first family trip - need lots of help pls.

[zizzerzazzerzuzz]

DIS Veterans, I've just found out that we will be in DL during Veteran's Day weekend onwards and that crowd size will likely be huge. I need lots of help to plan our trip carefully as we are bringing a toddler along.

1. Will school be out Monday as well i.e. this will be a long weekend?
2. Passport plus! I live in Asia. How do I get hold of these tickets?
3. Goofy's Kitchen. I'm interested in booking a character breakfast after veteran's day. Do I need to reserve now? Can I order the b'day bag for me or is it just for kids?
4. How far is the walk from DL to DCA? from the theme parks to DL hotel?
5. Sleeping Beauty Castle - is it closed?
6. Things to do with a toddler?
7. Tips on getting good views of the fireworks - Electrical and Believe. I know already Fantasmic Buffet is a must but I'm not willing to spend that much!
8. Are there 3 day park hopper tickets for sale? The Disney website doesn't have them so I'm not sure if they are still available.

Thanks all!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

1. Will school be out Monday as well i.e. this will be a long weekend?
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS - MY OWN CHILDREN GO TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL, AND THEY DO NOT GET THE DAY OFF

2. Passport plus! I live in Asia. How do I get hold of these tickets?

3. Goofy's Kitchen. I'm interested in booking a character breakfast after veteran's day. Do I need to reserve now? Can I order the b'day bag for me or is it just for kids?
YOU CAN GET PRIORITY SEATING 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE - SURE, YOU CAN ORDER A B-DAY BAG FOR YOURSELF.

4. How far is the walk from DL to DCA? from the theme parks to DL hotel?
DL - DCA - ABOUT 3 MINS
DL - GRAND CALIFORNIAN 5 MINS
DCA - GRAND CALIFORNIAN 30 SECONDS MAYBE
DL - DL HOTEL LESS THAN 10 MINS, AND A LITTLE LONGER TO PARADISE PIER (CUT THROUGH GRAND CALIFORNIAN HOTEL
DCA - DL HOTEL & PARADISE PIER - LESS THAN 5 - 5 MINUTES IF YOU GO FROM PRIVATE ENTRANCE - BETWEEN 5 & 10 FROM MAIN GATE
(IF YOU'RE A SLOW WALKER, ADD 5 MINS)

5. Sleeping Beauty Castle - is it closed?
YES... THAT IS, YOU CAN WALK THROUGH IT TO FANTASYLAND, BUT THE SLEEPING BEAUTY DIORAMA IS CLOSED

6. Things to do with a toddler?
TOO MANY TO COUNT (WE'LL BE GOING WITH A TODDLER TOMORROW). THERE ARE ATTRACTIONS THAT ARE OUTSIDE, THEY ENJOY THE MUSIC AND FUN, PARADES, ETC. ETC.

7. Tips on getting good views of the fireworks - Electrical and Believe. I know already Fantasmic Buffet is a must but I'm not willing to spend that much!
* ELECTRICAL LIGHT PARADE @ DCA -- THE ROUTE IS SO LONG THAT IT IS EASY TO FIND A SPOT TO WATCH THE PARADE. SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO SIT NEAR THE PLAZA AND SOME LIGHT TO WATCH IT FROM THE AREA NEAR GOLDEN DREAMS. I'VE SEEN IT FROM DIFFERENT SPOTS & THEY'RE ALL PRETTY GOOD.
* BELIEVE FIREWORKS - BEST SPOT IS FROM MAIN STREET BECAUSE THE FIREWORKS FRAME THE CASTLE. ONE OF MY FAVE SPOTS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE.
* FANTASMIC - IF YOU'RE WILLING TO WAIT AWHILE, THEN GO TO THE AREA IN FRONT OF PIRATES. IF YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WAITING, GO TO THE AREA JUST BEFORE 1ST SHOW ENDS, AND GET A SPOT BEFORE THE 2ND SHOW. SOME PEOPLE JUST GO OVER NEAR HAUNTED MANSION, AND HAVE FOUND SPOTS NEAR THE RAFTS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS

8. Are there 3 day park hopper tickets for sale? The Disney website doesn't have them so I'm not sure if they are still available.
I THINK SO

 

[Judy from Boise]

I would think that you could easily get the passports plus by booking through any travel agent that deals directly with Walt Disney Travel.
The ability to have multiple FP would really make all the difference on a busy week end !

 

[Sonya in Boise]

2. Passport plus! I live in Asia. How do I get hold of these tickets?
You need to contact a travel agent that deals with the Walt Disney Travel Company or contact them yourself. They mail the tickets, but I don't know about international costs. For special circumstances, they (with manager approval) allow you to pick the tickets up from their Down Town Disney location.

3. Goofy's Kitchen. I'm interested in booking a character breakfast after veteran's day. Do I need to reserve now? Can I order the b'day bag for me or is it just for kids?
You can make these 60 days out by contacting disney dining. 714-781-DINE You should be able to order the birthday bags at the same time, but I would remind them when about them before you are seated.

4. How far is the walk from DL to DCA? from the theme parks to DL hotel?
The walk from park to park is a few minutes. They are across from each other. The walk from the Disneyland Hotel to DL/DCA is less than 10 minutes and the entire walk is thru Downtown Disney so there is lots to look at. There are also many nice budget hotels across the street from DL, so it is not necessary to stay on site. There are nicer, more expensive hotels a short shuttle ride away. There are lots of choices for any budget in the Anaheim area.

5. Sleeping Beauty Castle - is it closed?
You can walk thru the castle to Fantasy land, you just can't walk into the castle and see the pictures of Sleeping Beauty

6. Things to do with a toddler?
You are talking about Disneyland. The place was build for kids of all ages. Just take it slow and don't rush onto any of the dark rides until you have a feel for what he/she can handle.

7. Tips on getting good views of the fireworks - Electrical and Believe. I know already Fantasmic Buffet is a must but I'm not willing to spend that much!
Fantasmic you will have to sit and wait.....I've heard 2-3 hrs before. The Electrical parade is easy. Just find the parade route on the map and find a seat about 30 minutes before, if you want a bench I'd say an hour. If there are other adults with you, maybe take turns sitting while the other rides rides with the kids.

8. Are there 3 day park hopper tickets for sale? The Disney website doesn't have them so I'm not sure if they are still available.
The current ticket specials are only thru Jan 2004, so I'm not sure what specials will be avalible, but the park hoppers should be the same. The price may increase a bit. I think some time in Dec. the new prices and specials are announced.

 

[Elly]

7. Tips on getting good views of the fireworks - Electrical and Believe. I know already Fantasmic Buffet is a must but I'm not willing to spend that much!

Don't give up on Fantasmic! You can get a view equal to that of the preferred seating for free! If you go to the second showing, just wait near the haunted mansion as the first show leaves. Then, step in and choose your spot...no problem! You will wait about 45 minutes (be sure to visit bathrooms prior!).

 

[zizzerzazzerzuzz]

Thank you Elly. Are there usually 2 shows for Fantasmic? I checked the Disney calendar and there was only a 9PM showing on Nov 9.

On another topic, where is the princess storytelling - Tinker Bell toy shop or Once Upon a Time?

 

[c&m]

In Canada, you can "get 5 days for the price of 3" hopper pass through BCAA. Perhaps you can check out if you have something like that in Asia.