My review...

[Marmee]

I'm lazy so this will be short. We did 2 days in each park (DL & CA adventures). My 9 & 11yr old rode every single ride in both, several multiple times but it was crowded. We did fast passes combined with Rider Swap (which lets you take up to 3 people with the swap). Having paid for my newly 3yr old ticket was worth it for the extra fast pass. Loved the Cars ride (Racing one) as last time we were at DL/CA was the day before CarsLand opened. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Park Entrance which is new & really nice. Had a nice water park my girls made use of the day we arrived. My younger 2 did the bippity bop salon. The food was better than I remember. We did the Plaza Inn & Ariels Grotto Character meals plus a few others and some quick service. My almost 7yr old definitely got the biggest kick out of it this time. If anyone has specific questions I'll try to answer!

[curbsideprophet]

Glad you had a good time!

[livinitup]

Was Disneyland or Downtown doing anything special for Star Wars? We have a trip in 2 weeks and big fans.

How much was the hair salon? Would you recommend for 2 girls 8 and 9 ?

Recommendation for lunch for characters? Other places to see characters in DL or Downtown?

Marmee,

[gardengal]

Apr 9, 2016 9:15:12 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Was Disneyland or Downtown doing anything special for Star Wars?

Not OP, but DL has the Launch Bay portion where you can meet Chewy & Kylo Ren & sometimes Boba Fet. If you have kids, there is the Jedi Training skit where the kids dress in ropes & learn to fight with lightsabers (they have to give the robes & lightsaber back). Then Space Mountain has the Star Wars overlay (it's Hyperspace Mountain right now) and there's the Star Wars ride.

[alleinesein]

Apr 9, 2016 9:15:12 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Was Disneyland or Downtown doing anything special for Star Wars? We have a trip in 2 weeks and big fans.

How much was the hair salon? Would you recommend for 2 girls 8 and 9 ?

Recommendation for lunch for characters? Other places to see characters in DL or Downtown?

Tomorrowland is doing the Season of the Force.  Character meet and greets at the Launchpad.  Star Tours has incorporated Jakku into the ride.  Space Mountain is now Hyperspace Mountain.  The Galactic Grill has Star Wars themed food and drinks (I love the light side lemonade).  Stormtroopers patrol the area and they play music from the movies in Tomorrowland.  If you are a Disney Chase Visa card holder there is an exclusive character meet & greet from 4pm-8pm at the Launchpad; it is with Kylo Ren and you get a voucher for a free 5x7 pic.

I will try to pop into the salon to get prices while I am there tomorrow.  It isn't very big so you might want to see if you can book reservations now.  Prices start around $60 and go up from there (they have them posted online).  Anna and Elsa's Boutique in Downtown Disney has packages starting at $35 so that could be a more cost effective option and if they are fans of Frozen it might be a big hit!

There really aren't many character meals at DLR.  Most of them are breakfast.  Ariels Grotto has a Princess Celebration for lunch. Goofy's Kitchen does breakfast/brunch until 1:15pm.  

Characters pop up all over the place in both parks.  There is also a Disney Chase Visa meet and greet at DCA and it starts around 1030am (they have had Minnie and Daisy the past 2 times I have been in the park).  The daily event guide will have a list of all the character meet and greet areas.

Downtown Disney doesn't really do 'disney' stuff.  

Are you staying on property?  They have some stuff for kids at the hotels and they will have a schedule when you check in.

[livinitup]

We're staying at Howard Johnson by Disneyland.

[sessy]

Apr 9, 2016 18:22:19 GMT -5 livinitup said:

We're staying at Howard Johnson by Disneyland.

I stayed here for my first Disney trip. Loved it.

[alleinesein]

Apr 9, 2016 22:04:26 GMT -5 sessy said:

Apr 9, 2016 18:22:19 GMT -5 livinitup said:

We're staying at Howard Johnson by Disneyland.

I stayed here for my first Disney trip. Loved it.

I always see the pool area from the monorail and I want to go play in it!  It looks like so much fun.