DL/DCA with almost 3 yr old next week

[LBassler]

Hi all! New to these boards...have a few questions maybe you all can help me with before our trip next week.

My husband, myself and my almost 3 yr old son will be doing DL next Mon and DCA on Tues. My questions are:

1. Do I have to show proof of my son's age at the gate? (I usually bring a copy of his birth cert when I travel anyway) I was planning on buying the discount tickets online for my husband and I and printing them. Do I need anything for my toddler?

2. We are planning on doing mostly kiddie rides and maybe switching off for a few rides for ourselves. I keep reading differing opinions on what can/can't be done with Parent Swap/FastPass/Single Rider. I was hoping that my husband and I could hold different FP for different rides at the same time while using PS. Some forums I have read have said using SR with PS is easier, others have said that's not allowed. Severely confused.

3. Plan of attack for each park? In DL I was thinking of heading straight for Autopia for FP and then getting in line at Astro Orbiters (Buzz is a big, big deal in our house). We're staying across the street at the HoJo and were planning on getting to the gates by 8:45. Other than that, I don't have a plan. Maybe get FP for Indiana Jones? Should I do that before we get in line for Buzz? In DCA the only things we really wanted to ride are ToT and maybe RSR. We HAVE to do Midway Mania but I guess we can't FP that. Any suggestions?

4. Since we are staying at a hotel with a nice pool across the street is a midday break a really good idea? My son does still nap in the afternoon but sometimes for 2-3 hrs in a comfy environment. Do I want to waste our ticket time at the hotel? If we stay at the park he most likely won't nap at all but will be dead asleep by 8:30-9.

5. More on FP, can my son and I wait in line for something while my husband gets FP and then join us in line? Or do the CM not allow that?

That's all I can think of for now. It's been years since we've been to DL and we've never been with kids so this is all new to us. Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[crystal1313]

Hi all! New to these boards...have a few questions maybe you all can help me with before our trip next week.

My husband, myself and my almost 3 yr old son will be doing DL next Mon and DCA on Tues. My questions are:

1. Do I have to show proof of my son's age at the gate? (I usually bring a copy of his birth cert when I travel anyway) I was planning on buying the discount tickets online for my husband and I and printing them. Do I need anything for my toddler? I've never had to show proof, but you could always bring a copy of his birth certificate just in case.

2. We are planning on doing mostly kiddie rides and maybe switching off for a few rides for ourselves. I keep reading differing opinions on what can/can't be done with Parent Swap/FastPass/Single Rider. I was hoping that my husband and I could hold different FP for different rides at the same time while using PS. Some forums I have read have said using SR with PS is easier, others have said that's not allowed. Severely confused.
We usually just pull a fastpass and then get a child swap. The nice thing about the child swap is that you can use it later in the day.

3. Plan of attack for each park? In DL I was thinking of heading straight for Autopia for FP and then getting in line at Astro Orbiters (Buzz is a big, big deal in our house). We're staying across the street at the HoJo and were planning on getting to the gates by 8:45. Other than that, I don't have a plan. Maybe get FP for Indiana Jones? Should I do that before we get in line for Buzz? In DCA the only things we really wanted to ride are ToT and maybe RSR. We HAVE to do Midway Mania but I guess we can't FP that. Any suggestions? I think your plan sounds good. I'm sure others can help you more with ride order, etc. Buzz in my experience isn't terribly crowded early in the morning. Autopia line can be painfully long sometimes, so I think a FP is a good idea. For TSMM, I would try to head there at rope drop. That's the only time I've seen the line less than 40 min.

4. Since we are staying at a hotel with a nice pool across the street is a midday break a really good idea? My son does still nap in the afternoon but sometimes for 2-3 hrs in a comfy environment. Do I want to waste our ticket time at the hotel? If we stay at the park he most likely won't nap at all but will be dead asleep by 8:30-9. I think you could play it day by day and see if your son will need a mid day break. Sometimes a break is nice and prevents meltdowns. The park can be very overwhelming.

5. More on FP, can my son and I wait in line for something while my husband gets FP and then join us in line? Or do the CM not allow that? There are a lot of threads about this recently. I myself would not do that. We all line up together.

That's all I can think of for now. It's been years since we've been to DL and we've never been with kids so this is all new to us. Thanks in advance for your help!!

Have a great trip! Also wanted to mention the baby care centers to you. Don't know if your little guy is potty trained or in diapers, but they have training toilets that are NOT auto flush and really nice padded changing tables if still in diapers. There's one in DL on Main street next to the photo supply store (if looking at the castle on the right at the end of the street). There's one in DCA in Pacific Wharf behind Ghiradelli. It's also a nice quiet spot to get away from the craziness of the parks.

 

[LBassler]

Thanks crystal1313! I feel like we'll be potty-training the rest of our natural lives so the tip on the toilets is great!!

 

[DahliaRW]

To add to what the pp said about the baby care centers, go at least once. You feel like you've walked into a room full of British Nannies. I love that even the baby care center is superbly themed (at least in DL, haven't been to the one in DCA).

 

[crystal1313]

I felt like that too with my youngest. He was SO stubborn! Then one day he decided to be potty trained and never wore a diaper again, even at night! He was 3 years, 4 months. It will happen!

Also, forgot to mention that sometimes SR is faster than waiting in stand by and getting a child swap....so when that is the case, we do SR. RSR is a great one for SR.

 

[j&jsmama]

Up until my youngest was 6, we always went back to the hotel to take a nap midday. It was the reason we always got a walking distance hotel. It makes the late afternoon and evening so nice... No cranky kiddos... or cranky parents

We LOVED the baby care areas... Definitely go!

 

[GatorChris]

We just went with a 2 1/2 year old last year who's very tall for her age. No one even questioned it, so we just went through the gates with no problems. You should have no issues here.

