Do I need a schedule at DL?

[Leofoenget]

Hi, we are taking our first trip to DL the first week of October, being there on a wed, thurs and fri. As I read through this board, I see people trying to plan their days at DL. Is this really the best plan of action? It's my DH and I with DS 5 and DD 3. I of course want to do as much as possible with our time, we will allow for rest time in the afternoons. I wasn't sure if it's just as easy to go, and start at one side and keep going until we make our way around the park, and stop to eat when we get hungry. OR would it be best to have an 'itinerary' of what to do when and where to eat. IF SO, I have no idea how to even come up with a good schedule. Or where to start in the park. Any thoughts please??? TIA!

My friends went with little kids for their first trip in June. I made them a Ridemax itinerary. They loved it. Really helped them focus. I suggest you invest in Ridemax it really helps for a busy first trip.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I think you're already well on your way since you've decided to plan. While you don't need to map out every single second of your itinerary, having a general idea of what you want to do and when the best time to do it is will save you time and stress.

And I wholeheartedly second the map idea. I've been to Disneyland so many times that I know the park backwards and forwards. But when my family visited WDW in May 2006, we didn't know the place. There was some debate over the quickest way to our dinner reservation at Le Cellier in Epcot when I said follow me. After a bunch of confused looks, they finally decided to trust me and were quite surprised when, without the aid of a map, I took everyone exactly where we needed to be. Truth be told, I had studied the map extensively beforehand, so I knew exactly where we needed to be even though I hadn't been there in 12 years.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

... And I wholeheartedly second the map idea. ...

FWIW, here are direct links to some on-line maps:

DLR web-site:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/map/mapSWF?name=MapOverviewPage

DL:
http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/map/images/DLPLowbandMap.pdf

DL (March 2008):
www.willcad.org/disney_maps.shtml#dlr

DCA:
http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/map/images/DCALowbandMap.pdf

DCA (March 2008):
www.willcad.org/disney_maps.shtml#dlr

DTD:
http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/map/images/DTDLowbandMap.pdf

Parking and Transportation:
http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/map/images/ParkingLowbandMap.pdf

Wikimapia:
www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8120205&lon=-117.9193282&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

Virtual Earth from Microsoft:
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?...t=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=6773065&encType=1

Good Neighbor Hotels (this map may be somewhat out of date):
http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/map/images/GNHLowbandMap.pdf

Guest Services*:
http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/map/images/GuestServicesLowbandMap.pdf

* Guest Services: ATMs, Baby Centers, First Aid, Kennel, Lockers, Lost & Found, Smoking Areas, Stroller Rentals, Typewriter Phones

Old Theme Park maps (old DL maps):
http://www.themeparkbrochures.net/mainmaps.html#ad


HTH

 

[DL4my2kids]

We play it by ear. DH, I and both my kids are late sleepers. We are also not big fans of waiting so if by chance we get into a line that is not so long, great. If the wait is too long, we skip it. We eat when we are hungry, we sleep when we are tired. Of course that is only when we are vacationing. Every other time, we are up before the crack of dawn getting to work, school, daycare etc.