Arrival day strategy.. ?

[snowybelle]

WDW vet here making my first trip (pilgrimage?) to DLR in May with a friend of mine, also a DLR virgin.

We only have 3 days (arrival day plus 2 full park days, we will probably do park hoppers) and of course we want to make the most of our visit. We are planning to focus arrival day on DL, Monday on CA, and Tuesday on DL — but maybe hop around a bit too.

We are arriving on Sunday, May 8 — which is Mother's Day *and* the day of the Tinkerbell Half Marathon, I think! We are staying at the Disneyland Hotel and I'm conservatively guessing, between transport and check in, we will be physically in the park by 3:30 or 4pm. HOW do we maximize our evening? I'm expecting it to be packed but I do want to get something accomplished so we don't feel too harried on our two full days.

Priorities for the trip include:
Disneyland Forever
Paint the Night
Soundsational
World of Color
Ride pretty much everything, with the exception of rides that are obviously for little ones, and also would likely skip Nemo Submarines and Grizzly River Run.
Dining not a major priority on this particular trip (I'm a foodie but my friend could care less, so we'll save a bit there)

So for that first night in the park, what should we do? Paint the Night dining package (the QS one)? Tackle one or two "lands" (adventure and frontier, maybe)?

Would love any and all advice. We both kind of enjoy "commando" style touring... very analytical Disnerds with lots of energy!

 

[smartlabelprint]

My feeling is that DLR is packed in the afternoon. I'd do a show. I've heard those meals aren't really good. What are the hours when you get there?

 

[snowybelle]

Maybe we'll try to see Mickey's Magical Map (or is there something else you'd recommend?)

Park hours aren't posted for May yet, but TouringPlans.com has that Sunday listed as being open until Midnight, so I'm guessing that's what it was last year.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I would make sure I did all of the attractions that Walt himself had a hand in - and that especially includes the Submarines.
These originals are what makes DLR truly special.

 

[ADLFAN]

So.... since you only have three nights to see the night time entertainment, I'd probably suggest trying to catch Paint the Night and the fireworks on your arrival night just in case the fireworks get cancelled due to wind, which sometimes happens. I think because Anaheim is built up right to DLR'S borders they have to cancel fireworks dependant on where the wind will blow the fall out!

Maybe you could consider booking a reservation for the dining package at Blue Bayou as your sole sit down meal. You could plot your trip and relax from a day of travel while you enjoy a nice dinner with the most unique dining atmosphere in Disneyland and then sneak into your reserved parade viewing area without spending valuable time waiting around for a decent spot. Paint the Night is cool, but parades aren't exactly my thing, and we were fine sneaking in a few rows back by the Jolly Holiday Bakery to see the bulk of it. I believe your dining package spot is on Main Street, which would put you in a good position to flood out with the rest of the parade viewers to watch the Disneyland Forever Fireworks show, which is beautiful! I'd try to catch it twice in 3 days, and see World of Color on the other night.

WOC is popular and people show up pretty early to claim the best spots in their section, but we got lucky with a front rail spot with our standard Fastpasses and very little wait. There were two shows that night, and we were at the second. Maybe they'll have two shows for your dates if DCA is open til 10 or 11, and if so, I'd shoot for the later one!

Soundsational is easy to catch with a bit of waiting and the Pixar Play Parade in DCA is probably worth watching, too, with a nice long route making it easy to find a front row spot. But we've not managed to see that one yet, maybe this next trip! So I'm not sure exactly where the route starts or ends. We almost watched by the Pier, but I was broiling in that no shade zone before the (Inside Out?) pre parade float even got all the way past us! I don't recommend THAT spot!

The rides that are currently popular first thing in DL are probably Hyperspace Mountain, Peter Pan and maybe Star Tours and for some reason Alice in Wonderland too. Then they'll get longer lines for the rest of the day. The rides like that in DCA are Toy Story Midway Mania and Radiator Springs Racers followed by Tower of Terror. DCA also has a few rides that are almost guaranteed to have short lines including The Little Mermaid, the Golden Zephyr and the Silly Symphony Swings down by the Pier, and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree in Carsland... so save those ones for when it's busy and lines are long everywhere else!

Have fun planning!

 

[snowybelle]

I would make sure I did all of the attractions that Walt himself had a hand in - and that especially includes the Submarines.
These originals are what makes DLR truly special.

My traveling companion is unfortunately very claustrophobic and has requested that we leave this attraction out of our touring plan. I'm likely to return to DLR in the relatively near future, so I will catch them on another trip.

FWIW, I did get to ride 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in the 80's and early 90's at WDW.