A few questions!

[trishakay84]

Hi everyone!

We are heading to Disneyland early June, (myself, hubby, DS 10, DS 8, DD 3, and DD 20 months at time of trip) and I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can help with!

We are planning to purchase our 5 day hopper tickets from LMTClub this week. Would we be able to add those to our app/Disney account right away, or is that only possible with tickets purchased directly through disney? Ideally I'd like to also purchase maxpass right away, in case their "introductory" price offer goes up before our trip - can that be done without having the tickets become activated?

Next, wondering about Blue Bayou. Do they charge a split plate fee for the Monte Cristo, if my husband and I wanted to share it? If so, can we just ask for an extra plate to split it ourselves with no charge? Would they charge for an extra empty plate for our 20 month old to share some of her siblings' food?

I also couldn't find a dessert menu anywhere, is the Sorcerer Mickey dessert only for Fantasmic dining packages?

Lastly is a logistics question, our park dates will be June 8 - 12, which is Friday thru Tuesday. Friday and Saturday are grad nights. If we want to do a Minnie & Friends breakfast, would it be better to do that on the morning of a grad night date, or save it for one of the other days? Same with Blue Bayou - should we do that on a grad night day (we'd be going at lunchtime for the Monte Cristo) to get away from the crowds a little bit, or is our time better spent on rides during that portion of the day?

Thanks so much for any advice you can offer!

 

[figment_jii]

Next, wondering about Blue Bayou. Do they charge a split plate fee for the Monte Cristo, if my husband and I wanted to share it? If so, can we just ask for an extra plate to split it ourselves with no charge? Would they charge for an extra empty plate for our 20 month old to share some of her siblings' food?

As long as you are very clear that you just want an extra (empty) plate, they should not charge you a split plate fee. The fee is charged when you split the meal and each guest gets their own starter and sides. I would still check with the server at the time you get there to make sure that's the case. Alternatively, Cafe Orleans also serves the Monte Cristo and it's less expensive there (partial because there is no starter included with the entree at CO).

I also couldn't find a dessert menu anywhere, is the Sorcerer Mickey dessert only for Fantasmic dining packages?

Yes, the Sorcerer Mickey is part of the F! dining package only. The Blue Bayou doesn't really advertise their desserts, but it's usually a creme brulee and chocolate cake. There might be some other seasonal dessert, but the menu isn't very extensive.

Lastly is a logistics question, our park dates will be June 8 - 12, which is Friday thru Tuesday. Friday and Saturday are grad nights. If we want to do a Minnie & Friends breakfast, would it be better to do that on the morning of a grad night date, or save it for one of the other days? Same with Blue Bayou - should we do that on a grad night day (we'd be going at lunchtime for the Monte Cristo) to get away from the crowds a little bit, or is our time better spent on rides during that portion of the day?

I don't think grad nights really impact breakfast hours all that much. When I was there, it seemed like the grads arrive throughout the day, so first thing in the morning, there aren't that many in the parks. Personally, I would do the breakfast on whichever day works best for you. Same for the lunch...I would go with whatever works best with your schedule.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You can't buy MP ahead of time unless you buy it in the initial ticket purchase and it is only offered when purchasing from Disney direct. You'll have to chose between intro price MP & LMT savings. (Personally I'd take the LMT savings because I didn't find MP necessary every day of my trips, just the first few days.)

Honeslty, I'd pay the split plate fee for the Monte Cristo. Each of you will get your own appetizer and side that way. As for splitting for your 20 month old, ask around here and make sure your kids will have enough food to share. Don't have kids so idk what BB's kids portion sizes are looking like these days.

Grad nite doesn't affect Park crowds until later in the afternoon. Mainly DL after 6pm. I wouldn't change morning or lunch schedules due to Grad Nites, I would however plan on spending those nights in DCA.

 

[Winnowill]

You can't buy MP ahead of time unless you buy it in the initial ticket purchase and it is only offered when purchasing from Disney direct. You'll have to chose between intro price MP & LMT savings. (Personally I'd take the LMT savings because I didn't find MP necessary every day of my trips, just the first few days.)

