help plan my trip -- which days for disneyland would be best?

[blue51]

hi i'm new but i have been reading the forums here for a couple of weeks and i'm finding a ton of great info, thank you!

in our group we have myself, my husband, our 3 kids (5yr, 3.5yr, 19months) and my parents.

on the trip we plan to do:

-5 days park hopper to disneyland/cali adventure
-1 day at knott's
-1 day at universal (just myself, my husband, and our 5yr old)
-shopping at "the block"


we are travelling to california (from up here in canada) from may 18 to 26. we arrive on a friday around noon, after a long morning of travel...

what should we do that friday?
and the kids are going to want to do disneyland ASAP but that means saturday -- is this a really bad idea? remember we have 5 days worth of disneyland...

and what about sunday?

which days are best for which places? which day to rest?

please help!!

thanks SO much!!

 

[Prometheus]

I like the block on Friday night, the place is pretty lively. Plenty of people hang around, drinks, dinner, movie and may be a bit shopping. Funny, I hardly do much shopping at the block, mostly dinners and movies . But then if you dislike crowds, it may not be the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights.

Saturday in DL is usually pretty busy, but since you get park hopper, you can always hop to DCA. For some reason, DCA is never as busy as DL. When my family got AP 1.5 years ago, we went to DCA whenever DL is too busy.

Personnally I do not care for Knott's, been there a couple years ago for a company function. DS was 2 years old and we got on may be 2 rides. Don't know much about crowds in Universal during May. Summer weekends in Universal is as crowded as DL, at least feel like that way. But Friday or Saturday night in citywalk is fun as well, You get some street performers out there.

 

[DisneylandGuy22]

Least busiest days at DL is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

If you go on a weekend go sunday as it isnt as busy as saturdays...

Check http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/calendar/monthly/monthly?name=CalendarMonthlyPage

Input your dates your going and it tells you the parade times, fireworks times, other shows and hours for the day including if any rides are down...

Have a great trip

 

[Zoemakes5]

If it was me, I'd check in to hotel on Friday, play in the pools, get unpacked. I'd plan a character meal that night, over at Goofy's Kitchen to get everyone their Disney fix, then spend some time in DtD.
I would do Disney on Sat., going first thing in the am, taking a break mid day and then going back in. I agree, getting the kids to wait longer than that is going to be a challenge. Then I'd do Disney on Monday, with Universal in between on Sunday. Then I'd do Knott's with any "non park days", then back to DL/DCA when you've done that.

 

[shellyof4]

I second Zoemakes5's plan!

We arrive at noon on our first day also and are going to do exactly what she said. The rest of her plan is what I would do as well. THe less weekend days the better.

 

[Zoemakes5]

I second Zoemakes5's plan!

We arrive at noon on our first day also and are going to do exactly what she said. The rest of her plan is what I would do as well. THe less weekend days the better.

Why thank you!
If the OP had fewer days at DL, I might suggest a half day at DL on the first day, but if they have five whole days at the parks, I'd be more mellow that first one, like you said!

 

[DLand_LVR]

Make sure you double check the times that Universal Studios is opened... it may be off season and they may be closing early. Its such a long drive from Disneyland, so its better to make the most of it. Universal City Walk is also really nice to walk around in but it has more of a night life style to it . Disneyland will always be the most crowded on Saturdays , so if that's not your thing, you may want to do Knotts or just take it easy that day. Maybe walk around DTD and do a little shopping.. .

Either way, have a great trip!!

 

[blue51]

thank you everyone! i think i have it all figured out! ok everyone keeps mentioning this goofy's kitchen place so i guess we had better go!

a few questions:

-where is it? inside a park? a hotel?
-how much is the cost? or does that depend on what you eat?
-do i need to reserve for this ahead of time, and how far ahead? we go in may
-my daughter turns 5yrs old while we're there -- do they do anything special for bdays?

thanks!!

 

[dizzyami]

thank you everyone! i think i have it all figured out! ok everyone keeps mentioning this goofy's kitchen place so i guess we had better go!

a few questions:

-where is it? inside a park? a hotel?
-how much is the cost? or does that depend on what you eat?
-do i need to reserve for this ahead of time, and how far ahead? we go in may
-my daughter turns 5yrs old while we're there -- do they do anything special for bdays?

thanks!!

Goofy's Kitchen is inside Disneyland HOtel
I think it is buffet - about $20 per adult head, $13 or so for child - someone i am sure can give you a more accurate $$$
I would definitely reserve - you can up to 60 days in advance. It probably does not need to be that soon - I would guess a couple of weeks would be plenty.
I know Disney does a b-day button - not sure about the restaurant itself

Have a great trip!!

 

[shellyof4]

a few questions:

-where is it? inside a park? a hotel?
-how much is the cost? or does that depend on what you eat?
-do i need to reserve for this ahead of time, and how far ahead? we go in may
-my daughter turns 5yrs old while we're there -- do they do anything special for bdays?

It is in the Disneyland HOtel and the cost is 28$ for adult brunch, 33 for dinner...the kids are around 15 and 18 I think? Maybe someone who went recently can confirm. That's the most up to date info I could find. Oh and if you have AAA it's 10% off.

It looks like at Goofy's kitchen you can purchase a party bag for around 5-6$ or a birthday bucket for about 20$. I think the buckets are available elsewhere in the park as well.

Make sure to get your dd a birthday pin and they will offer her a birthday phone call I believe. Also, if you do a character breakfast on her birthday, I believe they will sing to her. I hear the cm's will wish her a happy birthday a lot if she is wearing her pin.

 

[PrincessSitka]

And it is wonderful to eat there with all of the character each morning. Each one is so nice and pleasant to the kids