Help me plan a trip for a family I don't know!

[debdebdebby13]

Here's the deal, my mother in law asked me to put together info/plan a Disneyland trip for her boss' cousin in law. It's not as awkward as it sounds. They work for my father in law's 35 year old cousin. They are very close. His wife's 9 year old niece was diagnosed with brain cancer last year and now after chemo she is cancer free so they want to take her and her parents and siblings to Disneyland. There will be 4 adults and 4 children age toddler to 9 years old. I don't know a whole lot about Disneyland. If they wanted me to plan a WDW trip it would be super easy, but the Land is a whole new ball game.

They want to spend 4-5 days in the parks and do whatever extra special things they can find. They also want to eat at the best restaurants.

I so far have a breakfast at Storytellers Cafe and a World of Color dinner package at Ariel's Grotto, well, I don't have reservations because we aren't 60 days out yet, they want to go at the very end of August.

I also was thinking they could go on the Discover the Magic Tour.

I need more good restaurants, experiences, ways to make this trip extra special.

 

[Camshell]

Here's the deal, my mother in law asked me to put together info/plan a Disneyland trip for her boss' cousin in law. It's not as awkward as it sounds. They work for my father in law's 35 year old cousin. They are very close. His wife's 9 year old niece was diagnosed with brain cancer last year and now after chemo she is cancer free so they want to take her and her parents and siblings to Disneyland. There will be 4 adults and 4 children age toddler to 9 years old. I don't know a whole lot about Disneyland. If they wanted me to plan a WDW trip it would be super easy, but the Land is a whole new ball game.

They want to spend 4-5 days in the parks and do whatever extra special things they can find. They also want to eat at the best restaurants.

I so far have a breakfast at Storytellers Cafe and a World of Color dinner package at Ariel's Grotto, well, I don't have reservations because we aren't 60 days out yet, they want to go at the very end of August.

I also was thinking they could go on the Discover the Magic Tour.

I need more good restaurants, experiences, ways to make this trip extra special.

I love getting the silhouettes done on Main St. Maybe they could do a group of the kids. I can't remember the max one can do in one frame.?? They are pretty inexpensive considering and they make such a great personalized souvenir. I still have mine from 1978 when I was a kid. I've also got me and hubby, plus one of each of my kids. I treasure them.

 

[lalasmama]

A make-over at Disney 365 (yikes, I think that's the name!) or Bibbity Boppidy Boutique would be fun, I'm sure. They do boys' hair there too--with bright gel.

I think Blue Bayou is an awesome place to eat (really, it's one of my 2 favorites). It's inside POTC, so you can go on the ride, point it out, and then plan on reservations afterwards.

I'd heavily consider a PhotoPass+. With a group that big, it would allow lots of group photos, and ride photos!

 

[DLfan4]

I so far have a breakfast at Storytellers Cafe and a World of Color dinner package at Ariel's Grotto, well, I don't have reservations because we aren't 60 days out yet, they want to go at the very end of August. .

at Ariels Grotto I think that the Princesses are only out at breakfast and lunch. the dinner at Ariels Grotto does not have princesses. so I would suggest a lunch at ariels grotto.

I would suggest Goofys kitchen or Mickeys Breakfast at the plaza inn over storytellers, because they have more well known characters. from what I have been told, Storytellers only has Chipsmunks and bears, and none of the Fab five characters.

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

I suggest...

Blue Bayou
Character meals
Fantasmic dessert seating

 

[figment_jii]

Even through you aren't going, I would still take a look at HydroGuy's DLR guide for WDW vets. It'll give you a sense of the similarities and differences between the two resorts. That might help you plan their trip given that you're familiar with WDW.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

When you say "end of August", do you have a more specific time frame in mind? I ask because Haunted Mansion is likely to clse on August 25th for the installation of the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. If any of them really likes Haunted Mansion, they may want to go before it closes. It won't re-open until the start of HalloweenTime in mid-September.

In terms of dining, I would also recommend Blue Bayou at DL. It's the iconic restaurant inside Disneyland. They will need to make a reservation. I would recommend going for lunch and making a reservation for the first seating (usually 11:30 am). They stand the best chance of getting a waterside or near waterside table at that point (given that they are a party of eight, it might not be right up against the water).

Sounds like you have the character meals planned. I would also look into the Plaza Inn in Disneyland. It's a character meal at breakfast only and the only character meal in DL. DCA has Ariel's Grotto. The other character meals are the hotels (Storytellers for breakfast, PCH Grill, and Goofy's Kitchen).

This is more advice for you, but one very important thing to remember as you plan a trip to Disneyland Resort is it's size. WDW vets sometimes have trouble picturing how close everything is at DLR. They think in terms of bus rides and 45 minute travel time minimums. The DL and DCA tickets gates are only about 110 yards apart (so, 2-3 minute walk). I like to think of it this way: imagine DL as Future World, DCA as World Showcase, and DTD as being just outside of International Gateway. In other words, it's very easy to park hop at DLR (no buses or boats needed!).

 

[5forMickey]

What a wonderful treat you get to be apart of! Are you staying onsite? You could get vacation planning to have a little basket filled with goodies waiting for them in their room. Build a bear is also way fun and right there in downtown Disney.

For meals, carnation station is a must for our family, I think breakfast is very good and on a fancier side Steak House pretty amazing.

So glad to hear cancer is getting kicked to the curb, your post will send me to bed with a big smile for a wonderful family deserving of the best.

 

[scrapshappen]

I would suggest Storyteller's for lunch or dinner instead of breakfast and do the Character breakfast at PCH or Goofy's instead. The characters at Storytellers are a little more obscure than at the other places.

 

[debdebdebby13]

I chose Storytellers because M, the cancer survivor, loves Chip and Dale. She isn't a huge princess fan which is why I picked the World of Color package because they'd have a good dinner and a great view of the show. I can definitely add Blue Bayou and Carnation Cafe, that would make one sit down meal each day.

Their visit will be the last week of August, tentatively the 24th-29th. I'm not sure if they want to try to hit any other parks or to just focus on DLR.