1st time to DL & only for 1 day

[Baylor81]

My family and I will be coming to Disneyland for one day only on October 23. We are taking a vacation to San Diego and decided to drive up Tuesday night & stay all day Wednesday at DL & then leave Thursday morning to head back. We have gone to Disney World several times and I am very well aware (only because I've been told over & over with no other advice except for that) that two are different. My husband and I have 2 kids, a girl who will be turning 10 (this is for her b-day and she is still very much in love with all the Princesses) and a boy age 8. I booked a hotel room at the Best Western Park Inn which is suppose to be across the street from the entrance. We wanted to stay at a Disney Resort but didn't want to spend that kind of money when we will only be using it just for sleeping.
My original plan was to buy only 1 park ticket to DCA and a separate ticket for the MNSSHP that night at Magic Kingdom. I have many questions if you wouldn't mind taking the time to answer. I will greatly appreciate it.
1. Where to eat when inside the Parks and where/what to avoid?
2. Is Stitch there? My son adores Stitch & really wants to see him.
3. What are the parks like that time of year? Weather (day & night), crowds, events, etc...
4. Where are the best places to take pics?
5. What are the parks "must do's."
6. What should we do Tuesday night and Thursday morning?
7. I will be checking out the MNSSHP thread but just wondering what time can you actually enter the park. (At DW you can actually enter at 4pm even though the ticket says 7pm)
I'm sure I missed something so if there is any other advice, please give.
Thanks!!

 

[Itinkso]

1. Where to eat when inside the Parks and where/what to avoid?we like Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans in DL; Boudin's for clam chowder in DCA; Storytellers Cafe in GCH
2. Is Stitch there? My son adores Stitch & really wants to see him.
3. What are the parks like that time of year? Weather (day & night), crowds, events, etc...
4. Where are the best places to take pics? There are Photo Spot signs throughout the park and picture taking is subjective and what you find interesting.
5. What are the parks "must do's." DL: Matterhorn, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Nemo Submarines, walk up and through Sleeping Beauty's castle, Indiana Jones. DCA: Cars Land, Calif Screamin', Aladdin - theater show.
6. What should we do Tuesday night and Thursday morning? Storytellers Cafe and DTD in the evening or for Thursday Character Breakfast
7. I will be checking out the MNSSHP thread but just wondering what time can you actually enter the park. (At DW you can actually enter at 4pm even though the ticket says 7pm)
I'm sure I missed something so if there is any other advice, please give.
Thanks!!

My answers in blue. We like to park hop but if you decide on MNSSHP, then you probably won't want to spend the money on hoppers.

 

[tiggerluvr]

I believe stitch can be found at the Surf's Up character breakfast in paradise pier hotel. I haven't seen him anywhere else.

The Halloween party tickets get you in to DL 3 hours prior to the party's start time. I believe the party on the 23rd starts at 6pm, so you could get in at 3pm.

 

[tiggerluvr]

My must-dos area bit different from the prior poster - I would include Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, for sure. if you're getting a hopper and going to DCA at all, definitely do cars land, it's amazing. You said your daughter is into princesses, so check out the princess fantasy faire in DL.

For Tuesday night I'd agree about DTD, but I'd eat at the Jazz Kitchen instead of Storyteller's. At least get beignets to snack on from Jazz Kitchen Express. Thursday morning, go for the paradise pier character breakfast, since you'll see stitch there.

Late October weather is good, warm in the daytime and cool at night. Occasionally you'll get rain in Oct but usually it holds off until Nov or Dec. Crowds are generally better mid-week than weekends, although this is probably not true for the Halloween party.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

1. Where to eat when inside the Parks and where/what to avoid?

At DCA, our family really likes Flo's for lunch or dinner or the Pacific Wharf Cafe for the bread bowls with soup. Ghirardelli or Clarabelle's ice cream are fun, and DS12 also likes the churro bites with chocolate dipping sauce at the Cozy Cones in Carsland.
At DL, we like the Plaza Inn fried chicken and the pasta at Pizza Port. Some of the stuff at Hungry Bear is ok too, and we like the relaxing location overlooking the river. The boysen apple drink and the twists at Maurice's treats were enjoyed by my sons this last visit.
When we want table service, we tend to eat outside the parks as we haven't been too impressed by our experiences inside the park, so I don't have any big recommendations there. Also, I don't know if with only one day you will want to devote the time to table service.

2. Is Stitch there? My son adores Stitch & really wants to see him.

We have seen Stitch occasionally in Hollywood land in DCA. We last got a picture of him there during spring break. Stitch also appears at the Visa Meet and Greet at DCA, so if you have a Disney Visa, that would be worth a quick stop. He alternates with Minnie, so be sure to ask the CM there about the schedule. Stitch also appears at the Surf's Up with Mickey breakfast at the PPH, so you do have the chance to see him outside of the parks on your departure day.

3. What are the parks like that time of year? Weather (day & night), crowds, events, etc...

Haven't been in October for a while, but I will warn you it can get hot. I have been during mid-October with temperatures in the 90s, but I have also been around the same time of year with much cooler weather. Rain isn't likely. It is fire season though, so smoky air/bad air quality has been an issue during some of our fall visits.

5. What are the parks "must do's."

DCA: Carsland, Screamin', GRR, Aladdin show. Monsters Inc and Little Mermaid are nice dark rides. WoC is very popular but not likely to fit in your schedule if you're going to the Halloween party. I love Toy Story, but if you've experienced it at WDW, you might give it a pass.
DL: Halloween Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Toad, Small World (although it might already be closed for the holiday overlay), Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Pirates, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Halloween cavalcade, treat trails, fireworks.

6. What should we do Tuesday night and Thursday morning?

I would recommend a character meal for Thursday morning if your family enjoys that type of thing and you want to finish with a Disney feel. Visiting DtD on Tuesday night would be fun if you like the shopping mall vibe and would like to try one of the restaurants there. We have enjoyed Jazz Kitchen and ESPNZone. La Brea Bakery and Naples were just ok to us.