Help! Talk me off the ledge!

[vincev33]

So I am taking DW to DL and Vegas a suprise 40th BD trip. We haev been to WDW more times than we can count both before kids and with kids. This will be our first trip w/o kids in 10 years. We are going 12/5-12/7 to DL and then driving to vegas for the rest of the week. We arrive late morning into LAX and plan on taking the DL express so I believe we will be at the hotel by about 12:30 and hope to be in the parks by 1:00. I originally planned on doing a three day park hopper, but I changed it to a 2 day after travelzoo had that great deal on teh Spa at GCH. I booked her for a surprise spa day on her BD which is also the day we leave for Vegas. So we will only have a day and a half in the parks. Being an avid WDW fan I am trying to plan every minute out and it is impossible to do because of the lack of information on hours, showtimes, etc.... Knowing that we only have a day and a half do any of you have some tips, strategies, etc.... How can we make the most out of this day and a half. What shows can we skip/not skip? We are booked at the DL hotel and with the money I saved from the extra day I bumped us up to a premier view room.
Help with any and all suggestions..... Thank you in advance!

 

[kailuagirl]

Take what I say with a grain of salt, as I've never been that week, but went the week before last year. Sunday should be open until 11 or midnight at DL, and will have F and the fireworks. You must experience the fireworks and stay for the snow afterwards, it's so magical and romantic Last year the fireworks were shown at 8:40 on Sundays and 7:30 on Mondays about this this time. Make sure you check out Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World and Space Mountain as all of those will have the special holiday theme. CAP will open a little later and close alittle earlier. I've read great reviews about Alladin at CAP, but we've never seen it, going to this time, so you might want to check that one out., and CAP has the World of Color show, but that might eat alot of your park time. I'd recommend staying until closing at DL on Sunday. In my experience, the later it gets, the less crowded it gets and you'll be able to get alot done during that time.

As for Monday, there may or may not be the cast parties that night. The dates haven't been released yet. They normally fall on the first M/T in Dec., but last year they were the week after. So that you have to keep checking on. If the CP is then, DL will close early at 6 ..... but CAP will still be open. If there is no CP than I think DL will be open at 9, close at 8 and CPA would open at 10 and close at 8.

You are such a great husband to plan all of this for your wife! You are going to have a wonderful time!!

 

[jdb in AZ]

So I am taking DW to DL and Vegas a suprise 40th BD trip. We haev been to WDW more times than we can count both before kids and with kids. This will be our first trip w/o kids in 10 years. We are going 12/5-12/7 to DL and then driving to vegas for the rest of the week. We arrive late morning into LAX and plan on taking the DL express so I believe we will be at the hotel by about 12:30 and hope to be in the parks by 1:00. I originally planned on doing a three day park hopper, but I changed it to a 2 day after travelzoo had that great deal on teh Spa at GCH. I booked her for a surprise spa day on her BD which is also the day we leave for Vegas. So we will only have a day and a half in the parks. Being an avid WDW fan I am trying to plan every minute out and it is impossible to do because of the lack of information on hours, showtimes, etc.... Knowing that we only have a day and a half do any of you have some tips, strategies, etc.... How can we make the most out of this day and a half. What shows can we skip/not skip? We are booked at the DL hotel and with the money I saved from the extra day I bumped us up to a premier view room.
Help with any and all suggestions..... Thank you in advance!

Bummer that the calendar isn't available this soon, but the schedule will show up. Eventually. I would concentrate on the rides and attractions that you won't find in WDW, especially the Matterhorn, the Aladdin stage production, and World of Color. Fantasmic is also different from WDW, but at this point, who knows if/when any of those will be available on week days in December. At least Pirates of the Caribbean should be back up and running, so eating at the Blue Bayou will be available as well.

In the "sticky" notes on this forum of the DIS, look for Hydro Guy's Disneyland tips for WDW vets. It has a wealth of info.

 

[lcasa]

You don't have to plan down to the minute for DL like you do for WDW. Plus DCA is so close it's easy to hop between the 2 in a few minutes.
So don't stress so much about planning! Enjoy the more relaxed pace of DL but take advantage of Fast Passes just as you would at WDW and get there at rope drop the day you can.

Restaurant reservations/Fantasmic desert etc will still need planning.
And definitely read HydroGuy.

 

[GenGen22]

I've never been during that week in December but my brother in law goes every year at that time and it is not crowded at all and you should be able to see alot/get alot done if you stay the entire day on the day you can and you fast passes and a park hopper and DL and CA are right across the street from each other in other words walking distance as is DTD. I have gone in the summer which is supposed to be a busier time and with fastpasses I have seen pretty much everything I have wanted to see. Sometimes you don't even need a fastpass. Enjoy your trip. It is a really nice thing you are doing for your wife.

