Ultimate Disney Trip

[texandtink]

My grandmother passed away last year my family lived with her and cared for her to the end. She left us some money and we are planning to take our kids boys 10 & 5 and girl 3 to Disneyland for the ultimate disney vacation. My grandparents somehow scraped up money every summer to take me when I was little so Disneyland is already a very special place to me. (I literally get teary every time I step onto Main Street the first day and "When You Wish Upon A Star" gets me every time! Always makes me think of my Gpa a HUGE Disney fan to the end)
We are staying at the Disneyland hotel (a childhood dream back when the monorail stopped there and CA adventure was a parking lot). We will be there the first week of September with 4 days in the park
Day 1. we are enjoying the hotel and eating at Goofys Kitchen. (Already reserved a cabana)
Day 2. Disneyland and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique am appts for the kids
Day 3. CA Adventure
Day 4. Disneyland
Day 5. Mini and friends breakfast and Disneyland and maybe a jaunt to CA Adventure
Day 6. Heading home
We want the ultimate Disney vacation, it's been almost 4yrs since I've been there.

What food is a must try? I'm talking treats, food cart fare etc. beignets and dole whips are already on the radar.

What attractions/shows are a must?

Photo opportunities

Insider tips etc!

Our goal is to try everything possible. We are hardcore so we plan to spend the whole day in the park. I've got the double stroller for the younger 2 and purchased the photo pass since I'm serious about photos! Counting down the days and getting very excited!!!

 

[lucysmom]

The Aladdin show is not to be missed. The corn dogs from the cart at the end of Main Street are fantastic. However, the line is always long and slow!

 

[Renae De Liz]

Definitely eat waterside at Blue Bayou! Go at lunch and get the Monte Cristo (a food many people must have at DL). I always get a mickey caramel apple at one of the many sweet shops. My family also loves the ice cream place on Main street, and love the handmade waffle cones! Glad you got Dole Whips on your list, because we have one just about everyday during out visits. SO GOOD and refreshing! I also like Storytellers cafe for the ambience. Super cool theming and also pretty relaxing with great bread and corn chowder! In Downtown Disney I get Wetzel Pretzels (in DTD) first thing in the morning (when not eating elsewhere). Delicious!

As for other things to do, I would do the canoes if they are open! I never ever rode them until this last trip, and it was so much fun!! Seems most people pass by them on their way to Splash. Also, our families tradition is to ride the train around the park first thing on arrival. It just adds to the trip so much!

Have a great time!

 

[HappiestHaunt]

Hmm, mickey ear balloons bring grandpa memories for me, every single time. Thank you Grandpa!

You have a great list started! You could do the seated dessert seating for Fantasmic. That would skip the ground seating.

Go ride Winnie the Pooh in critter and take a stop at the shop at the exit, grab a treat from the candy/cookie counter inside. The kids can also catch Pooh, Tigger, and others here for meet and greet.

We love the Plaza inn Character meal so that is a good choice. Try to sit inside, as we found the most character interaction that way. Make sure your not tucked away or it will keep characters from interacting as much.

I second the Aladdin show! It is a must do for us each trip at least once (genie is the man!)

Your kids are of the age when the Turtle Talk with Crush in the Animation building in DCA will be a fun thing for them. They get to sit up front with all the kids and possible have a "live" chat with Crush the totally tubalar turtle from finding Nemo. Our daughter still loves it and she is 8, and she is never the oldest child there, It runs something like every 20 minutes and the building is a nice cool stop in the day to chill for a moment and get out of the sun.

Kids really love the Bugs land rides (and some adults..eyeing my husband as I think of the Heimlich train). It will thrill the youngest two the most. Carsland will be loved by the kids, as there is so much to check out.

Take time in toon town at least once. There are many interactive portions with doors and crates and such, all providing tons of photo ops for parents. The older kids will like Toon car spin. All of them will love checking out the various character houses. And of course lots of photo ops with Minni's house and Mickey's house (plus the houses have many interactive areas).

