First trip to Disneyland, Mickey Waffles? Stroller?

[mickeyhereicome]

Are the DL parks comparable in size to any of the WDW parks? Every time we went to WDW we would bring our stroller, which by the end of the day was needed. But we always drove and stayed on property. We are staying at the Hojo so a short walk before the park. Our boys are older now (6,5) but still get tired. How big are the parks?

Also, my sons love Mickey waffles from WDW, are they anywhere at DL?

 

[Disneyland 1951]

The Disneyland Resort (Both Disneyland and California Adventure) is about the same size as EPCOT! The two parks face each other inside bag check, and it takes less than ONE minute to walk from one park to the other.

Hojo's is about the same distance to the park as the Monorail station at the Magic Kingdom to the Magic Kindom entrance.

Mickey Waffels ae available at several places in the morning.

 

[AZMermaid]

I think a 6 and 5 year old could handle DL without a stroller. The Hojo walk at the end of the day would be the worst part. It isn't awful, but at the end of the day everything seems far! I have and am renting offsite from citystrollerrentals.com. I rented from them before and they were great. My kids will be almost 4.5 and a week shy of 3. My 4 year old could go without the stroller, but since we need it for my little one, my older one will want it when tired. If it wasn't an option at all, he would be fine, if that makes sense!

I remember seeing Mickey waffles on the menu at Storytellers and Carnation Cafe. Both of those are table service. Storytellers is a character meal with woodsy characters (Chip, Dale, Meeko, Koda, Kenai). You can get Mickey Mouse pancakes at River Belle Terrace (QS) and they are really good!

 

[starry_solo]

Large Mickey waffles are at Carnation Cafe (DLR), Storyteller's Cafe (a la carte menu) at Grand Californian Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel (lounge), and according to allearsnet.com menu, Ariel's Grotto (I am going to guess it's a large waffle, not small because it's one of the choices of entrees).

Smaller Mickey waffles are at Plaza Inn (breakfast buffet/character breakfast), Storyteller's Cafe (buffet, if they still have it, but the waiter brings it out fresh to you), Tangeroa Terrace (quick service, near pools/adventure tower at Disneyland Hotel), Whitewater Snacks (Grand Californian Hotel, quick service restaurant).

Goofy's Kitchen at DLH also has Mickey waffles, but I'm not sure if they are small or large (I'm going to go with small, because it's a breakfast buffet, unless you order a la carte and then it'll probably be large).

Can you tell I really like the waffles?

 

[mickeyhereicome]

Large Mickey waffles are at Carnation Cafe (DLR), Storyteller's Cafe (a la carte menu) at Grand Californian Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel (lounge), and according to allearsnet.com menu, Ariel's Grotto (I am going to guess it's a large waffle, not small because it's one of the choices of entrees).

Smaller Mickey waffles are at Plaza Inn (breakfast buffet/character breakfast), Storyteller's Cafe (buffet, if they still have it, but the waiter brings it out fresh to you), Tangeroa Terrace (quick service, near pools/adventure tower at Disneyland Hotel), Whitewater Snacks (Grand Californian Hotel, quick service restaurant).

Goofy's Kitchen at DLH also has Mickey waffles, but I'm not sure if they are small or large (I'm going to go with small, because it's a breakfast buffet, unless you order a la carte and then it'll probably be large).

Can you tell I really like the waffles?

Thanks! Do you have a preference in restaurants? I don't mind character meals, except for the price. With that being said, my son loves Mickey Waffles, so much he has eaten about 5 small ones in one sitting. He also loves them so much that one trip he picked a Mickey waffle magnet as a souvenir. My kids could take the characters or leave them (we have done everyone at WDW) However, it might be different since it is DL. I was thinking a place in the park since we are trying to maximize our time in the parks as we only have 3 days, but hopper.

 

[junmatno]

Thanks! Do you have a preference in restaurants? I don't mind character meals, except for the price. With that being said, my son loves Mickey Waffles, so much he has eaten about 5 small ones in one sitting. He also loves them so much that one trip he picked a Mickey waffle magnet as a souvenir. My kids could take the characters or leave them (we have done everyone at WDW) However, it might be different since it is DL. I was thinking a place in the park since we are trying to maximize our time in the parks as we only have 3 days, but hopper.

The Carbation Cafe is yummy! I had it two days in a row!!

 

[princessmocha]

We had Mickey Waffles at Goofy's Kitchen last week and they were the small ones.

 

[Mysteryincorp]

If you don't want todo a character breakfast, Carnation cafe has Mickey waffles. Minnie's character breakfast also has them at the Plaza Inn restaurant. Both are in Disneyland.
As for a stroller, I would bring one. My daughter is 5, full of energy and we use one every time. My legs are tired and she takes three steps for every one of mine!

 

[lalasmama]

According to Google, DL and DCA together are approximately 227 acres--DL is 167, and DCA is 60. (For comparison, MK at WDW is 107 acres, Hollywood Studios is 135 acres, Animal Kingdom is 500 acres, and Epcot is 300 acres.)

While a stroller isn't necessary, you may likely want one for the walk back to the hotel! Carrying a 5yo and 6yo all that way would stink! My 8yo (at 55lbs) wanted carried back to the hotel, and I think I managed about a block before I gave up! By day 4, I was asking myself if 8 is too old for a stroller! LOL!

 

[JasonShannon76]

River Belle Terrace has Mickey Mouse Pancakes

 

[wenrob]

On our trip when my two were six we debated stroller or not. We finally settled on one sturdy umbrella stroller (not one of the cheapy $10 ones) rated for 55lbs. My kids are small for their age, at the time maybe 37lbs a piece. During the day we mostly used the stroller to haul our crap, my camera bag, water ect. Towards the end of the evening they would sometimes take turns in it and at the end of the night both would pile in for the walk back to the hotel. For that walk alone it was worth the stroller.

 

[wallawallakids]

Normally, I would say ditch the stroller. My twins were 4 the last time they used a stroller at DL or WDW. My older two quit using it by 3. DL is VERY walkable and not that big. That said, we are a pretty active family and hike a lot so walking all day in the sun was not a huge deal for them. The freedom of not having a stroller is the BEST thing ever. Seriously, it is SO much easier. I was worried at first about not having a spot to put our stuff, but it elevated our vacations to a whole new level without the stroller. What does have me second guessing for you though, is the fact you are staying at HoJo, which is an even longer walk. We usually stay at the DLH, which is a good walk, but not nearly as long as HoJo. I think you would have to make a judgement call on that based on your child. Do they walk a lot now? Do you think they will be tied at night?

Can you get a small single stroller with a step on the back? That way it isn't like a huge double. My issue is then you are stuck with it ALL DAY. Which is a pain. Maybe rent one but leave it in the room the first day and see how they do walking without it? Then if it all falls apart in the parks and they are too tired, you could have your husband run back to Hojo's and get it? Then you would know if you still need to take it with you or not. Good luck!!!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We usually stay at the DLH, which is a good walk, but not nearly as long as HoJo.

Actually not true. We have stayed at both Hojo and the DLH. The walk is no longer from Hojo, may even be shorter. Here's a nice thread with hotel walking distances from a Disney regular in post #2:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3281816

 

[wallawallakids]

Actually not true. We have stayed at both Hojo and the DLH. The walk is no longer from Hojo, may even be shorter. Here's a nice thread with hotel walking distances from a Disney regular in post #2:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3281816

Really?! That is good to know! Thank you so much for the link. I have never stayed there so I assumed it would be longer.

In that case, OP, I totally think you could go without a stroller.

 

[smithfamilyof7]

I think taking a stroller or not is a personal decision - you know your kids best. If it were me, I would not take it. We went when my kids were 3 and 6; we had an umbrella stroller for the younger one but the older one did just fine walking all day. I personally would rather risk giving one a piggy back ride for a while at the end of the day than pushing a stroller around all day. Maybe (like a PP said), bring it with you and leave it in the hotel room the first day. If you DO need it, you'll have it the next day? You could always rent one in the park if you get partway through the day and realize you need it. Though that doesn't help for the walk back to the hotel...

 

[crystal1313]

I have a DS6 and DS5. We bring one stroller for DS5. DS6 is fine without it. DS5 would be fine too...except at night. He always falls asleep! We are going to try our next trip without the stroller. I just worry about carrying DS5 back to the hotel. He's the average size of a 6 year old! BUs as PP mentioned, you know your children best. Have a great trip!

 

[MIDisFan]

Large Mickey waffles are at Carnation Cafe (DLR), Storyteller's Cafe (a la carte menu) at Grand Californian Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel (lounge), and according to allearsnet.com menu, Ariel's Grotto (I am going to guess it's a large waffle, not small because it's one of the choices of entrees).

Smaller Mickey waffles are at Plaza Inn (breakfast buffet/character breakfast), Storyteller's Cafe (buffet, if they still have it, but the waiter brings it out fresh to you), Tangeroa Terrace (quick service, near pools/adventure tower at Disneyland Hotel), Whitewater Snacks (Grand Californian Hotel, quick service restaurant).

Goofy's Kitchen at DLH also has Mickey waffles, but I'm not sure if they are small or large (I'm going to go with small, because it's a breakfast buffet, unless you order a la carte and then it'll probably be large).

Can you tell I really like the waffles?

Had to take a second to thank you for this information. My DD (20 going on 12) is very particular about her Mickey waffles. She insists the small waffles are better.

 

[luulu1999]

I had my 5&6 yr old this summer and we decided not to take a stroller, we stayed at Park Vue Inn and my kids did pretty good but a lot of time on the way back to the room they were complaining and tired and in my opinion Hojo is quiet a bit further than Park Vue Inn so it would have been a lot of complaining

 

[HappiestHaunt]

I used one for my DD until the age of 6 when we were doing all day in the park, because it kept us from having an exhausted 6 year old at the end of the day. We did not use it on days when we would take a break midday. We also used the ART to get from the park to hojo's at night, which was worth not having to take the stroller because the walk was gone.