 

[vincev33]

Thank you all! I will probably continue to stress over this, but you all made me feel better!

 

[lilpooh108]

Do not stress at all! Early december is not that busy...there is a great thread on the Disneyland boards with tips for WDW vets on how to tour DLR. Just do a search and you will find it.

Don't miss World of Color! It's really fantastic. I think if you only have 1 night, I would do WOC over Fantasmic. I've been watching Fantasmic at DLR since the 90's and I would say that the WDW beats the DLR just due to the size of the stage at WDW and the stadium seating. WOC is a can't miss. To cut down on your stress, I would make a reservation for WOC dinner seating so you get tickets (one less thing to cross off your list, instead of having to get a fastpass).

Here are other things you probably don't want to miss at DL/DCA:

1. Haunted Mansion holiday ~ DLR does the Nightmare before christmas overlay. It's amazing, and you can't catch it at WDW.

2. Indiana Jones ride ~ not at WDW

3. Small World ~ DLR's is so much better

4. Star Tours 3D

5. Ariel (or whatever the big long name is) ~ not at WDW

6. Aladdin ~ wonderful Broadway like theater and production ~ not at WDW

7. POTC ~ the original is awesome

There aren't that many rides at DLR/DCA that have fastpasses anyway so it's not the same as planning for WDW. Have fun, and don't stress!

 

[snesguy]

1. Haunted Mansion holiday ~ DLR does the Nightmare before christmas overlay. It's amazing, and you can't catch it at WDW.
...
There aren't that many rides at DLR/DCA that have fastpasses anyway so it's not the same as planning for WDW. Have fun, and don't stress!

I prefer the original Haunted Mansion myself but I rarely get to see it because most of my recent visits have been HMH times. Don't forget Haunted Mansion Holiday does have FASTPASS (not for regular HM, only HMH).

I agree, PTOC is better at DL.

I haven't been much to WDW but I did go earlier this year. I was a little disappointed at the lack of detail on some of the ride decorations. Off the top of my head, Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, Small World, POTC. I'm sure there were others. The decorations on these rides are more detailed at DL. Many other rides at WDW had great decorations, but at DL I feel there is a higher standard of ride decoration.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We have gone that same week twice before in December--and the crowd levels have been wonderful. We went last year Thanksgiving week and it was a madhouse zoo, so we will never do that again! We are back to that early part of December (goine this year 8-11) and looking so forward to it! You will do fine even without the calendar. Like others said--there is very little planning to do. Just enjoy the slower pace and soak up the Christmas cheer!

The only hiccup in your plan may be the whole LAX-Disneyland Express to hotel thing. That can take longer than you anticipate--so try to be patient. Even the check in to the hotel can take a while.

 

[Kae]

i would like to add do not miss Fantasmic I really enjoy Fantasmic at WDW & had no idea how awesome it is at DL-all I can say is WOW! Also the original Tiki Room & the Indiana Jones ride.

Kae

 

[MenchieMan87]

You're going to be fine. All of my Disneyland visits have been one day (including my first visit - where I didn't leave feeling like I had missed anything.)

The ride recommendations have all been good so far, I'm going to add Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Alice in Wonderland as must sees

(Of course, I'm writing this on the day I leave for my first ever 3-day visit, but thats neither here nor there )

 

[vincev33]

Thank you everyone! I think a little planning will be beneficial. I will have to rethink the night shows since we only have two nights. I was going to skip fantasmic because we have seen it a half dozen times in WDW. Definitely doing WOC (probably dinner pkg), but wanted to do the fireworks the other night.

 

[sambycat]

i get that you may not have the time - but fantasmic at DL is actually GOOD! ha! i'm not a fan of the weirdo DHS/WDW version.

have fun!!!!!

 

[vincev33]

Thanks! Still may have to skip it because I really want to see WOC and fireworks/snow on main street.

 

[keishashadow]

OP just throwing it out there that you can catch a SWA flight @ SNA (quicker drive than LAX) in range of $60 pp & be in LAS an hour later

My DH loves to drive, even has a CDL, and we went back & forth whether to drive to vegas or catch flight, I won. It also gave us more time in Anaheim (we did Vegas 1st for 4 days & then out to Anaheim, same as we'll be doing for upcoming trip this winter). After seeing the traffic from DL to Universal & another day back home out of LAX my DH conceded he'd never want to navigate the freeways in California.

Vegas traffic is a bear on the strip. we did have a car there for overnight trip to Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon. If possible make sure to grab a map & plot your driving to skirt the bulk of the strip gridlock.