I'd also go with the LMT savings, because it's extremely unlikely that an MP price increase will be anywhere near on par with what you save going through LMT. If the price on MP goes up, I wouldn't think it would increase more than $5 per ticket - you save way more than that going through LMT.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Grad nite doesn't affect Park crowds until later in the afternoon. Mainly DL after 6pm. I wouldn't change morning or lunch schedules due to Grad Nites, I would however plan on spending those nights in DCA.

I thought I read that the Grad Nite party was moving to DCA this year. I think they were talking about it on the podcast too. The option for parkhopper tickets for the day will still be offered, but the party itself will be in DCA from 9 PM - 2 AM.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I thought I read that the Grad Nite party was moving to DCA this year. I think they were talking about it on the podcast too. The option for parkhopper tickets for the day will still be offered, but the party itself will be in DCA from 9 PM - 2 AM.

It's been in DCA for years now. Grads get park hopper tickets for the day and since they have DCA all to themselves later that night where do they spend the early evening and day? Disneyland. And no, they don't leave once their party starts. I had hoped they would when I was there a couple years ago and while they cleared out a bit a lot of them shut DL down and then went over to DCA.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

It's been in DCA for years now. Grads get park hopper tickets for the day and since they have DCA all to themselves later that night where do they spend the early evening and day? Disneyland. And no, they don't leave once their party starts. I had hoped they would when I was there a couple years ago and while they cleared out a bit a lot of them shut DL down and then went over to DCA.

I see. I made the mistake of thinking they would have to go over to DCA at 9 PM, so I was thinking that wouldn't be the place to be. Now that I think about it, maybe what I was remembering being discussed was how much more expensive the hopper option is and speculation on whether that would calm the Disneyland crowds a bit if more schools chose the cheaper option.

 

[tzeitel]

It's been in DCA for years now. Grads get park hopper tickets for the day and since they have DCA all to themselves later that night where do they spend the early evening and day? Disneyland. And no, they don't leave once their party starts. I had hoped they would when I was there a couple years ago and while they cleared out a bit a lot of them shut DL down and then went over to DCA.

The Grad Night tickets changed this year. There is a DCA party ticket for $79, option 2 is a full day at DCA (plus the party) for $99, or a hopper (plus the party) for $139. This might change what the kids do (or at least I am hoping it does )

 

[gottalovepluto]

The Grad Night tickets changed this year. There is a DCA party ticket for $79, option 2 is a full day at DCA (plus the party) for $99, or a hopper (plus the party) for $139. This might change what the kids do (or at least I am hoping it does )

Intriguing! The full day at DCA is absolutely worthless unless a school needs to keep kids occupied a couple extra hours I guess. $139, isn't that about a $50 differnece in tickets from last year? Ouch!! But, most of the kids have been planning this for years and would disappointed to not go to DL... I don't envy the student/teacher/parent councils having to make this call. It could definitely change up the crowd dispersion! So, DCA might get busy before the party & DL might stay busier later because any grads who have to find $50 extra bucks aren't gonna leave until DL shuts down... We're gonna need new crowd reports from Grad Nites for both parks from anyone who attends during that time in 2018 por favor!

 

[tzeitel]

Intriguing! The full day at DCA is absolutely worthless unless a school needs to keep kids occupied a couple extra hours I guess. $139, isn't that about a $50 differnece in tickets from last year? Ouch!! But, most of the kids have been planning this for years and would disappointed to not go to DL... I don't envy the student/teacher/parent councils having to make this call. It could definitely change up the crowd dispersion! So, DCA might get busy before the party & DL might stay busier later because any grads who have to find $50 extra bucks aren't gonna leave until DL shuts down... We're gonna need new crowd reports from Grad Nites for both parks from anyone who attends during that time in 2018 por favor!

I'll be there from the 5th to the 14th so I have 3 grad nites (actually 2 since on one we will be off property).

 

[trishakay84]

Thanks so much, everyone! I had forgotten that the split plate fee at Blue Bayou meant we'd each get our own starter & side, that does seem worth the cost!

Thanks for the input on grad nights, as well. We had it in our heads that they were something to avoid at all costs, but we got airfare at the best rates that week, and the recent info I'd found here on the boards was that grad nights aren't all that bad. Glad to hear that it shouldn't impact the earlier portion of our days.

We bought our park tickets today, it's starting to feel more real and exciting!

 

[smartlabelprint]

We also went with lmt thinking the mp won’t go up $50!