So excited for our first trip to Disneyland! A couple questions

[Soccer and Swim Mom]

We are going to Disneyland the first week of August. We are going to be there for 5 days and staying at the Paradise Pier. A few questions and please offer any tips/advice.

1. Should I upgrade to concierge, is it worth it?

2. Where do we find Stitch? 15 year old son's only request other than eating at the all you can eat bbq place

3. Anna and Elsa tips? My 6 year old Frozen fan has her Anna dress all ready ..

Thanks in advance! Im sure I have more questions because this is our first time to California. Been to WDW a few times.

 

[superlarz]

Stitch is at the Visa Meet and Greet in DCA sometimes. You can ask when you enter the park if he will be there. He also appears in one of the character breakfasts... I believe the Surf Up breakfast at the Paradise Pier hotel.

If you want to meet the girls from Frozen get to the parks early on a day where there is no early entry and wait in line when you arrive. They also appear on a float down the parade route 10 minutes before the first Soundsational parade each day.

 

[figment_jii]

2. Where do we find Stitch? 15 year old son's only request other than eating at the all you can eat bbq place.

Do you have a Disney Visa card? I remember reading that he's often one of the characters available for the Visa M&G. I think I've also read that he sometimes appears at the Surf's Up character breakfast at PCH Grill. Aside from those, I don't think he makes any other regular appereances around DL or DCA.

3. Anna and Elsa tips? My 6 year old Frozen fan has her Anna dress all ready

There is a character M&G, but the line gets super long very quickly. It sounds like unless you are at the very front of the rope drop crowds and are willing to speed walk/run to A&E, the line will be several hours long. Currently, they are also on a float that appears before the Soundsational Parade (like a mini-pre-parade). It does seem like merchandise is making it's way back into the parks, but it's hard to say how long it'll last or what they'll have at any given time.

Thanks in advance! Im sure I have more questions because this is our first time to California. Been to WDW a few times.

If you're familiar with WDW, I would recommend taking a look at HydroGuy's DLR Guide for WDW Vets. It'll help you get a sense of the similarities and differences between the two resorts.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[kate2961]

We went in 2012 and stayed at PP. We decided to upgrade to concierge at check in. We are so glad we did. We loved our room. We had a breathtaking view of CA and watched WoC a couple nights from our room. The food service in the concierge lounge was good. We would do this again and we highly recommend it.

Kate

 

[Brudette]

My understanding (although of course I could be wrong) is that he is always at the Surf's Up breakfast. We don't have a Disney Visa, and my son loves Stitch, so we are planning on doing that breakfast, because I think those are really the only two places he ever appears anymore.

 

[Tonya E]

We stayed at PPH in June. We saw Stitch at Surf's Up character meal in the hotel. He was awesome with the kids....great interaction!!! For the A and E meet and greet....we arrived at the park 20 mins prior to opening (I would suggest getting there even earlier). My SIL and dd7 ran (please don't yell at me) to the meet and greet. The line was at 45 mins. When we finished meeting them at 8am the line was at 4 hours. I know you are not supposed to run...everyone ran.

 

[larina]

We are going to Disneyland the first week of August. We are going to be there for 5 days and staying at the Paradise Pier. A few questions and please offer any tips/advice.

1. Should I upgrade to concierge, is it worth it?

2. Where do we find Stitch? 15 year old son's only request other than eating at the all you can eat bbq place

3. Anna and Elsa tips? My 6 year old Frozen fan has her Anna dress all ready ..

Thanks in advance! Im sure I have more questions because this is our first time to California. Been to WDW a few times.

1. We think concierge is totally worth it, but it depends on your party size and touring Styrofoam. We prefer to do 5 park days and have afternoon breaks. We catch early entry about hale the time. On those early days, we tend to go back to the hotel earlier and do a brunch sort of meal. We made good use of the lounge, borrowing our two videos at a time, two bottles of water for each.of our 6-8 guests, breakfast and/room lunch daily and lots of snacks and drinks. We make it worth it, but if you won't use it, it's not worth it at all.

2. We catch Stitch at Mickey's Surf's Up breakfast in the PPH.

3. I cannot help with this, I have no idea.

 

[rydersmommy]

The Surf's Up breakfast at the Paradise Pier has Stitch. We did a 7:30 am reservation for breakfast and Stitch visited our table about 5 times as there were only 2 or 3 other families there at the time. The interaction between my son and Stitch was amazing. If your son loves Stitch I would definitely consider Surf's Up!

 

[4boys4us]

We upgraded to concierge at PPH, but instead of a resort view (we like to stay late in the parks anyway), we asked for a Cabana room, which has a nice sized lanai with patio furniture, and a direct gate walk out to the pool. It is not directly visible from the pool, so you still have privacy. It is also on a lower floor, we like to take the stairs at PPH because the elevators are so slow and packed with double and triple wide strollers!

Stitch is at the Surf's up breakfast in the hotel, lots of fun, even for "big kids"! I have photos of my 14 year old and his best friend surfing with Stitch and Mickey

 

[Soccer and Swim Mom]

THANK YOU! Just made 7 am breakfast reservations for PCH so my 15 year old can see Stitch. Bonus..its an all you can eat buffet. (Don't judge..he is 15)

We will get to park way before opening on a day without emh. Good thing big brother runs track cause one day he will hopefully quickly and safely, following park rules, maneuver his way through the crowds and snag us a spot in line for Anna and Elsa. I will pay him with one of those giant turkey legs!

 

[Angrose]

My understanding (although of course I could be wrong) is that he is always at the Surf's Up breakfast. We don't have a Disney Visa, and my son loves Stitch, so we are planning on doing that breakfast, because I think those are really the only two places he ever appears anymore.

If you don't have/want a Disney Visa card, you could get a Disney debit card if you bank with Chase. You don't have to open a new acct, they just switch you over to the Disney card, no fee or anything. You get a lot of the same perks when in the parks: the Visa meet&greet, 10% discount on merchandise, and 10% off on select dining. Plus, I smile every time a take my Mickey card out of my wallet