disneyland...here I come!!

[disneydreamer74]

hello everybody! This is my first visit and I am so surprised that a disney chat room exists. A dream come true! I have been to WDW 3 times (not nearly enough) but now that I have relocated to Arizona I am going to visit DL. I have always wanted to visit this park. My trip is scheduled for Aug. 15-19. I will be going with my bf and beautiful but terrible-two's prone daughter Bella. She will be 2 in Aug and her father and my bf will be celebrating his bday Aug 15 as well. I have heard that if you stay on the resort you can order a birthday cake? Does anyone have any info on that? I want to surprise them both.
I have booked a room in the DL hotel. It is a standard view room. I would like to get a room with a view of the fireworks bc my DD may tire out early. Does anybody know which rooms would be ideal for this? If I need to call and upgrade my room I will. Now typically when I visit a Disney resort I opt to stay at an offsite hotel suite which is generally cheaper than on site hotels rooms. But with the little one sure to need naps, etc. we chose to spend more for the convenience.
Also, which rides would you recommend for a toddler? Any advice on family friendly restaurants?
Last but not least.. we are staying 2nts in DL and then drive to San Diego for 2 nts. I have booked a bay view studio at Bahia Resort on Mission Bay. Don't know much about the resort and photos can be misleading. planning to see Sea World and the Zoo.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Welcome to the DIS.

Yes, you can order a cake through Disney if you are staying at Disney hotel or eating at a Disney hotel restaurant. Call 714-300-PLAN, option 2 for details.

You can request a room with a fireworks view, but I don't know if its guaranteed. Actually some of the off-site hotels at DL are a lot closer than the Disney hotels. It is not like WDW where you have acres of land before you even see a resort or a park. Everything in Anaheim is close and compact. HOJOs is a popular one here on the board that offers Disney views of the Matterhorn and pretty good views of the fireworks. They have Entertainment Book, DIS, AAA and AP discounts available.

With a 2 year old, she can ride pretty much ride anything without a height restriction and enjoy it. The Fantasyland rides and Winnie the Pooh ride are great. At DCA you can go to Bugs Land, Monster's Inc., Playhouse Disney Live and Turtle Talk with Crush.

Can't help with the Bahia, haven't stayed there yet, but the zoo and sea world are great fun with kids.

 

[Husker Mickey]

Welcome to the DIS board!!! Do your homework (read as much as you can on this board) and you should do just fine. The people on this board have a wealth of information that they love to share. Don't hesitate to ask any quesiton. Have a great trip!!!

 

[MunkyMe13]

Welcome!

I agree with the previous poster about the rides. Some of the dark rides in Fantasyland may be a bit scary, ie: Snow White and Pinnochio but other wise she should have a good time. A lot of the sit down restaurants are accommodating to those with kids tho Blue Bayou may be inappropriate. Priority seating for sit down places is great and helpful and can be made 60 days in advance. I hope this helps and if you have any other questions feel free to PM me... I used to live in Cali and still have friends there so I may be able to get opinions on the San Diego stuff...

Sarah

 

[disneydreamer74]

Oh thank you all so much for your information. I am pretty well informed about WDW since I have been there ( and absolutely would move into Cindy's castle if they would allow it) but DL is my newest adventure. I am a firm believer that you should read reviews and ask previous guests for their opinions. It has saved me precious vacation time in the past.

I was planning on trying the Blue Bayou, glad I read your post. I will find something different.
You all have been great. Thanks,
Tina

 

[disneydreamer74]

Hey Munky me,
I wish you much luck and the strength of Goliath with your goals. I am on a crash diet right now . I have a total of 55 pounds to lose, but unfortunately it falls off 1 pound a week. Better than nothing right?
My magical wish for you: MAY THE POUNDS MELT AWAY!!!
Tina

 

[MunkyMe13]

Oh thank you all so much for your information. I am pretty well informed about WDW since I have been there ( and absolutely would move into Cindy's castle if they would allow it) but DL is my newest adventure. I am a firm believer that you should read reviews and ask previous guests for their opinions. It has saved me precious vacation time in the past.

I was planning on trying the Blue Bayou, glad I read your post. I will find something different.
You all have been great. Thanks,
Tina

I think Blue Bayou would be lost on a little one. There is a lot of stuff to see but its dark and not very cool to a 2 year old... 5 or 6 maybe...

Hey Munky me,
I wish you much luck and the strength of Goliath with your goals. I am on a crash diet right now . I have a total of 55 pounds to lose, but unfortunately it falls off 1 pound a week. Better than nothing right?
My magical wish for you: MAY THE POUNDS MELT AWAY!!!
Tina

Thanks!! I've been on my lifestyle change since January. Its rough but I am making it work. You may enjoy the WISH boards then. There are a lot of great supportive people there. If you ever want any diet tips or ideas feel free to PM me or hit me up on one of my many messengers.

Sarah

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Oh thank you all so much for your information. I am pretty well informed about WDW since I have been there ( and absolutely would move into Cindy's castle if they would allow it) but DL is my newest adventure. I am a firm believer that you should read reviews and ask previous guests for their opinions. It has saved me precious vacation time in the past.

