DLR in late Dec and/or early Jan

[BrerGnat]

Thanks for the input... I guess it was too much to expect that deals and savings were to be easily had at that part of the year.

Another question though. In attempting to getting booking/pricing info for DLR during this time period (inluding New Year's Eve), I have been simply getting "No Accommodations Available".

Are the three DLR resorts really booked solid?! The partner hotels are showing vacancies for the same time period.

K

Yeah, they are probably booked solid. I'm telling you, it's BUSY that week. I'd be shocked beyond belief if you had found vacancy at the DLR hotels. There are SO MANY hotels in the area, which is why you are seeing vacancy. However, remember that when the parks start limiting attendance due to capacity, the resort guests get priority over non resort guests.

I'm going to be flat out honest with you and tell you that, in the 10+ years that I lived down there and held an Annual Pass, I only visited the parks ONCE in that time frame (between Christmas and New Years). I never did it again, as the experience was borderline miserable. It gets so crowded that it stops being fun.

[Canuck Park Hopper]

Thanks and appreciate the heads up! We have to WDW over the X-mas to New Year's stretch, so I am anticipating similar crowd levels. The only difference here, is we won't have Fastpass'es to improve our waiting times...

Another question - we are booked into a Good Neighbor hotel (the Red Lion, so about 2 blocks); but still need to get from LAX to our hotel. Not having the equivalent of the Magic Express means sourcing the service ourselves.

Does anyone have a favourite service or method to get to a non-resort GN-hotel?

I am mostly interested in "speed" not price - e.g. I would be willing to pay more for a more direct/faster transfer, rather than saving a few bucks and taking twice as long.

[BrerGnat]

There's most definitely Fastpass at the Disneyland Resort. What makes you think that you won't have access to it?

I would recommend maybe renting a car. It might end up being the most economical thing to do, especially if you want to venture around So. Cal at all.

Beyond that, you could do a taxi, but it will be pricey. I know that from Orange County Airport the taxis offer a flat rate service to the DLR, but not sure about from LAX.

You could use a shuttle service, such as Prime Time.

Those are basically your only options, as far as I know.

[Canuck Park Hopper]

Indeed - the car renting option is on the list and attractive because it's not that much more expensive and infinitely more convenient. If there was a motor-coach transfer that was as convenient as the ME in Orlando I would take that.

We are planning to stay at a Good Neighbor hotel, so I believe that we would not be eligible to get use the Fastpass. Is it not only available to "resort" guests - meaning those staying at one of the three Disney property hotels/resorts? We would have stayed at the resort, but alas, they were booked solid!

[NewDVCowner]

Indeed - the car renting option is on the list and attractive because it's not that much more expensive and infinitely more convenient. If there was a motor-coach transfer that was as convenient as the ME in Orlando I would take that.

We are planning to stay at a Good Neighbor hotel, so I believe that we would not be eligible to get use the Fastpass. Is it not only available to "resort" guests - meaning those staying at one of the three Disney property hotels/resorts? We would have stayed at the resort, but alas, they were booked solid!

Fastpasses are available to any guest. You don't need to be staying in a Disney hotel.

[BrerGnat]

Fastpass is free and available to everyone who holds a valid theme park entry ticket.

What you won't be eligible for are the Extra Magic Hour mornings. Those are only for DLR hotel guests. However, some multi day park hopper passes (purchased in advance online at Disneyland.com) do come with ONE Magic Morning entry. Look into that if you are interested. Disneyland has Magic Mornings 4 days a week, and the park opens one hour prior to official opening for DLR hotel guests and those who have the special park hoppers.

Otherwise, Fastpass works the same as it does at WDW. In both places, anyone and everyone can use it. It's not limited to resort guests.

There is a service similar to DME called the Disneyland Express bus (operated by Gray Line). It is ONLY available to those staying on property, though.

I'd go with a rental car. Just find the cheapest one you can. That way, you will also have the option to have meals off property. There are many good places to eat in and around Anaheim that are not on Disney property.

[Canuck Park Hopper]

Thanks for the information.... I thought for sure FP was available to resort guests only!

I guess that makes not being able to stay on site a bit more enjoyable. we will also still plan for at least one day at the Parks on Jan 1 - when things are hopefully more relaxed.