Please help a newbie!!

[Mrs CP]

Hello,
I am new to the boards, and planning our first ever trip to Disneyland, California in January. This is a Christmas surprise for our kids!! I am overwhelmed with questions.
We are there for 6 full days, not staying in a Disney hotel, but within walking distance. My original plan was:
1 day at LegoLand
1 day at San Diego Zoo
3 day park hopper at Disney
1 relaxing day

Now, looking at prices, I see that for an extra $58 total, my family of 4 can get 4 day park hoppers. I'm leaning toward this, just so we don't feel so rushed on our park days. Is this a good idea, or will we be sick of Disney after 3 days?

I have a 5 year old son, and 6 year old daughter. My daughter LOVES princesses, so I plan to do BBB. I was thinking the castle package, but I've heard it isn't worth the money, and just to do the cheap one and bring a dress. Is this accurate? My son will also get the Knight package. How hard is fantasy faire to get into without the front of the line access that the castle package gives? We are going end of January, beginning of February. Also, is fantasy faire/castle package even necessary if we go to Ariel's Grotto?

I would like to do a character meal. I'm thinking of lunch at Ariel's Grotto right after BBB when both kids are all done up. Will my son be bored with princesses though? I like to think he will be entertained, especially getting attention as a "knight". I also really like the idea of the characters being able to talk to the kids, which the face characters do not. The other thing I'm wondering is if we should do a second meal? Is it crazy to do 2 in one trip? Is it worth the extra money? If we do another, is it best to do Mickey's Surf's Up or Minnie's at the Plaza? I was originally thinking Mickie's so we could do it on our relaxing day without entering the park, but if I buy the 4 day pass, that won't matter. My kids really only know the main characters of shows and Mickey's gang, so I want to make sure I go somewhere they will recognize the characters. I've heard great things about Minnie's, especially for the amount of characters you see. But I also like the idea of the dancing at Mickey's, as my kids love to dance. Do they do anything special like that at Minnie's?
OR, is it better to save some money, skip Ariel's and just do the fantasy faire and one meal at Mickey or Minnie's? The one princess that my daughter will NEED to see is Aurora. What are the chances we can specifically track down one character?

As you can see, I'm all over the place!! Any help sorting my thoughts would be much appreciated!!

 

[cruisehopeful]

We are there for 6 full days, not staying in a Disney hotel, but within walking distance. My original plan was:
1 day at LegoLand
1 day at San Diego Zoo
3 day park hopper at Disney
1 relaxing day

Now, looking at prices, I see that for an extra $58 total, my family of 4 can get 4 day park hoppers. I'm leaning toward this, just so we don't feel so rushed on our park days. Is this a good idea, or will we be sick of Disney after 3 days?

I don't think you'll be sick of it after 3 days unless the atmosphere/music/crowds bothers you. The 4 day park hoppers is a really good idea.
Have you looked at the southern California parks pass? It gives you the 3 day park hopper, Legoland and Sea World (if you don't mind switching out the zoo for Sea World). http://www.citypass.com/southern-california

Are you staying in San Diego for those parks? It's quite a drive from Disneyland area down to visit San Diego, especially if you are driving back and forth a couple days in a row. The car time will cut out about 4 hours of your day each day.

 

[sunflare]

1) Zoo and Legoland are pretty far from Disney, so be sure to account for that.

2) I'm always up for more days, especially with young chidren. It gives you more options throughout the day/night if they can go back and nap.

3) No real input on meals, as I haven't done any named, but I've heard good things about all of them.

 

[Cholula]

If you do a 4th day at Disney would you add on an extra day of your trip? Or would you use that 4th day for either your arrival day or leaving day? You'll have added costs naturally if you stay an extra day. (I'm assuming you would use it in place of your relaxing day?)

Also, I'm not sure if your itinerary is laid out exactly as you have it, but just in case you didn't already know, you don't have to use your Disney tickets all in a row like that. You can break up the days if you want so you don't have to save your relaxing day until the end if you don't want to. And if you are worried you might be sick of Disney (the horror! ) you can move around your Lego day, for example, so it's in between 2 Disney days.

 

[Mrs CP]

Thank you for the replies. We are not renting a car, so it looks like we will be doing transfer buses to San Diego, as we are not staying in a different hotel. Looks like the San Diego attractions are about 1 hour from Disney. Is that accurate? I have checked out the Southern California pass, but I think we would all really like the zoo over sea world. The 4th Disney day would be in place and/or part of the relaxing day. Even if we just go to a parade or something, it allows us the option. The list I made was not our specific itinerary. I'm thinking along these lines if my research proves me right:
Saturday - arrive
Sunday - Disney
Monday - Legoland
Tuesday - Disney w/magic morning
Wednesday - Quiet day/extra Disney day
Thursday - Zoo
Friday - Disney for fireworks
Saturday - depart

Does that look correct as far as fireworks and magic morning are concerned? Also, do they do parades in both parks every day?
Any input on meals or BBB?
Thank you!!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I think it's going to take significantly more than an hour to get to those attractions in San Diego.

