What extra special experiences would you prioritize or skip?

[Mardigras2025]

Hi all! We will now have 3 full days at Disneyland. I am wondering what “extra” experiences you think we should prioritize or skip of the below:

1. Napa Rose princess breakfast
2. Fantasmic dining (Blue Bayou, Rancho del Zocalo)
3. Plaza Inn character breakfast
4. World of color dessert party
5. Bibbidi bobbidi boutique

We are going with our 6.5 year old daughter, 4 year old son (birthday is during trip), and in-laws. It is the kids first Disney trip, and possibly only Disneyland trip for some (we are in the Midwest). I am wondering this for budgetary reasons, but also for time reasons. Even with unlimited funds, it might not make sense to try to fit all of this in. Want to try to do snacks/quick and counter service a good amount of the time, and even have groceries.

Obviously all kids are unique and I know what my kids would like best, but I was wondering if anyone has strong feelings about any of them. Both love princesses, Mickey and Minnie and friends, characters, Pooh, all of it! Want to make it a very magical trip, but also don’t want to totally sacrifice spontaneity, rides, parades, rest, etc.

Thank you!!

 

[tamitru32]

Just me, but feels like a lot for 3 days. I totally get wanting to make the memories but if someone is exhausted, it can take the edge off the magic. I'd probably do 1, 3 & 5 at the most. You can maybe still catch Fantasmic without the whole dinner package. I know it can be difficult tho at DL, especially with littles that aren't tall enough to see so I understand the package. Remember little ones like that also enjoy just watching Disney ducks and relaxing a bit.

 

[NewbieMouse]

I agree with the PP that for a 3 day trip, it seems like a lot of scheduled activities. I would probably narrow it down to one that most of the group you mentioned would all enjoy, and given your kids ages, I’d go with #3.

 

[LKing]

These are my thoughts

1. Napa Rose Princess Breakfast - Pricey. Time consuming. While not the same, princesses can be seen in other parts of the park.

2. Blue Bayou is a unique experience for adults. I'm not sure the kids would appreciate it. RdZ is a nice price point, and a quick meal, for reserved seating for Fantasmic. That said, Fantasmic & fireworks are from 9-9:45 pm PST? Will that be too late for your kids? Also, Fantasmic seating is on the ground. Will that be okay with your in-laws?

3. Plaza Inn - Not as pricey as Napa Rose. Plus, you get to meet a variety of classic characters and not just princesses.

4. WOC Dessert Party - Not my favorite option with kids that age.

5. BBB - Will your son also get made over? I would skip this if it is only for your daughter.

 

[Mardigras2025]

Just me, but feels like a lot for 3 days. I totally get wanting to make the memories but if someone is exhausted, it can take the edge off the magic. I'd probably do 1, 3 & 5 at the most. You can maybe still catch Fantasmic without the whole dinner package. I know it can be difficult tho at DL, especially with littles that aren't tall enough to see so I understand the package. Remember little ones like that also enjoy just watching Disney ducks and relaxing a bit.

Thank you! Totally agree that it would be too much, so hoping to narrow it down. Definitely wanting to leave time for relaxing and enjoying just being there. I think there is always a chance that they both can’t even make it to both fantasmic or world of color.

 

[Mardigras2025]

I agree with the PP that for a 3 day trip, it seems like a lot of scheduled activities. I would probably narrow it down to one that most of the group you mentioned would all enjoy, and given your kids ages, I’d go with #3.

Great, thank you! I was not even considering Plaza Inn at first, but had recently been hearing good things. It sounds like that is the consensus choice!

 

[Mardigras2025]

These are my thoughts

1. Napa Rose Princess Breakfast - Pricey. Time consuming. While not the same, princesses can be seen in other parts of the park.

2. Blue Bayou is a unique experience for adults. I'm not sure the kids would appreciate it. RdZ is a nice price point, and a quick meal, for reserved seating for Fantasmic. That said, Fantasmic & fireworks are from 9-9:45 pm PST? Will that be too late for your kids? Also, Fantasmic seating is on the ground. Will that be okay with your in-laws?

3. Plaza Inn - Not as pricey as Napa Rose. Plus, you get to meet a variety of classic characters and not just princesses.

