Just got back from a great trip to southern CA with my wife, brother, sister-in-law and their 3 boys. We arrived 11/25/11 at 3pm and picked up our minivan we got through Hotwire (saved a bunch of money). The rental agency was Avis and the gentleman at SNA was very nice. He tried to upgrade me to an Excursion, but I wanted the easier parking and better fuel economy of the Doge Grand Caravan.
Went directly to the Howard Johnson and checked in. The staff was great and did get our party of 7, two adjoining rooms. The rooms were 1417 and 1419, in building 1, on the fourth floor, at the end of the hall, facing Disneyland. The rooms had a view of the Matterhorn which was pretty cool to walk in and see.
We decided to head straight to Target to get stocked up on supplies. We had 4 adults and 3 boys, ages 4, 6, and 8. The items that we bought that saved us a lot of money were: cereal, beer, water, soda, milk, hotdogs, bread, pb&J, and microwave macarroni & cheese. We also bought a box of Kurig coffee packets, thinking that we would need more than the 4 per day that housekeeping leaves. This turned out to be a waste, as we only consumed 3 of the 12 in the box. We opted for gladware bowls from Target, over disposable and they were great and durable for the cereal and mac & cheese. Way better than styrophome bowls.
We put all of our stuff in the room and headed to Disneyland around 6pm. The park was somewhat busy, being a Friday night, but as we walked down Main St., the lights dimmed, the castle lit up in all its wintery wonderfulness, and snow began to fall. It was awesome and a great start to the trip.
We rode the Jungle Cruise, Pirates, and Astroblasters, and called it a night around 9pm as the kids were tired.
Saturday the 26th we went to Hollywood and Universal. We walked around Hollywood and saw several colorful characters in their homemade Spiderman, Cookie Monster, Jack Sparrow, and Big Bird outfits. It was fun and the kids loved it. We then headed to Univeral Studios for the day. The place was pretty packed. The highlights of the day were the splash zone water play area, and the Simpsons ride. We also had a great interaction with Spongebob. The kids were laughing so hard they were crying.
Sunday we headed back to Disneyland and did all of the Fantasyland rides within an hour, Big Thunder Mtn, and the Jedi Training Academy. All three of the boys wore their Star Wars t-shirts and had signs, and all three were picked the first time around. The 4 year old, got kind of tired towards the end of the battle and had to be pulled out, but we got some great video and pictures in the meantime. I don't think they would have picked the 4 year old if he hadn't had the shirt and sign. He was a little too young for this interaction.
We headed back to HoJo's for pirate ship pool time, and finished out the night at Disney again, riding Space Mtn, Star Tours, and Autopia.
Monday we went to Legoland. The adults were pretty disappointed with the park, but the kids seemed to love it. They had a snow area where you could throw snow balls and sled, they had these little cars and boats that the kids could drive, which they loved. The highlight of the park was the 2 rollercoasters and the lego Star Wars area. We arrived at 10am and were done with the park by 2pm, doing everything as the place was like a ghost town.
Tuesday morning we went back to Disneyland and met Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore. We went on the Winnie the Pooh ride, Splash Mountain twice, Haunted Mansion, and Indy. Went back to Hojo's to play by the pool, and went to California Adventures around 5pm. We rode the Little Mermaid, Golden Zephere, Goofy's Sky School, Silly Swings, Mickey's Wheel, and California Screamin twice, by 8pm park closing. Unfortunately, Toy Story Midway Mania was broken down.
Wednesday we were going to go to Knotts Berry Farm, but decided not to, to save some money. We went back to Disneyland and finished out many of the rides like Finding Nemo, Matterhorn, and Toontown. We took another break at the Hojo's pool area, and my wife and I alone, went and saw World of Color. It was an amazing show, but the seating (standing) arrangements are ridiculous. My wife and I got there an hour early, and the place was already packed. We found a second row spot, behind a short lady, and for the next hour, defended our territory against punk kids and rude people trying to push in front of us. Meanwhile, poor kids were left in the back rows, not able to see. We pushed a space open for one little boy, but another little girl was left with no way to see the show. No one in the front would move to let her in (all adults). It was pretty ridiculous. I really enjoyed the show though, and would definitly watch it again if given the opportunity.
Thursday, we finished California Adventures, riding all the little kid rides in the bug area, and watching the Muppet and Bug's life shows, as well as the Monster's Inc. ride. We also went on CA Screamin again a couple times.
Friday was our last day, so we let the kids pick what we did. They wanted to go on Space Mtn again and do Star Tours again. My brother, the kids dad, ended up being the Rebel Spy and we all busted up laughing. It was a highlight of the trip, with the kids still talking about it, several days later. We then did the Reindeer Roundup at 10:30am and got our picture with Santa.
