Need help planning Easter trip please

My daughter's ballet school is touring Los Angeles over Easter, part of which includes 4 days at Disney. We don't know yet whether that will be Easter weekend, or the Mon-Thurs afterwards, but either way I'm expecting it to be packed.

My daughter will have half-day dance commitments on a couple of days, while me, DH, and our 3yo son will have free time in the park. The rest of those 2 days, plus the other 2 days, we'll be free to do our own thing away from the tour group.

I've always been to Disneyland when it's been quiet, so I have no idea what I should be expecting in terms of lines, dining, character meets, etc.

Do I need to book my dining now?

My son LOVES Toy Story - is there anything in particular I should be focusing on re rides or characters? (We've always been all about the princesses, so this is new to me.)

Do we need to line up early for the parades?

Anything else I need to know? I'm feeling a bit lost with this trip...

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Are you staying on site? If you are then taking advantage of the EMH will be crucial during such a busy time. If you are not onsite, then still getting there early and entering the opposite park of EMH would give you a good head start on your day. This is the one thing I have never heard anyone on here disagree about - that mornings are the only time to get anything done during busy holiday times like this.

I would book your dining asap as that window to book has been open for awhile and the busier it is the faster spots are booked up.

Paradise Pier in DCA is where you are most likely to see Toy Story characters. Toy Story Midway Mania is an attraction there that often gathers a good line all day long so that should be a focal point as soon as you enter the park. Near that ride is a store with a lot of Toy Story merchandise that might keep him pretty interested! There is also Buzz's ride, Astro Blasters, in DL right across from Star Tours, you can get fast passes for this ride, but I am not 100% sure which one of the Star Tours machines it is - someone else will no doubt add to this, and it's a disconnected fast pass, meaning you can pull it right after pulling another fast pass.

My daughter is a dancer as well - and it can be a lot of work and hassle - so getting a Disney trip out of it, although I am sure isn't cheap, is at least a perk of being a dance mom!

Have fun!

Dining reservations open up 60-days in advance, but you can usually find pretty good reservations pretty close to your dates. My sense is that the dining packages tend to book up the quickest. If you know where and when you want to eat, I would go ahead and make reservations as soon as you can.

As previously mentioned, your best bet for Toy Story is Paradise Pier over in DCA. That's where Toy Story Midway Mania is located (no FP and no Single Rider line). Toy Story characters also meet in that general area (check the official Disneyland App for character locations and times). There is also Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (in TL in DL) and the new enchanted window on Main Street. Both Paint the Night and the Pixar Play Parade feature Toy Story floats and characters.

For the parades...yes and no. Paint the Night is very popular and you will need to get there early if you want a front row spot (>1 hour). Pixar Play Parade (in DCA) is not as popular, so that one you can often cut much closer. It starts near Tower of Terror and ends at Paradise Pier.

Given when you're going, the biggest thing I can suggest is to go expecting crowds. That can help manage expectations. And don't forgot that long lines aren't limited to the attractions; during the peak periods of the year, there are long lines for everything (e.g., food, bathrooms, etc.). So plan accordingly.

The other Toy Story thing your little one might find interesting is the Toy Story zoestrope located inside the Disney Animation building in DCA.

sherilaine said:

The other Toy Story thing your little one might find interesting is the Toy Story zoestrope located inside the Disney Animation building in DCA.

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I think the zeotrope was removed from the Animation Building when they moved the A&E M&G over there. I remember folks here on the Disboards were really sad to see it go.

figment_jii said:

I think the zeotrope was removed from the Animation Building when they moved the A&E M&G over there. I remember folks here on the Disboards were really sad to see it go.

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I hate Frozen, A&E are worse than the Kardashians for over exposure!

Are they performing through Disney Performing Arts program? I just went with a group last week. They were lucky and had the earliest performance, but it was still a half day before everyone was changed and checked back into the park. And one chaperone had to drive all of the instruments out and take kids to store the banned items that they had with them. It was much later than they thought, so I'd consider that if you're making reservations.

Thanks everyone.

sherilaine said:

Are you staying on site? If you are then taking advantage of the EMH will be crucial during such a busy time. If you are not onsite, then still getting there early and entering the opposite park of EMH would give you a good head start on your day. This is the one thing I have never heard anyone on here disagree about - that mornings are the only time to get anything done during busy holiday times like this.

I would book your dining asap as that window to book has been open for awhile and the busier it is the faster spots are booked up.

Paradise Pier in DCA is where you are most likely to see Toy Story characters. Toy Story Midway Mania is an attraction there that often gathers a good line all day long so that should be a focal point as soon as you enter the park. Near that ride is a store with a lot of Toy Story merchandise that might keep him pretty interested! There is also Buzz's ride, Astro Blasters, in DL right across from Star Tours, you can get fast passes for this ride, but I am not 100% sure which one of the Star Tours machines it is - someone else will no doubt add to this, and it's a disconnected fast pass, meaning you can pull it right after pulling another fast pass.

