First Day at DL when we arrive (1:15pm arrival at SNA), or wait until the next day?

[motor58]

Hi Everyone,

So happy that our trip is really happening! We are staying at HOJO for a whole week, arrive on a Saturday at 1:15pm at SNA. I think the park will be open until 10pm that night in Sept.

My question is-if we tell them on the way to the airport that we are going to disney, should we go to DL that day even if it might not be the best use of our 6 day hopper? Or would hanging at the pool at HOJO and doing dinner at downtown disney be ok? I am worried the hotel and downtown D might be a letdown, but then again they've never been there

I am sure I am overthinking it, but you guys always have such good insight to everything and appreciate the overthinking.

The only thing I do know is that I can be KOTS for sure, it's way better than the kids asking me every other hour when we are going (ages 3, 5, and 7). That would drive me

And any cool ideas for the big surprise is welcome too. I am thinking tshirts and ears waiting for them on their car seats. Or maybe just ears.

We have never been-so I ask for your wisdom. I have gotten so much help from you guys, thanks in advance.

 

[araes2102]

To piggyback on OP, I would really love to see some advice on this thread too! We have never been and are going July 8-14th, also with 6 day hoppers. We will also get there around 2pm (driving in from AZ) and are wondering if we should head to the parks or start fresh in the am? I just want that first experience in the park to be so magical! Plus we do want to go to the beach one day, so we are debating about going on that first day or midway through the trip for a little break...

And OP, our plan for our kids is to give them a gift box filled with Disney items before we leave home. When they open it, we will ask where we should go with all this stuff. And when they (of course) say "Disney," we will say "okay let's go!"And off we go...

 

[dshimel]

Hi Everyone,

So happy that our trip is really happening! We are staying at HOJO for a whole week, arrive on a Saturday at 1:15pm at SNA. I think the park will be open until 10pm that night in Sept.

Hmmm... this is a tough one.

If you land at the airport at 1:15, odds are you are not getting to the resort until 3, and would not be in the parks until 3:30 or 4.

On one hand, you're just going to get a few hours in the park. On the other hand, 6 days in a row is a lot, and I could see wanting a rest day in the middle, or even one of those day being just a few hours anyway.


I would say, go in and do just a few things. Maybe Toad and Snow and Pan and Buzz and Nemo Subs and then get a good spot for Fantasmic!

With kids that age, lots of short days... or double short days where you do opening, take naps in teh afternoon, then go back for a few hors in teh evening, is a great way to do the parks.

A pool, relax day in the middle with no park, oh, perhaps even a movie in downtown disney. Nice chillaxing day.


Additional hints:
go to your local dollar/discount/walmart and buy some glow in the dark necklaces/bracelets... Maybe find a place that sells other light up at night stuff. Kids love playing with the light up toys when sitting for an hour waiting for fireworks or another show, and buyin gin the park is YIKES expensive.

Smallish backpack/big bag for snacks, water bottles, etc.

It will be warm in the day, but as soon as the sun goes down, you will want a long sleeved sweatshirt/light jacket. I have 3 or 4 Disneyland sweatshirts simply because I forgot how quickly the temps drop in Sept-Oct once the sun heads for the horizon.

We used to take an Indian blanket to spread out for the kids to sit on waiting for parades, fireworks, Fantasmic! etc. So much better than sitting on the dirty ground, because you know hands will go into mouths and such.

 

[specialks]

I also like the idea of going on your first night and then taking a day off in the middle.
I'd recommend dining at Goofys Kitchen (in Disneyland Hotel - no admission req) with characters on the night of your arrival if you skip e parks. Then the kids still feel a part of the Disney environment.
Or dine at Goofys or Storytellers or Surfs Up for breakfast if you take your off day midweek.

 

[JDCLL]

We drive down from Vegas to go to DLR and LOVE going in on the first day. We usually get there around 2:00ish and just have a relaxing time. We watch the parade, check out the new things, eat at Carnation Cafe (our favorite)...then the next few days that we are there we will ride the rides and stay really busy...just relax on your first night. I feel like so many people rush around the DLR because of excitement and when they leave they feel like they really didn't get to enjoy all that Disney has to offer. Take the first night to just enjoy the DLR experience.

 

[Susie63]

Why don't you go to guest services and add a day to each hopper! I am pretty sure the cost is $5 each and you won't have to worry about wasting a day of your ph.

 

[canadian_ehngel]

What I would do is spend a bit of time at the hotel, and then head to Downtown Disney for dinner and shopping, and save my tickets for the parks for the full days.
As for the surprise... I'm not sure. We're doing the surprise thing for our kids too, but we're not telling them until we leave the airport.

 

[elliefusmom]

Last summer we planned on NOT going in on the first day and then when we got there, we were so excited that we spent around $15 a piece to go in. We called it our "bonus" day. Knowing that fast passes would be late or gone, we watched parades, sat on benches, shopped and just enjoyed it. I think it was the best day of our trip.

Wait to see how everybody feels and ask them when you get there.

Have a great time!

 

[motor58]

seriously, you guys are geniuses.

dshimel-yes, I think after reading all of your great posts I think we will do the park that day. We can do a break, or add a day cheaply.

specialks-I didn't even think of doing a character meal that first day, brilliant!

susie63-

I forgot that we could add a 7th day if we wanted, and taking a whole day mid week is a good idea too. I purposefully chose to go a whole week with 6 days at the park so we wouldn't feel rushed. I thought we'd do lots of shorter days and not go crazy-and enjoy the hojo mini water park too.

Thanks for everyones input, so so helpful.

Please keep the surprise ideas coming, thank you!

