by Sandra Devera

Created on: June 17, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Planning a top-notch Disneyland vacation is a matter of answering who, what, when, where, why and how – but not necessarily in that order.

 When

 When you visit Anaheim California may not be something you have any control over but fortunately Walt placed his magical kingdom in a location known for reasonably good weather year round. Disneyland can be done in the rain with a slicker (which the park sells) and since so much is indoors or under shelters, getting around is pretty easy in anything less than a torrential monsoon. Because everything is paved (for easy steam cleaning) it can be far more unpleasant in humid heat than in nippy cold. Most importantly, if you have a choice, avoid the peak tourist seasons and holidays. If you think everyone will stay home for turkey and football on Thanksgiving, you will be dismayed at how many people choose to be thankful at Disneyland.

 Where

 The choice of accommodations “close to the park” is a vast and daunting research project. It is best to know what criteria really matters to you before you fire up your search engine. Keep in mind, if you’re going to pay the price of admission to Disneyland (and/or California Adventure) you’re going to want to spend your time in the parks, and all the pricey amenities available at your hotel (fitness room, free cable, Wi-Fi etc.) will hardly be used save for three: a pool/spa, an in-room refrigerator, and a personal hotel shuttle to the park.

 The pool cools down and refreshes overheated, and overwhelmed children in the middle of the day helping them to take the vital mid-day nap (more on that later). The spa can be a great relief to aching legs at the end of a day of walking and standing in lines. The refrigerator gives you the option of ice packs in case of bumps and bruises as well as nutritious, low-cost snacks and beverages (you’ll amaze yourself by paying $3 for a bottle of water inside the park). Every hotel will say it has a shuttle but many of them mean the local community shuttle stops at their hotel. You want to be sure where you are staying has a shuttle that leaves from the Disney shuttle area and goes directly to your lodging (rather than spending your ride time riding around Anaheim). There are many fine lodgings within walking distance of the park, but at the end of the day, even the walk back from the gates to the closest motel is like the Bataan death march if you are carrying an exhausted child. You

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>