Help planning an upcoming trip

[eargal]

I am feeling like a newbie with all the changes at DLR! I have a bunch of questions. Thank you for any suggestions you have.

Trip Basics-
3 adults and 2 kids ages 8 and 11. Disney regulars
Arrive late Tuesday Sept. 25 and leave mid-day Sunday Sept 30th.
Staying off property
All have annual passes

The general plan is to be at the parks on Wed. Thurs. and Sunday until leaving for the airport. Friday will be a day at the Ronald Reagan Library and a TMZ tour in Hollywood. Sat. will be the VIP experience at Universal Studios.

Thursday my parents are joining us for the express purpose of seeing Car's Land.

Questions about Early Entry options-
1. Am I correct that we have no options since we are not on property this trip and they will have ended the Annual pass pre-register early entry thing before we go?
2. Will everyone on property still have access to both parks for Early Entry on various days?

World of Color-
1. We have never seen this due to the chaos of fitting it in. I would like to do it this trip. It is offered at 8:15 on Wed. and Thurs and twice on Sat and Sun (9 and 10:15) Is it less crowded on Wed/Thurs than weekend nights?
2. Would we be able to get fastpasses for it after returning from the Reagan Library TMZ tour day. We would be back by around 7.
3. Does the hydrant trick that I have read about still work? How many people will that work for?

RSR-
Thursday will start in Cars Land.
1. Does it make sense to get fastpasses for RSR first, do the other Cars Land rides until fastpasses are good and then ride as a group the first time.
2. For repeat trips through RSR should I have any concern with my almost 9 year old daughter going through the single rider line with us? Is there an age limit?

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this!

 

[sonnyjane]

Questions about Early Entry options-
1. Am I correct that we have no options since we are not on property this trip and they will have ended the Annual pass pre-register early entry thing before we go?
2. Will everyone on property still have access to both parks for Early Entry on various days?

Like you, I'm still a bit out-of-the-loop on the new EE options. Hopefully someone more well-versed will stop by!

World of Color-
1. We have never seen this due to the chaos of fitting it in. I would like to do it this trip. It is offered at 8:15 on Wed. and Thurs and twice on Sat and Sun (9 and 10:15) Is it less crowded on Wed/Thurs than weekend nights?
There won't be a difference in crowds for WOC. Each showing only has a certain number of passes available to guests... when they are gone, they are gone, so you won't notice much of a difference. Do it whichever day fits into your schedule best.

2. Would we be able to get fastpasses for it after returning from the Reagan Library TMZ tour day. We would be back by around 7.
I will say no. While it's not like the "olden days" when they were gone by noon, 7 is late for a weekend. Also, that's the first Halloween Party night, so Disneyland will close early, leaving more people to head over to DCA which means WOC will probably be popular that night.

3. Does the hydrant trick that I have read about still work? How many people will that work for?

RSR-
Thursday will start in Cars Land.
1. Does it make sense to get fastpasses for RSR first, do the other Cars Land rides until fastpasses are good and then ride as a group the first time.
2. For repeat trips through RSR should I have any concern with my almost 9 year old daughter going through the single rider line with us? Is there an age limit?
You just have to be older than 7 to ride alone, so she is allowed. Your only concerns should be that it could be several minutes before you would see her again. If there are three of you using the single rider line I'd send one person before her, then her, then one person after. That way she never has to wait at the end of the ride alone for you guys to also get picked to ride.

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this!

Answered the ones I knew!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Regarding your WOC questions: generally speaking, there is less waiting time for the 2nd show. People have reported having an easier time getting good viewing spots at the later show. But I don't know if the later time will work for your kids.
If you want to make sure you'll have FPs for WOC on Friday, you could order picnics onine. That way you'll know for sure that you'll have FPs (usually yellow) and a quick meal waiting for you after your other activities. But note that the fire hydrant is in the blue FP area, so the picnics won't work for that, if that is the spot you're targeting. People have reported that picnic FPs get earlier entry over regular FPs, so that may give you an advantage, as well.

 

[JacksGirlz]

I am feeling like a newbie with all the changes at DLR! I have a bunch of questions. Thank you for any suggestions you have.

Trip Basics-
3 adults and 2 kids ages 8 and 11. Disney regulars
Arrive late Tuesday Sept. 25 and leave mid-day Sunday Sept 30th.
Staying off property
All have annual passes

The general plan is to be at the parks on Wed. Thurs. and Sunday until leaving for the airport. Friday will be a day at the Ronald Reagan Library and a TMZ tour in Hollywood. Sat. will be the VIP experience at Universal Studios.

Thursday my parents are joining us for the express purpose of seeing Car's Land.

Questions about Early Entry options-
1. Am I correct that we have no options since we are not on property this trip and they will have ended the Annual pass pre-register early entry thing before we go?
2. Will everyone on property still have access to both parks for Early Entry on various days?
This is direct from the Disneyland website: "For a limited time, from July 16 through September 29, 2012, both theme parks will be open every day for Extra Magic Hour early admission and Disneyland Resort hotel Guests can select which park to visit. Choose Disney California Adventure Park and have daily access to the brand new Cars Land! (Valid theme park admission and active hotel room key required.)"


World of Color-
1. We have never seen this due to the chaos of fitting it in. I would like to do it this trip. It is offered at 8:15 on Wed. and Thurs and twice on Sat and Sun (9 and 10:15) Is it less crowded on Wed/Thurs than weekend nights?
2. Would we be able to get fastpasses for it after returning from the Reagan Library TMZ tour day. We would be back by around 7.
3. Does the hydrant trick that I have read about still work? How many people will that work for?

RSR-
Thursday will start in Cars Land.
1. Does it make sense to get fastpasses for RSR first, do the other Cars Land rides until fastpasses are good and then ride as a group the first time.
2. For repeat trips through RSR should I have any concern with my almost 9 year old daughter going through the single rider line with us? Is there an age limit?

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this!

I looked this one up on the official website.