As for Baby Swap, it's great. You'll figure out how to use it right away once you're there. Just think of it as another FP.

As for napping, my daughter would sleep in her stroller quite soundly. We only once went back to the room for a nap and that was for the older kids to have a chance to hit the waterslides. If you have a nice stroller vs a umbrella, bring the nice one. It will carry more "Stuff" and the child can sleep in it while you and the spouse go crazy on the big kid rides.

 

[LBassler]

Thanks GatorChris. I did just invest in a nicer, reclining umbrella stroller for the plane and the park so we might just see what he needs the first day - stroller nap vs hotel nap.

Does anyone know if we combine FP with PS on a ride do we both need FP to that ride or just one of us?

 

[figment_jii]

1. Do I have to show proof of my son's age at the gate? (I usually bring a copy of his birth cert when I travel anyway) I was planning on buying the discount tickets online for my husband and I and printing them. Do I need anything for my toddler?

As Crystal1313 said, you won't need a birth certificate for you son. I only had one CM ask my friend's daughter her age when we took her to DLR. She was just shy of three, but was pretty big for her age. She gave him a confused look and then answered in a typical little kid fashion. She said one number and held up an entirely different number of fingers. Neither were right, but it was pretty cute. Most of the time, the gate CMs trust folks to be honest about their kids' ages and won't ask. I've read horror stories, but I haven't experienced any problems.

3. Plan of attack for each park? In DL I was thinking of heading straight for Autopia for FP and then getting in line at Astro Orbiters (Buzz is a big, big deal in our house). We're staying across the street at the HoJo and were planning on getting to the gates by 8:45. Other than that, I don't have a plan. Maybe get FP for Indiana Jones? Should I do that before we get in line for Buzz? In DCA the only things we really wanted to ride are ToT and maybe RSR. We HAVE to do Midway Mania but I guess we can't FP that. Any suggestions?

I've read that the Autopia FP isn't really all that useful because the merge point is so close to the start of the line. You might try searching for Autopia FP information to see if folks feel like it's worth getting a FP for that ride.

For Buzz, I tend agree that the line is usually on the shorter side (<20 minutes) except right after the parades/fireworks end.

I would probably send a runner to get Indy FP at opening and then have the rest of you party head to Autopia. Then the runner could join you at Autopia at opening. I highly doubt the line for Autopia is that long at opening (most folks are probably heading to the Frozen meet and greet ). By the time you finish Autopia, the Indy FP will probably be valid. It does mean criss-crossing the park, so it's not the most efficient plan.

Over in DCA, if you want to ride RSR and don't want to do Single Rider, I would highly recommend getting a FP. They usually run out in the first 90 minutes of the day or so. If you're in line pre-opening, it usually takes between 20-30 minutes to get the FP once the park opens (they don't start distributing FP until the park opens). If you okay with a late ride time, I would consider getting to DCA pre-rope drop, head straight to TSMM and then go back to get the RSR FP (I would guess your return time will be early evening). Otherwise, you can get a RSR FP first and then head to TSMM, just note that the TSMM line will probably be >30 minutes at that point. I would just fit ToT in whenever the line looks okay.

5. More on FP, can my son and I wait in line for something while my husband gets FP and then join us in line? Or do the CM not allow that?

This tends to be a very hot topic here on the Disboard. Some folks are okay with line holding, while others are vehemently against it. To answer the literal question, most CMs won't do anything about line holding. How the guests in line react will vary. To give you a sense...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3266564

 

[LBassler]

Keep it coming, you guys are really helping me!

Good to know the line holding is such a sensitive issue. I probably wouldn't line hold for FP now I know some would be offended by it. (I'm from the east coast where butting in lines at amusement parks just to get further ahead is a common thing, and yes, it's very annoying). If my potty-training little one needs to go right in the middle of a wait though, we'll probably keep our place in line for that.

I'm starting to think TSMM is going to be priority at rope drop for DCA since Toy Story is a driving impetus in my son's life. I really wish he were tall enough for RSR since he's obsessed with Cars too, but it looks like there's lots of other things to do in Carsland.

Here's another question for you veterans....since 2 big attractions (Space Mtn and Finding Nemo) are closed for renos right now, do you think everything else in general will be more crowded? Just my luck, Splash Mtn is my personal fav, but we wanted to take this trip before my son's 3rd b-day in June. And I know my LO would have gone crazy over the subs

 

[figment_jii]

Here's another question for you veterans....since 2 big attractions (Space Mtn and Finding Nemo) are closed for renos right now, do you think everything else in general will be more crowded? Just my luck, Splash Mtn is my personal fav, but we wanted to take this trip before my son's 3rd b-day in June. And I know my LO would have gone crazy over the subs

I don't really think of "Nemo" as a big attraction (not like Space or Splash). It was cute, but super slow to load which resulted in long lines. I don't think it's closure is really going to drive up lines at the other rides.

Space's rehab (at least as of last info) is slated to start either 5/12 or 5/27 or at some random point in the future. In other words, no one knows for sure when Space will actually go down. So it might be running next week.

I did not see Splash on any of the rehab lists for next week. WDWinfo has a list (http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/plan.htm#rehab) although things keep changing so fast that no one really knows what will be down and when until it happens.

Overall, I don't think the closure of one or two rides has a noticeable effect on the other rides. Mostly because there are still so many other rides (both big and small) at DLR. Even if Space is down, that still leaves Splash, Indy, Matterhorn, Star Tours, and Big Thunder for thrill rides in DL.

 

[Grizzle Bear]

We just got back from our trip with our almost 3 year old son who is definitely tall/big for his age. Not one person questioned him/us or gave us a second look on his age.