SharonChristiansen
Apr 2022
It was a fun filled vaca! We just returned to Atlanta after 3 days at Disney as a family of five. We are used to Disney World and DL was different but also so similar in other ways too
Here’s what we did that we loved
1. Rope dropped the first day and got all the big rides out of the way. We have a family member with a medical condition ans used Das and it was painless and super helpful!
2. We pre purchased Photopass for $78. Even though I was told through disney chat that it couldn’t be purchased ahead of time. Take note though that it is included if you buy Geni+. As a photographer I wasn’t overly impressed by the photos (some of the poses are very cheesy) I did like having this option and like the magic photos.
3. We stayed at Hilton Anaheim and while it’s nothing fancy at all, it was clean and allowed us to have our own beds by getting a king room with a rollaway bed and a connecting room with two queens. My kids do better not sharing a bed and this was perfect for us. It is almost exactly one mile to the parks though and that first day many of us put 25k+ steps on our feet! We were dead and woke up not doing rope drop the second ans third day but still managed to put over 20k steps on our feet. Several of us had Hokas and in good shape but still pushed to our limits! I recommend cutting through the Grand California if going this route and saving your feet the extra time it takes to get through downtown Disney unless you’re trying to see all the shops or trying to eat a meal.
4. We did two days, then a break day then our last day. We SO WELCOMED the break day between as we were so tired! We started on Disneyland the first and last days and started in California adventures our second day. I recommend the park hopper and seeing the fireworks on your California Adventures day as park hoping multiple times in a day will make your legs angry.
5. We absolutely LOVED cars. It was collectively everyone’s favorite! It’s just so well done, and something new as DW doesn’t have anything like this aside from some theming at Art of Animation. Our middle son was too nervous to ride Mission Break Out and Incredicoaster. But we still loved everything in Pixar Peir!!
6. Our kids are big into pin trading and loved that it was everywhere! Almost all the stores and holy moly Frontierland always had someone hanging out with notebooks full of them. So so fun!
Things we weren’t thrilled about or think Disney World does better
1. The parades were somewhat disappointing. I know they’re fully back at Disney World and the electrical parade is coming back but they stop the whole street for one frozen float? Meh… and there was a small Disney parade mid day with a big drum but it was over very fast.
2. We mobile ordered some things. Some were worth it and some weren’t. 1 hour to mobile order a dole whip? It just pours into a cup🤔
3. Splash mountain, be prepared for your shoes to get soaked. This isn’t the case with the Disney World ride. The DW ride is much longer and doesn’t do drops in the pitch dark like this one.
4. Our daughter lost her pin lanyard our second day. It was the lowest point of our trip. We took some shade by the strollers outside Pinocchio. She left it there and when we returned 30 mins later it wasn’t there. We filed a report and asked all of the surrounding cast members but no one was able to help us. She had pins on there that she had collected since she was 3 and some her grandmother got her on a cruise. So that was super sad! I was hoping for some Disney magic from a cast member (voucher for a Mickey bar or fast pass for her) to cheer her up but didn’t get anything. I just felt so sad for her for the rest of the day. We ended up buying a new lanyard and starting over.
5. Not having the magic bands was an adjustment. Instead of each kid being able to scan in for lightening lane, or entrance to the park, my husband had to be at the head of the line and find everyone’s pass and scan in. Several time the scanners weren’t working. It definitely makes you have to use your phone more where as in DW they scan your magic band for lighting lane, photo pass and entry into the park.
Places we ate and opinions
1. Lamplight lounge- 👍🏻 Good My husband thought the chicken was too seasoned but nachos were great. Drinks are strong and good albeit expensive. We had a reservation but it took us almost an hour to get sat. We still loved the ambiance and food overall
2. Storyteller’s Cafe’- 👍🏻Very good. If you have little ones, they’ll love the characters that parade through!
3. Ronto Roasters- 👍🏻Very good. Mobile ordered it and it was worth the price. Kids got it with slaw on the side.

4. Oga’s cantina- 🤔We went here just for my middle son to see DJ Rex after we ate at Ronto. Super expensive over-priced not strong drinks. They seat you at a table with strangers. Just for perspective, we’re a family of five ans they sat us with a family of 3 who immediately put on their N95 when we sat down and a British couple which makes 3 parties at the table and 10 ppl total. We had no idea when we booked that we would have to share our area. It felt very awkward. We did Oga’s in Disney World last year and there wasn’t anyone at our table but that may be because of distancing in place. Great theming. Probably won’t go back since we’ve been twice now.
5. Cafe Orleans-the food was just ok. The monte cristo was very greasy and not what I expected. The gumbo was delicious, and that was the highlight but not enough for me to return.
6. Pizza planet- just ok. My oldest son and husband ate here while the rest of us at at Ronto Roasters. Said it tasted like frozen pizza.
7. Galactic Grill- just ok. Would likely try something different next time. We got the spicy chicken sandwich and it was very messy like they dunked fried chicken in spicy wing sauce and slapped it between some bread.
8. Black Tap (Downtown Disney)-👍🏻 Very Good. Ordered burgers, chicken sandwich and milk shakes. Line moves fast
9. Napolini Pizzaria (Downtown Disney) 👍🏻 Very Good. Salads and pizza was delicious and made to order. Hard worker keeping tables clean and ready for the next guest.
10. Flo’s V8 Cafe👍🏻- Very good. We mobile ordered this and got the club sandwich and it was delicious. The theming was just perfect!