After weeks of planning I've got it...opinions please!

[auteur55]

So I'm trying to plan the Disneyland trip of a lifetime with my 6 yr old daughter. Just her and I are going September 14-19. Below is the schedule. Any opinions anyone has on what I should change please let me know. I'm kind of a completist so I'm probably trying to do too much.

Sunday the 14th:
Drive to DLH and spend the day at Downtown Disney and at the DLH pool.

Monday the 15th:
EE DCA
-Hustle to RSR to ride it ( I just want to knock it out so I can relax), then head to TSMM, then Soarin, then hit as many rides as we can.
-Knock out as much of the park as humanly possible up till 4:00
-4:00 Character dining at Ariel's Grotto
-5:30 drop my daughter off at Pinochio workshop so I can ride Indiana Jones and Screamin California (going for single rider lines), the only two rides my daughter isn't tall enough to ride and Jones goes down for refurb on Tuesday.
-7:00 Pick up daughter and try to hit one more big ride. Maybe grab a fastpass when I head to IJ (are there still fast passes available after 6:00 and on 8:00 closure days?)

Tuesday the 16th:
EMM at DL
-go straight to PP for early morning. Then Alice, matterhorn, then start working through as many rides as we can. Spend all day at Disneyland doing as many rides as possible. Our focus this whole days is rides at DL.
-5:30 Dinner at Blue Bayou and back to rides when we're done. If we're really tired and have knocked out enough rides we'll watch the Soundsational parade at 7:00

Wed the 17th:
EE CA
This day is doing any additional rides we haven't done and re-riding our favorite rides if we actually get to that point. We will bounce from DCA to DL depending on what we want to ride. We are going to play food by ear. Maybe flo's or a fun DL restaurant.

Thursday the 18th:
EM DL
This day will be for all the non-ride activities.
-11:30 Bibbity then visit Fantasy Faire to see princess's and pixie hollow. Will watch the plays as well like Magic Map and whatever else we find. Any recommendation on what else we should get done today would be great.
-4:45 go to DCA since DL closes at 5:00 to watch the Pixar Parade.
-6:10 WOC dinner at Trattoria.
-7:30 walk to WOC and try to get a great spot with our dining pass

Friday the 19th:
Look at what we have and haven't done and plan our day. I'm hoping by this point we've ridden almost all the rides and can now choose which one's we want to ride again and focus on our favorite stuff. Going to watch Fantasmic and Fireworks at night then head out at 12:00 after Fantasmic back to Utah.

So what am I missing and anything I should change? I get anxiety about crowds and lines and I'm trying to avoid having hours of our days eaten up by 45-90 minute lines. I'm assuming we can get everything done and have some time to casully ride what we want with five days at the park.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Lights_Out]

-deleted-

 

[nolenbelledavis]

If you pull a fast pass for RSR, you can ride it early that first day again, if you want. Our first CA day EE was messed up because every ride on the Pier was down, so it forced everyone over to Cars Land. We were able to ride Soarin' with no wait though.

Our other EE morning was AWESOME. We did Toy Story Mania 2 times in a row, just walking right on, zero wait, then my son and I did CA Screamin' 2x with no wait, while the rest of our family did Toy Story again. Then we got in line for fp for RSR at about 5 or 10 till 8 (park opening). We were able to avoid the huge FP line and got return times between 8:45-9:45. Then my husband and son did Tower of Terror while my other kids and I did 'Mater 2x, pretty much walking on.

If you are interested in Toy Story Mania, I recommend doing that first thing and then pulling the RSR fp. Toy Story Mania seemed to have about a 25-40 minute wait at all other times, so you'll get a lot more bang for your buck.

 

[YukonMommy]

some thoughts......
remember in the hustle and bustle to slow down! Part of the magic of Disney is just enjoying the sights and sounds around you! Plus your 6 year old will tire quicker if you criss cross the parks (it is a lot of walking). So try to start at one end and work your way around to hit the rides you want to hit!

I would consider going to the Bibbity earlier in your trip, although my kids have never had it done, I have read on here that the hairdo lasts for days!

For us the parades are a must, they are absolutely amazing! You have to get there 30-45 minutes in advance to stake out a spot so your DD can be front row and see and wave at all the floats!

Remember Cm's will take pics of you if you bring your own camera so get in there with your daughter!!

Look at the map of DL/DCA for the layout of rides, shows, parades, meet and greets and then make a list of the ones that are must haves and do them first. That way you have rode and seen what you wanted and the rest are bonus!

How ever you choose to do it I wish you and your daughter the most magical time!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Do I have your plan right that you are planning on driving to Utah at midnight, after 4 long full days at DLR? How far do you plan on driving that night? I would really rethink this part and you're bound to be exhausted.

The rest looks good - but I agree with others to slow down and enjoy it all too!

 

[Lights_Out]

Do I have your plan right that you are planning on driving to Utah at midnight, after 4 long full days at DLR? How far do you plan on driving that night? I would really rethink this part and you're bound to be exhausted.

The rest looks good - but I agree with others to slow down and enjoy it all too!

Totally missed that part. Yeah, what's going on there?

 

[auteur55]

It's actually five long days. Yeah we're leaving that night but will find a cheapo hotel an hour or so out. I was thinking of staying at DLH one more night but it's an additional $400. Would rather tough it out and spend that money in the park.

So for RSR FP do they let you line up before the normal opening time so when the non early morning crowd arrives there is already a big line at the FP machine waiting? I didn't think they allowed this. Has anyone had any issues getting on RSR quickly if they go straight there during EM?

Thanks for all your great help. Really enjoyed being on this forum the last month.

 

[Rubygoose]

I wouldn't save all of the shows for one day. For most of them, you'll need to arrive 20 mins before at least to get a good spot. I like to pack the mornings with rides then grab a FP for something after lunch and watch a show while waiting for the return window to open up. With a 6 year old I think spreading the shows out over all 5 park days would give you both a little break each day instead of saving it all for one slower day.

 

[auteur55]

As far as shows I'm only thinking there's Magical Map at DL and Aladdin at CA. Then the two parades. We'll definitely do Soundsational parade earlier in the week. For Thursday I'm thinking more meet and greets stuff after she goes to Bibbity. Do Pixie Hollow and Fantasy Faire go all day? We won't do the long meet and greets like Frozen but want to do a few of the one's where the surroundings are unique and are an attraction all there own.

 

[Sherry E]

As far as shows I'm only thinking there's Magical Map at DL and Aladdin at CA. Then the two parades. We'll definitely do Soundsational parade earlier in the week. For Thursday I'm thinking more meet and greets stuff after she goes to Bibbity. Do Pixie Hollow and Fantasy Faire go all day? We won't do the long meet and greets like Frozen but want to do a few of the one's where the surroundings are unique and are an attraction all there own.

Don't forget to visit the Halloween Carnival in Frontierland, to meet characters in Halloween-ish outfits, Conjure a Villain (if the line is not too long), see the cute animals in Halloween scarves, see the wonderful pumpkin carvers, play Halloween-themed games, etc.