First trip to Disneyland - last minute trip

[ZJRClutter]

Hi all! We will be going to DL for the first time for my whole family. This is a last minute decision as we were not sure if we would be coming to Cali this year. I coach travel ball and we found out less then a week ago we got a bid to go to Nationals in Huntington Beach the last week of July. Had the same trip last year but picked the San Diego Zoo as we had already booked our daughters first trip to DW that September. This time we decided we were going to have our free day as DL. We arrive on July 26th at 8:30 into LAX. We don't have to meet the team until 9PM so we are going straight to the park.
We are planners and always have DW trips planned out! I know nothing about DL as we live on the other side of the US. Never thought about going to DL since it is so cheap for us to go to fly to DW.

I picked Disneyland Park over California adventure.

Suggestions/Advice?

We will not be staying off property so can't utilize early magic hours. Haven't bougt tickets yet but didn't see many things that had fastpass available (not sure if it is like DW where you can pick FP 60 days out)

I am thinking about doing a Character breakfast on a different day since we will be so close as well. Any suggestions on either Goofy's Kitchen or Disney's PCH Grill?

Is the line for Anna and Elsa the same as it has been at DW with 4-5 hour waits? Do they do FP for them at DL?

At a complete loss as I know nothing about DL.

Any suggestions or help is much appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[SMD]

DLR uses paper FPs, so it's first come, first serve in the parks each day. Return times are enforced, and they can be strict about it, so don't count on a grace period. Character greets don't have FP, so Anna and Elsa have the 4-5 hour waits unless you're one of the first in line. They have added a pre-parade float that goes down the route about 10 minutes before the parade starts.

 

[luulu1999]

We do Goofy's kitchen but at dinner, I have heard wonderful things about the surf's up breakfast!

 

[tiffjoy]

How fun!

My first and best advice to you is to start here, with Hydroguy's Guide to DLR for WDW vets.

We love Surf's Up! It's our favorite character meal in the park, and I actually like it best over the ones we have done at WDW, too. The interaction is really, really great. Our kids end up playing with the characters after they eat for a good long time. It's never been crowded when we go, so the characters are just hanging around. We didn't care for Goofy's when we went a few years back, and we have not returned.

There are not as many FP options at DLR as at WDw, especially now with FP+. But you don't really need it as much as there are more rides in DL than at a single park in WDW, so the crowds spread more. Grab FP for the rides that do have them. The ride that doesnt have FP that really should is Peter Pan, so if you want to do that, you need to wait in line. If you aren't there at RD, it can get long. I like it better than the one at WDW (I think it's darker), but I wouldn't wait 45 min for it if you only have the one day.

If your kids like Frozen (I wouldn't do the wait with only a day to visit), they can see Anna and Elsa in the Pre-Parade that starts 10 min before the afternoon parade.

I would look at the map online and decide what rides you would like to do that are interesting for your family. While it is possible to do it all in a day, it isn't likely or easy, so I would plan to hit your highlights and just soak in the atmosphere. One thing I really like about DLR is I feel the CS options are really great. I don't think you need to try to squeeze in TS. Plaza Inn (for the chicken) and French Market are our favorite CS for dinner, and we like Hungry Bear for lunch.

 

[emacat]

Goofy's is fun! We always do a Breakfast with Minnie and Friends in the park too. And read Hydroguy's tips above. They are a huge help!

 

[ZJRClutter]

Thanks everyone!
I can't wait to read up on Hydro post. I copied and put it into word and it is 40 pages. WOW!

 

[CateinPhoenix]

Any chance you can at least check out CA? Carsland is amazing and not to be missed! Park hopping is super easy at DLR!

 

[Fantaluminishes]

If you can splurge for a park hopper you should. Like others have said, Carsland is really cool, and something you haven't seen before. The two parks are so close, you can enjoy all of the attractions WDW doesn't have in both parks in a single day.

In general, older rides that are at both DLR and WDW, tend to be better at Disneyland. This includes:
Pirates
Space Mtn.
Haunted Mansion
Small World
Peter Pan

Newer rides at DCA are exactly the same, or slightly better at WDW:
Tower of Terror
It's tough to be a big
Toy Story Midway Mania
Little Mermaid
Muppet Vision

And then there are the DLR exclusives:
Indiana Jones
Matterhorn
Several Fantasyland Rides
Grizzly River Run
California Screamin'
Monster's Inc ride

Sounds like you won't be there for World Of Color, Fantasmic or the fireworks.

This is just a preview of what's at Disneyland. Enjoy your research.

 

[Robundrh2o]

Thanks for starting this thread. I am a self proclaimed expert in WDW, but have no clue about DL (Haven't been since 1979). We will be there in a couple of days and some of the questions are the same ones I had. So I take it they use the old FP paper system (no biggie, i actually like that one better than MBs). We are staying at the Comfort Inn across the street, do they get EMH's as they are a 'Partner Hotel'.
TYIA.

 

[tiffjoy]

Thanks for starting this thread. I am a self proclaimed expert in WDW, but have no clue about DL (Haven't been since 1979). We will be there in a couple of days and some of the questions are the same ones I had. So I take it they use the old FP paper system (no biggie, i actually like that one better than MBs). We are staying at the Comfort Inn across the street, do they get EMH's as they are a 'Partner Hotel'. TYIA.

Good Neighbor Hotels do not get EMH. Only the actual Disney properties do. A 3 day or more pass gets you one Magic Morning though.

 

[ZJRClutter]

As far as doing other things in Cali -
I really have no idea what we will have time to do. We arrive on Saturday at 8:30AM. We are going straight to the park. It will be my husband, our 4 year old daughter, and I. We have to meet the team at 9PM at the hotel. Starting then, I have no idea what time games will be, so nothing can really be planned.
Last year we made it to the beach twice and picked to go to the San Diego Zoo our 1 totally free day while the team went to Hollywood. Last year our daughters first trip to WDW was in September and we were in Cali end of July. We didn't want her to think everything we had been planning and talking about was the one day at DL, so that is why we picked the zoo. So this year, we decided we can take her to DL since she has been to WDW and can't imagine being in Cali for a 2nd or 3rd time, within 5 miles of DL and not going.

As far as splurging on a park hopper:
I have read that the parks are right across the street and it is so much easier to park hop at DL then at WDW, but I'm not sure we will be able to do it. I would hate to pay the extra money and then our daughter not be able to make all the walking. We rent a stroller when we go to WDW. At 4 she never uses a stroller but she did the whole time at WDW. Plus I think I would rather enjoy the one park we pick all day. Plus we are returning to WDW again this September for our daughter's 5th birthday.

We do plan on driving up the coast this year and trying to make it to different beaches. I would love to drive to San Francisco but don't think we will make it due to distance.
Anyone been to Beachy Creams (I think is what it is called) Ice Cream place in Santa Monica. I saw it on the Food Network show Unique Sweets. It is Organic ice cream sandwiches.