critique my plan thus far?

[kayleigh83]

I've been laying out some basics for our trip this summer, and I'd love some advice/tips on how it looks so far! It's still a work in progress!

We will be in the parks July 23-27, we have 5 day parkhopper tickets. I plan to try to be there at open every day, and take an afternoon break/nap sometime between 1-5 roughly each day. I'm mostly planning any meal reservations and showtimes I want to see, and figuring where in the parks I will want to be based on those things. I'm not planning rides really, except to make sure to get to the FP machines in the morning and start collecting, and go for rides with notoriously long lines either early or near close (like Peter Pan).

Monday:
-City Hall first thing (getting buttons for my boyfriend for first visit and birthday, which will be Tuesday )
-first ride Indy
-breakfast at Carnation Cafe 9:00 am
-plan to spend this whole day in Disneyland
-"Magical" Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday:
-start day at DCA, get FP for RSR
-start with e-tickets in DCA like Soarin', GRR, etc., explore DCA til lunch
-boyfriend's birthday lunch at Blue Bayou 11:30
-spend another hour or two in DL, if RSR FP window wasn't before lunch use that before heading back to hotel for break
-after break decide whether to do to DCA or DL, whatever we feel like!
-Fantasmic! at 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday:
-pop into DCA to get WOC FPs
-spend morning in DL
-head to DCA after afternoon break for rides and evening entertainment
-Pixar Play Parade 5:00 pm (where is a good spot to view this?)
-World of Color 9:00 pm show

Thursday:
-Magic Morning, spend morning in DL
-afternoon after break in DCA
-back to DL for evening and for parade
-Mickey's Soundsational Parade at 6:30 pm

Friday:
-morning at DCA
-see Aladdin show at 11:55 am
-after break spend evening in DL
-The Magic, the Memories and You at 8:45 pm

 

[DLR29]

Sounds good, although I am one to recommend using MM as early as possible during a trip. Any particular reason why you'll be doing MM on Thursday as opposed to Tuesday? The logic behind this is that later on in your trip you'll be more tired and less likely/willing to get up early.

Otherwise it looks like a solid plan. Very doable and looks like you have a lot planned! For RSR FP, you're gonna want to get there VERY early and even still you might have a return time of late afternoon, and when you get to the ride you may still have to wait 30-60 min with a FP. We'll see how lines are this summer. I'd keep checking back in the coming weeks to see how the lines turn out.

 

[kayleigh83]

Tuesday is my boyfriend's birthday so he would like to sleep in that day, and since it's his day he gets to decide that! I did ask him and let him know about how it works but he decided to pick Thursday.

And yes, the day I get RSR FPs it will be the first thing we do after rope drop. I'm going to be keeping a VERY close eye on lines for that ride over the next month!

 

[zavandor]

It's a great plan, but I would suggest to park hop a little more.
This thread is great about explaining how to maximize your time getting the most of fastpasses:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

Hopping requires just 5 minutes, the two parks can be considered one big park with turnstiles in the middle and hopping is useful because it allows you to take more fast passes.

 

[CanadianDisneyDad]

G'day

wow I love to see other planners on here

It was previously mentioned but you really can look at DL & DCA as one large park and make frequent crosses if you so desire.

You never mentioned shopping but assume you'll want some souvenirs but aeeume you will want som. For us, we always arrived the day before our first day at the park, we head to Downtown Disney, you dont need a ticket for here, and started browsing. In our experience you start browsing the first day then each day take a small break and wander thru stores and by the end fo the trip you'll know what you want. Just a thought.

cheers and ENJOY the trip!!!

 

[Carolynleanne]

I did t see Aladdin at California Adventure on your itinerary. Are you not planning to see it? It's a do not miss in our books

Otherwise I'd say it looks very good!

 

[kayleigh83]

I did t see Aladdin at California Adventure on your itinerary. Are you not planning to see it? It's a do not miss in our books

Otherwise I'd say it looks very good!

