HELP! DL Trip in one week! Surprise!

[scrappychicks]

We ended up getting a last minute trip to DL the week of the 16th...we have dinner with the Princess reserved on the 16th, and 3 day park hopper passes.

What days are less busy? T, W, TH?

I read the info on Fastpass on the disney site, can anyone get a fast pass? or only those staying in the disney resorts? I was confused (not easy to do). I guess AAA would have been an option, but it is too late to rebook now.

I have ds 14, ds 12, and dd 6, so we are trying to maximize our experience to both parks.

Last trip, the ds 12 was 4, and first day he walked right into a lightpost full force on the way up to Space Mountain. Dh and older ds had lots of fun, I ran the bloody boy all the way back down looking for help. So much for early entry, and he had a concussion and so our 3 days were all pretty short with a grumpy sore 4 year old.

This time, I would like it to be more memorable then the "bloody nose Pooh" story and would like to see more!

The kids don't know about the trip yet, so I am trying to research while they are busy. I heard of a Disney guide book you could purchase, but it won't arrive in time if I order online, and it is over an hour away to the nearest bookstore!

Thank you for all your help!

Jenny

 

[mystic_path]

WOW! Thats so exciting! I would love to just spring a DL trip like that.... Good for you! Your kids will be so excited. Im so sorry to hear about your little boy! That would have been a terrible experience for him. Especially at the happiest place on earth. I hope he has a much better experience this time.

Right now, the crowds will be quite high no matter what day you go because it is peak season. But the best days to go would be a Tuesday, wed and a thursday.

Also any DL ticket holder can get fast passes. Just remember that fast passes can run out... so its best to get fast passes for the more popular rides as Splash Mountain, Space mountain and Flying over California in DA before 1:00 in the afternoon.

 

[iceskatejen]

Anyone with a valid admission ticket can get FPs. To PP, Pirates does not offer FP.

You picked what are probably the 3 least crowded days of the week, but as it's summer, there will still be lots of people in the parks. That Monday (the 17th) will probably have quite a few people there as it is DL's birthday.

 

[stacielee]

Make sure you use your Early Entry option one morning. And read this post http://www.micechat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5720 for TONS of information on using the Fast Passes to your best advantage. Take big water bottles with you so you can refill them; you can ask for a cup of ice water at any restaurant for free (I think). There was something else I was thinking of, but ... I'll post when I remember

 

[stacielee]

There was something else I was thinking of, but ... I'll post when I remember

I remember! Check your local library for the Disney guide books, that's where we usually get ours to take with us.

 

[scrappychicks]

HMMM...Maybe Monday all visitors will get a free annual pass

I can hope can't I?

We were thinking of going in October to avoid heat and crowds, in fact that was our first choice, but dh ended up with his week of vacation the week after the kids vacation. So at the last minute (Friday) we called to refund our tix to go see the grandparents and booked Disney! I am excited, but stressed because I want to make the most of it and enjoy it this time! I have so much to do and so many lists!

 

[scrappychicks]

And does "Park Hopper" mean we can go between both parks during the day and we have 3 days of that?

 

[HydroGuy]

What days are less busy? T, W, TH?

Wed is least busy, and Tue/Thu are about the same. Be aware of the impact of Early Entry on DL - it is Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat.

I read the info on Fastpass on the disney site, can anyone get a fast pass? or only those staying in the disney resorts? I was confused (not easy to do). I guess AAA would have been an option, but it is too late to rebook now.

I have ds 14, ds 12, and dd 6, so we are trying to maximize our experience to both parks.

Stacie's FastPass link is a good one. For info on how to maximize FastPass a lot of people around here like my topic here:

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

All info in the above link is still current.

 

[stacielee]

And does "Park Hopper" mean we can go between both parks during the day and we have 3 days of that?

Yes, you can go back and forth as much as you want for all 3 days.

 

[HydroGuy]

And does "Park Hopper" mean we can go between both parks during the day and we have 3 days of that?

Yes it does.

 

[mystic_path]

Yeah a good point there, bring bottled water, because the bottled water in the park is expensive. A good idea if you are staying in a hotel with a fridge/freezer, is to take bottles of water and stick it in the freezer so its nice and icey and cold to bring with you to the park.

 

[Dukland]

Disneyland opens at 8 AM, and by taking advantage of an Early Entry, you get to go into the park at 7 AM. You and everyone else with Early Entry that day. So, to maximize your Early Entry, try your best to show up at the gates around 6:30 - 6:40. There will be some grumbling from the kiddos, I'm sure, but they are old enough to appreciate it when they pass by the long, 45 minute lines for all the rides they got to do earlier with no waiting earlier in the day.

Listen to HydroGuy. I am planning our DL trip 7/31-8/4 and using HydroGuy's info to plan.

 

[scrappychicks]

HydroGuy you have some GREAT information! I was a little worried when two of you mentioned excel spreadsheets. That is a little overwhelming! Fortunately the boys are good runners, but I am afriad they would lose the entrance media, so I will pack a couple pairs of running shoes for dh. I will have to decide which day to use our EE, and I don't think I will have grumblers. The only mistake we made was booking the wrong hotel, I thought we picked the Embassy Suites SOUTH that is within walking distance, but we actually picked NORTH that is a 6 mile shuttle ride. It will be ok though, I plan to make shuttle reservations with the hotel, or drive our van up the street to Target and take ART

thank you for all your help, I am feeling less overwhelmed!