Hi!
I'm new here and also in California, we just moved from Texas with our 4x 5 months old. We plan on going with my parents, and my hubby's family in July. So the kids will be about 7/8 months old. Money is not a problem for that trip but we would like to know where we can spend our stay of 5 days in Anaheim. We'll be 6 adults, 4 babies and 1 teenager boy.
Thanks
STM

If $ is no problem then I would stay at one of the on-site hotels. The Grand Californian is closest in proximity and BEAUTIFUL! but also the most $$. Next nicest is the Disneyland Hotel, great for the nostalgia and IMO the most Disney... Then Paradise Pier Hotel would be the least $$ nice views of DCA but furthest walk from the parks. All on-site hotels offer early entry on specific days, monorail access regardless of crowd levels, and my favorite a charge card that you can use in the parks for food/funstuff that puts those expenses directly on your room charge which is convenient.

If you prefer an off-site hotel there are too many to list so check out the guides accessed off of MP home page. We have stayed in a few different ones but since we usually only sleep in our hotel room and so like a "cheep" room during the majority of our trips I like the Raddison...Not spectacular but clean and usually between $60 and $100 (once we only paid $49 that was awesome! since I would rather spend my $$ at the park.) Alot of people prefer HOJO's which is also nice but often booked on weekends so you have to reserve early. We have also stayed at the Sheraton across from the parking structure. Middle price range and NICE beds.

Also if you need the amenities pay for them. Continental breakfasts and free shuttles usually pay for themselves.

With your number of people I would probably ask for a suite type room or you can always get two rooms with a door between and a third room for your extra adults. Just call the hotel you choose and they will help find the right combo of rooms for you.

I've been thinking about a family suite at the Grand Californian, I love the National Park style of the hotel and with babies, I think we 'll be going to nap for a few hours in the afternoon, so the closer, the better. My in laws want to do a character breakfast, and it looks like the storytellers cafe in that hotel is a very good choice of breakfast.
If anyone had experienced what we're planning with that many young babies, please tell us
Thanks
STM

We only had one baby (about 8-9 months old) and we ended up with a one bedroom suite (put DD in the pack and play in the extra bathroom.) Our issue was that DD would NOT sleep in the same room w/ DH & I (if she could see us, she wouldn't sleep.) So we didn't want to put her down, sit in the hall until she fell asleep, then be quiet in the room from then on (she has an early bed time of about 6pm). The suite was pricy, but OH SO worth it!

I guess that would be my one bit of advice...get a suite or two to spread out.

We were able to enjoy a room service dinner, a bottle of wine, and the fireworks from our "living room" while DD slept in the bathroom.

Oh, other things...we brought our monitor so we could hear DD if she woke up (since the bathroom she was in wasn't right next to our room); and I would suggest a travel noise machine to help drown out any hotel noises. We were at the Disneyland hotel, and luckily the suites are at the end of the hall, and we heard no one...but in case you aren't as lucky! (Brookstone has a great one).

If I think of anything else, I'll come back! :)

hi
Thanks for all the nice advice already... right now, our quads sleep by pairs so not sure how it 'll be in a few months, but they sleep next to our bed and when they're out, they 're out... so I guess after a full day at the resort we won't have to rock them to sleep too long.
We were wondering is the pool at the GCH baby friendly with shades around the pool and all?
Thanks again for your help
STM

1. Storytellers will be great for you and your family. The atmosphere is fun enough for your eldest and, of course, the buffet whittles away the wait time. The babies will enjoy the characters, too.

2. The GCH pool has some shade umbrellas and lots of movable chaises and chairs.

hi,
it's early and im awake because one of the quads cried and im trying to put her back to sleep now...
my nephew is 13 and is a stitch fan so he would prefer the PPH character breakfast, but the babies might be scared by stitch... is storytellers too babyish for a teenboy? I heard many compliments about food there and we would like to have an hearty breakfast so maybe it would save us a lunch in the park. I'm very excited about that trip, my own first time was when I was 8 and we went to Florida then, it was such a wonderful experience and I hope to pass on my Disney bug onto my little ones!
Thanks for all your answers!
STM

From experience w/ my DD, I think at 7/8 months, they don't know enough to be "scared" just yet??? DD hasn't really been scared of any characters, even the ones that should be scary (Cap. Hook, etc.) But it could be personality too, my DD is pretty easy going. (She is now 13 months, but we have been going to DL since she was about 6 months).

storytellers too babyish for a teenboy?

