Toddler Trip Scheduling - Late Character Breakfast

[ElizabethR2015]

Hi everyone,

I'll start out with one of my basic questions- if we do a late character breakfast at PCH Grill or Goofy's Kitchen at say 10:50/11am, what's a good itinerary for a family with a toddler for the morning leading up to the breakfast? If we are at the parks at 8am, is there enough time to get some good rides in at either park before the late breakfast at the hotel?

Rambling background: my husband and I (and one of my friends) are planning a trip this early December to Disneyland and DCA with our daughter. DD will be 2 1/2 in December and she absolutely loves characters and rides at our local amusement park so I'm optimistic that she will get a decent amount out of the trip (which is really just as much for me and my friends who love Disney). We will be there for 7 nights (long time, but we have AP's and my friends is donating her timeshare week to us all) and will be staying in an Anaheim timeshare unit which is a 1 bedroom suite with a kitchenette. We will be driving from the hotel to the Toy Story lot (friend has AP with free parking, I have AP without parking) and then taking the shuttle bus.

I want to make full use of the kitchenette in the room and my first inclination is to ensure that we have breakfast in the room each day before we head out. We wake up around 6am-6:30am at home so it shouldn't be a problem eating and being out the door by 7:30 or 8.

I also want to do a few character breakfast buffets and figured that perhaps a few late breakfasts at 10:50 and 11 could be a good way to get a hearty brunch in for us. Just not sure what a good itinerary is between 8am and 11am.

On a related note...
that leads me to the afternoon. DD is taking 2-3 hour naps right now, from around 12:30 or 1 to 3:30 or 4. I'm totally unsure as to how she would do taking a nap in her stroller at the parks. (She sleeps an uninterrupted 10 hours straight at night, too!)

So I'm not sure about whether to take her back to the hotel for her 3 hour nap or to try to have her sleep in her stroller at the park. If I take her back to the hotel for her nap, I suppose I could just take her back to the hotel right AFTER the character breakfast.

Any thoughts and feedback would be appreciated!

 

[amyg1975]

Hi everyone,

I'll start out with one of my basic questions- if we do a late character breakfast at PCH Grill or Goofy's Kitchen at say 10:50/11am, what's a good itinerary for a family with a toddler for the morning leading up to the breakfast? If we are at the parks at 8am, is there enough time to get some good rides in at either park before the late breakfast at the hotel?

Rambling background: my husband and I (and one of my friends) are planning a trip this early December to Disneyland and DCA with our daughter. DD will be 2 1/2 in December and she absolutely loves characters and rides at our local amusement park so I'm optimistic that she will get a decent amount out of the trip (which is really just as much for me and my friends who love Disney). We will be there for 7 nights (long time, but we have AP's and my friends is donating her timeshare week to us all) and will be staying in an Anaheim timeshare unit which is a 1 bedroom suite with a kitchenette. We will be driving from the hotel to the Toy Story lot (friend has AP with free parking, I have AP without parking) and then taking the shuttle bus.

I want to make full use of the kitchenette in the room and my first inclination is to ensure that we have breakfast in the room each day before we head out. We wake up around 6am-6:30am at home so it shouldn't be a problem eating and being out the door by 7:30 or 8.

I also want to do a few character breakfast buffets and figured that perhaps a few late breakfasts at 10:50 and 11 could be a good way to get a hearty brunch in for us. Just not sure what a good itinerary is between 8am and 11am.

On a related note...
that leads me to the afternoon. DD is taking 2-3 hour naps right now, from around 12:30 or 1 to 3:30 or 4. I'm totally unsure as to how she would do taking a nap in her stroller at the parks. (She sleeps an uninterrupted 10 hours straight at night, too!)

So I'm not sure about whether to take her back to the hotel for her 3 hour nap or to try to have her sleep in her stroller at the park. If I take her back to the hotel for her nap, I suppose I could just take her back to the hotel right AFTER the character breakfast.

Any thoughts and feedback would be appreciated!

We always found that if we tried to take our daughter for a nap in the hotel, she would not sleep, too excited about the new environment! However, she would always sleep in her stroller, so we just let her nap there for 1-2 hours.

 

[tiffjoy]

While I do love Surf's Up, is there a reason you aren't doing Minnie's? It would be easier as it is in the parks. Otherwise, I would start heading out of the parks around 10:30, just because it's a bit of a walk from say, Toontown, all the way to PPH. If you do Goofy's kitchen, take the monorail to DLH. For PPH, cut through the GCH.

My kids often fell asleep in the stroller, but we usually tried to make time to go back to the hotel for a few hours if it was during the warm summer months. It's just more comfortable and allows for a better nap. But there were times we didn't- we kinda played it by ear. With how far you have to go to return, you might try it out staying in the parks and seeing how it goes. Sometimes, I would take the stroller to a cool area and just sit and take a break, like the GCH lobby. One thing we always do is bring a change of clothes and play in the water area at DCA for a while. When my kids took naps, I would do this right before their normal tired time, and then change them and walk them a bit in the stroller. Because they had just been in the water, they were cooled off and tired out, and that helped them fall asleep and nap a little more comfortably.

