Is anyone willing to help me with a few tips?

[2princes'mom]

Hi!

My husband and I going to be visiting Disneyland for our 5 year anniversary & my birthday June 2-6th (with out the kids). I know I know some people think we are just terrible for leaving them with the grandparents but we are so excited to have a few days just to ourselves, especially since we didn't get a honeymoon.

I was in DL at ages 10, 16, and 20 (but that last visit was 13 years ago) and they were just starting to build Disney's California Adventure and my husband has never been to either . . . soooo we are a little unsure about what to do and when . . . which is shaky ground for me because I am so used to knowing exactly what I'm doing in DW.

So are there any tips you can give me - I feel like I'm a first timer and yet I have just a little bit of knowledge from reading the boards. I'm trying to figure out what FP to get first and so on (which I've read some good info, but am still trying to sort it all out).

We are eating at the Blue Bayou and the Plaza Inn, but would love suggestions of places that are quick and easy (in both parks).

Thanks in advance!!

Oh and how do Magic Mornings work? We are staying across the street at the Fairfield Inn and we get one of them. So how do I know which day to use it on and how do I use it?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Hi!

My husband and I going to be visiting Disneyland for our 5 year anniversary & my birthday June 2-6th (with out the kids). I know I know some people think we are just terrible for leaving them with the grandparents but we are so excited to have a few days just to ourselves, especially since we didn't get a honeymoon.

I was in DL at ages 10, 16, and 20 (but that last visit was 13 years ago) and they were just starting to build Disney's California Adventure and my husband has never been to either . . . soooo we are a little unsure about what to do and when . . . which is shaky ground for me because I am so used to knowing exactly what I'm doing in DW.

So are there any tips you can give me - I feel like I'm a first timer and yet I have just a little bit of knowledge from reading the boards. I'm trying to figure out what FP to get first and so on (which I've read some good info, but am still trying to sort it all out).

We are eating at the Blue Bayou and the Plaza Inn, but would love suggestions of places that are quick and easy (in both parks).

Thanks in advance!!

Oh and how do Magic Mornings work? We are staying across the street at the Fairfield Inn and we get one of them. So how do I know which day to use it on and how do I use it?

Good for you for taking a much needed break.....don't feel bad....my hubby & I did that in March.....it felt really weird because we take the kids yearly, but once we got used to the "freedom" we had.....we had a blast!!!

You are going during what potentially could be extremely busy.......Star Tours is reopening on the 3rd & the grand opening of the Little Mermaid is also on the 3rd.....so be prepared for big crowds!!

There are sticky's at the top of the thread with tips & pointers that were compiled by Hydroguy........read them!!! Lots of knowledge & help will be found just in those.

At Disneyland, Space Mtn & Indiana Jones are the 2 FP rides you'll want to get early (I think even Star Tours may be doing FP.....so you'll definitely need one of those).

At DCA, Soarin is very popular, so get a FP early in the day for that one.

Another hugely popular ride at DCA is Toy Story Midway Mania......no FP for this one.....long lines all day.....so try to hit this one right at opening if you can.

Some of our favorite counter service meals is Hungry Bear Restaurant in DL & Taste Pilot's Grill in DCA. A great place to look at menus (and prices) is at allears.net this will help you plan on restaurants that interest you both.

Magic Mornings are offered on the "T" & "S" days, so Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun. The park opens one hour prior to regular park opening. My guess is the hours you're there will be 8am to Midnight......so MM will be at 7am. Take full advantage of this by getting there prior to opening. This is the only time you can easily ride stuff in Fantasyland, as this "land" stays busy all day long. They also open a few of the rides in Tomorrowland as well.....so might be a great time to check out Star Tours (if that is one they offer).

Enjoy your trip & after getting responses here & reading Hydroguys tips...feel free to ask more questions if needed!!!!

 

[mama2dutchies]

NEVER feel bad

I wish we had done it sooner, we left ours for the first time in feb and they are 7,3 & 2! We're going on our 8th anni!!!!

