Input on plans

[Disney102015]

I would LOVE any input on our plans since this is our first trip and I know things are a lot different than WDW! A little about our crew: it’s me, DH, 5 year old, 2.5 year old, 10 month old. I know we don’t need as much of a touring plan as we do for WDW and that we have LOTS of time to get everything done but would love any insight on our tentative plan:

DAY 1 (Tuesday)

• Arrive mid afternoon
• Napa Rose dinner reservation
• Settle in for an early night at Grand Californian

DAY 2 (Wednesday)

• Early entry at DL (I know DCA probably makes more sense since we are at Grand Cal but my heart says we need to see the castle park first!)
• We plan to spend most of the morning doing Fantasyland, for about 3ish hours, before heading to Storytellers for 11:15
• Does it make more sense to hop to DCA right at 11 and enter Grand Cal from there? Or walk back to Grand Cal directly from DL?
• After brunch, we’ll do pool time and relax. The hope is to get back to DCA in the early evening to see Cars Land at night and do the rides there, plus maybe Incredicoaster!
• Maybe we’ll grab an early dinner at Craftsman before heading back to the park or do QC at DCA. We have a 3:45 reservation but I can’t decide if we’ll be hungry again by then or not.
• No plans to see evening entertainment on this day. Tonight is one of the Grad Nights.

DAY 3 (Thursday)

• Morning plan is to relax! DH might get a massage, I might do one of the workout classes. Definitely pool time for the kids.
• Plan to head into DCA mid to late afternoon. We have Carthay Circle at 5:10
• Going to try to do Guardians, Webslingers, Little Mermaid, Grizzly River Run, Monsters Inc.
• No plans to see evening entertainment on this day. Tonight is one of the Grad Nights.

DAY 4 (Friday)

• Today we make the switch to Disneyland Hotel so we’ll pack up in the morning and send our luggage on its way
• We have Lamplight Lounge at 10:50 and will hop to DL after that
• Hoping to hit Thunder, Indiana Jones, Nemo, Space, Pirates, Jungle Cruise
• When we are done with the park we’ll see if we can get a walk up spot at Trader Sam’s since I’ve tried everything to get a reservation with no luck!
• No specific dinner or evening entertainment plans. Maybe we’ll pop back into the park for fireworks if the kids are up for it.

DAY 5 (Saturday)

• Another slow morning, I think, since our definite plans are concentrated in the evening
• Our “must do” today is to see Magic Happens! Hoping to also hit Buzz, Tiki Room, Autopia, Haunted Mansion
• We have a Blue Bayou Fantasmic dinner package booked - if the show doesn’t come back we’ll still try to eat here if we can.
• If we haven’t seen fireworks yet we’ll probably try to see them from whatever angle we can get after Fantasmic (if the show even happens)

DAY 6 (Sunday)

• Its our last day!
• This day is wide open for pool time, hitting any rides we have missed, re-riding favorites, etc.
• Lamplight Lounge 5:05
• We have the World of Color dessert party at 8pm

WHEW! Any suggestions or thoughts? Thank you so much!

 

[irlandaise]

WHEW! Any suggestions or thoughts? Thank you so much!

My thought is that this sounds like a very fun trip! You're wisely not setting your sights too high on how much you can accomplish with three little kids in tow.

By all means, do go back to Cars Land at night. Get there a little before sunset and stand at the entrance to Cars Land so you can watch and hear the lighting ceremony along Route 66.

And do keep your Blue Bayou reservation, Fantasmic or no.

 

[DLgal]

So, right off the bat. Napa Rose is a FANTASTIC restaurant. It's a must do, IMO. BUT, will you have all 3 kids with you? This is a LONG meal. 2-3 hours on average. It's paced VERY slowly,.on purpose. It's also very upscale. Noisy kids will be the target of a lot of stink eye. I honestly can't imagine trying to enjoy a meal here and wrangling 3 very young children. I'd rethink this reservation, personally, unless you have childcare set up for the kids. This is a "date night" type restaurant. In my personal opinion, I'd MAYBE bring the 5 year old if they are supremely well behaved. I would not bring a toddler or an infant. That is asking for trouble. If your kids are already used to fine dining establishments and are far more cultured than the majority of kids their ages, ignore me and enjoy your meal! We personally watched a couple walk out mid meal once due to a fussy baby and I felt bad for them, because it was clear they were trying to celebrate something special, but that baby was NOT having it and they had to rush out, leaving uneaten food on their plates. They didn't even wait for it to be packed up. I think they were embarrassed.

The rest of your plans seem good, although I might rethink some of the sit down meals. Disneyland and DCA have REALLY good counter service food. I agree with doing Lamplight Lounge for brunch and then dinner later on in the trip. That is one of very few TS restaurants I actually recommend. It's great. Carthay, not so much. Blue Bayou, definitely NOT for the food, but the Fantasmic package is a good deal for the seating location, so I understand that one.

