- Save money and book an off park hotel. We stayed at the Red Lion Inn which is the furthest point you should stay and still be able to walk to and from.
- Before you leave
- Book flight and Super Shuttle before you leave. The shuttle is only $12pp and AAA will give you a $2 discount if you belong. A car is not necessary if you are only going to the parks. It is walkable from a lot of hotels and there is a shuttle to the park if you need it.
- Make dinner reservations if you want to go to some of the most popular nice dinner spots. I recommend Napa Rose in the hotel next to California Adventure. It is about $100pp ($45 filet) an excellent steakhouse atmosphere. Blue Bayou Restaurant is a popular dinner spot, not much cheaper ($35-40 for fish or jambalaya), the atmosphere is more Disney, not as fancy but cooler since you can sit on the river on Pirates of the Carabbean and although inside you feel like you are outside. Unfortunately the food is never as good as the location. It is the last time I'll go here. If it wouldn't have been my husbands birthday I would have complained about the food. The rice under my fish and the rice in the Jambalaya was not cooked properly
- Buy your park tickets through AAA, if you belong, and enjoy free parking at the park if you drive. But at the very least avoid the lines at the park to purchase tix. I recommend the 3 day park hopper. Four days was one too many.
- Go on a Tues & Wed. Wait times are the best and get worse as it gets closer to the weekend. The most we waited in line was 30 minutes but that was only on a few rides, the rest were very quick. When it hit Thur and especially Friday some rides were over 90 minutes. Way too long for me. I just don't have that kind of patience.
- Arrive when the parks open, don't get there an hour early only to wait in line to get in.
- Pick up a map and show schedule and as you ride mark off what you have done if your intent like mine is to do it all.
- First day Disneyland, second day California Adventure, Third day combo. Three days is plenty. By day four I was sick of the crowds and lines.
- Head down Main Street and make a quick stop at the end, on the left at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café for a Madihorn Macaroon.
- Then head straight to Fantasyland. The lines here can get really long and they are pretty boring lines. I would start with Madihorn, then Peter Pan, It's a Small World, Snow White, Pinochio, Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toads Wild Ride,
- Next hit your favorite rides or the most popular aka longest lines. And remember some rides are worth the wait but others are fun but not worth an hour of your time so ride the one's you won't wait in long lines for first.
- New Orleans Square: Pirates of the Caribbean & Haunted Mansion (2 favorites)
- Adventureland: Indiana Jones
- Tomorrowland: Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Frontierland: Big Thunder Mountain
- Critter Country: Splash Mountain
- Main Street: Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
- Adventureland: Enchanted Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise
- Critter Country: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tomorrowland: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Autopia
Note: I ride all but a few rides (eg teacups) and since I don't go with kids I avoid Mickey's Toontown.
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE (Second day):
This was my first trip to CA Adventure. At first I wasn't too impressed by the rides, and it felt amall until the crowds picked up then it was nice to get out of Disneyland, grab a drink and relax here.
- Head to Soaring Over California first. If you don't like heights sit in the back row which will end up the lowest row.
- Second over to "A Bug's Land" to get your fast pass for Radiator Springs Racers. If there is a long line get your World of Color fast pass first then go back.
- Third over to Grizzly Peak by the wooden bear to pick up your World of Color fast pass. Both Radiator Springs Racers and A World of Color will sell out so getting a Fast pass for each is important. You can always check out the wait if it is not long and ride a second time if you like.
- Finally hit the most popular rides:
- Hollywood Land: Tower of Terror
- A Bug's Land: Nothing but the 3D show "It's Tough to be a Bug"
- Pacific Wharf: Nothing
- Paradise Pier: California Screaming
- Grizzly Peak: Grizzly River run if you don't mind getting soaked.
- Paradise Pier: California Screaming, Toy Story Midway Mania, Little Mermaid
- Hollywood Land: Monsters Inc: pay attention to Roz at the end, she see's you and will talk directly to you.
