Scooterbritches
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2010
- Messages
- 96
Hey all,
I just joined up. I've been reading some of your TR's and learning much. I"ve been to both WDW and DLR a few times and I feel I'm pretty good at navigating around the park in an efficient, but fun manner.
Our trip is planned for April 3-8...I know....one of the busiest times of the year, but my girls are getting older and it's harder for them to catch up if they miss school. I've ALWAYS gone during the off season and loved the short lines, but that is not in the cards this time. I'm a bit impatient with 60-90 minute lines so I've done my research on how to beat the waits.
First of all, let me introduce those of us who are going on our trip. There's me...I'm a 46 YO mom to 6 great kids ranging in age from 27 to 10. I've been to WDW 5 times and this will be my 4th trip to DLR. Coming with me are my two youngest. They are the funnest and sweetest girls in the world. There's Rachel, my 12 YO who has been to WDW once and this is her first time to DLR. Then there's Kylie, my 10 YO who has not been to WDW, but this will be her 2nd trip to DLR. In the past, I have taken each of my kids, one on one, to either DLR or WDW, hence the reason why one of my girls has been to WDW but not DLR and one has not been to WDW but will be going the second time to DLR. This time, since they are older and more manageable I'm taking both of them with me.
My husband does not like crowds, rides, or spending money so we never go to either Disney park as a family. He's kind enough to not make a stink about us going...in fact, he encourages us and is happy that he doesn't have to go along. I'm happy too cause though I love him he'd be a complete pain in the watoozee to take on a Disney trip.
We booked our airfare through Delta because we were able to get two of the tickets through my husbands frequent flyer miles. We will be leaving SLC on April 3 at 11:18 a.m. We will be renting a car because we will be staying at the Hampton Inn in Cypress (6-7 miles from DLR), once again using hotel points for a night or two. One thing that weve always missed out on was staying on Disney property. Because my husband travels for work and stays at Hampton Inns, we always use Hampton Inns because we can get some of the nights free. Oh well money saved.
Ive pre-booked most of our trip online and saved loads by doing so. I used Mousesavers.com and Ares Travel to get tickets to DLR, Universal Studios and Sea World as well as our character meal.
I bought Ride Max and its been fun to play with it. Ive decided to run the software for non-Fastpass rides and to collect Fastpasses throughout the morning while we are riding the non-Fastpass rides. Then I plan to use the Fastpasses that Ive collected in the afternoon when the park is busiest. That way I will ride the non-Fastpass rides when the lines are shorter in the morning and take advantage of shorter Fastpass lines in the afternoon. I dont know how well known it is that a CM will rarely turn you away if your Fastpass return time doesnt coincide with when you actually return to ride the ride. As long as you return after the first time in your window, they will usually let you on. So I collect Fastpasses all morning long and use them when the lines are longer.
So heres our plan:
Saturday, April 3 Travel day
After settling at the hotel, we will drive down to Huntington Beach. We always love the ocean. I could sit and watch it for hours. After spending an hour or so at the beach, we will head to Disneyland Hotel for our 5:30 PS at Goofys Kitchen. Ive heard mixed reviews on this restaurant, but my girls will probably be grown by the time we get back to DLR and I want to provide them with a character meal before they are too old. After dinner, we will head to the parks. Im not sure much riding will get done as Im sure lines will be long and Fastpasses will be used up so we plan on watching the Electrical Parade and the Fireworks and then calling it a night because the next day we have to get up early and drive to San Diego to go to Sea World.
Sunday, April 4 Sea World
I chose Sunday to go to Sea World so we wouldnt be fighting traffic as much on the freeways. Well get up early and drive down and hopefully, be at the park at opening.
Monday, April 5 Disneyland
Well spend the morning in Adventureland and New Orleans Square getting those rides in while lines are short and gathering Fastpasses for SM, IJ and possibly BTMRR if the timing of the passes is right. Then well head to Fantasyland and ride some of those rides. Well take a late lunch at Billy Hill and the Hillbillies after which well spend the afternoon using our accumulated Fastpasses, riding the train and monorail, taking pics and browsing shops. To save money well walk to Harbor Blvd. and find a cheap place to eat and then well souvenir shop at World of Disney in DD. Then its back to the hotel and bed before 10:00.
