Trip planning for my birthday!!

[LionKingRules84]

Hey all, big fan of the WDW section of the Dis and I haven't been here much since around this time last year when I was planning a trip to the World in septemeber. I enjoyed my trip so much I wanted to try for my birthday a trip in 2009 unfortunately my birthday happens to fall next year on superbowl sunday(feb 1st) and the superbowl is in flordia this year so I'm not interested in traveling down there. I've wanted to try Disneyland though and what better time to go than my birthday in 2009! I'll be 25 and I can't think of a better place to spend it than at Disney! I have however NEVER been to Disneyland but been to Disneyworld several times.

My questions are:

Which hotel(disney owned) do you reccomend?

What character breakfasts, or dinners are there and do they do anything special for birthdays?

I plan on doing just a short 3 or 4 day trip so can I wear my birthday button the whole trip or just my b'day?

What are the crowds like late january early february?

Also when exactly should I start really planning this, now or around septemeber?

Last but not least how does Disneyland compare to Disneyworld I know it is much smaller but does it have the same feel Disneyworld has(those that have been to both of course), I'm sure I will like it either way and I don't plan to compare the two but just curious on opinons.

Thanks in advance for all your help, it's greatly appreciated!

 

[bumbershoot]

First, you simply must read HydroGuy's tips. He includes info about DLR for WDW vets.

I like staying offsite myself, b/c I refuse to pay as much as Grand Californian charges unless I'm at a Westin in Hawaii, and the off-sites are closer than Paradise Pier and even Disneyland Hotel. So i can't answer the hotel question for you.

Wear your button for as long as you are celebrating your birthday! If you grow tired of celebrating it (I grew tired of celebrating our anniversary after 2 days of wearing the button, so I took mine off, and hubby kept his on b/c he was still celebrating, LOL), take it off! They just want you to have fun and celebrate whenever you want to celebrate.

Crowds were small for my short solo trip last late January. But it was chilly and it rained, so I was glad I was prepared with my sweatshirt and all-important poncho. It's great when it rains, b/c everyone leaves and you get the park nearly to yourself!

I started planning our Sept '07 trip in January of '07, so I see nothing wrong with starting to plan now for Feb.