4. WOC Dessert Party - Not my favorite option with kids that age.

5. BBB - Will your son also get made over? I would skip this if it is only for your daughter.

Very good point about the possibility of the kids not even making it to 9pm (we may take a midday break and see how it goes). Sounds like the dining package might not be worth it if there is a small chance the kids won’t make it. I’ll have to find some other viewing options in case we do make it. I think the in-laws would be totally fine with ground seating, as long as they know ahead of time and are not surprised! We will need to bring a blanket.

For BBB, we were considering splitting up and our son could go one way (or maybe nap), while our daughter got the makeover. Also considering the knight package so our son didn’t feel left out, but I’m sure he would love the full experience as well.

 

[OlliePop27]

As someone who comes from the Central Time Zone with a 5 and 1 year old, I do not recommend doing the WOC dessert party. It's expensive, you can only get a refund 24 hours in advance, and you don't know how your kids will handle the time change with the late night. I DO recommend doing WOC on your last night, as it is unlikely to get cancelled due to weather, unlike fireworks which get cancelled frequently. If you want a great spot for WOC, show up at 8:00 pm and you can get a railing spot in the back most section (back right) by the Golden Zephyr. Some of your group can easily leave to ride Little Mermaid and get ice cream. You are allowed to bring strollers into this back most section since it's at the same level as the main walkway, and you can park the strollers up front so the kids can sit in them during the show. There is no seated viewing for WOC except for the dessert package.

As for Fantasmic, I recommend Rancho. It's the least pricey and simplest option. You can show up at 8:15 or even 8:30 and get good seated spots. You will also get to see fireworks from the same spot. Be prepared that leaving is a long, slow, crowded slog through Adventureland and likely the backstage exit on Main Street. You will also have to decide in advance where to park your stroller(s), as they are not allowed into the Fantasmic viewing area. I recommend doing Fantasmic on your second night and just prepare everyone for the possibility that fireworks could get cancelled. It's less likely for Fantasmic to get cancelled due to wind so you'll at least get that show.

For a character meal, have you thought about Goofy's Kitchen? It's at the Disneyland Hotel and it's the only one that offers dinner. You can make a 4:00 pm reservation during holiday periods or weekends (which would be good for you coming from Central or Eastern time) or 5:00 pm on other days. I recommend trying to do this on your arrival day if possible, a non-park day, and it's a great way to start your trip - and it wouldn't eat into park time. You could easily spend 1.5-2 hours at a character meal and the buffet here is pretty good! You can also check out the Disneyland Hotel, which has so much history.

If you decide to do Plaza Inn, I recommend booking the latest possible breakfast reservation which I think is like 10:45 - 11:00. Taking time for a character meal then won't matter as much for lines. You want to try avoiding a character meal before 10:00 because that's when waits are shortest everywhere.

With the time change for your family, take advantage of the 8:00 openings and use it to your advantage (if you're onsite, the EE at one park will be 7:30 each day). Get to security each morning by 7:15 and you'll wait inside the park from about 7:30 - 8:00. Yes, the kids might get cranky but they'll appreciate all the rides over the next few hours with no waiting! We put sunscreen on while waiting and eat a breakfast we've packed in our bags like Cheerios, granola bars, apples, etc. Once you scan in at 7:20, 7:30, etc., you can then book your first LL of the day if you're getting LLMP. We also pack snacks for the first few hours like apple sauce or pretzels for both adults and kids. Again, the extent to which you can continue moving for the first 3 hours the park is open, you will benefit from short waits (obviously, stop to go to the bathroom and such). Moving slower after about 11:00 doesn't really matter as much, so you can stop more, take breaks, and use more LL.

Sounds like an amazing trip - have a great time!

 

[Mardigras2025]

As someone who comes from the Central Time Zone with a 5 and 1 year old, I do not recommend doing the WOC dessert party. It's expensive, you can only get a refund 24 hours in advance, and you don't know how your kids will handle the time change with the late night. I DO recommend doing WOC on your last night, as it is unlikely to get cancelled due to weather, unlike fireworks which get cancelled frequently. If you want a great spot for WOC, show up at 8:00 pm and you can get a railing spot in the back most section (back right) by the Golden Zephyr. Some of your group can easily leave to ride Little Mermaid and get ice cream. You are allowed to bring strollers into this back most section since it's at the same level as the main walkway, and you can park the strollers up front so the kids can sit in them during the show. There is no seated viewing for WOC except for the dessert package.

