Advice about Friday afternoon arrival

[hol3]

We will be arriving at DL on Friday afternoon March 9th. After reading numerous trip reports and touring plans, do you think it would be worth it for us to go into the park that evening? I'm assuming by the time we get to DLH from the airport it won't be until about 3:00 or so and realistically we woudn't get into the park till 4:00. Will most fast passes be gone by that point? I just don't want to get into the park and not be able to ride anything due to sold out fast passes or extremely long lines and waste a day of our ticket.
any thoughts would be welcomed! Thanks!

 

[sonnyjane]

Have you already purchased your tickets? If you only have two-day tickets for example and you were previously planning on having two full days in the park, then don't use one on a half day, but I'd STRONGLY suggest adding another day to your trip, because you can still get quite a lot done from 4:00 PM until close on a Friday!

 

[hol3]

We haven't purchased our tickets yet. I was actually considering purchasing a 5 day/1park ticket because I think we will be in the parks probably 3 1/2 days (the 1/2 day being that Friday) and so a 5 day ticket will allow us to park hop one of the days. It's cheaper for us to do that then a 3 or 4 day hopper.

So you think we'd be able to ride some rides that Friday night? Mainly, the headliners?

 

[skiingfast]

and so a 5 day ticket will allow us to park hop one of the days. It's cheaper for us to do that then a 3 or 4 day hopper.

It won't work. When you scan you ticket at one park, it's uses that days credit and only lets you in that park. If you go to the other park's gate trying to use your extra day it will say invalid because it's the same ticket and was used at the other park that day.

That isn't a problem though. Because right now the ticket offer is to get a PH for the same price as a 1 park per day. The link says three day, but you can by it in 3-6 days varieties too.
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/special-offers/2012-spring-3-day-park-hopper-ticket/

 

[sonnyjane]

We haven't purchased our tickets yet. I was actually considering purchasing a 5 day/1park ticket because I think we will be in the parks probably 3 1/2 days (the 1/2 day being that Friday) and so a 5 day ticket will allow us to park hop one of the days. It's cheaper for us to do that then a 3 or 4 day hopper.

So you think we'd be able to ride some rides that Friday night? Mainly, the headliners?

Whew. I'm glad you didn't purchase your tix yet! If you go to the Disneyland.com website, you'll see that there is currently a promotional 5-day park hopper available for $231 that is valid for your dates, the same price as a regular 5-day/1-park-per-day ticket. I ALWAYS recommend parkhopping at Disneyland. The two parks are just 90 seconds from each other. Think of it as one big park, not two separate ones. Since they are the same price, ABSOLUTELY get the hoppers! And yes, you can accomplish a lot in the evenings at Disneyland, plus you'll want to go on a Friday night because in the off-season (early March may still be considered off-season), some entertainment is only offered on weekend nights (Fri, Sat, Sun), so you'll want that extra night in the park. I routinely arrive after work around 5 or 6 PM and can accomplish a lot of stuff, including headliners. Plus it's nice to just go into the park and grab dinner, watch fireworks, ride things like Pirates, etc. right away instead of having that agonizing wait, being so close to the parks and not able to go in lol.

 

[sonnyjane]

It won't work. When you scan you ticket at one park, it's uses that days credit and only lets you in that park. If you go to the other park's gate trying to use your extra day it will say invalid because it's the same ticket and was used at the other park that day.

Good catch, Ski. I missed the part where OP said they were going to try two parks in one day using one-park tickets. Yup, OP, it won't work. Get the promo hopper tickets! If you only need four days, you'll save even more money!

 

[hol3]

Oh wow... Thank you so much for the information! I just assumed if I went into both parks on the same day it would take 2 days off the ticket. I had no idea I couldn't do that and they wouldn't let me in. Maybe I'll just do a 4 day hopper then using 1 of those days Friday nt as long as you think it would be worth it. Thank you for the information! I can't wait! I think I'm more excited than my kids! lol

 

[Eeee-va]

We will be arriving at DL on Friday afternoon March 9th. After reading numerous trip reports and touring plans, do you think it would be worth it for us to go into the park that evening? I'm assuming by the time we get to DLH from the airport it won't be until about 3:00 or so and realistically we woudn't get into the park till 4:00. Will most fast passes be gone by that point? I just don't want to get into the park and not be able to ride anything due to sold out fast passes or extremely long lines and waste a day of our ticket.
any thoughts would be welcomed! Thanks!

The cost to add a day to a 3+ day park hopper is really low compared to the cost of those first 3 days. So if I'll have more than a couple hours to be in the parks, I'd always add a day.

I would plan on most of the Fastpasses in Disneyland being gone (that way if some are left you will be pleasantly surprised!). Big Thunder Mountain Railroad should have FPs, even if nothing else does.

Even if the FPs are gone, there are a LOT of rides you can ride with medium to short lines without Fastpasses. If you don't mind Single Rider you should be able to do quite well on Indiana Jones and perhaps California Screamin' in DCA. An evening arrival also is also absolutely perfect for seeing Fantasmic! (if it's running; I think it will be?) and/or fireworks. And you can enjoy the ambiance!

If you get the hoppers (highly recommended!) you could also head over to DCA. You can probably pick up a Fastpass or two over there unless the park is unusually busy. In fact, you MIGHT be able to get a Fastpass for World of Color if you wanted to (no guarantee, but maybe).

Have a great trip!

 

[hol3]

Thank you for the advice. I'm really hoping that the park will be open till midnight so we can get more hours in. Right now closing is posted as 8 or 9 (can't remember) so I guess we'll see.

 

[sonnyjane]

Oh wow... Thank you so much for the information! I just assumed if I went into both parks on the same day it would take 2 days off the ticket. I had no idea I couldn't do that and they wouldn't let me in. Maybe I'll just do a 4 day hopper then using 1 of those days Friday nt as long as you think it would be worth it. Thank you for the information! I can't wait! I think I'm more excited than my kids! lol

Definitely worth it! I'm so glad you found the boards before buying your tickets!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thank you for the advice. I'm really hoping that the park will be open till midnight so we can get more hours in. Right now closing is posted as 8 or 9 (can't remember) so I guess we'll see.

That Friday isn't posted yet, but the park is open until 12 the previous Friday.

 

[hol3]

Definitely worth it! I'm so glad you found the boards before buying your tickets!

Oh my word... me too!!

QUOTE]That Friday isn't posted yet, but the park is open until 12 the previous Friday. [/QUOTE]

Ok, good to know! I was looking at park hours from wdwinfo and it was saying the hours were official so I wasn't sure.

Thanks so much for the information! It's been invaluable and has saved me a huge headache!