Ok, I tweaked this for your dates and put in some suggestions. I noticed that Thursday does not have Magic Morning listed, so you may need to do Magic Morning on Tuesday? I realized this as I was writing for Thursday, so there may be a need to switch the days around. I hope this makes sense and is helpful. The main strategy is to ride things without FP that are slow loaders first thing in the morning when it is slowest. As the park gets busier, you rely on FP and ride the rides with higher capacity. You also incorporate other entertainment in your day. This is how to avoid waiting in long lines.
Sunday, November 8th: Disneyland
Park Hours: 8am-midnight
Refurb: Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain
Tips: Be at the gates, tickets or vouchers in hand by 7:30am if at all possible.
Your first order of business: Fantasyland. These rides do not have Fastpass, so it is important to try and complete these first thing in the morning. Otherwise you find yourself waiting in a long line. If you can, make a beeline for Peter Pan. If you find yourself way behind, ditch Peter Pan and go for Dumbo or Alice in Wonderland. Then work your way around Fantasyland, including Toad, Pinocchio, Mad Tea Party, Carousel, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Small World, and the Matterhorn. Try to end on the Matterhorn and then work your way to Tomorrowland from that point.
Get a FP for Star Tours (since Space is down) and then work your way around Tomorrowland. Do Buzz, Autopia, Nemo subs, and Astro Orbitor. Grab a snack and hydrate! At this point your FP for Star Tours should be due. Ride Star Tours and make your way to Adventureland/New Orleans Square to grab a FP for Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Check out the Adventureland/NOS area. Ride Pirates if the line is decent. Check out Jungle Cruise or the Tiki Room. Once the clock hits 11 to 11:30 get lunch. After lunch, ride Haunted Mansion. Grab a FP for Indiana Jones or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Grab a FP for Fantasmic. Check out Critter Country, ride Pooh (don't forget to stop at the corner spot and get a sweet treat!). Take a spin on the Rivers of America, paddle a canoe, or visit the island. When your FP is valid, ride Indiana Jones or Big Thunder. Then grab a FP for the one you didn't ride previously.
Now the parks will start to fill up for reals. Lines will get longer and you have already accomplished so much! Now is the time for shopping, shows, snacks, and the lesser known entertainment. You still hold a FP, so keep that in mind. Decide if you want to catch Mickey and Magical Map or a show at the Fantasyland Theater. There is a parade at 4:30 too. You are not under the gun to stand in line. Once your FP becomes valid, decide what other FP you want. Now is your time to take it easy.
Have a nice dinner. Follow the instructions for your Fantasmic FP. Get there early and enjoy Fantasmic and stay for the fireworks. Use up any FPs and hit the hay.
Monday, November 9: California Adventure
Park Hours: 9am-9pm
Refurb: Soarin'
Tips: be at the gates ready to go at least 30 minutes prior to park opening.
Today we are going to FP Radiator Springs Racers (RSR) and try for a couple of rides on Toy Story Midway Mania (TSMM). At park opening, veer toward the Grizzly area while everyone else goes toward Carsland. You are headed to the back of the park at Paradise Pier. Keep your fingers crossed that TSMM is open and try to ride a couple of times. Then go to California Screamin' and ride that. Now either send a runner or everyone head to the entrance of Bug's Land for RSR FPs. Please note that RSR FPs are NOT IN CARSLAND. I repeat, NOT IN CARSLAND. They are at the entrance to Bug's Land. Head this way and pick up your FPs. Grab some World of Color FPs as well.
Head over to Paradise Pier, ride the Silly swings, Goofy's Sky School, Jumpin Jellyfish, Little Mermaid. These lines should be minimal at this point and they are fun, but you don't want to wait all day for them. Enjoy lunch and pick up a new FP as soon as you are eligible, try for Tower of Terror. Now head on over to Hollywood Land. There are lots of shows and entertainment venues here. There is the Frozen Sing a Long, Aladdin, Disney Jr, and the events in the Animation building (there is a great drawing class in here, don't miss it!). Intersperse these with the Monster's Inc and Tower of Terror. Don't forget your RSR FP! Ride that and check out Cars Land, riding Mater too. Don't forget to grab another FP, for Grizzly or Screamin'.
