1 1/2 day reality....

[lillygator]

ok, so we'll be at the Grand Californian for a total of two nights and were planning on doing both DL and CA - 5/25 and 5/26 - a holiday weekend no less.

What can I really expect to get done? Also, we'll be coming off the cruise so we probably won't get to the hotel until afternoon.....

are there extended hours in May?

 

[Tigger girl]

You can walk around Downtown Disney, but with a holiday weekend you'll be there with crowds. Just enjoy your time in the parks.

 

[Hound 109]

ok, so we'll be at the Grand Californian for a total of two nights and were planning on doing both DL and CA - 5/25 and 5/26 - a holiday weekend no less.

What can I really expect to get done? Also, we'll be coming off the cruise so we probably won't get to the hotel until afternoon.....

are there extended hours in May?

We were there for 1 1/2 days 3 weeks ago. If you:

- zig when others are zagging.
- Use EE effectively.
- Hop to DCA when it gets crowded at DL.
- Pick up FPs early (& often) to use that night.
- Be aware of Single Rider rides. (Screamin')
- Know how FP is different at DLR than WDW.

....then you can see/do alot.

Here's a recap of our trip:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660025

Also, you should read all of HydroGuy's tip threads (especially his DLR for WDW vet thread & how to use FP on a Busy day thread). Invaluable info.

Here's are his tip threads:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Have fun planning a visit to Walt's Park & ask again after you digest some of this info.

hound -

 

[lillygator]

are there any kind of touring plans like Tour Guide Mike for DL?

 

[DLR29]

are there any kind of touring plans like Tour Guide Mike for DL?

Unofficial Guide to DL has some Touring Plans (although I've never tested them). There is RideMax, but it doesn't go into nearly as much depth as TGM.

People around here can give you some good touring info and you can make your own touring plan from that. Hound's above are all very good. Here's what I'd keep in mind (although I don't know your family's interests)

Rides to go to early because they develop long lines:
-Peter Pan
-Dumbo
-Space
-Nemo
-Indy
-Splash

Rides that you can afford to ride in the most crowded time of the day:
-Jungle Cruise
-Pirates
-Winnie-the-Pooh
-Snow White
-Pinocchio
-Haunted Mansion
-Tiki Room
-Honey, I Shrunk The Audience

Other rides see in the mid-morning or later afternoon or use FP.

Rides that I've found to be most useful for FP:
DL- Space, Splash, Indy (if the outdoor line is long)
DCA- Soarin, Grizzly River Run (on a hot day), California Screamin

Also Grizzly River Run and Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin both have disconnected FP which allows you to obtain one even if you are holding onto another set. Also the two parks' FP systems aren't connected. So here's an example of how to obtain 4 sets of FPs within 15 min.

-Obtain FP for some DL attraction say Space Mountain
-Obtain Roger Rabbit FP
-Walk across the plaza and park hop
-Obtain FP for some DCA attraction such as Soarin
-Obtain Grizzly River Run FP

 

[Danauk]

I have used Tour Guide Mike for my WDW trips and for our DL trip we will use Ridemax, www.ridemax.com
It is different to TGM in that it offers advice, plus you put in your date, the rides you want to go on and it suggests the best order to do this in. There have been many good reviews about ridemax on this board in the past.

 

[Hound 109]

Unofficial Guide to DL has some Touring Plans (although I've never tested them). There is RideMax, but it doesn't go into nearly as much depth as TGM.

People around here can give you some good touring info and you can make your own touring plan from that. Hound's above are all very good. Here's what I'd keep in mind (although I don't know your family's interests)

Rides to go to early because they develop long lines:
-Peter Pan
-Dumbo
-Space
-Nemo
-Indy
-Splash

Rides that you can afford to ride in the most crowded time of the day:
-Jungle Cruise
-Pirates
-Winnie-the-Pooh
-Snow White
-Pinocchio
-Haunted Mansion
-Tiki Room
-Honey, I Shrunk The Audience

Other rides see in the mid-morning or later afternoon or use FP.

Rides that I've found to be most useful for FP:
DL- Space, Splash, Indy (if the outdoor line is long)
DCA- Soarin, Grizzly River Run (on a hot day), California Screamin

Also Grizzly River Run and Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin both have disconnected FP which allows you to obtain one even if you are holding onto another set. Also the two parks' FP systems aren't connected. So here's an example of how to obtain 4 sets of FPs within 15 min.

-Obtain FP for some DL attraction say Space Mountain
-Obtain Roger Rabbit FP
-Walk across the plaza and park hop
-Obtain FP for some DCA attraction such as Soarin
-Obtain Grizzly River Run FP

I agree with all of the above. The only things i would add would be to ride PP, Matterhorn & Alice early (or during EE) before the long (slow loading) lines form (since these rides don't have FP).