I also get my kiddos ready for bed (well, I won't be doing that this year now that my oldest isn't in a stroller!) before we go back because they usually fall asleep. I bring pj's and toothbrushes and we get ready in the bathroom by City Hall before leaving, or the Baby Care Center if it's still open.

 

[ElizabethR2015]

We always found that if we tried to take our daughter for a nap in the hotel, she would not sleep, too excited about the new environment! However, she would always sleep in her stroller, so we just let her nap there for 1-2 hours.

Ooh good to know! That makes sense.

 

[ElizabethR2015]

While I do love Surf's Up, is there a reason you aren't doing Minnie's? It would be easier as it is in the parks. Otherwise, I would start heading out of the parks around 10:30, just because it's a bit of a walk from say, Toontown, all the way to PPH. If you do Goofy's kitchen, take the monorail to DLH. For PPH, cut through the GCH.

My kids often fell asleep in the stroller, but we usually tried to make time to go back to the hotel for a few hours if it was during the warm summer months. It's just more comfortable and allows for a better nap. But there were times we didn't- we kinda played it by ear. With how far you have to go to return, you might try it out staying in the parks and seeing how it goes. Sometimes, I would take the stroller to a cool area and just sit and take a break, like the GCH lobby. One thing we always do is bring a change of clothes and play in the water area at DCA for a while. When my kids took naps, I would do this right before their normal tired time, and then change them and walk them a bit in the stroller. Because they had just been in the water, they were cooled off and tired out, and that helped them fall asleep and nap a little more comfortably.

I also get my kiddos ready for bed (well, I won't be doing that this year now that my oldest isn't in a stroller!) before we go back because they usually fall asleep. I bring pj's and toothbrushes and we get ready in the bathroom by City Hall before leaving, or the Baby Care Center if it's still open.

Oh good call on Minnie's, I see now that it's open until 11am so that would be a great option. Maybe one breakfast at Minnie's and another day's breakfast at one of the hotel options. Minnie's definitely would be easiest!

GREAT idea about getting the kiddos ready for bed before you go back to the hotel!!

 

[alicat8]

I have to jump in and say we just did 2 late-ish breakfast-Surf's Up and Critter, and the character experience was awful. We were completely done with our meals (especially with a toddler) before ANY characters came. This was at both places!! We had to ask our server to try to get them to come over. When they did, they did quick picture pauses and left. Nothing like the meals I've done in DW.
My daughter was also a lot more likely to pass out in the stroller (last year at 2 and this year at 3) than to fall asleep in the hotel in the middle of the day. Despite being exhausted, she was too pumped up.

 

[tiffjoy]

My daughter was also a lot more likely to pass out in the stroller (last year at 2 and this year at 3) than to fall asleep in the hotel in the middle of the day. Despite being exhausted, she was too pumped up.

I wanted to echo this. My DDs have never fallen asleep AT the hotel room. They pass out on the way back, and I move them to the bed. It never worked trying to get them to sleep in the room. We would scrap naps and swim instead if they didn't fall asleep on the walk back.

 

[ElizabethR2015]

I have to jump in and say we just did 2 late-ish breakfast-Surf's Up and Critter, and the character experience was awful. We were completely done with our meals (especially with a toddler) before ANY characters came. This was at both places!! We had to ask our server to try to get them to come over. When they did, they did quick picture pauses and left. Nothing like the meals I've done in DW.
My daughter was also a lot more likely to pass out in the stroller (last year at 2 and this year at 3) than to fall asleep in the hotel in the middle of the day. Despite being exhausted, she was too pumped up.

Gosh now I'm really wondering about whether there is any point to trying to even go back to the hotel room for the nap at all....since getting back involves Toy Story shuttle ride PLUS a short car ride back to the hotel....if she is likely to just crash in the stroller, might as well just leave her there given the logistical issues of getting back to the hotel!

 

[alicat8]

Gosh now I'm really wondering about whether there is any point to trying to even go back to the hotel room for the nap at all....since getting back involves Toy Story shuttle ride PLUS a short car ride back to the hotel....if she is likely to just crash in the stroller, might as well just leave her there given the logistical issues of getting back to the hotel!

We did a trip last year when she was a little over 2 and just got back with her being a little over 3 (DW and now DL) The days that worked best for us were the ones that we went hard for a half or 3/4 day rather than the midday break days. Once we stopped, we were all too tired to start again (My old Disney self would be so disappointed in me! I blame the kid.) Since you'll be there for a long time, it may be a good strategy for you. So on the days we wanted to do the nighttime shows, we'd go to the park around 4. Other days we'd go early and stay til anywhere from 1-4, depending on how we were feeling. For the rest of the day, we'd relax at the hotel-go to bed early, swim, eat at cheaper places, etc.

