Help planning my trip

[Rebekkap]

Hi Folks

I'm doing a week long, solo trip in mid July - I'm from Australia, so it's quite a long way to come, but I love Disney and wanted a break on my own!

I've booked a package that includes a five day park hopper ticket and accomodation at a good neighbour hotel.

So far, this is my plan - I fly in on a Saturday morning and will get the bus from LAX. I can't check into the hotel until mid-afternoon, so thought I would leave my bags, and go check out Downtown Disney (getting sunlight is important for avoiding jetlag, so walking around outside is good).

Sunday, I've booked a one-day tour of Universal Studios.

Then Monday to Friday Disneyland/DCA. I fly back out Friday night, but quite late.

I'm figuring on getting to the parks early, and going back to the hotel around lunchtime to have a swim and chill out for a couple of hours before going back to the parks (except Friday when I will just plough through the day until I have to leave for the airport).

I've booked the Blue Bayou for lunch one day (I've wanted to eat there since I came to Disneyland as a kid) and the Carthay Circle for my last dinner on Thursday. I've also booked a World of Color picnic dinner for Monday.

So there are a few things I'd like to know from all of you who get to visit more often than me!

1. If I don't take a bag, so don't need to go through the security check, how long before park opening would I need to get there to get in right away once it opens?

2. I am thinking of booking a town car to take me back to the airport, to maximise my time on the Friday - does anyone have recommendations?

3. I know about (and will use!) fastpass and single rider lines - but wondering which rides I really need to plan to do first thing in the morning to minimise the wait? Which usually run out of fastpasses?

4. Any other recommendations for planning each day? (I'm a planning kind of person!)

Very grateful for any and all suggestions!

cheers
Rebekka

 

[HydroGuy]

1. If I don't take a bag, so don't need to go through the security check, how long before park opening would I need to get there to get in right away once it opens?

Assuming you mean first thing in the mornings, DL would be 30 minutes and DCA - well, as you likely know it is very busy...if you want to do CarsLand then it appears 45-60 minutes. If not then 15 minutes should be fine.

2. I am thinking of booking a town car to take me back to the airport, to maximise my time on the Friday - does anyone have recommendations?

Ask at your hotel once you get there. They generally have ones they know and trust. And you will usually get a better rate as well.

3. I know about (and will use!) fastpass and single rider lines - but wondering which rides I really need to plan to do first thing in the morning to minimise the wait? Which usually run out of fastpasses?

Typically the slow loaders that are not FP or SR. At DL - anything in Fantasyland. Finding Nemo Subs. Toontown.

At DCA first would be Cars Land rides if you are interested, and then TSMM. Maybe Monsters Inc. Everything else loads fast enough or has FP or SR.

4. Any other recommendations for planning each day? (I'm a planning kind of person!)

Check out secondary entertainment such as Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, the DCA BVS entertainment, Main Street entertainment, etc.

Make a plan to see F! and WOC. Do not miss the Aladdin show.

Maybe sign up for a tour? Best is probably Walk in Walts Footsteps.

If you have a SmartPhone, get an app. There are many. I use Lines from www.touringplans.com.

 

[krispin41]

You will need to walk through security either way...they should just wave you through if you have no bag though.

 

[LittleToni]

Hi If you are going for rope drop in DL first. Go get a Star Tours (ST) Fast Pass (FP) right away. I have my own plan after that lol. Here are the first few things I do when I am there as a solo or with a friend. If I may be so bold

1) DL Rope Drop - Get ST FP.
2) Depending on the line up, Ride ST. Otherwise go ride Space Mountain (SM)
3) Go Single Rider (SR) Matterhorn
4) Still early in the day so walk over to Indiana Jones (IJ) and SR it.
5) Ride Pirates (POTC)
6) Ride Haunted Mansion (HM)
7) (Optional) SR Splash Mountain (Will get wet) or
8) Ride Winnie The Pooh
9) Time for another FP
10) Check line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (BTMRR) ride if short or you can grab an FP for it, or (and what I usually do)...
11) Go get another FP for ST. (You won't regret it )
12) Don't worry about FP return times, as long as you not early, use them anytime the same day.
13) Take a breath, look around, and say holy cow, that LittleToni guy rules! I have ridden most of the big rides and it still only noonish! hehe

The rest is up to you

14) Before going back to hotel for a break, go into DCA and get a Soarin FP or a Tower of Terror (TOT) FP. The parks operate on their own seperate FP systems so even if your DL FP says next time to get a FP is so and so, you can still go get a FP in DCA Worry about Carsland for another morning rope drop for DCA Then go get a FP for Racers, then SR it hehe.

Have fun!!

LT

 

[Rebekkap]

Awesome tips everyone, thank you!