A short review of our Annual DisneyLAND Hotel Trip

[snowpeasmom]

I have an annual pass, and go to Disneyland at least once a month, but once a year the week before Presidents weekend we head to the Disney Grand California Adventure Hotel and stay 3-4 nights. It is pure heaven. I love that hotel so much, it is just STEPS away from the theme park and so nice for naps, and just everything.

DAY 1

Sunday we were slow starting and didn't get down to the hotel until noon. We were unhappily shocked to see the main parking structure was already full and people were still pouring into the axular parking structures when we arrived. Because it means a packed park...I guess good for disney. The hotel though was not overly packed at all. I valet parked and they grabbed our bags and gave me the ticket for both. I walked right up to a check in host, where I was informed we had a queen and bunk beds, I request a change to a king size bed since I know my son doesn't sleep without me in strange places. (my son is 4 by the way). They said they could do that but a king size room wasn't ready yet so they would text us when it was. They also gave us tickets that would give us instant fast passes to any ride that has a fast past. It was good for two rides per person.

My son was so excited in the check in area there is a huge over size fire place with adult and children rocking chairs and then they have a tv with great old time disney cartoons and little rocking chairs all around it. My son didn't want to leave the waiting area he was having so much fun networking with the other children with furniture that was his size. 

In the rocking chair watching the tv

So after I checked in we let him watch a few more cartoons and then walked out of the hotel and right into California Adventure park. My son's first disappointment the grizzle run ride was under maintenance, one of his most favorite rides. We then went to become a junior explore and did the nature trail.

One story slide in the wilderness trails

While in there we  ran into some really old friends and talked for a bit. As we were walking out and going to Goofy's Airplane ride, my phone goes off and our room is ready. (main building 2 floor 5 doors from the elevator perfect!), my mom headed back to the room to store our jackets since the explore trail is right outside our room and the day was warmer than expected, plus she doesn't like goofy ride. The wait is an hour so I grab instant fast passes and then I put in our annual passes and got regular fast passes too. We rode Goofy and then did the silly swings. My mom showed up at that time and we then headed over to the newer eating area, my son loves their Italian place because he gets two sides with his meal but my mom and I wanted to try the new Mediterranean place,  it was so good. I love the Italian dishes except they don't have garlic bread or rolls or something to go with the dishes, but they are really good and slightly spices. The Mediterranean place was REALLY good, slightly spicy and the rice was so yummy. Its a eating area right outside of Goofy's Airplane so by the time we were done our other fast passes were ready. After we were done, I looked on my Mobile phone (I have Verizon so I have the Disney App) and saw that everything was basically over an hour so I asked Stephen if he wanted to go swimming because of the crowd and this was supposedly the HOTTEST day we were going to be there, at 67 degrees. (and it was the warmest day) So we headed back to our room and our luggage had not been dropped off yet so I called down and they said they would send it right up give them 5 mins. I said great. So my son gets undress down to his underwear and then starts jumping on the bed. Phone rings, I answer, its bell hop. Ms. H ummm what does your bags look like and how many do you have, we can't located them BUT they are here I swear just somewhere. So I give a description. I hung up and laughed and said hmm the ticket said only $250 reimbursed that may cover most of the clothes...as long as we don't replace them AT DISNEY. My mom and I were talking about the what ifs, while Stephen was watching Disney Bed Time Reading Story Channel. (its a channel where a princess reads your child a bed time story) Just as we were going to get my son dressed and head to disneyland about 30 mins later, I get a knock on the door and its a bell boy with our things. He was really shocked that I tipped him, it wasn't his fault they were lost...

Getting ready to swim

So my son and I head off to the pool while my mom takes a nap. We swim, my son even takes his life jacket off and swimms the length of the pool, me with in arm reach the whole time, I am just so happy and shocked that he is getting to be such a great swimmer. (no classes, just us talking him through and him playing in the tub trying to hold his breath longer and longer) So we swam until his lips turned blue dispite the heated pool. So then we headed back to our room, my mom was still sleeping so I give Stephen a bath and then sit him on the coach with his tablet and I bath. (by the way I use all the hotel stuff, I LOVE their shampoo, conditioner and sea salt body wash.)Then we head down to the lobby and I let him watch tv down there for another hour, then we went and woke my mom up. We then headed to Disneyland, we did the tikki room, jungle cruise, pirates, and then used our instant fast pass on big thunder mountain. We grabbed dinner at the French Market and then had bennetts (yummy french pastry). Then we grab the train around the park, so my son could see the Dinosaurs which required a full ride because we wanted to get off at toon town but the Dinosaurs were between Tomorrowland and the main park so we did a circle and then got off and did Its small world. We then walked to get some hot chocolate and grab a spot for the fire works. After the fire works we sat off main street in front of the baby station until the crowds decided to leave or stay.

