Disneyland Questions

[TurtleBug]

My husband and I just bought into DVC in May and plan to go on our first DVC vacation in Feb. 2009 to Disneyland. We are looking at Feb. 22 - Feb. 28th. We have a 9 month old son, who will be almost 17 months old when we plan to go to DL. What are the rooms like? What is the best hotel to stay at? We also plan on visiting other sites in Southern CA while we are there.

Food - Should we buy a dining plan?

Rides - What rides can a toddler ride? My son is tall and already 30 inches tall.

Leslie

 

[ACDSNY]

If you're using points I'd go for the standard rooms at the GC so it will be very easy to go back to your room for nap time. The rooms are regular hotel rooms with either a King or 2 Queen beds with a small refrigerator. Decor is a craftsman lodge type, very beautiful. Don't bother with a dining plan as it's nothing like the ones at WDW.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

My husband and I just bought into DVC in May and plan to go on our first DVC vacation in Feb. 2009 to Disneyland. We are looking at Feb. 22 - Feb. 28th. We have a 9 month old son, who will be almost 17 months old when we plan to go to DL. What are the rooms like? What is the best hotel to stay at? We also plan on visiting other sites in Southern CA while we are there.

Food - Should we buy a dining plan?

Rides - What rides can a toddler ride? My son is tall and already 30 inches tall.

Leslie

My first use of points was for a stay at Disneyland this May. I stayed at PP for one night and GC for two nights. Here's some pics of each to help.

PP Room

PP Bath

GC Room

GC Bath

GC Sink Area

PP has larger rooms than GV and nice large bathrooms. The toilet area is in the bathroom but has a seperate enclosed area.

GV has a seperate area for the sink and a small bath area with the toilet.

GC is closer to the parks than both PP and DH. It's been several years since I stayed at DH so I don't feel up to commenting other than the grounds and pool area is very nice, but I've heard the rooms there are the largest of the three.

GC has a direct entrance to DCA. PP is closer to DCA than the DH, but in general is about 1/2 block further away from the parks.....depending on how you walk. In disney walking terms it's really nothing of note. We love the theme of the GC and it's location is great. This was my first stay at PP and I was very pleasantly surprised and wouldn't hesitate to stay again. The pool is nothing special, but fine. You'll have close access to the monorail station from all 3 hotels.

Unlike WDW DL doesn't have a dining plan that I am aware of. My experience was that also doesn't take quite the planning to eat - I never had an ADR and got seated either immediately or within a minute or two.

Sorry - no kids so can't help with that question on the rides.

Oh - one more thing. GC has balconies and PP does not. I don't think that DH has balconies either - just remember it being a standard hotel room.

 

[squidmo]

Rides - What rides can a toddler ride? My son is tall and already 30 inches tall.

There's a chance you won't be able to ride any rides that have a height requirement, but there aren't that many of these; most rides you will be able to go on with no problem. Here are the rides which do have height requirements-

In Disneyland:
Matterhorn & Gagets Go-Coaster = 35 inches (it's possible he may reach these by February)
All the "mountains" (space, splash & big thunder), also Star Tours = 40 inches
Indiana Jones = 46 inches
Note that the Disneyland site lists Autotopia as having a height requiement, but this is the requirement to be able to drive. Your son can go with you as a passenger, since he will be over 1 year old when you go.

In California Adventure:
Tuck and Roll's Drive'Em Buggies (bumper cars) = 36 inches
Jumping Jellyfish, Soarin', Tower of Terror = 40 inches
Grizzly River Run, Mullholland Madness = 42 inches
Note that the Disneyland site lists Redwood Creek Challange trail as having a height requirement, but this is only for the zip-line; definitely go here and play around- this one's a toddler must-do!
California Screamin' and Orange Stinger = 48 inches
Maliboomer = 52 inches

I confirmed these with the Disneyland website http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/help/gsDetail?name=HeightRequirementsGSDetailPage (the lower ones I know by heart from trips with my 3 & 5 year old sons; the taller ones I had to look up).

So really this is a pretty short list, and if you do want to go on some of the height-requirement rides, you and your husband can take turns by doing a "baby-swap". Basically if you go to the cast member checking the heights for the ride and show them that you have a child that's too small to go on the ride, they will give you a pass that allows the second parent to go through the fastpass line (the first parent either needs a fastpass, or has to wait through the normal line).

Have a great time planning your trip!

 

[moredisneyplease]

dont forget to check out the Disneyland thread with all kinds of DL info.

Personally I like GC because its nicer, cleaner, and super easy access right into CA Adv.

