Disneyland meal plans + best value hotel
 

We are trying to plan a trip to Disneyland next month and are wondering if it is worth it to buy the meal plans that are offered with the packages. I believe we are going to book a character breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. Also we have been reading very conflicting hotel reviews for the immediate area around the park and were trying to find somewhere reasonable to lay our heads for the 5 nights we are staying. We are 2 adults, a 9 yr old boy and a 1yr old girl. Our main reason for being in the area is for my husbands graduation in Cerritos but we are trying to make a vacation out of it. We have never been to Disneyland or California before.

We had good luck on two different trips at the Howard Johnson across from Disneyland. If you look at my trip report--click on my name--you can get details.

We liked Mimi's restaurant especially well; it is located in the HoJo parking lot. There were not particularly long lines at Denney's or other places when we went. We were disappointed in the Rainforest Cafe and would not recommend it.

We had a car and also bought groceries and packed a lunch or heavy snacks for our time in the park. We ate that and avoided the long lunch lines--my teenager needed to eat again about 2:30 pm (but at least this was after the lunch rush).

Wherever you stay, I would plan on heading back to the park during the heat of the day for either swimming with the 9 year old or napping with the 1 year old. Go back again in the evening when it's cooler.

Research the fast passes--basically you can go in a shorter express line on certain popular rides if you put your ticket in a machine and it will tell you the time to go to that ride and "fastpass" your way in. With a 1-year-old, plan on one of you spending more time in Toontown or the Bug's Life kiddie area at California Adventure. Your 9 year old is perfect age for your first trip. Have fun!

Ditto on the fast passes, they can save you long hours of standing in line for rides.
On the meal plans, as you have probably noticed, they are a big up front investment. In my experience, you come out ahead with them, if (1) you use them for every meal you have prepaid for and (2) you are the type of people who would typically order desert with every meal because dessert is included. For me, the fun of the meal plan was that since I had prepaid an amount roughly equal to the cheapest thing on the menu, I could order the most expensive entree with no further hit to my budget.

Food in the park can get really expensive, depending on what you want to eat. If you're the kind of person that doesn't need the huge super-sized meals, a kids meal is often a good option even for an adult. I'm a passholder and I often buy kids meals, especially at Plaza Inn where you can get some delicious chicken with veggies and mashed potatoes (or a biscuit) for just $6. The kids meals also come with a small drink.

Another cheaper food option is the corn dog stand. It's actually cheaper than the kids meal and includes a huge (and delicious) corn dog and your choice of chips or apples.

If you order a regular adult meal in the park, consider splitting it. One meal there is a whole lot of food and is usually good for two.

In CA Adventure, I recommend the Taste Pilot's Grill. They've got delicious sandwiches and bbq at decent prices. Tommorowland has the Pizza Port, which has great salads and pasta. I don't recommend the pizza here, though.

I also recommend bringing a refillable bottle for water and just refilling throughout the park. You can also bring your own food in if you want to make some PB&J, etc to eat. Just know that you can't bring in big coolers or anything in a glass bottle.

Outside the park, you can go to many fast food restaurants or IHOP/Denny's type places. Mimi's Cafe is a great option.

As for a place to stay, the Doubletree on Harbor and Orangewood is great. The hotel restaurant (though more expensive than Denny's) has delicious food. I used to work at a school nearby and we kept having our events there because they were so nice and the food was so good.

Hope this helps!

As far as the reviews go, look for cleanliness and take other comments with a grain of salt. If someone would rather stay at the Hilton, but they settle for the econo lodge, they are never going to be very happy. It's about expectations.

I second the Mimi's recommendation. I have stayed at:

Sheraton Anaheim - dated but fine
Fairfield Inn - right across from the park - a little noisy
Marriott - nice - higher end than the above
Paradise Point - Disney brand - fun for the kids - closer to the parks then the Disneyland hotel -
California Grand - expensive and very lovely

Either the Sheraton or the Fairfield inn would fit your bill. I would see what hotels have the nicest pool areas in your budget as I really agree with headed back to the hotel for part of the time to cool off.

You might try PL for a hotel - I got that Doubletree for 50.00 a night over spring break.

There is also a McD right next to the Fairfield Inn and HJ - and you can always grab something there.

HBNicole - I go to a school nearby - wonder if it is one and the same? :)

adding - I am in that area at least 2 times a week for classes. If you tell me the name of a property I am happy to do at least a drive by to confirm for you. I currently have class on Wed and Thursday.

I drove by the Howard Johnson's today and noticed it has a cute pool area - much better than the Fairfield Inn pool area.

