Pre-Trip We can't go back to WDW yet... So Disneyland here we come!

I'M BACKKKK!!! Or should i say we

This is a DISNEYLAND pre-trip, hope y'all dont mind! I will be posting a WDW pre-trip in the future as well but i better wait until we can actually book a room, its still really far out!

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If i had things my way, in a couple days/weeks i would be booking a trip back to the world for our anniversary in September. I miss the world so terribly i find myself on this site more and more each day. Dreaming about restaurants I've never been to, riding splash mountain and waking up in the Florida sunshine Billy misses it too but he doesn't have that same uhhh... well addiction.

When i brought up going to DisneyWorld this year, it was shot down real quick. "I want to go somewhere tropical" Well i guess this is a partnership and Billy deserves his say in the vacations we take too So we have made a deal that each year we will switch off picking where to go. Y'all already know i'm picking WDW every time!

We are going to the Caribbean this year, which is cool! but its not WDW... Its not even Disney... I had to think of another way. Our friends helped me out with this one by going to Disneyland earlier this year. They said we just HAD to go before we went back to WDW. I have also wanted to see Disney decorated at Christmas for as long as i can remember. Our anniversary being in September that wouldn't happen in WDW anytime soon...It was going to be now or like forever... so i got to work on planning! I totally planned and booked all of this without billys knowledge and then just sprang it on him! He was thrilled with it though and...

WERE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!

When: November 13th-18th
Staying in Manhattan Beach for 2 nights and in Anaheim for 3 nights.

Who: Me and my numbero uno!

Why: Because i am Disney obsessed and cant wait till September 2017 to see Mickey.

As excited i am to go to Disneyland the planning has just not been as exciting for me, i have literally nothing planned except transportation, hotel and dates. We will be staying at the Best Western Stovall inn when at Disneyland, it seemed pretty average and has free breakfast.

Have not bought tickets for the park yet but i'm thinking 3 day park hopper! Do you think 3 days is enough?? I feel like Disneyland seems busier than Disneyworld since its so much more compact. Maybe its just my imagination!

I would love recommendations on anything Disneyland/LA as we have both never been to the area! Oh we are driving, all the way from Portland so this will be a road trip!! Stops along the way are appreciated too






P.s. We have tentative dates for our next WDW trip.. We have both agreed a week is not enough and will be going for 10 days next time. We are thinking September 17th-27th 2017, hoping we can catch the beginning of food and wine again. I am thinking we will stay in a moderate this time too. Riverside possibly? I've always wanted to stay there! Or maybe Coronado springs, as i am kind of falling in love with it from pictures. Billy is super cool with a value again but id like something nicer since we would be staying so many days. Is it crazy i'm already starting to plan? Im hoping i can book the hotel by July

 

[RyPat]

whatever you do, DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT, eat at Captain Kidd's across the street from Disneyland. Biggest mistake we made on our trip.
And being right next door to each other i would definitely get the Hoppers.

 

[Ciara]

whatever you do, DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT, eat at Captain Kidd's across the street from Disneyland. Biggest mistake we made on our trip.
And being right next door to each other i would definitely get the Hoppers.

Noted What about in disneyland? Any big hits or misses?

 

[prfctlyximprct]

Ahhhh so exciting!!! My trip is in November and it seems forever away! Can't wait to hear all about Disneyland! My boyfriend says the exact same thing, let's go to an island not Disney! He doesn't get it! I have an addiction too

 

[RyPat]

Noted What about in disneyland? Any big hits or misses?

We only did 3 days there and stayed off property so breakfast was at the motel and lunch and dinner was mostly counter service. We did do one lunch reservation at Blue Bayou though which was cool. It's a little pricier but it's also inside Pirates of the Caribbean (which is a longer version than WDW too!) It was cool to see the ride going by while eating!

Had one meal at Flo's V8 Cafe also, the food was nothing memorable but just being in Cars Land is awesome

 

[RyPat]

Ahhhh so exciting!!! My trip is in November and it seems forever away! Can't wait to hear all about Disneyland! My boyfriend says the exact same thing, let's go to an island not Disney! He doesn't get it! I have an addiction too

Well... Disney does own an island in the Bahamas...

 

[Doc Disney]

Ah! You will love Disneyland!! Its definitely different than WDW but in a good way I think We did 3 days (well 4 but 2 were half days) and I felt like that was plenty. We were there in the summer/busy time too and we thought it was manageable. If you have any interest in doing a Dining Package for World of Color (the night time show at Cali Adventure) we really enjoyed our meal at Ariel's Grotto

 

[Ciara]

Ahhhh so exciting!!! My trip is in November and it seems forever away! Can't wait to hear all about Disneyland! My boyfriend says the exact same thing, let's go to an island not Disney! He doesn't get it! I have an addiction too

Right?! November seems soo far right now. I am hoping summer will be busy and go by quick and then bam! only a couple months till Disney Islands are cool but i cant help but think of all i could do for a week in the world... I dont think i could ever be bored and its just my happy place

 

[Ciara]

We only did 3 days there and stayed off property so breakfast was at the motel and lunch and dinner was mostly counter service. We did do one lunch reservation at Blue Bayou though which was cool. It's a little pricier but it's also inside Pirates of the Caribbean (which is a longer version than WDW too!) It was cool to see the ride going by while eating!

