Disneyland Planning Q's?

[EC0323]

Hi
I am thinking of taking a trip to California next year and I would like to visit Disneyland. Any and all advice would be appreciated. (especially any good deals/secrets that I should know. )

1. Is there a site where I can find the best days to visit like Ug or TGM?
Is summer too busy?

2. What about tickets? I read here I think that you can not visit in the early morning without staying on property. But I thought if you bought a park hopper from AAA you can go in early one day? Also is that a good idea? At Disney World I usually avoid the early morning entries.

I am just started planning so I have no idea what I need to know for this trip.

I appreciate any pointers! Thank you for your help!

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't think there's a TGM site with that info, though ridemax can help you maximize what you do on the days you choose.

Magic Mornings is an hour before park opening, on certain days (this year it's been Sat Sun Tues and Thurs). You can get one MM day with a hopper 3 days or longer. Until the end of December, buying hoppers through Getawaytoday.com yielded two MM days. Staying onsite gives you access to all MM days that happen during your stay, including checkin day if you're there mega-early (as we will be this Saturday) and checkout day, IF those days are MM days.

Here is the MM superthread.

MM is only Fantasyland and parts of Tomorrowland (including Nemo). If you don't have access to MM on an MM day, just don't go to those areas when you enter the parks at opening. They will still be full of those who had MM the hour before. Luckily there are many other areas to enjoy!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hi
I am thinking of taking a trip to California next year and I would like to visit Disneyland. Any and all advice would be appreciated. (especially any good deals/secrets that I should know. )

1. Is there a site where I can find the best days to visit like Ug or TGM?
Is summer too busy?

First some pointers on lingo. "Disneyland" (or DL) is a park like MK is a park. DL is one of two parks at "Disneyland Resort" (or DLR). DLR is analagous to WDW as far as being a resort with DTD, hotels, etc.

DLR as a resort gets 1/3 to 1/2 of the annual visitors as does WDW. My best understanding is that 85% of visitors to WDW are non-locals. That and the fact that it is so large creates a significant need for planning resources like TGM, the UG, etc.

DLR, on the other hand, has about 30% visitors who are non-locals. So a much higher percentage of visitors to DLR live in SoCal and are there on day trips.

Given the lesser number of visitors to DLR, the fact that it is smaller and less demanding, and the fact that so many people are locals with a lesser need for planning resources, the market for planning resources like a TGM or UG is much smaller (probably 10-20% of WDW's). Hence you will find planning resources at DLR is much smaller supply.

There is no TGM or TGM-like resource. There is a UG by Sehlinger but it is not as respected as the WDW UG. One resource I would recommend you consider is RideMax (www.ridemax.com) for touring plans. I found their WDW version quite helpful even though I never strictly followed any of their plans. Being able to see the ride trends at the parks was insightful for me.

As for choosing best days, there is no calendar like the UG people have on their website. If you are trying to avoid crowds at DLR I would suggest you take more care than you might at WDW. The reason is that off-season at DLR has more downsides than does WDW. See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889.

I have been to both DLR and WDW in the summer and can attest DLR is much more tolerable - mainly because the summer weather is so much better at DLR. Crowds will be roughly similar - which means fairly busy. However, DLR's lay out (close hotels and fast & easy parkhopping) and crowd mix (more locals on day trips) makes it easier to work around summer crowds than WDW. Personally summer is my favorite time to visit DLR. See "Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

Hi
2. What about tickets? I read here I think that you can not visit in the early morning without staying on property. But I thought if you bought a park hopper from AAA you can go in early one day? Also is that a good idea? At Disney World I usually avoid the early morning entries.

Bumbershoot's has some sound advice on early mornings (Magic Mornings - MM). I also recommend her link to DLR29's MM post

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

We too avoid EMHs at WDW but DLR is different. You want to use the MMs as much as possible at DLR.

I am just started planning so I have no idea what I need to know for this trip.

I appreciate any pointers! Thank you for your help!