Tuesday, April 6 Universal Studios
Well head up to Universal before opening and Im going to try to upgrade my tickets to Front of the Line passes when I get there. Its a lot more money, but to me it is worth it not to have to wait in 90 minute lines. If they wont let us upgrade then well deal with it, but I cant imagine them not wanting my money. Im kind of funny Ive saved loads of money on tickets and such just to spend it at Universal so I dont have to wait in lines. In essence I guess Im not saving much!
Wednesday, April 7 CA
Since Disneyland opens 2 hours before CA, well spend the morning in Fantasyland riding what we werent able to on Monday. Then at 9:30 well head to CA as I hear they open SOC ½ hour early. Ill have to ask about that when I get there. If theyre not doing that then well stay in DL a little longer and be at CAs gates a little before 10:00. My strategy is to do the same at CA that I do at DL. I will gather FPs as I pass the rides that have them and ride the non-FP rides in the morning. Well catch the Toy Story parade and head again to Harbor Blvd. for dinner.
Thursday, April 8 DL and CA
Its up really, really early as well use our EMH on this day and well spend our time in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland the first hour and then decide what our favorites have been and try to ride them again. I do know that Aladdin is not showing on Monday or Wednesday so Thursday will be our only chance to see that. Well make sure we get there for the first show at 12:10 because our flight is at 3:50 and well be needing to leave as soon as thats over.
I love planning trips because it allows me to indulge in anticipation. Its almost as fun planning out where were going and when as it is to actually do it. Some may not like that kind of regimentation, but you almost have to be when you go to DLR during a busy time of year. My girls wont be a problem .they trust me because of the great trips Ive planned in the past.
I just joined up. I've been reading some of your TR's and learning much. I"ve been to both WDW and DLR a few times and I feel I'm pretty good at navigating around the park in an efficient, but fun manner.
Our trip is planned for April 3-8...I know....one of the busiest times of the year, but my girls are getting older and it's harder for them to catch up if they miss school. I've ALWAYS gone during the off season and loved the short lines, but that is not in the cards this time. I'm a bit impatient with 60-90 minute lines so I've done my research on how to beat the waits.
First of all, let me introduce those of us who are going on our trip. There's me...I'm a 46 YO mom to 6 great kids ranging in age from 27 to 10. I've been to WDW 5 times and this will be my 4th trip to DLR. Coming with me are my two youngest. They are the funnest and sweetest girls in the world. There's Rachel, my 12 YO who has been to WDW once and this is her first time to DLR. Then there's Kylie, my 10 YO who has not been to WDW, but this will be her 2nd trip to DLR. In the past, I have taken each of my kids, one on one, to either DLR or WDW, hence the reason why one of my girls has been to WDW but not DLR and one has not been to WDW but will be going the second time to DLR. This time, since they are older and more manageable I'm taking both of them with me.
My husband does not like crowds, rides, or spending money so we never go to either Disney park as a family. He's kind enough to not make a stink about us going...in fact, he encourages us and is happy that he doesn't have to go along. I'm happy too cause though I love him he'd be a complete pain in the watoozee to take on a Disney trip.
We booked our airfare through Delta because we were able to get two of the tickets through my husbands frequent flyer miles. We will be leaving SLC on April 3 at 11:18 a.m. We will be renting a car because we will be staying at the Hampton Inn in Cypress (6-7 miles from DLR), once again using hotel points for a night or two. One thing that weve always missed out on was staying on Disney property. Because my husband travels for work and stays at Hampton Inns, we always use Hampton Inns because we can get some of the nights free. Oh well money saved.
Ive pre-booked most of our trip online and saved loads by doing so. I used Mousesavers.com and Ares Travel to get tickets to DLR, Universal Studios and Sea World as well as our character meal.
