My favorite starter is Totodile, but I already have a Feraligatr in Diamond. Meganium is a real beauty, but I'm not the fondest of using Grass types and I don't like the Chikorita chain's moveset. So I'm going to use Cyndaquil.
Hopefully I'll manage to get through Johto with Typhlosion, Vaporeon, Ampharos (I might be willing to barter off since I have one in Diamond, but the chain is so cute!), Dodrio, Drowzee and Dratini. My friend got a Dratini very early in the game using her Pokewalker, so I'm hoping to go along the same route.
As for the others, I simply wanted something different! I almost always pick my favorite starter, but the Johto ones are equally great, despite my statement about Chikorita. Totodile used to be my one-go, but since I have one currently I wanted to try something new. My friend showed me how to get an Eevee from Bill, and I considered between Vaporeon, Jolteon, Umbreon and Espion. I narrowed it down to Espion and Vaporeon--I normally don't have the luxury of a Psychic type so Espion excited me. Vaporeon won in the end though. It is possible to get Drowzee in the Johto region, or so I've heard. One of my old game's JUGGERNAUTS was a Hypno, so I'd be willing to give the fat hippo-elephant guy another chance. :p
I absolutely adore almost all the birds, but I always pick Pidgey! I really wanted to give another one a chance, even though Pidgeot is always gonna be my right-hand bird. It was a jump between Spearow and Doduo, but eventually I decided I preferred to have Doduo. By the way. Please tell me why Doduo can learn Fly and Fearow can't learn Wing Attack. :|
I might opt out and get something in place of Mareep. As stated, I've already trained one, and I prefer many other types to Electric. But the little guy's just so cute.
My Kanto party is up for experimentation! Charmander's my favorite starter, but I'm picking Squirtle. This time I'm sticking with Pidgey, and I'm considering a Swablu too. But the first two are the only definites. Tauros, Butterfree, Arbok and Ariados are other considerations.
EDIT: Well, screw it. I always pick up a Water-type along the way and then fight over whether I want to keep it with a Water starter in the crew. I'll pick BULBASAUR!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told you can go through the Hoenn region as well. If that's the case, I am DEFINITELY recreating the best team I've ever had. I'm gonna get me Swampert, Swellow, Mightyena, Gardevoir, Hariyama and Lairon. The revival will be amazing. <3