Help required for Disneyland first timers

[Minnies Yoo Hoo]

Hi everyone,

I've been contacted by friends who are planning their first trip to Disneyland in April this year with their 2 daughters aged 3 and 8. They have asked for details about Fantasmic Bookings (which I found in trip reports ) but I can't find any info on what types of bookings are available for World of colour viewings and how they book it in advance from Aus. They are also wanting to know about the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and if they have to pre book that. Actually, they are asking for any help or info on what they should pre-book or know about considering they have 5 days and 2 little princesses in tow. I'd really appreciate your help as I have drawn a big fat blank

Thanks so very much!!!

PS they are also visiting Vegas, does anyone know if any of the big hotels on the strip are more child friendly than others?

[ajp]

We've booked the World of Colour dinner package and I know that Keith has booked the Picnic package at WoC. I can't remember if I hooked it online or over the phone but I did book it from here and it was quite simple. The dinner at Aerials Grotto was delicious but not sure how little kids would go. Either way it's worth the effort and cost of the package. Can't help with the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique.

We stayed at the Excalibur with kids in Vegas and it was quite good. The only other one in Vegas I would take kids to is Circus Circus but it's a little too far from the main part of the strip. At Excalibur there is a kids games room down below as well as the medieval show in the Casino as well. You're also close to New York New York as well as the MGM, Coke shop and the M&M shop which are all kid friendly.

[churros]

The World of Color Dining Packages can be booked online. There a three restaurants with set menus you can select from and you can go any time, lunch or dinner, then you line up at the designated time in the evening to select your seats for the show. After looking at the set menus we decided not to buy the package as we really struggled with meal selection and thought it was a lot of money for a meal we would not select ordinarily. Instead we got a fast pass from near grizzly river in the morning and this gives you entry to a cordon off section which provides better viewing. However people still queue for a long time before the section is opened to get a good viewing area. We didn't queue before the section opened and our spot was fine but we are tall and can see around the heads in front of us.

We did purchase the fantasmic dessert package. You need to ring 30 days out and if it is high season when you want to go you will need to ring in the first few minutes of the reservations opening so for us at that time it was a 3am call to the US. As we were there in high season I started queuing at 6.20pm and there were 3 groups in front of me, only one person has to queue, at 8pm they allocated seats so we had 5 seats in the front row. Then we went away and came back to our seats at about 9.20 when they started serving hot drinks and the dessert packs. The packs are huge and have more desserts than any one person should eat in one sitting. I have a very sweet tooth but I cannot say that any of the desserts particularly grabbed me but the seating was worth it and I'd do it again.

We stayed at the Best Western park Place which is the closest hotel to the park except for Disney's Californian hotel. It is right at the pedestrian crossing for the front gate. Good accommodation and buffet breakfast and the price was excellent!

In Vegas we stayed at the Hampton inn Tropicanna which is one block back from the strip so quieter and it is not a casino so family friendly and not full of cigarette smoke.

[Minnies Yoo Hoo]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for the info that's come in so far.

Can I please ask if she would ring the same phone number to book World of Colour as she would for Fantasmic? And, which site would they go to find out the different types of WOC restaurant packages that are available?

I'm also wondering if anyone knows if the barber shop that's between the Fire station and the Emporium in Disneyland is still operational? As well as giving men's haircuts it was possible to get kids hair done over with Tinker Bell pixie dust. Something tells me that it closed a few years back but I'm hopeful I'm wrong.

Keith, as our resident Princess expert (I was going to say stalker but thought better of it) is there anything princess related that they should put on their must do list?

Where or when would they be able to find out what is and isn't going to be down for maintenance while they visit in mid April?

Thankyou again for sharing your Disney knowledge, it's good knowing you've helped to make someone's 1st Disney trip just that little bit more special! -/

[KeithS]

Keith, as our resident Princess expert (I was going to say stalker but thought better of it)

Hi Julie - Stalker is quite apt - I'm happy with that title! (which reminds me - I'll need to get photos with Anna and Elsa from Frozen!)

If Princesses is their thing, than they can do the Princess character breakfast or lunch at Ariel's Grotto in DCA - it isn't cheap but you get to meet a lot of princesses in a short time. We met, Snow White, Ariel, Cinders, Belle and Aurora. You need to book in advance by calling (from Australia) 0011 1 714 781 3463. You can see the webpage for this here: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/dis ... ls-grotto/

There is also the new Princess Fantasy Faire that has shows and meets and greets throughout the day - see here: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/dis ... asy-faire/

Here is some information about Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique - I think you'll definitely need to book this - the number is on this webpage: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/sho ... -boutique/

And they shouldn't forget to see Pixie Hollow for Tinker Bell and her friends as well: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/dis ... ie-hollow/

World of Colour dining packages are all listed on this webpage (you need to click the "Dining" tab): https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/dis ... -of-color/

And here is the information for Fantasmic and preferred viewing bookings (it is a different number to WOC dining bookings): https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/dis ... fantasmic/

I hope this helps!!

[Minnies Yoo Hoo]

Hi Keith, Thankyou so much for all that info and the links -/
I've passed everyone's info on and they are happily going through it all.
Thanks again!