Disneyland With No Plan??? Crazy or Not?

[WannabeAriel]

OK... so hubby and I will be arriving July 26 for a birthday Disneyland trip! (YAY)

I was going to have everything scheduled and try and max out all the rides... and shows but the more I think about it... I really want to just chill. I'd kind of like this to be a "fly by the seat of our pants" Disney trip. I don't want to be all commando with my detailed itinerary of exactly what to do when. I'd really like to be laid back and wander around taking in all the magic and see the sights and do whatever naturally comes next.

So far... the only thing I have actually "scheduled" is a late lunch (really late - 3:00 pm) at Blue Bayou on the day of our arrival. I'll probably schedule a few other meals here and there... but other than that I don't have a plan.

So my dilemma is... I don't want to be too scheduled... BUT I also want to see everything!

AM I CRAZY??? Do you think 5 days 4 nights is enough time for us to see everything without a plan? We will have 5 day park hoppers - 3 full days plus half days on our travel days.

To me it seems like it would work since there are only two parks vs. four like we're used to at WDW. But you guys tell me!!!

 

[ACDSNY]

AM I CRAZY??? Do you think 5 days 4 nights is enough time for us to see everything without a plan? We will have 5 day park hoppers - 3 full days plus half days on our travel days.

You'll be fine without planning...Blue Bayou and character breakfasts are the only planning we do for DL. Have a great trip!

Now WDW is another story!

 

[bumbershoot]

YOu haven't been there, right?


I have a few thoughts.


*YOu've been to WDW, so you know basic things like...what basic rides are popular, how to use Fast Pass, to get there early. Those things can't be UNlearned, so you've already got a basis that completely newbies don't have.

*I think you'll want to spend some time with maps (hey, I have maps, do you want me to mail you maps of DL and DCA I got the other week?) so you can get your mind geared towards where things are at DL. I hear it's set up *just* different enough that it can be confusing. I know I'll be slightly befuddled the first time I go to MK, b/c it'll be just a bit different from DL.

*I think knowing park hours and having info on what rides are down and what shows are going when will be good. No need to PLAN when to see those shows, but knowing that, for instance, Aladdin won't be showing on a Wednesday might save you some grief when you only have Wednesday to see it and can't.

*I never do a full on commando plan, though my family is starting to listen to me more, we always dawdle and do unplanned things, but the completely dawdling, get in lines that are there and ignore what we said we would do, days are a whole lot slower (not in a good way!) than the other days. We like a good mix of *lots of things* and *some downtime*, and the only way to do lots of things is to have a basic idea of what you want to do that day.

So that's a lot of thoughts, some contradictory. If it's only you and hubby, you stand a higher chance of a great trip than if you have little ones trailing after you (they tend to have such opinions on what they want to do, my goodness! ).

Let me know if you want maps.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I think it's a good idea to have a "general" plan. Basically, know what you absolutely must experience and find out the best time to do so. As bumbershoot noted, this is especially important with shows, parades, etc. If said attraction has FastPass, you just need to get one (or a few) before they run out for the day. If an attraction does not have FP, make sure you know whether or not you need to be there early.

For instance, it's best to do Peter Pan first thing in the morning after Disneyland opens. It's also good to do Nemo Subs very early in the morning after the park opens. Both attractions tend to develop long lines early on that never dissipate. POTC on the other hand never amasses a super long line because it's so efficient at moving guests through the attraction.

Otherwise, it's very easy to soak up Disneyland and go with the flow.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

hey OP, you will do fine.

with that much time, you don't even need a map, just go where you want, and relax.

Since DW and I got out AP's years ago, we are not under pressure to do everything in one day. I think way to many people get the commando mindset and miss the part about just having FUN by being there.

heck we like to get a mickey bar and crowd watch on a bench for a while!

The only thing we schedule is dining, and even then we go for the later times!

 

[andee2000]

I think that is plenty of time to see things without a plan. I only had 2.5 days for DL and DCA and had a loose plan and left happy. Obviously, I didn't see everything, but it was stress free.

 

[WannabeAriel]

We've been once before... I think it was 2004.

I will make sure and get there EARLY at least 2 days... but I can't promise I won't sleep in on other days!!!

It will just be hubby and me so I'm thinking we will be able to fit everything in.

Thanks so much for the offer of the maps... but I would probably loose them! I'm horrible with paper stuff! I'll look for online maps for now!

Now if it would just HURRY UP and GET HERE!!! I swear... this is the longest summer EVER! It seems like our trip will NEVER be here!!! I'm SO READY TO GO!!!