By 11am on Friday, Disneyland was so packed we couldn't move, so we ate lunch at the Cafe Orleans. My wife and I split the Mone Cristo, which was delicious, and the kids had the mac & cheese, which was poor quality with a lot of pepper in it, which the kids didn't like.
We then grabbed a spot for the Christmas Fantasy Parade. It was a great parade and the kids loved all of the characters and Santa. We went back to the hotel to get away from the crowds and headed back to California Adventures at 6pm. We went straight to the Electronica area and the kids loved all of the Tron lights and guys throwing the Tron discs. It was great fun. We then headed to Build a Bear for the kids, since they were good the whole trip, they each got to build their own bear. This was also a highlight of the trip. The 4 year old built a Buzz Lightyear bear, the 6 year old built a motorcycle bear, and the 8 year old built a karate bear. I then ran into Disney to hold our spots for Fantasmic, while the kids finished up their bears.
I got us great seats for Fantasmic and had to fend off some more spot poachers, but I held the line until the kids arrived. We watched Fantasmic and the kids were exhausted. I ran ahead to McDonalds and had the happy meals in the room when the kids got their. They played with their bears and ate their happy meals and passed out.
Overall it was a great trip. The kids love those bears they built and packed them on the planes home with them, not letting them out of their sights.
I would have to say that I would not take a kid younger that 6 to Disneyland again. The 6 year old was easily tired by 8pm every night and the 4 year old's moods and immaturity did affect the group as a whole in a negative fashion, several times.
If I had to do it over again, I would wait until the 4 year old turned 6 to go. As it is now, I think we are looking at a trip to Disneyworld in 2 to 3 years with the boys being 6, 8, and 10.
The 4 year olds favorite rides were Astroblasters, Midway Mania, and Small World. The other 2 older boys loved, CA Screamin, Space Mtn, Big Thunder Mtn, Midway Mania, and Star Tours the best.
Thank you to all of the Dis Board members who I picked up tips from over the last couple months planning.
I do have to say that staying at the HoJo's was the best decision I made on this trip. I have never gone to Disney with kids and I was shocked at how tired they got, and how they were hungry all the time. Being able to walk across the street and eat or go swimming was the best part of the stay. Not to mention being able to watch the fireworks from our bedroom window each night!
Normally I stay at one of the Embassy Suites hotels to have the free breakfast and drinks, but that would have been a disaster on this trip, as the close proximity of the hotel saved us a lot of money on food, and was a nice park break for the kids.
Went directly to the Howard Johnson and checked in. The staff was great and did get our party of 7, two adjoining rooms. The rooms were 1417 and 1419, in building 1, on the fourth floor, at the end of the hall, facing Disneyland. The rooms had a view of the Matterhorn which was pretty cool to walk in and see.
We decided to head straight to Target to get stocked up on supplies. We had 4 adults and 3 boys, ages 4, 6, and 8. The items that we bought that saved us a lot of money were: cereal, beer, water, soda, milk, hotdogs, bread, pb&J, and microwave macarroni & cheese. We also bought a box of Kurig coffee packets, thinking that we would need more than the 4 per day that housekeeping leaves. This turned out to be a waste, as we only consumed 3 of the 12 in the box. We opted for gladware bowls from Target, over disposable and they were great and durable for the cereal and mac & cheese. Way better than styrophome bowls.
We put all of our stuff in the room and headed to Disneyland around 6pm. The park was somewhat busy, being a Friday night, but as we walked down Main St., the lights dimmed, the castle lit up in all its wintery wonderfulness, and snow began to fall. It was awesome and a great start to the trip.
We rode the Jungle Cruise, Pirates, and Astroblasters, and called it a night around 9pm as the kids were tired.
Saturday the 26th we went to Hollywood and Universal. We walked around Hollywood and saw several colorful characters in their homemade Spiderman, Cookie Monster, Jack Sparrow, and Big Bird outfits. It was fun and the kids loved it. We then headed to Univeral Studios for the day. The place was pretty packed. The highlights of the day were the splash zone water play area, and the Simpsons ride. We also had a great interaction with Spongebob. The kids were laughing so hard they were crying.
Sunday we headed back to Disneyland and did all of the Fantasyland rides within an hour, Big Thunder Mtn, and the Jedi Training Academy. All three of the boys wore their Star Wars t-shirts and had signs, and all three were picked the first time around. The 4 year old, got kind of tired towards the end of the battle and had to be pulled out, but we got some great video and pictures in the meantime. I don't think they would have picked the 4 year old if he hadn't had the shirt and sign. He was a little too young for this interaction.