Also I like to have a Buzz & BTMRR Fast Passes in my pocket on moderate/busy nights. (in addition to the ones you mention DLR).

& FWIW, i put my link in my post not as a recommended ride plan.....since i was kind of freelancing....it was more of a "Hey, if you have a good plan AND START EARLY.....look how much can be done in a day & a half. "

 

[deej696]

I think it depends largely on if this is your first trip to DL, and what you are looking to get done. We just returned from our first trip to DL and we were there over New Years, arguably the busiest time of year. I think with an effective use of FP's, you'll get to do everything you want, just expect to be there from open to close. Hoping over to DCA when it gets busy will be very effective. We were blown away by how empty the park was compared to DL on a holiday weekend no less.

I would enjoy your time there, get what you absolutely must see done, and then anything else above and beyond that will just be a bonus...

 

[lillygator]

well I have been before but a long time ago. It will be a first trip for my family - DH and two girls 5 and 3. And a first to CA. Not sure what time we will get there the first day off the ship and of course it is a holiday weekend. We'd like to hit as much as possible.

 

[Sherry E]

Well, I would offer much of the same advice and tips that the other members have provided, with maybe a different angle. Okay, first of all, the hotel you are staying in - the GC - is beautiful (I just stayed there myself two weekends ago) and it is so welcoming and cozy that it is tough (especially after coming off the cruise) to not want to relax in its spacious lounge area. It is not the sort of hotel that makes you want to get out early and start doing things. I have gone on many trips to Disneyland where we had NO plan of what do do beforehand, and sometimes it worked and sometimes we woudl all be standing around, looking puzzled, wondering where to go next even though we had hardly been anywhere. SO, this past September, I made up a loose agenda and made everyone stick to it and we got a lot acocmplished as far as RIDES go. Then, two weeks ago, we went and had no agenda but had more time to do other things as well as ride. But many people are happy at Disneyland if they can just squeeze in a few good rides and spend the rest of the the time strolling, shopping, eating and relaxing. Not everyone is so focused on ride this, ride that. It can get chaotic. If you think your kids would be happiest on rides, then spend as little time in shops and in the hotel as possible. If you think they would be happiest with souvenirs, hit some of the better shops - don't go in just any shop, try to hit the really good ones in the parks - on Friday night and then spend all day on Saturday riding things and eating. On our last trip in December, we zigzagged back and forth between DL and CA, between rides and shops in the park and restaurants, between Downtown Disney and the parks, back to our GC hotel and out again, every which way. It was very busy, but we got a lot accomplished in every way.

SInce you have kids with you, try to eat either breakfast or dinner at Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel. It is great buffet food and it is worth it for kids. If you only have a day and a half to spend, I wouldn't even bother with Downtown Disney on this trip, except for the fact that your hotel leads right out into it and it can't be avoided. But don't spend a lot of time there unless you just have to get awy from crowds. The parks WILL be crowded because it is a holiday weekend.

As for the Fast Passes, there is no point in getting them if the regular wait time for a ride in 20 minutes or less. The FP only helps you if the wait time is over 20 minutes. Keep in mind, too, that many rides have scary looking lines that move quickly so a Fast Pass is not always necessary. Buzz Lightyear is one with a long line, but it zips along, so don't waste a fast pass on that, but DO go on it, it is worth it, and get the free email picture to yourself at the end. Pirates always has a very ominous looking line but it goes FAST, so don't be daunted by it. If your kids are absolutely hell bent on going on the Nemo Sub, do IT FIRST THING ON SATURDAY MORNING. Do it before you do anything else, because the line for that is looooonnnnggggg and slooooooowwwww! Otherwise, skip it this trip. It will eat up a chunk of your time standing in that line with no fast pass! Roger Rabbit has a very fast line, it is fun for adults and kids, and the line is often short now. Small World is closing soon so you might not have to worry about that. If you go on Soarin' in CA, get a Fast Pass for that, and you will sail right on. It is worth it. Sherry

 

[lillygator]

actually, we'll be arriving on a Sunday and have that day as well as Monday to tour. (Memorial Day!)

 

[Sherry E]

Even with a Sunday and Monday, still try to follow my advice that I gave yesterday if you can. Especially on Memorial Day weekend, when the crowds will be heavy, unless your kids just have to see Nemo, skip it and if you can't skip it, just do it the first thing on Monday morning or maybe even late on Sunday night. The line is very, very long and slow and there is no Fast Pass for it, and to me, it wasn't even necessarily worth it once I got on it, but for kids, it might be.