My daughter is a dancer as well - and it can be a lot of work and hassle - so getting a Disney trip out of it, although I am sure isn't cheap, is at least a perk of being a dance mom!

Have fun!

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Thanks for that. We're staying off site (Red Lion I think?), so will look for the non-EMH parks.

The tour agency has informed us that they can't let us know our dates for Disney yet, as it is 'subject to change'. I'm getting a bit frustrated with them, as we're now 35 days out, so I want to start making plans, particularly dining plans.

figment_jii said:

Dining reservations open up 60-days in advance, but you can usually find pretty good reservations pretty close to your dates. My sense is that the dining packages tend to book up the quickest. If you know where and when you want to eat, I would go ahead and make reservations as soon as you can.

As previously mentioned, your best bet for Toy Story is Paradise Pier over in DCA. That's where Toy Story Midway Mania is located (no FP and no Single Rider line). Toy Story characters also meet in that general area (check the official Disneyland App for character locations and times). There is also Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (in TL in DL) and the new enchanted window on Main Street. Both Paint the Night and the Pixar Play Parade feature Toy Story floats and characters.

For the parades...yes and no. Paint the Night is very popular and you will need to get there early if you want a front row spot (>1 hour). Pixar Play Parade (in DCA) is not as popular, so that one you can often cut much closer. It starts near Tower of Terror and ends at Paradise Pier.

Given when you're going, the biggest thing I can suggest is to go expecting crowds. That can help manage expectations. And don't forgot that long lines aren't limited to the attractions; during the peak periods of the year, there are long lines for everything (e.g., food, bathrooms, etc.). So plan accordingly.

Click to expand...

Thank you - and thanks for the hints about everything being crowded. I hadn't even thought past the attractions.

SMD said:

Are they performing through Disney Performing Arts program? I just went with a group last week. They were lucky and had the earliest performance, but it was still a half day before everyone was changed and checked back into the park. And one chaperone had to drive all of the instruments out and take kids to store the banned items that they had with them. It was much later than they thought, so I'd consider that if you're making reservations.

Click to expand...

I think that's who the tour group has us organised with. We do one performance in Disneyland, one in California Adventure, and one of the Disney Performing Arts workshops over the 4 days. Was it worth it for your group? My daughter insists that she wants to be in musical theatre when she grows up, particularly with Disney and Disney Cruise Lines, so we figure it's worth it for her to go. She's only 7, so I'm expecting her life goals to change, but I still think the experience will be great for her.

Michelle,
Disney could change your times right up until you arrive which makes things hard to plan.

Does the dance part include them dancing in the parade? When Carolyn did it two years ago - the parade they were in, we had to get a spot as soon as the previous parade finished - with 300 dancers in the parade that is a lot of parents who want to see their children dance.

You will lose a fair bit of time watching them dance then having to collect them etc but it is all fun. The characters made a big deal when they saw Carolyn had her dance credentials on - l have photos of her dancing for Minnie.

Not sure where they will perform in Disneyland now as the stage Carolyn performed on was at Big Thunder Ranch - it was the best (and biggest) stage they got to dance on. Is Josh Horner the host of the dances again - he is great and gets excited when the Australians are there as he is Australian!

It's a shame we won't be there at the same time but we don't get to Disneyland until April 2nd - we are going to Las Vegas / Grand Canyon / San Francisco first. What day are you flying out? We leave Thursday March 24th. If you are all going over on the same flight make sure the flight attendants know you are going to dance at Disneyland - just before we landed the captain put an announcement over the pa wishing the girls all the best.

Have a great time - and don't hold your breath that her goals will change - Carolyn is nearly 15 and still dreaming of a music theatre career but she may just make it if she continues to work hard.

Can't wait to see the photos.

Kylie

michellekcm said:

I think that's who the tour group has us organised with. We do one performance in Disneyland, one in California Adventure, and one of the Disney Performing Arts workshops over the 4 days. Was it worth it for your group? My daughter insists that she wants to be in musical theatre when she grows up, particularly with Disney and Disney Cruise Lines, so we figure it's worth it for her to go. She's only 7, so I'm expecting her life goals to change, but I still think the experience will be great for her.

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I was just tagging along with a friend of a friend because I have an AP and could go help wrangle this kids for free. It was a local group, so just a single performance and then the rest of the day in the park. No hotel stay or anything. A chaperone did tell me that in past years they did not have the early performance and it's harder to wrangle the kids when they've been to the park first, then have to meet up to perform. Given the timing I'd research CS menus so you'll have multiple options depending on location and timing and forgo TS reservations unless you can make them once you're there and no the days she won't be performing.