The Fantasy Faire wait is typically 20-30 minutes. If it's longer, ask the cast members working when is a good time to come back (they know how the crowd flow goes there with the little theater nearby and whatnot).

We've done Ariel's twice for lunch and enjoyed it. We've also done Minnie's, and it is a lot of characters (some are more obscure). Never done Surf's Up, but overall, I think a breakfast one day is a good idea. I'd do Ariel's and a breakfast, though. I see boys at Ariel's (and CRT at DW), and they're still entertained enough.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Oh, and there actually might not be any parades in January? I know they're re-auditioning for Soundsational, but I don't know when it's coming back, and Pixar is down at DCA right now, also not sure when that's scheduled to return. Maybe both will be back? Someone else might know, but it's a weird time for parades.

And the DL fireworks at that time are a 4 1/2 minute show, so have your expectations in check for that.

 

[millie0312]

Ok so here's my 2 cents-
1- If you are driving from DL area to legoland and the zoo- it's a long drive! Have you thought about a closer hotel those days? We like to stick to the DL area personally because the drive sucks lol But seriously I always recommend more Disney days- wish we could do more then 5!! I also do rest days but our family waits at RD, takes a mid-day break then stays until midnight closing lol
2- have you considered the Anna and Elsa boutique in dtd? My daughter loved it and she's not a frozen freak by any means- plus saves money. We liked it a lot! As far as the fantasy faire lines to meet the princesses- it's all about timing- get there early and homestlybthe lines aren't terrible. I personally wouldn't do extra in a BBB package for that perk alone.
3- we like to do Minnie's and Storytellers for breakfasts. We haven't tried the others but we always do those 2. I've heard mixed reviews about Ariels both in meet and greets and the food. If you want to meet princesses that is the breakfast to go to, but your trip dates will make it shortish lines to meet them in the park anyway. If you aren't impressed with the food I would skip it and go for Minnie's with a HUGE number of characters and different then you will see in he park. Anyway- just my opinion it's def different with each family/kid so in the end you will find the right plan for you!

 

[DL_Forever]

It is at least 1 hour 45 minutes to Anaheim from San Diego. If I were you I'd rethink traveling back and forth. Stay two nights at a hotel in San Diego, then go to Anaheim for the next 3-4 days.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Looks like the San Diego attractions are about 1 hour from Disney. Is that accurate?

Not accurate. I live right in between the Zoo and Legoland and it has been taking me 2 hours to get back in forth to Disneyland when I drive. I used the carpool lanes and I don't drive slow. There are several areas of the freeway that have a lot of slow traffic all the time.

My daughter has looked into taking the train from San Diego to Disneyland and then using Uber for the smaller parts, but that pencils out to a lot longer than driving.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Oh, and you can easily meet Aurora. The app will show you her times; she's usually by the wishing well.

We have never seen her at Ariel's Grotto, but I think she's there occasionally.

 

[Elima2015]

What a great Christmas surprise for your kids! Here are my opinions:

* As others have mentioned, the San Diego attractions are farther than they appear. If those are important stops, I would highly consider a hotel there and then move up to Anaheim
* I would probably also consider renting a car as I *think* it would be more time consuming to do bus transfers to those locations and possible more expensive
* That is a pretty busy week of touring. Obviously that is your preference and your vacation! I would personally find it more relaxing to stay in Anaheim, have two down days and four park days. Rent a car and head off to the beach on at least one of your down days. We have young children and I honeslty think one of our favorite days last trip was a day spent playing in the sand. Although it may not be warm enough? If not warm enough maybe two days at Great Wolf Lodge?
* For us, one character breakfast would be enough. We did Mickey's Surfs Up and thought it was great. We saw Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Pluto, and Stitch. The kids danced with Stitch a few times while we were there.

 

[Symon]

We took my 5 yr old niece last year at the end of January. She did BBB (not sure which package, but she brought her own dress and we didn't meet the princesses) and then had a lunch reservation at Ariel's. This worked perfect! She loved all the attention and interaction with the princesses and we all thought the food was pretty good.

We had 5 day tickets and didn't think that was too many.

 

[Purrkins]

I live across the street from zoo (I can hear and smell the elephants) and just went to Disney this week. We left on Wednesday at 6:30 AM and arrived at 8:42 AM (not bad considering traffic). I left Disneyland's Micky and Friend's Parking Structure at 9:56 PM and arrived home at 11:13 PM (yes, I drove fast, used carpool lanes, plus I drive the freeway often). Legoland on a good day is 30 minutes away from my house, usually 45. I find the traffic in San Diego to be worse than LA traffic more often than not. Especially along that stretch of the 5.

