Lovely DISboarders please help me with my trip

[pinkangel460]

hi All,

I love all the advice you all give!! I need help. I am a seasoned WDW girl, and my family is lucky enough to be tagging along on a work trip with my husband to CA, so we are going early to hit Disneyland! Yay! I need advice about our plans. It has been a rough start to 2016 - I was diagnosed with breast cancer (I am 33) and am finishing up treatment soon and will be officially cancer free. We will also be at the parks on my 34th bday. So, needless to say, I just want to have fun, make it special and make some memories with my husband and boys - ages 7 and 4.

We plan to fly in late Friday April 29th and stay at the Tropicana or Park Vue - any pros or cons of either?

We have 3 day tickets and I am thinking Saturday April 30th do CA. Cars land first? Food and wine for lunch and dinner, what's the best plan for a good spot for world of color?

Sunday may 1 (my bday) go to DL. It is also dapper day and maybe goth day. We may dress dapper and participate. But do you think these events will make DL a bad choice this day?? I kinda wanted to do DL on my bday......considering BB for my bday dinner. Maybe a paint the night package? Or maybe Aladdins for lunch with the PTN package and then BB for dinner no package? What is the best bet and spot for the fireworks and parade?

Monday May 2 back to DL. Probably have to leave late afternoon to travel to San Diego for hubbys conference check in (hotel del mar, super excited!!). Anyone know of services that can pick us up and get us from Disney to San Deigo?

Advice for a newbie trying to get the most out of her 3 days??

 

[theluckyrabbit]

First of all, best of luck with the rest of your treatment! Your trip is going to be a wonderful time with family.
For WOC, have you looked at doing the new dessert package? That package includes actual seats, so that might be fun.
Dapper Day will be crowded, so if you want to eat inside DL for your birthday, make your reservations now. Note on your reservation that it will be a birthday celebration.
Next, read this thread for lots of great info to help with your trip planning: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.

 

[Aladora]

First of all, congrats on almost finishing treatment. I was 3 months shy of turning 34 when I was dx so I know the sh*tstorm you are dealing with.

One thing that caught me off guard is that it took a lot longer for me to get my energy back that I thought it would. You might find that you need an afternoon break to have a nap. We've never stayed at the Tropicana but have been at the PVI 3 times and would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Have you thought about getting park hoppers? They are REALLY useful at DL.

 

[Filipina]

Good luck on your treatment! Health is the most important thing!

Tropicana is so close, it's right across the street from Harbor. I think that's a great place to be and you'll find that the walk is easy. These are not as fancy as staying at a Disney Resort but you will notice that you will be closer than if you stayed at Paradise Pier. I think it's fine for what you need, a bed and a place to sleep.

Get a FP for WOC first thing in the morning if you don't plan on doing a dining/dessert package. In my personal opinion, I think all the seats are fine but I'm not picky. But since you have a 7 and 4 yo, and you want them to be able to see, you may need to arrive a bit earlier to the showing (the FP will tell you the time to arrive) so that your kids can be near the front of their section. It is standing room only so sometimes tall people may be in front of you.

Dapper Day is one of my favorite days and you should participate if you can. It will be crowded because Dapper Day always is, but I think it's so fun. There is also a Dapper Day Expo that is free that takes place 4/30-5/1 at the Disneyland Hotel and that is always fun to go to.

http://dapperday.com/spring-2016-disneyland-ca

For your first time, the best spot ( in my opinion ) for fireworks and Paint the Night is the middle of Main Street. Yes, you can see the parade and fireworks at other locations but I think for your first time, it should really be on Main Street because of the projections on the buildings. I believe the Aladdin dinner package does not seat you on Main Street so I wouldn't be so keen on that. If your kids can stay up, I would watch the second showing of PTN at 10:45. Most people watch the first showing so they start sitting early. But if you can do the second showing, you can get a curb side seat on Main Street almost 10 minutes before the parade. (At least that's my experience)

Hope that helps!