January 2023 trip- tips/suggestions welcomed

[RichV03]

Hi All,
We have a stay booked for Grand Cal January 21-25th and were planning on doing 4 park days, likely 2 at each park. My wife and I have been to DL before but its been about 6 years now and I am sure a lot has changed, the last time we were there they were switching over the tower of terror. Also we went without kids and now we have a 5 year old 3 year old(will be 6 and 4 by the time we travel). One of the main reasons we are wanting to go to DL this time is we feel it is the prime age for the boys to take in the magic of cars land, they both are loving the movies lately. We have been going to WDW the last few years and haven't used Genie+ yet there, but were considering doing it for DL. Wondering if I can get some input on a few things from people that maybe frequent more then we can.

1- Is Genie+ worth it? If we don't do Genie+ whats the bast way to maximize our rides without having the boys get crazy waiting in lines lol?
2- How easy is it really to get into DCA from the resort?
3- What restaurants are kid friendly that are a must incase we don't make it back again for awhile? We will likely buy food on our way to resort to have a meal or two a day and save a little money.
4- Any other advice/tips you might have

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

1. It really will depend on how many of the rides you want to do with the boys are actually G+ rides. In Carsland for instance, RSR has a height requirement (40 inch/102 cm) and is NOT on G+, you would need to do an ILL$ for it or wait in the line which can get quite long (90+ minutes). The other two rides also have height requirements, but shorter so it is more likely both boys could ride - Luigi's and Mater's both require 38 inch/81cm. Neither of those rides are G+. Web Slingers is for any height and quite fun, but like RSR it is not on G+ and you have to buy a separate ILL$ for it. So for your DCA day, likely the only ride the boys will be interested in, tall enough to ride, and is on G+ is Toy Story Midway Mania, and it sounds like you've had a chance to experience that at WDW so might be skippable. If you wanted to use rider swap and go on some of the bigger rides like GotG and Incredicoaster, it might make more sense to do DCA, but if you are only going on rides the kids can do, I'd personally skip it on DCA days, and only get one for the PhotoPass benefit. DL might be another story, once again dependent on which rides you and the kids are interested in, and if you wanted to do rider swap to do any of the mountains.

2. VERY easy. There is an entrance directly from the resort to the park. We're talking 5 minutes or less from your hotel room to the gate.

3. We tried Goofy's Kitchen for the first time ever this past trip, and all my kids enjoyed it (ages 5-15 yrs), and my cousin's kids also enjoyed it (ages 2 and 4). My family also enjoyed Lamplighter very much and it seemed pretty kid friendly, with fun mocktails. Another must for my family is Minnie's Breakfast at Plaza Inn. You get to meet several characters, and while Minnie is only available once at the beginning, the rest of the characters cycle through multiple times and provide lots of interactions. If your boys are into those characters it can be great to avoid waiting in lines in Critter Country for Pooh!

4. Carsland is definitely a good place to start in DCA, and it is lovely in daylight AND after dark, so try to see it both times! If the kids are tall enough, I think the ILL$ is worth it - try to rope drop it first thing to do standby, and then get an ILL$ for after dark for a different experience. If the boys aren't both tall enough, it is still a great ride by day or night so worth catching at least once. The cars characters do frequent meet and greets as well, driving through the streets of the land, and there are a lot of Photo Pass photographers in DCA, and especially in Carsland. Definitely get Photo Pass for those days and take advantage of the photo ops!

 

[Gypsybear]

1. It really will depend on how many of the rides you want to do with the boys are actually G+ rides. In Carsland for instance, RSR has a height requirement (40 inch/102 cm) and is NOT on G+, you would need to do an ILL$ for it or wait in the line which can get quite long (90+ minutes). The other two rides also have height requirements, but shorter so it is more likely both boys could ride - Luigi's and Mater's both require 38 inch/81cm. Neither of those rides are G+. Web Slingers is for any height and quite fun, but like RSR it is not on G+ and you have to buy a separate ILL$ for it. So for your DCA day, likely the only ride the boys will be interested in, tall enough to ride, and is on G+ is Toy Story Midway Mania, and it sounds like you've had a chance to experience that at WDW so might be skippable. If you wanted to use rider swap and go on some of the bigger rides like GotG and Incredicoaster, it might make more sense to do DCA, but if you are only going on rides the kids can do, I'd personally skip it on DCA days, and only get one for the PhotoPass benefit. DL might be another story, once again dependent on which rides you and the kids are interested in, and if you wanted to do rider swap to do any of the mountains.