We then went to tomorrow land and did Star Tours, Buzz and Space Mountain. Then off to bed. I got to go so I'll give you a blow by blow of the next day later.

[KerryK]

I'm jealous! We have annual passes as well and do a lot of day trips, and even stay in anaheim once or twice a year, but the Grand is just way out of reach for us. We are staying at the HoJo next month, which I like, just wish it were as close as the Grand!

[Ambear72]

 WOW thanks for posting this.  I dont have time to read the whole thing but I will finish reading as soon as I can. 

[Ambear72]

 

Quoting snowpeasmom:

I have an annual pass, and go to Disneyland at least once a month, but once a year the week before Presidents weekend we head to the Disney Grand California Adventure Hotel and stay 3-4 nights. It is pure heaven. I love that hotel so much, it is just STEPS away from the theme park and so nice for naps, and just everything.

 

 I have priced this hotel, and I long to stay there when ever we are there.  I watch the Guests going to and from the park by the private entrance.  It is about $6000 for my family to stay there because there are 6 of us.  If I got 2 rooms it would be a bit cheaper, but I dont like that idea, so unless I become rich fast, I am just meant to dream about it. 

[snowpeasmom]

Day two Monday.

We woke up and walked right into Jamba Juice and had some breakfast (none of us are big breakfast people so this was perfect for us) we then saw Disneylands opening show. Then we were let into mainstreet before the second opening show. While we were waiting for the whole park to offically open we were window shopping and trying on hats.

Then when the parked open we had special passes to go to toon town an hour before it opens to the public, the point of this extra pass is so you can get Mickey, Donalds, Goofy, Minnie and Daisy autograph, but my son has never liked the charaters, last year we did a charater meal and it was a huge waste, but we were hoping the rollercoaster in toon town would be running and it was. Before we hit toon town though my son saw alice in wonderland had no line so we had to ride that first. Then we went to toon town and he ran passed all the charaters to the rollercoaster where he was able to ride it over and over and OVER and OVER AND OVER again about 10 times, mommy always riding with him because he can't ride alone until he is at least 7. Then he finally went to explore the houses. But told me not mickey and minnies cause he knew they were there.

Donalds boat

the special pin you got after taking the toon oath. Part of the early adminsion

Playing a tune at goofy house

My son is a pretty good photographer...better than me

After Toon Town we did Small World and got stuck

It was only for about 5 mins or I guess one whole song without moving.

Then it was finding Nemo, Buzz, and fast passes for Star Tour which was for 6 hours later and the rockets. We then did Snow White, Pinocchio, carousels and Dumbo. We then ate at sit down Big Thunder BBQ, it was nice and good, its all you can eat. We then headed back for our naps.

Part 2 of day two coming soon.

[snowpeasmom]

They have joining rooms, but still two rooms would be expensive, and I always stay in Feb cause it is the cheapest, with rooms at $200 a night. I know its still alot. This is only our second time doing it, our annual trips before were through price line and $40 a night hotels but I got a better deal last year with $150 a night and to be able to walk to your room for an afternoon nap. And the beds are like sleeping on air and everything is just so nice I couldn't go back to the $40 hotels....I am so spolied but its the one thing we go crazy on.

Quoting Ambear72:

 

Quoting snowpeasmom:

I have an annual pass, and go to Disneyland at least once a month, but once a year the week before Presidents weekend we head to the Disney Grand California Adventure Hotel and stay 3-4 nights. It is pure heaven. I love that hotel so much, it is just STEPS away from the theme park and so nice for naps, and just everything.

 I have priced this hotel, and I long to stay there when ever we are there.  I watch the Guests going to and from the park by the private entrance.  It is about $6000 for my family to stay there because there are 6 of us.  If I got 2 rooms it would be a bit cheaper, but I dont like that idea, so unless I become rich fast, I am just meant to dream about it. 

[Ambear72]

 Thats great that you got to do that.  I have priced all different times of the year.  Still way out of our budget, even to stay at Paradise Peer.  So we just stay at a good neighbor.  We stayed at the Clarion last time we were there and have a mini suite. The trip was still $1800 for 5 nights and 4 days in the park.  That was the cheapest for our family of 6.

