Disneyland 1st timer/birthday party trip - advice/tips

[Easy2Putt]

Hi, my name is Andrew and we're planning on a one-day/night trip to Disneyland (Anaheim) for our daughter's b-day (turning 3). We plan on staying at the Grand Californian.

We basically want to stay and do local hotel stuff (pool, dine, shop, etc.) the first day and then the Disneyland all the next day. I am planning to make a reservation at the "Ariel's Grotto" for a birthday dinner for her..(is this a good idea for a 3 y/o?)

I know, this may not be enough days to do Disneyland, but since our kids are young we're not expecting the world..lol

Anyway, to cut to the chase, what do you experienced DL folks here have to say/comment on what we should do/not do/etc.

Thanks for your time.

-Andrew (Los Angeles)

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you looked at the menus online? allears.net and dlresortinfo dotcom are good resources for menus and prices (though things do change so the sites aren't perfect).

Remember, if you go to the parks the day BEFORE her birthday, her ticket is free and she can eat off your plate at the restaurant for free. If you go ON her birthday, you're paying.

And just in case you didn't know, Ariel's restaurant is in Disney's California Adventure, so you'll need to get a hopper ticket (if you're going into parks for 2 days, that's automatically a hopper, but with the one day ticket you get a one park vs hopper choice) if you're going to spend time in Disneyland as well.

I do recommend that hopper, b/c DCA is so fun for 3 year olds (and older)! There's the Redwood recreation area that she can run around in, and a bug's land (with the exception of the 3D show) is just terrific for the littles. Beware, both areas have water-play, and if you check out my September and May trip reports you can see just how wet a child can get there.

We actually prefer bug's land over Fantasyland!

 

[Easy2Putt]

Have you looked at the menus online? allears.net and dlresortinfo dotcom are good resources for menus and prices (though things do change so the sites aren't perfect).

Remember, if you go to the parks the day BEFORE her birthday, her ticket is free and she can eat off your plate at the restaurant for free. If you go ON her birthday, you're paying.

And just in case you didn't know, Ariel's restaurant is in Disney's California Adventure, so you'll need to get a hopper ticket (if you're going into parks for 2 days, that's automatically a hopper, but with the one day ticket you get a one park vs hopper choice) if you're going to spend time in Disneyland as well.

I do recommend that hopper, b/c DCA is so fun for 3 year olds (and older)! There's the Redwood recreation area that she can run around in, and a bug's land (with the exception of the 3D show) is just terrific for the littles. Beware, both areas have water-play, and if you check out my September and May trip reports you can see just how wet a child can get there.

We actually prefer bug's land over Fantasyland!

Yes, actually we are going a couple days before her 3rd b-day so I understand that I wouldn't have to pay for her ticket.

That is great info regarding that Ariel's Grotto is INSIDE DCA..didn't know. Yes, we are going to get "hopper" tickets.

So would you say the DCA is going to be better for the kids (5 and 3) than DL itself?

Is it "easy" to do both DCA and DL in one day? (I understand we won't see too much..but as far as mobility)

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, we love the bug's land area better than Fantasyland, though DS likes Fantasyland, too!

On our first two visits back as adults, first time with DS at 1, second time DS was 2, we only did one day trips. And we only went to Disneyland. We knew nothing about DCA and thought it was odd to have a park celebrating CA in CA. My brother (our tour guide since he lives in San Diego now) and I grew up in CA, and the only reason he is back is b/c of the weather and his wife's law career, while I ran screaming out of the state at 17, LOL. We just don't celebrate the state all that much!

But last September my "nuclear" family visited for several days, and discovered DCA, and now we know we love it.

During our one day trips, we were moving pretty slow b/c there were 5 of us (brother and SIL, and the three of us). We were also driving up and back from San Diego, so there was nowhere to take a rest to refresh us. During those trips it never FELT like we would have had time to visit DCA, but then, we knew nothing about it. I'm not sure if it would have been great during those visits, to go to DCA, on those 2 visits.

But since our son was so young on those trips, the trip wasn't about him. He just went where we took him, and spent time with his aunt and uncle if hubby and I wanted to go on something together that he couldn't go on. He wasn't a really active participant, especially on that first trip!

Especially if your trip is going to be focused on what the kids want to do, if you and your wife aren't going to be going one at a time on the 'bigger' rides, then you'll have much more time to do the kid-friendly rides at each park! With us, hubby and I wanted to do the big rides, since it was a trip for all of us, so things took longer and it could be why DL took so much time on those one-day trips.

