Planning to return after a 20 year absence

[MrJT]

Okay so I've been to Disneyland Paris once (11 years ago), Tokyo twice (early 90s), Walt Disney World twice (last trip was 7 years ago), and I've been to the original Disneyland many times. However, if I go when I plan, it will be over 20 years since I was last in Anaheim!
What are some must see/must do things?
What is the best option for character dining?
The wrist bands that they've implemented at WDW...is that a thing CA?
Stay on site or off site?
Thanks,
I look forward to begin planning my adventure.

 

[figment_jii]

Wow...20 years is a long time! There have been a lot of changes since the 90's...new attractions, a second park, new shows, new entertainment...

What are some must see/must do things?

I'm not sure even where to begin...it might be easier for folks to give you suggestions if you tell us a little about what you like to do most. Attractions? Shows? Nighttime Entertainment?
Another question, when are you going? That makes a big difference in terms of entertainment, operating hours, and seasonal activities.

What is the best option for character dining?

There aren't a lot of character meals at DLR and most all are breakfast.

• Plaza Inn (breakfast) - Minnie and friends
• Ariel's Grotto (breakfast and lunch) - Princesses
• Storytellers (breakfast) - Chip, Dale, and other woodland friends ("ve seen Koda, Kenai, and Meeko)
• Goofy's Kitchen (all meals) - Goofy and friends
• PCH Grill (breakfast) - Mickey and friends (I've seen Daisy, Pluto, Stitch, and Minnie)

The wrist bands that they've implemented at WDW...is that a thing CA?

At this point, they have not implemented Magic Bands or FP+ at DLR. There are rumors that it will eventually be added to DLR in some form, but at this point, they're just rumors.

Stay on site or off site?

The biggest perk of staying on-site is access to Extra Magic Hours (EMH), which happen in one park per day (usually) and gives you access to select attractions an hour before they open to the general public. On the flip side, there are several off-site locations that are actually closer than the on-site locations and can be considerably less expensive.

 

[4Mickeys]

I returned after 17 years last year ... this time to share it with my 3 kids. The reason it took so long for me is I have to come all the way from Australia and had to save big time to make it happen.

I felt a great mix of the familiar within DL and being able to share Fantasmic with my kids brought tears to my eyes. There were changes in DL but not hugely it was pretty much as I remembered.

The big bonus was discovering DCA and Down Town Disney the last time I was there that was a car park and where we caught the shuttle bus! Also much easier to walk across the road from the offsite motels to get to maingate this time. Last time we didn't even try caught the shuttle from the Carousel Inn and Suites. This time we stayed a few doors down at Desert Inn & Suites and walked there in about 7 minutes.

I think you will love the feel of the familiar with new surprises to discover.

 

[luulu1999]

How exciting!!! Will you have kids with you and if so what are the ages/genders and what do they like, also how many days are you planning your trip for? And what time of the year will you be going? We have only ever done Goofy's Character meal because we are not big breakfast people and Goofy's is the only place right now that offer dinner Character meals, you can also get a late lunch at Ariel's but Goofy's is a buffet and it is pretty good I wasn't super impressed with the food at Ariels but if you have a daughter its really fun. We have never stayed on site I would love to stay at DLH but then when I see how much more it would cost I just can't make myself justify it!! Last summer we stayed at Park Vue Inn and it was great and literally right across the street, next year we are trying the new Homewood suites, its a little further away but right next to the Toy story lot so we can hop on that shuttle, I always like to have a free breakfast too to save money so that is one thing I always look for

 

[MrJT]

Our party should consist of my parents, who are in their mid 60s. Myself, my wife, and my sister, we're all in in mid 40s. And my kids, 25 year old daughter, 19 year old son, and 7 year old autistic son.
Shows are great. So are rides. My favorite show at WDW was Fantasmic, and then Beauty and the Beast. My 7 year old used to be a huge Cars fan. He would still probably love Cars Land

 

[AZpharmacist]

I returned after 17 years last year ... this time to share it with my 3 kids. The reason it took so long for me is I have to come all the way from Australia and had to save big time to make it happen.