As for Fantasmic, I recommend Rancho. It's the least pricey and simplest option. You can show up at 8:15 or even 8:30 and get good seated spots. You will also get to see fireworks from the same spot. Be prepared that leaving is a long, slow, crowded slog through Adventureland and likely the backstage exit on Main Street. You will also have to decide in advance where to park your stroller(s), as they are not allowed into the Fantasmic viewing area. I recommend doing Fantasmic on your second night and just prepare everyone for the possibility that fireworks could get cancelled. It's less likely for Fantasmic to get cancelled due to wind so you'll at least get that show.

For a character meal, have you thought about Goofy's Kitchen? It's at the Disneyland Hotel and it's the only one that offers dinner. You can make a 4:00 pm reservation during holiday periods or weekends (which would be good for you coming from Central or Eastern time) or 5:00 pm on other days. I recommend trying to do this on your arrival day if possible, a non-park day, and it's a great way to start your trip - and it wouldn't eat into park time. You could easily spend 1.5-2 hours at a character meal and the buffet here is pretty good! You can also check out the Disneyland Hotel, which has so much history.

If you decide to do Plaza Inn, I recommend booking the latest possible breakfast reservation which I think is like 10:45 - 11:00. Taking time for a character meal then won't matter as much for lines. You want to try avoiding a character meal before 10:00 because that's when waits are shortest everywhere.

With the time change for your family, take advantage of the 8:00 openings and use it to your advantage (if you're onsite, the EE at one park will be 7:30 each day). Get to security each morning by 7:15 and you'll wait inside the park from about 7:30 - 8:00. Yes, the kids might get cranky but they'll appreciate all the rides over the next few hours with no waiting! We put sunscreen on while waiting and eat a breakfast we've packed in our bags like Cheerios, granola bars, apples, etc. Once you scan in at 7:20, 7:30, etc., you can then book your first LL of the day if you're getting LLMP. We also pack snacks for the first few hours like apple sauce or pretzels for both adults and kids. Again, the extent to which you can continue moving for the first 3 hours the park is open, you will benefit from short waits (obviously, stop to go to the bathroom and such). Moving slower after about 11:00 doesn't really matter as much, so you can stop more, take breaks, and use more LL.

Sounds like an amazing trip - have a great time!

Thank you so much for all of the detail!

Sounds like WOC dessert party is the easiest one to eliminate from the list.

We are actually staying at Disneyland Hotel, but have not strongly considered Goofy’s Kitchen. It could be a great arrival day option! We land at 9:30am and were going to spend the day exploring our old LA neighborhood and doing a hike, before heading down to return our car at Pixar Place around 5pm and check in. So not sure how much we will want to reserve on arrival day vs. a casual stroll in downtown Disney, getting groceries, or maybe jumping in the pool.

Early entry and the first couple hours are very important, so definitely would aim for plaza inn as late as we can get. I was wondering if we ended up doing it, if day 1 would be better or day 3. Starting the trip off with all of the characters and being on Main Street, or doing a send off on a perhaps when we have experienced a lot and will be revisiting some favorites.

 

[LKing]

Excellent suggestions OlliePop27

Things to add that aren't on your list:

1. Parades - with young children, you'll want to find a seat in advance. The first parade leaves Small World around 3 pm and finishes at Main Street. The second parade is around 6 pm and goes in the opposite direction.

2. Storytelling at Royal Theater

3. Princess Meet at the Royal Hall (next to Royal Theater) - lines are longer just before or after the shows. They are shorter during the shows.

4. Fantasyland Theater - not sure when you are going, but they usually have kid friendly shows here.

5. Pixie Hollow -Tinkerbell meet & greet

 

[OlliePop27]

Excellent suggestions OlliePop27

Things to add that aren't on your list:

1. Parades - with young children, you'll want to find a seat in advance. The first parade leaves Small World around 3 pm and finishes at Main Street. The second parade is around 6 pm and goes in the opposite direction.

2. Storytelling at Royal Theater

3. Princess Meet at the Royal Hall (next to Royal Theater) - lines are longer just before or after the shows. They are shorter during the shows.

4. Fantasyland Theater - not sure when you are going, but they usually have kid friendly shows here.

5. Pixie Hollow -Tinkerbell meet & greet

Great ideas from @LKing. Not sure what time of year you are going, but there is currently no parade, just a cavalcade. A parade will start again along with the holidays on 11/15. Presumably, Magic Happens will return sometime in early 2025 and run twice daily during the springs and summer.