 

[damaris13]

I second reading HydroGuy's threads. Check out the sticky with his name in it at the top of the forum. They've compiled so many informative threads there, not just his. And his threads typically link additional helpful threads. I've found his advice (in addition to a few others whose names I'm slowly learning and can't remember off the top of my head). He'll probably pop in and give some helpful pointers. We're going for the first time in 10 years just after you in June. Hope y'all have fun and enjoy yourselves.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

Don't let people guilt you into feeling bad about doing something healthy for your marriage. When you have a healthy marriage the whole family benefits, especially your children. We did this last summer and had a wonderful time. We did a magic morning one day and rode Space Mountain 3 times in a row with little/no wait. It was awesome. Then we got FPs for other attractions. I think by 11:30 that morning we had FPs for 4 or 5 different rides. It was so cool.

For lunch one day we did the BBQ in Frontier Land. We didn't have reservations but got there early and were seated with 10 minutes of them opening. It's all you can eat and it's outside. I highly recommend it. Another quick service place we enjoy is the Bengal BBQ.

Have fun, enjoy your time together and be at peace that your kiddos are in good hands with the grandparents.

 

[DLR29]

For more info on MM, check out my super thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

 

[2princes'mom]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

That really helps.

I too see it as healthy for our marriage and I don't feel TOO guilty seeing as how we took them to DW in September.

I did know about the Star Tours (it's the reason we went with that weekend and not the weekend before). DH's boss doesn't let them off in the summer at all so this is big. However, I didn't know about the Little Mermaid opening. What is that?

TSM is a HUGE attraction at DHS and we have RUN to get FPs there before so I figured that would be big at DL too.

So we can show up on any T or S day and have MM . . . after that we just know that our one day is up? Is it somehow in the computer on our tickets?
We stay on sight at DW so this is a little different for me.

 

[DizNee Luver]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

That really helps.

I too see it as healthy for our marriage and I don't feel TOO guilty seeing as how we took them to DW in September.

I did know about the Star Tours (it's the reason we went with that weekend and not the weekend before). DH's boss doesn't let them off in the summer at all so this is big. However, I didn't know about the Little Mermaid opening. What is that?

TSM is a HUGE attraction at DHS and we have RUN to get FPs there before so I figured that would be big at DL too.

So we can show up on any T or S day and have MM . . . after that we just know that our one day is up? Is it somehow in the computer on our tickets?
We stay on sight at DW so this is a little different for me.

The Little Mermaid ride will be like the ones in Fantasyland, or the Winnie the Pooh ride in Critter Country.......the seats you get into are like the ones they use for the Haunted Mansion & you will ride thru the different scenes.

Once you use your MM on your ticket, it will be in the computer to show that it's been used on your ticket.......so just get to do it once.

TSMM will be the mad dash to get on it since grabbing a FP won't be an option here......it's one of the rides we ALL wish they'd add that option to!!

 

[wdwfan22]

yes, it is on your tickets, once you use it once, you can't go into another MM. You can make breakfast priority seating at Minnie & Friends breakfast during MM even if you don't have MM. You go to a special gate, and they let you in. That way you can have your character breakfast without losing valuable morning park time.

TSM is popular at CA also, but does not have nearly the lines that it does at HS. 45 mins seems to be the most common approx. wait at CA.

Little Mermaid is a new ride opening at CA. It will either draw a lot of people away from TSM in the morning, or just increase the crowds We will see!!

 

[Mama Who]

We honeymooned in DL (leaving behind my 6 year old) and have had other adults only trips as well. No guilt!

For counter service we love Taste Pilot's Grill and Boudin in DCA. We like Cafe Orleans in DL and look forward to the new menu at Hungry Bear. Oh- and the boys love the skewers at Bengal BBQ for a protein boost.

For a nicer meal, we love Storyteller's and their buffet and we had a great time at Goofy's Kitchen with the characters.

 

[pattyduke34]

We did the same thing...we left the kids at home and went for our 12th anniversry. We also did the Halloween party and dressed up. It is a whole different expereince with no kids...we did so much more, stayed out later and had not a care in the world....Enjoy your trip....

 

[2princes'mom]

Eeeeekk!! No FP on TSM?? I am so glad to know that. I am so anxious for school to get out so that I can devote some real time to strategizing!! Thanks again for all of the tips guys!

 

[AmericanItGirl]

For a nicer meal, we love Storyteller's and their buffet...

Their regular breakfast menu is also fantastic.