Tips and Advice

[Disney5]

Greetings all, great site, so glad I found it! We're off on our trip for our almost 1 year old's bday celebration on the 23rd and I wondered if anyone had tips on a couple things. Do we need reservations for Goofy's Kitchen? We thought that would be nice for her bday dinner. Also, what foods does the baby center have or should I not bother and just bring all of our own? We are awaiting the video (arriving today!) that the parents of Alex recommended so ours can hear the music and see the rides before we get there - thanks for that tip, we're hoping the Haunted Mansion will be a go for us since it's our favorite! Any other ideas anyone has about must do or must see things is much appreciated! Thanks!

[Tink]

Shawna, Welcome to the DML message boards.
To answer your first question, yes, you definitely want reservations for Goofy's Kitchen. That will be a great place to celebrate the birthday. For $5.00 you can get a birthday bag if you want, or a birthday bucket for around $25.00. Since your little one is so young, I would save the bucket for another year, and do the bag or nothing for this trip.
Take your food. The baby center has jarred baby food and some formula, but it is VERY expensive!
That video you bought will prepare your child for Haunted Mansion. Alex's first trip he was just 14 months old, and had no problems, in fact fell asleep on the Mansion and Pirates.
The beauty of a child so young is that they are too young to be scared of anything (or much) so this should be a great trip!
Are you flying or driving?
Leanne

[Disney5]

Thanks for the welcome, this really is the best information I have found for doing Disney with a little one! Great job! I'll call this weekend and get reservations for Goofy's Kitchen. We're flying in from No. Cal., she's already flown once on a longer trip a few months ago, but now that we're into walking this one may be a bit trickier. Morgan's a really happy little girl so it takes quite a bit to get her upset, but we'll be flying prepared. I think we're also going to take her to the Rain Forest Cafe in Downtown Disney, she loves animals so that one should be fun for her too. We were planning on only visiting the parks on Monday and Tuesday but since we found out Small World is closing starting the 24th and Fantasmic only on the weekend we've decided to go ahead and visit Disneyland on Sunday afternoon too.
We started watching the video today and I turned the Haunted Mansion volume WAY up on the tv since I remember it being that way and figured it can't hurt! The only part I am worried about is the first part where the lights get turned out. The video is a huge hit so far - especially Donald (she loves ducks for some reason) and Goofy. Loved the Small World part, she looked at me like "you were telling me the truth!" and got her megablocks toy that looks like the ride and the finger started pointing! I've been singing that song to her for months now! She's already saying "Dizzy" for Disneyland and chatting about her "baday" (birthday) and seeing the "princesses." She's a talker.
Thanks again for all the effort and information, I could just give you all great big hugs!!!
Shawna

[Disney5]

One more question I had and can't find info on - pools. We're staying at the Disneyland Hotel but it's been quite a few years since we've been there. When we lived in So. Cal I don't remember it being warm at the end of October and wanting to swim. Are the pools heated? Should we plan on taking swim suits? Also, at 1 year old we don't have the potty training done, would swim diapers be allowed?
Thanks again! Disney wishes to you!

[Tink]

Pools are heated, and the Disneyland Hotel pool is the best! Swim Diapers are great, and well accepted. If she would have been potty trained I was gonna ask a big HOW. lol
Now, the one thing about the Haunted Mansion that I didn't mention. You kind of touched on it. The stretching room. Oh, the room itself is not scary. Its all those people who know the spiel, yell it loudly and then scream as loud as they can! This was especially noticible last trip, because it upset Alex (on of the screamers was standing right behind us). There is no way to avoid this, so do be prepared. If you have little ear plugs for flying, put them in Morgan's ears for the stretching room, then once you enter the hallway, take them out again. Also, if she gets upset in the stretching room, calm her, and remind her that she knows about this ride from the video. Remind her that it is not scary and she should be fine (Alex was).
Also, if you are coffee drinkers. A little tip. This is all rumor and conjecture, as I myself don't drink coffee. I have recently heard that the little coffee shop at the Disneyland Hotel (near Goofy's Kitchen) has the WORST coffee at the Disneyland Resort. The lines there are always long. So, if you are in need of your coffee fix, head into Downtown Disney, and near Compass Books is a place were you can get some GREAT coffee.
Leanne

[Disney5]

Uh oh, guess I better find some swim suits and FAST! Thanks for the info, we wouldn't want to miss out on that one! It'll be her first time in a pool, we didn't get around to it this summer and the suit and swim diapers I got her are well outgrown (what a waste of money)
I can't believe people are doing that in the stretching room, I've never experienced that before but I guess it's been about 3 years now since we've been there. We'll hopefully get through it fine as Morgan LOVES to scream and we have screaming contests at home. Maybe I can get her to scream along. Oh boy! I figured we'd just hang back after that room so I can calm her down if needed and we can continue on.
Thanks for the coffee tip, we are Starbucks addicts here and that's the one thing that we always miss at Disney. But we'll make do with the place you suggested.
We're so excited, only 7 more days, this time next week we'll be on our way! Not sure who is more excited in this house, Bryan (my husband) is just thrilled and antsy waiting for the big day. We're huge Disney fans here so this is the best birthday we could think of for her.
Thank you so much! We'll update you as soon as we get back!

