Woohoo - staying at the Grand Californian Villas

[SarahInMN]

This is partly me crowing about getting a Grand Californian Villa ressie in May 2015 and part asking for tips/hints!

We successfully snagged a studio for Sat-thurs in May 2015 - !

This will be our first stay at the Villas at Disneyland, my first trip to DL in over 30 years, and my DH's first trip in over 15 years.

Any tips/suggestions/must sees/must dos for DL? We won't have a rental car (we're doing car service from SNA) and will be 100% immersed in the Disneyland experience.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Camshell]

For non-park advice...

On our arrival night, we enjoy going to Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar in the Disneyland Hotel. We love getting tapas and drinks in the outdoor seating area with the live Hawaiian music being played. After eating we take a stroll through the lobby areas of the Disneyland hotel, look at the memorabilia, and buy our first souvenir from the gift shop. Puts us in the Disney spirit.
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_tsam.htm - Trader Sams

For a non-park dinner that you can eat in your studio, I would recommend getting take out from Tortilla Jo's Taqueria or the Jazz Kitchen Express in Downtown Disney (close to the GCV Downtown Disney exit). Tasty food, relatively cheap, and you can get some quiet "down time" enjoying your lovely arts and craft room.
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_rbcafe.htm - Jazz Kitchen Express
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_taq.htm - Tortilla Jo's Taq.

 

[SarahInMN]

On our arrival night, we enjoy going to Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar in the Disneyland Hotel. We love getting tapas and drinks in the outdoor seating area with the live Hawaiian music being played. After eating we take a stroll through the lobby areas of the Disneyland hotel, look at the memorabilia, and buy our first souvenir from the gift shop. Puts us in the Disney spirit.

Great minds...I was thinking Trader Sam's would be a good first night stop over too!! I am ridiculously excited about Trader Sam's.

Thanks for the tip on Tortilla Jo's Taqueria and the Jazz Kitchen Express - quick service/fast food can be so hit or miss!!