Lots more advice and pointers here:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[ballarinamom]

I agree about the MMs at DLR. At WDW, alot of folks will go the parks that are non MMs as most of the visitors try to hit those MMs thus making that particular park more crowded that day. Since it's harder to park hop at WDW, fewer people do it. Plus you have the non hopper option on the multi day tickets. However, at DLR, you have a larger number of Annual Pass Holders (APs) than WDW. The AP holders come to DLR as often as possible. The only way they can get MMs is if they stay at one of the three Disney Hotels (Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier). Good Neighbor Hotels do not give you the unlimited MMs like the other three do. That keeps the MM attendance lower than at WDW.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Is there a site where I can find the best days to visit like Ug or TGM

The busiest times of the week are Fri night, Sat, and Sun. The 3 relatively less crowded days of the week are Tues, Wed, and Thurs.

FWIW, the UG claims that Thursday is the relatively least crowded day of the week.

Is summer too busy?

The summer is busy, but IMO it’s manageable. We went in Aug ’07, and we’ll be back in the summer in ’09.

The things that work at MK will also work at DL:
- get to the gates at least 30 minutes early
- start collecting FPs early

What about tickets? I read here I think that you can not visit in the early morning without staying on property. But I thought if you bought a park hopper from AAA you can go in early one day?

In general, 3-day (or more) Park Hopper tickets come with 1 Magic Morning entry; even if you’re staying off property you’re eligible for 1 MM entry.

If you stay on property, then you are eligible for MM entries on every day that they’re offered.

At Disney World I usually avoid the early morning entries.

At DL you should take advantage of MM days, whenever you can.

DL usually isn’t more crowded on MM days, since the on property hotels at DL don’t advertise the early entry like WDW does, and the DLR resorts don’t have 70,000 Guests like WDW.

We go to the non-EMH parks at WDW, but we always go to MM at DL. The only downside is that the MM can be really early, and you have to wake up 1 hour earlier. (In the summertime, the MM starts at 7:00am.)

MM is a great time to ride the slow-loaders in Fantasyland: Peter Pan, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Matterhorn, Mr. Toad, and Mad Tea Party. It’s pretty typical to go on 6 or 7 rides during MM.

Another nice thing about Magic Mornings: at DL’s regular opening time you’re already inside the park -- you can get a FP for Space Mtn or you can do the Rope Drop at Adventureland, etc.

I am just started planning ...

The HydroGuy Tips Compilation is excellent:
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

ºoº Attractions Unique to Disneyland & California Adventure from WDW
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084

This info from wdwinfo.com is helpful:
www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/disneyland-theme-parks.htm#gold-disneyland-themeparks

HTH

 

[EC0323]

WOW! I am getting a lot of help! Thanks so much! I have been reading up and love all the links. I feel like I am back in school. lol Hydoguy you are everywhere. You are even on TGM!

In my original post, when I said Disneyland, I actually meant both parks not the resort. I could not remember what the other park was. We will be staying with my aunt who lives close enough to see the fireworks from her house. OK We have to stand on a bench on tiptoes in her backyard but still it is fireworks.

I did see a deal that has adult tickets for child prices but we would have to go during our spring break. I will have to think about that.

Thanks again for all the info and if you think of anymore Please post. I can never have too much info!

 

[aymekae]

I'm so excited for you! I'm a local, and I'm planning (i.e. getting really excited about my trip by lurking on the DIS) my day trip for this weekend.

I don't have all those great resources ready for you like the other posters, but thought I'd give you my 2 cents. My DH and I went on a Sunday/Monday in July, and our friends and family thought we were crazy (almost no one was up for joining us). But I have to admit, it was not as crazy as I expected it to be. FP's were helpful, as well as knowing when to hit certain rides, and when to wait. Plan your meals during non-meal times (10 AM, or 2-4 PM), regardless of where you're eating, so that you can maximize ride time while everyone ELSE is eating. If you staying multiple nights, plan to watch the fireworks at least once from Main Street, and don't miss Fantasmic (I've seen both at DL and DHS, and I think I like DL better, except for the [lack of] seating!)

Have fun!