Storytelling is down to only some days each week, not daily unfortunately. Fantasyland Theater has some kids activities for the holidays, but doesn't have a permanent show at the moment.

I also recommend taking time for Mickey's house. It's really fun with kids that age. The playground in Goofy's backyard is also cool and we met Pete there last time! The queue for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is awesome and kids will love it. It's actually worth doing standby for this ride so long as the wait is 20 minutes or less. That should be manageable most days if you can make it back there before 10:00 am.

I also want to clarify that I don't dislike the WOC dessert party. I was trying to say that it may not be the best option in your particular circumstance with the young kids AND the 2+ hour time change because of the inflexible cancellation policy. Many people do the dessert party and have a great experience.

 

[OlliePop27]

Thank you so much for all of the detail!

Sounds like WOC dessert party is the easiest one to eliminate from the list.

We are actually staying at Disneyland Hotel, but have not strongly considered Goofy’s Kitchen. It could be a great arrival day option! We land at 9:30am and were going to spend the day exploring our old LA neighborhood and doing a hike, before heading down to return our car at Pixar Place around 5pm and check in. So not sure how much we will want to reserve on arrival day vs. a casual stroll in downtown Disney, getting groceries, or maybe jumping in the pool.

Early entry and the first couple hours are very important, so definitely would aim for plaza inn as late as we can get. I was wondering if we ended up doing it, if day 1 would be better or day 3. Starting the trip off with all of the characters and being on Main Street, or doing a send off on a perhaps when we have experienced a lot and will be revisiting some favorites.

Also, since you're at DLH you can have your groceries delivered. We do Walmart usually, and you can schedule a delivery for earlier in the day around check-in. They'll hold it for you and put things like milk in a fridge. They will also deliver to your room. One less thing to stress out about.

If you aren't bringing strollers, you can consider ScooterBug. It's the only official third party vendor (on the DL website) and they can deliver to DLH bell services. Schedule delivery for before your arrival and the hotel will have it ready for you! This is better then renting at the parks since you can take it to/from the hotel. When you check out, you just leave the stroller with bell services.

 

[Mardigras2025]

Great ideas from @LKing. Not sure what time of year you are going, but there is currently no parade, just a cavalcade. A parade will start again along with the holidays on 11/15. Presumably, Magic Happens will return sometime in early 2025 and run twice daily during the springs and summer.

Storytelling is down to only some days each week, not daily unfortunately. Fantasyland Theater has some kids activities for the holidays, but doesn't have a permanent show at the moment.

I also recommend taking time for Mickey's house. It's really fun with kids that age. The playground in Goofy's backyard is also cool and we met Pete there last time! The queue for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is awesome and kids will love it. It's actually worth doing standby for this ride so long as the wait is 20 minutes or less. That should be manageable most days if you can make it back there before 10:00 am.

I also want to clarify that I don't dislike the WOC dessert party. I was trying to say that it may not be the best option in your particular circumstance with the young kids AND the 2+ hour time change because of the inflexible cancellation policy. Many people do the dessert party and have a great experience.

Thanks again for all of the tips! I have definitely heard great things about WOC dessert party (for the reserved seat, not so much the price and food), but when it comes to prioritizing and our circumstances, I agree with you on where to prioritize. We have a three hour time change! Hoping that is a good thing for early entry, but not getting my hopes up on adjusting fast enough to enjoy the nighttime! Maybe adults can go out on a date night one night if the kids are out early.

 

[Mardigras2025]

Also, since you're at DLH you can have your groceries delivered. We do Walmart usually, and you can schedule a delivery for earlier in the day around check-in. They'll hold it for you and put things like milk in a fridge. They will also deliver to your room. One less thing to stress out about.

If you aren't bringing strollers, you can consider ScooterBug. It's the only official third party vendor (on the DL website) and they can deliver to DLH bell services. Schedule delivery for before your arrival and the hotel will have it ready for you! This is better then renting at the parks since you can take it to/from the hotel. When you check out, you just leave the stroller with bell services.

Great advice! I did not know they would put the groceries in the fridge, so that is super helpful.

We will need to rent a stroller, and outside the parks will be preferable. The park strollers just look uncomfortable! But also to get to and from DLH… we do not own a side-by-side double stroller and don’t feel like lugging ours around, so this sounds like a great option.

