I need a plan, I need a plan....I don't have a PLAN!

[IBLarsen]

OK, here's the thing. We are leaving in 2 weeks for our trip. I have never been to DLR. I have learned from the board that having a general itinerary of our days in the parks is a good plan. I agree.....BUT....I, for the life of me cannot figure out a touring plan. Thought I would have this done waaayyy before now, nope. So here I am and now I'm getting overwhelmed with where to start and what to do when. I don't want to be stuck in the parks for 4 days with 2 little ones and stand in line or walk from one side of the park to the next and back again several times a day because I don't have a good "PLAN". So, should I just do a ridemax, will this make my life easier? Does anyone want to chime in on a good suggested plan?

Here's the specs. Me, DH, DD-3 and DS-5. We will be in the parks Oct 1-Oct 4, a Wed, Thurs, Friday and Saturday. No MM, (we purchased the discounted convention/gay day's tix). We will of course have shorter hours on Wed and Thurs.

we will try to ride/do as much as possible. I will pass on ToT and anything of that sort, no upside down roller coasters for me either, although DH may do that. We of course want to do as much of the kid friendly stuff as possible with the little ones. We also want to see Playhouse Disney one day, and the Pixar parade...all the regular parades at least once, fireworks Friday and Sat night. We want to do the Jedi Training thing for my son and Princess Fantasy Faire for my daughter.

HOW do I start a plan? Any suggestions/help would be great!

 

[Sherry E]

OK, here's the thing. We are leaving in 2 weeks for our trip. I have never been to DLR. I have learned from the board that having a general itinerary of our days in the parks is a good plan. I agree.....BUT....I, for the life of me cannot figure out a touring plan. Thought I would have this done waaayyy before now, nope. So here I am and now I'm getting overwhelmed with where to start and what to do when. I don't want to be stuck in the parks for 4 days with 2 little ones and stand in line or walk from one side of the park to the next and back again several times a day because I don't have a good "PLAN". So, should I just do a ridemax, will this make my life easier? Does anyone want to chime in on a good suggested plan?

Here's the specs. Me, DH, DD-3 and DS-5. We will be in the parks Oct 1-Oct 4, a Wed, Thurs, Friday and Saturday. No MM, (we purchased the discounted convention/gay day's tix). We will of course have shorter hours on Wed and Thurs.

we will try to ride/do as much as possible. I will pass on ToT and anything of that sort, no upside down roller coasters for me either, although DH may do that. We of course want to do as much of the kid friendly stuff as possible with the little ones. We also want to see Playhouse Disney one day, and the Pixar parade...all the regular parades at least once, fireworks Friday and Sat night. We want to do the Jedi Training thing for my son and Princess Fantasy Faire for my daughter.

HOW do I start a plan? Any suggestions/help would be great!

I don't have my own plan or dining PS's made yet, so can't help you there, but just wanted to say, maybe we will bump into each other! I know quite a few of us from DISboards who will be there that weekend!

 

[DoomBugger]

Read as much as you can online, ask specific questions, do the best you can without it stressing you out and have a good time!

Sometimes not having a rigind plan can be a plan! If you have a few days and you like to do the heavy itinerary I would suggest once you get familiar to reserve a day for just whatever, just what feels good at the time.

 

[shoppingmom]

I plan like crazy before each trip and then when we get there the plan is gone and we go where our feet take us. Aside from day trips Aquarium or meals at special restaurants there is no plan. You have two small kids, I wouldn't worry about a plan, and just go with the flow and have a wonderful time!

 

[HydroGuy]

As far as itineraries RideMax may be of help - www.ridemax.com.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I plan like crazy before each trip and then when we get there the plan is gone and we go where our feet take us. Aside from day trips Aquarium or meals at special restaurants there is no plan. You have two small kids, I wouldn't worry about a plan, and just go with the flow and have a wonderful time!

This seems to be what happens to us too. When there is something on the "schedule" and we want to do something else, we do. I always think to myself, there will be plenty of time to do that later. Unfortunately we don't always make it back to do it. Aladin and Billy Hill are great examples of this.

 

[trodrigue]

Well, given that you have specific things you want to do, you won't get to them without a plan.

Get out the entertainment schedule.

Set the times and days for each event that you want to do.

Example:

Wed: Park hours: 10-9
Fantasy Fair: 10:30
(get fast passes and take pictures on the way)
Fantasy Land
Priority Seating: Carnation Cafe 12:30

2:00Break & eat outside park
5:00 Parade
6:30 Snacks and Frontierland & Critter country

Thurs: Park Hours
Jedi Training



Fireworks






So, I guess you get the idea. Have an outline, keep it broad, and be flexible, which is a must with that age of kiddos.

Hope you have wonderful trip.
Tracey

 

[avalon451]

You're going to have a great time! Try not to stress about it.

I like the idea of Ridemax. We enjoyed using it. It seems to work pretty well for a basic plan. You can use it like a guideline; it's not always possible to stick exactly to such plans. But, they give you a general idea of what you're going to do that day, and usually it's really pretty stress-free to just look at your Ridemax plan and walk to the next thing on the list. No "whaddaya want to do now?" and peering at the map.

I really love Tracey's idea of picking the shows and stuff that you don't want to miss, and sort of planning your days around them, so you don't miss them. I've been doing that, too. We missed the parade and Billy Hill last time, so I have days that I'm really sort of planning around those shows. Like, we'll definitely stay for the fireworks this day, or we'll do the parade on these two days, etc.

The other thing is, with little ones, I'm sure you are used to rolling with the punches! Things change fast, and sometimes you just have to grin and go with it. I think it was Unofficial Guide that said, don't develop a "production mentality" i.e., 'No, we gotta do 3 more rides before we can go back to the hotel!" They said, if it feels better to sit and have an ice cream cone and people watch for half an hour, instead of doing 2 rides that were on your list, then that's cool; so be it.

There is an image I've retained from our last trip that always comes back to me: we were standing in a rather long line for the Monsters Inc ride. Ahead of us was a family, and the daughter looked to be maybe 8 or 9, and she looked a little sad and tired. I didn't hear what she was saying to her dad, but the dad listened carefully to her, then touched her cheek and smoothed her hair and replied, "We don't have to cram everything in. It's about having a nice time. Whatever makes you happy, honey." There were a few times when I was getting close to that production mentality, so I try to remember that while having a plan is good, knowing that you can be flexible is good, too.

Hope you have a wonderful time! What a fun age for your kids to experience it all!

 

[wvnative]

That was well said Avalon.

I also agree with Tracey. We choose what places we want to eat and any character meals we want a couepl of months out so I can make reservations. A few days before we leave, I print down calendars and we kind of judge what we feel we "must" do and make a loose plan as to when we might be able to do them based on our reservations. Often times, we catch the DL parade on accident. We make a point of watching the Electric light parade though.

With four days I don't think you'll have a hard time getting to see/do the things you want even with two small kids.

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[ballarinamom]

Before our first trip to DL. i really studied the maps to make sure where everything was. I took a notepad and listed all of the rides/ attractions in each land in priority order. I took that notepad with me each day and while waiting in line I checked things off. We just planned one ride in advance. Whjile in line for Peter Pan, we planned Dumbo next. While in line for Dumbo, we noticed we could hit Snow White, Pinochio and Mr Toad really fast Check, check. Then we moved to the tea cups then Alice. etc.... one step at a time. It isn't rocket science. Just remember that some rides are slow loading and some a really fast, Just study the maps and implement the info from this board! like trodrig said, have a prioity outline and then work off of your check list. After day one, review what was/ wasn't done and highlight that for another day so you won't miss it.
You're going to have a great time and your kids are the perfect age to have a magical time!!

 

[Disney Dreams]

- Make a list divided by Land of what you want to see / do. (include shows and attractions)
- Figure out where you need to be first, second, etc... based on show times and closing times.
- Remember, DCA closes before DL and IF you are there on a night with fireworks, Toontown closes before the rest of DL (and does not re-open). Plan accordingly.
- Work off of that as a mini-checklist while in the Park, but remember it is a wish list. If it doesn't happen - don't freak and decide your vacation is ruined. You WILL miss something. That's okay.
- DCA and Disneyland are just across the Esplanade and you can cross to the other very easily, BUT - do not plan on crossing back and forth. Figure out what you want to do in DCA and when you head over there, do it all.
- Have fun and know that it's about having fun, not checking off a list.