Help! I'm Not Ready!

[rosiep]

I am an avid planner. I have had my trip for WDW planned for over a year. I have all my ADR's planned, park days arranged, transportation etc...

I have now found myself in the wonderful position of being able to take a spur of the moment trip Disneyland! I will be there next Monday April 14th...I am freaking out! I feel totally unprepared! I have my flight and I have my hotel booked...but every other single thing is an unknown. To make matters worse I have only been to Disneyland once before (WDW is usually my park of choice)...so, if you have any help, advice or suggestions that might help to ease my mind will be greatly appreciated.

I will be in the park April 14th, 15th and 16th. I will have bought park hopper tickets by then. I'm staying at the Anaheim Fairfield Inn on Harbour and guess I'll use either the Disneyland Express or Super Shuttle to get to the hotel.

Come on Diser's! I need some Pixie Dust!

 

[bumbershoot]

Is it just you?

Do you want advice on what to go on, what not to miss, that sort of thing? What are your favorite rides?

What kind of food do you like?

Here's some pixie dust but I'm sure we'd love to help you more specifically as well.

 

[biolabetty]

DL is much easier to do on the spur of the moment. I planned my WDW trip well in advance too, but I go to DL about 20 times a year, and usually with about 1 week advance notice. Sometimes my daughter and I will look at each other in the morning, and just go down there that day. It is very easy to get your dining PS even that day, the exception might be for Blue Bayou or character dining since those are very popular. I called last Thursday and made all of my dining reservations for 2 days from now. They had a lot of times available still for Blue Bayou even at that date. Just relax, DL is easy.

 

[rosiep]

I'm going with my daughter who is 21. She'll be meeting me in the park on Monday. I've made reservations for Steakhouse 55 for that first evening. I'm a little disappointed there will be no fireworks while we're there but...hey..I'll be at Disney!

I imagine it is still the tail end of spring break so I'm concerned that the crowds will be more than I'm used to. (I almost always go in October). Will all the fastpasses be gone by early afternoon?

I see that only IASW is down for refurb...so that's a plus. I was actually going to go a week later when Thunder Mountain RR is closed and it's one of our favorite rides.

Good CS restaurants? I love the bread bowls in New Orleans Square and at the Wharf in DCA....

First time at the Fairfield..hoping it's ok.

Thanks all...
Rosie

 

[DLR29]

I'm going with my daughter who is 21. She'll be meeting me in the park on Monday. I've made reservations for Steakhouse 55 for that first evening. I'm a little disappointed there will be no fireworks while we're there but...hey..I'll be at Disney!

I imagine it is still the tail end of spring break so I'm concerned that the crowds will be more than I'm used to. (I almost always go in October). Will all the fastpasses be gone by early afternoon?

I see that only IASW is down for refurb...so that's a plus. I was actually going to go a week later when Thunder Mountain RR is closed and it's one of our favorite rides.

Good CS restaurants? I love the bread bowls in New Orleans Square and at the Wharf in DCA....

First time at the Fairfield..hoping it's ok.

Thanks all...
Rosie

Not all FPs will be gone by afternoon. The only ones that might would be for Space (maybe Splash depending on weather) and even then they probably won't go until 3PM or later.

To beat the crowds the #1 piece of advice is arrive early! The first couple hours that the park is open is the best time to hit some of the attractions that have long lines (Peter Pan, Matterhorn, Nemo-if you are at the front front front of the gate line and are good at running). It's also a great time to collect FPs. Earlier in the day the time between obtaining one set of FPs and obtaining the second set is much shorter, so you can probably get as many FPs in the first 3 hours than you can the rest of the day.

 

[bumbershoot]

You say you're not ready, but you sound like you are!

You've mentioned my two favorite counter service places, you know about IASW, you have an adult with you not a bitty toddler, you know about FastPass...seems like you're good to go!

Have you read HydroGuy's tips on DLR for people used to WDW? They are a sticky at the top of the page.

 

[disney-inspired]

Don't worry. You'll survive
Just make sure you have all your important items
- tickets
- ID
- money $$
- Park times
- Maps (if you can get them ahead of time. I'd be glad to mail you some, I'm going today in like 6 hours )
- basic itinerary of what you want to see

BUT
just have it in your head that things may not go accordingly and don't (not sure if you do) get stressed out about it.
ENJOY YOUR TIME!

 

[Kirabird]

I'm a little disappointed there will be no fireworks while we're there but...hey..I'll be at Disney!

I'll be there then also, why no fireworks? How sad, our very first trip to DL and my kids' first Disney vacation ever.

 

[rosiep]

I'll be there then also, why no fireworks? How sad, our very first trip to DL and my kids' first Disney vacation ever.