I am planning to see it, and I swore I had it in my itinerary! I don't know where it went! Thanks for pointing that out, I'll throw it back in there!

As for the park hopping... I may end up doing more of it but I feel like I'm the kind of person who will tend to get "absorbed" in a certain area, and not want to be all over the place so much! I may end up hopping a little more than planned though, that's one of those things I'm just going to see how it goes when I'm there!

And YES - shopping! My favourite! We are arriving the day before our first day in the parks, and we'll have the whole afternoon and evening to kill, so browsing DTD is definitely on the to-do list!

 

[DLR29]

Tuesday is my boyfriend's birthday so he would like to sleep in that day, and since it's his day he gets to decide that! I did ask him and let him know about how it works but he decided to pick Thursday.

And yes, the day I get RSR FPs it will be the first thing we do after rope drop. I'm going to be keeping a VERY close eye on lines for that ride over the next month!

That makes sense, but if you are gonna want RSR FPs on Tuesday then I wouldn't be sleeping in! You're gonna want to be at the gates of DCA no later than 7:15/7:30 to get a RSR FP.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

You never mentioned shopping but assume you'll want some souvenirs but aeeume you will want som. For us, we always arrived the day before our first day at the park, we head to Downtown Disney,
cheers and ENJOY the trip!!!

i love coming down the day before and doing DTD but also, since OP is going to break every day between 1 and 5 (which btw op, is an excellent idea and perfect time of day to that (although I usually wait till about 2 myself)

That makes sense, but if you are gonna want RSR FPs on Tuesday then I wouldn't be sleeping in! You're gonna want to be at the gates of DCA no later than 7:15/7:30 to get a RSR FP.

amen to that one...and honestly, due to the fact that you will be there at the end of july, i would recommend you be there closer to 7am (when they are letting EE people in)

everything sounds really good and as always I would love to see how much of that itinerary you are able to stick to so let us know once you come back how it went...oh one more thing...are you staying on property or off??? the reason Im asking is that theres always a line at City Hall regardless of time of year and if you either stayed on property or went over to the front desk to one of the hotels, they would give you a birthday button and it would definitely save you some time

 

[chrissiecutie]

It's a great plan, but I would suggest to park hop a little more.
This thread is great about explaining how to maximize your time getting the most of fastpasses:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

Hopping requires just 5 minutes, the two parks can be considered one big park with turnstiles in the middle and hopping is useful because it allows you to take more fast passes.

LOL- I was going to suggest park hop LESS.

OP- this sounds like a great plan. Everything is really SO subjective as to your priorities. But if I can offer one piece of advice it's this...rest more!

July is busy, hot and since it's open longer summer hours, can make for a very exhausting trip. Depending on where you're staying, leaving the park mid day can become an event in and of itself, KWIM?

Since you have so many days to spend there and you plan on park hopping and using FP's (which BTW, you do NOT have to go back during the exact time listed on those) you really shouldn't have a problem seeing & doing everything on your list. I would make room to sleep in more, eat a nice late breakfast or swim in the hotel pool in the evening while watching the fireworks. Depending on where you're staying...this is possible.

But really, this is just my personal preference. We like to do "commando" touring one day with our MM & use FP's. But then we like to take it easy the next and go in after lunch...especially if we plan on staying late that night. The last thing I want is for DH & DS to get worn down & too tired to really enjoy it, KWIM?

 

[disneegrl4eva]

LOL- I was going to suggest park hop LESS.

OP- this sounds like a great plan. Everything is really SO subjective as to your priorities. But if I can offer one piece of advice it's this...rest more!

Chrissie she indicated they would be out of the park between 1 and 5 though....which actually is the hottest time of the day...earlier in the am is good because people are still getting to the park, its cool outside etc....after the sun starts to go down even a little it starts to cool down again...although, unless you are someone who only gets to go once every few years, I dont recommend going commando at all but imho DL is not the place to go to sleep in, and sit by the pool all day...its nice to do one or the other or even a little of both but how many hotels do you know of that have soundproof rooms where you dont hear every door slam after 7am every single day??? how could you sleep through that anyhow??

