Last Minute, First Time & Over Easter Trip to Disneyland. NEED HELP!!!

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

I loved the Tropicana the one time i stayed there last Thanksgiving weekend. They were finishing up a refurbishment of the rooms which are awesome and we ended up with one of the new ones. The walk is so quick and convienent and their store is well stocked as well. Lots of quick dining options walkable too. I would book it now because things change quickly and you can always cancel within 48 hours i think it is.

Thanks! It makes me feel better about booking it!

I need to corner DH without the girls, so we can confirm! We decided to keep the trip a surprise, since it's so last minute, it should be too hard to do.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Ok! I booked airfare today and a hotel!

It's really happening!!!! I want to say thanks to everyone on here. I greatly appreciate all the advise! I also just booked Hungry Bear Dinning package for Fantasmic and the dessert party for World of Color. The idea of table and chairs for the show is too hard to pass up!

Anything else I should do know? I guess I should look at restaurants. Although, I do think we would be ok just doing counter service most of the time. What one sit-down restaurant would you recommend?

 

[Astylla]

Ok! I booked airfare today and a hotel!

It's really happening!!!! I want to say thanks to everyone on here. I greatly appreciate all the advise! I also just booked Hungry Bear Dinning package for Fantasmic and the dessert party for World of Color. The idea of table and chairs for the show is too hard to pass up!

Anything else I should do know? I guess I should look at restaurants. Although, I do think we would be ok just doing counter service most of the time. What one sit-down restaurant would you recommend?

For restaurants if your girls are into characters while not a sit down type , Minnie's Plaza Inn Character Breakfast is amazing. I went with hubby during the 60th anniversary and it was so awesome. We took the first seating at 7:10am and have no regrets. The character interaction was the best and we had about 10 characters all have fun with us. Reservations are defintely needed and might be a bit close but worth a shot.

Carnation Cafe is in Disneyland on Main Street and has delicious "comfort food" and is a nice family spot.

If you arent going to be at Disneyland again anytime soon of course I recommend Blue Bayou - I enjoy the food and ambiance and while reservations can be tricky at this point for dinner , lunch spots are usually available !

 

[GenGen22]

I agree with Astylla Carnation Cafe has good food. I would also like to suggest the Plaza Inn. Its counter service but the fried chicken is really yummy!

 

[mouseknotts]

We have stayed at the Tropicana before and it was clean and close to the cross walk. We have tried to stay there in October but our plans got changed and we stayed elsewhere. I hope you have a great time, just try to get to the park before rope drop. and count on a little extra time to get through security. The WOC desert is not cheap but very nice, we like it for special occasions.
Have fun, in the past there were rare meet and great characters but you never know.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I would second the suggestion to eat at Blue Bayou (TS in DL). Eating inside POTC is so fun. You can look at the lunch and dinner menus on allears.net. (In fact, you can look at the all the menus for DLR on that site -- very good resource!) The food is admittedly overpriced, but it is easy to share (no cost to ask for an extra plate). You can also ask to split meals (split fee $12?): each person gets an appetizer and the kitchen splits the entree. Ask for a waterside table (easiest to get with an early reservation, like 11:30 am, or at off hours, or if you are willing to wait for up to 40 minutes or so for a table). Another TS option if your girls like "Frozen" is the Frozen Dining Package at CCR. You get a prix fixe meal and priority seating (basically you get first entry into the Hyperion Theater to pick whichever seat you want) for the Frozen show. Pricey, but a nice treat. Even without the Frozen package, CCR is a nice sit down break for lunch or dinner. Their menu is seasonal, so there might be a few changes between now and your trip dates.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

I would also like to suggest the Plaza Inn. Its counter service but the fried chicken is really yummy!

Thanks! I will def put that on the list. I think in general we are going to do counter service.

We have stayed at the Tropicana before and it was clean and close to the cross walk. We have tried to stay there in October but our plans got changed and we stayed elsewhere. I hope you have a great time, just try to get to the park before rope drop. and count on a little extra time to get through security. The WOC desert is not cheap but very nice, we like it for special occasions.
Have fun, in the past there were rare meet and great characters but you never know.

Thanks. I am assuming getting to the park at rope drop shouldn't be too hard, I assume the girls will be on East Coast time, so, I am hoping we can be there bright and early each day. And they are early risers.

I ended up splurging on the Dessert Party. Tables and Chairs sounds fantastic to me. And I really don't know when we will get to Disneyland again, so I want to be able to see it right. I did the Hungry Bear Fantasmic Dinning package, which I think is a great option!

Another TS option if your girls like "Frozen" is the Frozen Dining Package at CCR. You get a prix fixe meal and priority seating (basically you get first entry into the Hyperion Theater to pick whichever seat you want) for the Frozen show. Pricey, but a nice treat. Even without the Frozen package, CCR is a nice sit down break for lunch or dinner. Their menu is seasonal, so there might be a few changes between now and your trip dates.