[Tink]

Shawna, I am soooo happy to have another huge Disney fan here! You have joined a great forum with wonderful people. Be sure to check out the Disneyland section for more information you may find very helpful.
And, I may be nuts (remember, I don't drink coffee) but there is a place in Downtown Disney called Starabilla's or something like that. That may be the place I am thinking of for coffee. Could it be a Starbucks in disguise? Anyway, the place I am thinking of Goofy has only stopped in once, and I do know it is on the right side when walking from the Hotel, and it is before the Monorail station.
Leanne

[Disney5]

Oh boy, if it's a Starbucks boy are they gonna make some extra money off of us!!! I'll check that out! Either way though, the trip is all about Morgan!!! Although her favorite toy is usually a Starbucks cup... We went on a trip to the mall yesterday and ended up coming home with a bunch of small Boohbahs and Teletubbies, which we'll use for the plane trip, except for the Boohbah that she wouldn't let go of. Has Alex been into those creatures at all?
We are thrilled to have found your site too and it's loaded with information that is extremely helpful. Believe me, I've read everything I can find on your website and printed it out for my husband to read too since he's not a computer guy.
Thank you so much, you're such a pleasant person and welcoming - where are you originally from? We're originally from Colorado and it's such a wonderful thing when we find people so genuine and warm out here (although we've found some CA people who are friendly as well, it's just not usually the same.)
Only a few more days!!!

[Tink]

Shawna I am so glad you are enjoying our site. We did this site because when I planned our first trip to Disneyland with Alex, it was very hard to find any reliable information on travelling with a very young child, other than 'don't do it because they won't remember it'. Of course, that didn't satisfy me, so this site is the product of the hours spent on that search.
Please please please don't quote me on the Starbucks since I don't know for sure, but wanted to let you know where the good coffee is located.
Alex watched Teletubbies for about 6 months, and he has never watched the Boohbahs. Being the huge Disney fan I am, he grew up on Baby Einstein, Pooh, and Wiggles, with 2 exceptions from Disney: Sesame Street and Clifford on PBS.
I am not a Colorado native. Seems like it since I have been here for more than 30 years, but I was born in Oregon, spent time in South Carolina, and moved here when I was 7. I love it here!
Oh, and each of our trips to Disneyland with Alex have been all about him. We planned them that way, but when you get there you will realize how lucky you are to have planned it that way. It can be nothing less than all about your child, because everything you do, and WHEN you do it will be dictated by Morgan. Don't forget to let her run around in Redwood Creek. It expends energy and gives you and your husband a chance to do single rider on Grizzly, or Soarin' or use a fastpass on Tower or Screamin. We really used that little play area to our advantage, and still do.
Leanne

[Disney5]

You really have done a phenomenal job on this site. I was so frustrated trying to plan this trip for Morgan and not finding much info. You have no idea how much knowledge I've gained from your experiences!
There was never an option of "don't do it" for us either, Disneyland has been our favorite place to go for our entire marriage and most anniversaries have been spent there. We've been planning this trip since January! We are so excited to share it with Morgan and see her reactions. Judging by her excitement about zoos, this should be a huge hit. One of my girlfriends from grade school lives in San Diego now and she and her little one (just born in February) will also be meeting us at DL one day. It'll be baby Andrew's second trip! They are also huge Disney fans and I told her all about your website.
Thanks for the ideas for running around places, Morgan's been walking for almost a month now and we need our walking time.
About the standing in lines stuff, how did Alex do with that? Although Fastpass should make some things better, I know we'll have to do some standing around. We're just hoping that people won't be annoyed with us for letting her stand on her own a little and move around close to us.
No sweat, won't depend on the coffee being Starbucks, but I'll sure let you know if I find out it is.
Glad to know there are other parents out there who are also not in their 20's. We waited about 14 years for Morgan to come along and it's a little strange being the older ones in every group, since it sure doesn't seem like that much time has passed. I definitely have to say though that there are so many benefits to waiting this long and having the resources to be able to do everything we want to with her.
Morgan is also a HUGE Wiggles fan, we've been watching that since she was about 3 months old. I wish sometimes that I could send them a thank you note for all the times we've watched them in the middle of the night. For teething pain or anything else, her Wiggles DVDs just calm her down immediately. Crying stops right away, no matter what the problem is. At this point she knows words or actions to almost all of the songs, it's amazing to watch. We also play the games (the colors and shapes) on their website and she loves that. I always recommend that everyone with a baby get at least one Wiggles video!
She's getting into princesses too and loves to say the word. We're looking forward to going to the Build a Bear Workshop and getting one with Disney clothes for her since Disney Travel told us that they have the only one with these clothes! Hopefully she'll like it, we did another one in July and she's afraid of it (but I think it's the recording we made for her, doesn't understand daddy's voice coming from the bear.)
She also loves Clay from the Disney Channel and likes to watch the Shanna Show segments. We don't watch it much but she picked up on those characters immediately. She hasn't watched a Little Einsteins cartoon yet but she sure likes the promos.
Better run now, time for bath and bed! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Shawna

