Tips for a first timer

[fiddlefaddle]

Hi!
I'm currently planning a trip to Disneyland for me and my girlfriend. We've been to WDW before but this will be our first trip to California. Our current plan is to stay for 7 days in the Paradise Pier hotel in Mid January (my Birthday month )
Basically I'd just love any input you have. Especially regarding hotels. We decided we wanted to stay in a Disney hotel because of the benefits like the extra magic hours but I've seen people say that when it's off season (as January would be) very few rides are open during the hour. Do you think we would be better off saving money getting a good neighbour hotel?
Any tips about must-dos at DL or around California would be fantastic and we're also both vegetarians so if anyone has tips for good eatin' then we'd love to hear.
Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[HydroGuy]

The information about less rides being open for Magic Mornings is incorrect. It is essentially the same all year. See "Magic Morning (Early Entry) Super Thread" by DLR29 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403. There are rumors about MMs coming to DCA this June. So this is issue is evolving.

January is off-season at DLR and before you go just make sure you understand what that means - "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

For general tips see "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

I don't have any information on vegetarian dining. Hopefully someone else will.

Have a magical trip!

 

[Girimama33]

I would say that the hotel question would be about preference and what you can afford.
For our last trip, we decided to stay offsite and use the $$ saved for WOC dining or BBB for DD.
As far as dining goes, go to the Dining page on the Disneyland section of this website; It list’s menus to most places in the DLR area. I suggest taking a look, so you have some idea of the places you may want to try that have something you will eat. Jolly Holiday Bakery is a place I highly recommend. They have a few vegetarian sandwiches (not vegan though).
There is a lot to do in the area:
Beach – Newport/Laguna
San Diego – Sea World, Lego Land, Animal Park
LA – Hollywood, Natural History museum, La Brea Tar Pits

 

[Pixiafurie]

Since you are vegetarians, I would suggest you ask your servers/cooks about what the dishes you order contain. You can easily ask for an ingredient to be left out or avoid eating those that go against your normal diet choices.

Some thins I can think of that may be helpful:
1. Fruit carts/sellers in Adventureland
2. Salads around the resort (nix the meat)
3. Vegetarian Chili in a breadbowl
4. Churro

I would also look through some Disneyland menus to get better ideas, which can easily be found online.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Here's my suggestion.

The "Retro Rate" is available at the Howard Johnson (HoJo) for January 2013. I would make a reservation there. You can always cancel it later. (The HoJo is one of the more popular off-site hotels, and it's hard to beat the Retro Rate.)

http://www.boards.hojoanaheim.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=29

From HoJo's web-site:

January 2013:: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31

The NQQ2 rooms for $79 per night + tax are a good deal. (I think those rooms are in Building #2, which IMO is a very good location at the HoJo.)

HTH

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

(This is fiddlefaddle, for some reason I can't log into that account so I created a new one )

Hydroguy thank you so much for the links, I've been reading through your posts and it's all really useful!
Girimama33 I'm really looking forward to having the 'Jolly Holiday combo' mmm! And I would like to visit the tar pits, it sounds so cool!
Pixiafurie I think I may have an all churro diet for a week
S. S. Columbia Thank you so much for the link, but isn't the retro rate just for people with an Annual Pass? Sorry if I'm being dense!

Thank you all so much for your help. I think I'm leaning more towards staying offsite now, while I'd love to stay onsite and could just about afford it I think maybe I'd be better off saving money and possibly having a longer trip. I'm also considering changing the date of our vacation. I have a real problem with crowds (they terrify me) and don't think I could cope with summer in California (we live in the UK and the change in temperature could kill me ) so I want to go at an off season but think January would be silly now I know HM would almost definately be closed. I'm considering late october/early november to take advantage of Halloween. I know this would be a bit more crowded but not as bad as summer. Does this seem a sensible idea.
Thanks again!

 

[skiingfast]

You will hit some crowds in October, some medium ones, and some heavy crowds, as people arrive for evening Halloween Parties. The parties are fun but very crowded in some area of the park. The parties are usually on Tuesdays, Friday and Halloween day.

On the 1st of November crowds are low, and the Halloween decorations come down immediately gone in a few days. Christmas Decorations start going up in late October for the Holiday season, which starts about a couple weeks into November.

Weekend in each month are busy.

A problem with that transitional time is Space Mountain closes but only for a day or two. Small World is closed. There are no fireworks on the weekend following Halloween. None during the midweek, also no Fantasmic during the midweek.

