First time going to Disneyland!! Help!

[Mamas07]

I am not even sure if this is the right place to post. I am surprising my kids with a trip to Disneyland. It'll be the first time my kids and I have gone! My hubby has been, but it's been years... I have no idea where to start!!

I have purchased my tickets 5 day park hoppers so we don't have to rush everyday and the simple fact we've never been and I want to go for as long as I can!

I feel like I got a pretty decent deal on tickets for a family of four. I did the $200 statement credit with the Disney chase card. We are splitting the hotel costs with other family members so we will be roughly under 2k for our tickets and hotel across the street. I have Disney GCs for each of us to spend on souvenirs ($125)
Don't know if that's enough??

I've been told we can bring food and drinks into the park. I don't know whether we should buy them there or bring them.

I also want to do character dining but not sure how to reserve that without doing a package deal through Disney... but I was also told you can meet the characters at various restaurants??

I don't know what to budget for food and whatever else im forgetting! I still have time to figure it out. Our trip isnt until feb/march 2017.

Can someone point me in the right direction? There are sooo many threads I don't know where to start!

Thank you in advance

 

[wench]

I am not even sure if this is the right place to post. I am surprising my kids with a trip to Disneyland. It'll be the first time my kids and I have gone! My hubby has been, but it's been years... I have no idea where to start!!

I have purchased my tickets 5 day park hoppers so we don't have to rush everyday and the simple fact we've never been and I want to go for as long as I can!

I feel like I got a pretty decent deal on tickets for a family of four. I did the $200 statement credit with the Disney chase card. We are splitting the hotel costs with other family members so we will be roughly under 2k for our tickets and hotel across the street. I have Disney GCs for each of us to spend on souvenirs ($125)
Don't know if that's enough??

I've been told we can bring food and drinks into the park. I don't know whether we should buy them there or bring them.

I also want to do character dining but not sure how to reserve that without doing a package deal through Disney... but I was also told you can meet the characters at various restaurants??

I don't know what to budget for food and whatever else im forgetting! I still have time to figure it out. Our trip isnt until feb/march 2017.

Can someone point me in the right direction? There are sooo many threads I don't know where to start!

Thank you in advance

Start with the link below. The forum you posted in is more for Disney World. The link will take you to the Disneyland forum. You should be able to find answers to your questions there.

http://www.disboards.com/forums/disneyland-california.26/

And don't worry, it's easy to make a dining reservation, even for a character meal. You don't have to purchase your package through Disney to do so. Just go on the Disneyland website or park app to make your res. Booking will open at 30 days out.

 

[Mamas07]

Start with the link below. The forum you posted in is more for Disney World. The link will take you to the Disneyland forum. You should be able to find answers to your questions there.

http://www.disboards.com/forums/disneyland-california.26/

And don't worry, it's easy to make a dining reservation, even for a character meal. You don't have to purchase your package through Disney to do so. Just go on the Disneyland website or park app to make your res. Booking will open at 30 days out.

Thank you. I had no idea I was in WDW forum!!!

Oops!

 

[wench]

Thank you. I had no idea I was in WDW forum!!!

Oops!

No worries. Most of the forums are for WDW, so it's a really easy mistake to make.