Disneyland novice with lots of questions. Please share the knowledge!

[MadiPan]

Hello!

I am a Disneyland newbie with little to no knowledge about how to tour the parks. My trip is the 10-13 of November and I will have two and a half park days. I am planning on spending the majority of those days in Disneyland park. We are staying at a cheap hotel very close to Disneyland.

I have been to WDW a thousand times and have become somewhat of an expert when it comes to touring - I know everything in all 4 parks there backwards and forwards!

I am quite nervous that I won't be able to tour correctly and that I'll have to wait in a million lines. I want to be sure to get everything done because I won't be able to visit again for a long while!

So, my questions are:

How are the crowds in mid-november?
How is the weather?
In Disneyland, in which order should I visit the lands? (Which lands need to be done early in the morning because lines get crazy long?)In WDW I do Fantasyland, Fronteirland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland and then Liberty Square.
Does disneyland have any free touring plan/crowd predictor websites?
Which rides need fastpasses acquired early in the morning?
Do I need a ride-by-ride intinerary?
Also, any advice you feel is important!

I apologize for dumping all of this is one post, but I'm terrified!
Thanks so much!

 

[KCmike]

Hello!


So, my questions are:

How are the crowds in mid-november?
How is the weather?
In Disneyland, in which order should I visit the lands? (Which lands need to be done early in the morning because lines get crazy long?)In WDW I do Fantasyland, Fronteirland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland and then Liberty Square.
Does disneyland have any free touring plan/crowd predictor websites?
Which rides need fastpasses acquired early in the morning?
Do I need a ride-by-ride intinerary?
Also, any advice you feel is important!

I apologize for dumping all of this is one post, but I'm terrified!
Thanks so much!

We went for the first time last November which was the first weekend of the Christmas season and it was packed.

Weather was great. Sunny and nice during the day and then jeans and hoodies in the night.

We always do fantasyland in the morning at rope drop because you can ride every single ride (we can knock out 7-9) during that first hour. It is awesome!

Disneyland is simply amazing. You will be hooked. To bad your seeing DCA in its refurbed state because it is a fun park as well.

Where in Missouri are you from? Close to KC?

 

[MadiPan]

We went for the first time last November which was the first weekend of the Christmas season and it was packed.

Weather was great. Sunny and nice during the day and then jeans and hoodies in the night.

We always do fantasyland in the morning at rope drop because you can ride every single ride (we can knock out 7-9) during that first hour. It is awesome!

Disneyland is simply amazing. You will be hooked. To bad your seeing DCA in its refurbed state because it is a fun park as well.

Where in Missouri are you from? Close to KC?

Thanks for the info! I knew weather wouldn't be any problem.

I'm worried about the crowds, now, though...I was convinced it would be fairly empty. Uh-oh.


Do you know what is going to be closed at DCA?

And no, we're far from you - we're in Saint Louis!

 

[skiingfast]

Have you read, DLR guide for WDW vets?

How are the crowds in mid-november?

Medium to low, but keep in mind weekends are much busier than weekdays.

How is the weather?

Typical weather data
Check the weather before you leave in case of a storm.
7 Day Weather Forecast

In Disneyland, in which order should I visit the lands? (Which lands need to be done early in the morning because lines get crazy long?)In WDW I do Fantasyland, Fronteirland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland and then Liberty Square.

It depends, If you are entering for Morning Magic, then either FL with little kids, or TL for Space. Those are the only lands open during MM. If a MM day but not going in for MM go to Adventureland. Other wise PP, Space and Indy tend to get the longest lines. HM will too with it's special overlay.

Does disneyland have any free touring plan/crowd predictor websites?

Touring Plans, not exactly free, but it's a bit junky and I take it with a huge dash of salt.

Which rides need fastpasses acquired early in the morning?

None really, nothing will run out during the day, but as noted above some rides get longer lines.

Do I need a ride-by-ride intinerary?

Not really, but in DCA, TSMM gets long lines but the line builds quickly. Soarin gets long line too.

Also, any advice you feel is important!

Read the link at the top.

See WoC, and Fantasmic.

 

[skiingfast]

I'm worried about the crowds, now, though...I was convinced it would be fairly empty. Uh-oh.


Do you know what is going to be closed at DCA?

What exactly are your dates?

You can see rehabs on the offical calendar at disneyland.com. In DCA the construction is on the entry so the shops are closed and some snack locations. The rest is outside of the park boundary.

 

[MadiPan]

Have you read, DLR guide for WDW vets?


Medium to low, but keep in mind weekends are much busier than weekdays.


Typical weather data
Check the weather before you leave in case of a storm.
7 Day Weather Forecast


It depends, If you are entering for Morning Magic, then either FL with little kids, or TL for Space. Those are the only lands open during MM. If a MM day but not going in for MM go to Adventureland. Other wise PP, Space and Indy tend to get the longest lines. HM will too with it's special overlay.

Touring Plans, not exactly free, but it's a bit junky and I take it with a huge dash of salt.


None really, nothing will run out during the day, but as noted above some rides get longer lines.


Not really, but in DCA, TSMM gets long lines but the line builds quickly. Soarin gets long line too.



Read the link at the top.

See WoC, and Fantasmic.

This was so helpful - and great link! Thanks so much!

Question, though - what is Morning Magic? Is it similar to WDW's Extra Magic Hours?

 

[skiingfast]

Question, though - what is Morning Magic? Is it similar to WDW's Extra Magic Hours?

Yes, but not the same. One hour in the morning before regular open. You will get one with a three days PH. They are on Tue, Thur, Sat and Sun, and like I said just the two lands.

 

[KateDrake]

I have to disagree on the Fastpass situation! We just got back and Fastpasses for Star Tours were gone fairly early every day we were there. I would highly recommend getting over there early, or even just sending one member of your group while the others hop on stuff in Fantasyland. The lines were always at least 40 minutes, which I know isn't terrible, but still, you could certainly be doing other stuff!
Also, in DCA, you can get Fastpasses for WOC and Soarin' starting at 9:30, and can often walk right onto the ride that early. You might have time to do that and then sprint to Paradise Pier to hop on TSMM, which unlike WDW, does not have a Fastpass! We went to it right at 10 a.m. (official park opening) on two days, and waited about 15 minutes. But by the time we got off, the wait had already stretched to 45 minutes both days, so it is important to get that one done early!
Hope you have a great trip! Disneyland is different, but still amazingly magical!

 

[MadiPan]

I have to disagree on the Fastpass situation! We just got back and Fastpasses for Star Tours were gone fairly early every day we were there. I would highly recommend getting over there early, or even just sending one member of your group while the others hop on stuff in Fantasyland. The lines were always at least 40 minutes, which I know isn't terrible, but still, you could certainly be doing other stuff!
Also, in DCA, you can get Fastpasses for WOC and Soarin' starting at 9:30, and can often walk right onto the ride that early. You might have time to do that and then sprint to Paradise Pier to hop on TSMM, which unlike WDW, does not have a Fastpass! We went to it right at 10 a.m. (official park opening) on two days, and waited about 15 minutes. But by the time we got off, the wait had already stretched to 45 minutes both days, so it is important to get that one done early!
Hope you have a great trip! Disneyland is different, but still amazingly magical!

 

[HydroGuy]

This was so helpful - and great link! Thanks so much!

Question, though - what is Morning Magic? Is it similar to WDW's Extra Magic Hours?

See "Magic Morning (Early Entry) Super Thread" by DLR29 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403