Hiya, William! Welcome to planDisney. An end-of-summer trip to the Happiest Place on Earth is a great time to visit! You will still have all the summer fun of warm weather, nighttime spectaculars in full swing, and longer park hours, but the local schools will just be headed back into session so you might find yourself with some extra wiggle room as you move through the parks!
I have got some great news for you! I'm delighted to tell you that you won't have to walk far ... there are actually three rental car companies located right on property!
Enterprise® is located right on the first floor of
Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel with both Alamo® and National® rental kiosks nearby as well. So many options! I highly recommend making reservations in advance which can be easily done
online or by giving them a call at (888) 826-6893. You'll be zooming your way to Santa Monica in no time!
I like to give a few beat the heat tips to any friends visiting the Disneyland Resort in the summer. We're all friends here at planDisney, so I'm happy to share them with you!
- Plan for an air-conditioned mid-day break! Whether this looks like some pool and down time at your hotel or making a lunch reservation in the parks, it gets you out of the sun and the park hustle and bustle. You'd be surprised what a magical boost 45 minutes in some cool air can give you for that second half of the day! Dining reservations will open up to you 60 days out from your park days. Some of my favorite spots are Lamplight Lounge, Plaza Inn, and even heading to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa for lunch at Storytellers Cafe.
- If you're in Disneyland Park and need a reset, head to The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Not only can you browse through some incredibly special Disneyland memorabilia, but you will have a seat in a dark, cool theatre to hear from Abe Lincoln himself about his vision of the future! Abe Lincoln was the very first Audio-Animatronic that debuted at the 1964 World's Fair, and I just love how much history and nostalgia are wrapped up in this show.
- If you're in Disney California Adventure Park, head over to the Animation Academy - a true treasure trove of things to discover! Draw a favorite Disney character guided by a Disney Animator, have a whole conversation with Crush from Finding Nemo, explore Beast's Library, or simply enjoy the lobby watching animation come to life on oversized screens with those sweeping Disney musical scores as the background. And did I mention it's nice and cool in here? This is definitely where you would find Olaf chilling on a hot summer day!
William, I hope this was helpful in your planning! If you have any more questions, come back to see us again soon. We are always here for you at
planDisney.
Magic awaits!
Tara