Zoo is way better than Seaworld IMO. Maybe you want to consider Safari Park however - a bit closer to Anaheim.

You might also want to consider the train from Anaheim to San Diego and then Uber from the train station to the zoo and back again. It's a lovely train ride for much of the ride (along the coast). Same for Legoland. The Carlsbad Station would be ideal. However you are wedded then to train timetables.

Or you might want to rent a car for your driving day (this will surely be cheaper than a bus/train for a family of 4), put the zoo and Legoland on adjacent days and stay overnight somewhere in San Diego. With kids 5 and 6 they will LOVE LOVE LOVE Legoland. After Disneyland you will find it messy, cheap, and inefficiently run.

 

[Mrs CP]

Thank you for all the comments. Is Legoland worth the money? I've heard mixed reviews. My kids are just getting into Lego and really like it, but they aren't what I would call "lego crazed". I think they would think a place where things are made of Lego is really cool.

 

[Purrkins]

Thank you for all the comments. Is Legoland worth the money? I've heard mixed reviews. My kids are just getting into Lego and really like it, but they aren't what I would call "lego crazed". I think they would think a place where things are made of Lego is really cool.

The cost of entry was identical last time I checked - and Disney was open longer so the price per hour is higher at Legoland. The food at Legoland is cheaper but I like the food at Disneyland better. Legoland has Boardwalk style games that cost extra. The rides and entertainment aren't nearly as good as Disneyland. Legoland has trash on the ground. Still my son, 7, LOVES Legoland. He can spend hours there making Lego cars and boats and racing them. Then again, he can make Lego cars and boats and race them at home without the theme park prices... Your mileage will vary...

 

[Toon crazy]

I think you will be spending too much of your vacation driving. We go a couple times a year and stay six days at a time at the Disneyland resort. So, I don't think you will be bored. I would suggest four day park hopper and one day at Lego land.

Another fun thing to do is the Pirate dinner show or the Medieval times show. These are maybe 10 to 15 mins away and a lot of fun.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Thank you for all the comments. Is Legoland worth the money? I've heard mixed reviews. My kids are just getting into Lego and really like it, but they aren't what I would call "lego crazed". I think they would think a place where things are made of Lego is really cool.

Legoland is worth it for kids 10 and under. They have limited hours in January and you'll want to think about that when you plan. It's normal for them to be closed Tuesday and Wednesday during the off season. They have a small aquarium onsite for an extra fee. My family loves the apple fries. I'm over it, but my husband and adult children would go to Legoland just to get the apple fries.

What I liked more about Legoland than DL when my kids were younger is that it is still a mellow park. You can find places to sit and chill out. Some of the rides are very slow moving (2 boat rides come to mind) and those work out well if you need to sit and take a break, but still want to feel like you are doing something. I haven't been to their shows in years, but they had some really good ones.

What I liked less about Legoland is pretty much any park other than Disney doesn't seem to have much in the way of customer service. I never saw the park dirty, but order a hamburger and it's like you are really putting the order taker out by buying something. Since the number of people attending is so much less than DL, rides don't seem to ever be down.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Re LEGOLAND -- There are many ways to get a free child's admission with adult admission, including the free LEGOLAND magazine that you can sign up for online. That makes it a much more reasonable price. My kids love LEGOLAND because it has a lot of low key fun aimed at 3 to 12 year olds, and we're Lego-obsessed. There's nothing like being able to drive your own car and your own boat, and not on a track. Your kids are the perfect ages. I consider it a break from over-stimulating theme park days. I do agree that the customer service is very different than at Disney.

Like someone said, check the website because they close certain days in the winter. They also don't open until 10 a.m., which is probably not a bad thing if you're coming from far away. You will find that it's a long way though, and even longer trip by public transportation. But I think there are tours that will take you straight from the Anaheim area to LEGOLAND, if you're willing to pay the price, or rent a car just for a couple days and plan on a drive of 1.15-2 hours depending on traffic. I would go to LEGOLAND, get an extra day at DL/DCA or do a beach day, and skip the San Diego Zoo. We thought it was amazing but almost too big, and it's a very long way. Or, check out of your Anaheim hotel, drive to LEGOLAND in a rental car, stay in a hotel, and go to the San Diego Zoo, and then drive back.

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

Once you have a Disneyland ticket, the price for extra days goes down dramatically, so to add an extra day at Disney instead of Legoland is much cheaper. I wouldn't bother with both on the same trip, but I would definitely check out the zoo and Safari Park. I would be inclined to stay one or two nights in San Diego, depending on how that worked out, and then head up to Disney for the 4 days.