Originally Posted By TheOkester We've hit the T-minus 3 week mark and we're getting more excited with every day. While we want to keep plenty of time open for spontaneity and just wandering and having fun, we also want to make sure we hit all the great things that we may forget about just rambling around. We'll be in the park for 5 days with 5 of us, 2 adults and 3 kids aged 8, 6, and 3 (boy, boy, girl). We've done height measurements and checked to see which "big rides" everybody can hit. We've got 2 character meals (Goofy's Kitchen and Ariel's Grotto) setup and 1 Magic Morning. We went 2 years ago (our little princess remembers nothing, so it's time to make her eyes pop). The boys had a ton of fun in Fantasyland, Adventureland and Toontown. They loved the Buzz Lightyear Ranger show and (although a little scared) enjoyed Fantasmic. We didn't make it to DCA at all since the recommendation then was they'd only be able to do the Bug's Life area which didn't make it worth the entire visit to DCA. Anyway, in prepping for this trip, I'd love some thoughts: 1- What shows or experiences should we keep an eye out for? I see the "Jedi Training" and the Aladdin/Jasmine Storytime. Both of those might be right up their alley. I'm also intrigued by the Photopass thing I've seen a few comments for, but don't know if the price is worth it considering everything else. 2- According to the site, it looks like (at least in DL itself) only Small World will be closed (which is kind of a bummer, but we'll live). I also read that the castle walkthrough has been closed, which does totally bum me out. Any other surprises we should be on the lookout for? 3- Tours? I "will" eventually take the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour. I don't want to ditch the kids to take it though...my perception is that it would be too "old" for young kids (or even possibly for older non-disneyphile kids...not that 'mine' will grow up like 'that') 4- DCA - As I mentioned above, we steered clear of DCA and its older rides. Our youngest is still only 3, but our oldest had tons of fun last summer at our local park (Lagoon - <a href="http://lagoonpark.com" target="_blank">http://lagoonpark.com</a>) riding the big coasters now that he's tall enough. Is there enough fun for all ages in DCA to make it worth it? 5- Eating - We didn't play the food angle right last time and it seriously broke the bank. I think we spent as much on food as we did on souvenirs. Any pointers on eating and having fun without being forced to skimp on the goodies? 6- Club 33 - It's with the utmost optimism that I ask...but does anybody want to hook us up with a lunch reservation at Club 33? 7- Timing - I know we're shooting ourself in the foot by going during peak spring break time, but I'm back in school and this is my spring break as well, so it's all that worked. Anyway, we obviously don't want our kids to be trampled. I remember some choke points (Adventureland was the worst). Anybody have a killer park walkthrough schedule for the busy times? 8- Sort of back to the earlier question...General experiences. When we went last time, we lucked out and got to be "Monorail co-pilots." Can anybody give advice on how to help increase the odds of getting picked for things like these (such as Mark Twain and others)...Also, does anybody have a list of the various experiences like this that can be encountered so that I can help keep an eye out for chances like this. My kids thought it was awesome. Even though the ride itself was still "the same", the experience left them talking about the monorail and showing their licenses to friends when they got home. Wow...this mail got long. Lots of questions, I know. Feel free to answer all of them or none of them. In the end, I'm just looking for thoughts and advice to help make this even more magical than it is already going to be! Disneyland can't help but be magic...I just want to sprinkle extra pixie dust everywhere I can. Thanks in advance.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains This tour is suppose to be fun for the kids - if you have AAA you can get a discount.. <a href="http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/tours/detail?name=DiscoverTheMagicTourPage" target="_blank">http://disneyland.disney.go.co m/disneyland/en_US/parks/tours/detail?name=DiscoverTheMagicTourPage</a> Also in DCA - there is the Redwood Creek Challenge, If the princess is 40" you have Soarin (a favorite of most people), There is Playhouse Disney Show (If the boys aren't interested this would be a good time for the Roller Coaster for them), Aladdin show (this is like a mini broadway musical with a lot of humor - another must see), The new Pixar Parade, Monster Inc ride, Bug's land, Muppet 3D, Another fun time is in the Animation Building - they have talk with crush, Draw your favorite Character, Sorcerer's workshop where you can see which Character you are most like and hear your self sing songs with ursula's help - These are all in the Animation Building. So yes there will be plenty to do in DCA - Also go to Ariel's hungry as it is alot of food... Eating is a simple thing for me - Share adult meals when you can - don't buy soda or water - they will give you a cup of water for free. I usually share with 2 of my kids (11,9) at these places chicken/fish/mozerella strips - DCA - Farmers Market DL - Stage Door Cafe Pasta (not Pizza though)- Redd Rocket's Pizza Port At the Plaza Inn we can share either the Chicken Dinner, Pot Roast, or Salad (we get the cobb salad with ranch not blue cheese - just ask) Also there is the White Water Snacks - this is a made to order food place right outside the pool area at Grand Calif. - It's next to the Grand entrance thru DCA. Also Espn has good food which is reasonably priced and you can easily share.