Indulge in a huge corn dog with chips or carrots from the Red Cart On Main street. A corn dog lovers meal!

In the Afternoon or Evenings at the Plaza Inn, grab a meal of great fried chicken. The chicken is surprisingly good and you get a lot for the price. One plate is huge an could be easily shared. Chicken is breast/wing, leg, and thigh and comes with potatoes and mashed, green beans, and a biscuit. We sub out the leg and thigh for another breast wing and double mashed. Yum!

If the boys are into Star Wars, a stop for the Jedi Training Academy is a must at Tomorrowland Terrance throughout the day. Some lucky kids fight Darth Maul or Darth Vader! After riding star tours, it exits in the Startrader, where even our daughter had to do the make your own light saber. (this is one of the few places where there are some neat one of kind souvenirs can be had, like my husbands Donald Duck as Darth Maul).

Depending on your daughter, a visit to the Princess Fair will likely be in order, especially after the Boutique visit. Great Princess photos are to be had with your dressed up little one. The boys might even get into it too, since the Princesses usually take a moment to talk to children. If you don't want to wait, you could do the Grotto Princess character meal. We have not done it, because we could not get past the food ratings (and luckily for us, baby girl likes princesses but is content to see them whenever). But that would allow personal time with 4 princesses I think and without waiting in the faire line.

Our daughter will not consider one of our multi-day trips as complete unless she has had that Matterhorn Macaroon from Jolly Holiday, a Mickey ice cream sandwich, and something from the Candy palace (preferably something along the lines of a caramel apple).

A few thoughts.....

 

[ClaraOswald]

Well, since you were just there 4 years ago, it's mostly the same as before. Except California Adventure which is quite different. So you may want to focus on that.

Do you have park hoppers? If not, then you should.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Sounds like you have a great plan already with the character meals. We just did a cabana at DLH. It was great! I'd do that again in a minute. Though the service was slow.

Do Blue Bayou as others have said. But ask to wait for a table by the water. Plan on waiting 30 minutes. Worth it.

Do Pooh, grab something from Pooh's Corner, and eat downstairs at Hungry Bear. Must have a lemon cupcake.

Aladdin.

 

[texandtink]

Well, since you were just there 4 years ago, it's mostly the same as before. Except California Adventure which is quite different. So you may want to focus on that. Do you have park hoppers? If not, then you should.

We have 4 day park hopper tickets

 

[Tasscrapper]

Mickey's Magical Map in Fantasyland is a really cute show and you can pretty much show up five minutes before show time. There is a ton of seating and it is all pretty good. The popcorn at the carts is delicious and is a good snack when people get peckish but you aren't ready for a full meal. Get the souvineer bucket and it will have a lid in case you don't finish the popcorn before the next ride.

In Carsland Flo's has really good food too.

 

[GatorChris]

Kids really love the Bugs land rides (and some adults..eyeing my husband as I think of the Heimlich train).

Alright! Glad I'm not the only dad out there who makes Heimlich a must-do. I crack up every time. This ride, for me, is the essence of a Disney attraction.

 

[CheshireGato]

Alright! Glad I'm not the only dad out there who makes Heimlich a must-do. I crack up every time. This ride, for me, is the essence of a Disney attraction.

Love Heimlich!! My brother and his gf are going this fall (it will be her first time) and I told her it was a must do! Some of us appreciate it more than others haha

 

[hootey]

I will recommend all the usual rides and stress seeing Aladdin Once from near the stage and once from one of the balconies. It is a completely different show when you change the seating. See Turtle Talk(Crush) at least twice as well(never the same show). Lastly, see "Fantasmic" from the reserved seating on the rail. It is great from the rail when you have no one in front of you!
Take time to enjoy the DLH, pool/waterslides/historic areas. When you check in, be sure to inquire about the character meet-n-greet times in the DLH lobby area!. Take the time to enjoy being there!

 

[texandtink]

Thank you everyone for the great tips and words of wisdom. I've made notations and created a "plan of attack!" I want to make this trip special for all of us and create some fun memories as well. Our family yearbook is sure to be a thick one this year!