 

[farmgirljen]

I recently went on my first ever disney vacation- we were there for 5 nights- we Did NOT see everything-We even went with DL/WDW veterens, and it was the most un-organized thing i ever took part in.... We basically had our PS's for meals planned out, and that was it- the rest of the time was spent aimlessly traversing the park from one thing to the next- and not things in the same area-(teacups and then go to haunted mansion) an then back to its a small world and then over to pirates) AND we even had a handicap pass, so got to bypass most of the lines, and did not have to use fastpasses for the rides- we walked onto most of them. I took charge the last day an made a list of the things we had not done yet, and grouped them according to where they were in the park- we then started in one area, and did all the things on that list- we got them all crossed off, but because the people we were with were not into alot of the faster/bigger rides, and I was not more direct in expressing my desires to go on them- we missed out on the matterhorn, space mountain, the monorail,grizzly river rapids,etc.. etc.... I already decided that next time i go, I will be making more of a plan, and taking charge as tour director for my family- It is fun to take time out to duck into shops, etc... but to just aimlessly wonder back and forth day after day drove me nuts- and I learned it is really easy to say " I will stop here on the way out and do this before we leave" and then run out of time to do those things- I also ill never again spend 2 hours holding a spot for an electrical parade, because that is 2 hours I coul have spent touring the park and going on rides... I guess it will makee me wantto come back again though, so I can do all the things I missed out on the first time!

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I usually have a plan too. But this june we went for 6 days without a real fixed plan and I LOVED it! It felt so relaxed...it was nice. I would do like pp's have mentioned and have a general idea of what you'd like to see that day, however you do not need to have a list that you must follow in that order. Go, relax...have fun!

 

[Potterswife]

You are so not crazy, take your time, don't overschedule yourself and take some time to sit back and enjoy it and soak it all in Have fun!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I think the most important thing to keep up on FP collections while you are there. Even if you think you might not get to them, get them anyway just in case. You can use them anytime after the first return time listed. That way you can choose to go on something later even if the line is 45 min. You will have your FPs and can hop right on in 10-15 min. This just increases your choices and lets you be more spontaneous.

DH and I just went for a week alone. No kids this time. We thought we would have lots of time, but somehow there are still things we missed! We meant to see Billy Hill but never got to it. Make sure you know when the shows are. Especially the Aladdin show. You don't want to miss it and it doesn't play for about half the week.

 

[toby78]

TO Farmgirljen::::::::I think since it was your first time it should have been totally planned out...Those of us AP'ers or "regulars" to the area don't need much planning...Hopefully at least you had some fun and can return again with more time and get to see and enjoy all there is to the area, not just the parks, but Downtown Disney and the hotels.....

 

[Sherry E]

I have a complicated mix of opinions on this subject! By nature I am planner and coordinator-type of person, and have always been known as such by my friends. But I have been to DLR on the disorganized, 'let's wander aimlessly and see where the day takes us' trips, as well as the 'let's walk all the way over to this side of the park to get on this ride, only to have the other people in the group decide the line is too long and now we have to walk back to the other side of the park' trips. I have gone with a full plan, a semi-plan and no plan at all. Each scenario can have its share of frustrations depending on who you are traveling with and what their issues are, as well as what the crowds/lines are like that day. I have done the 'action-packed' trips, as well as the 'lots of down time and people-watching' trips. I never feel like I have seen and done everything I want to see and do by the time I go home, no matter what kind of trip it is.

I agree that given the amount of time you will be at DLR, you will likely get to do most of what you want to do - but remember that time slips by very quickly there, even if it feels like it is dragging at some moments. It seems like there will be endless opportunities to get X, Y and Z done, and before you know it, it is time to leave and Y & Z haven't been done! There may be a lot of wasting time just kind of roaming around from ride to ride, trying to find something that looks appealing, and before you know it, you are out of time.

So what I try to do now is set some goals - for example, like 'I have to get this done and I have to ride this ride and I want to eat at Goofy's and look in this one shop for a black t-shirt......' and then once I get those done, we can wing it for the rest of the day or trip. So it is like half-planned and half-unplanned. I like to get a lot of things done as well as have down time, but I don't like to have TOO much down time (like every 10 minutes) and feel the day is being wasted. I think you should make lists of things you know you want to see and do, with no particular agenda or time frame applied, and then you will have an overall outline to follow with no real 'plan' involved.

Making PSs for dining is a good idea, though, because some of the waits to be seated can be crazy!

 

[HydroGuy]

We had a recent thread similar to yours which ventured into the differences between being informed and making a plan. I did a search and it seems that DIS has fixed their search problems because it worked for a change! Below is a link FWIW, and a quote from one of my posts plus another DISer...

