Need help w/ DL trip....ideas please!

GoofyMom2

GoofyMom2

New Member
Original Poster
I am trying to plan a trip to California in October for myself and 2 sons, 8 yo and 11 yo.

OK, I haven't been to DL in over 20 years!!! :eek:


So......we are hoping to get 2-day passes and then also get tickets for the Halloween Party for the 3rd day (I know it is only at night),

Need suggestions for a few things:

Character meals that won't bust the bank. (I assume ADRS are needed for here as well)
How are crowd patterns end of October there? Do I need to plan on it being packed (like spring break/summer etc time)?
Probably will be staying at Howard Johnson....anyone familiar with it? How far to walk to get to park? Etc.....

I will probably be asking a lot more soon.......I know WDW so well and now I am stepping out of my familiar haunt.....help! :ROFLOL:
 
Disneyfalcon

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Hi Goofy Mom! You will love Disneyland!

Character meals are all expensive. Our favorite is Goofy's Kitchen. There's a great variety of characters and it's a good buffet.

End of October crowds should be good if you avoid the weekends. All weekends are crowded at DL. Weekdays when school is in though are great!

There's another recent thread here about Hojo and the entertainment rate. It's a well liked hotel. It's not too far of a walk, maybe like two blocks? But there is also a shuttle if you're too tired at the end of a long day.

Just ask away!
 
C

coasterphil

Well-Known Member
The HoJo is about 2 blocks away from the pedestrian entrance to DL, not too long at all. If you are too tired though you'll have to pay to take ART. Its a nice clean hotel with two pools. Make sure you try and get the Entertaiment Rate.


I was just at the resort for the first time a few months ago, so I'd be happy to help with any questions you might have.
 
GoofyMom2

GoofyMom2

New Member
Original Poster
:wave:
Wow! Thanks for all of the help so far!

Telling me about the Entertainment rate was great! Thanks for the info.....I never would have known about it......

Are the resorts easy to get to from the parks......ie: if we decide to do the Goofy's Kitchen character meal, will it be easy to get back and forth without a car?

Luckily we will be avoiding the weekends.....yeah!

Thanks to Marie from KK, she highly recommended the HJ and sounds like she was spot on.....as usual!!
 
kubfish

kubfish

Member
Are you getting the hopper option so you can go to DCA?

If so make sure to hit the Aladdin show, you and your boys will love it.
 
Iakona

Iakona

Member
GoofyMom2 said:
I am trying to plan a trip to California in October for myself and 2 sons, 8 yo and 11 yo.

OK, I haven't been to DL in over 20 years!!! :eek:


So......we are hoping to get 2-day passes and then also get tickets for the Halloween Party for the 3rd day (I know it is only at night),

Need suggestions for a few things:

Character meals that won't bust the bank. (I assume ADRS are needed for here as well)
How are crowd patterns end of October there? Do I need to plan on it being packed (like spring break/summer etc time)?
Probably will be staying at Howard Johnson....anyone familiar with it? How far to walk to get to park? Etc.....

I will probably be asking a lot more soon.......I know WDW so well and now I am stepping out of my familiar haunt.....help! :ROFLOL:
Click to expand...

For HOJOS
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1450612

Not sure if they still offer the discount, but there are some good tips here.

Tom Sawyer's Island;
FYI my son wanted to spend all day there. He absolutely loved it. There is a Stunt show that is very good. The stage is at the front of the Island and we got seats by the rope early. Also, there is a character meet and greet with Jack Sparrow. Be forewarned that they only do it at appointed times and for a short period. They will cut off the line. This is not your normal meet and greet. Jack is very much like the movies and will have questions for your sons, will try to steal something (usual their pens) and spends almost 5 minutes with each person.

Aladdin at DCA is aweosme. My 9 year old son loved it. There are a lot of current references, very funny.

At Condor Flats (DCA) there is a meet and greet with Mater and Lightening.

Have fun.
 
Nicole220

Nicole220

Well-Known Member
Iakona said:
For HOJOS
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1450612

Not sure if they still offer the discount, but there are some good tips here.

Tom Sawyer's Island;
FYI my son wanted to spend all day there. He absolutely loved it. There is a Stunt show that is very good. The stage is at the front of the Island and we got seats by the rope early. Also, there is a character meet and greet with Jack Sparrow. Be forewarned that they only do it at appointed times and for a short period. They will cut off the line. This is not your normal meet and greet. Jack is very much like the movies and will have questions for your sons, will try to steal something (usual their pens) and spends almost 5 minutes with each person.

Aladdin at DCA is aweosme. My 9 year old son loved it. There are a lot of current references, very funny.

At Condor Flats (DCA) there is a meet and greet with Mater and Lightening.

Have fun.
Click to expand...
Edit: Ignore. Wrong thread.
 
GoofyMom2

GoofyMom2

New Member
Original Poster
Thanks for all of the tips, everyone! Asking for the Entertainment rate saved me a little more each night!

Has anyone gone to Mickey's Halloween Treat at DCA? I just purchased tickets and would love some feedback.

Also: any costume ideas for me and my 2 sons? I would like it if we all "went together", and they need to be easy to pack (not take up much room). PS....no blonde wigs for me so no Cinderella etc....

Ideas I was thinking of: Me...Lilo, son's be Stitch and another character.
Me....Snow White, boys be Dopey and Doc

Any others?

Another question.....does DL have photopass like WDW? I always love the pictures we get at WDW.
 
GoofyMom2

GoofyMom2

New Member
Original Poster
oooops, another question:

If I have a ticket for the party that starts at 6:30, can you enter earlier with just the party ticket? (not needing a park pass). I know at WDW you can get into the gates for special events a little earlier than the "official" start time.

Thank you!! :wave:
 
Disneyfalcon

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
No you can't go in early. You can't stay in the park even if you were in. They clear out the park and hold everyone outside until time for the party.
 
IROC it

IROC it

Member
Be sure and do a lot of what you read about in this post!!

We loved it! I'm sure you will too!

Costume ideas? You be Elizabeth Swan, have the boys be pirates... Or you be Wendy and have the boys be the two little brothers (from Pan)...

Or anything not as easily duplicated... perhaps more obscure would be better.
 
GoofyMom2

GoofyMom2

New Member
Original Poster
Love the Pirate idea!!!

Has anyone been to the Minnie Breakfast buffet at the Plaza in DL? We were thinking of trying to get a ressie about 11 and have it as a kind of brunch.

Just ordered our tickets today! Went ahead and got the 3-day passes instead of 2-day.......the more we learn about it the more excited we are getting! Also received our Halloween Party tickets in the mail already!

When does DL post their Oct schedule? Here it is August and they don't have park hours for Oct listed yet! :shrug:
 
Disneyfalcon

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
You know I haven't watched their schedule recently. They are MUCH slower about it then WDW though. It should definitely be out soon though.
 
lilclerk

lilclerk

Well-Known Member
GoofyMom2 said:
Me again......any info on schedule? Anyone??? :lol:
Click to expand...

That's weird. Maybe they'll be up the end of August? Anyway, I'm still sad they didn't show the fireworks during my trip. That was the main reason I wanted to go so badly. But it was my fault, not planning properly and assuming they showed them every night.
 
mouselvrmom

mouselvrmom

Well-Known Member
GoofyMom2 said:
Me again......any info on schedule? Anyone??? :lol:
Click to expand...

I thought awhile back I had heard that they were putting the schedules out three months in advance. Obviously, they are not following that at the moment, it seems like lately they had usually two months worth on there, but now it is only one.

I hope they start keeping up better as it gets closer to my trip.
 

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