Going to DL with my parents, my 8 yo, & 2 yo. Need suggestions, please?

[rosepup77]

This trip was done very last minute and as such, I feel like I'm totally not prepared for this. We'll be in DLR from Aug 10 - Aug 14. We'll be staying at the Paradise Pier hotel which should help.

To introduce myself, I'm a 31 yo disney fanatic who has only visited DL once back in 1996. Living in Alaska makes it difficult to visit but we did manage to go to WDW in 2005. So my son, who was 4 1/2, remembers that trip very clearly. My daughter turns 2 on Aug 9 so this is sort of a birthday trip for her. So far all we've had to pay for her is the plane trip. The 3 of us are going with my parents who are both in their 60s.

I've never done Disney with a toddler before so I'm not really sure how she is going to react. I know that the rides my son and I want to go on, mainly the roller coasters, won't appeal to my parents or my daughter. So can you all help me with suggestions on what we should do as a family and also what would appeal to toddlers?

Also since we're staying at the Paradise Pier, I'd like to do the Lilo & Stich character breakfast. Any other places we should try? Thanks so much.

 

[teatime]

I say you have it made!! you have your parents with you so they can take the toddler on things while you are doing other things, she can go on a lot of different things at her age. so when your doing the coaster type rides she can go with the grand parents.
Goofys kitchen is another great place to eat a great meal with characters , and of course do not forget having a monte cristo sandwitch ,at the cafe orleans.
go look up the dining page and you can see all the great foods of disneyland !
with pictures !!! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1253888

 

[wrightut]

I just wanted to say that with all the adults available to swap out with your daughter, you will be fine! Your daughter should be able to do all the Fantasyland rides and lots of others you can do as a family - Pirates, Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World, the train, Jungle Cruise. We just took our three year old and I was pleasantly surprised how much she was able to ride. Sure, there were things that she wasn't tall enough for, but the same was true for my 5 year old, so my husband and I swapped out taking the 8 year old on the bigger rides and taking the younger kids on other things (we rode Jungle Cruise a total of 4 times, since it was right next to Indiana Jones). Also, over at DCA, there is a whole area with kiddie rides that will be perfect for her - my three year old loved them (I think it's called Flik's Family Fair or something like that - over in Bugsland). There is a splash park over there as well - we camped out there with her while we swapped off riding Soarin Over California (since she was the only one not tall enough to ride it).

Anyway, have fun! And Happy Birthday to your daughter - my birthday is August 9th as well, but I'm almost 40 years older than her!

 

[Buttercup26]

Paradise Pier is great, we really like it. When walking just cross the street and go the Grand Californian hotel. You can get to Downtown Disney or DCA thur the GCH - it's a very easy, cool, and pleasant walk.

The Lilo & Stitch breakfast is great, they play a game called Island Hoppers with the kids and also teach some hula.

There is a coffee shop in the PPH lobby that is quick and reasonably inexpensive. I also highly recommend Whitewater Snacks in the GCH, very near the entry to DCA.

The best way to do Toy Story Midway Mania is to use the entrance into DCA from the Grand Californian, about 30 minutes prior to DCA opening time.

Have a great trip!!

 

[rosepup77]

Thanks so much for all these great hints. I was wondering about how the walk was to the parks. I haven't done priority seating yet for the character breakfast. Should I do that? I wasn't really sure how crowded it gets.

 

[Buttercup26]

Definitely do your Priority Seating ahead of time, it can get crowded. Although Lilo & Stitch doesn't seem to get as crowded & crazy as Goofy's Kitchen.

I would also suggest asking for a room on the pool deck, poolside; room 315, 317, 319, etc.. Those rooms have a nice patio area with table & chairs outside of them.

You can walk to end of the pool deck and watch the fireworks too. You have a pretty decent view of them from there if the kids (or parents) are too tired to stay in the parks.

I think the walk from PPH is fairly easy when you cut thru the GCH. If you walk the whole way thru the end of DTD it's pretty far and is hot. Walking thru the GCH you are either in the hotel, or in the shade until you either hit DTD (about 1/2 way thru) or DCA.

If you want to ride the monorail then you do want to go the end of DTD (near Disneyland Hotel). When you want to go that way, go out the back of the hotel (facing parking garage) and follow that sidewalk past parking lot/DisneyLand Hotel to the end of DTD (ESPN Zone & Compass Books).

If you are walking (not monorailing) or going to DCA, go out the front of DCA (either by front desk or by PCH Grill) and walk to corner and cross street at GCH driveway and just walk thru the GCH.

 

[rosepup77]

These are all so helpful. Although the thread of the food with the pictures made me hungry. Thanks so much!