Help with DL/CA plan

[Yukonjack]

My family (wife, and daughters 9&12) are going to Disney for two days (park hoppers for both parks). We generally plan on sticking with DL the first day and CA the second day, with a possible return to DL the second day after we hit the main attractions in CA. I could really use some help planning. We want to ride the "big" rides as well as the classics. Our plan, I think, should be to head straight to Fantasy Land first, hit those rides, then get a Space Mountain FP, ride Star Tours, and then try for Adventure land, etc.

If someone could give me some good DL plans (I did search, but didnt really find anything usefull), I would certainly appreciate it.

As for CA, I think we are going to head straight to TSMM, but I am going to grab Tower FP on the way there, then try to hit Screaming, and fit in Soaring somewhere. We would also like to hit the GRR ride at some point, then maybe hit DL later in the evening. I am not sure we are interested in WOC, though that could change.

Also, we do not have an early entry to either park. We are not opposed to going single rider either so that we can make the most out of our trips. Our daughters are pretty independent about that stuff.

Thanks in advance, hoping to make the most out of our two days next week

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Try RideMax: https://ridemax.com/webapp/login.php. I don't always use the plans exactly as printed, but it gives me a good sense of how to organize my day. My daughter and I are planning a trip where we have a goal to go on every single ride. I'll definitely be using RM more for that particular trip. And it's a fun program just to play around with as you wait for your trip!

 

[WonkaKid]

My family (wife, and daughters 9&12) are going to Disney for two days (park hoppers for both parks). We generally plan on sticking with DL the first day and CA the second day, with a possible return to DL the second day after we hit the main attractions in CA. I could really use some help planning. We want to ride the "big" rides as well as the classics. Our plan, I think, should be to head straight to Fantasy Land first, hit those rides, then get a Space Mountain FP, ride Star Tours, and then try for Adventure land, etc.

It sounds like you're off to a good start. Definitely start at/with Fantasyland. Nothing there has a FP. I'm thinking specifically of Peter Pan. Try to make rope drop and ride that absolutely first. The line gets super long in less than two minutes. I'd then do Mr. Toad and then Alice -- this one also gets long lines soon. After that, perhaps Dumbo and then Snow White. When it's early there's virtually no line for the classics including Snow White and Pinocchio. Definitely do them then. I'd then head over and grab a FP for Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear (their FP machines are still disconnected. That it, they don't go against your FP count, so get them as often as you can). Then run over and do Pirates.

After you use your DM/Hyperspace Mountain (and if you're at the park during the holiday season), go to HM and grab a FP for that. Maybe even ride Pirates again, since you're there. Right after HM, grab a FP for Indiana Jones and, if there's still time, one for Big Thunder.

Also, don't forget that Splash Mountain, Indie and Matterhorn all have single-rider lines. These can be handy .

Hope you have a great time! I visit DL about once a week and still love it as much as the first time. If only I could find a wife like that ;-).

 

[DLmama]

We usually start at the park that doesn't have Magic Morning/Extra Magic Hours. That way we're not an hour behind the lines.

We hit rope drop at DL and go straight to Peter Pan, as that gets the longest line and there's no FP. Then Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland, then any of the other Fantasyland rides we want to go on. After Fantasyland, we'll usually head over to TL and either stand-by Space or FP, depending on the line and return time. If we get FP, we'll ride Buzz and Star Tours. Once that's done, we'll head over to Frontierland, Adventureland and New Orleans Square and ride everything on that side of the park.

We tend to prefer not to criss-cross the park as much as possible, so we'll do what we want in and around each land before moving on. Some days that works better than others, but we'll also use the train to travel around the park if it makes sense to do so.

As for DCA, we like to start with Soarin' or TSMM. DS & I don't ride ToT, so DH will usually grab a FP for that and when he rides, I'll take DS to Bugs Land and let him ride everything while I take a break on a bench. We'll do single rider on CA Screamin' because DS won't ride it. One of us will hang out while he rides the Little Mermaid carousel. If we start with Soarin', we'll take the path that goes around by GRR, ride that if it's warm enough, then maybe walk around the Redwood Creek area. Then ride Ariel, and continue onto the Paradise Pier rides. If we start with TSMM, we'll do that in reverse, and by the time we get to Soarin', get FP for it.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[mjf]

Subscribing...

We will be at Disneyland Resort for 3 days just after New Years. I am starting to put together park plans but I agree with "Yukonjack" its hard to find a good source. I wish there was an "easywdw" for Disneyland

 

[Yukonjack]

Thanks everyone, these are great tips and making me calm down a little bit