Disneyland TR. A first timer who just got back.

[ADLFAN]

You will love it! And the GCH has their private entrance right into DCA, and an exit right into Downtown Disney for grabbing a snack or Starbucks refreshment! Plus a pretty cool pool and on site restaurants and lounge.

 

[riostoker]

Fantastic trip report!! Thanks! We are going for the first time in September, and all of this was really helpful. We all own Keens already!

Love the Amazon Prime Pantry idea!

So... your RSR strategy. You said you got FP while your family waited in the regular standby line, and then you got in the single rider line. How long did you end up waiting at the front before your family caught up? Did the timing work out pretty well? Did you just sort of stand to the side and wave people through in front of you? Or did the cast member tell you a specific place to wait?

This seems like a great plan, so I'd love to hear more details!

 

[77catwoman]

Was it hard to find the FP distribution locations. I am a WDW vet and super nervous about navigating DLR.

 

[AngiTN]

Was it hard to find the FP distribution locations. I am a WDW vet and super nervous about navigating DLR.

We did not think so. It's no different than when WDW had FP machines. Some are located right near the rides, some aren't. At any location there are CMs nearby and they can direct you to the FP distribution point if you can't find it. I did read a post recently, from Hydroguy I'm thinking (or maybe Figment) that covered the few that were not near their rides. Splash is one that is not near the ride, as is RSS. Spash is near but RSS is not even remotely close. It's near Bug's Life, not even in Carsland area. There are a couple more a bit removed but again, the CM can point you to them if you need them to. With so few FP there it was never a problem to stop and ask for help to find them.

 

[77catwoman]

Thank you so much AngiTN

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

Was it hard to find the FP distribution locations. I am a WDW vet and super nervous about navigating DLR.

Of course everything looks a little different when you're actually in the parks with the crowds, but you might scope the map out ahead of time to get a sense of where the FP locations are in relation to the rides (if not right next to them). The map at the bottom of this linked page may help: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/fastpass/

 

[delaney's mom]

Fantastic trip report!! Thanks! We are going for the first time in September, and all of this was really helpful. We all own Keens already!

Love the Amazon Prime Pantry idea!

So... your RSR strategy. You said you got FP while your family waited in the regular standby line, and then you got in the single rider line. How long did you end up waiting at the front before your family caught up? Did the timing work out pretty well? Did you just sort of stand to the side and wave people through in front of you? Or did the cast member tell you a specific place to wait?

This seems like a great plan, so I'd love to hear more details!

Thanks. Glad I could help and I hope it works out for you. Keens are so fabulous, aren't they?

For RSR - Luckily I was able to spot my family in the regular line (it was relatively short at the time). I didn't want to have to scoot by people (I really don't like it when people do that to me - it just rubs me the wrong way) so I just waited until I got to the front of the single rider line and then told the CM what was happening. Then I asked (politely) if I should wait here or go join them in line. I didn't ask if I could do it, I just asked how they wanted me to handle it, ya know? They said it was fine if I wanted to wait in the single rider area and so I did. I made sure to stay out the way and be polite.
That being said if the lines are long, you might feel/be in the way up at the front of the line - and there are lots of points in the waiting areas where it would be easy to just climb over the divider and join them that way. That way you wouldn't even have to interact with a CM at all. Definitely don't forget to have two cell phones - the way the line is organized it would be hard to pick them out of the tight crowd.
It sounds like a lot of trouble when I type it out, but I really didn't want to miss my son's first ride on RSR - and as quickly as they run out of FP I was really torn as to whether I could do both. I won't lie, I totally speed walked to RSR once I had the FP! And I might have been a little sweaty and embarrassed - but I was super proud of myself. And once DH realized how FP worked and how long the lines got later in the day, he really appreciated my effort.

 

[delaney's mom]

Of course everything looks a little different when you're actually in the parks with the crowds, but you might scope the map out ahead of time to get a sense of where the FP locations are in relation to the rides (if not right next to them). The map at the bottom of this linked page may help: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/fastpass/

Yes! The FP maps. I reviewed them before I went, but CM are so helpful. Most are well marked, but I found the World of Color FP easy to miss. There are a lot of signs around that area which make you think the FP station is for grizzly river run. I thought it would be as obvious as the RSR one and it's not. My best advice is stop when you get to the big bear and read carefully.