 

[TurtleBug]

If you're using points I'd go for the standard rooms at the GC so it will be very easy to go back to your room for nap time. The rooms are regular hotel rooms with either a King or 2 Queen beds with a small refrigerator. Decor is a craftsman lodge type, very beautiful. Don't bother with a dining plan as it's nothing like the ones at WDW.

Thanks for the info.

Leslie

 

[TurtleBug]

There's a chance you won't be able to ride any rides that have a height requirement, but there aren't that many of these; most rides you will be able to go on with no problem. Here are the rides which do have height requirements-

In Disneyland:
Matterhorn & Gagets Go-Coaster = 35 inches (it's possible he may reach these by February)
All the "mountains" (space, splash & big thunder), also Star Tours = 40 inches
Indiana Jones = 46 inches
Note that the Disneyland site lists Autotopia as having a height requiement, but this is the requirement to be able to drive. Your son can go with you as a passenger, since he will be over 1 year old when you go.

In California Adventure:
Tuck and Roll's Drive'Em Buggies (bumper cars) = 36 inches
Jumping Jellyfish, Soarin', Tower of Terror = 40 inches
Grizzly River Run, Mullholland Madness = 42 inches
Note that the Disneyland site lists Redwood Creek Challange trail as having a height requirement, but this is only for the zip-line; definitely go here and play around- this one's a toddler must-do!
California Screamin' and Orange Stinger = 48 inches
Maliboomer = 52 inches

I confirmed these with the Disneyland website http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/help/gsDetail?name=HeightRequirementsGSDetailPage (the lower ones I know by heart from trips with my 3 & 5 year old sons; the taller ones I had to look up).

So really this is a pretty short list, and if you do want to go on some of the height-requirement rides, you and your husband can take turns by doing a "baby-swap". Basically if you go to the cast member checking the heights for the ride and show them that you have a child that's too small to go on the ride, they will give you a pass that allows the second parent to go through the fastpass line (the first parent either needs a fastpass, or has to wait through the normal line).

Have a great time planning your trip!

Thank You for all the great info!

Leslie

 

[TurtleBug]

Are the hotels on the monorail? What is the difference between regular and conceirege rooms?

Leslie

 

[DebbieB]

None of the hotels have a monorail station. The 2 monorail stations are in Downtown Disney and in Tomorrowland.

 

[limace]

Remember, Disneyland is nothing like the layout at WDW, if you haven't been there before. It's a one minute walk from GCH into California adventure and maybe 5 minutes from there to Disneyland.

We were there with a child about your son's age last summer and she did great. We were fortunate enough to have grandma along, which helped with rides. Our daughter loved the parades, the Tiki Room (DH watched it three or four times in a row with her one night) and many of the other rides. The big perk of being a DL with a toddler, instead of at WDW, is it is much, much easier to head back to the hotel for naps and meals than it is at the world.

 

[TurtleBug]

None of the hotels have a monorail station. The 2 monorail stations are in Downtown Disney and in Tomorrowland.

Thank You!

Leslie

 

[TurtleBug]

Remember, Disneyland is nothing like the layout at WDW, if you haven't been there before. It's a one minute walk from GCH into California adventure and maybe 5 minutes from there to Disneyland.

We were there with a child about your son's age last summer and she did great. We were fortunate enough to have grandma along, which helped with rides. Our daughter loved the parades, the Tiki Room (DH watched it three or four times in a row with her one night) and many of the other rides. The big perk of being a DL with a toddler, instead of at WDW, is it is much, much easier to head back to the hotel for naps and meals than it is at the world.

Thanks for the insight! Was your child scared of the characters?

Leslie

 

[squidmo]

Was your child scared of the characters?

My two DS have always LOVED the characters. My older son first went at 2.5 yr, but the younger one has been going since 9 months. Our closest trip with one at your sons age was when our younger son was around 20 months. He ran right up to all the characters and gave them big hugs, and spent one of the character breakfasts desperately trying to climb out of his high-chair to go over to the characters. Neither DS is super-comfortable with strangers, so isn't because they are usually fearless- they were just REALLY excited to get to meet the characters.

