First Time at DL - Questions!

[xXtowerOFterrorXx]

I did download Mouse Wait! I am glad to hear that it is accurate though, I will definitely use it while in the park. I did not realize it had a character finder until you mentioned it, thank you!!

No problem, glad I could help! be careful though, it will drain your battery! Ive read somewhere that there are hidden phone charging stations in the park. http://mousewait.com/blog/?p=217 heres a link that gives a list of all the locations you charge your phone. ONLY iPHONES though. I havent read anywhere where you can charge your Android phones.

 

[skiingfast]

No problem, glad I could help! be careful though, it will drain your battery! Ive read somewhere that there are hidden phone charging stations in the park.

That list isn't of charging stations, it's outlets you can plug your charger into, and is also out of date.

In some of the lockers on Main Street are actual charging stations you can plug into your phone that fit most modern phone models.

 

[msheriffm]

The best places that we have found the characters:
Arrive early and characters will be near the entrance and at the beginning of Main Street
Chip and Dale in the Firehouse on and off during the day
Mickey and Minnie at their house we have waited but it has never been too bad.
Skip the Princess thing horrible line moves so slowly and you never know which princess will be there until you are at the front of the line.
Pooh characters past splash mountain I think the area is called Pooh's corner
At certain times a princess will be tell a story in the castle gift shop
Watch the parade you will see lots of characters but you can't take a picture with them
Although you can see characters easier at Calif. Adven. they will not be in there traditional outfits. Most of the ones I remember seeing had on safari or Hawaiian shrits. Although Calif. Adven. has some great scary rides I would not go there if I only had 11 hours.
I hope you found this information helpful, we go to DL every two years and have spent a lot of time finding characters when our girls were little.
Somebody did suggest a character meal which is one sure way you would meet some characters. We go to Goofy's Kitchen for dinner every trip. It is next to the Disneyland hotel - you would take the monorail to Disneyland Hotel stop exit and walk a short distance through part of DTD. You will probably want to ask for some directions because the restaurant is by the pool area which is not that visible. I know there is a character meal at DL to but have never done it. We did go to one in CA (many years ago) but were not impressed at all, the characters were wearing sailor outfits.

 

[xXtowerOFterrorXx]

That list isn't of charging stations, it's outlets you can plug your charger into, and is also out of date.

In some of the lockers on Main Street are actual charging stations you can plug into your phone that fit most modern phone models.

awesome thanks for clarifying!

 

[ladeeesquire]

Thanks for everyone's info and advice!

Space Mountain and Splash Mountain are definitely at the top of the list (Most likely will be skipping Indiana Jones and will definitely be skipping Star Tours). I've been going back and forth about Nemo. While I know some of my companions want to go on it, I can take it or leave it, especially since I know it will be a time eater. I am hoping I can convince them to just skip it.

We do plan on doing California Adventure. I know it's going to be tough with the opening of Carsland, but there are a few rides there that are on the "must do" list (TOT, California Screamin, Grizzly River Run, and Little Mermaid).

I already have a draft itinerary written up, I am hoping to do the following in the time that we get there (Lets say 9:00-9:30) until around 1pm. Is this reasonable or am I being too ambitious?

Get Space Mountain Fast Pass
Finding Nemo Submarine*If wait time is less than 20 mins, if not save for later part of the day if we REALLY want to ride*
Peter Pan’s Flight
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
Space Mountain
Get Splash Mountain Fast Pass
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion

IMO, that's pretty ambitious. In june, not at rope drop, nemo's going to be a wait, even at 20 mins its still a long ride so you're talking 35 mins right there. FWIW I think Nemo is a total time suck for what it is but some love it. Peter pan is consistently 30 min plus wait, mr toad is going to be less but I'd say still in the 15 -20, snow white is maybe 5 mins usually. Then you have to walk over to pirates and HM, that's going to take you about 10 mins moving fast. Even with FP, splash mountain usually has a bit of wait and HM and Pirates themselves are long attractions. If you want to meet the princesses I'd suggest hitting PFF about 10-15 mins after a scheduled coronation and then just walk up and do the meet and greet in the back. Are you planning on skipping Small World? I know some people cannot stand that ride but to me its hardly a trip to DL without it. Definitely use a phone app for the mickey wait. Sometimes in the summer they run all 4 mickey rooms at once and that cuts down on wait time considerably but you don't want to walk all the way to the back of toontown to find that out. Mickey is pretty much always a paradise pier and aviator minnie is near soarin. btw, soarin is not on your list!

