We maybe going December 28 - 31
. I spent the last 20 years avoiding the parks during the peak seasons as my sp needs daughters can not handle the crowds. My daughter's friend is coming out and it is my daughter's 16th bd. She either wants to go to Yosemite
or
Disneyland. The girls need to make a decission but I have a feeling she is siding with DL
. I already warned her it would be crowded and they would have to get up early to go to the parks.
What am I in for?
?? Any suggustion on how to hit the parks, tips? I can't afford to stay at any of the DL hotels as they are 300 - 500 per night. Do we still get one early morning with the 3 day hopper pass? Right now I have a reservation with the Ramada & Fairfield. I am thinking of trying orbitz, travelosity or hotels.com to get a better price.
Any suggustions are greatly appreciated. My other two went on very few rides and we had a GAC if we needed it. This will be a whole nother experience!
Oh, where do you get the gingerbread beignets? I would love to try them.
I am in a wheelchair, and daughter (16) and hubby both have autism spectrum disorders, and we went to Disneyland over Christmas last year. We stayed at the Howard Johnson's Anaheim. I was just as worried as you were, but it went okay. Make sure expectations are appropriately set that they won't see everything, and find out what the most important rides/attractions are.
If rooms are available, the Howard Johnson's Anaheim or Best Western Park Place Inn are good choices (avoid Captain Kidd's buffet, however. Mimi's restaurant is great.) There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Ramada Maingate or the Fairfield, also. All are close by, and very good choices. If possible, try to get a room with a refrigerator.
I think the 3-day passes still come with an early entry, and you DEFINITELY want to use it. Avoid DCA on early entry days--try to go on a non-early entry day. Get a picnic meal so you can get the fastpass, or make sure you get a fastpass to World of Color.
Go early in the morning, hang out in the parks until about 1 then go back to your hotel. Get lunch in your room (MUCH less stressful--Vons will deliver groceries, and you can keep it in your fridge), hang out by the pool, take a nap and then go back in the evening and close down one or both parks. If you keep it to the mornings and nights, you should be able to avoid the worst of the crowding (although it will still be VERY crowded).
Also, get a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and take the time to develop a really good touring plan, or buy one of the touring plans online. Given the time of year, a good touring plan can make all the difference.
Make sure you have reservations for meals, or plan to eat off-hours. If that doesn't work, eat in the resorts at the non-character, inexpensive places. White Water Snacks at the Grand Californian comes to mind immediately. It wasn't crowded all Christmas week, and it's just outside DCA.
It will be okay. Happy birthday to your daughter!
Taking a trip to DL this November with all 6 kids, & DH (so make that 7 kids, LOL), and none of them know yet. Its going to be great, first-ever "surprise" trip. Anyways, I was just wondering if there's any good restaurants we should make reservations for? Also, is Fantasmic! worth seeing? Any answers help. Thanks! 
I don't have many photos that aren't like the ones already posted, so I'm just going to include some that are at least a little different. And these are, again, from Jan '09:
Maybe it won't be as bad as I am expecting?
