Help with planning our first visit!

[Dreamsfor5]

Hello!

I would like some help in planning our first visit to Disneyland! We will be flying from Edmonton to Phoenix a couple days after Christmas and will be driving from Phoenix to Disneyland! We were thinking of going to Disney on Jan. 2 and
staying until Jan. 6! Our children will be 7,5 and almost 22 months at the time of our visit. I would love a recommendation for an on site property as well as a "good neighbor" property! Also, if anyone could recommend the best character breakfast and one really good place either in the parks or DTD to eat. I'm also trying to think of a fun way to tell the kids about our trip! Should I wait until the drive from Phoenix or should I incorporate it into Christmas? Any ideas?!

Thanks so much!

 

[skiingfast]

Hotels onsite: GCH is great and very close. DLH is getting upgraded and is very nicely themed, it should be all done for you visit. PPH may work too, closer than the DLH some people enjoy the larger rooms which may help your party of 5. You will get a few perks staying onsite.

Offsite. Closer than the DLH, PPH and some GCH room is Park Vue Inn which has many perks. Also look a the Candy Cane Inn which is further but still walking distance and well liked. These hotels will be 50% to 33% as much as the onsite hotels.

The Minnie and Friends breakfast at the Plaza Inn is a great choice. Wide variety and some rare characters.

Have you been to WDW? DLR guide for WDW vets

 

[StyledSugar]

The Minnie and Friends breakfast is fantastic!! We never miss it!

We have only eaten at the Rainforest Cafe and Tortilla Joes at DTD and both were great. The kids LOVED the Rainforest Cafe though! It was very neat!

 

[larina]

We love the Paradise Pier. Stayed there in May and going back in December. There's construction going on at Disneyland Hotel through 2012. In May, we went through during our stay and said we'd be sure not to stay there before they are done with all of their work. The California Grand is too much for me. It is too big and overdone, but it is also very beautiful. If you have the money, and it appeals to you, I say go for it. If you are looking for great staff, a mellow atmosphere and fun decor, hit the PP.

No matter where you stay, check out the Surf's Up Mickie character breakfast in the Paradise Pier. It seems to have the most characters and best views of the character buffets. Goofie's Kitchen was a bit dark and disappointing, although it did have more choices than SUM.

 

[skiingfast]

There's construction going on at Disneyland Hotel through 2012. In May, we went through during our stay and said we'd be sure not to stay there before they are done with all of their work.

Maybe Larina meant construction to 2012. It is planned to be done by the end of the year.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

We will be there around the same time (Dec 30 - Jan 7).

Homewood Suites is our favorite. During that time they will be offering the 4th night free. FYI getawaytoday.com is the only place offering the discount so far. I'm waiting patiently for DL to add it to their packages. There is a separate living room / bedroom which is so awesome with kids. We were able to put our kids to bed and then relax in the living room for a bit.

We drive from Utah and it takes us about 10 hours total. About 5 from Vegas. I would fill your tank in Vegas. There are places to stop along the way but they seem to be fee and far in between.

We did the Breakfast w/ Minnie in June. My kids loved it. There were a ton of characters: Minnie, Tigger, Eyeore, Fairy Godmother, Chip, Dale, Hook, Smee, Donald, Ghepetto, Penguins. I've heard that sometimes during the holidays they wear their holiday sweaters for breakfast. We got the 1st reservation of the day and were able to go into the park before it opened. Minnie was actually waiting for us.

We are planning to do Minnie's again as well as a dinner at Goofy's.

We were disappointed w/ Downtown Disney. There were random musicians all over the place hounding us to buy their CD's. Very annoying. We went one night and didn't go back. We were trying to find someplace to eat but nothing really appealed to us. Especially with 2 under 2.