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Oh and for the extra goodies the kids always want - I give my kids $10 in Disney Dollars each morning for treats - If they want an ice cream they buy it and such - it's funny they spent it all the first day by lunch - now we go often and they usually bring money home - They are much more picky about the treats they want when they are paying for it themselves (extra disneydollars can be used at build a bear and lego store in DTD)
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP General Experiance: As you mentioned you can "drive" the Mark Twain, keep asking castmembers and they'll point you in the right direction. You can also ride up front on the Trains. I know you have to ask at the Main Street Station and I think you have to take a 360 tour. I've done this only once and on the particular train I was on, the seat for visiters was billed as a two seater, but not for two adults! An adult and a child would be more appropriate. I know each engine is different and some engines may have more room and some may have none. Obviously they group will have to split, one parent and a child up front, the rest in the middle or perhaps at the Opera house watching the Disney story show or at the Fire Station and they the Emporium. If you see that the Caboose, known as the Lilli Belle, is attached to the train, you can also ask to ride in that. That will fit all 5 of you, but once again the trip needs to start at Main Street station and be a round trip. Food: Be aware that at any place where you fill your own drink you can DL allows you to get at least one refill. Also, a glass of water is free when a bottled water is not. If you are near Rancho Zocolo or the Pizza Port you can walk in, grab a cup, fill w/water and ice, and walk out by the cash register, showing that you only have water and no pay. At the rest of the counters, just ask and they'll get you a water. In these cases they'll often hand you a toddler cup w/just ice, so filling your own at the Pizza Port or Rancho is better. If you're comming from the Wasatch front I assume you're driving. That makes it super easy to stock up on snacks at Wal-Mart and bring them with you. Since you have a 3 year old you'll have a stroller, also making it easy to port those snacks around. You can also get each of the boys a fanny pack for "their" treats, which they will be able to graze from freely. One creative meal idea: I know one family that brings in tortillas and shredded cheese and then buy one of the 1/2 chicken meals at Rancho. They then shred the chicken and everyone has chicken tacos. I've never tried it, and I don't know if it would meet your needs, but it sounded creative to me.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"We didn't play the food angle right last time and it seriously broke the bank. I think we spent as much on food as we did on souvenirs. Any pointers on eating and having fun without being forced to skimp on the goodies? 6- Club 33 - It's with the utmost optimism that I ask...but does anybody want to hook us up with a lunch reservation at Club 33? "<<< Lunch at Club 33 for your family will seriously break the bank! Buy some luchables for quick meals and store them in the locker. If they will stay fresh in your child's lunchbox at school-they will stay fresh in the lockers until you eat them. We love gourmet Jelly Beans and you can either pay over $9 a pound for them on Main Street-or you can bring in your own-which are the VERY same ones. If there is a snack that your family likes that is available outside of the park-bring it in and save some $$$.
Originally Posted By TheOkester ^^ Lunch at Club 33 for your family will seriously break the bank! ^^ Yeah...I know. If that were to happen, it would basically be "my" souvenir for the trip.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ To drive the Mark Twain, try to be amongst the first to enter the waiting area - like just after the Twain departs. Very politely walk up to a CM and ask if the current Captain is allowing visitors in the wheelhouse and if your family may join them. Unless someone has already asked, I've never been denied. Oh, except once when they were training. Definitely share meals. Plaza Inn servings are huge and easily split. I typically order the kids meals, which also saves a lot of money. Even comes with a drink! There is actually a lot for your kids to do in DCA. Don't overlook the Animation Building. There's so much to do inside! The kids will love Turtle Talk with Crush. They can learn to draw a character in Drawn to Animation, and learning which character you are in Beast's Library, then singing along in with Timon and Pumba is awesome! The kids are great ages for Monster's Inc, too.