Quoting snowpeasmom:

They have joining rooms, but still two rooms would be expensive, and I always stay in Feb cause it is the cheapest, with rooms at $200 a night. I know its still alot. This is only our second time doing it, our annual trips before were through price line and $40 a night hotels but I got a better deal last year with $150 a night and to be able to walk to your room for an afternoon nap. And the beds are like sleeping on air and everything is just so nice I couldn't go back to the $40 hotels....I am so spolied but its the one thing we go crazy on.

Quoting Ambear72:

 

Quoting snowpeasmom:

I have an annual pass, and go to Disneyland at least once a month, but once a year the week before Presidents weekend we head to the Disney Grand California Adventure Hotel and stay 3-4 nights. It is pure heaven. I love that hotel so much, it is just STEPS away from the theme park and so nice for naps, and just everything.

 

 I have priced this hotel, and I long to stay there when ever we are there.  I watch the Guests going to and from the park by the private entrance.  It is about $6000 for my family to stay there because there are 6 of us.  If I got 2 rooms it would be a bit cheaper, but I dont like that idea, so unless I become rich fast, I am just meant to dream about it. 

 

[snowpeasmom]

wow yeah I hate to say it but our trip of 3 nights and 4 days at California Hotel was 1/2 of what you paid. Of course for $1800 I would be going to Disneyworld. Sometimes I think I should skip one of my disneyland trips and go to disneyworld but I want to stay at least 10 days at disneyworld and the cheapest I could get for disneyworld is $3000. And I can't go that long not going to disney hotel to save to go to disneyworld. Though somehow I will one of these days....

Quoting Ambear72:

 Thats great that you got to do that.  I have priced all different times of the year.  Still way out of our budget, even to stay at Paradise Peer.  So we just stay at a good neighbor.  We stayed at the Clarion last time we were there and have a mini suite. The trip was still $1800 for 5 nights and 4 days in the park.  That was the cheapest for our family of 6.

Quoting snowpeasmom:

They have joining rooms, but still two rooms would be expensive, and I always stay in Feb cause it is the cheapest, with rooms at $200 a night. I know its still alot. This is only our second time doing it, our annual trips before were through price line and $40 a night hotels but I got a better deal last year with $150 a night and to be able to walk to your room for an afternoon nap. And the beds are like sleeping on air and everything is just so nice I couldn't go back to the $40 hotels....I am so spolied but its the one thing we go crazy on.

Quoting Ambear72:

 

Quoting snowpeasmom:

I have an annual pass, and go to Disneyland at least once a month, but once a year the week before Presidents weekend we head to the Disney Grand California Adventure Hotel and stay 3-4 nights. It is pure heaven. I love that hotel so much, it is just STEPS away from the theme park and so nice for naps, and just everything.

 I have priced this hotel, and I long to stay there when ever we are there.  I watch the Guests going to and from the park by the private entrance.  It is about $6000 for my family to stay there because there are 6 of us.  If I got 2 rooms it would be a bit cheaper, but I dont like that idea, so unless I become rich fast, I am just meant to dream about it. 

 

[Dawne98]

Your son is too cute putting on those hats:)

you two look like your having a lot fun!

[elasmimi]

I haven't been to Disneyland in 40 years. None of the things you're talking about were there. I would love to go back.

[snowpeasmom]

Day 2 afternoon

After nap we went straight to Star Tours cause our passes were actually pass the time on them listed but we were told we could come right in. Then we did space mountain and buzz again. Then we went to adventure land and saw the tikki room show. (my son's first ever favorite ride/attraction) We did the jungle cruise night time version. We then went over to California Adventure theme park (yes we park hop alot)

In CA we did Monster Inc, I joked with my son about going on Tower of Terror (he has gone on it twice and hated it both times, the first time he went on it another little boy about his age was on it too and they wouldn't show us the photo because it didn't show disney in a good light so the cast member said...I wanted it) We then went on every ride in Bug's Land, riding Lady bugs spin, Tuk bumper cars, Train, and the Flyer. We rode each ride 5 times going in the circle. We ended on the bumper cars riding them twice back to back and then the park was close. We walked to our hotel, grabbed a hot chocolate and let my son watch cartoons in the lobby until 9:30. We then went to bed. This should have been the night we saw world of color because we walked right by it, but we thought the next day would have been better and it would have been if we didn't run into issues.