Disneyland in August for 5 days - need advice

[moljammom]

We are visiting family in LA in August. So, we are tacking on a 5 day stay at Disney. We have not been to the park for anything more than a day in over 20 years. So we need all sorts of help. We have been to WDW several times in the past several years.

Our family is a family of 4. Me, DH, DD6, and DS5. We will likely be traveling with DH's mom and dad and 2 sisters. One sister has a DH, DS7, DS5, and DS 3.

Here are some things we are wondering about. Where should we stay? What should we do about meals - the meal plan in WDW makes everything so easy. Anything we should definitely NOT miss?

Thanks for any help or suggestions!

 

[HydroGuy]

Where should we stay?

I am a big fan of walking distance hotels. See:

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

and the lodging advice in MaryJo's excellent sticky thread:

**ºoº DLR FAQ-MAPS, HOTELS, DISER HOTEL REVIEWS, HYDROGUY'S TIPS, DINING REVIEWS, ETC

What should we do about meals - the meal plan in WDW makes everything so easy.

The DDP at DLR is not the same as at WDW and hardly anyone has anything good to say about it. There are dining links in MaryJo's thread too.

Anything we should definitely NOT miss?

At DCA

o If you go before August 15 do not miss the Aladdin show at DCA
o Animation Studios
o World of Color show
o California Screamin for any coaster fans
o GRR
o Monsters Inc

At DL

For the young ones..

o Alice in Wonderland
o Mr Toad
o Toontown (better than MK)
o FNSV
o Matterhorn - the classic coaster that brave three-year-olds can ride
o Pirates Lair on TSI

For older ones...

o Indiana Jones
o Space Mtn (way better than MK)
o POTC (way better than MK)

We are visiting family in LA in August. So, we are tacking on a 5 day stay at Disney.

...

Thanks for any help or suggestions!

If it all possible go before August 22. See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[Sherry E]

The really good thing is that because you will be at DLR for 5 days, you won't miss too much! That is plenty of time to ride everything you want to ride, eat wherever you want to eat, see whatever show is on the schedule that week, shop wherever you want to shop, wander around the 3 DLR hotels and DTD several times - and then go back and do all of these things again! So you will have time to do it all.

Are you interested in character meals? There are 5 from which to choose at DLR. Here is a link to our character meal photo thread (keep in mind that that the Lilo and Stitch Aloha Breakfast is now called Surf's Up with Mickey and is the only meal that features Mickey; it is brand new so we don't have any photos from it yet):

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2234435


Here is our general dining thread link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1253888


And here is a hotel photo thread link which may be helpful:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1745747


Also, here is a link to a Trip Report from Pmama, who was a WDW vet who visited DLR for the first time last year - this may be informative and of interest to you (even though you have been to DL before, you say you haven't spent a lot of time there):

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2096377

 

[blackjackdelta]

.


At DCA

o If you go before August 15 do not miss the Aladdin show at DCA

Is the 15th the final for Aladdin?

Jack

 

[moljammom]

Thank you Hydro Guy and Sherry.

Hydro Guy - When we went last time for a day (las February) I was able to use a lot of your advice and never did say thank you!!!! There was of course so much we missed. So we are glad we are able to go for longer so soon.

Thank you both for all of the links I have a lot of reading to do this weekend.

We are definitely interested in character meals if they are worth it.

Please let me know anything else we should know.

Oh and we are going the first week of August. So I am hoping it is not completely crazy. I was glad to see your last line about before August 22. Is it still suggested to go week days or does it not matter in the summer?

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you

 

[HydroGuy]

Is the 15th the final for Aladdin?

Jack

From the well known Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker VIII

New show for Hyperion Theatre - "Toy Story – The Musical"

Project Status: The DisneyParks Blog announced on December 3, 2009 that the "Toy Story" musical would replace "Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular" in 2011. "Aladdin" closes forever August 15, 2010.
Open Date: "Toy Story – The Musical" opens early 2011.
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