1st Timer going to Disneyland

[Minnie1976]

I'm a WDW fanatic going to Disneyland for the first time. We are planning a trip between June 2011 and December 2011. Going to WDW is like being at home I've gone so many times. This will be a whole new experience. Can someone please give me information on where to stay and about the restaurants at the Disneyland hotels and parks? Do you have to have advanced reservations like at WDW? Can anyone recommend some great snacks? My husband and I had fun at WDW last year trying to find snacks and drinks people had recommended on the message boards. It was like a scavanger hunt.

Can anyone recommend a company to rent electric scooters from? At WDW there are companies that deliver them to your hotel and pick them up.

Thank you for any info or help it will be greatly appreciated. This is like a whole new adventure.

 

[primetime52]

I think I can give you some advice, because just a few years ago I was in your shoes. I'm a Floridian who grew up on WDW, and in 2007 I decided to go to Disneyland as a "one time experience." Well... I loved it so much there, that I've been back 3 times since my first visit!

Disneyland has 3 official "on property" resort hotels, but all of them are quite pricey, especially the Grand Californian. If you are willing to pay $300+ per night (or $500 for the Grand Californian), it's a good experience to stay at one of their official hotels. They don't have moderate and value resorts like WDW has. There are several inexpensive hotels surrounding the resort, many of them in close walking distance. I can give a personal recommendation to the Portofino Inn and Suites on Harbor Dr and Katella. I stayed there once and it was very clean, well priced, and in close walking distance to Disneyland. I've also stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, and while it was a nice experience, I'm not sure if it's worth the jump in price. Staying on property in DL isn't as important as in WDW, since the property isn't nearly as vast. I've also heard good reviews for the Anabella Hotel and the nearby Best Western.

Like in Disney World, you can make dining reservations at Disneyland, and I'd suggest you do so. If you go during the busier times of year, the restaurants can get crowded. Here's the phone number to make dining reservations- 714-781-3463

Everyone's favorite fine dining experience at Disneyland is the Napa Rose, located at the Grand Californian Hotel. I'm also a big fan of the less fancy and less expensive Storyteller's Cafe, also at the Grand Californian.

My favorite restaurant inside the parks is Cafe Orleans, in the New Orleans Square area of Disneyland. If you go there, you have to order their french fries. Their fries are the 8th wonder of the world in my opinion. My favorite snack is a Dole Whip (they also have those at WDW). The Dole Whip stand at Disneyland is right in front of the Enchanted Tiki Room. I've also been a frequent customer at the Main Street Bakery, a great place to grab a cookie.

If you want to grab a meal outside the parks, there's plenty of selection around Harbor Blvd. A couple visits ago I remember eating at a PF Changs and a Cheesecake Factory nearby.

I don't know anything about renting scooters, but I hope I helped! You will love Disneyland. It doesn't have as much to offer as the entire Disney World resort, but Disneyland Park is the single greatest Disney Park on the planet. Once you've been to Disneyland, Magic Kingdom at WDW won't ever feel quite the same. Have a great trip. I'm going back in February of 2011.

 

[primetime52]

One more quick tip! If you're flying there, I'd suggest you book a flight to the nearby Orange County Airport (SNA). It's much closer to Disneyland than LAX, and much less crazy. And you can probably get a cheaper flight into that airport. Alot of first timers make the mistake of flying to LAX, assuming that's their only option.

 

[Minnie1976]

One more quick tip! If you're flying there, I'd suggest you book a flight to the nearby Orange County Airport (SNA). It's much closer to Disneyland than LAX, and much less crazy. And you can probably get a cheaper flight into that airport. Alot of first timers make the mistake of flying to LAX, assuming that's their only option.

Thank you for all the information. I'll keep it all in mind when we start making reservations. Hope you have a great trip!!!

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

One more quick tip! If you're flying there, I'd suggest you book a flight to the nearby Orange County Airport (SNA). It's much closer to Disneyland than LAX, and much less crazy. And you can probably get a cheaper flight into that airport. Alot of first timers make the mistake of flying to LAX, assuming that's their only option.

By all means, avoid LAX like the plague. :hurl:

 

[TP2000]

By all means, avoid LAX like the plague. :hurl:

Hey, that's my line! :lol:

John Wayne Airport (SAN) is the best for Disneyland trips, but flying into Long Beach, Ontario, or even Burbank or San Diego is better that using LAX.

Expedia has that neat feature where you can play around with the arrival airports on the little pull down menu on the left of the screen, and you can find all sorts of flights that avoid LAX.

 

[Mrs Potts]

We're going next February since the kids have 3 days off from school. We're looking to fly into Long Beach since Jet Blue has a non-stop flight to and from there for us. So for those of you who have been, do you rent a car at the airport, or take a shuttle? Which (if any) of the shuttle services would you recommend?

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Hey, that's my line! :lol:

I know. But, it can't be repeated enough.

 

[isitingood]

We're going next February since the kids have 3 days off from school. We're looking to fly into Long Beach since Jet Blue has a non-stop flight to and from there for us. So for those of you who have been, do you rent a car at the airport, or take a shuttle? Which (if any) of the shuttle services would you recommend?

I rent a car because I do many other things as well. My cousin uses Prime Time Shuttle and she says they are fantastic. www.primetimeshuttle.com:wave: