Critique my theme park touring plans!

[JennCa]

My daughter (5.5 years) and I are going Monday Nov 10th and Tues Nov 11th. It is a Veteran's Day weekend so Disneyland is open 8am-midnight both days. I think Monday does not have early entry and Tuesday does, but we don't have tickets to get early entry. I'd appreciate any feedback anyone can offer.

Monday open 8am-midnight
Breakfast
7:20am Arrive at security check point
8am Dumbo
Peter Pan
Matterhorn Bobsleds 2 times
get FP for Space Mountain
Astro-orbitor
Alice
Storybook Canal
Mad Tea Party
Casey Jr
Pinochio
Snow White
Mr. Toad
get FP for Splash Mountain
Winnie the Pooh
Lunch at 11:30
get FP for Haunted Mansion
Tom Sawyer's Island- haven't seen this since they have changed it!
get FP for Big Thunder
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Tarzan's Tree House
Sleeping Beauty walk through (should I go earlier since this is a enw thing?)
Carrousel
get FP for Buzz
6:30 Parade of Dreams and then leave. We might see fireworks, but I doubt it.
9:25 "Remember…Dreams Come True" Fireworks
I realize that I am skipping Nemo, have done it before and didn't really want to take the time for it this trip. Also, she isn't tall enough for Indy or many of the rides at DCA, onnly 42 inches tall.



Tuesday
DL has early entry so not as good for us since they can get in at 7am and we can't until 8am
DL open 8am-midnight and DCA opens at 10am

7:20 security area
straight to Space for Fastpass
Astro orbitor
Buzz
Star Tours
get FP for Autopia/ or Space
9:30 switch to DCA for opening
10:00 straight to Toy Story Mania do twice
Mullholland Madness and also get a FP for later
ride Mullholland Madness
Golden Zephyr
get FP for Soarin
go to Bug's area
Monsters
Lunch
Back to DL
get a FP
go on Space or Buzz
Innovations
leave park at 6pm since our flight leaves from Orange County at 9pm.

 

[abby]

While I appreciate you are trying to get in all you can, I would consider going back to the hotel for an hour or two in the middle of the day and rest. I have found if we didn't at that age, we would bother be cranky and miserable by midafternoon and not really enjoying ourselves. A break may take you away from some things, but overall make the day much more enjoyable.

 

[gatorfreud]

First, I agree about a break! DH and I went without the kids last weekend and we barely made it all day - and we took an hour break at the hotel and had a 3 hour realxing dinner at Napa Rose! So I would plan some downtime on Monday. _ Oh, just saw that maybe you aren't staying for fireworks. Hmmm, even so I may take a break.

I am not as sure of the DL ride order as I am at WDW... but I think they say Peter, then Dumbo (I was surprised to see Dumbo shorter than Peter when we went!). And I think Alice gets crowded too...

The park was pretty empty until about 9 or 9:30... Fantasyland was a little more crowded but the rest was dead.

On Tuesday you could probably just ride Autopia then... that FP seems kind of a waste to me.

So on Tuesday, when you arrive, get a FP for Saorin' on your way to line up for TSM. I would get in line about 9:15 for the gates to open. Look at my trip report, should still be close to the top, for the details about how to get on TSM... it was a weekend but I guess it's the same every day.

And do not ride twice then... get in that early line, and ride once. Then come back in the afternoon.... the lines were worse in the morning. Weird, but true.

I might consider reworking a bit to get a small break on Monday, then go over to DCA and ride TSM then (and on Tuesday as well!). On our weekend, Saturday's lines were shorter than Sunday's... I guess you'll have better luck there on Monday.

Kim

 

[JennCa]

I'm shocked to imagine going on Peter first over Dumbo but I'll check it out : )

We may go back for a break, not sure. My daughter doesn't nap anymore, but I plan on pushing her around in a stroller so if in the afternoon she is pooped out, she can take a break, also like the storage space for my things! I was thinking of being there 7:20am-7pm at the latest. I wrote the fireworks in my plans, but I don't think we'll get there. Typically she wakes up at 7am and goes to sleep at 7:30pm. We are staying at a Super 8, a 15 minute walk from the park so not worth going to for a swim or anything. If she naps, I might walk back and try to nap myself!

Thank you for the advice about Soarin'. I had thought with Toy Story Mania it would be swamped like it was when Nemo first opened so I had thought to go straight there. I've seen people say they weren't that thrilled with it, but I want to check it out. Where is it exactly?

Thank you for the advice and appreciate any ideas/concerns/suggestions!

Jenn

 

[gatorfreud]

Oh my TSM is the greatest ride ever! We never wait in lines, but we waited like 4 times though 30 minutes last weekend to keep riding!

IF you can get to TSM first, through the line they walk early over there, then go 1st. If you end up in the mob of people, might as well just wait, as the line was a consistent 30-40 minutes throughout the day - with the exception of at opening it was maybe closer to an hour? (Unless you beat the rush).

And yes it seems weird to me about Peter/Dumbo also - double check that somewhere, but I think that's what they say!

Kim

 

[Princess Row]

I definetly agree about the resting. Having a stroller is a great idea it always works with our family. Just be aware your plans may change. You can't always plan every thing out. If a rides down for the day or the lines are to long you may have to move things around in your schedule. Just some ideas :]

 

[DLR29]

I am not as sure of the DL ride order as I am at WDW... but I think they say Peter, then Dumbo (I was surprised to see Dumbo shorter than Peter when we went!). And I think Alice gets crowded too...

The park was pretty empty until about 9 or 9:30... Fantasyland was a little more crowded but the rest was dead.

On Tuesday you could probably just ride Autopia then... that FP seems kind of a waste to me.

Yes, Peter Pan BEFORE Dumbo and do not waste a FP on Autopia.

 

[Hound 109]

- Peter Pan (first...always first)....THEN Dumbo.
- Agree with others....schedule a break in the crowded afternoon.
- Plan a hop to DCA....especially on the more crowded Monday.

See below for my thoughts:

My daughter (5.5 years) and I are going Monday Nov 10th and Tues Nov 11th. It is a Veteran's Day weekend so Disneyland is open 8am-midnight both days. I think Monday does not have early entry and Tuesday does, but we don't have tickets to get early entry. I'd appreciate any feedback anyone can offer.

Monday open 8am-midnight
Breakfast
7:20am Arrive at security check point
8am Dumbo
Peter Pan
Matterhorn Bobsleds 2 times
get FP for Space Mountain
Astro-orbitor
Alice


- PETER PAN
- DUMBO
- ALICE
- MATTERHORN X 2
- FP FOR SM.

- BUZZ
- TOADY / STORYBOOKLAND / TEA PARTY (ANY ORDER)
- BTMRR (if 10 min. or less line)
- HAUNTED MANSION OR SPLASH FP.
- 2-3 MORE RIDES (WINNIE, TREEHOUSE, SPLASH?)
- GRAB A BTMRR OR BUZZ FP & HOP TO DCA AT 11:00 - 11:30AM. (WITH 3 FPs IN POCKET).



Storybook Canal
Mad Tea Party
Casey Jr
Pinochio
Snow White
Mr. Toad
get FP for Splash Mountain
Winnie the Pooh
Lunch at 11:30
get FP for Haunted Mansion
Tom Sawyer's Island- haven't seen this since they have changed it!
get FP for Big Thunder
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Tarzan's Tree House
Sleeping Beauty walk through (should I go earlier since this is a enw thing?)
Carrousel
get FP for Buzz
6:30 Parade of Dreams and then leave. We might see fireworks, but I doubt it.
9:25 "Remember…Dreams Come True" Fireworks
I realize that I am skipping Nemo, have done it before and didn't really want to take the time for it this trip. Also, she isn't tall enough for Indy or many of the rides at DCA, onnly 42 inches tall.



Tuesday
DL has early entry so not as good for us since they can get in at 7am and we can't until 8am
DL open 8am-midnight and DCA opens at 10am

7:20 security area
straight to Space for Fastpass
Astro orbitor
Buzz
Star Tours
get FP for Autopia/ or Space
9:30 switch to DCA for opening
10:00 straight to Toy Story Mania do twice
Mullholland Madness and also get a FP for later
ride Mullholland Madness
Golden Zephyr
get FP for Soarin
go to Bug's area
Monsters
Lunch
Back to DL
get a FP
go on Space or Buzz
Innovations
leave park at 6pm since our flight leaves from Orange County at 9pm.

YOU SHOULD CONSIDER HOPPING EACH DAY.

IF YOU AGREE WITH MY FIRST MORNING THOUGHTS, I'LL ADD OTHERS.

HAVE A GREAT TIME AT WALT'S PARK.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

DL’s Peter Pan loads slower than MK’s PP, so I would also recommend going to Peter Pan first...

I would keep an eye on Alice and Mr. Toad. Along with PP and Dumbo, they are the slowest of the slow-loaders, and I would try to go to them as early as possible.

I also agree with DLR29 about Autopia -- the wait is usually 25 minutes (using FP for Autopia) because of where the FP Return Line merges. I would treat Autopia the same way that MiKE treats the Indy Speedway, and go to it as early as possible.

I hope that you take the time on Monday afternoon to get a Dole Whip and visit the Enchanted Tiki Room (Under Walt Disney’s Management). I hope that the Powers That Be will continue to keep Iago out of DL’s Tiki Room.

HTH