 

[Easy2Putt]

Would you say that DCA has more to offer for the 5 and 2 year old than DL itself? I guess for now we are going to do the first half of the day in DL and then 2nd half in DCA. Does this sound good..or wishful thinking?

I just reserved a place at the Paradise Pier and went with the birthday celebration at Ariel's Grotto. Now just need to get some tickets..lol

 

[JadeDarkstar]

dont forget the birthday party at plaza inn its not to excpncve u get to see micky and minnie

 

[Easy2Putt]

dont forget the birthday party at plaza inn its not to excpncve u get to see micky and minnie

What/where is the Plaza Inn? Is this a hotel/inn outside DL? How is the Paradise Pier Hotel?

 

[toocherie]

personally, I love the Paradise Pier. My fave is Grand Californian--but it can get quite pricey. My least favorite is the Disneyland Hotel--but you will find others who swear by it.

The most important thing to remember when staying at Paradise Pier is don't walk through Downtown Disney to get to the parks; cut across the street and through the Grand Californian--it's a lot shorter walk. And, there is the special entrance into DCA that as a Disney hotel guest you can use exclusively in the morning (all three Disney hotels are entitled to use it).

Lastly, as a Disney hotel guest you also get to use the Magic Morning perk--getting to go into Disneyland one hour earlier than everyone else on Sat. Sun. Tues. and Thurs. Be sure and take advantage of this--it might be hard to get the little ones up but they open Fantasyland and Tomorrowland rides and you can pretty much do all Fantasyland and a lot of Tomorrowland before that hour is up. You are much better off getting the little ones up early and going back to the hotel for an afternoon rest (which you should be doing anyway). Be sure and get to the gates by 7:30 or so -- you want to be one of the first through the gates and go straight up Main Street and through the castle.

Have fun!!!!

 

[toocherie]

Plaza Inn is the restaurant on the right at the end of Main Street in Disneyland.

Also, Paradise Pier also has the Lilo and Stitch Character breakfast--you can either do a buffet or order off a menu there (Plaza Inn is a buffet) Grand Californian also has a character breakfast that is both buffet or menu.

 

[Easy2Putt]

personally, I love the Paradise Pier. My fave is Grand Californian--but it can get quite pricey. My least favorite is the Disneyland Hotel--but you will find others who swear by it.

The most important thing to remember when staying at Paradise Pier is don't walk through Downtown Disney to get to the parks; cut across the street and through the Grand Californian--it's a lot shorter walk. And, there is the special entrance into DCA that as a Disney hotel guest you can use exclusively in the morning (all three Disney hotels are entitled to use it).

Lastly, as a Disney hotel guest you also get to use the Magic Morning perk--getting to go into Disneyland one hour earlier than everyone else on Sat. Sun. Tues. and Thurs. Be sure and take advantage of this--it might be hard to get the little ones up but they open Fantasyland and Tomorrowland rides and you can pretty much do all Fantasyland and a lot of Tomorrowland before that hour is up. You are much better off getting the little ones up early and going back to the hotel for an afternoon rest (which you should be doing anyway). Be sure and get to the gates by 7:30 or so -- you want to be one of the first through the gates and go straight up Main Street and through the castle.

Have fun!!!!

The special entrance to DCA you talk about..where is this?..is this entrance that shortens the walk to DL via the Grand Californian?

Here's a map I'm looking at:

Also, the MM perk, is this a ticket/voucher they give to you when staying at a Disney hotel?

 

[toocherie]

The special entrance to DCA you talk about..where is this?..is this entrance that shortens the walk to DL via the Grand Californian?

Here's a map I'm looking at:

Also, the MM perk, is this a ticket/voucher they give to you when staying at a Disney hotel?

It's hard to identify on the map, but essentially there is a direct entrance from the hotel to DCA by where the Grizzly River Run ride is- and there is also an entrance that takes you halfway into Downtown Disney so you can get to Disneyland by a shorter route than walking up by the Disneyland Hotel and coming all the way through DTD.

When you check in the hotel will give you a charge slip to use to bill things to your room if you want. This is what you show to use the MM perk. (and a hint--if there are others in your party who are not staying at a Disney hotel, the charge slip gives you the right to take a total of 6 people into the park for MM)

HTH.

 

[Easy2Putt]

Does the Ariel's Grotto charge for children under 3?

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This is a AP ?, but if I upgrade and add parking do I have to add the parking for all tickets or just the drivers AP ticket? For example, the SoCal AP w/blackout dates is $129 and with the parking it's $188. So theoretically, I would only need to buy 3 at the $129 and the $188 for myself since I'm the driver? Does this make sense?