They have them on the weekends..just not weekdays.

 

[Mr. Boogedy]

Dont Stress it.
I know how hectic it can be planning, But usually what happens with me, is we throw the plans out the door and just go with it. I would catch the Major rides early. But if you cant do that, if you dont want to see the Parade, then go during those times. There is about an hour between 7-8 when Indie is either Packed, or the fastest line in the park, so check it periodically. Splash mountian's line usually dies down around 6pm, concidering its been pretty cool weather in Cali it wont be to crazy. If you want to see the Nemo Subs, do that first thing. Its a long line, but it wont get any shorter throughout the day. Pirates is a very fast line, no matter the time of day, usually the same with Haunted Mansion, but it can get pretty backed up at some points. Remember fast passes. Only get them if the line is unbarable. If you have one, hit the smaller rides while your waiting.

California adventure- There isnt nearly as much to see here as there is in Disneyland. Most the rides go by fast. I would start out by getting a fast pass for Sorin over California, then go on other rides, that is the biggest attraction right now. Tower of Terror line isnt that bad, you dont have to wait in the sun or anything like that and if your with someone, it goes by faster. The other lines arent very long, Oh! and make sure you stop and get a bread bowl!


Other than that, Have fun!

 

[rosiep]

Thanks everyone...I'm beginning to feel like I'm ready. It's not that I follow the plans I do make to the letter...planning is really only to help pass the time..but it makes me feel prepared. (an illusion I know )


Is Nemo a Fastpass ride?

 

[bonita_babe232]

No nemo isn't a Fast pass ride.... to bad cause i would never wait in a 1-2 hour line

 

[WAHMto5]

We are doing the exact same thing. I always have just about everything planned for WDW and just the hotel booked for DL this weekend, lol We are not bringing any of the little ones, just me, DH and our oldest so we are going to wing it!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Thanks everyone...I'm beginning to feel like I'm ready. It's not that I follow the plans I do make to the letter...planning is really only to help pass the time..but it makes me feel prepared. (an illusion I know )


Is Nemo a Fastpass ride?

Rosie! Is it really you???

Lovely to see you again.

The trick to Nemo is to get in line before opening, and race-walk to Nemo first thing in the gate (along with everyone else), or try again toward the end of the evening. I've heard people say the line also is shorter during parades/fireworks so that might be an idea for a short trip. But first thing (unless it's an Early Entry day) is the ticket!

As for restaurants, we really like Carnation Cafe for lunch. It's right along Main St., though very popular, so make a PS for it if you're going during a busier time.

And don't forget Blue Bayou since it's just grown-ups! I just love that bayou! A little spendy, so we didn't try it until last October; DH and I LOVED it, but the kids could have cared less.

 

[rosiep]

We are doing the exact same thing. I always have just about everything planned for WDW and just the hotel booked for DL this weekend, lol We are not bringing any of the little ones, just me, DH and our oldest so we are going to wing it!

Where are you staying? I'll be at the Anaheim Fairfiled on harbour. Aren't adult only trips fun?

I'll be wearing my Lime Green Mickey Head...will you?

 

[rosiep]

Rosie! Is it really you???

Lovely to see you again.

The trick to Nemo is to get in line before opening, and race-walk to Nemo first thing in the gate (along with everyone else), or try again toward the end of the evening. I've heard people say the line also is shorter during parades/fireworks so that might be an idea for a short trip. But first thing (unless it's an Early Entry day) is the ticket!

As for restaurants, we really like Carnation Cafe for lunch. It's right along Main St., though very popular, so make a PS for it if you're going during a busier time.

And don't forget Blue Bayou since it's just grown-ups! I just love that bayou! A little spendy, so we didn't try it until last October; DH and I LOVED it, but the kids could have cared less.

HI!!

How sweet you remember me! How are you????
Yup! My daughter Tara now lives in Los Angeles! I've made for trips there so far..but this is our first Disney foray.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

HI!!

How sweet you remember me! How are you????
Yup! My daughter Tara now lives in Los Angeles! I've made for trips there so far..but this is our first Disney foray.

Nice!

Too bad you aren't going to be there in a few weeks; almost all of us from the hyena thread are meeting up there on the 26th! It's gonna be a blast!

It's funny you should post, Lynn (Disneegrl4eva) was just asking if anybody had "seen" you around just a few weeks ago. I am not kidding!

 

[rosiep]

I was originally planning to go on the 28th..which was the last day of your meet. I was hoping people might still be larking about when I got there...but Tara's starting school that week and so I'm heading out earlier so we can have our days together.

Oh..I must find Lynn and say Howdy.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Oh..I must find Lynn and say Howdy.

Please do, she'll be thrilled to hear from you!