Disneyland trip for August-tips and advice appreciated!

[DFord]

I've been to Disneyland twice (age 5 and age 14) and cannot wait to bring my family there! This will be my husband's first time at Disneyland and we are taking our 2 year old (she'll be almost 3 when we're there). I was just looking for advice and tips for our adventure. The main reason for our trip to LA is to meet our new niece, but figured while we're there we should check out DL!! Too bad it's during the peak season and probably very hot... We arrive in LA on August 16th and are staying at my sister in law's house (Burbank). We will probably take a shuttle or bus to Disneyland and return to their house at the end of the day. We will be going for one day only, probably Thurs August 18th. We will be in LA until Tues the 22nd so if any of the other days would be a wiser choice to go please let me know. Oh, and we might have our 10 month old baby with us if we decide not to leave her with my sister in law and her husband (who will be busy enough with a newborn at the time). If anyone has had an experience similar to this please let me know how your day went! My questions are:

What time should we try to arrive at Disneyland?
Does anyone know of any shuttles that go from Burbank to Disneyland?
What should we bring along with us for her?
What are must see attractions for an (almost) 3 year old?
Can we take the baby on the little kid appropriate rides?
What parts of the park should we avoid?
Will Thursday Aug 18th be a really busy time to go (since that D23 expo starts the next day)?
Do you need proof of age if your child is under 3?

Thanks in advance

 

[Raindown]

What time should we try to arrive at Disneyland?

At opening.

 

[HydroGuy]

What time should we try to arrive at Disneyland?
Does anyone know of any shuttles that go from Burbank to Disneyland?
What should we bring along with us for her?
What are must see attractions for an (almost) 3 year old?
Can we take the baby on the little kid appropriate rides?
What parts of the park should we avoid?
Will Thursday Aug 18th be a really busy time to go (since that D23 expo starts the next day)?
Do you need proof of age if your child is under 3?

Can't answer them all but can a few.

If you want to get a good start on the day then you need to be in line at the gates at least 20 minutes before the park opens. If you are driving that means arriving at DLR by 7:15AM at the latest so you cna park and get in line.

If you do arrive early, then it matters whether that day DL hosts a Magic Morning. You will not qualify as a day tripper but many others will. In this case and it was me going on a day trip and I could choose the day of the week, I would avoid Magic Morning days (Sat/Sun/Tue/Th). So I would go Friday during your time frame.

However, if you cannot get to DLR early then it will not matter which day of the week you choose, so Thursday would be my first choice.

I would not under any circumstance choose Sunday the 21st or thereafter because of concerns about unblocked AP holders. Unless I had no schedule choice in which case I would do it and be prepared and hope it was like Aug 2010 with lower crowds after the block.

Proof of age? Not needed. Yes you can bring a baby on any ride with no height restriction.

Attractions - anything in Fantasyland, Tiki Room, Winnie the Pooh, Toontown, Nemo Subs, Jungle Cruise, DL Railroad, Monorail. Autopia maybe. See the new Soundsational Parade.

You will likely not hop to DCA on a day trip and there is probably no need with kids at your ages.

You should avoid Adventureland and New Orleans square at night because of extreme crowds, and also the hub where fireworks show. But you will probably be long gone by then as your kids will be sleepy.

 

[DFord]

Thank you Hydroguy! Your answers were very helpful. Would Monday be a busier crowd day than Thursday?

 

[HydroGuy]

Thank you Hydroguy! Your answers were very helpful. Would Monday be a busier crowd day than Thursday?

In general I would choose a Monday over a Thursday because Mondays are not Magic Mornings and Thursdays are. If you plan a late arrival then I would go with Thursdays. If you are going over an AP blockout lift like happens on Sunday Aug 21 then I would choose Thursday over Monday regardless of any other factor.

Other people are not so sold on AP blockout lifts and may disagree. So opinion around here is not 100% the same on this.

See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983.

 

[Hound 109]

What time zone will you be coming from?

I've been to Disneyland twice (age 5 and age 14) and cannot wait to bring my family there! This will be my husband's first time at Disneyland and we are taking our 2 year old (she'll be almost 3 when we're there). I was just looking for advice and tips for our adventure. The main reason for our trip to LA is to meet our new niece, but figured while we're there we should check out DL!! Too bad it's during the peak season and probably very hot... We arrive in LA on August 16th and are staying at my sister in law's house (Burbank). We will probably take a shuttle or bus to Disneyland and return to their house at the end of the day. We will be going for one day only, probably Thurs August 18th. We will be in LA until Tues the 22nd so if any of the other days would be a wiser choice to go please let me know. Oh, and we might have our 10 month old baby with us if we decide not to leave her with my sister in law and her husband (who will be busy enough with a newborn at the time). If anyone has had an experience similar to this please let me know how your day went! My questions are:

What time should we try to arrive at Disneyland?
Does anyone know of any shuttles that go from Burbank to Disneyland?
What should we bring along with us for her?
What are must see attractions for an (almost) 3 year old?
Can we take the baby on the little kid appropriate rides?
What parts of the park should we avoid?
Will Thursday Aug 18th be a really busy time to go (since that D23 expo starts the next day)?
Do you need proof of age if your child is under 3?

Thanks in advance

If it was me, I'd:

- Try to get a deal at the Paradise Pier so you can come down the previous afternoon, hop in the pool & enjoy MM the next morning (on Thursday).

- or...come down on Thurs & get a room at Hojo's for cheap & do DLR EARLY the next day.

- or....get up and LEAVE Burbank by 5am & get to DLR by 6:30am. Have Bfast nearby & get in line (on a non MM day) at 7:20am.