I felt a great mix of the familiar within DL and being able to share Fantasmic with my kids brought tears to my eyes. There were changes in DL but not hugely it was pretty much as I remembered.

The big bonus was discovering DCA and Down Town Disney the last time I was there that was a car park and where we caught the shuttle bus! Also much easier to walk across the road from the offsite motels to get to maingate this time. Last time we didn't even try caught the shuttle from the Carousel Inn and Suites. This time we stayed a few doors down at Desert Inn & Suites and walked there in about 7 minutes.

I think you will love the feel of the familiar with new surprises to discover.

Not to high jack the thread, but how did you like the Desert Inn?

 

[tarheelalum]

Our party should consist of my parents, who are in their mid 60s. Myself, my wife, and my sister, we're all in in mid 40s. And my kids, 25 year old daughter, 19 year old son, and 7 year old autistic son.
Shows are great. So are rides. My favorite show at WDW was Fantasmic, and then Beauty and the Beast. My 7 year old used to be a huge Cars fan. He would still probably love Cars Land

Your 7 year old will love Cars land.

 

[GrandBob]

Our party should consist of my parents, who are in their mid 60s. Myself, my wife, and my sister, we're all in in mid 40s. And my kids, 25 year old daughter, 19 year old son, and 7 year old autistic son.
Shows are great. So are rides. My favorite show at WDW was Fantasmic, and then Beauty and the Beast. My 7 year old used to be a huge Cars fan. He would still probably love Cars Land

I think it's pretty universally agreed that Fantasmic! is a better show at DLR. But it's much worse logistically (have to sit on the ground, etc).

IMHO Aladdin at DLR is a better show than BatB at WDW, though it's probably close.

And yeah, if your 7yo is a Cars fan, he (and all of you) are gonna love Cars land. Make sure to get FPs for Radio Springs Racer first thing in the morning.

Bob

 

[MrJT]

Not to high jack the thread, but how did you like the Desert Inn?

Not a highjack...I am curious about any and all options out there

 

[MrJT]

I think it's pretty universally agreed that Fantasmic! is a better show at DLR. But it's much worse logistically (have to sit on the ground, etc).

IMHO Aladdin at DLR is a better show than BatB at WDW, though it's probably close.

And yeah, if your 7yo is a Cars fan, he (and all of you) are gonna love Cars land. Make sure to get FPs for Radio Springs Racer first thing in the morning.

Bob

All great things to know. Thanks!

 

[AZpharmacist]

What time of year are you planning on going?

 

[MrJT]

What time of year are you planning on going?

Looking like July 2016

 

[luulu1999]

We will be there right before you guys!! It's summer so longer hours but also bigger crowds The best plan of attack is get there early mornings leave around lunch time for a break/swim at the hotel and go back in the evening. You can get sooo much done in the mornings!!...I have a 7yr old son and carsland and the racer ride is amazing!! He is also a bit of adrenaline junky so he like screaming too both my kids loved soaring and TSMM...also if you don't stay onsite look up the days that onsite people get early entry in which park and start your days in the opposite park, I can't remember the days but for instance if DL is on Monday start out in DCA etc. Mickey and the Magical Map is suppose to be a really good show I was bummed we missed it last trip and Aladdin is GREAT!!! Also if you can do it WoC is awesome and so is F!

