Help me with my game plan

[katyringo]

its gonna be busy when we are there!

We have 3 day park hoppers

The first day we are there CA has the morning magic thing. The whole reason we have chosen Disneyland is for cars land for my son. I read different things. Use the extra hour and get there super early (6am!!) or don't and go to the opposite park.

Since we are really wanting cars land should we use that morning hour the first day and run to cars land and get that FP for Radiator springs?

Honestly it's the whole reason we chose Disneyland. If we get to expiremd cars land anything else we get to expiremce will just be the cherry on top.

 

[audrianna890]

What are your travel dates (sorry if I missed them somewhere else)?

 

[katyringo]

Dec 26-31

But it doesn't matter. I just realized our city pass tickets only come with magic morning to Disneyland park

 

[Angrose]

Dec 26-31

But it doesn't matter. I just realized our city pass tickets only come with magic morning to Disneyland park

You should still be OK. Get there as early as you can for the regular park opening. In fact, if you get MaxPass, once they scan your tickets you could book RSR FPs right away. Then, if the standby wait time is 30min or less, I would do that too. With MaxPass you should be able to ride it at least 2 or 3 times in one day. The rest of Cars Land is awesome too! The meet and greets are fun, don't miss the sha-boom moment when the neon lights come on at dusk, and DJ's dance and drive is really fun as well. You all will love it!

 

[jina]

Those will be crazy busy days. I agree with Angrose's RSR plan re: MP.

When we went over Christmas we found the only way we could handle it was to arrive before rope drop (and if we didn't have early access we'd always rope drop the non early access park) and stay until 10:30 or 11am which is when the crowds started getting really bad. Then we'd shop and grab lunch (perhaps make an 11am or 11:30am ADR for lunch), then head back to the hotel to relax. We'd return to the parks around 4 or 5pm when others are starting to leave. We'd grab a CS dinner somewhere, do a few rides and then perhaps evening parade or show (or not - got to get up early the next day for rope drop!).

I've also learned the hard way to avoid tomorrowland on weekend nights and heard New Orleans square is just as bad every night an hour or two before Fantasmic.

have a great time! It's busy but still magical if you can avoid the super packed times when you literally can't walk more than 1 step every 5 seconds due to being shoulder to shoulder with everyone else.

 

[katyringo]

Those will be crazy busy days. I agree with Angrose's RSR plan re: MP.

When we went over Christmas we found the only way we could handle it was to arrive before rope drop (and if we didn't have early access we'd always rope drop the non early access park) and stay until 10:30 or 11am which is when the crowds started getting really bad. Then we'd shop and grab lunch (perhaps make an 11am or 11:30am ADR for lunch), then head back to the hotel to relax. We'd return to the parks around 4 or 5pm when others are starting to leave. We'd grab a CS dinner somewhere, do a few rides and then perhaps evening parade or show (or not - got to get up early the next day for rope drop!).

I've also learned the hard way to avoid tomorrowland on weekend nights and heard New Orleans square is just as bad every night an hour or two before Fantasmic.

have a great time! It's busy but still magical if you can avoid the super packed times when you literally can't walk more than 1 step every 5 seconds due to being shoulder to shoulder with everyone else.

Thank you. I know it's going to be insane busy. Totally wish we could go a different time of the year but we plan to make he best of it. I deff like this plan. My kids are early risers so we plan to do rope drop and then leave in the afternoon for a nap and swimming and hopefully come back after diner.

 

[audrianna890]

Thank you. I know it's going to be insane busy. Totally wish we could go a different time of the year but we plan to make he best of it. I deff like this plan. My kids are early risers so we plan to do rope drop and then leave in the afternoon for a nap and swimming and hopefully come back after diner.

Great attitude! Don't let the thought of crowds bum you out. Go in with the mindset of enjoying yourself above all else, and you'll be golden!

We always leave the parks for the day around noon - 2, depending on crowds, so that my kids can get solid naps and then a ton of pool time (year round even). So I'm used to just enjoying what we can get done in the morning hours anyway, and save nighttime experiences for special occasions.

 

[katyringo]

Great attitude! Don't let the thought of crowds bum you out. Go in with the mindset of enjoying yourself above all else, and you'll be golden!

We always leave the parks for the day around noon - 2, depending on crowds, so that my kids can get solid naps and then a ton of pool time (year round even). So I'm used to just enjoying what we can get done in the morning hours anyway, and save nighttime experiences for special occasions.

Thank you! We specifically chose to stay at the Howard Johnson hotel because it had the little water park that will be perfect for my 5 year old.

 

[mfleeting]

I don’t think California Adventure has magic morning just extra magic hour which is for Disney hotel guests. If your not staying at a Disney hotel your best plan for CA would be get there for rope drop on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. Disneyland has EMH those days and magic morning so California Adventure will be a less busy at opening. Have someone stop by and get a FP for radiator springs for the group on your way to the ride (if you want to ride twice) then meet up with y’all in the line. Or just go straight to the back ride it and then if y’all want to do it again grab a fast pass as they don’t normally run out way early now.

 

[jina]

I just remembered- we went the weekend before xmas which still had 1 early entry per day but I'm pretty sure between xmas and NYE both parks have early entry every day so there is no non EE park - but the grabbing a FP for RSR as soon as your ticket is scanned is your best bet.

 

[katyringo]

I just remembered- we went the weekend before xmas which still had 1 early entry per day but I'm pretty sure between xmas and NYE both parks have early entry every day so there is no non EE park - but the grabbing a FP for RSR as soon as your ticket is scanned is your best bet.

That's the plan!