 

[staley7580]

We always do DTD that first day.. Get settled into our hotel, that kinda stuff. We do early morning flights, and everyone would just be wiped out in the park. We eat, unpack.. browse the stores.. just have a good, relaxing time. Go to bed early.. then we can hit the parks with gusto in the morning!

 

[Disneylandfan1]

One important issue for a September visit is that because of the reduced hours they only schedule the night shows on Fri., Sat. & Sun. On our September visit a few years back we arrived on a Sunday afternoon, ate an early dinner at Rainforest Cafe in DTD, and we got into the parks around 5pm. This was our only night to see fireworks and Fantasmic. It worked out well and we watched the first showing of Fantasmic followed by viewing fireworks from ROA right afterwards. If you want to see the fireworks in front of the castle then you would have to do that a different night, or see the late show of Fantasmic (though your kids might fall asleep). Back then they showed WOC every night so we saved that for a week night. I'm not sure whether you're leaving on the following Friday or Saturday, so you might have Friday night to work with as well. Really, you could go either way. You've given yourself plenty of time to work with. If you're leaving Friday then I would go in the parks your first night.

When we first took our kids they were 3 & 6, and arriving in the afternoon we thought we'd just do dinner in DTD instead of go in the parks. We stayed that first night at a hotel on Harbor Blvd, and in order to get to the Rainforest Cafe in DTD we had to walk past the entrance to Disneyland. My kids were almost in tears, not understanding why we couldn't go into Disneyland! It was a let down and I said never again...I just wasn't as experienced back then. However, in your case, because you're staying at a hotel with a good pool, you could swim for the afternoon, then do a character meal dinner at Goofy's Kitchen (you mentioned car seats...will you have a car to drive to Goofy's?) or Rainforest Cafe in DTD, then you can get them to bed early and spend the next 6 days in the parks.

 

[hootey]

I would take the kids into DL the first day. Get to the hotel, get everything into the room to make it livable, and go to DL. Your kids will be beyond excited. Take your time and take lots of pictures going in, as well as get a "PhotoPass" card from a DL photopass photographer just inside the turnstyles. Take your time, you will only have the First Visit once. Relax, take your time, and enjoy your stay...

 

[fctiger]

I know I'm one of those people in the minority but I would wait until the next day and then get up first thing in the morning and start your day! Since its your first time, I feel going early in the morning is the best time to see it (the first time!). And I've done this at WDW, TDR, DLP, etc, I always had a chance to go the day I arrived, but I just make that first day getting orientated, try to get over jet lag if there is any, having dinner, going to bed early, etc and then go full on the next day!

BUT thats just me! End of the day you are going regardless so if you guys just cant wait then go! But if you are tired, I say spend time at DTD, have a dinner and hang out at your hotel and be fresh when you go in the morning. Again, IF you are tired.

 

[larina]

My kids always want to race for the parks, and we always do. There's something about that first day...even if it is a short day.

 

[quiltymom]

We only go for a day or two, so our first day (or half-day) spent swimming at the hotel pool, shopping DTD and getting a good night's sleep. We also are at the parks from opening to closing without breaks, so it is our only rest stop of the trip!

 

[nannyz]

We drive in from AZ too; and we always do 6-day hoppers.
We never go to DL on the first day. After we settle into the hotel (HoJo of course), and if the kids aren't too tired, we walk over to DTD. The kids spend a very long time in the giant Disney store, then we have a bite to eat and maybe some ice cream, and head back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.
If everyone is tired, we just get something to eat near the hotel and watch TV until time for bed.
We've never had a problem with the kids being disappointed because we tell them from the get-go that we don't go into DL until the next day.

 

[disneydreamer74]

We drive from AZ and usually arrive about 2 or 3 p.m. We always do a DTD day. After hotel check-in we drive to Target nearby and stock up of breakfast foods and snack foods for the duration of the trip and also a few cases of bottled water ( to take into the parks). After that it is usually close to dinner time. We let our DD5 pick the place to eat at DTD then we let her pick out one goodie at World of Disney store. This gets her way excited for the trip. Hojo's does have a really cool swimming area that the kids may want to explore as well. For us, we are pretty tired from the drive so we just have a relaxing day at DTD. Then the next morning we are ready to hit the parks. As other posters have mentioned though, it would not cost much to add a day on the hopper. As my DD5 gets older I am sure we will opt for this. Have a magical trip.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

It sounds like the OP has decided to go the first day into the parks (which I heartily agree with!). As others said, you can just add another day to your park hopper.

We either fly or drive from the Bay Area, and typically arrive around 2-3 and always go into the parks after checking in to our hotel. Like others say, it is the perfect day to watch the parade and then go on some rides. In Sept., the crowds will not be very bad at all--so you will really be in a sweet spot as far as getting some good rides in.

In my thinking--we have come so far to be there, and the finish line is disneyland--there is no way we are hanging back and not going in!

 

[nikkislaght]

Adding my two cents..... we arrive later in the day.. dump our bags... and go to downtown... lots to see and do... we shop... ugh of course we shop.!!! that way when we get to the parks we dont have too...

after that we go to Vons.. and get stocked up for the week,, eat dinner , swim in pool .. get to bed early for a full day the next day..

the kids dont seem to mind not hitting the park the first day.. I guess its because they have been awake since 4am traveling .
And when you have money burning a hole in your pocket and Disney stores open till what seems like forever .. they can wait..

 

[Mousequake]

I'd recommend dining at Goofys Kitchen (in Disneyland Hotel - no admission req) with characters on the night of your arrival if you skip e parks. Then the kids still feel a part of the Disney environment.

That's exactly what we did-- we got in about 2:00 and had an early dinner at Goofy's Kitchen. It was a GREAT intro to the whole Disney experience for DD4 and we were up bright and early for rope drop the next morning.