I bought Ride Max and its been fun to play with it. Ive decided to run the software for non-Fastpass rides and to collect Fastpasses throughout the morning while we are riding the non-Fastpass rides. Then I plan to use the Fastpasses that Ive collected in the afternoon when the park is busiest. That way I will ride the non-Fastpass rides when the lines are shorter in the morning and take advantage of shorter Fastpass lines in the afternoon. I dont know how well known it is that a CM will rarely turn you away if your Fastpass return time doesnt coincide with when you actually return to ride the ride. As long as you return after the first time in your window, they will usually let you on. So I collect Fastpasses all morning long and use them when the lines are longer.
So heres our plan:
Saturday, April 3 Travel day
After settling at the hotel, we will drive down to Huntington Beach. We always love the ocean. I could sit and watch it for hours. After spending an hour or so at the beach, we will head to Disneyland Hotel for our 5:30 PS at Goofys Kitchen. Ive heard mixed reviews on this restaurant, but my girls will probably be grown by the time we get back to DLR and I want to provide them with a character meal before they are too old. After dinner, we will head to the parks. Im not sure much riding will get done as Im sure lines will be long and Fastpasses will be used up so we plan on watching the Electrical Parade and the Fireworks and then calling it a night because the next day we have to get up early and drive to San Diego to go to Sea World.
Sunday, April 4 Sea World
I chose Sunday to go to Sea World so we wouldnt be fighting traffic as much on the freeways. Well get up early and drive down and hopefully, be at the park at opening.
Monday, April 5 Disneyland
Well spend the morning in Adventureland and New Orleans Square getting those rides in while lines are short and gathering Fastpasses for SM, IJ and possibly BTMRR if the timing of the passes is right. Then well head to Fantasyland and ride some of those rides. Well take a late lunch at Billy Hill and the Hillbillies after which well spend the afternoon using our accumulated Fastpasses, riding the train and monorail, taking pics and browsing shops. To save money well walk to Harbor Blvd. and find a cheap place to eat and then well souvenir shop at World of Disney in DD. Then its back to the hotel and bed before 10:00.
Tuesday, April 6 Universal Studios
Well head up to Universal before opening and Im going to try to upgrade my tickets to Front of the Line passes when I get there. Its a lot more money, but to me it is worth it not to have to wait in 90 minute lines. If they wont let us upgrade then well deal with it, but I cant imagine them not wanting my money. Im kind of funny Ive saved loads of money on tickets and such just to spend it at Universal so I dont have to wait in lines. In essence I guess Im not saving much!
Wednesday, April 7 CA
Since Disneyland opens 2 hours before CA, well spend the morning in Fantasyland riding what we werent able to on Monday. Then at 9:30 well head to CA as I hear they open SOC ½ hour early. Ill have to ask about that when I get there. If theyre not doing that then well stay in DL a little longer and be at CAs gates a little before 10:00. My strategy is to do the same at CA that I do at DL. I will gather FPs as I pass the rides that have them and ride the non-FP rides in the morning. Well catch the Toy Story parade and head again to Harbor Blvd. for dinner.
Thursday, April 8 DL and CA
Its up really, really early as well use our EMH on this day and well spend our time in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland the first hour and then decide what our favorites have been and try to ride them again. I do know that Aladdin is not showing on Monday or Wednesday so Thursday will be our only chance to see that. Well make sure we get there for the first show at 12:10 because our flight is at 3:50 and well be needing to leave as soon as thats over.
I love planning trips because it allows me to indulge in anticipation. Its almost as fun planning out where were going and when as it is to actually do it. Some may not like that kind of regimentation, but you almost have to be when you go to DLR during a busy time of year. My girls wont be a problem .they trust me because of the great trips Ive planned in the past.
But you can't upload your pictures directly to your trip report as far as I know. I opened a Photobucket account just so I could post pictures here. I'm looking forward to seeing yours. 
