Hi karebear
I vacationed in DL in October 2002 for the first time. Like yourself, I had only ever been to the World (since 1996). I was slightly apprehensive about our one week stay as I'd heard a lot of bad press about the new disney park, California Adventure.
Before going, I got a lot of information and photos from
www.intercotwest.com - there are discussion boards there too, and although the topics are more broken down, the boards appear to be used less regularly than these boards. However, I'm sure they'd be useful if you searched through them.
We have a Disney Club card, and I phoned the travel centre from home in Scotland to book our accommodation separate from the flights. They were very helpful and we received a deep discount on a top level room in the
Disneyland Hotel.
We chose that particular hotel because it seemed to have large rooms, was the original and also seemed to have plenty of places to eat and shop.
We weren't disappointed with the hotel, but it definitely is a hotel that has been renovated by Disney rather than built from scratch. If you need a large room, then this is the hotel for you. I haven't seen as large a room in any hotel I've ever stayed at. The gardens are also beautiful. There were a few shops, but we felt they didn't stay open long enough for our convenience when coming back from the parks at night.
We did check out the Grand Californian, and were sold on it! If we manage to go back (and we definitely aim to do so in the not too distant future) we would try staying here. The decor is wonderful and the inside is very Wilderness Lodge but without the rusticness (if that is a word). It's like a more oppulent WL!
We found the people at GC to be friendlier than the staff at DLH (ok, just what we found on our particular trip and maybe not a true representation). Several of the CM's took group photos for us, offering to do so without us going near them! We had a character breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe which we thought was excellent. I say this, and this is coming from a family who would rather avoid a 'character' meal. Chip and Dale and Pluto are all there but they are unobtrusive. The decor of the cafe is amazing - truly beautiful and we would definitely dine there again. Alternatively you can get a character meal at Goofy's Kitchen in DLH although we didn't try that and the decor is bolder and less themed from what I could see.
As for the parks, you'll love being able to walk between them in only a couple of minutes! Apparently you can get a fastpass in one park then the other at the same time! Very cool.
DL has more e-ticket rides in a smaller more concentrated area than MK in WDW, and you have to try as much as possible. Ones that jump to mind are Indiana Jones, Pirates OTC (way better than MK!), Space Mountain which has rockets seating six. Splash mountain is single seats in a row, and BTMR is there too although we felt this last one was a bit tamer though no less enjoyable than the MK counterpart. The Fantasyland here is definitely a cut above MK's. You have to see Alice in Wonderland and the other dark rides. Also I think they are getting a WtP sometime. We didn't manage to do the Matterhorn as it was being refurbished. It's a Small World is so pretty from the outside (not hidden like the MK equivalent) and the ride itself feels slightly more enjoyable - hey I still like that ride even if the music does go round in your head for days!
California Adventure has A Bug's Land (not sure if this is the correct title, but it's near enough!). This will suit your neighbour's four year old. Also Grizzly River Run is a better Kali River Rapids and more themed, and there are plenty of carnival style rides (all of which I went on and I'm 25 in one day!) - these would certainly be suitable. Didn't do much in Hollywood Backlot but it looked nice and tame.
Downtown Disney district is right next to both parks and has loads of nice shops and eateries. I almost preferred this one to WDW's although of course PI and West Side make WDW's much bigger. And there is no sports shop here in CA.
Oh well, that's about it. If you need more info, feel free to PM or e-mail me.
Hope the above is useful
John