[Goofy]

Hi Shawna... I just found this thread.
There is a coffee shop in downtown disney... I believe it is on the right by the movie theater when you are walking to the park.
The bakery in the park (main street) is also a great place to get decent coffee in the morning. We ended up getting muffins there for breakfast almost every morning last trip.

About the standing in lines stuff, how did Alex do with that? Although Fastpass should make some things better, I know we'll have to do some standing around. We're just hoping that people won't be annoyed with us for letting her stand on her own a little and move around close to us.
I'm assuming you saw this page on our site:
<A href="http://www.disneymouselinks.com/Alex-in-Disneyland.asp">http://www.disneymouselinks.com/Alex-in-Disneyland.asp
where we tried to give an idea of how Alex reacted to Disneyland at the different ages he was when we went.
At 14 months even though he was walking I do not remember him hardly walking at the parks. We had a schedule that was very tailored around him. Pretty much every day we would:
<OL><LI>The few times we made it at opening we would ride Small World and other fantasy land rides.<LI>Once Toon Town opened it would be Mickey, Minnie and other characters there for 1/2 - 1 hour.<LI>Then we would all ride HM, Pierates, Jungle Cruise and other rides we all could ride.<LI>Around lunch we would try to get Alex to nap. If he was hyper we would take him to Disnyland Hotel or GC Hotel and let him run around. He had his own stroller and would usually fall asleep.<LI>Afternoons were normally spent at California Adventure. We would split up... Alex would either be sleeping or running around at Redwood Creek Park.<LI>Evenings.... I don't remember for some reason.As a general rule...even before Alex... we do not really wait in lines. We ride early in the morning or late at night or use Fastpasses. (Unlimited Fastpasses with AAA travel last trip)
Alex at 14 months we just held him while in line. Last year at 2 1/2 we'd let him down and try to keep him under control. :)
It was a very different trip when he was 14 months. We'd get to the park late and leave early every night. It was all about him but was still fun. We spent more time in lines to see characters then we did rides.
Andy

[Tink]

Shawna, Goofy is right and I totally forgot about Blue Ribbon Bakery. This trip we did stop there EVERY SINGLE DAY for 'breakfast'. We would get the muffins, Andy got coffee, and chocolate milk for Alex. We did this because our 'lunches' are early, keeping to Alex's schedule at home, but since he slept until we got him up, it was not important to feed him right away. And this trip, if I remember correctly we made opening EVERY day. We even got there for Early Entry one day. That was a big deal to me because the previous trip we didn't make Disneyland opening at all.
And yes, Goofy is right. We would rarely wait in lines with Alex this year. Storybook Land Canal Boats is a horrible line. It is long, the attraction is slow loading, and it is boring. This was one line that keeping Alex happy for a long period of time did become difficult. The other line we waited in was Autopia. Even with Fast Pass the line is another one of the slow moving because the attraction is slow loading. At Morgans age, consider skipping this one, but doing Storybook Land. Or, one of you wait with Morgan, and the other can ride Space Mountain and Matterhorn.
One ride I am going to really recommend is Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (BLAB) which was easily Alex's favorite ride this trip. A word of caution though since it isn't posted and I have seen other complaints. There are a lot of strobe lights in this attraction, which is one reason the children love it. Unfortunately that can also affect many people if they need to avoid strobe lights for health reasons. Now, the one thing I can say is I do suffer from migraines, and this attraction did not cause any, even when we rode back to back 4 times in a row.
And yes, I do have to agree with Goofy. By far the easiest trip with Alex was his first one. He was content to be in his stroller when we needed him to be, or in our arms when we needed him to be. He was in love with Mickey and Minnie. This trip, he wanted to walk more often than not, and was in love with Mickey and Minnies houses. He didn't much care about my dear friends (and yes, this did break my heart :P). The biggest advantage of taking him so young? He is not scared of the characters at all. And guess what. He is 3 now, and I am pretty sure he remembers it.
Leanne