Well, my two daughters were 12 and 15 when we went. They liked Storytellers well enough to ask that we go back not only once more for breakfast but also once for the dinner buffet. (This was a once-in-a-blue-moon splurge of a trip.) We didn't do lunch there because we'd heard bad reports about it. But both breakfast and dinner were very nice.

Edited to add: If you do choose Storytellers, the signature breakfast dish is the French toast. The signature dish on the dinner buffet is the corn soup.

Have a great trip!

But it could be personality too, my DD is pretty easy going.

Definitely chalk it up to personality. My older two were terrified of characters, especially head characters (characters with fake heads, like Mickey or Stitch.) When my oldest was about this age, we took him to a character breakfast and the only character who he didn't scream for was Belle, who is a face character. He would have NOTHING to do with Gaston, who was also a face character, and he hadn't even seent he movie! LOL. Gaston wasn't being mean, either.

My youngest has been the only one of my kids who wasn't terrified of characters. He was high-fiving Sully at 18 months and I couldn't believe it!

Definitely a personality thing.

Adrienne

Hi,
thanks for all the tips! how are the strollers at DL? we're thinking of bringing our own travel systems by graco but are they manageable into the parks? or should we try something else?
STM

With four babies I would definately bring my own strollers. I am sure they will spend lots of time in them so something that they are used to is better than something they are not. Also you can't take the strollers to the hotels even onsite hotels so you would be stuck carrying them back to the room. Are they the Duo Gliders? Those aren't too big. I would not however bring infant seats that attach to a stroller into the park. That limits your ability to fold them up for the monorail, train, or tram (but since you are staying at the GCH you probably won't fold them at all during the day) Also look into baby carriers - with six adults you could all strap on a baby and go and of course standing in line your arms really can get tired.

For a 7-8 month old, definitely bring your own stroller. The rentals don't recline and are better suited for older children who don't need to nap (but then again, my 13 month old won't nap even in her own stroller!) ;)

I second not bringing the infant seat into the park.

hi,
Laura, yes they re duo gliders and they love them, i know they re expensive but i prefer to know them secure in them. any good brand for baby carriers though?
Koala girl, my kids love napping in the strollers and the bouncers...
I'm so excited about that trip!
Thanks for all your advice!
STM

Everybody here has opinions of what are the BEST brands and styles. I have worn all three of my babies (my daughter more than my sons) and so have had MANY kinds of carriers...my personal preference is the sling-type, but I recently came across Asian Baby Carriers (ABC's or Mei Tai) which hold the baby in a similar position to a bjorn or snuggli, but they are less structured and have no buckles so they are much more comfortable for me (the buckles always pinch and rub me). Also if you are crafty you can make your own in a couple of hours (same with a sling). A great resource is thebabywearer.com this site has tons of info about babywearing and is a bit on the granola side but I have found it very helpful.

When we planned our trip to DL with our DD I went out and bought the Disneyland sing along songs video so she knew what to excpect with when she saw the characters. i would sit with her and tell her ooh look its Mickey Mouse very excitedley so when we arrived she was not scared. Hope it helps.

I would def stay on the resort....GCH is gread choice with an entrance into DCA :)

Your best bet with that many people is to call to find out what they can offer you room wise as someone mentioned

bring your own strollers, then you know what you have :)

as far as stitch, there is no reason they should be anymore "afraid" of him than other things at that age :)

do you guys to the snuggles/slings at all? this might be a nice option during part of the trip

hi,
we called GCH and we already booked! I'm even more excited about the trip now. we ll bring our 2 duo glidder strollers and baby backpacks for waiting in line.
Thanks for all your help
STM

hi,
Laura, yes they re duo gliders and they love them, i know they re expensive but i prefer to know them secure in them. any good brand for baby carriers though?
Koala girl, my kids love napping in the strollers and the bouncers...
I'm so excited about that trip!
Thanks for all your advice!
STM


I always take my Graco DuoGlider when I go to DLR and have never had a problem with it being easier to manuever.
I prefer a Baby Bjorn carrier.