5 Day Disneyland Visit.

[Wrangler]

We are going to DL Sept 14 to the 20. The 14 we are doing Goofy's Kitchen. Then going to the parks the 15 to the 20. What would you recommend for an rough park itinerary? I have been to DL before but it was a good 15 maybe almost 20 years ago. This is my son's first trip (5). We are staying offsite so we only have one magic morning. Thank-you

 

[figment_jii]

For me, I would not plan out an itinerary; I find those rather stressful at DL. I would just decide which rides you want to do and then "go with the flow". Keep an eye on the wait times boards for the big rides and do whichever ones have a short(ish) line. Use FP when possible. If you can, try to get there at rope drop because the mornings tend to the quietest (in terms of crowds). Take naps or breaks when needed.

Another common suggestion is that if you are not participating in the EMH/MM, avoid that park that morning. This is especially true if you want to ride RSR or TSMM (in DCA) or Peter Pan or see A&E (in DL). If you go to DCA on a non-EMH morning, there are generally two plans of attack. Either head straight to RSR and ride it or head straight to TSMM and ride that. I like the option that heads straight to TSMM (it might be possible to get in a few rides) and then head back to get a RSR FP (assuming your child is tall enough and you want to ride RSR). For DL, the advice is to go on a non-EMH/MM so you have the best chance at a reasonable line for A&E. Peter Pan is a popular option if you are not interested in A&E. If you do plan to see A&E, then you have to be there pre-rope drop and at the front of the line if you want to avoid the hours long wait.

Ultimately, have fun!

 

[dcraythorn]

Just a reminder that DL will close at 5 on the 18th. DCA will be very busy.

 

[figment_jii]

Just a reminder that DL will close at 5 on the 18th. DCA will be very busy.

What's happening on the 18th?

 

[Sherry E]

What's happening on the 18th?

I'm not 100% sure if anything is happening on the 18th. I don't think anyone knows, unless I missed hearing about something? Someone in the September Check-In thread mentioned seeing something on a non-Disney website that indicated DL would close at 5 p.m. on 9/18. That was followed up by a phone call by another DIS'er in which a Disneyland CM (and we know how reliable they can be) supposedly confirmed that DL would close at 5 p.m. on 9/18.


However, I should point out that, in 2013, a CM told me that a supervisor confirmed that the MHP would start on Monday, 9/30 (this was after I saw it mentioned in Backstage Pass and mentioned it to the CM on the phone). The supervisor was totally wrong. The MHP actually started on Friday, 9/27, as we know!!!

So, my point is... the CMs on the phone are the last ones to know the scoop on anything (and even when they say a supervisor has told them something it does not mean it's accurate).

Sure, there could be a private or corporate event happening on 9/18 that will require an early park closure -- things like that happen at DLR on occasion, usually in the off-peak season, but at the moment I still don't know for sure that we can rely on a CM on the phone confirming it.

 

[figment_jii]

Interesting...there may be some credibility to this because I randomly checked available dining reservation times for the 18th and nothing for DL came up later than 4:00 pm. The day before (Wed) there were dining reservations through almost 7:00 pm. So maybe something is happening over at DL on the 18th...we shall have to keep our eyes and ears open for more gossip!

 

[Wrangler]

For me, I would not plan out an itinerary; I find those rather stressful at DL. I would just decide which rides you want to do and then "go with the flow". Keep an eye on the wait times boards for the big rides and do whichever ones have a short(ish) line. Use FP when possible. If you can, try to get there at rope drop because the mornings tend to the quietest (in terms of crowds). Take naps or breaks when needed.

Another common suggestion is that if you are not participating in the EMH/MM, avoid that park that morning. This is especially true if you want to ride RSR or TSMM (in DCA) or Peter Pan or see A&E (in DL). If you go to DCA on a non-EMH morning, there are generally two plans of attack. Either head straight to RSR and ride it or head straight to TSMM and ride that. I like the option that heads straight to TSMM (it might be possible to get in a few rides) and then head back to get a RSR FP (assuming your child is tall enough and you want to ride RSR). For DL, the advice is to go on a non-EMH/MM so you have the best chance at a reasonable line for A&E. Peter Pan is a popular option if you are not interested in A&E. If you do plan to see A&E, then you have to be there pre-rope drop and at the front of the line if you want to avoid the hours long wait.

Ultimately, have fun!

Thank-you. I am very much a go with the flow person and this trip is mostly about my son doing what he wants when he wants. I wasn't sure if I should be thinking about a different "section" of the park every morning or evening. If we plan on having a break for napping or swimming each day. So for example do Frontierland in the morning Monday and Tomorrowland in the evening when we go back

 

[figment_jii]

Thank-you. I am very much a go with the flow person and this trip is mostly about my son doing what he wants when he wants. I wasn't sure if I should be thinking about a different "section" of the park every morning or evening. If we plan on having a break for napping or swimming each day. So for example do Frontierland in the morning Monday and Tomorrowland in the evening when we go back

Disneyland isn't really big enough for me to really think about doing it land-by-land. It does make some sense to do the rides that are in the same land together to avoid a lot of criss-crossing the park, but I wouldn't plan on a specific land for a specific day or time. I'd see which of the major rides has a short(ish) line and then head there and while there, do some of the other rides in the area that have a reasonable line. If you want to try and block out the park, I would think more in terms of left (Frontierland, NOS, Critter Country, Adventureland), right (Tomorrowland), and middle (Main Street, Fantasyland and Toontown).

 

[Mysteryincorp]

With that many days I don't think you need an itinerary. You have time to hit the things that so many people don't do because they are rushing from one ride to another.

 

[bryanb]

Do you definitely not want to sneak off to Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, or perhaps one of the many attractions along the beach cities, Hollywood Boulevard, etc?

 

[hootey]

We have been taking five+ day trips to DL for years. They are a blast!. We take every day as it comes, loosely guided by meal reservations. Our boys love it this way. Take your own sweet time and see and do everything!

 

[Wrangler]

Do you definitely not want to sneak off to Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, or perhaps one of the many attractions along the beach cities, Hollywood Boulevard, etc?

Nope, money is tight we are on a budget. This way we can just "putter" around DL