 

[kayleigh83]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! To answer a few Q's:

Are the RSR FP's really gonna run out THAT early? They run out as soon as the park opens? I would have figured they'd be available for at least the first hour or two the park was open. It makes no difference to me which return window we get, just as long as we get one and don't have to wait in a 3 hour line!

My break time from 1-5 is more of a guideline, as in when we take a break it will be probably within that time frame... some days maybe 1-4, some 2-5, etc.

We're staying off-property at the Tropicana, so nice and close. We'll have to brave a little line at City Hall then!

As for parkhopping, yeah for us it's kind of going to be a go where you feel thing... besides entertainment and using our FP's, it's probably mostly gonna be "what do you wanna ride now?" and if it happens to be stuff in the other park we'll go there! But I know our "style" and we'll probably want to do as much as we can in a given area before we move on to the next. It's not like we wanna ride 3 rides in DL, hop to DCA for 2 more, back to DL for another few.... you know what I mean!

Reading lots of tips (especially HydroGuy's) was the reason I decided to do the midday breaks, because of the crowds, heat etc.... after the research it seemed like the best strategy! Trust me, I'd LOVE to sleep in but Disneyland is a VERY occasional treat for me (been twice in my life and the last time was 13 years ago!) so I wanna make the most of it while I'm there - I'll sleep in before and after the trip!

 

[SplashMo]

park hop more for sure...

On the first day FP SOARIN or another ride. You both need to enter a park before each day before you can fastpass... You probably know that...

It is so quick to FP other parks and a lot of fun... Great plan...

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! To answer a few Q's:

Are the RSR FP's really gonna run out THAT early? They run out as soon as the park opens? I would have figured they'd be available for at least the first hour or two the park was open. It makes no difference to me which return window we get, just as long as we get one and don't have to wait in a 3 hour line!

someone said today that at 8:30am they went for FP's and got a return time of almost 9pm if I remember correctly....so yeah I think they will be closer to running out before the regular park guests even get there... you will be able to get one but if you arent going on an EE day then you will have to run like a bat out of hades and expect a return time of late night...

Reading lots of tips (especially HydroGuy's) was the reason I decided to do the midday breaks, because of the crowds, heat etc.... after the research it seemed like the best strategy! Trust me, I'd LOVE to sleep in but Disneyland is a VERY occasional treat for me (been twice in my life and the last time was 13 years ago!) so I wanna make the most of it while I'm there - I'll sleep in before and after the trip!

now thats what im talking about

 

[DLR29]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! To answer a few Q's:

Are the RSR FP's really gonna run out THAT early? They run out as soon as the park opens? I would have figured they'd be available for at least the first hour or two the park was open. It makes no difference to me which return window we get, just as long as we get one and don't have to wait in a 3 hour line!

Yes. Although it only has been a few days, FPs have been gone every day before 9:30 this past weekend (before 9 on most days so far). Also that doesn't mean that if you get in line to get a FP at 9:30, you'll get one. It means that if you get in line for a FP at 8:45/9, wait a half hour, you MIGHT end up with one of the last time frames (10:30PM). The line to GET a FP will be at least a half hour starting 10 min after official park opening. Then the line to USE your FP when your time frame becomes valid has been about an hour recently.

 

[kayleigh83]

Yes. Although it only has been a few days, FPs have been gone every day before 9:30 this past weekend (before 9 on most days so far). Also that doesn't mean that if you get in line to get a FP at 9:30, you'll get one. It means that if you get in line for a FP at 8:45/9, wait a half hour, you MIGHT end up with one of the last time frames (10:30PM). The line to GET a FP will be at least a half hour starting 10 min after official park opening. Then the line to USE your FP when your time frame becomes valid has been about an hour recently.

And what is the FP usage line (1 hr) compared to the stand-by line at night? And what's the stand-by line like right at opening (around 8 am)?