 

[ElizabethR2015]

We did a trip last year when she was a little over 2 and just got back with her being a little over 3 (DW and now DL) The days that worked best for us were the ones that we went hard for a half or 3/4 day rather than the midday break days. Once we stopped, we were all too tired to start again (My old Disney self would be so disappointed in me! I blame the kid.) Since you'll be there for a long time, it may be a good strategy for you. So on the days we wanted to do the nighttime shows, we'd go to the park around 4. Other days we'd go early and stay til anywhere from 1-4, depending on how we were feeling. For the rest of the day, we'd relax at the hotel-go to bed early, swim, eat at cheaper places, etc.

We'll have to try some short days! That is the nice thing about being there for so many days; we certainly can fit a lot in even with some short days thrown in there.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I have to jump in and say we just did 2 late-ish breakfast-Surf's Up and Critter, and the character experience was awful. We were completely done with our meals (especially with a toddler) before ANY characters came. This was at both places!! We had to ask our server to try to get them to come over. When they did, they did quick picture pauses and left. Nothing like the meals I've done in DW.
My daughter was also a lot more likely to pass out in the stroller (last year at 2 and this year at 3) than to fall asleep in the hotel in the middle of the day. Despite being exhausted, she was too pumped up.

We have had this same experience with late breakfasts. We have done them at their last seating (which I want to say is 10:30ish) and had awful character experience. I will especially warn this at Minnie's. Yes, it has the most characters, but at around 11, they start switching over to lunch and people use those outside tables to bring in their own lunches from other places and in our experience, they used it as a regular meet & greet and nobody stopped them. It was SO frustrating. Just a heads up.

I have to agree with others that will the amount of travel back to the room, it may just be better to let her nap in the stroller unless you need the break.

 

[azdisneylover]

I would suggest if you are going to let your daughter rest in her stroller, pack a lightweight blanket and head to the Animation Building (forget the exact name - it's where you learn how to draw a character's face) and park your stroller in there. It is air conditioned, dimly lit, and a great place to rest. You can spread the blanket out and let your child nap, and you can charge up your phone, and rest your feet for a bit.

 

[amyg1975]

Back in March we did a late breakfast (10:50am) as Surf's Up and we had a fabulous experience with characters. It must be hit or miss!

 

[ElizabethR2015]

Hi everyone,

I'll start out with one of my basic questions- if we do a late character breakfast at PCH Grill or Goofy's Kitchen at say 10:50/11am, what's a good itinerary for a family with a toddler for the morning leading up to the breakfast? If we are at the parks at 8am, is there enough time to get some good rides in at either park before the late breakfast at the hotel?

Rambling background: my husband and I (and one of my friends) are planning a trip this early December to Disneyland and DCA with our daughter. DD will be 2 1/2 in December and she absolutely loves characters and rides at our local amusement park so I'm optimistic that she will get a decent amount out of the trip (which is really just as much for me and my friends who love Disney). We will be there for 7 nights (long time, but we have AP's and my friends is donating her timeshare week to us all) and will be staying in an Anaheim timeshare unit which is a 1 bedroom suite with a kitchenette. We will be driving from the hotel to the Toy Story lot (friend has AP with free parking, I have AP without parking) and then taking the shuttle bus.

I want to make full use of the kitchenette in the room and my first inclination is to ensure that we have breakfast in the room each day before we head out. We wake up around 6am-6:30am at home so it shouldn't be a problem eating and being out the door by 7:30 or 8.

I also want to do a few character breakfast buffets and figured that perhaps a few late breakfasts at 10:50 and 11 could be a good way to get a hearty brunch in for us. Just not sure what a good itinerary is between 8am and 11am.

On a related note...
that leads me to the afternoon. DD is taking 2-3 hour naps right now, from around 12:30 or 1 to 3:30 or 4. I'm totally unsure as to how she would do taking a nap in her stroller at the parks. (She sleeps an uninterrupted 10 hours straight at night, too!)

So I'm not sure about whether to take her back to the hotel for her 3 hour nap or to try to have her sleep in her stroller at the park. If I take her back to the hotel for her nap, I suppose I could just take her back to the hotel right AFTER the character breakfast.

Any thoughts and feedback would be appreciated!

I would suggest if you are going to let your daughter rest in her stroller, pack a lightweight blanket and head to the Animation Building (forget the exact name - it's where you learn how to draw a character's face) and park your stroller in there. It is air conditioned, dimly lit, and a great place to rest. You can spread the blanket out and let your child nap, and you can charge up your phone, and rest your feet for a bit.

YES! That building where you access Turtle Talk with Crush. Love that indoor area! Great idea.