Where to stay in Disneyland???

When you go to WDW, at least for us, where to stay is a no brainer. You stay on Disney property. There are so many perks. But we quickly found out that is not the case for Disneyland.

This trip was huge for us. And we knew it was going to be very expensive. So we had to keep to a strict budget. When I started researching Disney resorts, I quickly learned they were far out of our price range. There are only 3 resorts on property, since Disney "property" in California is so so small. So there is no Value option. The resorts they have are gorgeous, but definitely not the same caliber you get in WDW at similarly priced resorts like the moderates and deluxes.

So I looked into the Good Neighbor hotels, which are mostly chain hotels that run along the main road that the Disney parks are on. You can book packages through Disney for these resorts and the prices were much better. But I decided to do my own research too. I found a great hotel that was basically across the street from the entrance to Disneyland, for cheaper than the Good Neighbor hotels. With no significant perk to staying on property or at one of the Good Neighbor hotels, I just couldn't justify the extra cost.

When we arrived, I was shocked at how close "across the street" really was. When you're at WDW there are trees and large areas of just land...there is so much space between resorts and parks. In California, the wall for the parks runs alongside a 6 lane road. We checked into the Del Sol Inn and it was clean and convenient and worked for us. Each morning we walked to the parks among cast members on their way to work. Which was very surreal. At WDW you NEVER see CMs just walking about outside the park in their uniforms. In all honesty, it took away from the magic a bit. (I'll discuss the CMs in more detail in a future post).

We did get to walk around the Disney resorts though. I honestly think our hotel was closer to the park entrances than the Disney resorts were. They are on the far end of Downtown Disney. Though I am pretty sure one of them had a special entrance to the California Adventure park. I guess you could take the monorail tot he entrance and that would be quicker. The resorts were pretty, and there were Disney touches all around, but I didn't feel an overwhelming Disney-ness like I do at WDW resorts.

Overall, we were very happy with our hotel choice. After getting there, and seeing how unspecial the Disney resorts were, we were very glad we didn't spend the money.

Taking little kids- why you shouldn't wait!

I hear many many parents state they are not taking their children to Disney World until they are old enough to remember it all. This seems kinda ridiculous to me. Kids who are 1 or 2, even 3, don't remember anything from that age, so any vacation they're taken on will be a long forgotten trip. So why not go to Disney?

To me, vacations are all about family bonding, fun, togetherness. Enjoying each other without the responsibilities of home, whether it's an amusement park, a beach, camping, historical sites, museums, parks. The point is to be together and have fun. And young children aren't going to remember playing in the sand or roasting marshmallows either.

My first, and probably the most important reason, to take young children to Disney is that Disney knows how to cater to families. We've done family vacation to other places...not so easy. The restaurants aren't entertaining and the kids get bored. It's not always easy to find a bathroom or somewhere to change a diaper or nurse a baby. People give you dirty looks if your kid cries or throws a little tantrum. Strollers are frowned upon and often hard to maneuver in many places. And if you've ever tried to take a stroller on a sandy beach, you know it's nearly impossible! LOL! Disney makes traveling and touring with kids so easy...effortless. Which allows parents more time to relax and enjoy themselves.

Secondly, compared to other amusement parks, Disney does it right when it comes to families and small children. If you go to any Six Flags park or other similar park, you're lucky if you find 2-3 family friendly rides. Mostly they have thrill rides or rides just for small children. There is rarely anything parents and kids can enjoy together. Well, guess what, the majority of Disney attractions are family friendly. We even took our son on most things when he was only 9 months old. Obviously the roller coasters are out, and a few others, but Disney knows how to make attractions, and Broadway-style shows, that families can enjoy together.

Reason number three is all about money and the money-saving aspects of taking young kids to Disney. This is the only time you can take them and not pay for them. Once the kids turn 3, they need a park pass and if you decide to do the Disney Dining Plan, you need to pay for a plan for them too. When the kids are under 3, all you pay for is the adults. A value resort room is roughly $100 a night, give or take $10-15 depending on the season. In my experience, it's hard to find a hotel or accommodations anywhere else in the country for much less than that. Add on your entertainment, which in Disney is the parks. For two adults, you need to figure roughly $500 for 2 basic park passes for a week, which includes all four main parks and all the attractions and shows within them. Anywhere else you go, you have to pay entertainment costs, whether it be museum entrance fees, mini golf fare, Six Flags entry, etc... Yes, camping is pretty cheap, and the entertainment is pretty much free, hiking and what not, but it is not easy to take small children camping. I can't see how that is a relaxing vacation. And I guess if you take a beach vacation and do nothing but sit on the beach everyday, you can eliminate entertainment costs there too. But, if you're like me and like to do and see things while on vacation, it adds up fast.

Lastly is the memories parents will have. The kids will not remember it...we know that. They won't remember anything from that age. But you as a parent sure will remember it, and remember the smiles on their faces going on fun rides for the first time, experiencing attractions together. You will have pictures of your toddler with Mickey and Donald, excited and happy with a pure joy that wanes as kids get older. You will remember how it it felt to sit in front of the castle at night as fireworks explode above, cradling your sleeping child in your arms.