I was looking at the Frozen package as well, but I decided to put our money towards the night shows. I figure we can wait for Frozen potentially earlier in the day when we aren't as tired. I always want to see the night shows, and the rest of my family gets cranky while we wait. So, I think the money is better spent there for us.

I assume we will be fine to do mostly counter service while we are here? I am thinking that might be the way to go for us.

How busy is the Trader Sam's here get? We went to the one in Disney World in February and we had to sit outside. Which was still nice but I would love to be able to sit inside. Actually can kids go into the one in Disneyland? I won't be taking them at midnight or anything...

 

[superdeluxe]

Dole whip at the tiki room. Beignets at the French market. Almond chocolate Mickey cookies from the Jolly Roger

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...I assume we will be fine to do mostly counter service while we are here? I am thinking that might be the way to go for us.
How busy is the Trader Sam's here get? We went to the one in Disney World in February and we had to sit outside. Which was still nice but I would love to be able to sit inside. Actually can kids go into the one in Disneyland? I won't be taking them at midnight or anything...

You'll do very well with CS at DLR. There are many options in both parks. Look at the menus on allears.net -- you'll see what will be available and what will suit your family best. Plaza Inn in DL has very popular fried chicken dinners that are large enough to share. You can ask for more pieces of chicken for a small fee. Rancho del Zocalo has tasty Mexican food (again, meals are usually large enough to share). French Market has a fun band (Royal Street Bachelors?) that plays in the seating area. Refreshment/Coke Corner has the Ragtime pianist that plays in their seating area. (Some of the Jolly Holiday Bakery seating area is close enough to the pianist to hear and see the sets.) In DCA, we like the Pacific Wharf area because of all the choices. Paradise Garden Grill and Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta share a nice seating area with a live band (the Ellis Island Boys are our favorite there!). You won't lack for choices with CS at DLR!
I think the Food & Wine Festival will still be going on in DCA during your dates. That will give you more options for quick snacks and fun things to try.
As for Trader Sam's, it can get pretty busy. Try to go early, like when they first open for lunch. That seems to be the easiest time to get a table. Kids are allowed until 8 pm.

 

[justadreamaway77]

Ok! I booked airfare today and a hotel!

It's really happening!!!! I want to say thanks to everyone on here. I greatly appreciate all the advise! I also just booked Hungry Bear Dinning package for Fantasmic and the dessert party for World of Color. The idea of table and chairs for the show is too hard to pass up!

Anything else I should do know? I guess I should look at restaurants. Although, I do think we would be ok just doing counter service most of the time. What one sit-down restaurant would you recommend?

We are staying at the Tropicana as well during that time! We are from Cincinnati so we are regulars at WDW. During this planning process I have found that DL is definitely different from WDW when it comes to pre-planning....or lack of! (I am really going to miss the convenience of magic bands on this trip!!!) I have never stayed off property at WDW so I am totally flipping out over that but the cheapest room was $390/night at Paradise Pier and that hotel looks worse than the All-Star resorts when it comes to theming! Plus the Tropicana is half the distance as Paradise Pier so I took a deep breath and made the reservation. Best of luck!

BTW, I've done a ton of research on DL food and have found that their food is light years ahead of WDW so I don't think you can go wrong with most of the restaurants!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I think if you're considering eating at Blue Bayou, you might think about canceling the Hungry Bear Fantasmic package and doing the Blue Bayou package instead. If you are flexible on your dinning time I think you could find a Fantasmic BB package if you check every day as people cancel when plans change.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

As for Trader Sam's, it can get pretty busy. Try to go early, like when they first open for lunch. That seems to be the easiest time to get a table. Kids are allowed until 8 pm.

Thanks!!!! I am not sure if we will make it to Trader Sam's. I have a feeling that we will be too busy in the parks.

We are staying at the Tropicana as well during that time! We are from Cincinnati so we are regulars at WDW. During this planning process I have found that DL is definitely different from WDW when it comes to pre-planning....or lack of!

Awesome!!! I am sure you saw that a couple folks have said that the Tropicana was nice. We are the same, we have been to Disney World a few times, so this is all different. Our trip is very last minute and I do like that I don't feel like we are missing stuff planning so last minute.

I have never stayed off property at WDW so I am totally flipping out over that but the cheapest room was $390/night at Paradise Pier and that hotel looks worse than the All-Star resorts when it comes to theming! Plus the Tropicana is half the distance as Paradise Pier so I took a deep breath and made the reservation. Best of luck!

I did the same thing! I just couldn't do $390 a night. I am hoping the location is fantastic! I know it looks close!

BTW, I've done a ton of research on DL food and have found that their food is light years ahead of WDW so I don't think you can go wrong with most of the restaurants!

Thanks!