Hi everyone
Obviously nothing can happen at the moment of course but for my next trip (whenever that may be) is going to be DL for sure
Just wanted to ask a few “easy” questions to the forum
1) how many days would I need in park to say that I did most of it and be satisfied?
2) suggestions on hotels nearby that don’t make you feel like you’re staying in a hotel?
3) how does one eat at Disney without the dining plan?!? Haha
Also I’m from Canada and it would be appreciated if anyone knew of ways to save money anyway I can
Thanks in advance and stay safe
A little late in replying, but my thoughts:
1-- I prefer 4-5 days for a first trip, ideally with at least 1 day being a weekend day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). In pre-COVID times, some shows only happened Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the "off season." So if you weren't planning on going during summer, spring break, or the winter holidays, you could easily miss shows, parades, fireworks, etc. For a first time visitor, those are some really great things to see!
2-- If you're meaning something that feels more homey, there are (were?) short-term rentals throughout the area, like VRBO, AirBnB, etc. Make sure to ask about their STR permit status. Anaheim requires certain criteria for short term rentals, including being registered with the city. If they aren't registered, there's a potential for you to come "home" from the parks with an unfortunate fine for staying at a non-registered place. Both owners and renters can be fined, unfortunately. If you consider doing a short term rental, look up the address on Google Maps and map the walk. Lots of places will say they are "right across the street!" However, they neglect to note that "right across the street" is right across the street from the parking lot, without a nearby crosswalk... So, you have to decide if you would like to play a game of "human frogger" or want to walk twice as far to cross safely. This is a common sales tactic for other motels and hotels in the area as well. Being "across the street" can still mean walking over a half-mile, since the pedestrian entrances aren't at the far corners of the property.
3-- Dining at Disneyland is SO easy! Meal reservations aren't necessary, but recommended if you have your heart set on a certain dining location. You can generally make dining reservations just a few weeks out; I've gotten most of my reservations just a week before my trip. We also have tons of walk-up, quick service meals that are tasty. If you feel lost at the idea of not pre-paying for your meals, you can always load a Disney gift card with the money you would like to spend on meals. Quick service are usually around $10-15 per adult (think: corn dog meal). Counter service (order at the register, pick up at the counter) is $12-18-ish. Table service varies a lot; at Cafe Orleans, we pay about $25-30 per person, but at Carthay, we spend about $65 per person. From what I've heard, our no-reservations places are tastier than at WDW, and much more plentiful.
Have fun planning!