Best days to schedule dining packages?!? (End of April 2018)

[isabellea]

I think I need the help and advise of Disneyland experts on this one. We will stay at BWPPI April 24-28 and will go at the parks Wednesday 4/25, Thursday 4/26 (will use our MM entry then) and Friday 4/27. We have PH tickets and are planning on getting MP all three days since it will be only DH and myself. We are flying in to CA the previous Saturday from Montreal so we will have time to recover from jet lag and our flight back home is very early on Saturday 4/28.

It's our first ever Disneyland trip but I know it won't be our last since we will probably come back with our girls in 2-3 years (& we go to WDW yearly). Therefore, I don't really stress about doing all the attractions and rides. We will concentrate on what is different from WDW as listed @HydroGuy great thread and use MP as much as possible. I also go with the go with the flow attitude regarding rides. What stresses me out are shows and dining packages. I already know we won't be able to see the WOC as it won't be showed during our stay. Sucks a little but I'll survive and it will be an excuse not to wait too long before going back to DLR! On the other hand, I'm really happy to be able to see the new fireworks and Paint the Night. I also never saw F!, including at WDW!!! Therefore, I want to have great spots to see those and I'm willing to pay for dessert and dining packages but I'm super picky and DF so that restrict my choices a little.

Plan so far:

Wednesday 4/25: Start with Disneyland at rope drop. Enjoy the atmosphere and ride a few attractions in Fantasyland in the morning. FP+ priorities will be Space Mountain and Indiana Jones. Eat lunch at Cafe Orleans. PH to DCA in the afternoon and try to get a FP for RSR after dark. I will also try to book the new PtN dessert party/reception at Sonoma Terrace (I wish there was more info on what will be offered) for 8pm. PtN will be at 9:30pm?!? Ideally, I want a seat for our first time seeing PtN and Carthay Circle menu doesn't appeal to me at all.

Thursday 4/26: Go to Magic Morning at Disneyland then PH to DCA right after. FP priorities will be GOTG (not for me as I'm planning on taking the chicken exit before loading area) and RSR. Lunch at QS and then PH again to Disneyland for Blue Bayou F! dinner reservation (based on the dining reservation opened for April, it looks like F! will be every night and not only on weekends). For this one, I'm unsure when I should book? Should I aim for the first F! show and then watch fireworks (if they will be on that night) from that spot or book for second show? How do I know which show I will get (let say I book for 6pm)?

Friday 4/27: Last day at DLR. DH is not a big Disney fan like me so he will take our rental car and go to a beach nearby for a surfing lesson. Meanwhile, I plan on booking the Walk in Walt's footstep tour at 9:30am so lunch will be at Jolly Holiday. I have no plan for the afternoon and will probably do favourites or soak up the atmosphere as much as possible. DH will probably meet me somewhere around 3pm. Thinking of booking the Wine Country Trattoria PtN dining package. I looked at Carthay Circle menu but nothing appeals to me. I guess I can always cancel this package after we see PtN for the first time on Wednesday and I don't think it's worth seeing twice?!? Also, if the fireworks will only be on weekends, I might decide to go see them at DL instead. Alternatively, I will book Blue Bayou F! dining if F! is not shown on Thursday.

Am I missing anything? Any other show or parade I should plan? Is there a daytime parade at Disneyland or DCA?!? Should I also plan to do the tour and surfing another day instead of Friday?

Thank you all for helping me with my planning!

 

[Shoshannah]

I already know we won't be able to see the WOC as it won't be showed during our stay.

Sorry, I can't really answer your questions. I've been waiting for the schedule to come out too.

How do I know which show I will get (let say I book for 6pm)?

I believe they say you can choose which showing when you book your reservation.

Should I also plan to do the tour and surfing another day instead of Friday?

My guess is that would be a good day since it will probably be the busiest day of your trip.


Where did you see this? We're going the same time frame as you. We also plan on the BB F! package.


The Pixar Parade and Fireworks are scheduled to start on April 13.

 

[Niltiac]

If fireworks are important to you I would give them their own night. You can see some from the Fantasmic area but I don't think you can see all of the lower fireworks. If fireworks are not so important, you could keep your Friday PtN dining package reservation until after Fantasmic and then if you feel you didn't have a good enough view of the fireworks you can cancel your reservation (assuming it has a 1 day cancellation policy like regular reservations) and commit to fireworks on Friday. Also keep in mind fireworks can be cancelled for wind, so having multiple chances to see them is ideal anyway.

Regarding Fantasmic, I don't think you're guaranteed to have it showing nightly. Currently I'm not seeing any reservations for after the weekend when Pixar Fest starts. If the fireworks and/or parades are going to be nightly during Pixar Fest they might not feel the need to have Fantasmic nightly. On the other hand, they might have it nightly because WoC is down, but that's really hard to say. In fact the whole entertainment schedule for during Pixar Fest is kind of up in the air, so if I were you I wouldn't get set on a specific plan for nighttime entertainment until more schedule is released.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Fireworks viewing from the BB section for F! is actually pretty good. We've done that view, IASW, the castle and Hub, Main Street, train station, etc. and each view has its own appeal. The advantage to the F! viewing is that you don't have to rush through mass crowds (which you won't be able to do since it will be a crush of humanity) to get to the Hub for what will inevitably be a poor viewing spot by that time. The ROA view uses the F! water screens for the digital projections, the music is played, and the view of the fireworks is fine. What you won't see is the castle and any fireworks that launch from there and anyone/thing that flies (e.g. Tinkerbell), since those will be sort of behind you. If you can manage to be at the Hub or on Main Street another night, you'll get a whole different view of the show.
As for being DF, don't worry about that. Disney does a very nice job with dietary needs. Make sure that you note on all your reservatons that you have a food allergy/special need. The online form has a phone number and an email address in the fine print so that you can contact someone to discuss your issues in more detail. Every dining package we've done has addressed my allergies, and CMs have always been able to come up with something to work around my needs. Just note your need on the reservation, repeat at check in, repeat with your server. If you need a chef to speak with you at a restaurant, just request it (if the kitchen doesn't already send someone out to you).

 

[isabellea]

Thank you all for replying and helping me. I can start making reservations tomorrow. I'm really struggling with which PTN package to do, dining at Wine Country Trattoria or the dessert party... Looks like F! is only on weekends at the end of April so I now my Friday (last day at DLR) will be earliest reservation available at Plaza Inn for breakfast with DH then we will split. He will leave the area to go to a surfing class at one of the OC beach while I do the Walking in Walt's footstep tour by myself at 9:30am. DH will come back to DL at the end of the afternoon and we will do the Blue Bayou F! dining package. We will stay in the BB F! area to watch the fireworks for a different vantage point.

I think I will keep PTN for Wednesday (either the dessert party OR the dining pkg at WCT) and on Thursday we will have dinner at Cafe Orleans and watch the fireworks (crossing my fingers they won't be canceled).