Disney Dads: DL Tactics and Planning

[BensDaddy]

Some Dads like hunting. Some like football. Some like Nascar.

I like vacationing - and planning Disney vacations so that my family gets the most out of our visit is one of my favorites. Commando vacationing.

We did a recon mission to Disneyland a few years back - just a quick 2 day trip. We're heading back for 3-4 days late this year and wanted to see if there are any other Disney Dads who would be willing to share your tips to avoid the crowds and make sure that your families get the most out of the Disney trip. Like most people we're going to be drawn to attractions that are typically crowded (World of Color, Fireworks, Parades, Star Tours, Cars Land) and, with a 5 year old in tow, staking out a seating location 3 hours early probably won't be possible.

What are your tips and tactics? We're at T-9 months and counting... I can already taste the Dole Whip. Game on.

 

[kkmcan]

My best tips are get there for rope drop, have a plan of where you are going and collect fastpasses to save for the evening.

We saw WOC from the backside across from Toy Story Mania and it wasn't a perfect view as far viewing the images go but it was good enough for us and we got there 10 minutes early for our spot at the railing.

For fireworks we've come out of Adventureland about 30 minutes before and staked out a spot right at the sidewalk edge or even in the street. Done that several times so it's a pretty good almost unobstructed view of the castle.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

My biggest tip to you and what I do is collect fast pass as soon as your able to get one go get another.

Our family will enter Disneyland I exit and head to dca to get a soarin fp then head back to Disneyland and grap whatever I want to fp there.

With 5 min left to get another fp I head to another ride I can fp. It's much easier for me to run around to get all these then dragging everyone.

World of color I like to buy the picnic meal and when time for the show always get by a rail so no one gets in front of you.

Fantasmic easier to get better seats for the 2nd show.
1st show to much waiting around I have bought the 59.99 seats before for the first show we enjoyed it.

Fireworks I hate waiting I'll just go in mainstreet to watch when they start.
Fireworks by small world is a lot of fun they project images on small world not many people there at all.

Prades same as fireworks hate waiting just find a space right before it starts.

We like doing blue buyou for lunch the very first sitting 11:30am so we can have water side seating.

We also like Minnie and friends character breakfast because it's in Disneyland.

Also like jazz kitchen express in dtd we like to take the monorail to dtd and ask the castmember if we can ride up front it's fun.

If your kid is to small to go on a ride make sure you ask for a stroller pass.

That's all I can think of right now

 

[SGDisneyFam]

Like has already been mentioned. I always make sure to collect a fast pass as soon as I am able to. A lot of times we have unused ones at the end of the day but we usually don't last until close because of our small kids so I give the unused ones to someone heading in to the park.

For WOC we like being at the top railing, right as you go into the blue section underneath the light tower up high and beside the VIP seating area that is roped off. This view is good, and you are right beside Ariels Undersea Adventure so as soon as WOC is over you can hop on.

bluegrizzlies has hit pretty much everything else that I like to do.

Most of all I like being efficient with our time, Be waiting at the bag check ready to go. And have your Bags open etc.

 

[Honeybee1983]

HA!!!! This post totally cracked me up!! I love the dad take on a Disney vacation! Awesomeness! And, on a side note, since I was giggling, MY hubs asked me what was so funny and so I read him your post. He thought it was great too! Thank sooo much for showing him that it's cool to be a dad and be into the magic too! I think he may be coming around a bit already!!!
OH, and I was going to say that I didn't have any tips, but I actually DO! Check out Ridemax!! http://ridemax.com/ We used it last time when it was busy and it really, really helped to get into and onto crowded things with ease! Basically these people who created the software have TONS of experience in the parks at all times of the year and know what to expect when! You input what rides and such you wanna do, even when you want to take breaks and it arranges the list for in in a way that you will NOT be waiting in lines all day long! It nuts! I don't even know how they know what they do, but it WORKS! Even being busy spring break time when we went last, I think the longest wait we had was maybe 20 mins out of an entire WEEK of time there! Check it out, it's GREAT!

 

[Hound 109]

Some Dads like hunting. Some like football. Some like Nascar.

I like vacationing - and planning Disney vacations so that my family gets the most out of our visit is one of my favorites. Commando vacationing.

