Anyone used the Unoffical guide to Disneyland?

[QueenBeeMB]

I'm planning our first trip to DL the week of June 18-22. I read the unoffical guide to disneyland book and have come up with a 4 day schedule.
Our goal is to do as much as possiable before noon. We plan on going back to the Candy Cane hotel to nap and relax. We plan on returning around 5 and do more attractions.
Between using arriving 30mins before the gates open, using fastpass and heading to the rides with the longest waits FIRST, is this a good strategy?.
Has anyone made a schedule based on the info you have read from this book and online? If so did it work?
Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks
Angela

I just wanted to ask, do you plan on going to DCA or just DL, remember this is just days after Carsland opens and the Matterhorn re-opens after a long refurb.

Arriving early will help, and missing the mid day rush. The plan that has always worked for us was attacking the park by land. This way there is no running around the park or back and forth. Every time we visit I ride every ride in the park, no exceptions. See every show, and eat a lot. I missed it last trip by 1 ride (dumbo...still upset about this) I do it in 4-5 days and also do the same at DCA. I also schedule my days with the show times, parade routes and reservations we make in advance.

I would love to see your schedule and would be happy to offer tips is you like.
Good luck on the planning, it will be fun no matter what

 

[starshine514]

I loved the Unofficial Guide to WDW and did read the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland as well. What I find is that if you're new to the whole WDW/DL thing, they kinda step-by-step guide you. Then, take what you've learned there, add to it the current info from the boards, and you should have an excellent combination!

Once you've a trip or two under your belt, only the boards are needed.

 

[Spelurker]

A couple of people mentioned "ridemax". I'm not familiar with that one. Is it much different then the "unofficial guide" plans?

 

[nolatime]

QueenBee
yes we plan on doing both DL and CA. after reading these threads i think i need to make changes to my schedule.
For instance it seems that i could knock out almost all of fantasyland on a MM. and that i should do peter pan before dumbo. LOL...
when should i fit in matterhorn? after peter pan n dumbo???

 

[HydroGuy]

A couple of people mentioned "ridemax". I'm not familiar with that one. Is it much different then the "unofficial guide" plans?

Yes it is much different. See www.ridemax.com.

 

[PeterV]

This thread is of great interest me. We're going almost exactly the same time as the OP, Tuesday-Saturday. I read through the Unofficial guide a couple months ago and figured I was set... and then Carsland opening hit!

I'm not quite sure which parts of the plan will need to be recalculated, but I'm a bit stressed out, what with opening times for DCA possibly changing, MM times changing (being added for DCA?), a new Fastpass at Carsland, a huge unknown crowd level, and crowd patterns changing because of Carsland as well.

Historically, how has RideMax fared for people when there was a big change in Disney operating procedure. Will it honestly be of use?

 

[nolatime]

I notice ride max is opposite of the book. I'm changing my plan as well.

 

[HydroGuy]

This thread is of great interest me. We're going almost exactly the same time as the OP, Tuesday-Saturday. I read through the Unofficial guide a couple months ago and figured I was set... and then Carsland opening hit!

I'm not quite sure which parts of the plan will need to be recalculated, but I'm a bit stressed out, what with opening times for DCA possibly changing, MM times changing (being added for DCA?), a new Fastpass at Carsland, a huge unknown crowd level, and crowd patterns changing because of Carsland as well.

Historically, how has RideMax fared for people when there was a big change in Disney operating procedure. Will it honestly be of use?

RM uses conservative estimates in such cases and then gets someone there opening week to assess and refine. What that means is - as RM tells you all the time - re-run your itineraries as close to your trip as possible to get the latest data.

 

[bakerudall]

when should i fit in matterhorn? after peter pan n dumbo???

I know the line for Peter Pan can get long, but I wonder if it would be better in June to head straight for the Matterhorn line after such an extensive refurb. Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[subtchr]

This thread is of great interest me. We're going almost exactly the same time as the OP, Tuesday-Saturday. I read through the Unofficial guide a couple months ago and figured I was set... and then Carsland opening hit!

I'm not quite sure which parts of the plan will need to be recalculated, but I'm a bit stressed out, what with opening times for DCA possibly changing, MM times changing (being added for DCA?), a new Fastpass at Carsland, a huge unknown crowd level, and crowd patterns changing because of Carsland as well.

Historically, how has RideMax fared for people when there was a big change in Disney operating procedure. Will it honestly be of use?

We will also be there, Wednesday-Friday that week. I also signed up for RideMax, and I will keep checking right up until our trip (and use it on my iPhone during the trip).

So far my only annoyance with RM is that in the tips section, they still use "EE" (Early Entry) terminology instead of MM. I know, it's picky, but to me the appeal of using a website instead of a book is that it can have the most up to date info possible. Hopefully they will be on top of things with Carsland to help us have a great trip!

 

[nolatime]

RM has me going to Peter pan at noon and we all know that's not right.
I would also like to know about Matterhorn. I have planed to do Peter pan, dumbo, Alice and Matterhorn. This will be on MM. Should I do matter sooner?

 

[Hound 109]

RM has me going to Peter pan at noon and we all know that's not right.
I would also like to know about Matterhorn. I have planed to do Peter pan, dumbo, Alice and Matterhorn. This will be on MM. Should I do matter sooner?

PP & Dumbo are steps from each other & should be a one-two punch.

Since Matterhorn is coming off refurb, move it ahead of Alice. (& THEY are steps from each other). If on your first day, you do PP & Dumbo & then head over to Matterhorn (remember their are two lines & two different versions) and it's mobbed......then you might consider dumping it that day & move over to Alice a few steps away. Then do Matterhorn first on another day. (or suck it up & do it then ).

But if you're planning on doing PP on ANY day....do it first (always first).....& be one of the first on.

 

[nolatime]

is one line better then the other?
i'll move it to the third spot..

 

[subtchr]

is one line better then the other?
i'll move it to the third spot..

Just asking...how are you able to come up with a RideMax plan when your (our!) dates are not yet available?

Still trying to figure RideMax out, and I'm afraid I am missing something!

 

[nolatime]

well im using the UG and things i've read on this site to create my plan. As it gets closer i will use RM and see what tips and schedule they come up with..
I will also use mousewait to see what the wait times are as well to tweak the plan.

 

[subtchr]

well im using the UG and things i've read on this site to create my plan. As it gets closer i will use RM and see what tips and schedule they come up with..
I will also use mousewait to see what the wait times are as well to tweak the plan.

Ok, that makes sense, I thought you might have said early that RM had you doing something on your plan.

I've used Touring Plans a lot at WDW to get wait and FP times while in the park, but this is the first time I am trying RM.

thanks

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree with Hound. Do PP first. Dumbo second if that is important. Then Matterhorn before anything else. And do Matterhorn on the Tomorrowland side as that line tends to be shorter in the morning.

 

[CourtFool]

Our next trip is not until May 2013, so I am waiting for the 2013 guide. I saw the 2012 guide at Barnes & Noble a couple weeks back and was so tempted to get it just for a Disney fix.

 

[Babybears]

I would definitely wait. The new editions become available around August each year, and with all the changes (Carsland, poss new MM at DCA, etc) it would be nice to have the most current version if your trip is in 2013.

I find the UG helpful and a great place to refer to when planning. In practice, however, I think it's a good idea to have a plan but be somewhat flexible.

 

[CourtFool]

In practice, however, I think it's a good idea to have a plan but be somewhat flexible.

You don't say.