Newbie Questions, hopefully minimal stupidity.

[AnneBytes]

Preface: I’m really new at Disney (last trip to Disneyland was in the early 80s and I don’t remember a thing). A LOT of Google and 5-10 pages of threads on this forum are my extent of knowledge. I read blogs. I don’t watch vlogs. The problem I’m facing is that a vast majority of these posts and articles I’ve found assume a good working knowledge of Disney. So, questions below. I appreciate the help - I’m going for 3 nights in Feb (3rd - 6th) as a trial/learning experience before we take my 5 year old. I have the app, I have google knowledge of the layout of the park and how to move around there. I have google knowledge of the rides.

1) I want to see World of Color. I want to eat at Cathay Circle. A match made in heaven. I’ve seen posts talking about dining plans and found no dining plans I can buy. Through the app I can make reservations. When I reserve a time there is nothing requesting the Show prix fixe. Can I get the prix fixe menu when I arrive so I get the reserved slots for world of color, or do I need to book something separately?

2) We will have 2.5 days in the park. I’ll be getting a 3 day pass. Max pass is a given. Park hopper is not. We have a goal to do all rides in DL. Should we get the Hopper?

3) After research I booked the best western across the street for convenience. It seemed the closest and as we are there to just be in the park and figure out how it works and I am recovering from extensive ankle surgery. But next time will be with the kid. I was thinking about the DL hotel for immersive experience. Any others good for young kids (5 years)? Is club worth doing for DL hotel? (I have read many different reviews on this.)

4) I’ve seen the guides in WDW that can lay out a day on what to reserve when. Is there something like that for DL? I know to get RSR, space mountain, Guardians and Indiana Jones when I walk in (two at a time, so figured two each day.) Star Wars boarding group will be run to. Splash mountain early before it gets hot. But what about everything else? Does someone have a “here is my strategy for fast pass/max pass to make the most of a day” that is comprehensive? I would quite literally pay for this (not a joke as I realize this takes time) as I am Type A and need to plan this out.

5) Food. There are a crazy amount of choices out there and so many conflicting blog reviews that my head spins and I don’t know if they are paying for good reviews. My husband and I like good eats. We will have 5 meals (3 dinners and 2 lunches) - anything that is 100% you must eat on your first trip?

6) Disneyland VIP tour. Not this time. Maybe next when we have child plus grandparents. I’ve read the blogs, but would like to hear if anyone had first hand experience? My question is not if it’s worth it, it’s more - would you do it again? Did it really make the experience different?

7) Along with the food. Small things to ensure we do the first time? Stores? Things to buy? Is the button exchange thing fun? Is it stupid as an adult to get character signatures?

Thank you. Feel like I’m planning this out more than a month-long trip to sub-Saharan Africa.

 

[Phroobar]

Please see this thread: Guide to DLR for WDW veterans. Also have fun and don't get stressed out. Disneyland much easier than Florida.

Guide to DLR for WDW Veterans!

Since we get this ALL the time in this forum, I thought it would be nice to condense it into one place that the mods could make sticky - this stuff gets repeated ad naseum around here since the site caters to a WDW fanbase. I'll start with this: GiveMeTheMusic's INFALLIBLE List of Unique DLR...

forums.wdwmagic.com

 

[Mickeyboof]

Preface: I’m really new at Disney (last trip to Disneyland was in the early 80s and I don’t remember a thing). A LOT of Google and 5-10 pages of threads on this forum are my extent of knowledge. I read blogs. I don’t watch vlogs. The problem I’m facing is that a vast majority of these posts and articles I’ve found assume a good working knowledge of Disney. So, questions below. I appreciate the help - I’m going for 3 nights in Feb (3rd - 6th) as a trial/learning experience before we take my 5 year old. I have the app, I have google knowledge of the layout of the park and how to move around there. I have google knowledge of the rides.

1) I want to see World of Color. I want to eat at Cathay Circle. A match made in heaven. I’ve seen posts talking about dining plans and found no dining plans I can buy. Through the app I can make reservations. When I reserve a time there is nothing requesting the Show prix fixe. Can I get the prix fixe menu when I arrive so I get the reserved slots for world of color, or do I need to book something separately?

2) We will have 2.5 days in the park. I’ll be getting a 3 day pass. Max pass is a given. Park hopper is not. We have a goal to do all rides in DL. Should we get the Hopper?

3) After research I booked the best western across the street for convenience. It seemed the closest and as we are there to just be in the park and figure out how it works and I am recovering from extensive ankle surgery. But next time will be with the kid. I was thinking about the DL hotel for immersive experience. Any others good for young kids (5 years)? Is club worth doing for DL hotel? (I have read many different reviews on this.)