2. VERY easy. There is an entrance directly from the resort to the park. We're talking 5 minutes or less from your hotel room to the gate.

3. We tried Goofy's Kitchen for the first time ever this past trip, and all my kids enjoyed it (ages 5-15 yrs), and my cousin's kids also enjoyed it (ages 2 and 4). My family also enjoyed Lamplighter very much and it seemed pretty kid friendly, with fun mocktails. Another must for my family is Minnie's Breakfast at Plaza Inn. You get to meet several characters, and while Minnie is only available once at the beginning, the rest of the characters cycle through multiple times and provide lots of interactions. If your boys are into those characters it can be great to avoid waiting in lines in Critter Country for Pooh!

4. Carsland is definitely a good place to start in DCA, and it is lovely in daylight AND after dark, so try to see it both times! If the kids are tall enough, I think the ILL$ is worth it - try to rope drop it first thing to do standby, and then get an ILL$ for after dark for a different experience. If the boys aren't both tall enough, it is still a great ride by day or night so worth catching at least once. The cars characters do frequent meet and greets as well, driving through the streets of the land, and there are a lot of Photo Pass photographers in DCA, and especially in Carsland. Definitely get Photo Pass for those days and take advantage of the photo ops!

Agreed with the above.....also....

If they're old enough and into it, there is the LEGO store in the Downtown Disney area (right off of the monorail platform). They sell plenty of Disney sets.

Also, if they're into superheroes, there are lots of character interactions/photo ops available in Avengers Campus. Most kids love Spiderman, and it doesn't hurt that there is the Spidey and his Amazing Friends animated series on Disney Junior.

There is so much to see in Batuu (Star Wars), if they're into it. Also, lots of kid friendly souvenirs there. If you think they'd be up for it, there is a "scavenger hunt" available in Batuu for the kids. You might check it out if you think they'd be interested.

If they suddenly want sabers at their age, I would suggest buying the plastic ones you can get at the shop outside of Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. The ones from Savi's are pricey for kids toys.

As for the comments above from the previous poster, we like Goofy's as well, but if you're looking for something a little less busy, you might want to give Storyteller's Cafe a try, especially since you're staying at the Grand Californian. Characters there also come around to your tables.

In May, at Minnie's Breakfast at the Plaza Inn, we saw: Minnie Mouse (outside), and inside we saw: Pooh, Tigger, Suzy (mouse from Cinderella); Daisy, Chip; and Dale....just an FYI. I'm sure they switch some of the characters up from time to time.

Agree that RSR is a must do, since it's not at WDW. And definitely agree that you should see it at night as well.

 

[RichV03]

Thank you! Our fingers are crossed our youngest is tall enough for RSR. Right now he's just over 38" without shoes so we are hoping he grows a little more and will be ok with shoes. We plan on being in Radiator Springs at "sunset" to see the Neon turn on one at a time. We loved that the last time we were there. I am looking forward to avengers campus and hope the boys like it too. They are into a lot of the superheroes right now too. Thank you for the meal ideas, I will be sure to look into them. I also like the idea of the scavenger hunt, we just did the pirate treasure hunt at WDW this last January when we were there and the boys loved it.

