Is this a crazy idea?

[MargaretJ]

We are going to Vegas for 5 days in April & are debating about going to Disneyland for 1 day. It shows on Mapquest as a 4 hr drive, so we thought we could leave about 5am & get there 9ish. We figured we could stay until we dropped & then drive back to Vegas that night. Our plan is to do this on a Monday. Are we nuts, do you think this is too crazy an idea?

[BaciBecky]

I don't think it's a crazy idea at all! Well, maybe it's a little crazy but that doesn't make it bad idea!! It's a great idea:)

Have you ever been to DL? OHMYGOSH!! It's the original, the most wonderful, the dream come true! If you've been then you could go and see the things you like best - if you've never been and it's likely to be your only chance, then take in what you can...I'm the worst to respond to this question because I love anything that includes a road trip and with DL being the end result I'd be off in a heart beat :) Any way you can spend one night?

Disneyland will forever be my favorite, but only the Magic Kingdom because it's the original. I love the attractions that were there first and are now also at WDW, but different. First time I visited Disneyland was 1958:) I was 10 and I'll never forget walking through the gates of the Happiest Place On Earth...I still get chills remembering.

I'm sure others will have better advice..and I've never been to Vegas..but I sure understand being so near and wanting to give it a try!!

Christine
:penguin:

[zakerdog]

I've been reading on other sites that it's 5 to 6 hour drive? We are going out to DL and then plan to go to Vegas for the last few days, I have been checking out flights and they are really cheap! But I think we will rent a car and drive from Anaheim to Vegas, then fly home from Vegas. I do know there are tour bus companies that do the run from Vegas, it would save you the drive.

Carol

[cardaway]

Maybe the 5-6 hour quote takes into a account the So Cal traffic. The traffic is the only thing that IMO makes this kinda nuts, it's pretty bad.

Other than traffic it sounds good. Disneyland is small and rather empty on Mondays (any weekday for that matter). Seeing most things on that side in one day wouldn't be a problem.

[MargaretJ]

Cardaway I am wondering how bad the traffic is since we will be coming from the east & not from LA? Is it terrible coming from that direction also? I really want to go as I have not been since I was a little girl so I do not remember Disneyland at all.

[Barb D]

I think its a great idea myself. Maybe you can back up your arrival time a little to beat some of rush hour? And leaving you would be late into the night im sure. I would do it.

[BetsyAnn]

Ok MJ --

Let me suggest a crazier way to do DL from Vegas -- hop an early morning flight and late night back. Very doable and usually very reasonable -- the Drive is about 6 hours or so with traffic and stops

[MargaretJ]

OK now I don't know what to do. 6 hours would be too much driving each way & plane tickets is just too much money for a 1 day trip. By the time I paid for 2 RT tickets, tickets to Disneyland, food, transportation to the park from the airport & spending money it would be a very expensive day trip.

[BaciBecky]

Would one overnight be possible? If it gets too over the top money wise then it might not be as much fun...but it sure sounds like a great idea!

I'd love to go to Disneyland again..sigh..

Enjoy the planning!
Christine

[cardaway]

I believe the traffic is bad on every highway about the time you would want to be arriving in the area.

Arriving earlier would certainly make a difference. Could you arrive earlier and eat breakfast in the area before the park opens? Overnight is another idea, drive in late and drive out after the park closes.

[SuzyQ]

I'm with cardaway - traffic in/around LA is bad no matter what direction you come from. It is about 6 hours (realistically). I understand your dilemma - Del and I wanted to do a DL weekend, but it turned out to be more expensive than just high-tailing it to FL!

Suzy

[MargaretJ]

Overnight is not really a possibility because that would add to the cost of the trip. My Dad is taking the entire family to Las Vegas & paying for airfare & hotels. Having him pay double for us to stay in California is not something he will do. I may have to forgo this trip but keep those ideas coming I just may figure it out with your help.

[cardaway]

SuzyQ, I just want to say it's great to see another Washingtonian agree that it's cheaper just to head to WDW. Everytime we go through the process we question ourselves thinking, just how can that be true? Now if we could only make the plane trip shorter...

[LisaG]

Margaret,
I think it is totally doable. We lived in Barstow for a few years and road tripped to both on numerous occasions. Barstow is actually where you would most likely stop for gas and food on your way (either direction). From Barstow to Vegas is usually about 2 and half hours. Monday is a great day for this as traffic isn't too bad on this part. Then from Barstow to DL another hour and 45 minutes. So about 4 hours and 15 minutes. After Barstow is where rush hours plays a factor. and there is no rhyme nor reason for bad traffic in So. California as far as I've been able to figure. Make sure your directions have you taking the 15 to the 210. I can't remember what comes next but there is only one more road. The 210 is great - just over 1 year old.

Big word of caution - always carry lots of water in your car when making this trip in hot weather as there are few places to stop and it's amazing how fast the desert heats up during the day.

If do want to think about staying in DL - we have gotten some amazing deals on Priceline ($45 for the Marriott on a holiday weekend!, $50 for the Hilton, and $5o for the Doubletree.)

And I agree with Christine - road trips are always great!!!!

[MargaretJ]

Thanks so much guys. I think we are rethinking this and if we go will go the night before. I had no idea that resort prices were so reasonable at some of the nearby places. So anyone know of a very close hotel/motel that is decent? I have heard good things about Ho-Jo across the street. But just what does across the street mean? Can you walk to Disneyland?

[BaciBecky]

You can walk to Disneyland from Ho Jo, but it's not quite as close as it sounds! I've stayed there and it is across the street, but not from an entrance. They had a shuttle that took us - an old fashioned trolly (don't know if they still use that now). When we stayed there we'd read great reviews, but foudn the hotel very run down. I would be sure to find out when any nearby hotel/motel had been last renovated around there (well, I do that no matter where I stay, but esp any hotel near Disney due to the high traffic).

Not as inexpensive but nice is the Candy Cane Inn where we've stayed a few times. There are loads of fine less expensive motels within walking ditance and all offer shuttle transportation as well. If you go to the main Disneyland.com site you can check out distances, although not all hotels/motels are listed you can always find out more by looking at anl Anehiem visitors site: http://www.anaheim411.com/

Hope it works out for you, Margaret! Only thing about a day visit is that you won't want to leave!

Christine ;)

[cardaway]

On the maps I've seen (which I believe were to scale) all the hotels across the street would be less of a walk to the entrance of Disneyland than it would be to walk from the entrance of the MK to the back of the MK. Not far IMO. Obviously some are much less than that. Kind of like walking from the MK bus area to the entrance of the MK.

[BetsyAnn]

http://www.point-travel.com/anaheim/hotels-disneyland.htm

Here you go MJ - here is a site that lists lots of hotels -- Park Place is a Best Western and I love it - right across from the crosswalk! There are several around there too.

Also think the Park Vue Inn is next to it - like that one too - neither are fancy but are very close, clean and reasonable! You just need clean sheets, towels and somewhere to sleep at DL! Or at least that is all I need - who is ever in the room at DL!!!!! :D

[MargaretJ]

Thanks as usual. I have some researching to do. Wish I could stay at the Grand Californian but it was $370.00 for the night!

[Stinkerbelle]

Margaret -

We stayed at the Ramada Inn in 2003 and it was a shorter walk from the hotel to Disneyland's entrance than many of the distances I have had to walk from my resort to the resort bus stop at Disney's hotels in Florida. It was wonderful! Also, do not rule out airfare as being too expensive - often Southwest will have deals under $50 each way from Vegas to LAX.

Hope you have a great time!
Terri

[MargaretJ]

Terri I checked airfare & while it was very good, right at $105.00 RT I have to pay for 2 tickets so that would bring the airfare to over $200.00 for 1 day of fun. Also have to buy tickets to the park. Too much money for 1 day. I think we are down to 2 resorts so what do you guys think of these? Which would you stay? We will have a rental car so are planning on driving to the Park. I am a bit of a resort snob so I need something fairly decent.

Candy Cane Inn - this one looks so darn cute
Howard Johnson's

[BaciBecky]

Margaret, unless they have had a major refurbishment of Ho Jo's I would recommend Candy Cane if you can get it. It's cute and very clean. We've stayed there 3 times - it's also closer.

We stayed at Howard Johnson's once - which was more than enough. We saw 4 rooms before we found one we could stay in, even for 3 nights.
When we saw the first room we said we were very sorry, but it would not do, so they took us to another room which was worse. When we saw the third room I thought they were joking because it was even worse! Each room was more worn and dirtier than the previous one. Finally they put us in what was the "newer" building. The next morning we had a line of ants in our bathroom that looked like they were on a march to something mighty important. When we told the front desk they looked at us blandly and said "well, So. California has ants"...hmm, Okay. (We lived there and my mother did not allow ants!)

I am for sure a resort snob :lol: and I'd not stay at Ho Jo's again.

I'm so excited for you!!

Christine
:penguin:

[MargaretJ]

Thanks Christine. I was really leaning towards Candy Cane Inn so unless my brother surprises me & springs for The Grand Californian I think that's where we will stay.

[BaciBecky]

Sending PD in hopes of a :tink: "Grand" surprise!!

Christine
:penguin:

[Joe]

MJ, the HoJo is across the street and within walking distance of DL. I would recommend coming in Sunday night and spending the night there, then have a great day in DL! Ditto LisaG's water warning, it does get hot fast!
Have a great trip!
Joe