4) I’ve seen the guides in WDW that can lay out a day on what to reserve when. Is there something like that for DL? I know to get RSR, space mountain, Guardians and Indiana Jones when I walk in (two at a time, so figured two each day.) Star Wars boarding group will be run to. Splash mountain early before it gets hot. But what about everything else? Does someone have a “here is my strategy for fast pass/max pass to make the most of a day” that is comprehensive? I would quite literally pay for this (not a joke as I realize this takes time) as I am Type A and need to plan this out.

5) Food. There are a crazy amount of choices out there and so many conflicting blog reviews that my head spins and I don’t know if they are paying for good reviews. My husband and I like good eats. We will have 5 meals (3 dinners and 2 lunches) - anything that is 100% you must eat on your first trip?

6) Disneyland VIP tour. Not this time. Maybe next when we have child plus grandparents. I’ve read the blogs, but would like to hear if anyone had first hand experience? My question is not if it’s worth it, it’s more - would you do it again? Did it really make the experience different?

7) Along with the food. Small things to ensure we do the first time? Stores? Things to buy? Is the button exchange thing fun? Is it stupid as an adult to get character signatures?

Thank you. Feel like I’m planning this out more than a month-long trip to sub-Saharan Africa.

Hello!!

My thoughts Part 1:

1) Disneyland does NOT sell Dinning Plans. Anything you read was referring to Walt Disney World or simply outdated Disneyland info. There are no Dinning Plans at Disneyland.

However, there ARE Dinning Packages. That is what you’re looking for. You will eat from a prix-fixe menu, then receive a PAPER FASTPASS for your show. They do this for World of Color in California Adventure AND Fantasmic at Disneyland. Use the following link to reserve a lunch ($56) or dinner ($74) for World of Color Prix-Fixe WITH Fastpass Package. This lunch or dinner will feature the pre fix menu as described on the website.

World of Color Dining Package

Dine at this Disneyland Resort restaurant

disneyland.disney.go.com

2) If you Spend 1.5 Days in Disneyland and 1 Day in California Adventure, then you'll do a lot... but don't beat yourself up if you can't do it all. My favorite thing to say at the end of a trip is "next time!!!"

Max Pass is wonderful for first visits!

3) The Disneyland Hotel is absolutely energetic and fun. Little kids will love the Monorail Waterslides and Adults love the groovy tiki vibes. One night, you should walk to the hotel grounds and see what you think!

The Disneyland Hotel offers an amazing immersive experience. Its an absolute Disney bubble, one I prefer over the Walt Disney World bubble.

I have no reviews for the Club Level.

 

[Phroobar]

The Disneyland Hotel isn't worth the price of "immersion". Your talking 3x the price. Remember this isn't Florida. Your best off saving you money and staying off campus. The rates are far more reasonable and sometimes you are closer to the parks than DLH. I prefer the HoJo's on Harbor but the Hilton and Shardeons are great too. You can always eat at the Disney hotels if you must.

 

[MatterhornFan]

In order to eat at Carthay Circle and see World of Color and do all the rides in Disneyland, you'll need a park hopper. DCA is completely different from Disneyland and yet it's right next door. About 50 to 75 yards away from gate to gate I wanna say. When I go for just one day, I'll go back and forth from park to park probably 4 or 5 times. Watch some stuff on YouTube. Vlogs > Blogs imo.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I would look at Howard Johnson and Courtyard by Marriott, both have mini Water Play areas and are walking distance to the parks entrance (same distance as the Paradise Pier Hotel). Mimi's Café is a great option to eat at.

The new Cambria also has a nice Water Play area, but farther away.

 

[Phroobar]

It isn't worth paying the Disney tax for a themed pool and mickey soap.

 

[mickEblu]

It isn't worth paying the Disney tax for a themed pool and mickey soap.

I don’t disagree. Especially as an AP that only lives an hour away. However, for someone booking a first time vacation to DLR I would recommend staying onsite if they can swing it. If it’s something I’m only doing once or twice in a lifetime then I want to go all out...within reason of course. I guess it just comes down to preference, budget and how often one travels to the parks and how often one travels in general.

 

[SuddenStorm]

5-10 pages of threads on this forum are my extent of knowledge. I read blogs. I don’t watch vlogs.

We like you already!

 

[chadwpalm]

So with Maxpass you can reserve fastpasses for fantasmic and world of color. Just get there at opening and once you enter the gates you can reserve them. These do not count against attraction FPs so I always just get them with MaxPass first then, then immediately get an attraction FP.

