Help! Disneyland in 2 days, on a budget...

[pinkberryfox]

Stay at one of these three hotels:

Best Western Park Place Inn Free: breakfast (BF), fridge, micro, wi-fi, $10 parking, Costco discount :/B, P
Park Vue Inn Free BF, free parking, fridge, micro, wi-fi, $2 resort fee, B
Tropicana Inn and Suites Free sm. BF, other BF items available for $, fridge, micro, $9 parking, $10 for wi-fi, B, P

They are not as nice as POR but very easy to walk to the park. They are also not as nice as the value hotels at WDW. However they are very convenient and close.

Use the park hopper each day. Do FP RSR first and later on grab a FP for WOC. Do find Pirates, IASW and Haunted mansion on the map before hitting the parks. Also TSMM.

You can have active FP in both parks. Once everyone has entered the park with a ticket that day a FP runner can run to the other park to get FP there as well... I have not measured it but hopping between parks seems less walking then say AK front gate to the Safari. What I mean by that is starting in the middle of Dineyland and running to the far point of California Adventure. Skip downtown Disney unless you have a non park day.

The single rider lines are great if you portions of your group want to ride INDY for instance.

Sorry some silly questions from a first-timer:
1. How do you "hop" between parks? Is the main entrances the only point of entry for both parks?
2. Did you mean the exact order of : First go grab FP RSR, the grab FP WOC, then go for some rides like TSMM? We are thinking doing exactly that, just not know if that's the order. Thanks!

 

[Niltiac]

Sorry some silly questions from a first-timer:
1. How do you "hop" between parks? Is the main entrances the only point of entry for both parks?
2. Did you mean the exact order of : First go grab FP RSR, the grab FP WOC, then go for some rides like TSMM? We are thinking doing exactly that, just not know if that's the order. Thanks!

1. Yes, use the main entrances. There is a secondary entrance to California Adventure but it's not useful for hopping. Basically, after you go through security you'll be in a large open area with the entrance/exit for Disneyland on one side and California Adventure on the other, so to hop between parks you just walk across this area and show your ticket at the other gate.

2. I would say getting WOC FP is not important first thing in the morning. If you're there for opening you can get the FP for RSR and ride TSMM in either order, as long as you don't care what your return time is for RSR. If you want to ride RSR in the morning then get that FP first. If you run late and you're not there for opening, get your RSR FP first in case they run out.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Sorry some silly questions from a first-timer:
1. How do you "hop" between parks? Is the main entrances the only point of entry for both parks?
2. Did you mean the exact order of : First go grab FP RSR, the grab FP WOC, then go for some rides like TSMM? We are thinking doing exactly that, just not know if that's the order. Thanks!

I'd head straight for TSMM. The line gets long quick.

Then I'd get a FP for RSR. It's a waste of time IMO to wait in that first FP line.

After that I'd get a WOC FP.

 

[pinkberryfox]

I'd head straight for TSMM. The line gets long quick.

Then I'd get a FP for RSR. It's a waste of time IMO to wait in that first FP line.

After that I'd get a WOC FP.

Will we be able to get all that done before 11am (have lunch reservation), assuming we start at rope drop? Or shall I do lunch later?

 

[Niltiac]

Will we be able to get all that done before 11am (have lunch reservation), assuming we start at rope drop? Or shall I do lunch later?

You should have time - the line at TRMM won't be too bad if you're at rope drop, and the FP lines will be very short or non-existent. Look at a map ahead of time so you don't spend a lot of time navigating. The only part that might interfere with your lunch reservation is the return time on the RSR FP. When you go to get it, there will be a sign that says what your return time will be. If it's showing a return time that doesn't work due to lunch, don't pull your FP yet. Hang around and watch the sign until the return time works for you.

 

[pinkberryfox]

You should have time - the line at TRMM won't be too bad if you're at rope drop, and the FP lines will be very short or non-existent. Look at a map ahead of time so you don't spend a lot of time navigating. The only part that might interfere with your lunch reservation is the return time on the RSR FP. When you go to get it, there will be a sign that says what your return time will be. If it's showing a return time that doesn't work due to lunch, don't pull your FP yet. Hang around and watch the sign until the return time works for you.

Thanks!

 

[GenGen22]

I would like to suggest some other options for hotels. After going to WDW before you come to DL you might be tired from all the walking. I usually stay on Harbor Blvd. But down the street in Garden Grove if not Anaheim they are extremely close to one another. I stay here and take a hotel shuttle or ART (a bus line for tourists). Its like 7 minutes away and relaxing for us. I also would not book a package through Costco as it is more expensive that way. Its cheaper to book hotel and tickets separately. As far as getting a meal voucher for a character meal, you said you may get free dining at WDW, I would do your character meals there for free and skip it at DL to save money. I book most of my trips through getawaytoday.com as they have 3rd and 4th night free deals, I know your not staying that long but this is one perk they offer. They also have free parking, shuttle and resort fees at select hotels & free breakfast at select hotels as well. These are some of the things that might save some money. One last tip if you have AAA and book directly thru the hotel site use your AAA discount.

 

[SplashMo]

Sorry some silly questions from a first-timer:
1. How do you "hop" between parks? Is the main entrances the only point of entry for both parks?
2. Did you mean the exact order of : First go grab FP RSR, the grab FP WOC, then go for some rides like TSMM? We are thinking doing exactly that, just not know if that's the order. Thanks!

Thanks to everyone that already responded. You do have some time to get the WOC FP. For sure tackle carsland and TSMM before FP+ . There are many posts about touring plans for California Adventure it would be good to read a few. RSR has FP and a single rider line so lots of options there.


The parks are very close to each other. They share the same ticket windows. You want to hop parks on both days. I would try to see WOC and F!.

 

[lovemyducks81]

Columbus Day actually shouldn't be too much of an issue. Most of the West Coast schools don't have it as a holiday, so even if a few businesses do, stores holding big sales will probably see more of a jump in attendance than Disneyland will.

You should EASILY be able to do everything you want to do in two days. The parks are so close together that hopping back and forth should take less than five minutes, and that's if you're not fast walkers! I'm inclined to agree with those who recommend TSMM, then Radiator Springs, and I wouldn't prioritize WOC Fastpasses much at all. On a Fall weekday, I highly doubt they'll run out! Also, when you're finding a spot for WOC, believe the signs that warn about getting wet! Last summer, we decided to take our chances and head for the front. We were absolutely DRENCHED. In June, that's not the worst thing in the world, and it certainly made for a memorable and hilarious experience, but in the Fall and with little ones, shoot for a spot that's a decent way back from the water!

 

[smartlabelprint]

There

Thanks to everyone that already responded. You do have some time to get the WOC FP. For sure tackle carsland and TSMM before FP+ . There are many posts about touring plans for California Adventure it would be good to read a few. RSR has FP and a single rider line so lots of options there.


The parks are very close to each other. They share the same ticket windows. You want to hop parks on bothdays. I would try to see WOC and F!.

s no fantasmic. Rivers of America is closed /partially drained.