Disney:
- Main Street: Jolly Holiday Bakery Café: Madihorn Macaroon and the corndog at the Little Red Wagon Truck on the right at the end of main street. But if you will only do one corndog don't do this one. Instead wait for CA Adventures, Corn Dog Castle: Hot Link corn dog (opens at 11).
- Adventureland: Bengal BBQ: Jalapeno & Mozzarella stuffed pretzels. Avoid the chicken and beef skewers.
- New Orleans: Café Orleans: Monte Cristo is a donut stuffed with cheese, ham and turkey. Sprinkled with powdered sugar and berry jam for dipping is sinful. It is pricy at $18, be sure to split it and even with that and sharing an order of fries I was ruined for food the rest of the day. It was just too much.
- Tiki Room: Dole Pineapple ice cream. Although I am not a big fan of ice cream this was good. I preferred it by itself vs. as a float with the pineapple juice.
- Cars Land: Cozy Cone Motel, Chili Cone Queso ($6.99). The chili, cheese and corn chips were tasty. The bread cone was a bit disappointing and could be better.
- If you drink beer you are in luck at CA Adventure. If you drink mixed drinks it is not worth it. After 3 Long Island Ice Teas I still couldn't feel it. I should have been on the floor. Face it the reason people drink is to feel the effect. If you are just thirsty stick with a water or soda. At $10 a drink for a measured shot you will go broke before you go buzzed. And yes Disneyland is not the place to get drunk but a relaxing happy feeling after a long day of walking is deserved.
- Starbucks is in CA Adventure but if there is a line don't bother. Head over to Paradise Peer's coffee cart by the bridge.
- Grand Californian Hotel: Napa Rose: My rating is a 5 star minus a bit of attitude from the waiter. Don't drink here, they are the smallest TALLs in the park. See Yelp review for full write up. Make reservations.
- Carthay Circle Lounge: Nice, restful lounge with comfy leather chairs. Only 4 bar seats so good place to relax in quite for a drink but not my kind of a "bar".
- Al Fresco Lounge: Again relaxing, quite, upper level bar with a semi view (not as impressive as I read), focusing on wine and champagne. OK but as I said above not my kind of a bar.
- Cove Bar: Best bar in the park however they seat you so you just can't walk up to the bar which I hated. If you want a drink, go here but go early to avoid the lines and get a seat at the round bar. The service was a 3/4, Long Islands were a 4 but go for the generic and save $2. Only problem is I should have felt my 3 drinks. AVOID like the plague the Lobster Nachos. I read they were the best but they were fishy and crumbles of so called lobster. Don't believe what you read about them. I rate them a 0.
- Grand Californian Hotel: Hearthstone Lounge: wood, elegant, small bar top but tons of tables. Not worth sitting at the bar but if with a group or you want some quite, grab a table. At the bar however you get crunchies.
Downtown Disney:
- Disneyland Hotel: Trader Sams Tiki Bar: best bar and appetizers. Have a mai tai, the kaluha pork flat bread & the ahi tuna. The lettuce wraps were just OK. Beware of the sinking stools. There are three, one on each side and they slowly sink and rise. It is fun to see if people notice.
- Tortilla Jose Cantina: Happy hour between 3-5, great nachos - but not the one's on the happy hour menu get the regular "real cheese" ones. Lively outdoor atmosphere, friendly bartenders, cheapest happy hour drinks (premixed margarita or draft $5).
- Uva Bar: Great spot if you are a smoker. You sit outside at the round bar in the center of Downtown Disney. If you are not a smoker, not the best spot unless you don't mind the smoke. No Stolie so Kettle Soda $11.50, Harp $8.50
- Ralph Brennan Jazz Kitchen: Largest "TALL" vodka soda, more like what I expect when I order a tall anywhere else. I prefer a pint. Split the cheesesteak and it was pretty good.
- ESPN Zone: loud, sports, chain restaurant atmosphere. It would have been better if I wasn't as tired and had a better seat at the bar. Stolie Soda $8.25, Does Eques $6.50
Garden Walk
- Bar Loui: Bacon Cheeseburger sliders were good and was a good end to a long day. Drinks were a 2.5 but service was a 2.
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