 

[OlliePop27]

Great advice! I did not know they would put the groceries in the fridge, so that is super helpful.

We will need to rent a stroller, and outside the parks will be preferable. The park strollers just look uncomfortable! But also to get to and from DLH… we do not own a side-by-side double stroller and don’t feel like lugging ours around, so this sounds like a great option.

Many people do doubles at DL and it works for them. It's also cheaper. We opt for 2 separate strollers because we find it easier to move around and that way both kids don't need to be in the same place at the same time or one parent can take one back to the hotel, etc. We typically rent one stroller and bring one from home for the littlest, one of our "extra" strollers that we don't care so much about gate checking. We're getting to the point where our oldest doesn't use the stroller at all at home, and only part of the time at DL, but we try enticing him to use it at DL to avoid extra complaining each afternoon!

 

[disneychrista]

My personal "must do's" would be WoC Dessert package, nothing beats having an actual seat for the show and Fantasmic dining package. Of the three standard ones I'd pick the one that has the food you are most interested in eating. But again, this is just my personal preference I'd try for the RBT Premium, again for the actual seat.

For the kids I'd do the Plaza breakfast.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Best character meal in DL/DCA is Goofy's Kitchen in DLH.

I do think Blue Bayou is a quintessential Disneyland experience. If you can get reservations for that one I would not skip it.

Agree that just 1 big special meal for a 3-day trip is plenty.

 

[SFMommy]

Out of all of those options, I would also vote for Minnie’s Breakfast at the Plaza Inn. With the time change and wanting to take advantage of EE, you can get in a lot of rides between 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. then have a 10:40 a.m. reservation (the latest one, I believe). While staying in the park, you will will still be able to enjoy a meal with great character interactions, a photo pass photographer taking photos with Minnie and some time to sit, eat, rest and re-charge. We did it on Day 1 and it was a wonderful first morning in Disneyland for my niece and nephew’s first trip.

Personally, we are morning rope-droppers and do not prioritize evening entertainment. When we there in July, I woke everyone up at 5:45 a.m. so we could get ready, eat some breakfast and get out the door by 6:30 a.m. to head to security for 7:30 a.m. EE. The kids would not nap, despite being back in the room to “rest” by 2:00 every day. So they were sound asleep by 8:30 p.m. every night. You know your kids best and probably know if they will nap and be up for nighttime activities. If you are unsure, I wouldn’t bother booking the WOC dessert party or a Fantastic! dining package.

Goofy’s is a great suggestion for your arrival day dinner, especially since you are staying in the DLH. I don’t think it’s worth leaving the parks to go to, but I think it’s a great option for dinner one night if you are staying on-site. Maybe either your first or your last night. Not the same day as Minnie’s breakfast.

We have never done BBB because we didn’t feel it was worth valuable park time and the expense. One year, we brought our own Disney Princess dress, tiara, etc. And our daughter changed into it before meeting the Princesses and having a Princess lunch (for those of you who remember Ariel’s Grotto). Maybe you could bring some costumes from home for your kids and have them dress up one day?

We always order Amazon Fresh for on-site hotel deliveries with a 2:00-4:00 PM delivery window. It has always worked out great and it's nice to have some snacks, water and breakfast foods in our room. The DLH does a great job keeping things cold/holding your groceries and then delivering them to your room.

Happy planning!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

When my kids were those ages, we would sometimes do a character meal on a non-park day. That looks like it could be an option for you on your arrival day since you are planning to be at the resort by 5PM. You could book dinner at Goofy's Kitchen and give everyone their first Disney experience before you ever hit the parks. As for the rest of your list, the only other thing I could see doing with kids those ages is Bibbidi Bobbidi. We never did it with our sons, but it sounds like something your kids might enjoy, and my brother has many fond memories of taking his young daughter and son there with the grandparents back in the day.

 

[CandyMouse]

We went with a bigger group of family for their first trip to DL a couple years ago with a 5 and 9 yr old at the time. The 5 yr. old absolutely loved World of Color dessert party and so did the rest of the group! We're going again with a bigger group and the first thing they said is they want to do that again! My family of 4, two adult kids did Fantasmic and they didn't like sitting on the ground and DH has knee issues, so we're going to try for the premium river belle fantasmic with seating this time. Have fun!