Road Trip to Disneyland Anaheim

Depending on your finances, my husband and I now splurge on suites. It makes the trip! DVD in the car is a lifesaver. Everyone parks strollers at Disney land so defiantly bring and park to carry all the stuff. Sleeping arrangements are key. Our daughter never took to the pack and play so we travel with a portable crib (I have found hotels have moved to a pack n play style crib and no longer provide the wheel in cribs) We bring all her own blankets and animals. Otherwise, just go for it. It might go smooth, it might be a living hell. We've experienced both while traveling, but since we just took the plunge and did it, we now have a good little traveler.

I live in the area, so I will not be good a hotel suggestions. If you are hoping to leave and return to the park for naps, Disney land hotel is the only way to go. If D.L. is just a day trip and you want to stay somewhere nice steer clear of Anaheim, its an arm pit. Find a place on the beach!

For the drive: Take 5, 101 is pretty but a nightmare and the only real reststops usually involve a cliff that kids want to lean over or run right next to. Ugh. So heart attacks + For-Ev-Er.

I'd STRONGLY recommend staying at a Disney Hotel. That way you can head back to the room 5 or 6 times a day for a dip in the pool (heaven), naps, lunch, snacks... and have more than enough time for rides and adventures :) We stay at the Disneyland Hotel when we go (except for when we lived in Huntington), but most of our friends pay more for The Grand. Which may or may not have a pool. 2 years ago they didn't, but they may now. ALSO the best prices you'll get with Disney is through them, and usually in package form.

Ditto: a multiday pass is worth it.

I forget what it's called, but there's also a "thing" that means that when one parent in a party has to sit out a ride to care for a baby/young child they get TWO tickets and get to jump the line for them and one other to ride the ride a 2nd time.

Here are some top tips on Disneyland as well as road trip ideas.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/ourcorner/780
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/ourcorner/689

we just returned..... Dessert Inn Suites anaheim is a 5 min walk to the park and it was cheap and clean and great. I think it is a long day for the 8 mth old. If someone can watch her, go for it. Otherwise take her and she can pretty much tag along in a front pouch ???? we took our little ones when they were 2 1/2- 3 and it was magical to see things in their eyes...
have a great time.

If you are visiting family, ask them if they know a babysitter for the 8 month old. She won't know any difference and it will make your day SSSOOO much more enjoyable. You'll have lots of fun with the 2 1/2 year old. (I still remember and loved seeing the wonder and excitement in my little ones eyes.)

Hwy 101 is a somewhat more enjoyable drive for the scenery, but Interstate 5 is much quicker.

For places to eat, I'd go to the website for diners-drive-ins-and-dives. I've been to several of the restaurants featured and have been very pleased. Some of them are a real WOW experience. The worst meal I've eaten at one of these places was really good. :-}

Knotts Berry Farm has a lot of good shows you can go into when its nap time. Your daughter can sleep in your arms and you can enjoy the shows.

Hope you have a wonderful time!

Santa Rosa to Disneyland isn't that bad of a drive. I am not sure which freeway you are planning on taking, I always preferred the 99. It will take you the same amount of time as the 5 but there are more places to stop (I always worried about that when I had my newborn with me). (Plently of wal-marts, gas stations, family dining, and about 3 or 4 grassy rest stops). Oh and if you do tale 99, Black Bear Diner in Visalia is great. Big portions, great customer service, great prices, great food! Have fun in Disneyland. =)