We did a recon mission to Disneyland a few years back - just a quick 2 day trip. We're heading back for 3-4 days late this year and wanted to see if there are any other Disney Dads who would be willing to share your tips to avoid the crowds and make sure that your families get the most out of the Disney trip. Like most people we're going to be drawn to attractions that are typically crowded (World of Color, Fireworks, Parades, Star Tours, Cars Land) and, with a 5 year old in tow, staking out a seating location 3 hours early probably won't be possible.

What are your tips and tactics? We're at T-9 months and counting... I can already taste the Dole Whip. Game on.

BD, there are lots of Dis Commando Dads here.


Lots of good advice in the posts above. Here are a few other thoughts:

- as you know, commando'ing early allows one to smell the roses during the crowded afternoons & early evening. Use these crowded times to eat, check out cool non-ride Dis things & have an afternoon rest.

- Use the time zone difference to your advantage. Easy to get up early....DO SO.

- With Carsland & WOC on your list, plan on 4 days min. (maybe 5 days)

- Park Hop almost every day. (DCA is merely "CaliforniaLand" a few steps away)

- Read all of Hydroguy's tip threads.....he, you & i kind of think alike.


Here's a response i typed to a question similar to yours last month:

If you are a WDW veteran, then here is your primer.....a must read!!:

HydroGuy's "DLR for the WDW veteran tip thread". http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Also, lots of good info for the WDW vet in Mary Jo's tip thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084


Regarding touring DLR....the two most important things to remember is to:

- Get to the parks BEFORE opening &
- Know how to use FP at DLR.


30 minutes early is typically when security opens (so getting in THIS line 5-15 minutes prior to security opening is best). Being one of the first 8-10 families at Security will get you up front (probably first thru third family) in line at the DL turnstile. Being very near the front of the turnstiles is important (to me) so that:

- If it's an MM day, I'm first on Peter Pan...if i'm first on PP then the rest of MM flows easily. & even if i'm not doing PP, i would want to be first on Matterhorn...or SM (or whatever) during MM.

"Critique of MM/EE" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671


- Even on a non MM day, I want to be one of the first few the turnstiles so i can get to the ST, SM (or Indy) FP machine first (to start the FP collection clock). Then we'll hop on our first ride a minute or two later & begin the important first 90-120 min. of the day at DLR.



KNOW THESE FP THREADS:

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

"FastPass for Dummies and Smarties - A Photographic Explanation" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186052

"Which Fast Pass First?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107718

"Strategies For Using DL and DCA Opening Time Differences to Collect More Fastpasses"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1553197


"Why I Park Hop" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961


If you have kiddos ages 4-11, then Jedi Training is a must:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699



Regarding getting to the Security Tent 35-45 min. prior to general admission (or MM) opening.....in other words... 5-15 min before SECURITY opens:

The one time that I strolled up 5 min. before MM opening (instead of arriving 35 minutes before opening), I was way back (40-50 families back) at the turnstiles when i walked up. 2-3 rides could have been ridden by the time I've made it thru the turnstiles 10-12 min. after opening.

Plus there's lots to do while you wait the 30 min.... Pics to take, maps (& touring plans) to study, sunscreen to put on, McBreakfasts to munch on, people watching to do, talking to others in line who are as pumped up as you.

Have a great time at Walt's Park.

 

[SGDisneyFam]

BD, there are lots of Dis Commando Dads here.


Lots of good advice in the posts above. Here are a few other thoughts:

- as you know, commando'ing early allows one to smell the roses during the crowded afternoons & early evening. Use these crowded times to eat, check out cool non-ride Dis things & have an afternoon rest.

- Use the time zone difference to your advantage. Easy to get up early....DO SO.

- With Carsland & WOC on your list, plan on 4 days min. (maybe 5 days)

- Park Hop almost every day. (DCA is merely "CaliforniaLand" a few steps away)

- Read all of Hydroguy's tip threads.....he, you & i kind of think alike.


Here's a response i typed to a question similar to yours last month:



Have a great time at Walt's Park.

I like how you do Disney. We think very alike.

 

[blackjackdelta]

BD, there are lots of Dis Commando Dads here.


Lots of good advice in the posts above. Here are a few other thoughts:

- as you know, commando'ing early allows one to smell the roses during the crowded afternoons & early evening. Use these crowded times to eat, check out cool non-ride Dis things & have an afternoon rest.

