First Trip: Which park first?

[carlilekids]

This is our first trip to Disneyland with our kids ages 5 and 7. We will be at the parks Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (October 10th through October 13th). Since it is our first trip, and we want the kids to enjoy everything. We want to soak it all up and not just be running from place to place. We will probably take some afternoon breaks and let the kids swim in the pool and rest at the hotel. This is how we thought we should do it:

Wednesday: Character breakfast, then spend the day at Disneyland (since this is their first experience, we thought that we should go to Disneyland first)

Thursday: Disneyland again with early entry, reservations at BBB for daughter, explore DL some more

Friday: Character breakfast, DCA, Dinner at Carthay Circle for WOC fast pass, catch Pixar Parade and WOC show this day.

Saturday: Plan to go back to whatever the kids want to do at either parks. Also, have lunch at Ariel's Grotto and will watch Fantasmic and Fireworks at night.

So, what do you think? Is this a good plan? With everyone talking about Cars Land, I'm wondering if we should switch up our plans and hit DCA on Wednesday morning? And, then we can move Ariel's Grotto from Saturday to Wednesday. But, my husband thinks that since this is our very first trip to Disneyland, that we should hit DL first and DCA later.

Please let me know your thoughts. And, let me know if there are any "musts" that we need to do or see since it is the first time for our kids.

Thanks!

 

[kevdo]

While some might prefer DCA over DL these days depending on what you're in the mood for or how you view crowds, I do think that for a first visit you should go to DL first (since much of the new DCA functions as a mirror to DL's features including Main St.).

My touring advice is always to arrive early and ride as much as you can first thing when the park opens. Especially with small kids who will want to ride all the Fantasyland rides. As such, I am not a proponent of sit down/character breakfasts. My suggestion would be to have a small breakfast in the room before you go, then go to the park and knock out all those attractions (Peter Pan being your first priority, then Dumbo) in rapid succession while the crowds are super low. Then have a brunch/snack afterwards.

If you feel like you really want to do the character meals then lunch or dinner, when crowds are much higher, to me are a better strategy.

You didn't say where you're staying. If you're at a Disney hotel you might want to alter your parks to align with the Magic Morning.

 

[Mary09]

I too wouldn't 'waste' a morning on a character meal, but I wouldn't do a character meal so my advice is probably not worth much.

I would get park hopper tickets. Why be stuck in DL if it's crowded and you feel like finding a quiet corner of DCA instead? Is that Brother Bear wilderness area still there? That's a nice place to go with small kids if crowds are bad around the major attractions. The two parks are close together, unlike WDW. You will wish you could hop at some point, I think.

I also wouldn't leave World of Color for Fri. night. There's a Halloween party at DL so DCA will probably be a mob scene.

It's also your very first trip to DCA so if Cars Land on Wed. morning appeals to you, go for it!

We're in the same boat-- no Fantasmic except Sat. during our stay. I'll try to plan to see the second show.

We'll be there those days, too. Have fun!

 

[HydroGuy]

I would get into DCA on either Wed or Thurs. And I would spend the other day all day at DL. All day DCA Friday is a good idea. Your easiest day to get an early start at DCA wil be Saturday because that is an EMH day at DL so no EMH at DCA. Wed/Fri will be EMH at DCA which means you will be at somewhat of a disadvantage.

Overall I like your plan and you thinking.

 

[Purplegal]

Can I ask what EMH is?

 

[carlilekids]

Thanks so much for your advice! Here are some more details about our trip:

-We do have 4-day park hopper passes
-We are staying at a Good Neighbor hotel.
-We planned the character breakfasts early in the morning so that we would be done before the parks open. For example, we have reservations on Wednesday for 7:30am breakfast and the park doesn't open until 9. So, we won't be missing out on rides during breakfast. Do we need to be waiting in line for the parks to open?

That is good advice about WOC. Maybe we should plan that earlier in the week.

Thanks again!!!

 

[SuperDisneyDad]

EMH = Extra Magic Hours -- Disney Hotel Guests get in an hour before it opens to the public, on certain days.

MM = Magic Mornings -- some multi-day ticket holders get in an hour before it opens to the public on certain days.

 

[HydroGuy]

Can I ask what EMH is?

EMH = Extra Magic Hours -- Disney Hotel Guests get in an hour before it opens to the public, on certain days.

MM = Magic Mornings -- some multi-day ticket holders get in an hour before it opens to the public on certain days.

Also, see an abbreviations list in my signature line.

 

[kevdo]

-We planned the character breakfasts early in the morning so that we would be done before the parks open. For example, we have reservations on Wednesday for 7:30am breakfast and the park doesn't open until 9. So, we won't be missing out on rides during breakfast. Do we need to be waiting in line for the parks to open?

If this is an in-park location maybe this is okay. But you've got to hope you get in right on time at 7:30 and you may need to rush breakfast and/or seeing some characters to get going. Remember, at rope drop your line for Peter Pan is zero minutes but just a couple minutes later it's 10 mins and a few minutes after that it's 30 or 40 minutes. So, every minute counts.

If this in an in-park location I believe you can get inside the hub area for rope drop (rather than out at the turnstiles). So that isn't too bad.

If you can get the reservation at 7:00 then maybe that would be okay. I'm just thinking that character breakfast is not a good use of your precious time at park open, and that if you feel character meals are something you want to do then lunch or dinner is a better use of your time (though, especially for dinner, might be more expensive).

 

[kevdo]

I also wouldn't leave World of Color for Fri. night. There's a Halloween party at DL so DCA will probably be a mob scene.

Sage advice. If you can do your WOC on Thursday you'll likely have a better experience. (would require park hoppers).

 

[Mary09]

Thanks so much for your advice! Here are some more details about our trip:

-We do have 4-day park hopper passes
-We are staying at a Good Neighbor hotel.
-We planned the character breakfasts early in the morning so that we would be done before the parks open. For example, we have reservations on Wednesday for 7:30am breakfast and the park doesn't open until 9. So, we won't be missing out on rides during breakfast. Do we need to be waiting in line for the parks to open?

That is good advice about WOC. Maybe we should plan that earlier in the week.

Thanks again!!!

With 4 days in the parks and your kids' ages, I don't think you need to rush through or reschedule your breakfast to get in line before 9am. My opinion is it's a vacation, so I try to relax and enjoy things along with making the most of our time. While it's nice to ride 3 Fantasyland rides between 9-10am it's also nice to mosey in and do what you feel like when you feel like. Or more likely, what your kids feel like when they feel like it. I'm thinking that outside of Cars Land, Wed. and Thurs. in the parks should be fairly do-able lines for most things. I hope!

 

[carlilekids]

Thanks for all the great advice. We are getting very excited!