I was planning on trying the Blue Bayou, glad I read your post. I will find something different.
You all have been great. Thanks,
Tina

You might want to consider Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. It has a character dinner with Goofy, Pluto, Minnie and some of his other friends. Otherwise, the Plaza Inn is a good place for dinner with a 2 year old.

 

[pixiewings71]

Have a great time!! And if your DD is a Princess fan you may want to do Ariel's Grotto for dinner, the food is good (we've eaten there about 5 times total for all 3 meals, bf, lunch, dinner) and the Princess interaction is priceless! I like Minnie and Friends breakfast too, great character selection and they love to play with your group. Enjoy!!

 

[stacymomof2]

WELCOME!! These boards are GREAT for information about DL! You'll definatly find answers to your questions here! You'll also find answers to questions you didn't know you had...even better!

Someone mentioned checking out Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast, we had a BLAST there and I would recommend it as well!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[disneydreamer74]

We definitely thought about goofy's kitchen since we will be staying at DLH, so maybe we can do that for breakfast.
Ariel's grotto is an excellent idea. princess Bella loves Jasmine and Cinderella so I think she will get a kick out of it. I thank you ladies for the information.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We definitely thought about goofy's kitchen since we will be staying at DLH, so maybe we can do that for breakfast.
Ariel's grotto is an excellent idea. princess Bella loves Jasmine and Cinderella so I think she will get a kick out of it. I thank you ladies for the information.

Just prepare your little princess that there is no guarantee that Cinderella or Jasmine will both be there. They rotate the princesses, Minnie Mouse and the Fairy Godmother around. She may see both, one or the other, or neither. There's no way to know.

Also, the Princess Faire at DL is another place to see the princesses, but the secret is to get there early before the line gets way too long.

 

[honeymom]

Some of the fireworks view rooms at DLH are downtown disney view and can get noisy. My kids were bothered by noise and we had to switch to poolview.

DLH is a hike to DL gate. Be sure to bring a stroller. We had rented when our kids were younger and had to carry sleeping children further than we expected. Monorail may or may not be reliable (it is not right now but they are working on it) when you go, so you cannot count on it.

Best Western Park Place Inn and some of the other hotels on Harbor are probably closer as well as cheaper. Checkout hydroguy's tips, especially dl for wdw vets on the stickies on the top of this forum.

All disney restaurants, even the fancy ones, are child friendly. But, at age 2, you will probably want to do at least 1 character meal. I then found that counter service, or buffet, was easier to do with my kids when younger - didn't have to sit through so long a meal. If you stay offsite on Harbor, there are many of the usual chains - MacDonalds, IHOP, Mimis.

 

[BahiaSD]

Hi I work with Reservations for The Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego. I see you will be visiting us. Please feel free to contact me so we can set you up in style with an upgrade. This system will not let me put my email address on it so you can contact me from the hotel website.
Hope you have a great stay.
Andy Thomas
Reservations, Bahia Resort Hotel

 

[Cali_Sparrow]

Oh gosh, your daughter will probably LOVE the Princess Faire and the main parade, lots of princesses! You can also meet my personal favorite, Ariel at her Grotto by the Matterhorn. She has a little seashell that she appears on.

Definitely do Ariel's Grotto in DCA for a meal.
And hit up the princess shop in Fantasyland.

(Can you tell I love princessess? hehe)

Finding Nemo subs would probably be fun for you, as long as your daughter is not afraid of the dark because there are some pitch black parts that might frighten kids. Just to warn you. C:

I hope you have an amazing trip!

 

[Capt.Bane]

Welcome to the Boards...I would agree with everyone above. The Lunch at Areils grotto's menu was lacking a bit to me...Minnies Breakfast and Dinner with Goofy were awesome. The interaction with the Princesses was also excellent...and keep an out for wandering Characters. My DS and I saw Jasmine and Alladin walking around adventure land while Jade was on the Indy ride...it was cool.

 

[disneydreamer74]

HI Andy,
Thank you so much for the offer of an upgrade. I will definitely contact y ou via the hotel website. Thanks a bunch. I am currently booked in a bayside studio room.I am hoping it is in the newer section.

 

[disneydreamer74]

yes, my lil princess will be so excited if she gets to see her beloved Cinderella. She does like the princesses (as does mommy- Belle is my fave) but also is cuckoo about Tigger. Who wouldn't love him? hehe.

I am so thankful that I have been warned about the Nemo sub ride. I had planned to take my lil one on it , but since there are periods of darkness I will definitely reconsider. You guys saved my daughter a scary experience, thanks so much!!!!

Tina

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Hi and welcome I skimed so im not sure if ppl said this or not but i liked the birthday party at plaza inn it had a cake the kids decorate and they meet micky and minnie

Best dinner Goofys-shrimp, meat, lots good foods. must i say more lol
Brekfest Id do princess for your dd to see them all-and dont forget 33 for the pic its cute and i say its worth it nice pic cute front cover.