Going to Disneyland!

[MstrRoboto]

Marriott courtyard theme park entrance, stayed there the last 2 years while visiting Disneyland. Its great and has a nice water park for the kids as well, it's right beside the Howard Johnson on South Harbor Blvd.

[Wormius]

We stayed at the Ramada, which is more like a motel, also along South Harbor Blvd. It was decent, and within walking distance to the gates. The breakfast buffet sucks, but there is a Starbucks really close by to get muffins or whatever breakfasty things people like.

[Street Pharmacist]

Howard Johnson was awesome for the splash park when we were sick of the crowds at Disney

[KootenayFlamesFan]

We stayed at Embassy Suites again this year, we really like it. Free breakfast which is pretty decent, a free happy hour in the evening (very nice), the rooms are pretty good. They have a shuttle that's $3 for the day, it's about a 5 minute drive to Disney, probably even less.

[Rhettzky]

Hojo was great for us. And booking flights with westjet vacations gave us a great deal there.

This time we are staying at the Grand Californian. They have a 40% off sale going on because the hotel is under construction. Still pricey as hell but likely the only we will be able to afford it.

Also, download the Disney app and check out the max pass feature. You scan your parks tickets and you can get fastpasses from the app without going into the kiosks. Plus you get free Disney photo downloads for the day. Cost is $10 per ticket bit you can really get the most out of your time in the park if you use it wisely.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

...

Also, download the Disney app and check out the max pass feature. You scan your parks tickets and you can get fastpasses from the app without going into the kiosks. Plus you get free Disney photo downloads for the day. Cost is $10 per ticket bit you can really get the most out of your time in the park if you use it wisely.

Assuming DW and DL are the same... we just got back from DW and the fastpasses on the app are awesome. However, you can only have three at a time and can't add until all three are used. So, if you have two during the day and then one later in the evening you can't reload. I suggest getting 3 early in the day and then reload as soon as you get off the third one. Also, the wrist band things looked awesome and you don't have to futz with your card. Did not get one, wish I did.

[Titan]

I would also look into how far in advance you can add a fastpass before you go. The longer you can add the more likely to get the best rides.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Titan

Assuming DW and DL are the same... we just got back from DW and the fastpasses on the app are awesome. However, you can only have three at a time and can't add until all three are used. So, if you have two during the day and then one later in the evening you can't reload. I suggest getting 3 early in the day and then reload as soon as you get off the third one. Also, the wrist band things looked awesome and you don't have to futz with your card. Did not get one, wish I did.

DL and DCA work differently then WDW. You can only hold one fastpass at a time (sort of). If you grab one at 8:30 for a ride and your window is 9:30 - 10:30 you can't get another one until 9:30 regardless if you rode the ride or not. For example, you can grab a fastpass for Big Thunder for 9:30-10:30. At 9:31 grab a fast pass for Splash Mountain and then go ride Big Thunder then go ride Splash Mountain.

If the fastpass window you get is a long ways away, it may tell you you can grab a second one at a specific time at the bottom of the chit so thats another way to get a second Fastpass so always read the chit.

DL doesn't use Magic Bands but the new Fastpass scanners look the same as the Magicband scanners they had on the Disney cruise so maybe they are coming. To use your Fastpass you now scan the barcode on your ticket rather then handing the kiosk ticket to the Cast Member.

We just booked a trip to DL for the end of August and booked the Courtyard Theme Park.

The one thing I learned that I didn't know was most rides, you can ask for a Rider Switch pass if you have a kid who is scared or too short but both parents want to ride.

If a child does not meet the height requirement or a Guest does not wish to board a particular attraction, no problem! With Rider Switch, one adult can wait with the non-rider (or riders) while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. When the other adult returns, they can supervise the non-riding Guests, and the waiting adult can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again!