 

[chicagodisfan]

Rides - What rides can a toddler ride? My son is tall and already 30 inches tall.
[/QUOTE]

We went to WDW last fall when my DS was 16 months old. It seems that many of the rides at Magic Kingdom are similar to those at DL, so here was our experience. At Magic Kindgom, we were able to take him on a lot of rides, most everything in Fantasyland, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, the Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Tiki Birds, Autopia (we put him near the steering wheel and we pressed the petals), etc. and he's not that tall, average height for his age. He loved Toontown and we easily could have spent a whole afternoon there. One thing I was surprised about was how many of the kids rides in Fantasyland are actually dark rides, like Peter Pan. Even though they aren't scary per say, the dark part freaked him out a little at first. He wasn't talking yet, but he was doing baby signs and as soon as the ride would start he'd do the sign for "all done" and I felt horrible, but as soon as the ride was over he'd sign "more" all the way out of the ride. By day two or so, he was used to it and enjoyed them, though not quite as much as the parades and characters.

He LOVED the characters. He'd go up to them and give them big kisses on their noses. (He also got a cold the next week ) The characters were great with him too. They'd get down low and play peekaboo,etc. The funny part is that he didn't know who any of them were yet because he wasn't reallly watching TV (except Winnie the Pooh, he has a Pooh toy) and he still loved all of them. Our character meal was one of the highlights of our trip, I highly recommend one.

Have a great trip!

 

[TurtleBug]

My two DS have always LOVED the characters. My older son first went at 2.5 yr, but the younger one has been going since 9 months. Our closest trip with one at your sons age was when our younger son was around 20 months. He ran right up to all the characters and gave them big hugs, and spent one of the character breakfasts desperately trying to climb out of his high-chair to go over to the characters. Neither DS is super-comfortable with strangers, so isn't because they are usually fearless- they were just REALLY excited to get to meet the characters.

Cool! Thanks for the info!

Leslie

 

[TurtleBug]

Rides - What rides can a toddler ride? My son is tall and already 30 inches tall.

We went to WDW last fall when my DS was 16 months old. It seems that many of the rides at Magic Kingdom are similar to those at DL, so here was our experience. At Magic Kindgom, we were able to take him on a lot of rides, most everything in Fantasyland, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, the Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Tiki Birds, Autopia (we put him near the steering wheel and we pressed the petals), etc. and he's not that tall, average height for his age. He loved Toontown and we easily could have spent a whole afternoon there. One thing I was surprised about was how many of the kids rides in Fantasyland are actually dark rides, like Peter Pan. Even though they aren't scary per say, the dark part freaked him out a little at first. He wasn't talking yet, but he was doing baby signs and as soon as the ride would start he'd do the sign for "all done" and I felt horrible, but as soon as the ride was over he'd sign "more" all the way out of the ride. By day two or so, he was used to it and enjoyed them, though not quite as much as the parades and characters.

He LOVED the characters. He'd go up to them and give them big kisses on their noses. (He also got a cold the next week ) The characters were great with him too. They'd get down low and play peekaboo,etc. The funny part is that he didn't know who any of them were yet because he wasn't reallly watching TV (except Winnie the Pooh, he has a Pooh toy) and he still loved all of them. Our character meal was one of the highlights of our trip, I highly recommend one.

Have a great trip![/QUOTE]

Thanks!

Leslie

 

[limace]

Thanks for the insight! Was your child scared of the characters?

Leslie

She wasn't at all...I think we would approach them with her in our arms, rather than walking, but we have some great pics of her reaching out and touching them. My older child, however, was pretty scared of them when she was almost 3 (sometimes I think younger toddlers have an easier time with stuff like that than the 2+ crowd, who have developed more of an understanding/imagination).

 

[Dizney73]

We are leaving for CA on August 6 and staying at the DLH with our 2 and 1/2 year old using our DVC points. We are staying in a standard room at the DLH for 4 nights. We are using 124 pts. That's a lot of points... but we are doing the DCL western cruise following and that tapped our pockets! We chose DLH becasue of the many posts on the Disneyland Thread that suggest the DLH for people with kids because it has the "Disney" feeling with it's pixie dust and Mickey decor and the pool is Neverland themed.

 

[tink too]

I can't comment on the GC or PP because we've never stayed there, but we stayed at the DLH in May and loved it!

The only thing I would comment on about the DLH that we found weird was the height of the beds. I'm 5' 2" and had to virtually climb into bed each night!

 

[TurtleBug]

We are leaving for CA on August 6 and staying at the DLH with our 2 and 1/2 year old using our DVC points. We are staying in a standard room at the DLH for 4 nights. We are using 124 pts. That's a lot of points... but we are doing the DCL western cruise following and that tapped our pockets! We chose DLH becasue of the many posts on the Disneyland Thread that suggest the DLH for people with kids because it has the "Disney" feeling with it's pixie dust and Mickey decor and the pool is Neverland themed.

Cool info on decor!

Leslie