 

[specialks]

Mid-Jan will also host the second running of the Tinkerbell 1/2 marathon (Jan 18-20). Just FYI. I really enjoyed our late October visit. The best tip is to get there early if you want to avoid crowds!

 

[Girimama33]

As far as the HOJO retro AP rate, they have the same rate/availability for Entertainment Card users. Here is the link.
http://www.boards.hojoanaheim.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

If you can get the HOJO rate, it can't be beat. The hotel gets a lot of recommendations from Dis members.

 

[disneychrista]

Vegan Dining Options - I had this bookmarked, it is vegan but what is good for a vegan is good for a vegetarian.

You should also check out the menus at allears to see everything that is available.

 

[WaltsMartini]

I went to DLR for the first time last year and stayed at the Best Western across the street from Paradise Pier - literally a 3 minute walk from the BW to the front doors of PP. The Anabella is also over there. I liked this side of the resort better - it's a little under 15 minutes walk from the off site hotels to the front gate, and that's at a very leisurely pace. Also, it's much less commercial and there's a lot more greenery.

IMHO, the money saved by staying off-site can be used on some really neat experiences. Someone above mentioned WOC dining, and I wish I would have done that, along with the Fantasmic dessert party. If you are vegetarians, as a special treat you could do the Chef's Table at Napa Rose. Not cheap, but you can tell them your preferences and they'll make something just for you.

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

Thank you all so much. I think I could cope with mid levels of crowds and just try to avoid when it gets really heavy. I've always wanted to experience Halloween in America, it's just not as good in the UK! Is there any difference between the Halloween parties in the run up to Halloween and actual Halloween night?
I really like IASW though, does that usually shut in late october?
I've decided to definately stay offsite, we're also planning a WDW trip for 2015ish when the Fantasyland renovations are complete so money we save not getting a hotel in Disneyland could go towards the next Disney holiday!

Girimama33 I'm sorry I keep asking stupid questions but am I right thinking I just buy the entertainment coupon book thing and then I get the cheap rate? If so that's awesome!

 

[Hound 109]

Thank you all so much. I think I could cope with mid levels of crowds and just try to avoid when it gets really heavy. I've always wanted to experience Halloween in America, it's just not as good in the UK! Is there any difference between the Halloween parties in the run up to Halloween and actual Halloween night?
I really like IASW though, does that usually shut in late october?
I've decided to definately stay offsite, we're also planning a WDW trip for 2015ish when the Fantasyland renovations are complete so money we save not getting a hotel in Disneyland could go towards the next Disney holiday!

Girimama33 I'm sorry I keep asking stupid questions but am I right thinking I just buy the entertainment coupon book thing and then I get the cheap rate? If so that's awesome!

Halloween is more crowded than the weeks leading up to it. (Week nights definitely less crowded.

I'm going to offer a dissenting opinion on lodging (kind of). I like staying off site at a Harbor Blvd. hotel (i like the FFI, Hojo, & especially the CCI)....but LOVE staying on site with the perks it offers. I suspect with the opening of CarsLand the perks for staying on site might be even more important to me.

If staying SEVEN days, why not split the stay up? Stay 3 or 4 nights at Hojo's (or the CCI) & then final 3 days at the PPH? Max out on your MMs, enjoy walking thru DTD for 3-4 of your days coming & going. Use the GCH secret entrance for 3-4 of your days, max out on MM (one day from the Hojo & then 3-4 of your days staying at the PPH.

If it's only you and your GF, a mid week early morning pack up & cab ride wouldn't be a pain, & will take you from Hojo to the PPH in 5 minutes. With 7 days, you might ENJOY two different hotels?.....you'll definitely enjoy the PPH perks. So yes, save LOTS of $$$ by staying offsite for 3-4 days....but then enjoy the MAGIC of staying on site for the final 3 days. If i was going for 6 or more days, that's how I would do it.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park!!

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

Hound 109:
I was actually debating doing that! Seeing as that retro rate at Hojo is so cheap I could afford a few days in the PP! I'm so excited now, it's silly!

Also this is probably a very stupid question but I've been searching for an answer and can't find it. If I buy a 5 or 6 day ticket do those days have to be consecutive?

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Hound 109:
If I buy a 5 or 6 day ticket do those days have to be consecutive?

Nope. I believe you have 14 days to use them.

 

[HydroGuy]

I really like IASW though, does that usually shut in late october?

Last year IASW went down on Monday, Oct 24 for a few weeks for its holiday overlay installation:

"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

Thank you Hydroguy! Hopefully we'll catch it before it closes.