cheap. Uber & Lyft are also options. The Lowdown: if flying into LGB is an option for you, this is the airport to go with. By far the tiniest airport, which translates directly to less waiting and quick navigation. By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
The World of Color Dessert Party at Disney California Adventure® Park offers a premium viewing experience for the World of Color nighttime spectacular. For the first time, guests can sit to watch the show instead of jostling for a good view in the standing sections. Instead of lining up an hour or two early to ensure a good viewing spot, guests can now walk up to reserved seating at the last minute and have a great view. At $79/person, it’s not cheap— but you get a premium dessert plate, a glass of sparkling wine or sparkling cider, and an unobstructed view from an elevated table. Guests who’ve already attended say there’s not a bad view in the reserved section, which is located right in front of The Little Mermaid– Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. Is it worth it? There are a lot of factors at play when answering that question: the length of your vacation, how many people you're traveling with, and how often you visit Disneyland, just to name a few. It all comes down to value proposition: is extra comfort and reduced wait time for a premium view worth the extra cost? Personally, I’m usually willing to spend a little extra money and devote the time I save to exploring other areas of the park with my daughter—and, after a long day, sitting down for World of Color could be a very welcome relief. Is the World of Color dessert party right for you? Talk to your Mouse Master agent today to find out! By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
Now it's time to say goodbye to.... Soarin' Over California. The revamp of Soarin' Over California, entitled Soarin' Around the World, makes its debut at the grand opening of Shanghai Disneyland on June 16, 2016. The very next day, it will debut at both Disney California Adventure® Park and Epcot®. FastPass+ reservations are available now for the Epcot version. This is going to be a big change-- while I'm certainly going to miss soaring over Yosemite, the Pacific Coast, and the Golden Gate Bridge, the new experience promises to be an excellent replacement. While Disney is holding some of its cards close to the vest until the debut, they've promised we'll soon fly over the Sydney Opera House, the Great Wall of China, and the (real) Matterhorn. When brainstorming which world locations the new version might include, I've got to confess that last one never entered my mind, but it makes perfect sense! Now, not only can we ride Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland® Park, but we can also hop over to Disney California Adventure Park and soar over the real thing! While I'm sad that I may not get to experience Soarin' Over California again, I certainly had a nice send-off for my last ride: my daughter and I rode it as part of our California Story guided tour at Disney California Adventure Park. Not only did we get to skip the line, but we also got a ton of interesting trivia from our tour guide as we waited to board our top row center seats. For instance, did you know that several components of Soarin' Over California are CGI? I had no idea! What world landmarks are you hoping to fly over when Soarin' Around the World makes its American debut on June 17? By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist
Lots of clients have asked me over the past few months “is it worth going to Disneyland right now with all of the construction going on?” I didn’t really have a good answer for them because I hadn’t seen the construction for myself, but now I have. First, a little background: what construction is going on? Recently, the Disneyland® Resort announced one of the largest land expansions in its history: the building of the upcoming 'Star Wars Land' project. This unprecedented expansion is going to be amazing when complete, transporting guests to worlds only seen before in the movies we all love. But the expansion comes with a price— parts of Disneyland® Park are shut down indefinitely in preparation for construction. At the present time, Rivers of America, Fantasmic!, the Mark Twain Riverboat, Pirate Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, the Sailing Ship Columbia, and the Disneyland® Railroad are closed. “Wow, that’s a lot,” might be your first reaction. Yes, it is. But Disneyland® Park is doing everything in its power to reduce the impact of the closures. The Rivers of America might be closed, but apart from the Mark Twain Riverboat being docked, you’d never know it from walking around New Orleans Square. They’ve ingeniously dammed the river out of sight of guests so that it does not need to be fully drained. There are no unsightly walls up around the river like during similar closures in years past. There are a few discreet walls visible back in the Critter Country area near the Hungry Bear Restaurant, but New Orleans Square itself remains unsullied. While the Mark Twain Riverboat may be docked, you can still board and explore the boat, and sometimes you may even encounter characters that call the New Orleans area home like Princess Tiana and her alligator friend Louis. While the Disneyland® Railroad is closed, trains are parked at the Main Street train station and the New Orleans Square train station. While you can’t board the trains, you can get a good close-up look at them, and there are conductors available to answer questions and give guests a little history on the trains. At the Main Street Station, you can view the legendary Lilly Belle train car that Walt’s wife Lillian had a hand in designing. For Disneyland history buffs like me, this is a rare chance to see this piece of Disney history up close and personally. At the New Orleans Square station, you can even cross the tracks to explore the buildings on the other side. Let’s circle back to that original question: is it worth going right now? I’d say the answer is a qualified yes. While you won’t be able to run around Pirate Lair on Tom Sawyer Island or ride the Disneyland® Railroad, you can explore the Mark Twain Riverboat and the trains like never before, and the ambiance of New Orleans Square remains unsullied. The biggest negative right now in my opinion is the closure of Fantasmic!, which is a big drawback for guests that are fans of that nighttime spectacular. If Fantasmic! being closed is not a dealbreaker for you, right now is a fantastic time to visit the Disneyland® Resort. I'm delighted to bring you the debut of my new site, The Mouse Master. When you come here, you'll not only find the latest news about Disney Destinations, but you'll also find a great resource for planning your own vacations. Stay tuned for the latest news, specials, promotions, and commentary on Disney Destinations!
|
AuthorI'm David Platt, your Mouse Master Disney Destination specialist. I'm delighted to bring you the latest news on Disney Destinations. Archives
May 2021
Categories
All
|
Telephone412-654-5869
|
david@themousemaster.com
|