 

[berkeleykel06]

More to consider, yes. Wilderness Lodge (WDW) is a fav of mine so I love that interior lobby theme. But I can see how having a more unique experience may be better. Either way, I think we're set on staying on property.

I went to DLR for the first time last month and stayed at GCH. I'm totally hooked and will be staying there again whenever I'm able to convince my husband to schedule our next trip. We did 5 day park hoppers with afternoon naps every day. The convenience of GCH was just amazing to us. I don't think our poor feet could have handled the extra walk to DLH, although the theming looks fun. However, I was a little underwhelmed with our pool/theme park view room and will definitely stay standard in the future to save on the extra cash. Wouldn't stay off property because the Disney bubble and EMH are too important to us.

 

[coaches24]

Fantastic trip report!! Thanks! We are going for the first time in September, and all of this was really helpful. We all own Keens already!

Love the Amazon Prime Pantry idea!

So... your RSR strategy. You said you got FP while your family waited in the regular standby line, and then you got in the single rider line. How long did you end up waiting at the front before your family caught up? Did the timing work out pretty well? Did you just sort of stand to the side and wave people through in front of you? Or did the cast member tell you a specific place to wait?

This seems like a great plan, so I'd love to hear more details!

I used that strategy a couple years ago and it worked great. My family went straight to RSR (right after rope walk/ drop so there was a 20 min wait or so when they got to the line) and got in the stand by line and I got us FPs. I then went to single rider and rode before my family by about 10 minutes. I got off and waited by the unload area for my family to ride and then we all rode together later with our FPs. This was before they started enforcing FP return times so we waited till dark to see RSR at night but that wouldn't work now unless you were able to time your FP retrieval for an after dark time.

I am at the parks now and Thursday will be our last day so I am not sure if I will try to ride RSR first and then get FPs or use the above strategy. It has been down for all or part of the mornings both Mon and Tuesday so that would throw a wrench in any plan of that happens again.

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

For those that have used Amazon Pantry, how far in advance did you have to place your order? And how did you have the shipment addressed? Thanks!

 

[delaney's mom]

Placed order Tuesday, it arrived Thursday. I called the hotel ahead of time to ask about how to mail it. I'd never done it before, and other hotels may be different, but for the Fairfield all they wanted me to do was make sure the name on the package matched the name of the person who made the reservation. I double checked the exact shipping address over the phone just to be sure. They said to ship it whenever we wanted and they would hold it at the front desk. Much less complicated than I thought it would be.
I also needed a car seat for our littlest for the rental car that we were picking up at the end of our stay in Anaheim. For us it was cheaper to buy a new car seat than rent one, so I ordered it on amazon Didn't have to haul one around on the flight in and since he was just transitioning to the HBB - we needed another at home anyway.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

another DL 1st timer here
We leave from the Vermont/NY border(up in the mountains!!) on our dream trip out west in 12 days!! Our trip is 23 days long and we have NEVER left the east coast! We are traveling by train to Grand Canyon,Yosemite and Sequoia...and then to DL for my birthday!! I am a huge planner and have been to WDW dozens of times! I consider myself a pro there but am totally clueless for DL. I have made a list of my attraction MUST DO's.We will only be going for 1 day, and only to DL and not CA.I have us booked 2 nights at Fairfield Inn.Plan to do Downtown area on 3 day.So...I walk to gate and enter at opening...then my #1 target is Indiana Jones! Let's talk about what I should do after I race there! We MUST see Haunted,Pirates,Small World,Auto...and kids will want Space Mtn and Matterhorn.We have done Splash and Big Thunder so many times at WDW we plan to skip them.Can NOT wait for that night time parade and firework show!!!! So-ideas for a plan of attack? We are 2 girls-age 10 and 23,me 44 and hubby 55.All HUGE Disney addicts! Not planning any meals because can't be sure where we will be at any given time.We plan to close the place at midnight like pros!HELP!!!!!!!!

