The Cars Land area is a must see over in California Adventure, so get the park hopper. That area will be packed though as its new and is still drawing in the crowds. Be sure and get a fastpass early for Radiator Springs Racers as they run out fast. Another must see in California Adventure is the Aladin show. At
Disneyland for me it Pirates, Star Tours, Indy, and the Tiki Room, and don't miss the train ride around the park as it has something that WDW train ride doesn't. Another thing I never miss is Great Moments With Mr Lincoln, we always visit that first upon entering the park, it has turned into a tradition for us to do that first.
Dining at DL is not at all like at WDW. Do not do the Dining program their as your better off just going with cash. Downtown Disney is right their too with lots of places to eat. Reservations are not as necessary at DL as they are at WDW. We eat at the Blue Bayou right by Pirates of the Caribbean sometimes, but if your going to eat there get a seat by the water, and definately check on reservations for this place, it can be crowded, and some consider it pricey. We have gotten reservations the same day we arrived but it was for not normal eating hours. Someone else may be able to help you with the kids dining areas, mine are all grown up and we havent done the kid thing in quite awhile now. If I ever get grandkids I will happily take them with me though and do more of the kid thing. One of our favorite places to eat at is French Quarter, it is a QS type of place in New Orleans square.
Monday should be a light day for crowds, but I have been hearing that for some reason it has been more crowded than usual this year and no one can figure out why.
To me Disneyland is not really a planning kind of place like WDW is. Just get the pamplet for the shows when you enter the park to see what shows you may want to go to and plan time around that. Both parks and Downtown Disney are all there side by side and we usually just go with the flow.