I use a 30 mins per ride as a rough estimate which allows for walk time, bathroom breaks and stopping to take a photo or two but during summer hours sometimes even walking can be an issue because of crowds.

Are you already going to have tix in hand? That would help. You can easily kill 20 mins waiting to buy tix and another 5-10 mins getting through the turnstile at each park.

Good luck! I think if you plan to just have fun no matter how many attractions you check off your list you'll be fine!

 

[missangelalexis]

IMO, that's pretty ambitious. In june, not at rope drop, nemo's going to be a wait, even at 20 mins its still a long ride so you're talking 35 mins right there. FWIW I think Nemo is a total time suck for what it is but some love it. Peter pan is consistently 30 min plus wait, mr toad is going to be less but I'd say still in the 15 -20, snow white is maybe 5 mins usually. Then you have to walk over to pirates and HM, that's going to take you about 10 mins moving fast. Even with FP, splash mountain usually has a bit of wait and HM and Pirates themselves are long attractions. If you want to meet the princesses I'd suggest hitting PFF about 10-15 mins after a scheduled coronation and then just walk up and do the meet and greet in the back. Are you planning on skipping Small World? I know some people cannot stand that ride but to me its hardly a trip to DL without it. Definitely use a phone app for the mickey wait. Sometimes in the summer they run all 4 mickey rooms at once and that cuts down on wait time considerably but you don't want to walk all the way to the back of toontown to find that out. Mickey is pretty much always a paradise pier and aviator minnie is near soarin. btw, soarin is not on your list!

I use a 30 mins per ride as a rough estimate which allows for walk time, bathroom breaks and stopping to take a photo or two but during summer hours sometimes even walking can be an issue because of crowds.

Are you already going to have tix in hand? That would help. You can easily kill 20 mins waiting to buy tix and another 5-10 mins getting through the turnstile at each park.

Good luck! I think if you plan to just have fun no matter how many attractions you check off your list you'll be fine!

Thank you for all your tips! Tickets will already be in hand to cut down on time. I am going to try and restructure the plan a little bit, and you are right, as long as we have fun thats the most important thing!

 

[missangelalexis]

The best places that we have found the characters:
Arrive early and characters will be near the entrance and at the beginning of Main Street
Chip and Dale in the Firehouse on and off during the day
Mickey and Minnie at their house we have waited but it has never been too bad.
Skip the Princess thing horrible line moves so slowly and you never know which princess will be there until you are at the front of the line.
Pooh characters past splash mountain I think the area is called Pooh's corner
At certain times a princess will be tell a story in the castle gift shop
Watch the parade you will see lots of characters but you can't take a picture with them
Although you can see characters easier at Calif. Adven. they will not be in there traditional outfits. Most of the ones I remember seeing had on safari or Hawaiian shrits. Although Calif. Adven. has some great scary rides I would not go there if I only had 11 hours.
I hope you found this information helpful, we go to DL every two years and have spent a lot of time finding characters when our girls were little.
Somebody did suggest a character meal which is one sure way you would meet some characters. We go to Goofy's Kitchen for dinner every trip. It is next to the Disneyland hotel - you would take the monorail to Disneyland Hotel stop exit and walk a short distance through part of DTD. You will probably want to ask for some directions because the restaurant is by the pool area which is not that visible. I know there is a character meal at DL to but have never done it. We did go to one in CA (many years ago) but were not impressed at all, the characters were wearing sailor outfits.

Thank you!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Indy has a single rider option, we use it most of the time now. So does Splash, Screamin' - those will save time and you won't need a fast pass.

 

[missangelalexis]

My next question- what are some of the best spots to watch the Soundsational Parade? I've read near IASW or Alice. Are those goods spots? Or are there any others I should consider??

 

[skiingfast]

My next question- what are some of the best spots to watch the Soundsational Parade? I've read near IASW or Alice. Are those goods spots? Or are there any others I should consider??

Those places are the least crowded. If you kept walk South it is most crowded on the Hub and Main Street. Town Square is a better option, if you are at the end of the park.