I'd just do this and avoid the World of Color Dining Package and save the money. World of Color usually has 2 shows a night and the 2nd show is completely empty every time I've been. No need for a dining package IMO.

I completely agree with this. I got a FP to World of Color at park opening back in November and got an amazing location (front center). You don't need a dining package to get a good view. In fact, I wouldn't eat at Carthay just to get a good view of the show, but if you really want to eat there for the experience you're better off just reserving the restaurant separately and at least you get the full menu.

 

[Sailor310]

4) I’ve seen the guides in WDW that can lay out a day on what to reserve when. Is there something like that for DL? I know to get RSR, space mountain, Guardians and Indiana Jones when I walk in (two at a time, so figured two each day.) Star Wars boarding group will be run to. Splash mountain early before it gets hot. But what about everything else? Does someone have a “here is my strategy for fast pass/max pass to make the most of a day” that is comprehensive? I would quite literally pay for this (not a joke as I realize this takes time) as I am Type A and need to plan this out.

Get a subscription to "Touring Plans". $8 per year. They have a computer optimization of your day to save wait time. Plus an in-park ap with wait times, recommendations on "ride now" or "wait til 6:00, lines going down", lots of reviews and helpful suggestions.

Also,my friends and I do lots of Single Rider lines.
Peter Pan is a must do.
Must get a Dole whip at Tropical Hideaway and take a break while watching the Jungle Cruise boats go by.
Tangaroa Terrace on the Disneyland Hotel grounds next to Trader Sam's. Feels like you're in Hawaii.

 

[FAIRIEDUST78]

You can’t get two fast passes at a time with the exception of course of world of color plus ride or fantasmic plus ride. Once you book a ride pass if you try to book another one in either park it will tell you the time that you are able to book your next pass.
Birnbaum has a book on Disneyland. It should have daily itineraries .
DH is a good choice for staying on property. To a five year old seeing statues of Mickey and Minnie all over the place should excite them.
eating at Carthay circle really isn’t worth it. The portions are super tiny and not worth the price. IMHO Wine Country Trattoria is far superior!
Don’t stress about getting everything done. Just have a good time and enjoy the atmosphere. There is much to do and seeand as another poster said, there’s always next time!

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

If you're doing the dining package, Wine Country has a better viewing area than Carthay. If you're willing to splurge, I suggest the WOC Desert Party, where you can sit at tables and eat/drink during the show.

 

[waltography]

At least for Fastpasses and MaxPass, my general rule of thumb is to as much as possible get Fastpasses that are around half an hour away or less in the morning (between 8 and 12); by the time of your return time, you can redeem another Fastpass to another ride. It's how I get done with most if not all the E-tickets by noon as I can be in line for Matterhorn with a Fastpass for Space ready as soon as I get off the bobsled. The rest of the day is just choosing which rides I want to re-ride/didn't get around to, which due to the crowds having already descended onto Disneyland means getting new Fastpasses are slower.

Otherwise, rule of thumb is your most productive hours will always be the first 3-4 hours of opening, where you can hit up 2-4 rides per hour; afterwards, your pace slows down to like 1-2.

 

[Jedi Stitch]

You have done some great Research and planning. First off, a little bit of planning goes a long ways. You will probably be given the same info over and over.
WDW has dining plans, DLR does not. Dining packages are great, and what you want. You can eat at Cathay Circle and get a Fast Pass for the World of color, for a fixed Price, and a fixed menu. I would recommend you plan your Advanced Dinner Reservation for the time you plan to be in the parks, since you are not Park hopping. For DL- I would suggest the Blue Bayou-Fantasmic package. We opted for the show prior to the fireworks, so we could just stay and watch river side. When we did it they also gave souvenir seat cushions for sitting on the ground. You may want to walk to Main street because the projections on the building are awesome. The only problem I had with BB, was our daughter was 12 and still a picky eater, and they did not have a children's menu, so stuck with the fixed. We did the Terrace Traconia and paint the night parade package and they alowwed her to eat off the childrens menu.
Max Pass is a must, you will get to ride and experience a lot. I found that Max Pass was a must, since standby are way long.
Don't over stress on being able to see everything.
We stayed at the BW Anaheim Garden two doors down from BW Park Place. Probably would have preferred Place, but we are Park commandos, rope drop to Fireworks.
Yes, the Disneyland Hotel is Pricey. Hard to Justify the cost. I do plan on a bucket list to go and stay because, well it is the Disneyland Hotel. It is up to you, but for a trip of a life time with your 5 year old, it could be worth it, the most magical time they will have. You could wait till they are older 7-10 range, because the 5 yr old may not remember.