I need a game plan

[PE_TCR]

I have been to WDW MANY MANY times. However I have never been to DL. At the end of March/beginning of April I have a conference in SanDiego. It just happens to be the same time some friends from Australia (we met them on a DCL cruise last year) will be gettign off a cruise and going to DCL. They set up a room for us at GC since they have DVC points and will be there. I am a teacher so I have a limited time with the 2 personal days I get that I am adding on to the end of my conference. I am taking the train up from SanDiego Sat night (April 2) and meeting my wife at GC along with our friends.
So we have all day Sun, All day Monday, and then we leave Tues morning back to Milwaukee. On the plane all day. Is it possible to do it all in 2 days? I know DL is much smaller than WDW. Is it possible at all? How do we do it? If not what are the MUST NOT MISS things. I am guessing WOC is one for sure. What else. Please help.
THANKS!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

No you can't see it all in 2 days. Fireworks, Fantasmic, and WOC are most likely only showing on the weekends. So unless you got there in time to hit the parks on Saturday night, you will have to choose what to see Sunday. Check the stickies at the top of the boards for great tips for WDW vets.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

You can't see everything in two days, but you can see a lot, probably especially if there are no children involved (you didn't mention any). End of March/beginning of April sounds like spring break time to me. Hard to say this far out what the hours for Disneyland will be, but I wouldn't be surprised if the park is open later even on weeknights. This means more crowds too but with planning and the use of fastpass and parkhopping, you can still see and do a ton. Sunday is probably the best bet for seeing nighttime shows since the park usually stays open until at least 11 PM year-round. You can definitely manage to see both Fantasmic and fireworks the same night if that's what you choose. We have often watched the 9 PM Fantasmic and then stayed and watched the fireworks from that location. I read on these boards about someone who managed to see all three nighttime shows, but I think that would take a lot of planning and patience and fast movement, and after spending a whole day touring both parks that might be a difficult way to finish the day.

I haven't been to WDW yet, but everyone here who has always says to make sure to ride Indy, Matterhorn, Space, Pirates, and Screamin', so you should probably put all those on your list. Grizzly is also a great ride, and since you're staying so close that you can just duck in for a quick change of clothes should you get soaked, you should definitely try to take advantage of that.

As far as touring strategies, get up early each morning. Be at the gates before they open. Take advantage of magic morning on the Tuesday since you'll be at the Grand. If you are interested in the Fantasyland rides, start there first one of your mornings, and you'll be able to ride most of them in 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Parkhop! The gates are right across from each other.

Read the stickies on this board to get more extensive tips.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

It sounds like your group will be all adults. It's definitely possible to do 'everything' because you may not want to visit all the attractions. You might want to make a list of the attractions that aren't important to you so you can focus on what you DO want to do.

Also, I recommend spending some time each day simply admiring the details of Disneyland. It's a magical park and IMO, its beauty is just as amazing as the attractions! I've done the tourist rush at other places and I ended up remembering specific things but unfortunately left with a vague impression of the overall place. The whole park is worthy of the attention.

One tip: if you are there on a fireworks night, pick a spot to watch them near It's A Small World. DL's IASW facade is gorgeous; much better than WDW. So IASW will give you a mini light show before the fireworks

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

End of March/beginning of April sounds like spring break time to me. Hard to say this far out what the hours for Disneyland will be, but I wouldn't be surprised if the park is open later even on weeknights. This means more crowds too but with planning and the use of fastpass and parkhopping, you can still see and do a ton.

Easter isn't until April 24 so it won't be peak Spring break time.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Depends on who's having spring break. Many colleges and uni's are having theirs in March because semesters typically end in May. This year, weekday park hours were extended to 11:00 p.m. or midnight between March 14 - April 18 (with Easter being April 4.)

Nothing is set in stone but it's possible the park hours will be extended next year in early April for college spring break stragglers.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Easter isn't until April 24 so it won't be peak Spring break time.

It may not be the peak, but spring break extended hours at Disney typically last 4 or 5 weeks. There are two weeks when Disneyland is open 8 AM - midnight, and then the rest of the time there are extended hours, just not quite as long. We went a couple weeks before Easter one year, and the park was open all week 9 AM - 11 PM. Many schools aren't going to wait until Easter to schedule spring break since it's so late in the school year. My kids' school, for example, is going with the first week of April. Colleges also have spring break at all different times depending on when they start and end their academic years and whether they are quarter or semester systems.
There's no way to know now which weeks Disney is going to guess will be busiest, but I would expect many weeks in April and maybe March too to have extended hours.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

One tip: if you are there on a fireworks night, pick a spot to watch them near It's A Small World. DL's IASW facade is gorgeous; much better than WDW. So IASW will give you a mini light show before the fireworks

I agree