Just booked - new to the board

[tnd]

Hello everyone! I have been lurking here for a little while and just booked a trip to DLR for March 9-13. We're staying at the Disneyland Hotel, which I have always wanted to do. I just have a few questions about the DLH and traveling with a toddler in general (my son will be 2.5 when we get there). Any answers you have would be most appreciated.

First, will we be able to enjoy the pool in March? It looks incredible from the photos, so I really want to try it.

Second, if we can get conceierge when we check in, should we? And if you have, do you know what the price bump usually is?

Third, any general tips for touring with a toddler would be great. I've checked out a lot of the threads, which have been very helpful so far, but more information is always great. My son is very active and tends to refuse the stroller, but it sounds like I should bring it anyway. Has anyone had a problem with their stroller getting stolen? Ours is a very distinctive color and an uncommon brand, so hopefully that will help.

Fourth (and finally), any DCA tips would be great too. I have been to the Magic Kingdom in California 6 or 7 times, but they were all before 1994, so DCA wasn't there yet.

Thanks in advance!

-T

 

[Monkey Monkey]

How exciting!

My son is 2.5 also and loves Disney. The stroller is a must, especially when he won't he won't hold my hand and wants to just run off and see everything. I've never had a problem with the stroller getting stolen.

If Playhouse Disney is open when you are there, I highly recommend it! Also, if your son hasn't seen A Bug's Life yet, now is the time to introduce him to it. LOL. It's my son's current favorite movie, and he was SO excited to see all his bug friends when we went to DCA a couple of weeks ago. And Flik and Atta make regular appearances.

The baby care station is at the end of Main Street, and they have diaper changing facilities and toilets for little ones. There is a baby care station at DCA also.

Have fun!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

I hope you have a great time. Regarding March weather, we went in March last year and for the first half of the week it was too cold to swim. But, by the end of the week it was so HOT we couldn't get the kids out of the pool.

Have fun!

 

[Brady's Mom]

Have you considered one of the backpack harness systems?? You can get them at WalMart and Target in the kids sections. We have a puppy dog one and my 3 year old loves it. When we went to San Francisco last year a stroller wasn't feasible, so we used the harness - it was great!! I had a lot of people comment on how cute it was and how nice not to worry about him running off. He won't hold hands and thinks he is BIG. Try to use the stroller though, all of that walking gets tiring for little feet and you can go a little faster. also, you won't break your back carrying him all the time.

 

[Lostgirlz]

It was way to cold to swim when I went in March. Also I just upgraded my package to CL, and for 4 nights my total price increased about 700 dollars. The CM said the price increase when upgrading is 150 more per night.

 

[tnd]

Thank you so much everyone, I really appreciate all the help. I am hoping we get a heatwave in March so we can enjoy the pool. It's not really my preferred time to go, but my husband has a work conference in San Deigo, so we're tacking on a little vacation at the end. We live in Michigan, so I can imagine any weather will be an improvement.

We will definitely be getting a backpack harness for our son. He tends to run off and he's very quick. I'd really worry about him getting lost. We'll probably bring the stroller too, at least on the first day and see if we need it. I am getting really excited about the trip now. I need a Disney vacation!

 

[bumbershoot]

Concierge at Disney hotels gives you access to food and drink. Bottled water that you can take with you, beer (and wine?) at a certain hour, things like Uncrustables sandwiches, and some other food. Only you can figure out if you can consume enough of those things to make it worth it. Considering you get get a cup of water wherever, for free, or refill a water bottle...you don't have to consider the almost $3 for bottles of water in figuring that out.

There are many who CAN eat and drink that much, and it's a value for them!!! But especially if it's just you, hubby, and an under-3...concierge might not be worth it on this trip.


Stroller = yes. I haven't had a stroller taken, but I have had something taken from a stroller. So don't leave things in it when you park it.

During our day trip when DS was almost 2.5, I wore him in the Ergo on my back for quite a bit of the day. Also had the rental stroller, and he walked some.

He can eat from your plates for no charge, but they also have "toddler" meals with some sort of "creamy" mac and cheese, as well as a chicken and rice thing at Rancho del Zocalo.


DCA is fabulous, and the rides in a bug's land are fun. I do not recommend the 3-D show "It's Tough To Be A Bug", though, from what most parents of little ones have said!

 

[tnd]

Thanks! We'll have to see what the cost is when we get there. My husband can drink quite a bit of diet coke, but he can also live with water bottles that we fill in the park. We're driving up from San Diego, so we were going to hit a grocery store on the way up and stock up our room with drinks and maybe some breakfast items and snacks.

Thanks for the toddler tips. We have a Kelty Kids backpack carrier which we thought about bringing that turns into a stroller, but it's not as nice as our regular travel stroller and it has no basket or sunshade, so I think we'll bring the regular one. I also won't put anything too valuable in it.

 

[SnowWhite12]

Make sure to tie colorful long ribbons to distinguish yours. Makes it much easier to spot in a sea of strollers!