[Disney5]

I remember the Blue Ribbon Bakery too, I believe I actually got my coffee there before and it was pretty darn good. We'll have to see about getting Morgan to eat, she's into only a few things and won't eat anything different. As long as we can find pizza (which I know there is plenty of) and maybe some fettucini alfredo (which might be harder, but I'm going to bring some instant with us and if needed I'll beg and plead for one of the restaurants to make it for her) we'll be okay.
We checked out Alex's reaction to everything too and I think Morgan is really going to get a kick out of this trip. Even if she doesn't remember it later, we'll have pictures and we can always do it again! We're planning on making this a trip for her birthday every year. We're even talking about trying the Disney cruise in 2007.
We can hardly wait!!! You should see my husband, he talks to her about it nonstop! I'm in the other room cleaning and I keep hearing "dizzy" and "baday" (birthday) and "princesses" and "don duck" coming from Morgan's side of the conversation. Pretty cute and it gets us even more excited!
We'll definitely check out the BLAB and I think we may stay away from the slow rides you mentioned, or we'll do them later at night. Great idea to do mornings and/or evenings there and skip the mid-day crowd stuff. Our swimming suits should be here today too so we'll be ready for the pool (okay, everyone's ready but me, I got a suit but am not too eager to put that on yet although for Morgan I'll do just about anything)!
Okie dokey, I'd better help this one get to napping, so I'll talk to everyone later. Thanks once again!!!
Shawna

[Tink]

Okay, Redd Rockets Pizza Port. Tomorrowland, under Space Mountain. In California adventure, Pizza Oom Mow Mow, near Burger Invasion (McDonalds) by the Orange Stinger.
I believe Redd Rockets serves fettucini as well as pizza.
Does Morgan like chicken strips? Strips and Dips near Screamin is really good.
Three things you can ALWAYS count on at Goofy's Kitchen. Pizza, mac and cheese and mickey nuggets. There is also fresh fruit.
Leanne

[Disney5]

Alright, fettucini!!! Morgan will be sooo happy! I was very happy to see so many places with pizza since that's an item that gets requested fairly regularly.
Sounds like the menu at Goofy's Kitchen is perfect for her, mac&amp;cheese is a huge favorite (well, all cheese is) and fruit is a winner as long as it's pieces and not baby food junk, she REFUSES that stuff.
She hasn't done chicken strips yet, she likes chicken but we have to tear it into small pieces and/or mash it up still. Not enough teeth and no "chewers" just yet, although those are definitely coming in soon. Strangely there is a huge love of pizza but she has a habit of wanting to stuff things into her mouth (which is actually funny to watch, I'm sure you've probably seen that with Alex too) so she can't have her own piece unsupervised.
Told my dad about you guys today too, he's so excited about you and thought that was so neat that we met this way. He's pretty hilarious, when you do get to see him, if Alex is there, have him do Donald Duck, he's REALLY good at it and kids always love him!
S

[Tink]

Sounds like Morgan will have plenty of food options. Fresh fruit slices are available at most eateries. You can also buy fresh fruit from stands, and slice it for her. We used to get Alex a banana every morning, but this year he didn't want them, so we did the muffins.
And I just remembered, now I can tell you for sure. Redd Rockets does have fettucini. It has chicken pieces in it. It is not a childs meal, but an adult meal, so I hope you or your husband like it as well! I had it this year, and was able to eat less than half.
Leanne

[Disney5]

Sounds great! Hopefully she'll be interested in actually eating while we're there and won't be too worked up to stop! But then again, if nothing else works she will eat cheese, any kind!
Swim suits got here yesterday too and she's all set and ready to go! Only 3 more days until we leave. I can't believe how fast time as gone by, seems like it was just yesterday that I planned this. I've been telling her every month that it's only 9, 8, 7, 6...months until Disneyland! What happened to my baby!?!
S

[Disney5]

Just re-reading this from our trip last year - first one with Morgan and I had to laugh about how different things are! We are going to be walking with Morgan a LOT this year!!!

[Tink]

lol Shawna. Isn't it amazing the changes in our kids from trip to trip.
Leanne

[Disney5]

It's wild, world of difference since last year at this time. Same temperament, different kid!!!