Disneyland vets...

[cmpeter]

I have stayed at the Tropicana and BWPPI. They are very similar hotels. The BWPPI does have a free hot breakfast and it's about 20' closer to the park entrance. If the price was the same or better, I would pick BWPPI just because of the breakfast. But, it's a pretty basic breakfast, so not a real deal breaker.

 

[tiffjoy]

I recommend the Discover the Magic Tour. My kids both absolutely loved it last year (did it for DD's 5th birthday) and we will likely do it again in August for her 6th. It's a scavenger hunt around the park, and you get to go on a few rides. It's a 2 1/2 hour tour on Fri-Sun, and there are Disney Visa (and AP) discounts.

Our girls always dress up. They are very committed to their costumes, and I see other kids dressed up, too, although admittedly not as many as at WDW.

The shows at DLR are superior to the shows at WDW, so try to see them (Mickey's Magical Map, the Princess Fairy Tale Theater shows, Aladdin, Fantasmic).

We do like the Minnie breakfast, but Surf's Up is our favorite. The character action can't be beat. Once your kids are done eating, they can go play with the characters. We keep a close eye to be sure there is no monopolizing, but it's often quiet so it's not a problem. Also, Mickey meets at the front and doesn't walk around to the tables, so when new people aren't coming in, he is just hanging out. They have a cute surfer dance thing for the kids to participate in, too.

 

[Jfsag123]

By the way, I've heard on these boards that every day in the afternoon at Coke Corner on Main Street, Alice and the Mad Hatter play musical chairs with kids. Ask an employee at Coke Corner for the actual time they do it. I saw a YouTube video of it once and it looked like a lot of fun. The Mad Hatter is a riot.

Oh, my kids would be all about this. Thanks for the heads up!

I have stayed at the Tropicana and BWPPI. They are very similar hotels. The BWPPI does have a free hot breakfast and it's about 20' closer to the park entrance. If the price was the same or better, I would pick BWPPI just because of the breakfast. But, it's a pretty basic breakfast, so not a real deal breaker.

Glad to hear from someone who has stayed there, as it's hard to get a feel from online pics. I've briefly looked at trip adviser as well. Is there any difference in the niceness of the pool area? With daily afternoon breaks, I know my kids will want to swim. This has me slightly considering the Hojo, but don't know if it's worth the extra walking.

 

[Jfsag123]

I recommend the Discover the Magic Tour. My kids both absolutely loved it last year (did it for DD's 5th birthday) and we will likely do it again in August for her 6th. It's a scavenger hunt around the park, and you get to go on a few rides. It's a 2 1/2 hour tour on Fri-Sun, and there are Disney Visa (and AP) discounts.

I assume this is similar to the Family Magic tour at WDW, which I was considering doing with the kids on our next trip there. However, it might be fun to do it on the last day of our DL trip instead. I will check that out!

 

[agamble]

The water feature at HOJO is great for kids, but it is so nice to be at one of the hotels directly across the street. It's not a bad walk from HOJOs, but when you're exhausted and you just want to be back in your room that extra walk down the street is suddenly exponential. It's definitely a preference thing. What's more important close proximity or a great water play area? By the way the water play area is not a pool; they do have a pool somewhere else on property. The water play area has two slides, a giant dump bucket, a small wading pool, and a bunch of spray pipes. There is also a hot tub in that area. Best Western and Tropicana, and the other hotels right there, all have smallish pools. Some of them are in the parking areas, but still private. The Desert Inn's pool is inside, but still small and basic.

 

[coaches24]

I've only done Walk in Walt's Footsteps. It's fun, but exhausting and I agree with other people, probably not the best for kids.

I also ditto Minnie and Friends character breakfast at the Plaza Inn. It's great but is very pricey for what you receive. I was a bigger fan when it was held indoors, most of the seating in '11 was outdoors.



I intend on trying this out, since my last experience with Plaza Inn wasn't as magical as I was expecting. I've heard nothing but good things!

We did Minnie's in 2011 and it was inside and outside. We were inside. I saw the characters going outside as well but it was very busy inside that day. But we went in Jan of 2011 so maybe it changed?

 

[pindecisive]

In '00 we got a table and it was all indoors, I remember the buffet being huge. It was one of my favorite memories.

In '11 I don't remember seeing any tables, just a smallish indoor buffet and outdoor seating. I'm not sure if we went in June or January. It definitely did not live up to my memories

 

[scrapshappen]

We have never stayed at BWPPI but we've stayed at the Tropicana twice and will be back there again on our next trip. For me, it's all about the queen beds. I believe they have some queen rooms at BWPPI, but they also have some that are doubles and that is a deal breaker for me. Besides, I had very low expectations for the Tropicana and it exceeded them by quite a bit so we will likely continue to stay there. There is not one spectacular thing about it (except the view of the fireworks and how close it is to the park) but it is clean, the staff is friendly and helpful and the pool area is plenty adequate.