 

[Federalist45]

• Does it make more sense to hop to DCA right at 11 and enter Grand Cal from there? Or walk back to Grand Cal directly from DL?

-Walking through DCA will be a slightly shorter walk. Timing depends on security entrance gate line. If it were me, I'd arrive a few minutes early to the Storyteller's reservation, meaning I'd be walking through Downtown Disney.

• Maybe we’ll grab an early dinner at Craftsman before heading back to the park or do QC at DCA. We have a 3:45 reservation but I can’t decide if we’ll be hungry again by then or not.

-3:45 seems a bit early after an 11:15 Brunch.

-For Friday, since you are ending Thursday night early, I'd plan to EE for Space, Buzz, and Star Tours. Leave one out if you can't make it to Indy prior to the 8:00 a.m. rope drop. Pop back over to Nemo and take the monorail back toward DL Hotel. Your party is likely too big if you're hoping to eat inside at Trader Sam's.

 

[chezcurrie]

Are you planning on G+ any of those days? I think of G+ like the FastPAss of yesterday at WDW - s 3 ride “Guarantee” to ensure we hit those top priorities. As you would only be paying for it for 3 of you combined with Rider Swap it could be very beneficial and special for your eldest to be able to re-ride. My boys are sad their little brother now can ride everything, LOL.

EDIT: I would keep the Blue Bayou F! Package regardless. The last 3 times I have dined there have been great!

 

[DLgal]

• Does it make more sense to hop to DCA right at 11 and enter Grand Cal from there? Or walk back to Grand Cal directly from DL?

-Walking through DCA will be a slightly shorter walk. Timing depends on security line. If it were me, I'd arrive a few minutes early to the Storyteller's reservation, meaning I'd be walking through Downtown Disney.

• Maybe we’ll grab an early dinner at Craftsman before heading back to the park or do QC at DCA. We have a 3:45 reservation but I can’t decide if we’ll be hungry again by then or not.

-3:45 seem a bit early after an 11:15 Brunch.

The security lines only matter when leaving GCH to enter Downtown Disney or the parks. There is no security when going from DL to the GCH in either direction. Going through DCA is less steps to get to Storytellers.

I agree that 3:45 is too early to eat another meal after brunch.

 

[Disney102015]

By all means, do go back to Cars Land at night. Get there a little before sunset and stand at the entrance to Cars Land so you can watch and hear the lighting ceremony along Route 66.

Thank you, this is a great tip!

So, right off the bat. Napa Rose is a FANTASTIC restaurant. It's a must do, IMO. BUT, will you have all 3 kids with you? This is a LONG meal. 2-3 hours on average

Good to know about it being a long meal, thanks! The kids are accustomed to dining out so we’ll cross our fingers for their usual good behavior but will be ready to make a hasty exit if they cause any disruption.

For Friday, since you are ending Thursday night early, I'd plan to EE for Space, Buzz, and Star Tours. Leave one out if you can't make it to Indy prior to the 8:00 a.m. rope drop. Pop back over to Nemo and take the monorail back toward DL Hotel. Your party is likely too big if you're hoping to eat inside at Trader Sam's.

Ooo awesome tips, thanks. Maybe DH and I will take turns popping into Trader Sam’s for quick drinks so we can experience it.

Are you planning on G+ any of those days? I think of G+ like the FastPAss of yesterday at WDW - s 3 ride “Guarantee” to ensure we hit those top priorities. As you would only be paying for it for 3 of you combined with Rider Swap it could be very beneficial and special for your eldest to be able to re-ride. My boys are sad their little brother now can ride everything, LOL.

Yes! I forgot to mention we got Genie for the length of our tickets. We’ll definitely be using rider swap and DS5 will be a happy beneficiary of those extra rides, haha.

 

[ballarinamom]

Consider taking the monorail from Tomorrowland to DTD for Storytellers. The kids will like it, gives some great views and save you from walking a bunch

 

[DLgal]

Consider taking the monorail from Tomorrowland to DTD for Storytellers. The kids will like it, gives some great views and save you from walking a bunch

Not really. You have to backtrack to get back to GCH. They can ride the monorail while they are staying at Disneyalnd Hotel.

 

[LKing]

• I wouldn't wait until Saturday to watch Magic Happens. Chances are, you will want to watch it again.
• People line up to park hop at 11. It isn't a long line but, if you don't need to hop right at 11, it might be easier to wait 15-20 min.
• Craftsman service is slow. Nice if you are winding down but not if you are trying to grab a bite before heading into the parks. Nachos are huge. We share amongst 3 adults and it is plenty.
• You will get wet on Grizzly River Run. Plan on doing that right before going back to your room. Personally, I don't like wet shoes. I always change into flip flops before riding.