If you had 24 hours in Anaheim...

[McGare]

My family will be traveling to California for a business/fun trip in early December. We will be arriving on a Thursday afternoon and will need to leave DisneyLand, by late afternoon on Friday...what should we cram in, where should we stay (is it worth it to stay on site for one night?), should we do a character breakfast? I pretty much know nothing and want YOU all to tell me what do! Thanks so much.
Ages of children--daughter 4 and son (almost 2)

Budget---is flexible, but we don't want to be broke in 24 hours! Ha!

 

[avalon451]

Buy the unofficial guide to DL and use the "Dumbo or Die in a Day" one day plan for parents with young children. You can knock some of the parades and shows off on Thursday when you get there, then be at the park at least 30 minutes before opening on Friday, so you can do all of Fantasyland first.

For more tips and general information, read Hydroguy's sticky thread at the top of this forum: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

You don't need to stay onsite; it will be 1/2 as cheap to stay offsite at a hotel across the street. I'd recommend Best Western Park Place Inn, Desert Inn, or Howard Johnson's.

One afternoon and one morning is kind of tough to manage, it's too bad you can't take at least 2 days. I wouldn't bother with park hoppers since you have so little time, just get tickets for DL, not California Adventure.

There's a start! Hope that helps!

 

[pixiewings71]

OR, you could skip DL and just do DCA as it is less crowded and has plenty for small kids........I'm ducking now because someone is going to throw a tomato at me....LOL

Honestly, I would get a 2 day park hopper and do everything possible....I would also seriously considering staying onsite just to get the MM if it was available.

 

[Queenbillabong]

There would be no MM for Thurs afternoon and Friday morning, so that's not really an issue. I would stay either at DLH (for the ambience) or right across the street (for convenience).

With the ages of your kids, I probably would do a character meal - you'll get more character interaction in that period of time. Minnie's Breakfast is good and lots of characters.

Have fun!

 

[McGare]

Thank you for your advice...what does MM stand for? We hope to do WDW in a few years...we just figured we would try out DL since we will be there

 

[jenpace]

...where should we stay (is it worth it to stay on site for one night?), should we do a character breakfast? I pretty much know nothing and want YOU all to tell me what do! Thanks so much.
Ages of children--daughter 4 and son (almost 2)

Budget---is flexible, but we don't want to be broke in 24 hours! Ha!

I'm one of the people who feels very strongly about staying onsite. If you can swing it $$ wise then I would definitely recommend staying at the Disneyland Hotel or The Grand Californian Hotel (I've never stayed at Paradise Pier so Can't comment on that hotel).

For my family there is a HUGE difference staying onsite compared to leaving the property to go back to the hotel. For us, there's the whole magical aspect of being at Disneyland and going off property breaks the spell. JMHO

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh sorry, I didn't notice the day you were arriving. Magic Morning is early entry to Fantasyland, you get in an hour early and the FL rides are open as well as some of the Tomorrowland rides.