 

[RKKUNK]

If you can afford it or want to spend the extra money, staying onsite gets you the early morning entry into one of the parks every day of your stay! In the summer, if you can get up that early (7:00am), this can make a BIG difference. We got all of the big rides, along with others, done by around 1:00 and then went back to the hotel to swim and rest. Then you can go back into the parks in the evening for the shows. The new parade and fireworks at DL, which will likely still be running next year, are must-sees! You will also want to see the World of Color at DCA (Disney's Calif. Adventure)

Must dos at DCA:
Carsland (get Fastpass for Radiator Springs Racers)
Toy Story Midway Mania ( do this first thing or you will have a long line, then go and get FPs for Radiator Springs)
Soarin over California (you can also FP this ride)
California Screamin ( this is a very fast roller coaster and it does a loop where you go upside down-you can also FP this)
Tower of Terror (FP)
Grizzly River Run (FP)
Those are all of the big rides, but there are a lot of smaller rides that are fun,too. I am not sure what your 7 year-old will like. Oh! And don't miss the Aladdin show. It is great and the genie is so funny!

Must dos at DL:
Star Tours (FP)
Space Mtn. (FP)
Big Thunder Mtn. Railroad (FP)
Indiana Jones (FP)
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mtn. (FP)
Haunted Mansion (FP or at least it has had FPs available since the spring of this year)
and most people like Fantasyland

If you can't afford staying on site or don't want to spend the extra money, Candy Cane Inn is a quick walk or they have their own shuttle that takes you to and from the parks and has breakfast included and you don't have to pay for parking.
Hydro guy has a thread about FP's and how to use them in case you don't know how they work.
I don't know how many days you are planning on staying, but I would recommend at least 3-4 days and also getting the park hopper tickets as the parks are just across from each other! Have Fun!!
Edited to say: I forgot about Fantasmic, another great show at DL!
Edited to say: at the top of the page for the Disneyland forum there is a thread for newbies with Hydro Guy's tips and lots more info.

 

[4Mickeys]

Not to high jack the thread, but how did you like the Desert Inn?

Hi AZpharmacist - sorry just saw your post. I was very happy with the Desert Inn. Great location short walk to DL. We had a Parlour Suite room which was quite spacious. Rooms have fridge and microwave. The bathroom looked to have been recently remodelled in our room. Basic breakfast to get you started toast, pastries, muffins, eggs, juices, tea, coffee. We stayed 11 nights any by then end the bed to me was starting to feel a little hard ... but that could be my age, my kids said they didn't have a problem lol. We could see some of the fireworks from our rear window, they also have a rooftop viewing area. For me the staff were fantastic as I felt really unwell after our long flight from Australia. They welcomed me to sit in the foyer in the air-con, we went for a short walk and some food but I just wasn't recovering after returning to again sit (embarrassingly fall asleep on their couch with my kiddies in tow). I heard my name called by the manger and he had room ready several hours before usual check in time ready for me. Probably to get to sleepy lady out of his foyer haha. But point is being a long way from home I felt well looked after I would stay again if we ever get to come back. The further out you book with them the cheaper the rates are ...

 

[Canuck16]

Make sure you hit the parks at rope drop to take advantage of lower crowd levels. We were there this past March during Spring Break when it was extremely busy. But we were able to get so much done in those first few hours.

Also take advantage of FP as they are a good way to limit the amount of time you wait in line for the popular rides.

If your 7 year old loves Cars I highly recommend being in CarsLand at dusk when they turn on all the neon......its awesome! Also try riding RSR at night as it is a totally different experience at night.......we love it at night!

Have a great trip!

 

[VandVsmama]

Some general thoughts & tips re: a multi-generational trip to DL:

1. At the start of each day @ the parks, go to City Hall at DL or Guest Services (i can't remember where it is exactly near the DCA entrance) at DCA and get your son a DAS card. You can have other people's tickets linked to it, but everyone in your party will need to be present in order to do that. This works very well for guests with Autism Spectrum disorders or other disabilities. It's not really a FP and it doesn't allow you to cut the line, but generally speaking how it works is this...let's say that you want to go on the Haunted Mansion and the wait is 20 minutes. You show the DAS card and they give you a return time of 20 minutes from now. Then for 20 minutes, you do something else. You're essentially waiting in line without having to wait in line. Then you go up to the Cast Member (CM) after 20 minutes have passed and they take you to the front of the line in order to go on the ride. That's my understanding of it based on other people's reports. It can make the trip much more enjoyable for your autistic son.
2. Stay at a hotel/motel within close walking distance. ESPECIALLY if your parents in their mid-60s arenot very physically fit. Even just one day at DL is exhausting.
3. Start out the day with everyone going on a couple of rides together. And then if some of your group wants to break off and do different things, that's ok. Make plans to meet somewhere for a meal, then you go on a couple more rides together, etc.
4. This will especially be helpful if you, your parents, or your sister or your kids gets a bit overwhelmed or tired. This is why when we go to DL, we always take a mid-afternoon break.
5. ...and that's why it's important to stay at a motel/hotel close by. If you have to take ART back to your hotel, that's too much of a pain in the neck. This can work very well especially if your autistic son gets too overwhelmed and needs a break from all of the stimulation. You or your wife could take him back to the room just across the street from the park entrance while everyone else continues their day. Then you meet up later after your son has calmed down.
6. Talk to each person in your party and have each of them pick THE #1 attraction that they want to go on while they're on this trip and make sure that you go on those attractions early on in the DL trip. That way, everyone ends up happy and all the rest is icing on the cake.
7. If on day 2, 3, or 4, for example, if your parents or your sister or 1 of your older kids want to sleep in but you and your wife are early risers and want to get to the parks at rope drop? Let them sleep in. YOU go to rope drop with your 7-yr-old and the rest of the crew can catch up with you later.

Early mornings are the LEAST crowded, which might be really helpful for your disabled son. Fewer crowds = less likelihood of him being overwhelmed, depending on where on the autism spectrum he is. Plus, who wants to wait in line for an hour to ride something?

On site vs off site hotels:
Biggest benefit of on site hotels? You get into the parks an hour early each day. Extra Magic Hour at DCA is Sunday, Monday, Wed, and Friday. EMH at DL is Tues, Thurs, and Saturday. If you are an early riser, it's totally worth it. We have done Extra Magic Hour at DL before and got on 6 rides in that first hour and they were all walk on.

Biggest downside of on site hotels?
The cost. GCH is the closest, but also the most expensive. DLH is really great. I love that hotel. The walk from the DLH to the park entrance is about the same as from the Howard Johnson's to park entrance.

Biggest benefit of off site hotels?
Lower cost. Several are even closer to the park entrances than the DLH and Paradise Pier Hotel (PPH). THE absolutely closest hotel is the Best Western Park Place Inn. Tom Bell on the DIS podcasts has done several reviews of DL Good Neighbor hotels and they are all on the www.wdwinfo.com website, complete with pictures & podcast show notes.

Given costs & the size of your party, I would recommend staying off site. If you stay off site and if you purchase your DL tickets prior to your arrival, 3 or more day park hopper tickets come with one Magic Morning entry to just DL. This occurs on the same days at EMH at DL (Tues, Thurs, Sat). A good rule of thumb for the other days of your visit is to go to the opposite park to the one that has EMH. But it's a rule that I break all the time. LOL.

 

[VandVsmama]

Best options for character dining:
Just my opinion, but Ariel's character breakfast or lunch is overpriced and only worthwhile if you have a kid who is totally into princesses. You don't get much actual interaction with the princesses here...you're better off going to Princess Fantasy Faire at DL instead and save your money for something else.

Minnie's character breakfast at the Plaza Inn
I haven't done this myself yet, but a lot of people love this. It's the least expensive of the character meals and it's the only one inside DL. Many people report seeing about 7 or so characters. On EMH/MM days at DL, if you do not have Extra Magic Hour or Magic Morning entry to DL, what you CAN do is book the first character breakfast time slot at the Plaza Inn for that particular day and start off at the Plaza Inn. Then when the regular park opening occurs, you're already at the end of Main Street...and you've already seen several characters.

