Disney for a day - brief trip report

[monicatb]

We were planning a family trip to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Page, and ended up with a stopover at LAX. So we decided to have a brief one day visit to DLR, to get our Disney fix, since it had been already 18 months since our previous visit (April 2010). We are international visitors, and love all things Disney, but unfortunately we can't visit as often as we would like. Our family consists of 2 adults and 3 kids ages 15, 11 and 7.

We checked in at Paradise Pier around 4 pm on 10/17. We chose to stay there to be able to have Magic Morning the next day. It was our first time at Disney property and we thought it was great. We were greeted with balloons, buttons and a signed Mickey's picture. I was really moved. We got a standard room on the 12th floor. The room was very nice, with so many Disney details, and the day bed and fridge turned out very handy. We found the location very convenient as it was only an 8 min walk to the security tables at the parks, going through the Grand Californian hotel.

After check in the kids spent some time at the waterslide, while I went to buy 1 day park hopper tickets at the lobby. Then we all headed out to Downtown Disney for dinner at Rainforest Cafe. We then spent some time checking out the stores and buying some souvenirs. We went back to Paradise Pier and went to bed to have a very early start the next morning.

So finally 10/18 was going to be our commando day at DL and DCA. Magic Morning was at 7 am, due to the Halloween party that night, so we were up by 5:15 am, got ready and had cereal in the room. DH stopped for check out and left our luggage with the valet service, while we started walking through the GC. We were first ones at the security tables at 6:25 am and first ones at the turnstiles at 6:45 am. The park opened and we waited for rope drop. This is an outline of the rides we did:

* 7 am - DD7 and I:
- Peter Pan
- Matterhorn FL side
- Alice
- We were going to do Dumbo here but it was closed
- Mr Toad
- We were going to do Snow White heree but it was also closed
- Pinocchio
- Astro Orbitor
* 7 am - DH, DS15 and DS11:
- Star Tours
- Matterhorn FL side
- Matterhorn TL side
* Buzz Lightyear
* Buzz Lightyear
* 8 am FP Star Tours (8:40 am RT)
* Indiana Jones
* 8:25 am FP Big Thunder (disconnected FP; RT 9:05 am)
* Big Thunder
* Haunted Mansion
* 8:54 am FP Space Mountain (9:30 am RT)
* Hop to DCA through GC entrance - were let in at 9:15 am (there was a line)
* 9:21 am FP World of Color (8:15 pm show)
* 9:28 am FP Soarin (had to wait for FP machines to open)
* Little Mermaid
* Little Mermaid
* Toy Story Mania
* Toy Story Mania
* 10:46 am FP California Screamin (11:25 am RT)
* Goofy's Sky School
* Silly Symphony Swings
* Jumpin Jelly Fish
* 11:30 Phineas & Ferb show
* Tuck & Roll
* Flik's Flyers
* 12:23 pm FP Tower of Terror (1:00 pm RT)
* Soarin with FP
* Hop to DL park
* 1:18 pm FP Space (2:00 pm RT)
* 1:30 pm lunch at Cafe Orleans
* 2:00 pm FP Splash while having lunch (2:40 pm RT)
* 2:30 pm FP Big Thunder (3:10 pm RT; disconnected) - never used them
* Big Thunder with FP
* Splash with FP
* Star Tours with FP
* Space with FP
* Space with FP
* Mickey's Soundsational Parade @ 5:00 pm
* Hop to DCA (Halloween party started at 6 pm and were not attending)
* Tower of Terror with 3 FP (3 kids only)
* Tower of Terror with 2 FP (2 kids for a second time)
* California Screamin with 2 FP (2 kids only) - DD and I on the Carrousel
* California Screamin with 2 FP (2 kids for second time)
* 8:15 pm World of Color

After WoC ended we went back to Paradise Pier through the Grand Californian and at 9:30 pm we watched the Halloween fireworks from the terrace near the pool area. No music was piped in, maybe because it was a special event, but was a nice ending. We went to pick up our luggage, packed the car and drove to the airport where we were staying nearby for the night to take our flight to Las Vegas the next morning.

All in all we had an awesome time, and don't regret at all the one day commando style we had. We did a lot, considering the number of rides we did, plus the Phineas & Ferb show, the Parade, the World of Color show and a nice lunch, so it was very worth it. Yes, we were very tired by the end of the day, but didn't really notice it until we were on the car on our way out. Will I do it again? I would if I had to. Will it be better to have at least 3 days? Definitely, especially if it is your first time.

 

[hockeybabe]

Wow, sounds like alot of fun! We've been to WDW 4 times, I am dizcrazed, the kids DS16 and DD15 are mostly dizcrazed, DH used to be, but not as much now. We're planning a trip to Calif for a week in June, and DH says that instead of one day at DL, we can do to so I can "get it out of my system"...LOL! Yeah, right! But we go commando even at WDW, so I was worried with DL, but it looks like you got alot done in a day, so with 2 days, I hope we'll be ok Thanks for sharing!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Great job ~ you accomplished quite a bit!

 

[jacs1234]

You had it planned sooooooooooo well. We have friends who went for a single day and only went on one ride and they really didn't enjoy themselves.

I'm so glad you had such a great day.

 

[CB Jamboree]

You guys got a lot done for only one day! Especially for a family of five, you planned it out really well. I was actually there the same day on my first solo trip and had a wonderful time. I headed over to CA after the Flag Retreat Ceremony at DL due to the Halloween Party later that evening. I had seen WOC one other time and was disappointed in the show due to not having a very good view. So I decided to give it another shot only to find that they were having technical problems. After the second attempt of it not working, I think I headed out at about 8:35pm. So, it sounds like the show went on after all huh? Now I wish I would have waited it out a bit longer
I agree with you that a minimum of three days is best, but one day is better than no DL at all. Glad you guys had such a nice time.

 

[monicatb]

You guys got a lot done for only one day! Especially for a family of five, you planned it out really well. I was actually there the same day on my first solo trip and had a wonderful time. I headed over to CA after the Flag Retreat Ceremony at DL due to the Halloween Party later that evening. I had seen WOC one other time and was disappointed in the show due to not having a very good view. So I decided to give it another shot only to find that they were having technical problems. After the second attempt of it not working, I think I headed out at about 8:35pm. So, it sounds like the show went on after all huh? Now I wish I would have waited it out a bit longer
I agree with you that a minimum of three days is best, but one day is better than no DL at all. Glad you guys had such a nice time.

Oh yes! It did start later. According to my camera, my first video segment was from 8:40 pm. I think it started just a little before that. I was sooooo worried that the show was having technical difficulties, because I had read that it has gotten cancelled sometimes because of this. This was our first time watching this show so we were really looking forward to it. It would've been really a shame had we not seen it, first because we weren't going back soon but also because I got in line at 6:50 pm for the 8:15 pm show!! I really hope you get to see it soon