Category Archives: Planning
Savings Tip for Disneyland – Good Neighbor Hotel
So you want to go to Disneyland but aren’t sure where to start or how to pay for it? Luckily we are here to help you with the best ways to Plan and Pay for Disneyland!
Let’s start at the beginning. Obviously, we need to plan before we can actually head to Disneyland, right? Let’s start with the biggest piece, where to stay, and how to stay at a clean comfortable but inexpensive hotel. Disneyland is fortunately surrounded by a plethora of “Good Neighbor Hotels”. These hotels range from 1 Star to 5 Star. In addition to the wide range of hotel choices, there are a number of studio, 1 bedroom and larger suites available at many of the hotels.
My favorite Good Neighbor Hotel recommendation for a basic, clean, comfortable hotel is the Howard Johnson Hotel. At approximately 3000 feet from Disneyland, it’s one of the closest. However, having personally grown up in the Midwest I had many memories of the “HoJo” from my childhood. Thank goodness those days are gone for this Anaheim hotel. It’s a great value resort for the family looking for a budget friendly hotel with a great water park too. Kid’s and Adult’s will love the close distance to Disneyland, the hotel’s water park and having a clean and comfortable room to return to at night.
The Benefits of Disney’s PhotoPass+
Are you familiar with Disney’s PhotoPass+? On our last Walt Disney World trip my family stepped it up and tried out the new PhotoPass+ option. What did we think? PhotoPass+ is a great addition to our Disney trips and worth every penny! There are a ton of benefits of adding PhotoPass+ to your upcoming Disney vacation. Some of the benefits included in Disney’s PhotoPass+ are:
- Preorder the PhotoPass+ package 14 days prior to your trip for $149 versus the $199.95 price tag in the parks! (Plus tax where applicable.)
- Disney PhotoPass+ card and lanyard
How can I get to Universal Orlando from a Walt Disney World Resort?
With Transformers 3-D The Ride opening this summer, many guests staying at a Disney Resort will want to spend a day at Universal. Disney does not provide transportation to Universal Studios from Disney Resort Hotels. So how exactly do you get to Universal from Disney?
There are several options to get from your Disney Hotel to Universal Studios:
Destinations in Florida Travel offers a ticket called the 1-Day/2-Park Pass and it includes free shuttle transfers from the Disney Hotels and Orlando Area Hotels. The free shuttle transfers are on board Mears Transportation. It is an easy process. You call Mears about 24 hours before you are visiting Universal Studios to schedule your pick up time. Then you are picked up outside your hotel for your day at Universal Studios. They will schedule pick ups between 7.30-10.30 a.m. from Disney Resort Hotels.
Take Some Time To Un”Wine”d At WDW
Fear not wine conissouers – Walt Disney World has NOT forgotten about you! It may be a Theme Park with ample child and family friendly activities and restaurants, but there is plenty for us adults to enjoy too!
So if you find that you’re in the mood for a glass or two of vino after a long day of touring the Parks, then I suggest you head to these spots:
Magic Kingdom – Up until just recently, the Magic Kingdom was a “dry” park that didn’t serve any alcohol at all, but with the addition of the Be Our Guest restaurant at the New Fantasyland came a french inspired menu that included cornish game hen, pork chops, and ratatouillie. Along with that menu came a drink menu that includes some truly delicious red and white wines, as well as some classic French beers.
There are some great drink options on the menu, and since it’s a new (popular!) restaurant, you will definitely want to make an ADR to wine and dine here!
Choosing Your Disneyland Airport
We at Chip and Co are your go to Walt Disney World Planning Tips, but we’re more than just Walt Disney World. We are Disneyland, Disney Aulani, and beyond. Stop your searching the web and stick with us for all your Disney Needs. Here and now we’re giving you our Disneyland Pre-Planning Tips.
You may recall we went over some checklist items for a Disneyland Vacation earlier this year. Now we need to choose your Disneyland Airport.
What Airports are there: Disneyland is serviced by many airports. The main three are Long Beach (LGB), Santa Ana (SNA) and Los Angeles (LAX), CA. My personal favorite is Long Beach. It’s a great little airport that is easy to get in and out of. Plus the old school stair ramp exit off your plane is super cool. You could also fly into Burbank, Ontario or even San Diego if you wish.