Now is your time to shop, snack, catch another show, etc. There is a parade at 5:15pm, the Pixar Play Parade. Enjoy a nice dinner. Use any remaining FPs. Follow the instructions for World of Color, be sure to show up early. Enjoy the show and hit the hay.
Tuesday, November 10: Park hopping day
DL Park Hours: 9am to 9pm
DCA Park Hours: 9am to 8pm
Today DL has early entry, so it is most advantageous to begin at DCA. Of course, if you feel like you would rather do DL, by all means do so. I would forgo Fantasyland and Tomorrowland and start on equal footing in the other lands.
If you begin today in DCA, it would be fun to start in Carsland if you fancy another go on Radiator Springs Racers. Use wide right to enter the standby line for RSR. Enjoy Mater as well with a short line and then get a RSR FP for later if you wish. Or you can repeat yesterday's goal of riding TSMM.
Whatever shows you were unable to do yesterday, try for them again today. If you didn't visit the Animation building, make sure to do so and visit Anna and Elsa with FP of course. Catch the Five and Dime show/ Red Car Trolley Boys if you can. Times will be the guide. The Green Army Men are also fun. Check out the Disneyland app to see if any character meetings appeal to you. The Wilderness Explorer Ceremony is really cute and fun for those fans of Up. Intersperse these activities with FPs and shorter lines when you are in the area. Don't forget to have a good lunch and hydrate.
Sometime in the afternoon hop over to Disneyland unless you are already there. You will be at a disadvantage for FPs, but instead focus on seeing a show or meeting a favorite character. Check out the Disneyland app to see who is still meeting and greeting. Grab a FP if any are available upon your hopping to DL. Don't forget to spend some time on Main Street to see Mr. Lincoln, the Opera House, and to shop up and down the street. Get a silhouette done. Have a good dinner, maybe at the Plaza Inn for fried chicken. Use any FPs. Stake out a good spot for the Paint the Night parade and afterwards try to find a place to watch the fireworks. Another good day at Disney!
Thursday, November 12: Park hopping day
DL Park Hours: 9am to 10pm
DCA Park Hours: 9am to 8pm
Now that I am looking at your schedule, I see that there is not a Magic Morning listed this day for DL. You may need to do your Magic Morning on Tuesday. Let me know what you think.
Magic Morning: I highly recommend making Peter Pan a priority. Walk with purpose and make a beeline for it. Then enjoy the rest of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Right when the parks open, be at the FP machine of your choice.
Then it is a matter of deciding which rides you want to re-ride and which shows and entertainment you want to catch. The park atmosphere entertainment for DL isn't up yet. So I am not sure what will be available, but the Dapper Dans, Disneyland Band, Laughing Stock, and other entertainment are all worthy of your time. There is a fun little Musical Chairs bit with Alice and the Mad Hatter that is not announced, but performed daily. I can't remember the time off the top of my head, but someone here will.
If you were unable to catch Paint the Night or the Fireworks, here is another shot at it. Paint the Night is at a weird time tonight, 6pm. And the fireworks are at 9:30. Today might give you a better chance to get a good view of the fireworks.
Monday, November 16: Park hopping day
DL Park Hours: 9am to 10pm
DCA Park Hours: 9am to 8pm
Keep in mind there are now holiday events! Yay! Take a look at all the holiday stuff like the parade, tree lighting, the different World of Color, the Bell Ringers, and Viva Navidad. There are lots of new things to check out today. Prioritize what you most want to do.
DCA has early entry, so keep that in mind. But today should probably mostly be about catching things you missed. So I would take early entry into consideration, but wouldn't be afraid to start in DCA if I really wanted.
If you decide to watch the holiday version of World of Color, remember you need to grab a FP in the morning. The holiday WOC is at 7pm.
The holiday parade is in DL at 4:30. Keep that in mind if you want to check it out.
Don't forget there will be lots of decorations to see and Santa to meet. Keep your eye out for new holiday treats as well.
Ride anything you missed or want to ride again. Enjoy the holiday decorations.
Have fun!
