Half day strategy advice

[minmate]

Planning on flying into LAX arriving at 9:30 am on a Tuesday or Wednesday in mid-September. Staying offsite at one of the nearby hotels.

Should we check in first or go straight to park? Don't care about paying for parking that day. What time can we reasonably expect to be at DL?

Also, will have two more additional days in parka with a 32" little guy. What should we plan to do that day since it will be mid-day when we get there?

Thanks.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

So day one will be without kids? Is this your first trip? If yes to both of those, I would do things that kids wouldn't like or are not tall enough to ride and whatever I can get a FP for. Which park are you going to? The only ride I would consider not getting a FastPass for coming into the parks that late would be Space Mountain. Late in the day, that one usually has the longest return time.

If your kids are with you, I would steer towards things that usually don't have lines. Like Sleeping Beauty's Castle, Innoventions, Animation Academy, Sorcerer's Workshop. Also, this might be a good chance to catch shows and parades.

 

[kitayama]

With your little one, you will discover that there is more you can do then cannot do... The big name rides (the mountains, Radiator Springs Racer, etc.) have height restrictions, but pretty much everything else doesn't. We get to Disneyland late all the time. We run to Fantasy Land and play while in line to rides, go on the Bugs Land rides, or walk around Radiator Springs. It is fun looking at your kids' faces when they see these areas.
If you want to warm your little one up to the crowds and idea of waiting in line, I suggest seeing the Tiki Room, going on Winnie the Poo (a lot of walking to get here, but that will give him/her a chance to see the crowds and sights to see if this us going to be too much for him/her), going to Fantasy Land and going on the carousel, waiting in line for the Tea Cups, waiting in line for one of the dark rides (probably Pinnoccio, definitely not Peter Pan or Mr. Toads, to see how he/she does in tight quarters,) then trying a line like Dumbo (this line gets long, but not too long). If he/she does well with the lines and crowds, you are free to explore! I am not saying this is the most efficient touring plan, but it will be good to judge your little one's reactions to the crowds and get him/her accustomed to the idea of lines.

 

[Stitch35]

Planning on flying into LAX arriving at 9:30 am on a Tuesday or Wednesday in mid-September. Staying offsite at one of the nearby hotels.

Should we check in first or go straight to park? Don't care about paying for parking that day. What time can we reasonably expect to be at DL?

Also, will have two more additional days in parka with a 32" little guy. What should we plan to do that day since it will be mid-day when we get there?

Thanks.

Hours that day will probably be 10-8. Since you can reasonably expect to arrive at your hotel at 11 and check in (which I would do so you don't get the "leftover" room) plus parking can take up to 30+ minutes to get into the park and again back out. If you are staying on Harbor or a walking distance hotel you will walk into the park by 11:30 at the very latest. I wouldn't consider the day 1/2 over. There should be plenty of FP left for most things. RSR will probably be out, but worth checking. You can single rider this easily. I would ride all the things that have hight restrictions and things that might scare him. Many have single rider if you wish to do that instead of FP on a few.