All booked for our first trip! Dining? Shuttle?

[JessiLynn015]

Our first Disneyland trip is finally booked and paid for, so there is no going back! We're staying at BW Stovalls for a few days after the 4th of July. I've been hearing conflicting information when it comes to getting to the parks. Some say it's a close walk, but the hotel said there's a shuttle (for a fee) that runs to/from the park. We're an active family and enjoy walking, but I'm unsure how much energy we'll have after a long day in the CA heat. Any suggestions?

Also, our son is turning 3 a month after our trip, so we're celebrating that while we're there. Any advice to make is more special? When we went to WDW last year, we stayed onsite and were able to order in-room celebrations. I'd love to do something similar.

One last thing.. what's your favorite character meal?

 

[TechGuy]

We have stayed at the Stovalls several times and have walked to and from every day. We normally went across the street at the corner, walked down to the GCH driveway and through the GCH. It takes 10-15 minutes to walk. Since we always stay till close, the walk back can be very quiet. you will be walking by yourself. I assume most people ride the ART but would guess it takes about the same amount of time... walking or ARTing, unless there is traffic then walking could be faster.

I don't think Stovall's will do in-room celebrations for you like the DLH

They have a nice (hectic) breakfast room. The character breakfast at the PP is supposed to be an excellent experience. You walk past the PP everyday on the walk to the park.

 

[DLSean22]

We've only done Goofy's Kitchen for our character meals...dinner only. We've never done breakfast since I can't see spending that much money for eggs/waffles/pancakes/etc. If I'm spending over $100-150 for a meal for four people, I want it to be more substantial than breakfast foods. On the days we do the character dining, we do more of a snack for lunch since we know we'll get our fill at dinner. We have always enjoyed the character meals...both the food and character interaction. Since we have boys, we've never tried Ariel's Grotto.

 

[JessiLynn015]

We have stayed at the Stovalls several times and have walked to and from every day. We normally went across the street at the corner, walked down to the GCH driveway and through the GCH. It takes 10-15 minutes to walk. Since we always stay till close, the walk back can be very quiet. you will be walking by yourself. I assume most people ride the ART but would guess it takes about the same amount of time... walking or ARTing, unless there is traffic then walking could be faster.

I don't think Stovall's will do in-room celebrations for you like the DLH

They have a nice (hectic) breakfast room. The character breakfast at the PP is supposed to be an excellent experience. You walk past the PP everyday on the walk to the park.

Good to know! We would much rather walk. Did you enter DCA through GCH?

We plan to take advantage of the free breakfast there. We each eat light breakfasts at home, so grabbing something quick will hopefully be easy.

We've only done Goofy's Kitchen for our character meals...dinner only. We've never done breakfast since I can't see spending that much money for eggs/waffles/pancakes/etc. If I'm spending over $100-150 for a meal for four people, I want it to be more substantial than breakfast foods. On the days we do the character dining, we do more of a snack for lunch since we know we'll get our fill at dinner. We have always enjoyed the character meals...both the food and character interaction. Since we have boys, we've never tried Ariel's Grotto.

Goofy's Kitchen for dinner is what we were looking at. What characters are generally seen there?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For an in-room celebration at an off site hotel, try this link: Mouseshoppe.com. Great service every time. I'm sure they'll be able to customize something fun for your son's birthday.

 

[1002jennisue]

The only character meal I have done is Surf's up with Mickey at PPH and we loved it. The food was good and we got to see Mickey. We stayed at that hotel and did it on our last day so it worked out, we didn't want to miss any park time. I also liked that we could see Mickey without having to go to toon town.

 

[TechGuy]

PCH Grill is Character Breakfast and Menu Dinners (no character). It is apparently the only character meal where Mickey appears.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/paradise-pier-hotel/disneys-pch-grill/