Trip to Disneyland and Hotel

We've stayed here and liked it, clean, pool, and walking distance to the park: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/laxoc-fairfield-inn-anaheim-…. It looks like they have a jr. suite for $254 and regular rooms for under $200.

I'd recommend splitting up the kids for part of the day, a 6 year old can go on a lot more rides, such as space mountain and the matterhorn, that a 4 year old cannot. The 6 year old will also have more stamina. Don't try to do too much at once. Try to make them both walk most of the day, maybe bring one cheap umbrella stroller for emergencies the first day to see how it goes, and when everyone gets tired go back to the hotel to rest.

We have been staying at the Tropicana Inn for years, it is literally right across the street from the main entrance, you can't get any closer. They do have family suites that even have kitchens. The place is not fancy but it is clean and has what you need. There is a simple pool and hot tub but the best part is that on the property there is a store that is open from early in the morning until late at night that sells everything from lattes to liquor, both of which are helpful before and after going to the park! For a regular room peak season it is around $150 - $175 a night, suites are probably between $200-250. I don't think that $3,000 is enough for 4 people. Four park hopper tickets for 2 adults and 2 kids is $1,300, hotel will be around the same with taxes and parking, that does not leave enough to eat for 4 days, food is expensive, a bottle of water is $4. You will easily spend $200 a day on basic food and other stuff. Bring a stroller for the 4 year old for sure. Go to California Adventure before they open to get in line to go in as soon as they open and get Fast Passes for Cars for a reasonable time. Otherwise the line for that ride is always 90-120 minutes in the summer. But you have to get there early, the Fast Passes are gone for the day within 1-2 hours after opening. That is the hardest ride to get on. Take breaks, go back to the hotel to rest in the late afternoon and go back at night, Disneyland is better at night and it's not so hot. Have fun!

We love the Howard Johnsons near the park entrance.  It has a mini-water park, fun retro decor, and is three blocks from the Disneyland entrance.  The new Marriott Courtyard also has a mini water park and suites.  I recommend going to the park when it opens, returning to the hotel to swim/nap, and then going back to the parks at night.  A full day at the park is overwhelming for little kids.  Have fun!

We have had very pleasant and family friendly experiences staying at the Howard Johnson Water Park hotel that's about 1 block from Disneyland. They have tons of family-style rooms, have a water park good for young kids (i.e., the term water park is pushing it a bit) and it's super walkable. They're across the street from a chain restaurant called Mimi's that is not bad at all, and has $5 wine by the glass, when you need it too bad to even wait another block. My son LOVED coming home from Dis around noon, playing most of the afternoon, then venturing back into the park at dusk. So much more enjoyable than hanging around all day there.

I highly recommend the Park Vue Inn. It is literally across the street from the main gate. It's actually probably technically closer to the parks than the Disneyland Hotel itself. I don't know if the Park Vue has suites, but my kids love the rooms with the bunk beds!  Have a great trip!

The last time we w end in May we stayed at the Annabella Hotel. Walking distance and we had a room that had a small side room with a twin daybed and used a travel crib for our one year old. It's decent and was nice to have the separate room. Go with low expectations and the mindset to enjoy what you are able to see/do! So much fun and don't forget to do the child swap for those rides your partner and you might want to ride! 

I went last year with my then 5 & 7 yos & grandma. I forget the hotel we stayed at although it was fine (on a shuttle route, not within walking distance) with the best feature being it served breakfast, and we could see the fireworks from our room!! We had 3 day non-hopper tix, and that was totally fine & enough. I would have died on a fourth straight day, and we only stayed at the parks from 10 (when they opened in Feb.) until 4 or 5 each day. When we go back, I might get three day hopper tix, but no more, so maybe you can save some money there. (I preferred CA Adventure, built for crowds.) We bought the tickets and hotel as a package through Costco, and I want to say it was around $1600 for the tix plus 4 nights in the hotel, but again this was February, medium season not high season. But my #1 recommendation is to buy a character meal (came with our package, we would never have done it separately). It was a total highlight (and we are not Disney true believers). Ours was Goofy's Kitchen breakfast but I'm sure they're all as good.

We just took our preschooler for the first time recently. My tips would be to definitely do the Magic Morning and enjoy less crowded parks an hour earlier. Don't expect to do everything, get the app with useful maps and wait times, and strategize which FastPass you want (so nice to immediately get on a ride at a reserved time!). The World of Color show needs a FastPass and is reportedly incredible, although we missed it due to a delayed flight and early bedtime. Take an afternoon break back at the hotel for a nap, swim and quiet time then return for dinner and fireworks, etc. 

I haven't stayed here yet) but have been doing the research and the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance looks like a great place to stay.  The waterpark looks awesome and it's apparently only a 10 minute walk from the entrance.  It looks like you can get a suite for $270 in the off-season. 

Some tips:

- Take advantage of Magic Morning especially to go on the Cars Ride or to get tickets for the Jedi Training Academy

- A stroller is key especially for naps.  If you are planning on watching the parade, we left our stroller by It's a Small World with a bedsheet on the ground to save our spot for the parade and took the kids to Toontown.  Then we returned to our spot about an hour before the Electrical Parade.  The hubby went to get food for the kids and I watched them before the parade.  

- if you're planning to watch the parade (one of the highlights of my kids’ visit), bring some glow sticks or bubbles to entertain the kids while waiting for the parade

- If you lose anything in the park (aside from water bottles - these they just toss), they will mail it to you for free (Sophia lost a Frozen jacket and they found it and mailed it to us)

- The Minnie's brunch at the Plaza Inn is the best character meal if you want to meet characters (unless you have a daughter that is obsessed with princesses then bring her to Ariel's Grotto)

- Pay for the 1 day or 1 week Photopass and then you can ask any of the Disney photographers to take your photos and you get to download all of them for free.  We got some awesome photos of our kids this way.  

- Staying on property for Magic Morning is awesome because you get 1 hour with short lines.  If you have little ones, I would try to go on Peter Pan first.  Unless you have a Star Wars fan, then run to get a pass to the Jedi Training Academy (age requirement of 4) then go on Hyperspace Mountain or Star Tours.  

- Rider swap - if your kids are too small to go on the rides, you can get a pass that will get your partner to the front of the line after you go on the ride while he waits with the child who is too short to ride.

- If you and your husband want to go on rides that have a height requirement, does Fastpass and you have a child that is too short to go on the ride, get a Fastpass for everyone in your group, then use the rider swap and Fastpass to go on the ride 4 times.  

 More specific tips: 

Princesses:

If your little ones LOVES princesses, make sure you do the following:

• Ariel’s Grotto character meal - you get to meet Ariel and then 4 other princesses and they all stop by your table to chat with you.  

• Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique - you can get your little one’s hair done here - the least expensive package includes hair, makeup and nailpolish.  You can also get your son’s hair slicked into a prince style and they get a sword and shield. (if you don’t want them to feel left out)

• Princess meet and greet by the palace - you get to meet 3 princesses in different rooms and a Disney photographer will be there to take their photo.  

• Tinkerbell has her own little grotto where you can do a meet and greet

• Elsa and Anna meet and greet in California Adventure

Star Wars Fans:

• Jedi Training Academy - get to fight Darth Vader (age requirement of 4)

• HyperSpace Mountain - there is a height requirement

• Star Tours - there is a height requirement