If I get to the line for DCA at 7:45ish, get into the park and beeline to RSR FP distribution, wait for 30 mins or so (so say I'm receiving my FP at 8:30 am) and it says I can't come back until 10pm, honestly, that's totally fine by me. I think Carsland looks amazing after dark anyways!

I plan to be there early, I'm not gonna mosey into DCA at 8:45 and amble into the FP lineup... it's not important to me which time frame my FP is good for, as long as I get one, so for me I don't really want to be getting in the DCA line SO early just so I can get a FP for the ride a few hours earlier in the day.

That said, I wonder how much the lines/demand for FP will decrease by a month from now - I'm not harbouring any illusions that I'll just be able to walk on RSR by then laughing: I wish!!) but I wonder if it will still be as bad as this by then?

A question about EE for DCA.... it is for AP holders, correct? And it is on Tuesday and Thursday as well?

 

[DLR29]

And what is the FP usage line (1 hr) compared to the stand-by line at night? And what's the stand-by line like right at opening (around 8 am)?

If I get to the line for DCA at 7:45ish, get into the park and beeline to RSR FP distribution, wait for 30 mins or so (so say I'm receiving my FP at 8:30 am) and it says I can't come back until 10pm, honestly, that's totally fine by me. I think Carsland looks amazing after dark anyways!

I plan to be there early, I'm not gonna mosey into DCA at 8:45 and amble into the FP lineup... it's not important to me which time frame my FP is good for, as long as I get one, so for me I don't really want to be getting in the DCA line SO early just so I can get a FP for the ride a few hours earlier in the day.

That said, I wonder how much the lines/demand for FP will decrease by a month from now - I'm not harbouring any illusions that I'll just be able to walk on RSR by then laughing: I wish!!) but I wonder if it will still be as bad as this by then?

A question about EE for DCA.... it is for AP holders, correct? And it is on Tuesday and Thursday as well?

Well considering we only have a few days of data, the stand-by lines late at night have been 2-3 hours.

There is AP Early Entry at DCA on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays (have to register in advance). However, there is also Extra Magic Hour at DCA for guests staying onsite on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays...Those are the only 2 ways of getting into DCA early. So everyday during the summer there will be some people already in the park at "official park opening". This'll make the standby line for RSR probably at least 45-60 min by the time regular guests are let in. FP machines don't start giving out FP until official park opening...although there will be some people with Early Admission who will start lining up for the FP distribution before 8AM.

I would continue to keep checking back in the next few weeks, especially after June 28th when the So Cal APs get blocked and the different early admission options will have been going for a couple weeks. Then we'll have a better sense of opening procedures and crowd patterns.

 

[kayleigh83]

Hmmm, so according to this (at least up until now) I can either get in line at 8 am for a FP, wait about 30 mins, come back with my FP much later in the day and wait another hour before I get on the ride, OR I can get in the stand-by line right at 8 am and wait an hour to get on the ride?

Since I'd have to wait about an hour to get on the ride with my FP later in the day (or as late as at night!) it seems like I might as well just get in line right at rope drop anyways? Seems like I'd end up in line(s) longer overall with the FP method.

 

[DLR29]

Hmmm, so according to this (at least up until now) I can either get in line at 8 am for a FP, wait about 30 mins, come back with my FP much later in the day and wait another hour before I get on the ride, OR I can get in the stand-by line right at 8 am and wait an hour to get on the ride?

Since I'd have to wait about an hour to get on the ride with my FP later in the day (or as late as at night!) it seems like I might as well just get in line right at rope drop anyways? Seems like I'd end up in line(s) longer overall with the FP method.

Yes. This appears to be the case. There can be an advantage, though, of getting a FP. It allows you to go to other rides in the park (like TSMM, Screamin or ToT) earlier in the morning and ride those with a shorter line than if you were to wait that hour first thing.

 

[kayleigh83]

But aren't all the lines for other e-ticket attractions being reported as much shorter than usual now that Carsland is open anyways? So many factors to consider!