Disneyland recs?

[konapoppy]

I spontaneously booked an amazing vrbo in Anaheim for January 2022. If all goes as planned, the twins will be 4 year olds and my parents who will be 73 will come too.

The way I booked it, we could do 3 days at the park. That way we can go in the morning, then stay at the house/pool in the afternoons and it feel rushed.

What should I know? I haven’t been as an adult in over 10 years.

[jewel]

In normal times, you don’t really have to plan anything unless you want to eat at a fancy place or do the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique 😊 We usually book a character meal (dinner at Goofy’s is my favorite) and just wing the rest of it. I think they book 60 days out, still.

Things are very strange right now...so there’s no way to know what Jan 2022 will hold. Are you close enough to walk to take ART? I’d recommend avoiding parking, if you can. There are currently no fast passes and mobile order dining only, which will hopefully change in the next 6 months. But overall, DL is not like DW planning, at all. You can easily just show up and figure out your day.

Unless you have an indoor pool, you probably won’t be swimming 😊 With little kids, we used to go to the parks in the morning, 2-3 hours of rest at the hotel, and then back to the parks in the evening.

[Wines Not Whines]

I’m also curious what DL is like now. We’re planning to go for 3 days in August. The last time we were there was 2017.

[konapoppy]

Jun 6, 2021 23:58:19 GMT -5 jewel said:

In normal times, you don’t really have to plan anything unless you want to eat at a fancy place or do the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique 😊 We usually book a character meal (dinner at Goofy’s is my favorite) and just wing the rest of it. I think they book 60 days out, still.

Things are very strange right now...so there’s no way to know what Jan 2022 will hold. Are you close enough to walk to take ART? I’d recommend avoiding parking, if you can. There are currently no fast passes and mobile order dining only, which will hopefully change in the next 6 months. But overall, DL is not like DW planning, at all. You can easily just show up and figure out your day.

Unless you have an indoor pool, you probably won’t be swimming 😊 With little kids, we used to go to the parks in the morning, 2-3 hours of rest at the hotel, and then back to the parks in the evening.

Thanks for the help!

Good to know we don’t need to stress. It it technically walking distance to the monorail or whatever. But I also think my dad will want nothing to do with the park so he may be able to drop us off.

We are California natives (and my parents are from LA), so we don’t have unrealistic expectations of the weather. But the pool is heated with a fun slide, so I think the kids will at least enjoy it!

[jewel]

Jun 7, 2021 4:37:56 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

I’m also curious what DL is like now. We’re planning to go for 3 days in August. The last time we were there was 2017.

It’s really strange right now. They’ve made a lot of covid changes. The feedback has been extreme, in both directions. Generally, people are having much better experiences during the week, and tougher times on the weekends. A lot could change by August though, so who knows!

Right now - no fast passes and lines are spaced for social distancing. Due to physical space, lines can only go so far, so lines often close for capacity and you can’t even get in line. A few rides have virtual queues, which seems to work well, especially if you return right at the start of your window. No shows or parades. All quick eats (non reservation restaurants) are by mobile order only, and most order times are 2+ hours out. Park hoping is limited, if you have hopper tickets. I think right now they allow you to switch after 1pm, if the other park has room. Good news...most people are saying that ride wait times are generally pretty quick, and mostly much quicker than the posted wait time. Make sure you bring portable phone chargers, because you need your phone for food ordering and the virtual queues, and you’ll be out of luck if your phone dies.

I imagine that things will start to get better though, hopefully by August! The state mandates will all be lifted on June 15th, so policies after that will be strictly up to DL. DW seems to be running a lot better, so I’m guessing DL May mirror that soon.

[jewel]

Jun 7, 2021 9:19:52 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Jun 6, 2021 23:58:19 GMT -5 jewel said:

In normal times, you don’t really have to plan anything unless you want to eat at a fancy place or do the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique 😊 We usually book a character meal (dinner at Goofy’s is my favorite) and just wing the rest of it. I think they book 60 days out, still.

Things are very strange right now...so there’s no way to know what Jan 2022 will hold. Are you close enough to walk to take ART? I’d recommend avoiding parking, if you can. There are currently no fast passes and mobile order dining only, which will hopefully change in the next 6 months. But overall, DL is not like DW planning, at all. You can easily just show up and figure out your day.

Unless you have an indoor pool, you probably won’t be swimming 😊 With little kids, we used to go to the parks in the morning, 2-3 hours of rest at the hotel, and then back to the parks in the evening.

Thanks for the help!

Good to know we don’t need to stress. It it technically walking distance to the monorail or whatever. But I also think my dad will want nothing to do with the park so he may be able to drop us off.

We are California natives (and my parents are from LA), so we don’t have unrealistic expectations of the weather. But the pool is heated with a fun slide, so I think the kids will at least enjoy it!

Unless you have your heart set on a reservation experience, I’d just show up and wing it (although I do really really love character dining 😊). We’ve been probably 10 times in the last 5 years and I’ve never planned anything beyond an occasional character dinner.
One suggestion though - get their silhouettes done on main street. It’s a cool little experience, well-priced, and so pretty to display at home.

[Wines Not Whines]

jewel Thanks! Right now we’re planning to be there during the week (Monday-Wednesday), and I hope it’s a little quieter than a weekend.