Lots of questions...HELP!!!

[belle&beast]

My cousin just shared that he will proposing to his gf and the wedding will be in San Diego, so it looks like our 2007 trip will be to California and I am hoping to DL!!! We have been to WDW, but need to know some basics about DL. I searched the website and it seems limited. Here are some of my questions:
!. How many days would you plan for a family of 4- kids 3 and 5?
2. Is it worth staying at the Disneyland resorts? (we usually stay in the moderates at WDW)
3. Is there any type of a meal plan?
4. Are there character meals?
This is just the beginning, but it may give us an idea of the cost. TIA!

 

[Texasfan]

!. How many days would you plan for a family of 4- kids 3 and 5? Usually about 4 days

2. Is it worth staying at the Disneyland resorts? (we usually stay in the moderates at WDW) We prefer staying at the Disney resorts, but it is not necessary. There are several less expensive choices across the street.

3. Is there any type of a meal plan?Yes, but it does not save you any money

4. Are there character meals?Yes there are 5 differetent Character meals: Goofy's Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel, Storyteller Cafe at Disneyland Grand California, Lilo and Stitch at Paredise Peir, and Ariels (Princess Lunch or dinner) at Disney California Adventure, and Minnie and Friends at the Plaza in Disneyland.

 

[darph nader]

Texasfan is right. 4days is good,3days min. We always stay across the street(budget).Meals,we bring lots of snacks and do 'some' meals offsite,(budget again).Sometimes we'll splurge on 1 BIG meal onsite,ESPN ZONE or Blue Bayou.

Never done a character meal but it's in the planning stage for 08.

 

[belle&beast]

When you say that you stay across the street, is it walking distance or is there available transportation? I feel so naive!

 

[darph nader]

When you say that you stay across the street, is it walking distance or is there available transportation? I feel so naive!

Walking distance. Last year we stayed at the Park Inn.You can see Sleeping Beauty's Castle and most of TL from the pool area. Places we stayed at before had their own shuttles. A nice touch,b/c even though i drive for a living,i HATE to drive (if i don't have to).

 

[my3kids]

East coaster here too. When we went a few years ago we did stay onsite and were glad we did because it was fun...But, some of the hotels across the street are actualy closer to the gate than the onsite ones. It is very idfferent from WDW in that respect.

 

[Perdygirl]

I like the convenience of staying at a DL resort, but you rarely can get rates as good as you can get in WDW. The character breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen is quite good. There are a lot of good restaurants in the Downtown Disney area, I would check to see where you can use the dining plan before you pay for it. I've never tried the dining plan, because I'm afraid I'll over eat and be mad at myself when I'm on the Tower of Terror!!

 

[Disney Fool]

Most of the surrounding hotels have shuttles that run you to the park. There are some hotels that are comparable to the moderates at WDW. Check out Mousesavers.com Mary has several hotels listed under Disneyland, and some tips for you that I think you'll enjoy. I just took my first Disneyland trip this past March. I had to go out to Calif. for another reason, and decided "why not see Disneyland?" I had an absolute ball!!! you're gonna love it!

 

[hlbtimes2]

There are a lot of hotels that are walking distance. But use caution when booking. Some say "across the street" or "one block". That does not always mean what it sounds like. If you find a place and you arent sure how close it really is, just ask, more then likely someone on this board can give you an answer.

We have stayed on site once. We didnt find it worth the money, and it (Paradise Pier) wasnt any closer then the offsite hotels.