Disney Noob!

[Dizney_Family]

Well, sorta. I've been to Disneyland three times as a child. Now I am married and have two children of my own that I would love to take. The problem is, so much has changed and I don't know where to begin. Any help is appreciated!

I was thinking of going from Friday morning through Monday. Is this long enough to go to Disney Friday and Saturday (and Universal Studios on Sunday and Mon)?

Is there an average amount of spending money that we should bring?

I have a 5 year old and a nearly 8 year old. Any age appropriate advice you can offer?

We are planning on going probably the 3rd week of July so I assume it will be crazy busy right?

Any tips on buying a hotel/airfare package or should we do it separately, which is the better deal?

Hotel recommendations closest to the park?

TIA!!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Well, sorta. I've been to Disneyland three times as a child. Now I am married and have two children of my own that I would love to take. The problem is, so much has changed and I don't know where to begin. Any help is appreciated!

I was thinking of going from Friday morning through Monday. Is this long enough to go to Disney Friday and Saturday (and Universal Studios on Sunday and Mon)?

Is there an average amount of spending money that we should bring?

I have a 5 year old and a nearly 8 year old. Any age appropriate advice you can offer?

We are planning on going probably the 3rd week of July so I assume it will be crazy busy right?

Any tips on buying a hotel/airfare package or should we do it separately, which is the better deal?

Hotel recommendations closest to the park?

TIA!!

Take a look at the stickies at the top of the page for this board. There's a ton of good information contained in those.

Start with this one: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276

You will be going during a busy time. There's a lot more to do at Disney than you might think. I would highly recommend three to four full days, especially since there is so much great nighttime entertainment.

You will want to bring spending money for food and souvenirs. Souvenirs can cost anywhere from $5 to $100s, so that's within your power to set spending limits and stick to them. Trinkets are in the $5-$10 range, a hat can be $15-$25, a t-shirt $20, etc.

Take a look at this great menu site to get a sense of food offerings and prices:
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm

Price everything out separately and as a package, and go with what's cheaper. I prefer hotels within walking distance of the park. You will find many choices and need to sit down and decide what your hotel priorities will be if you want more specific recommendations.

Welcome to the boards.

 

[skiingfast]

I would do Friday at Universal, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Disneyland Resort.

For spending money is that for food, or souvenires?

I would know the height of the 5yo so they don't walk up to a ride to get measured and turned away dissapointed.

Busy, not crazy busy. Use Fast Pass at DLR.

I would price packages and seperate to compare. Of course this wil effect the next question.

Hotels vary a lot. What are your needs? Some are very close, some are cheap, some are old, some are chains. You won't find many of the closest hotels sold in packages. People tend to prefer one of the three options. Stay onsite at a Disney Hotel, Stay close at the older hotels on Harbor and walk to the parks or stay at the convetion hotels with well known brand names and take shuttles to the parks.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

!

 

[Disneylovers2000]

Well, sorta. I've been to Disneyland three times as a child. Now I am married and have two children of my own that I would love to take. The problem is, so much has changed and I don't know where to begin. Any help is appreciated!

I was thinking of going from Friday morning through Monday. Is this long enough to go to Disney Friday and Saturday (and Universal Studios on Sunday and Mon)?

Is there an average amount of spending money that we should bring?

I have a 5 year old and a nearly 8 year old. Any age appropriate advice you can offer?

We are planning on going probably the 3rd week of July so I assume it will be crazy busy right?

Any tips on buying a hotel/airfare package or should we do it separately, which is the better deal?

Hotel recommendations closest to the park?

TIA!!

Welcome to the board!! I only joined a little while ago but have found all of the info I get on this board to be invaluable!!
I don't have a lot of experience as we have only been on 1 trip -last Nov. - but my first advice would be to read all of Hydroguys stickys and threads, he has loads - and I mean loads - of reading material to master Disney!!
Second, I don't think you are giving yourself enough time in the parks if you are fitting in Universal too - which I think is a must do as well!!
We did 2.5 days in Disney and 1 day at Universal last Nov. I found that we definately needed more time at Disney as we weren't able to "do it all". There just wasn't enough time. Also you are going on the weekend which will tend to be more busy than say a weekday trip. Disney will be most busy on Sat. so I would suggest Universal on Sat. and bump Disney to Sun/Mon. Also a suggestion would be that you really only need 1 day at Universal. We had 2 10yr.old boys when we went and found we just fit everything in and an extra day would have been too much time. I won't go on and on as there is soooo much info you will get that it will start to repeat itself!! Have a wonderful time!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I must admit I love USH but I am not quite sure that your children at their ages will get much out of that park. You may be better off spending the time at Disney and getting the most for your money. Just my .02.

Jack

 

[Dizneydaz]

Gotta agree about USH- About 7 years ago when DD was 4 we decided to take a mini vacation and stay in the LA area. We got a room at Embassy Suites and everything. We visited the Museum of Natural History (pretty nice but really crowded that day.) Then we went to USH the next day.

Here was the problem...Even though it was May the weather was pretty cool, actually almost cold. Therefore DD couldn't really play in the area they have for kids with all the water. It was way too cold for that. She didn't really get much out of the Backlot tour. She absolutely hated the Back to the Future ride! The entire time we were on it she kept saying "I WANT TO GET OFF, I WANT TO GET OFF!" (you get the idea) I spent the whole ride bent down talking to her explaining we couldn't get off and she would have to wait. After we got off she was fine but I felt like the worst parent, ever! (Now that she's 11 she would probably love it-she's a big thrill seeker!).

The Mummy ride wasn't open yet (opened the next month) and ET was gone due to the Mummy ride. We all did enjoy the Jurassic Park ride but after riding it twice we didn't want to risk getting any wetter (luckily for us we found some abandoned ponchos to wear). We did see one show (Waterworld) which was very good but the line was really long!

So basically, there wasn't much for DD (then 4) to do. She was really bored. We decided to check out of our hotel early (thanks Embassy Suites Arcadia) and we drove to Anaheim and got a room at the Anaheim Embassy Suites and went to Disneyland for the next 1.5 days. (using our AP). It was still fun since staying in hotels is something DD really enjoys. And there's a Del Taco across the street where DD had her first soft chicken taco which she still loves to this day!

If you want to go to USH I would only plan 1 day. Use the other day at DLR. In July, with the heat and the crowds, you'll need more days.

My tips for DLR-take a few breaks from the action. Take the kids to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in DCA and let them run around. Don't overlook the Animation Courtyard. You can learn to draw a character at the Animation Academy. Talk to Crush. Sing, or act, along with your favorite characters in Ursula's Grotto, and the best part is this is usually less crowded area and it's deliciously air conditioned, with a few benches to sit on. A nice break on a hot day! Pirates Lair at DL (formerly Tom Sawyers Island) is another place the kids can run around and check out some cool things. Caves, treehouses, bridges, etc.

 

[Rescue Pooh]

I'm in the same boat as you Dizney. My wife and I have not been to DL since we were kids. Well I was I think 16 my last trip. We have 2 DD's who will be 8 and 3 this month and our DS who is 1. I'm looking forward to taking them on their first trip hopefully in the next month or so. The bad thing is we're so close as we live in San Diego and we haven't been up there in years.