Goofy's Kitchen
We did this for dinner 2 years ago and saw about 5 characters. My kids loved it and we enjoyed the food.

Character breakfast at the GCH:
For me personally, I don't plan on going to this one because my kids don't really recognize any of the characters. We've never seen the movie "Brother Bear," for example.

Must see/must do:
This varies depending on what your group is interested in. For example, for my family, our "must do" items for our next trip (1 month from now!) are:

• meet Tinkerbell at Pixie Hollow
• see Fantasmic!
• see fireworks
• go on Star Tours a couple of times
• YDD (age 7) wants to go on Storybookland Canal Boats (she calls it the whale ride)
• ODD (age 9) has requested Splash Mountain
• go on Haunted Mansion & Pirates of the Caribbean as many times as possible
• DH wants to go on Indiana Jones a couple of times, but ODD hates it
• YDD & I want to go on Space Mountain, but my DH & ODD hate it
• go on Mr Toad's Wild Ride a couple of times
• It's a Small World - it always makes me cry
• Radiator Springs Racers
• meet Anna & Elsa
• see the Aladdin musical - we've never done that
• go on Soarin' Over California - this ride is AMAZING!

Our family is going to steer clear of:

• California Screamin' - because we hate roller coasters that go upside down
• Tower of Terror - hate those big drops
• Mickey's Fun Wheel - I call it Mickey's Fun Wheel of Death. DH & ODD are really afraid of heights
• Silly Symphony Swings - reminds me too much of a cheap carnival ride
• Golden Zephyr

One thing that might help your autistic child is to show him ride-through videos on YouTube so that he gets a feel for what the ride is like ahead of time.

 

[VandVsmama]

Our party should consist of my parents, who are in their mid 60s. Myself, my wife, and my sister, we're all in in mid 40s. And my kids, 25 year old daughter, 19 year old son, and 7 year old autistic son.
Shows are great. So are rides. My favorite show at WDW was Fantasmic, and then Beauty and the Beast. My 7 year old used to be a huge Cars fan. He would still probably love Cars Land

I forgot to mention....Cars Land is one of the best lands in all of the DL resort. It really feels like you are literally IN the movie. It's really awesome. Every evening at sunset, they have a cool little ceremony where they play "Sh-boom" and turn on all of the neon lights...just like in the movie.

I know that you haven't asked about this, but I would highly recommend for your parents to get their own hotel room. Everyone will probably have a better time if certain people have their own room with a door that shuts. Even if you & your extended family get along like the Cleavers on "Leave It To Beaver," a theme park vacation can be trying for everyone at times. Having your own space where you can have some "down time" from the rest of the crew can really help a LOT.

The on-site hotels generally can only sleep up to 5 people in 1 room.

Off site hotels? You have more options. Here are some questions you will need to consider:

• is free breakfast a must have? If not, most of the off site hotels/motels do have small refrigerators & small coffee makers in the room. Some also have a small microwave.
• What kind of pool do you want? If you want a big resort pool with water slides & the whole 9 yards, then the on site hotels are the best options for that. A brand new Marriott Courtyard JUST opened on Harbor Blvd (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/snadt-courtyard-anaheim-theme-park-entrance/) that has a water park. It has many sleeping options for larger families, but price-wise, isn't too much less expensive than the on-site PPH.
• Many people on the DISboards have stayed at and love Hojo's Anaheim. In the last 2 years, their prices have gone up a lot. Last week, I was looking at that motel for a room for 4 in early June 2016 and it's $189/night for 2 double beds even with a AAA discount. Hojo's is known for very good customer service and they don't charge for parking. They have a great splash pad/water play area for kids. Your 7 yr old would probably love that!
• Candy Cane Inn is regularly voted every year as the best motel in Anaheim. They have a good reputation for good customer service. They don't charge for parking either, I think. And room rate includes free breakfast. Within walking distance but they also have a dedicated shuttle (might help for your parents or anybody else with tired legs and you don't want to trek back at the end of a long day).
• Best Western Park Place Inn - <5 min walk to the esplanade. But pool isn't much more than a cement rectangle in the ground. It has a hot tub, too. Free breakfast. They, like many other motels along Harbor Blvd, charge for parking. Their "minisuites" usually can sleep up to 5 - if you get the room with 2 queens and a pull out sofa bed. I just booked a room here for next June for $129/night.
• Tropicana Inn - has room deals where you get a certain % off if you stay at least 5 nights. This place gets good reviews, too, and is right next door to BWPPI. This motel has a 2-room kitchen suite that can sleep up to 8. It also has "family suites" that sleep up to 6. Has a pool No free breakfast.
• Camelot Inn - also on Harbor Blvd. A sister property to the Tropicana Inn. Has a 1-BR family suite that can sleep up to 6. Has a pool. No free breakfast.
• Desert Inn & Suites - has a LOT of options for large families. Some of their configurations can sleep up to 8-10! Indoor pool. Free breakfast.

I'm skipping over a lot of other options. Google Maps will give you a good idea of how close or far away various places are. Our family has stayed at the Best Western Plus Pavilions on Katella and we really liked it. The room was very clean, free parking, free grab & go breakfast items, and the pool was very nice.

for our next visit in early October, we're staying a couple of doors down at the Best Western Stovall's. They have a larger free breakfast, 2 pools instead of 1, and they charge about $10/day for parking.

For both BW + Pavilions and BW Stovalls, we walk up Disneyland Drive and then go into the Grand Californian Hotel to get to DTD & the bag check at the Esplanade. More convenient & faster than taking ART. For us, it felt like about the same walk as it was from the DLH through DTD to the Esplanade (about 10 minutes).

If either of your parents are mobility-impaired and need a scooter, Deckert Medical in Anaheim rents scooters and they will deliver it to your hotel. Otherwise, you'd have to walk to the park entrance, rent a scooter directly at DL/DCA, turn it in at the end of the day, and walk back to your hotel.

If your 7-yr-old has the sort of autism disability such that being contained in a safe space is very helpful for you, you can rent strollers from Anaheim City Stroller and they will deliver it to your hotel and pick it up at the end of your stay. I have rented from them before and the strollers are GREAT. The strollers are VERY clean and they have stroller options that can accomodate heavier children (i.e., up to 100 lb).

 

[smiley_face2]

I forgot to mention....Cars Land is one of the best lands in all of the DL resort. It really feels like you are literally IN the movie. It's really awesome. Every evening at sunset, they have a cool little ceremony where they play "Sh-boom" and turn on all of the neon lights...just like in the movie.

I know that you haven't asked about this, but I would highly recommend for your parents to get their own hotel room. Everyone will probably have a better time if certain people have their own room with a door that shuts. Even if you & your extended family get along like the Cleavers on "Leave It To Beaver," a theme park vacation can be trying for everyone at times. Having your own space where you can have some "down time" from the rest of the crew can really help a LOT.

The on-site hotels generally can only sleep up to 5 people in 1 room.

Off site hotels? You have more options. Here are some questions you will need to consider:

