[getbak]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

I know that posting other boards on here is frowned upon but I don't care. My best advice is to go to http://www.disboards.com/.
This is a forum devoted to nothing but Disney, they can tell you anything and really I do mean anything about Disney. From the parks to the movies to the....well anything. My wife is a member and they helped so much for our trip to WDW that there was so much stuff we would have missed if not for them.

DisBoards is really good for planning a trip to Disney World, but their Disneyland section is a little light. MousePlanet.com, LaughingPlace.com, and MouseInfo.com all have good message boards and information about Disneyland.

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

The only reason we are taking them to Universal Studio's is because we are planning to buy City Passes (3 days disneyland, seaworld, san diego zoo and universal passes included). So we'll probably hit curious george island and do the simpsons ride and then get out of there.

Even if the price is included in the ticket, Universal is still a long drive from Anaheim. You'd likely be on the road for more time than you'd actually be in the park. It's a 45 minute drive (one way) without traffic...and there's always traffic.

On the Zoo's website, they sell a 3-for-1 ticket for the Zoo, Wild Animal Park, and Sea World for $115. AMA has a 5 day DL ticket for $172. Combined, that's $287. The City Pass at AMA is $252, so for an extra $35, you'd get 2 more days at Disneyland, and a day at the Wild Animal Park (which is $35).

If your daughter loves the Calgary Zoo, I think she'd get a lot more enjoyment out of a day at the Wild Animal Park than Universal. They even have a place where you can feed the giraffes.

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

Yeah, you can get pretty good deals on park hopper tickets now because California Adventure was deserted for a while. But if you just go up to the gate and buy tickets, it will separate tickets for both parks.

You can buy a one day park hopper ticket for about 1.5 times the price of the single day, single park ticket, but I don't think it'd be worth it for someone who only has one day. All of the multi-day tickets are park hoppers, so there's no reason to avoid California Adventure.

Originally Posted by Titan

It is COLD at night. Do not think a shirt is enough.

Yes. Once the sun goes down, it doesn't matter how warm it was during the day, it can be pretty chilly.

Originally Posted by Titan

Get the photo card things and get your picture taken everywhere. They have staff that will take your pic for free then when you get home you can look at the photos online and order the ones you like or even a whole cd. you can also build a photobook. But get you picture taken as much as possible to make it worthwhile. The other benefit is everyone is in the picture and they probably have a better camera.

The photographers will also take a picture using your own camera if you ask them. The janitors who are abundant throughout the parks will also be glad to take your picture if you want a group photo in front of the castle or something (they all also carry maps and time guides if you ever need one).

Originally Posted by me_dennis

also, i second the dole pineapple whip.. it is DELICIOUS!! also, in Disneyland, you have to try the fried chicken.. it's one of the best fried chickens i've ever had.. huge portions too so you could probalby share with the wife.. and it's not too expensive.. i think it's like 9bucks for a regular portion, which is pretty huge.. comes with veggies, mash potatos, biscuit and 3 pieces of chicken i believe.

Dole Whips are great (although, I like them better at Disney World, where you can get a vanilla/pineapple swirl).

The best fried chicken in Southern California (and possibly the world) is at Knott's Berry Farm, which is only a few miles from Disneyland. They have a sit-down restaurant or a take out counter and you can eat there without entering the theme park (which I wouldn't recommend until the kids are older). If you do go for the chicken, park at the Marketplace and not the theme park parking - Marketplace is free, theme park is not. The boysenberry pie is pretty good too.

Originally Posted by PYroMaNiaC

Do not eat meals in any of the parks if you are on a budget and it can be avoided. Take a few snacks and some bottled water in a backpack to tide you over.

If you have a car, there's a Von's supermarket a few miles north of Disneyland along Harbor Blvd. Von's is owned by Safeway, so if you have a Safeway Club Card, you can use it for the discounts at Von's too. Also, because it isn't really part of the "Resort Area", you'll pay prices that are more reasonable than right around the parks. The room I had at the HoJo had a fridge in it, so you can buy water at Von's and keep it cool in the room.

Originally Posted by chid

I believe Family Day weekend is actually one of Disney's busiest times of the year.

It's President's Day in the States, so it is a holiday weekend. As long as you avoid the actually Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the crowds shouldn't be too bad. If you are there on the 11th, the Flames do play the Ducks at the Pond, if you didn't already know.

Originally Posted by boobaloo

I'd leave the kids with a babysitter and go have fun yourselves

I don't know about Disneyland, but there are babysitting services offered at Disney World for parents who want to have a night alone in the parks, or a meal at one of the nicer restaurants on property.

If you and the wife want to go to the hockey game, or to the parks to ride some of the rides that the kids are too small for, you might be able to hire a babysitter to come to your hotel room for the night (obviously depending on how well your kids deal with strangers). I'm sure the staff at the HoJo would know if any such service is available in Anaheim.