- Use the time zone difference to your advantage. Easy to get up early....DO SO.

- With Carsland & WOC on your list, plan on 4 days min. (maybe 5 days)

- Park Hop almost every day. (DCA is merely "CaliforniaLand" a few steps away)

- Read all of Hydroguy's tip threads.....he, you & i kind of think alike.


Here's a response i typed to a question similar to yours last month:



Have a great time at Walt's Park.

Going to jump on hounds post and say there are many of us here. Since I work at least two jobs everything has to be tactically planned to get the most out of DLR. Read the stickies at the top, establish what your prioirities are and understand that you can not get everything and do not be disappointed.
The longer you stay the better chance you have you have of getting all your objectives met and be flexible. I have been going since 55 and having a game plan for the 6 of us works better.
The word "vacation" means different things to different people, so plan and have fun but most everything you do will revolve around the 5 y.o.

Jack

 

[mullii5]

I plan all of the vacation details. My wife just says "tell me when to pack". I love the planning...especially for Disney vacations.

Disney Dads unite!!!

 

[BensDaddy]

Excellent info everyone. I've got a lot of research to do. I think we will get a 4 day park hopper and plan to get there on day 1 and leave our bags at the front desk -- get a jump on the parks.

We will definitely do the World of Color picnic, but may pass on Fantasmic -- we saw it in FL anyway -- in favor of finding a good spot near the hub for the fireworks. Has anyone watched them from the train platform? Any good there?

Any good Grand Californian Villa tips? Restaurants? Discounts? Airport transportation (may end up using LAX as it appears much cheaper than SNA)

I apologize for the shortness of this reply as I am typing on an iPhone (WHY does DisBoards not have tapatalk?) and it's kind of tough. Stuck in Houston tonight for work with no laptop.

 

[BensDaddy]

Thanks for the Ridemax tip Honeybee! I'll check it out!! Glad your husband is coming around!

 

[DLR29]

Excellent info everyone. I've got a lot of research to do. I think we will get a 4 day park hopper and plan to get there on day 1 and leave our bags at the front desk -- get a jump on the parks.

We will definitely do the World of Color picnic, but may pass on Fantasmic -- we saw it in FL anyway -- in favor of finding a good spot near the hub for the fireworks. Has anyone watched them from the train platform? Any good there?

Any good Grand Californian Villa tips? Restaurants? Discounts? Airport transportation (may end up using LAX as it appears much cheaper than SNA)

I apologize for the shortness of this reply as I am typing on an iPhone (WHY does DisBoards not have tapatalk?) and it's kind of tough. Stuck in Houston tonight for work with no laptop.

Not a DIS Dad but still a DIS guy here who loves to plan all of the details. I just wanted to throw in that DLR's Fantasmic > DHS's Fantasmic by FAR! I love Fantasmic at DL. It's my favorite show at the resort. It's in a better location and it has better scenes and the dragon is amazing! Just saying.

As for fireworks, the hub is THE best place to watch them. Never watched them from the train, but if you can snag a spot in front of the castle, it's really an awesome show.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Excellent info everyone. I've got a lot of research to do. I think we will get a 4 day park hopper and plan to get there on day 1 and leave our bags at the front desk -- get a jump on the parks.

We will definitely do the World of Color picnic, but may pass on Fantasmic -- we saw it in FL anyway -- in favor of finding a good spot near the hub for the fireworks. Has anyone watched them from the train platform? Any good there?

Any good Grand Californian Villa tips? Restaurants? Discounts? Airport transportation (may end up using LAX as it appears much cheaper than SNA)

I apologize for the shortness of this reply as I am typing on an iPhone (WHY does DisBoards not have tapatalk?) and it's kind of tough. Stuck in Houston tonight for work with no laptop.

Most of my posts are from an iPhone not much opportunity to sit in the office.

Jack

 

[Disney Commando]

Ok all you guys on the west coast, you are not alone there are many:good vibes

I am a member of The Dis Dads Club (DDC), almost 700 members & The WDW Commando Club , almost 200 members

Although many of the members have never been to DL, but there are a few, and one that can tell you almost anything you wanted to know about DL (worked there and still goes a couple times a year)

I am inviting & welcoming all you guys to come and visit or join these clubs, who knows together we all might learn something

Hope to see you there