how to make a unique trip when you go a lot?

[youmyflower]

I just booked our hotel for our next trip, May 2009. We go to Disneyland pretty regularly with the kids. But usually when we go, we try to go pretty "economy". We will have 3 days at the parks, and I am trying to think of something special to do this time that we don't normally do. Any suggestions? I was thinking of the fantasmic dessert but I have heard it's just a cheapy box of snacks. Is there any other tours or anything that would be of interest? Or even just a special restaurant we should try? I was thinking the princess deal at Ariel's Grotto but I don't think the older ones will like it so much.

My kids will be

14
almost 10
almost 4
2

Thanks!

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you haven't done one already, for sure do a character meal. My favorite is Goofy's Kitchen, it has a wide range of characters that would suit your age range as far as your kids are concerned. Ariel's is very fun, but if your kids aren't into princesses, skip it. My daughter is 12 and still enjoys her princess meals, my 14 year old son, not as much!

I am not so sure about the dessert buffet thing, when we did that it was up on the balcony and it was a dessert buffet. The boxed desserts used to be riverside seating only. If that is still the way it is, I can highly recommend the balcony/buffet. The view is wonderful and the desserts were very good, not worth the price but it was a great experience. I don't think I would pay that much for the riverside seating that is the box dessert. Its been several years since I did the Fantasmic thing so I am not sure what the current prices and set up are.

 

[LucyDingo]

If you haven't done one already, for sure do a character meal. My favorite is Goofy's Kitchen, it has a wide range of characters that would suit your age range as far as your kids are concerned. Ariel's is very fun, but if your kids aren't into princesses, skip it. My daughter is 12 and still enjoys her princess meals, my 14 year old son, not as much!

I am not so sure about the dessert buffet thing, when we did that it was up on the balcony and it was a dessert buffet. The boxed desserts used to be riverside seating only. If that is still the way it is, I can highly recommend the balcony/buffet. The view is wonderful and the desserts were very good, not worth the price but it was a great experience. I don't think I would pay that much for the riverside seating that is the box dessert. Its been several years since I did the Fantasmic thing so I am not sure what the current prices and set up are.

I heard it's not a buffet anymore. I'm not sure though.

(My neighbors names are Amy and Dan...do you live in Nebraska? Maybe you're them. Haha!)

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

They haven't done the buffet since they removed the Gallery shop and started making the Dream Suite.

We did it back before they even started the dessert boxes. We loved the buffet, but went with some former "friends" that were selfish and kind of hogged the seats at the rail - even though we were the ones that went early to get the tickets. We never did get a chance to go back and do it again, just the two of us. I would say it's not worth the cost of it.

I would do the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour. The wealth of info you get is phenomenal. I didn't see an age limit on it. (Also the Segway tour in DCA (before the park opens) is unique, although unless the oldest ones want to look after the little ones, not practical.)

You might want to do the Family Tour - where you go on an adventure with your tour guide. That one is designed for kids.

Dinner - Goofy's Kitchen works well for all ages.

 

[pixiewings71]

I would do a character meal, my girls love them and they are 9 & 12. Their favorite is the Princess meal but they also really liked Minnie & Friends. We didn't have a good time at Goofy's Kitchen but I understand that's not normal. Lilo & Stitch was a lot of fun too.

 

[DangerMouse]

The name of the "family tour" is Discover the Magic. It's designed for kids ages 5-9 years old, so I'm not sure if all your kids would enjoy it. It's kind of a scavenger hunt through the park. We did it when our kids were 4, 6 and 9 and they all enjoyed it quite a bit. I have found that overall tour experiences are varied based on the quality of the tour guide you get. So it's kind of a gamble.

For special things that won't cost you extra money . . . have you ever:

Piloted the Mark Twain?
Rode in the nose or tail cone of the Monorail?
Rode in the Lilly Belle parlor car on the DLRR?

These are just a sampling of extra fun things that you can do to make your trip special without dishing out extra funds.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I heard it's not a buffet anymore. I'm not sure though.

(My neighbors names are Amy and Dan...do you live in Nebraska? Maybe you're them. Haha!)

Too funny! And no, I don't live in Nebraska.

I would not pay money for boxed desserts riverside. That's too bad they got rid of the balcony buffet, now that was really a nice splurge.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Oooohh, oooohhh, ooohhh!! My kids just got to pilot the Mark Twain last week. It was really cool. Even my 4 year old could drive the boat. They had a great time and would do it again! Guess where I learned to ask about piloting the riverboat??? HERE, of course.

 

[Disney Dreams]

The Fantasmic dessert box has various sweets like cheesecake, brownie, chocolate something-or-other, sometimes cheese and crackers, etc.... It's pretty big and not what I would call cheapy. It also includes hot beverages which is nice since it is 40 something outside right now.

How about doing something you always do to make it special. Creating a family tradition. I have little things I ALWAYS do when at the park and can't leave until they are done. Nothing huge, just my own little traditions... that make each visit special.

- Dreams

 

[kkmcan]

All of our trips are budget trips but we always include one special meal or something special to make the trip a little different from the last one.

In June we did the painters palettes at Carnation Cafe. The trip before that my son wanted to do Jedi Training academy so I got him a Darth Vader shirt and I read up on how to make sure he got picked to train. He had such a good time!

This past Oct we did the mickey's trick or treat party for the first time. We also did Goofy's kitchen. We had only been to Goofys one other time years ago so the kids had forgotten how great it was. We all had so much fun!! Goofy's was the highlight of the whole trip!

We also have done Blue Bayou for dessert. We did Cafe Orleans once.

Some other things we've done are search for pressed penny machines, pin trading (currently the kids each have a particular kind of pin they are looking for)looking for hidden mickeys, trying snacks we've read about on the disboards ( Tigger tails, pumpkin muffin, Dole whips, etc).

Plan on doing something you've never done before.

 

[youmyflower]

Plan on doing something you've never done before.

Haha, that's easier said than done since it feels like we've done everything there!

 

[LucyDingo]

Haha, that's easier said than done since it feels like we've done everything there!

As you do your usual touring...look for hidden mickeys.

 

[jlima]

I am trying to think of something special to do this time that we don't normally do. Any suggestions?

Go to Hollywood and see a movie at the El Capitan; right now there's a show with the Bolt movie:

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Back in 2005, DL had a VMK booth where you got a map with questions on it about things to look for in the park. You checked off your answers and turned it back in for VMK stuff.

That was so much fun! I would love it if someone were to come up with something like that to take to the park with you. No prizes, of course! I would gladly pay for a DL "expert" to type one up!

 

[Jackoman]

I just booked our hotel for our next trip, May 2009. We go to Disneyland pretty regularly with the kids. But usually when we go, we try to go pretty "economy". We will have 3 days at the parks, and I am trying to think of something special to do this time that we don't normally do. Any suggestions? I was thinking of the fantasmic dessert but I have heard it's just a cheapy box of snacks. Is there any other tours or anything that would be of interest? Or even just a special restaurant we should try? I was thinking the princess deal at Ariel's Grotto but I don't think the older ones will like it so much.

My kids will be

14
almost 10
almost 4
2

Thanks!

If you have not yet tried it. you have to do Goofy's Kitchen. Best character breakfast/buffet at Disneyland. They have omelets, pancakes, waffles, and a lot more, including dinner. With all that food, and plus you add the characters, it's spectacular. Just my two cents.

 

[RuthieT]

The goodies you get with the fantasmic is not cheap... They are lots of goodies that come in the box and we had so much left over we took them back to the hotel and snacked on them for another day or two... We just went to Goofy's Kitchen for Dinner and we love it and we for sure be going again our next trip. If you have a rental car you could check out the beaches or head up to Hollywood.

 

[tracer]

We also visit frequently and do the same thing you are, looking for something new to do. This trip we just took our time. We didn't know what to expect with a 5, 3 and 7 month old. We didn't rush, we didn't have too many time constraints and just did what came up. We also went at an off peak time right before the holiday rush so we were able to really enjoy the decorations and the rides with very little wait times. The one thing we did do that we never do, was stay on site. We did a package deal and stayed at the DLH and were upgraded to a themed suite which had two rooms with amazing views of both parks and DTD. We never really left the magic...now that, was the most amazing thing. If you don't usually stay on site, try it! I think we are suckers now and will always try to do it. The magic just never left us and we were emerged in disney charm our entire trip.

Also, the new playhouse Disney is great, your little one would enjoy it.

 

[SharonLovesMickey]

It would be fun to make a photo scavenger hunt using photos from your previous trip. You could also include a section where you might have to draw a picture of the castle or of a character...just something fun to do while you wait that would add something extra to this trip (and also bring back memories from your previous trips).

 

[grumpy's fan]

What is a photo scavenger hunt? That sounds fun - I'm always looking for something different to do with my DD who is 7 and that sounds interesting...can someone explain??? Thanks!

 

[jlima]

What is a photo scavenger hunt? That sounds fun - I'm always looking for something different to do with my DD who is 7 and that sounds interesting...can someone explain??? Thanks!

You could make a list like, take a picture of Alice, take a picture of something purple in Frontierland, take a picture of a CM named John, take a picture of the sign at Casey Jr, or maybe even add in scavenger hunt stuff, like bring back a napkin from the DLH, bring back a paper popcorn holder, get a map of DTD, etc. That might be fun . . .