The actual food part of a meal inside the parks isn't that bad a value, it's the beverages and desserts that start to add up. Main courses are in the range of $10-$14 and usually include a side item, and are fairly large. Childrens Meals are a good value at $7 including a small drink and side of fruit. French Market is one of the better choices for healthier options for adults and children. For your 1-year old, there are also toddler's meals at some places.

A good place to get an idea of a la carte menu choices is at

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm#dl

You can scroll down and also look at choices at Downtown Disney, but don't forget they pay Disney rent and give them a cut of the proceeds, so don't expect any bargains there.

And I have heard nothing good at all about Rainforest Cafe.

My favorite spot for a quick meal is the Whitewater Cafe which is near the Grand Californian entrance to Cal Adventure.

I think the Lilo and Stitch character breakfast is the most fun (and definitely for the 9year old boy!) The food isn't bad, either. They don't publicize this but it isn't necessary to have the buffet at the character breakfast, however I think it's really a pretty decent value. Don't forget to order the Mickey Waffles..If you order the buffet you can add almost anything from the main menu as well.

I forgot to comment on the Lilo and Stitch - big fun. My 12 year old daughter and her two friends even enjoyed it :)

Downtown Disney is a lot of fun, but there isn't a whole lot of food worth eating there. My favorite place to eat at DD is the Jazz Kitchen, either the regular restaurant or the Express. The Express is probably the best deal you'll find in DD, with big portions and decent prices. The regular restaurant can be pricey, but the food is delicious and there's entertainment in the evenings.

Don't bother with the Blue Bayou. It's all atmosphere and no substance. If you're willing to spend the money to eat there, go to Napa Rose at the Grand Californian hotel instead.

And yes, the drinks and dessert do add up. As I said before - snacks and your own water bottles are definitely the way to go. You can even throw some ice in your bottles when you stop for meals, since a lot of places have self-serve drink stations and they don't mind you filling up with ice and water.

MomDD - I doubt it was the same school, unless you're still in high school!

Find a hotel with a nice big breakfast to hold you a long while. Why spend your hours in the park DINING when you've paid a boatload to enter the park and see the attractions.
That's exactly what Disney would like you to do! At the food kiosks you'll see long lines and slow service. They actually WANT to slow you down and take up your time so that you're not helping lengthen all the lines for the rides. They'd LOVE for you to spend 2 of your paid hours going back and forth to Downtown Disney for a meal. The whole place is designed to try and keep people from trying to get onto a ride. Rides are hard to find for a newcomer, but the shops and eateries are at every blink. "Be sure to take your place on the sidewalk 90 minutes early if you want a good seat for the parade!" yeah, right, that's what I just spent 80 dollars to do....sit on the sidewalk and wait.
Take a look around next time you're at the park...you'll see about 2000 people in line for rides, and the other 18,000 people just wandering about aimlessly.
But I digress....find a hotel with a good breakfast, and eat the quickest on-the-go lunch that you can in the park, or bring your own.

I don't really recommend going offsite to eat during park hours at all, with the exception of Whitewater Snacks which you can access directly for California Adventure and which never has crowds. Why spend morning hours eating a mediocre hotel breakfast when the mornings are the best times to go on the rides without lines?
Best way to avoid lines is to eat slightly off-peak. Late breakfast, late lunch. Use the Fastpass system for any ride that has them. Many people supposedly "wandering aimlessly" might just be headed to the next Fastpass ride. Or they might be season pass holders that didn't pay anything that day for admission and just have a few favorite rides and entertainment venues. Eg, Fantasmic is newly redone and is drawing a lot of locals who are primarily coming to the park for Fantasmic.

MomDD - I doubt it was the same school, unless you're still in high school!>>

Hahah..no :)

mlgb--I agree with your idea entirely....but for this age group they're getting up early anyway. Get a hotel where there's a buffet included or there's an inroom fridge and eat in your room. As I recall the Fairfield often has a full buffet that comes with your room, but please check that.

A 1-year-old needs to eat early for everyone's sanity. And of course young kids get up early. If possible, get up at 6:30 or 7, eat in your room or downstairs and get there when your early entrance opens. I would however, pack snacks and fruit and haul around a backpack or consider a locker on mainstreet. Then eat lunch late, as recommended above.

Mom--dd--yes, the Hojo was remodeling the swimming area when I was there last summer but I didn't get to see the completed area. There is also a second pool at HoJo that is further back from the parking area.

I think the food at Wine Country Trattoria at California Adventure is actually pretty tasty and has a nice selection of wine. Sitting outside on the patio is very pleasant and not hectic at all. It is included in the dining package option and kids are welcome.

I like the Wine Country Trattoria as well.