We headed back to HoJo's for pirate ship pool time, and finished out the night at Disney again, riding Space Mtn, Star Tours, and Autopia.
Monday we went to Legoland. The adults were pretty disappointed with the park, but the kids seemed to love it. They had a snow area where you could throw snow balls and sled, they had these little cars and boats that the kids could drive, which they loved. The highlight of the park was the 2 rollercoasters and the lego Star Wars area. We arrived at 10am and were done with the park by 2pm, doing everything as the place was like a ghost town.
Tuesday morning we went back to Disneyland and met Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore. We went on the Winnie the Pooh ride, Splash Mountain twice, Haunted Mansion, and Indy. Went back to Hojo's to play by the pool, and went to California Adventures around 5pm. We rode the Little Mermaid, Golden Zephere, Goofy's Sky School, Silly Swings, Mickey's Wheel, and California Screamin twice, by 8pm park closing. Unfortunately, Toy Story Midway Mania was broken down.
Wednesday we were going to go to Knotts Berry Farm, but decided not to, to save some money. We went back to Disneyland and finished out many of the rides like Finding Nemo, Matterhorn, and Toontown. We took another break at the Hojo's pool area, and my wife and I alone, went and saw World of Color. It was an amazing show, but the seating (standing) arrangements are ridiculous. My wife and I got there an hour early, and the place was already packed. We found a second row spot, behind a short lady, and for the next hour, defended our territory against punk kids and rude people trying to push in front of us. Meanwhile, poor kids were left in the back rows, not able to see. We pushed a space open for one little boy, but another little girl was left with no way to see the show. No one in the front would move to let her in (all adults). It was pretty ridiculous. I really enjoyed the show though, and would definitly watch it again if given the opportunity.
Thursday, we finished California Adventures, riding all the little kid rides in the bug area, and watching the Muppet and Bug's life shows, as well as the Monster's Inc. ride. We also went on CA Screamin again a couple times.
Friday was our last day, so we let the kids pick what we did. They wanted to go on Space Mtn again and do Star Tours again. My brother, the kids dad, ended up being the Rebel Spy and we all busted up laughing. It was a highlight of the trip, with the kids still talking about it, several days later. We then did the Reindeer Roundup at 10:30am and got our picture with Santa.
By 11am on Friday, Disneyland was so packed we couldn't move, so we ate lunch at the Cafe Orleans. My wife and I split the Mone Cristo, which was delicious, and the kids had the mac & cheese, which was poor quality with a lot of pepper in it, which the kids didn't like.
We then grabbed a spot for the Christmas Fantasy Parade. It was a great parade and the kids loved all of the characters and Santa. We went back to the hotel to get away from the crowds and headed back to California Adventures at 6pm. We went straight to the Electronica area and the kids loved all of the Tron lights and guys throwing the Tron discs. It was great fun. We then headed to Build a Bear for the kids, since they were good the whole trip, they each got to build their own bear. This was also a highlight of the trip. The 4 year old built a Buzz Lightyear bear, the 6 year old built a motorcycle bear, and the 8 year old built a karate bear. I then ran into Disney to hold our spots for Fantasmic, while the kids finished up their bears.
I got us great seats for Fantasmic and had to fend off some more spot poachers, but I held the line until the kids arrived. We watched Fantasmic and the kids were exhausted. I ran ahead to McDonalds and had the happy meals in the room when the kids got their. They played with their bears and ate their happy meals and passed out.
Overall it was a great trip. The kids love those bears they built and packed them on the planes home with them, not letting them out of their sights.
I would have to say that I would not take a kid younger that 6 to Disneyland again. The 6 year old was easily tired by 8pm every night and the 4 year old's moods and immaturity did affect the group as a whole in a negative fashion, several times.
If I had to do it over again, I would wait until the 4 year old turned 6 to go. As it is now, I think we are looking at a trip to Disneyworld in 2 to 3 years with the boys being 6, 8, and 10.
The 4 year olds favorite rides were Astroblasters, Midway Mania, and Small World. The other 2 older boys loved, CA Screamin, Space Mtn, Big Thunder Mtn, Midway Mania, and Star Tours the best.
Thank you to all of the Dis Board members who I picked up tips from over the last couple months planning.
I do have to say that staying at the HoJo's was the best decision I made on this trip. I have never gone to Disney with kids and I was shocked at how tired they got, and how they were hungry all the time. Being able to walk across the street and eat or go swimming was the best part of the stay. Not to mention being able to watch the fireworks from our bedroom window each night!
Normally I stay at one of the Embassy Suites hotels to have the free breakfast and drinks, but that would have been a disaster on this trip, as the close proximity of the hotel saved us a lot of money on food, and was a nice park break for the kids.
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