Advice for 2-day whirlwind trip (March 2027)

[lindsay314]

Hello all,

Next March my parents and I (72, 69, and 40) will being doing a National Parks tour out west and as it will be during my birthday, we are going to add on 2 days at Disneyland! I have always wanted to go to Disney for my birthday and I'm very excited The tour will end in Las Vegas so we are planning to fly into John Wayne Airport and stay 3 nights at Candy Cane Inn. My parents took one trip to Disneyland back in 1985, and we did a day trip as a family during a trip to Los Angeles in 2013, but this is the first time actually staying near Disneyland and having 2 full park days. I am used to Walt Disney World (been there 11 times), so I feel a little like a fish out of water trying to plan things.

I do need a bit of advice on some logistics. I will gladly spring for a park hopper ticket if necessary, but wanted to ask y'all's opinions. I would like to see World of Color on the first night and Fantasmic on the second, but I know that both days we will need to be at a park at rope drop if we want to ride Rise of the Resistance and/or Radiator Springs Racers (although I'd consider buying ILL for Rise of the Resistance). Should we hop back and forth or just do DCA on the first day and DL on the second day? I would also like to see the Paint the Night parade; could we see that and Fantasmic on the same night, or will the timing be too tight?

Also, do they still have dining packages for the nighttime shows? We did one for World of Color last time and really liked it, so was hoping to at least book one for Fantasmic this time.

And one last question: is the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass for only one park per day? Or is it like WDW where you can book for a different park after the first attraction?

TIA!

 

[2tinkerbell]

Since you have limited time, I would definitely get park hoppers. I would even consider getting Lightning Lane. I would add it when you purchase your tickets.

Entertainment can change. Right now, Fantasmic is offered on the weekends. Paint the Night came back for the 70th celebration. Who knows if it will be around next year. Planning on a certain entertainment is something you would have to wait until a little bit closer to your trip.

 

[buzzandzurg]

Agree with above. With two days I would recommend park hopping and lightning lane. Yes, you get to use the multi LL across both parks. It adds more walking if you are up for it (no where near the walking you are used to in WDW). You should be able to really do everything you’d like. Enjoy!

 

[LKing]

If you have park hoppers, your LLMP will be for both parks. It is more like WDW's former Genie + system. You can't book anything until after your party enters the park. After that, you can book again after you use a LL or after two hours have passed. If you have a single park ticket, it will only be for attractions in the park in which you have a reservation. Note that by next March, the reservation system might be gone. Keep your eyes and ears open for that announcement.

Fantasmic has four dining packages - three require you to sit on the ground (Cafe Orleans, Rancho del Zocalo, River Belle Terrace) but the view is great. One has seating in a chair but, in my opinion, the view isn't as good. The one with seated viewing is called River Belle Terrace PREMIUM. It has a very limited number of seats so sells out extremely fast. This video by @crystal1313 will give you an idea of what premium package seating is like.

For World of Color, there are two packages. Storytellers Cafe (GCH) and Wine Country Trattoria offer WOC dining packages. You dine earlier in the day and return later to enter a reserved area. In that reserved area, you can sit on the ground until about 10 min before the show. After that, you need to stand. The WOC dessert party is what many on this forum recommend. It is seated viewing for the show. You are served desserts and drinks just before the show starts (note, it is not as elaborate as the WDW dessert parties).

 

[irlandaise]

Fantasmic has four dining packages - three require you to sit on the ground (Cafe Orleans, Rancho del Zocalo, River Belle Terrace) but the view is great. One has seating in a chair but, in my opinion, the view isn't as good.

I've seen mention on this board of some seats being available for Fantasmic viewing at Hungry Bear, for people who had non-premium Fantasmic dinner packages but can't physically sit on the ground. I don't know (1) how good the view is from there or (2) whether it's hard to get one of those seats. Perhaps someone on this thread knows more or can point to a good source of information about this option.

 

[LKing]

I've seen mention on this board of some seats being available for Fantasmic viewing at Hungry Bear, for people who had non-premium Fantasmic dinner packages but can't physically sit on the ground. I don't know (1) how good the view is from there or (2) whether it's hard to get one of those seats. Perhaps someone on this thread knows more or can point to a good source of information about this option.

Not Hungry Bear as that is too far away to see the show. I think you might be referring to Harbour Galley.

 

[irlandaise]

Not Hungry Bear as that is too far away to see the show. I think you might be referring to Harbour Galley.

Ah, that makes more sense! Do you have any more info on that?