• is free breakfast a must have? If not, most of the off site hotels/motels do have small refrigerators & small coffee makers in the room. Some also have a small microwave.
• What kind of pool do you want? If you want a big resort pool with water slides & the whole 9 yards, then the on site hotels are the best options for that. A brand new Marriott Courtyard JUST opened on Harbor Blvd (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/snadt-courtyard-anaheim-theme-park-entrance/) that has a water park. It has many sleeping options for larger families, but price-wise, isn't too much less expensive than the on-site PPH.
• Many people on the DISboards have stayed at and love Hojo's Anaheim. In the last 2 years, their prices have gone up a lot. Last week, I was looking at that motel for a room for 4 in early June 2016 and it's $189/night for 2 double beds even with a AAA discount. Hojo's is known for very good customer service and they don't charge for parking. They have a great splash pad/water play area for kids. Your 7 yr old would probably love that!
• Candy Cane Inn is regularly voted every year as the best motel in Anaheim. They have a good reputation for good customer service. They don't charge for parking either, I think. And room rate includes free breakfast. Within walking distance but they also have a dedicated shuttle (might help for your parents or anybody else with tired legs and you don't want to trek back at the end of a long day).
• Best Western Park Place Inn - <5 min walk to the esplanade. But pool isn't much more than a cement rectangle in the ground. It has a hot tub, too. Free breakfast. They, like many other motels along Harbor Blvd, charge for parking. Their "minisuites" usually can sleep up to 5 - if you get the room with 2 queens and a pull out sofa bed. I just booked a room here for next June for $129/night.
• Tropicana Inn - has room deals where you get a certain % off if you stay at least 5 nights. This place gets good reviews, too, and is right next door to BWPPI. This motel has a 2-room kitchen suite that can sleep up to 8. It also has "family suites" that sleep up to 6. Has a pool No free breakfast.
• Camelot Inn - also on Harbor Blvd. A sister property to the Tropicana Inn. Has a 1-BR family suite that can sleep up to 6. Has a pool. No free breakfast.
• Desert Inn & Suites - has a LOT of options for large families. Some of their configurations can sleep up to 8-10! Indoor pool. Free breakfast.

I'm skipping over a lot of other options. Google Maps will give you a good idea of how close or far away various places are. Our family has stayed at the Best Western Plus Pavilions on Katella and we really liked it. The room was very clean, free parking, free grab & go breakfast items, and the pool was very nice.

for our next visit in early October, we're staying a couple of doors down at the Best Western Stovall's. They have a larger free breakfast, 2 pools instead of 1, and they charge about $10/day for parking.

For both BW + Pavilions and BW Stovalls, we walk up Disneyland Drive and then go into the Grand Californian Hotel to get to DTD & the bag check at the Esplanade. More convenient & faster than taking ART. For us, it felt like about the same walk as it was from the DLH through DTD to the Esplanade (about 10 minutes).

If either of your parents are mobility-impaired and need a scooter, Deckert Medical in Anaheim rents scooters and they will deliver it to your hotel. Otherwise, you'd have to walk to the park entrance, rent a scooter directly at DL/DCA, turn it in at the end of the day, and walk back to your hotel.

If your 7-yr-old has the sort of autism disability such that being contained in a safe space is very helpful for you, you can rent strollers from Anaheim City Stroller and they will deliver it to your hotel and pick it up at the end of your stay. I have rented from them before and the strollers are GREAT. The strollers are VERY clean and they have stroller options that can accomodate heavier children (i.e., up to 100 lb).

So much great information here!!
Because you have stayed at Best Western on Katella, I wanted to ask you about the walk. We have always stayed right on Harbor; HoJo's, BW Park Place, Park Vue, Carousel, Candy Cane, and we have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. With some health issues now, we started taking ART from Hojo's instead of walking, and the ride is a long one going back to the hotel. We have about given up on them now because of it (that and the prices!). From the Disneyland Hotel, we would usually use the monorail to get in and out of the park rather than walk to the esplanade, unless we felt like shopping on the way through downtown disney. This trip we are wanting to try a different area, and are almost settled on BW Stovalls.
Did you ever use ART from this area? If so, how long is the ride? Is there a Disney parking lot near the hotel that you could use the tram intead of walking? I know they don't allow non resort guests to use the entrance into Cali Adventure through the Grand Cali until 11 am, unless you have stopped to eat and have a reciept from one of the restaurants (and whitewater snacks?) Is there any other way to get into Downtown Disney from this area, other than through the Grand Cali?
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me with this!