If you had only ONE day....

[laura428]

... with my DS7 and DD5, how would you spend your day at DL? We've been to WDW three times but had the entire week to work with.

Oh, one more thing: this would be completely impromptu. We're in Carlsbad for our Spring Break week and hadn't planned on visiting Anaheim, but may just pop up there tomorrow. Feeling the need for a little Disney magic.

 

[Butterfly123]

One day is better than no days, for sure! I would get there as early as possible, and would focus mainly on rides, not shows. If it were me, I would spend most of my time in Disneyland, with just a quick jaunt over to California. If I only had a day, I would skip Fantasmic and WOC, but I would try to see the fireworks. I wouldn't go early enough to stake out a stellar spot, but I would at least stand somewhere on main street to get some viewing. Mostly, if my kids were the age of yours, I would try to the things that were important to them, and not worry about trying to get "everything" done in a day. I'm sure your visit will be awesome.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I say do it ~ but go with a plan. Tomorrow will be a MM day which you won't have access to unless you stay on site.... I'd buy your 1 day hoppers online *www.disneyland.com* so you can go straight to the turnstyles. *Here's* how we spent 1 day mid July 2009 *a Wed so no MM*

 

[ArchOwl]

I would do it!

Maybe give us a list of things your children would enjoy? Roller coasters or no? Hopping parks or staying in one park? Shows or no shows?

 

[laura428]

Thanks for your help!

DS7 loves pretty much anything, and DD5 loves rollercoasters as long as she's tall enough (just over 40"). But nothing too scary. Favorite rides at WDW were Splash Mtn, Pirates of the Caribbean, Soarin and TSM.

I know there's a good chance of rain tomorrow (which we dealt with at WDW) and is not a huge deal, though. Bigger deal is needing to run all day, which we're trying to avoid. We're working on very limited time, so key strategy will be hitting a good selection of great rides, and not worrying about hitting all of them.

Any advice is great - thanks so much!

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks for your help!

DS7 loves pretty much anything, and DD5 loves rollercoasters as long as she's tall enough (just over 40"). But nothing too scary. Favorite rides at WDW were Splash Mtn, Pirates of the Caribbean, Soarin and TSM.

I know there's a good chance of rain tomorrow (which we dealt with at WDW) and is not a huge deal, though. Bigger deal is needing to run all day, which we're trying to avoid. We're working on very limited time, so key strategy will be hitting a good selection of great rides, and not worrying about hitting all of them.

Any advice is great - thanks so much!

The most important advice is to get to DLR EARLY. Like Park your car at least an hour before rope drop.

Be at the rope prior to rope drop, know how to work FP at DLR & have a plan for the first 2-3 hours.

A similar question was posed a couple of days ago & here's some good basic info:

HydroGuy's DLR for the WDW veteran tip thread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699


Also, lots of good info for the WDW vet in Mary Jo's tip thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084



& KNOW THESE FP THREADS:

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

"FastPass for Dummies and Smarties - A Photographic Explanation" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186052

"Which Fast Pass First?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107718 (see my post #4 in that thread)

"Strategies For Using DL and DCA Opening Time Differences to Collect More Fastpasses"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1553197


"Why I Park Hop" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961


& read the rest of HG's tip threads as well.


Also, the first page of my trip report might be helpful. (linked in my signature below). Probably best to have a DLR map handy when reading all tip threads. After reading many of these tip threads you'll get an idea how easy it is to Park Hop between the parks and also to slip into DTD or the GCH for a little break.....& you never have to get on a stinkin' bus!!

& remember....the castle is tiny....don't make the newby mistake of looking at it from the entrance. Castles aren't supposed to be admired from Main Street in small town Missouri. Best to enjoy it from the HUB.

Have they done Jedi Training at WDW?

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's park.

 

[ArchOwl]

I would check out the links above for sure! Would gather FPs for Space, Big Thunder, and Roger Rabbit in the am while interspersing Fantasyland rides such as Peter Pan, Snow White, Mr. Toad, Alice, and Matterhorn. Ride Finding Nemo during a show and hit up Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Jungle Cruise in the evening in between using your FPs that you gathered early in the day.

You could park hop in the afternoon over to DCA, but it sounds like you want to cut back on the running around as much as possible. Have fun!