First Timer Questions

[theostwalts]

Hey Guys,

I have a solo trip coming up 4/29/16 - 5/07/16, which is Sat-Sat. I am planning on park days Sun-Thur with a 5 day park hopper. Friday will be a free day. I figured Friday will be getting packed with the marathon crowds based on what I have read. How would you go about planning which parks to do on which days? Should I make ADRs now? I know I want to try Steakhouse 55 my first night and maybe Napa Rose at some point. I had thought about trying to get to Universal on Friday, but without a car, that is looking like too much trouble. And would you recommend dining packages for the WOC and parades? I know Fantasmic is down. I am use to having everyday planned out for WDW, so I am trying get this DL planning figured out.

Thanks

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Are you staying at a DL hotel because that would factor in how I would plan the days. If there is a restaurant that you want, I would make a reservation now. You can always change it if your plans change. As a solo, I think you should be able to get a great view for both WOC and parades without a dinning package.

 

[theostwalts]

Thanks. I am staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Any suggestions on how to line up days for certain parks?

 

[Lu_C]

Since you are staying on property you can take advantage of extra magic hour in the mornings and this will help you decide which park to start off in first. This is an extra hour in the morning that the park opens early for hotel guests (you get in with your room key) usually this switches day by day between Disneyland and California Adventure. You can check the disneyland website for the schedule for your days or when you arrive there will be a sign telling you the schedule in the lobby (at Disneyland hotel its located by the automatic doors leading out to the pool in the fantasy tower/checkin bldg). Here is the link for more information https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/extra-magic-hour-early-admission/ What I typically do is get up early and head to the park that is opening first with the extra magic hour, try to get to the gates about 15-30 minutes before the park opens for the extra magic hour so you can get in line. I will get in that park ride as much as I can before the hour runs out and the general public is allowed through the turnstiles and then get a fast pass when the park actually opens and fast passes become available and just keep going through the park riding rides and checking wait times. When the park gets busy maybe get a mid-morning snack and keep on top of your fast passes so you are constantly getting fast passes throughout the day. Whenever you feel like you want to "hop" over to the other park and check it out just head back to the entrance and walk over to the other park's entrance turnstiles (they are located right across from each other so its easy to go back and forth). That's how I usually choose which park to go to first, just by the extra magic hour. Unlike WDW the gates to the parks are right across a promenade from each other so you don't have to plan out extensive travel time to and from the different parks, just choose which park you want to go to and you're there is about as long as it takes you to walk a city block. Also there are apps that you can download that may tell you a crowd index between Disneyland and California Adventure and that can help you decide which park to venture into, obviously you will want to choose the less crowded park. Also, use the Disneyland app and checkout the wait times for the rides you would like to ride and use that as a guide to which park you head into as well, choose the park with shorter wait times. 5 days is a nice leisurely trip and you should be able to ride almost everything at least once a day if not more if you're in the park all day and staying on top of your fast passes. Hope this helps!

 

[Xenorye]

One note about EMH: Go through the main gates. CMs like to direct hotel guests to the special entrance from the Grand Californian, but it doesn't move as quickly.

 

[theostwalts]

Since you are staying on property you can take advantage of extra magic hour in the mornings and this will help you decide which park to start off in first. This is an extra hour in the morning that the park opens early for hotel guests (you get in with your room key) usually this switches day by day between Disneyland and California Adventure. You can check the disneyland website for the schedule for your days or when you arrive there will be a sign telling you the schedule in the lobby (at Disneyland hotel its located by the automatic doors leading out to the pool in the fantasy tower/checkin bldg). Here is the link for more information https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/extra-magic-hour-early-admission/ What I typically do is get up early and head to the park that is opening first with the extra magic hour, try to get to the gates about 15-30 minutes before the park opens for the extra magic hour so you can get in line. I will get in that park ride as much as I can before the hour runs out and the general public is allowed through the turnstiles and then get a fast pass when the park actually opens and fast passes become available and just keep going through the park riding rides and checking wait times. When the park gets busy maybe get a mid-morning snack and keep on top of your fast passes so you are constantly getting fast passes throughout the day. Whenever you feel like you want to "hop" over to the other park and check it out just head back to the entrance and walk over to the other park's entrance turnstiles (they are located right across from each other so its easy to go back and forth). That's how I usually choose which park to go to first, just by the extra magic hour. Unlike WDW the gates to the parks are right across a promenade from each other so you don't have to plan out extensive travel time to and from the different parks, just choose which park you want to go to and you're there is about as long as it takes you to walk a city block. Also there are apps that you can download that may tell you a crowd index between Disneyland and California Adventure and that can help you decide which park to venture into, obviously you will want to choose the less crowded park. Also, use the Disneyland app and checkout the wait times for the rides you would like to ride and use that as a guide to which park you head into as well, choose the park with shorter wait times. 5 days is a nice leisurely trip and you should be able to ride almost everything at least once a day if not more if you're in the park all day and staying on top of your fast passes. Hope this helps!

Thanks! That helps a lot.

 

[paintingoncelluloid]

Also, a note about getting to Universal: it's actually a pretty easy journey by train, but it will take almost 3 hours each way. (You would take a short ART bus/cab/Uber to the Anaheim train station, where you would catch Amtrak to LA Union Station. From there you would take the LA Metro red line train to the Universal City Station, and then you can walk to the park or catch a little park tram to the gate.) I personally am not sure that Universal is worth the trip, unless you really like simulator rides and/or love Harry Potter and haven't been to Universal Orlando...