Disneyland People

[lala]

So it looks like Smokey Mountains are out and Southern California is in. I am not disappointed.  

What I've decided so far I think is we will be there Sun - Thurs the first week of October. I am planning on renting DVC points for the Grand Californian like I do for DVC rooms in WDW. 

The halloween party is probably happening at least one night while we are there. Yay or nay? We've done it in WDW but don't know how it compares. 

Since we have 4 nights and 4-5 days, I'm not planning on rushing at all, probably more time than we need. We are not planning on visiting any other local attractions while there, except for in & out.

Tips? Where should we eat? Best character breakfast? 

We'll probably fly in the saturday before into San Diego and head back down there afterwards for 5 nights or so. Renting a car - is that the best way to do it? 

Really any more advice is appreciated!

[quesyrah]

If I wast in the car I would write a novel lol. Yay to the Halloween thing. Goofy's kitchen for the character dining. You'll love the GCH it's gorgeous!

[quesyrah]

Eat- I'm in the car but not driving

[lala]

I knew you'd have more info! No rush, we start booking the big things next month. I'm just excited!

[quesyrah]

Okay, so the food is far superior a WDW. you mostly don't need ADRs at Disneyland. you do if you want to eat at Blue Bayou and it's a pretty fun experience. Also if you eat at Carthay Circle (in DCA) which is my favorite but it's a nice meal and I don't take my kids there so your call.

For a quick service meal at Disneyland there's Rancho Del Zocalo in frontier land- great Mexican. In New Orleans Square I like Cafe Orleans. There's also a walk up window near Pirates of the Caribbean that serves good gumbo and apple fritters. For a quick snack Bengal BBQ across from jungle cruise has meat and veggie skewers- I love the beef one with the sweet sauce. On Main Street near the Walt and Mickey statue there's a cart that sells chimichangas and I love the corn dogs at the little red wagon on Main Street.


At DCA, Boudin bakery in the wharf is my go-to for lunch. They have sandwiches and soup and salad in bread bowls. Also located at the wharf is Lucky Fortune cookery (Chinese) which is good and Cocina Cucamonga which is nearly identical to Rancho del zocalo over at DL. In Paradise Pier there's Ariel's grotto which is a princess lunch. Food is good though. Also in PP is the Mediterranean grill. Another favorite. Hands down, the best food (other than carthay) is at the Golden Vine Winery. For sure I would eat there. Flo's in Carsland is also really good and it's a fun place to eat dinner once all the neon is lit up. If you like
Hot dogs, award weiners in Hollywood is good. For a quick bite, hit the cozy cone in Carsland

For world of color I recommend doing the dining package that gives you reserved seats. You can either do a picnic box (provided by the winery) or dine in for a nicer meal and then you get your tickets at the end. Similarly, if you went to see fantastic you can't best the reserved seating dessert buffet.

I would use your early entry morning for DCA particularly if you want to ride radiator springs racers in Carsland, it books out early and will typically run a 2 hour stand by wait. The GCH has its own entrance into DCA so you can head right over to fast pass distribution which is near the entrance to bugs land.

You definitely need to see the Paint the Night parade at Disneyland and the Disneyland forever fireworks. I like to grab a spot for the parade by small world and the you can just stay there and se the fireworks. Note- you wont be able to see tinkerbell or nemo fly from this location though. I would not try to see fantastic and the parade/fireworks on the same night. The daytime parade is good too and my kids love the Pixar play parade at DCA.

[quesyrah]

Oh, and I would do Goofy's kitchen for breakfast. Other good breakfast options are carnation cafe at Disneyland and storytellers cafe at the GCH.

In downtown Disney, Napoli is good as well as ther quick service/takeout counter. If you need an early night you can grab a pizza and salad and take back to the room.

[lala]

Re-reading as I'm starting to plan more…thanks for all of the food tips quesyrah ! I now know what people planning their first disney world trip must feel like; so overwhelming!

I think I might have asked you (quesyrah) this in PM on FB; but yay or nay to the halloween party? I will have to see what the schedule is for the parties next year, b/c we'll have to carefully plan so that we still have a night or 2 in DL w/o the party to see the "normal" stuff. That's assuming the stuff during the party is different, it is in the MK in DW. So, thoughts? The kids will be 8, 5 & 2.5. (OMG THEY WILL BE SO BIG)

[quesyrah]

Yay to the Halloween party. Stuff is definitely different and it's really fun.

[dizzycooks]

You all overwhelm me with this Disney talk. Every time I think I want to do it I read things like this and it no longer seems like I could possibly do it right. Oy.

[lala]

You can! And we can help.

[dizzycooks]

Oct 25, 2015 17:15:18 GMT -5 lala said:

You can! And we can help.

You sound like a home depot commercial

[quesyrah]

Oct 25, 2015 17:12:41 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

You all overwhelm me with this Disney talk. Every time I think I want to do it I read things like this and it no longer seems like I could possibly do it right. Oy.

The only wrong way to do Disney is to not go at all! Some people are opening-close do it all Disney people and some are go with the flow we'll see whatever we see Disney people.

There is so much to do, eat, see and experience that you really can't go wrong.

[jensriot]

Oct 25, 2015 17:12:41 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

You all overwhelm me with this Disney talk. Every time I think I want to do it I read things like this and it no longer seems like I could possibly do it right. Oy.

Right?! We just booked a Disney cruise, so most of the decisions were made for us instead, lol. When I told DH we need AT LEAST a year to book our WDW vacation, he was amazed. We don't have to think about it for a while now, but it's overwhelming.

[lala]

See, we plan almost all vacations a year out, so that part doesn't phase me. In fact we actually usually decide 15-18 months prior to start racking up airmiles or hotel points.

[lala]

Oct 25, 2015 16:44:28 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

Yay to the Halloween party. Stuff is definitely different and it's really fun.

Reading comprehension fail. You already answered this in this very thread. Duh. Sorry! I appreciate it. 

[NandaB]

Oct 26, 2015 2:14:18 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

Oct 25, 2015 17:12:41 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

You all overwhelm me with this Disney talk. Every time I think I want to do it I read things like this and it no longer seems like I could possibly do it right. Oy.

The only wrong way to do Disney is to not go at all! Some people are opening-close do it all Disney people and some are go with the flow we'll see whatever we see Disney people.

There is so much to do, eat, see and experience that you really can't go wrong.

I think the right way is to tell you when we're going and beg you to come be our tour guide

[lala]

Does that work?!