I've never seen Mary Poppins doing a meet and greet, but I have seen her and Burt out and about in the parks. You can always ask any of the CM's who accompany the characters and they will tell you specifically what time different characters will be where.

And Fantasmic WDW vs. DL: I loved the WDW version of it, I just love the one at DL a little more (and I will confess to liking DLR much more than WDW in general so that might have something to do with it). There are not too many major differences. Too me, the one at DL feels more organic to the park since it is put on right on the Rivers of America and not in a stadium and it utilizes the big sailing ship for the Peter Pan scene and the big stern wheeler for the finale. If your kids love it at WDW, than they will also love it at DL.

 

[VandVsmama]

FWIW, Tropicana has a deal on their website where the nightly rate is marked down by something like 20% off if you stay 5 or more nights.

 

[madasax12]

...I need your guidance! What would you do with 5 days at Disneyland if your family was going for the first time? This will be a summer trip, 2016. How would you divide up your time? If you were going to add 1-2 special experiences (for example, Fantasmic or character dining), which would you choose? What would you do differently with 4 days instead of 5?

Some info about my family - me, husband and 2 kids, girl and boy who will be 8 and almost 6. We'll be staying at one of the motels across the street, which hurts, as staying onsite at WDW is now a major part of the vacation for us, but I just can't justify the cost at DL. Kids are character crazy, and have met pretty much all of them at WDW. They like to come in elaborate costumes. Would this be weird at DL? I know next to nothing about character experiences at DL, other than the fact that there are character meals available. DD's favorite ride at WDW is Test Track and DS's is Soarin'. We are not big thrill ride folks, but will ride anything at least once.

While we are about to go on our 2nd trip, so by no account are we 'vets' I can kind of give some hints on what worked well for us.

Dressing up.....DL is the place to let your kids imagination run rapid....our daughter did not dress up everyday last trip but she had a full Princess Makeover at the BBB and she wore her Anna Coronation Dress like a real princess all day long...some people, not cast members, would even say "Oh Princess Anna" and the look on her face was priceless....she would turn and say "Daddy they think I am the REAL Anna".

We stay onsite at the DLH because we just liked it last time....this is not to say it will ALWAYS be on site but for now we like it....plus you get early entry every day and when staying 5/6 days that really adds up. We used our Early Entry for stuff like RSR and Dumbo....

We did the Goofys Kitchen (Breakfast) and Ariel's Grotto (Dinner) and both were not bad. Ariel's was pricey but the food was good, the interactions were much more personal, and our younger son ate for free....plus sitting out on the patio in DCA was great.

My biggest thing with kids is to PACK GOOD PARK BAGS....this can save a ton of stress and money when in the park during the day. Bottled water, cooling towels, snack type foods for waiting in line to beat testy hungry moments.

And the Rider swap is great.....and very easy. Just tell the CM that you need to do it and they handle the rest. At least from our experience. Our son was only 1 1/2 years so we used it a TON and man it saved some time.....we would also get the swap pass handled...and then who ever was with our son not on the ride would take him to ride something else, go play in another area, so he wouldn't have to just sit.

 

[KellaCat]

I recommend the Discover the Magic Tour. My kids both absolutely loved it last year (did it for DD's 5th birthday) and we will likely do it again in August for her 6th. It's a scavenger hunt around the park, and you get to go on a few rides. It's a 2 1/2 hour tour on Fri-Sun, and there are Disney Visa (and AP) discounts.

Our girls always dress up. They are very committed to their costumes, and I see other kids dressed up, too, although admittedly not as many as at WDW.

The shows at DLR are superior to the shows at WDW, so try to see them (Mickey's Magical Map, the Princess Fairy Tale Theater shows, Aladdin, Fantasmic).

We do like the Minnie breakfast, but Surf's Up is our favorite. The character action can't be beat. Once your kids are done eating, they can go play with the characters. We keep a close eye to be sure there is no monopolizing, but it's often quiet so it's not a problem. Also, Mickey meets at the front and doesn't walk around to the tables, so when new people aren't coming in, he is just hanging out. They have a cute surfer dance thing for the kids to participate in, too.

We booked the Discover the Magic tour also - I can't wait! Kids have been to the parks a couple times already, so this will be something new and different for them. And they've never been to Tom Sawyer's Island, so that will be totally new.