 

[AngiTN]

another DL 1st timer here
We leave from the Vermont/NY border(up in the mountains!!) on our dream trip out west in 12 days!! Our trip is 23 days long and we have NEVER left the east coast! We are traveling by train to Grand Canyon,Yosemite and Sequoia...and then to DL for my birthday!! I am a huge planner and have been to WDW dozens of times! I consider myself a pro there but am totally clueless for DL. I have made a list of my attraction MUST DO's.We will only be going for 1 day, and only to DL and not CA.I have us booked 2 nights at Fairfield Inn.Plan to do Downtown area on 3 day.So...I walk to gate and enter at opening...then my #1 target is Indiana Jones! Let's talk about what I should do after I race there! We MUST see Haunted,Pirates,Small World,Auto...and kids will want Space Mtn and Matterhorn.We have done Splash and Big Thunder so many times at WDW we plan to skip them.Can NOT wait for that night time parade and firework show!!!! So-ideas for a plan of attack? We are 2 girls-age 10 and 23,me 44 and hubby 55.All HUGE Disney addicts! Not planning any meals because can't be sure where we will be at any given time.We plan to close the place at midnight like pros!HELP!!!!!!!!

Honestly, my first stop would be Matterhorn, not Indy Jones. No FP for Matterhorn, Indy has them. Plus, Indy is Dinasour with a different overlay. Matterhorn is like nothing else. Many of the lines at Fantasy Land will build fast so make that your next stop.
Use FP where they are offered. Don't skip Splash or Big Thunder, we liked both at DL and you can FP them.
With your family ages you may want to consider single rider lines in some cases. They can be very fast. In DL many of them send you in the exit route.
Make sure you catch Mickey and the Map and look around Toon Town.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

thanks for the reply! I did not realize Matter wasn't FP! I will not ride-bad motion sick after Everest reminded me I am a wussie!Rest will want to ride though. Nothing like a coaster at 8AM I will be studying maps this week to make a route so we can hit the rides we want before 11AM.Then we can do something we haven't done in over 2 decades...just wander and enjoy a Disney Park!! We aren't pressed for hitting everything-most important will be night time parade and fireworks for Diamond Celebration! Other than the rides we hope to hit before noon we are open! We shall stroll and eat and laugh!Any other 'can not miss' things???? We look forward to riding on the train and requesting Belle car as well! And will ride the monorail rd trip for fun! I am turning 45 after all

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

What is the Belle car?

 

[AngiTN]

thanks for the reply! I did not realize Matter wasn't FP! I will not ride-bad motion sick after Everest reminded me I am a wussie!Rest will want to ride though. Nothing like a coaster at 8AM I will be studying maps this week to make a route so we can hit the rides we want before 11AM.Then we can do something we haven't done in over 2 decades...just wander and enjoy a Disney Park!! We aren't pressed for hitting everything-most important will be night time parade and fireworks for Diamond Celebration! Other than the rides we hope to hit before noon we are open! We shall stroll and eat and laugh!Any other 'can not miss' things???? We look forward to riding on the train and requesting Belle car as well! And will ride the monorail rd trip for fun! I am turning 45 after all

The new magical/enchanted windows in the Emporium. There are only 2 open so far but they are darling. You can watch for a long time. They may have 2 more open by the time for your trip.
I loved watching all the darling little duck families all over the park.
Oh, don't forget to ride Nemo
Not sure how you are with characters but there are quite a few that just roam freely in the parks. Quite fun to interact with and often no lines. We walked up on Bert teaching all the kids around to penguin walk

 

[lisa-upnorth]

the Lilly Belle train car! I REALLY hope it is back open to the public for my birthday trip!!

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

the Lilly Belle train car! I REALLY hope it is back open to the public for my birthday trip!!

This is the first i've heard of this! Can you please give me more details or point me in the right direction! Thanks!

 

[limace]

Gosh, I'd hate to see you skip Carsland if this is truly a once in a lifetime trip-it is absolutely amazing and like nothing in WDW .