I think the OP can have a great time with no specific plans. But getting more informed about summer touring trends, why and when to park hop (entirely different philosophy from WDW), Magic Mornings, etc., will pay off.

Will the OP see "everything" in four days by winging it? Maybe, but I doubt it. Will they have an enjoyable trip? How could they not? It is Disneyland!

FWIW, here is a link I think the OP can benefit from: "Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

Here is the link to the recent thread I mentioned...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2201274

Hmmm. When I hear "planning" it does not mean the same thing as a ride itinerary to me (like using RideMax).

Here is what planning at DLR means to me:

1. Having a basic idea of which rides are slow loaders, which are fast loaders, and which rides are best to hit early or late in the day and which others can be saved for mid-day.

2. Knowing how FP works and which FPs are best to get first

3. Knowing how MM works and which rides are best to do first. Also knowing how to tour DL on an MM day when you do not have MM.

4. When on summer trips knowing which rides are air conditioned

5. Knowing which rides have single rider lines

6. Knowing that fireworks get cancelled often and seeing them as early in your trip as possible

7. Knowing that Aladdin is a great show and which days it shows so you can plan to hit DCA on those days

8. Knowing that the Animation Studios exist at DCA and is a hidden gem for kids and adults too

9. Knowing that if Fantasmic shows twice to see the second show if possible

10. Knowing about the speaker tower trick at Fantasmic in case you are running late and need a decent viewing spot (I have never used the trick but I know about it just in case)

11. Knowing that since Fantasmic uses the Rivers of America that the rides that use ROA close early and must be done earlier in the day - PLATSI, MT, Columbia Ship and the DC Canoe ride.

12. Knowing that parkhopping is so easy at DLR and hopping every day at least once usually lets you experience more of DLR.

And if I may add:

13. Knowing the shorter DCA hours (compared to DL) so you can play accordingly.

14. Knowing that all of ToonTown and a decent part of Fantasyland are closed during fireworks (for RDCT anyway).

15. Knowing ToonTown (and meeting Mickey in his house) closes earlier than the rest of the Park.

 

[fairykin]

I like to have options of what we can do, rather than a list of things we MUST do.

I try to group the things I might want to do in each land together.. then if we see a big crowd headed one way...we turn and go the other way.

Also... before any trip i try to decide if there are a few things i really wanna do.. and those things are done one a day.

Have Fun.

 

[Huff]

Now WDW is another story!

I don't do a heck of a lot of planning for WDW either. Just dining if we do the dining plan. That does cause a little planning to make it possible to see the shows, parades, fireworks etc. at the correct time and make it to dinner. Usually decide what park(s) to do when we wake up in the AM. Only a very loose schedule planned in advance.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

This is how I decided to do it... In the morning I am hitting the rides hard with the recommendations of RideMax. And collecting FP's througout the day. Then in the evening/afternoon when we come back, I plan on doing it without a "plan" but rather more relaxed and going where we want, using the fastpasses, but not stressing about following the plan ALL DAY. I hope this works for us.

 

[Eeee-va]

I overplanned our last trip with Ridemax and am now regretting that we didn't take time to just enjoy the atmosphere, see the little shows, etc. We were almost always running around! Part of that was meeting up with people (or trying to) on the last two days of our trip--not only did we have the Ridemax plan to keep up with, but we also had times we agreed to meet a friend of mine, so that further constrained our schedule. So much so, that when the "Drawn to the Magic" (?) show at DCA was going on while we were RIGHT THERE, we didn't really have time to stop and watch.

I would say to chart out your priorities and plan to do those, but I'd personally schedule some down-time in the parks for sure.

(Except for the first hour or two in the parks--if rides are a priority, you should definitely spend that time riding. You "should" get FPs for the big rides instead of waiting in line for them early in the morning, but if a ride is a real priority sometimes it's best to just ride it, especially if you enter the park, get one Fastpass, and then get in line for another ride that happens to offer FPs.)

Have a great time!

 

[kirstie101]

I am a planner by nature. I plan every detail of every trip. Its what I do. Ok its what I did. Now that I have a 2.5 year old I've learned to go with the flow. Her first trip to DLR we had no plan and it was wonderful! Thats how we're gonna go at it this year too. Well I am gonna make PS for Goofy's Kitchen, we will collect fast passes when we can and we are staying close enough that we can go back to the hotel for quick naps. But thats the extent of my planning. No, we might not see fantasmic or Aladdin. But we're ok with that. All we "have" to do is have fun, ride some rides and take some character pics. When, where and how it happens isn't so important to me this trip. You will be fine without a plan!