Had one meal at Flo's V8 Cafe also, the food was nothing memorable but just being in Cars Land is awesome

Blue Bayou is the only place on my radar right now so i am glad you mentioned it! I think its gonna be a must -do!

 

[Ciara]

Ah! You will love Disneyland!! Its definitely different than WDW but in a good way I think We did 3 days (well 4 but 2 were half days) and I felt like that was plenty. We were there in the summer/busy time too and we thought it was manageable. If you have any interest in doing a Dining Package for World of Color (the night time show at Cali Adventure) we really enjoyed our meal at Ariel's Grotto

YAY! I am excited to see the differences Thanks for the info on how many days and crowds, its sounding like 3 days will be good!

You have sparked my interest with this world of color dining thing! I am definitely going to look into that

btw i LOVED your disneyland TR!

 

[RyPat]

Blue Bayou is the only place on my radar right now so i am glad you mentioned it! I think its gonna be a must -do!

We split the Monte Cristo sandwich, so that's all i can comment on, but it was very tasty

You have sparked my interest with this world of color dining thing! I am definitely going to look into that

Unfortunately we went a couple months BEFORE the 60th Anniversary celebration started - so the list of closures included World of Color (would love to have seen that ), Matterhorn, Splash, Soarin', and all of Grizzly Peak... but it was still a good time!

 

[Ciara]

We split the Monte Cristo sandwich, so that's all i can comment on, but it was very tasty



Unfortunately we went a couple months BEFORE the 60th Anniversary celebration started - so the list of closures included World of Color (would love to have seen that ), Matterhorn, Splash, Soarin', and all of Grizzly Peak... but it was still a good time!

Currently there are no confirmed closures for our dates, fingers crossed!

However the diamond celebration will be over

 

[RyPat]

Currently there are no confirmed closures for our dates, fingers crossed!

However the diamond celebration will be over

But at least things will be open and freshly refurbed for you

 

[jrogue]

This sounds great! Can't wait to hear more as you go along in your planning!

 

[Doc Disney]

YAY! I am excited to see the differences Thanks for the info on how many days and crowds, its sounding like 3 days will be good!

You have sparked my interest with this world of color dining thing! I am definitely going to look into that

btw i LOVED your disneyland TR!

Thank you!!! If you have any questions let me know Not that I'm an expert after going once haha

 

[gobstoper27]

Sooo exciting, you'll get to see the Haunted Mansion all decked out in The Nightmare Before Christmas theme and radiator springs at night is amazing! I agree with your theory on it being busier because it's smaller so a three day hopper is perfect!!

 

[Ciara]

Its the funniest thing to me but i literally keep forgetting i have this booked! I feel like i am completely skipping Disneyland and getting ready to plan our next trip to WDW. Which by the way i book in less than two weeks!!!!!!!!!

I cant wait to start my PTR

 

[samantha788]

This is so exciting and I don't know how I missed this before!! We did 3 days in March and of course would have loved more time, but the 3 days ended up being a good amount, we took it slow too since my mom had an awful cold during the trip. We did the Paint the Night Blue Bayou dinner our first night. Food was amazing!!! But it was also expensive. I don't regret it though, it was the perfect way to start our trip and see Paint the Night for the first time
And Cove Bar in California Adventure! Oh my goodness. Lobster nachos. and the best drinks! Also, the Plaza character breakfast is really fun. And whatever you do...don't miss the paint the night parade!! It was the thing I was most looking forward to and definitely was my favorite
So excited for you!!

 

[Ciara]

This is so exciting and I don't know how I missed this before!! We did 3 days in March and of course would have loved more time, but the 3 days ended up being a good amount, we took it slow too since my mom had an awful cold during the trip. We did the Paint the Night Blue Bayou dinner our first night. Food was amazing!!! But it was also expensive. I don't regret it though, it was the perfect way to start our trip and see Paint the Night for the first time
And Cove Bar in California Adventure! Oh my goodness. Lobster nachos. and the best drinks! Also, the Plaza character breakfast is really fun. And whatever you do...don't miss the paint the night parade!! It was the thing I was most looking forward to and definitely was my favorite
So excited for you!!

Thank you for the info! I love any help i can get! Did you try any of the counter service? We plan to mostly eat in the parks and beside causal sit down restaurants i haven't seen any menus that look amazing

I think we have decided to skip blue bayou to save money, but Cove bar is on my list! I don't even love lobster but i have to try those lobster nachos!! and all their colorful drinks

I have heard SOO many great things about paint the night, its a must see!!

 

[Ciara]

Sooo exciting, you'll get to see the Haunted Mansion all decked out in The Nightmare Before Christmas theme and radiator springs at night is amazing! I agree with your theory on it being busier because it's smaller so a three day hopper is perfect!!

I am obsessed with cars so its what i am looking forward to most! Ill definitely have to check it out at night

I seriously cannot wait to see all the decorations! I finally started really diving into the planning and have been reading articles, looking and menus, pictures and all of the holidays stuff is just amazing!