List of Maps vii
Acknowledgments viii
Introduction 1
Why "Unofficial"? 1
How This Guide Was Researched and Written 5
Disneyland Resort: An Overview 10
PART ONE Planning before You Leave Home 15
Gathering Information 15
Timing Your Visit 22
Getting There 28
A Word about Lodging 34
Hotels and Motels: Rated and Ranked 55
TOP 30 BEST DEALS 60
Making the Most of Your Time 61
HOTEL INFORMATION CHART 62–67
HOW THE HOTELS COMPARE 68–71
Touring Plans 73
PART TWO Essentials 95
The Bare Necessities 95
PART THREE Disneyland with Kids 100
The Brutal Truth about Family Vacations 100
Mental and Emotional Preparation 101
Basic Considerations: Is Disneyland for You? 103
The Age Thing 106
About Inviting Your Children’s Friends 111
A Few Words for Single Parents 113
“He Who Hesitates Is Launched!”: Tips and Warnings for Grandparents 114
How to Childproof a Hotel Room 115
Physical Preparation 117
Developing a Good Plan 121
Logistic Preparation 124
Remembering Your Trip 134
Trial Run 135
Strollers 137
Babysitting 139
Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff 140
SMALL-CHILD FRIGHT-POTENTIAL CHART 142–146
Waiting-line Strategies for Adults with Small Children 148
Lost Children 154
The Disney Characters 156
PART FOUR Dining and Shopping in and around Disneyland 164
Dining in Disneyland Resort 164
Disney Dining 101 166
Theme-park Counter-service Restaurant Mini-profiles 174
Disneyland Resort Restaurants: Rated and Ranked 180
DISNEYLAND RESORT RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE 182–183
Dining outside Disneyland Resort 200
Anaheim-area Full-service Restaurants 202
ANAHEIM-AREA RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE 204
Shopping at Disneyland 212
PART FIVE Disneyland Park 215
Arriving and Getting Oriented 215
Main Street, U.S.A. 219
Adventureland 222
New Orleans Square 227
Critter Country 228
Frontierland 232
Fantasyland 237
Mickey's Toontown 246
Tomorrowland 252
Live Entertainment and Special Events 262
Unheralded Treasures at Disneyland Park 268
Traffic Patterns at Disneyland Park 271
Disneyland Park Touring Plans 273
PART SIX Disney California Adventure 291
A Most Anticipated Sequel 291
Arriving and Getting Oriented 295
Hollywood Pictures Backlot 297
a bug's land 303
Paradise Pier 306
Cars Land 313
Golden State 315
Parades and Live Entertainment 320
Unheralded Treasures at DCA 324
Traffic Patterns at Disney California Adventure 324
California Adventure 1-day Touring Plan 325
PART SEVEN Universal Studios Hollywood 327
Gathering Information 330
Timing Your Visit 330
Arriving and Getting Oriented 332
Universal Studios Hollywood Attractions 333
Live Entertainment at Universal Studios Hollywood 342
Dining at Universal Studios Hollywood 342
Universal Studios Hollywood 1-day Touring Plan 343
Appendix 345
Readers' Questions to the Author 345
Index 348
Clip-out Touring Plans 362
Unofficial Guide Reader Survey 373
Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Restaurant Survey 375