 

[RichV03]

1. It really will depend on how many of the rides you want to do with the boys are actually G+ rides. In Carsland for instance, RSR has a height requirement (40 inch/102 cm) and is NOT on G+, you would need to do an ILL$ for it or wait in the line which can get quite long (90+ minutes). The other two rides also have height requirements, but shorter so it is more likely both boys could ride - Luigi's and Mater's both require 38 inch/81cm. Neither of those rides are G+. Web Slingers is for any height and quite fun, but like RSR it is not on G+ and you have to buy a separate ILL$ for it. So for your DCA day, likely the only ride the boys will be interested in, tall enough to ride, and is on G+ is Toy Story Midway Mania, and it sounds like you've had a chance to experience that at WDW so might be skippable. If you wanted to use rider swap and go on some of the bigger rides like GotG and Incredicoaster, it might make more sense to do DCA, but if you are only going on rides the kids can do, I'd personally skip it on DCA days, and only get one for the PhotoPass benefit. DL might be another story, once again dependent on which rides you and the kids are interested in, and if you wanted to do rider swap to do any of the mountains.

2. VERY easy. There is an entrance directly from the resort to the park. We're talking 5 minutes or less from your hotel room to the gate.

3. We tried Goofy's Kitchen for the first time ever this past trip, and all my kids enjoyed it (ages 5-15 yrs), and my cousin's kids also enjoyed it (ages 2 and 4). My family also enjoyed Lamplighter very much and it seemed pretty kid friendly, with fun mocktails. Another must for my family is Minnie's Breakfast at Plaza Inn. You get to meet several characters, and while Minnie is only available once at the beginning, the rest of the characters cycle through multiple times and provide lots of interactions. If your boys are into those characters it can be great to avoid waiting in lines in Critter Country for Pooh!

4. Carsland is definitely a good place to start in DCA, and it is lovely in daylight AND after dark, so try to see it both times! If the kids are tall enough, I think the ILL$ is worth it - try to rope drop it first thing to do standby, and then get an ILL$ for after dark for a different experience. If the boys aren't both tall enough, it is still a great ride by day or night so worth catching at least once. The cars characters do frequent meet and greets as well, driving through the streets of the land, and there are a lot of Photo Pass photographers in DCA, and especially in Carsland. Definitely get Photo Pass for those days and take advantage of the photo ops!

Does the photo pass only work on the days you have Genie+ or is it good for the whole trip only if you buy it for two of the four days?

 

[Gypsybear]

Does the photo pass only work on the days you have Genie+ or is it good for the whole trip only if you buy it for two of the four days?

It's part of Genie+
******************************

As for the Scavenger Hunt:
https://wdwnt.com/2020/02/photos-ki...ng-batuu-scavenger-hunt-at-disneyland-resort/

The location to begin the hunt is here, at a table across from the bathrooms (see the red marking on the map):



Also, the reward, although looking like a coaster from Oga's, is definitely NOT a coaster from Oga's. I had them give me a set for my scrapbook from Oga's. The hunt is a nice way to get the kids interested in the area.

 

[RichV03]

It's part of Genie+
******************************

As for the Scavenger Hunt:
https://wdwnt.com/2020/02/photos-ki...ng-batuu-scavenger-hunt-at-disneyland-resort/

The location to begin the hunt is here, at a table across from the bathrooms (see the red marking on the map):

View attachment 678434

Also, the reward, although looking like a coaster from Oga's, is definitely NOT a coaster from Oga's. I had them give me a set for my scrapbook from Oga's. The hunt is a nice way to get the kids interested in the area.

With it being part of genie+ does it only work on the days you buy genie+ or will it work for all four days we are there? Say we buy genie+ for the first two days and not the last two, will photo pass still work those last two still?

 

[Gypsybear]

With it being part of genie+ does it only work on the days you buy genie+ or will it work for all four days we are there? Say we buy genie+ for the first two days and not the last two, will photo pass still work those last two still?

Correct, it only works on the day you buy G+....that's the way it was explained to me by a CM when I asked the same question.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Yes, when you go to view your photopass photos, you will be asked to pay for any on days you did not have G+. It makes sense to go ahead and get G+ for at least one person in your party each day to avoid any confusion, even if you are not getting G+ for the LL benefit.