Originally Posted By chickapin Lagoon is our local park too--if your kids had fun there they will think they have died and gone to heaven!! I do not care muich for Lagoon so we always told the kids we would save our Lagoon money for Disneyland. For several years we pulled them out of school (I know, bad mom) and went to Disneyland at Halloween. They will all enjoy DCA. The little one will especially enjoy Bug's Land and the coaster fan will have a great time with the take off on Screamin. All of them will like Monsters Inc. Aladdin is a must see--just incredible. The best tip I know for crowded times is to be there at rope drop and head straight for Fantasyland. If it isn't an early morning admission day, you will get more done in the first hour than you could in 3 hours later on! I know it's your vacation, but being there early is well worth it. For meals--the kids meals at Whitewater Snacks will fill up an adult. 2 or 3 can split the nachos--they are HUGE. We take the individual drink things (like Crystal Light) and add them to the free cups of ice water. This saves soda money, makes the water taste better, and keeps you hydrated. When my kids were little they each carried their own fanny pack with some snacks for the day. (granola bars, fruit snacks, raisin boxes, tubes of nuts, etc. I bought the snack size ziplocks and pur in goldfish, trail mix, things like that.) That kept energy up and gave them something to do in line as well. (I have a diabetic so this was born of necessity, but was really helpful.) Fruit roll-ups, and the honey roasted peanuts were the favorites--oh, and smarties! If your hotel doesn't have breakfast, take your own for the room. (bagels, pop tarts, bread and peanut butter, juice, instant oatmeal, muffins--whatever will fill them up. If you have a fridge, don't forget the cheese or something for protein so it won't wear off too fast.) I hope your family has a great time!
Originally Posted By sarahthree "We've got 2 character meals (Goofy's Kitchen and Ariel's Grotto) setup and 1 Magic Morning" How did you set these up? Is it necessary to do in advance??
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Call Disney Dine 714-781-DINE Yes you would need to call ahead for the Character Meals - Magic Morning is the new name for early entry if you are staying at a resort hotel you get this - if not many multiday hoppers have one magic morning entry on them.
Originally Posted By sarahthree Sorry to hijack your thread...1 more question! What are character meals and how much to they cost, and which are the best ones to go to? Thanks
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains They are meals where the characters come out and walk around stopping at tables for a few minutes for pix and autographs... Goofy's is good for all (we like the breakfast buffet) Ariels is good for little girls (princesses come out) we like lunch... Here's a link to goofy's to give you an idea of what they are like <a href="http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/hotels/dining/detail?name=GoofysKitchenDiningPage" target="_blank">http://disneyland.disney.go.co m/disneyland/en_US/hotels/dining/detail?name=GoofysKitchenDiningPage</a>
Originally Posted By MrDisneyGeek they are currently (i dont know if they did this before or not) offering Magic Morning with your park passes online btw there are a lot of good spots to stop for a snack or lunch i like the area to the right of small world (covered dock like thing) and the picknic area outside of DL is nice as well. its to the left as you face the park before you get to DTD.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ The covered area you are referring to is Fantasia Gardens. It's a great, out of the way place. And yes, they have been offering Magic Mornings with online passes for some time now.
Originally Posted By TheOkester Thanks everybody for all of the great advice. We're stoked for a great vacation. We hit our "local" Disney Store yesterday and got some Disney Dollars as well as a couple of $5 T-shirts to start the vacation off with the right spirit. One other thought I was just reminded of (and I may start a new thread for this). Last time, we randomly did the stretched penny thing. My oldest son pulled out a bunch of them lately and we were going through them. In my opinion these are a fun and very cheap souvenir. Is there a listing of all the penny machines so I know how many quarters/pennies to bring to keep us ready for them...or should I just load a roll of each and enjoy it. I don't want it to become a hassle (a scavenger hunt for pressed penny machines), but I still think it's fun.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Believe it or not, there's a whole web site dedicated to pressed pennies! I agree they are a fun, inexpensive souvenier. My son has a now 10-yr old collection from WDW. <a href="http://www.parkpennies.com/disneyland-penny-press-machines.htm" target="_blank">http://www.parkpennies.com/dis neyland-penny-press-machines.htm</a>
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb As for PhotoPass, go ahead and get your card and pose for as many pics as you can. When you get home you can check out the pics online and if you like them, go ahead and splurge on the CD (don't forget to edit them with fun frames and such). I found it was the best way to get pictures with me in them, as I'm usually the one with the camera.
Originally Posted By TinksBestFriend Okester. City Hall has a list of all the Penny Press Machines. Just ask. They are in both parks and also in the Disney hotels
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Here is a link for the penny press machines <a href="http://www.register123.com/event/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x23143861e" target="_blank">http://www.register123.com/eve nt/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x23143861e</a>
Originally Posted By Goofy007 I just heard and read about a website called Ridemax which lays out a plan for you to do Disneyland based on when you are going (week/season/etc). It may be worth your wild to check it out and spend the @$20 for the product. That way it appears you will see everything you want to without spending the day waiting in lines. I plan to use it when we go later this spring. It looks like it is really good based on what I see. Maybe someone else has used it and can comment more.
