Itinerary Help - First Timers!

[texasgingerbread]

**My dates have changed and I've tweaked the below schedule so I'll update it when I have it all done. Thanks to all for your input, etc.**

Hello all you fabulous DISers. Thank you so much for answering all my questions and helping me get this trip put together. We've been to WDW but this will be our first trip to DL. We love Star Wars and were at WDW this past May for "May the 4th Be With You". It was super fun being in HS on that day with two special Star Wars character meals so we are SUPER excited for Season of the Force! Yay!!

Our trip will be our immediate family only...hubby, me, and our boy twins ages 7. They love Stitch, Pluto, Sorcerer Mickey, Sully, Mushu, and all things Star Wars. We are traveling February 29-March 9 in hopes of hitting the parks before too many Spring Breakers arrive. We are super sad to be missing Aladdin and Fantasmic! but it is what it is. Still lots of things to look forward to...like meeting Oswald, Olaf, riding Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (not at WDW anymore), outdoor IASM, WOC, and Hyperspace Mountain (what my boys are most excited for)!

We're doing a 5 day park hopper and then hopefully having some downtime in Southern CA. Looking forward to your fabulous weather! I thought about adding in Legoland and San Diego Zoo but then decided it best for a separate trip. I'm still on the fence. Also looking at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach for downtime. Again, I have a reservation but on the fence.

We'll be staying at the new Homewood Suites and will be using the Toy Story shuttle except on the one MM when we'll Uber. If the shuttle is taking too much time for our afternoon break we will also Uber for our breaks or take a taxi from the Grand.

It's hard to finalize our plans not knowing the park hours and firework schedule. We are hoping for fireworks every night. Send magic dust our way please!


Please pick apart my schedule...you will not hurt my feelings and all suggestions are welcome! This is me putting together a schedule from reading all the fabulous pointers (thank you!!!). I have some questions at the end, some things I'm not sure where to fit in, etc. so input on that is welcome as well! I'm trying to take a break on my DC day but not sure how...

I'm assuming right now the parks are open 10-8 during the week of February 29, Saturday from 8-midnight, and Monday from 9-9. If fireworks are during the week then I'll skip Saturday as my 5th day and go Monday instead. Do you think that's a good plan? Monday less crowds than a Saturday even though getting into more spring breakers?

I'm sure some of this is overly ambitious so just slap me back into reality.

We fly into SNA on Monday, February 29 arriving at 1:30 and will cab to the hotel (we will have boosters as we are renting a car after DL to see LA). We will depart on Wednesday, March 9 in the afternoon out of LAX (boo!) but I wanted to have some "Disney" before we left so I'm thinking of doing PCH Grill for breakfast on this day. So as of right now I have the HS booked the entire time, as well as a backup of Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Sun-Wed. I don't know what to do obviously. I'm open to any suggestions! It would be so helpful to know if fireworks were every night so I didn't have to avoid Saturday. Okay...enough...here we go.


What I’m wanting to do at night at least once…:

- WOC (will do package)

- PTN&FW from IASWM

- PTN&FW from Main Street (will do package)


Tuesday, March 1: Disneyland MM @ 9 – arrive at gate at 8:15

- Go straight to Peter Pan. If insane, skip it and start with Matterhorn, Alice, Dumbo, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Pinocchio, Snow White, Casey Jr.

- Send Dad to get Indy FP.

- Boys head to Toontown to meet Mickey! (How long is this going to take?)

- Go to Adventureland and ride Indy, Haunted Mansion, Pirates

- Grab FP for BTMRR as time appropriate

LUNCH BREAK@ Rancho del Z (Tostada Salad) - send Dad to DCA to grab RSR FP if no fireworks.

- Ride BTMRR

- Musical Chairs with Alice & Mad Hatter @ 1:00pm (check schedule)

HOTEL BREAK

- Get FP for ? in DL or DCA

If fireworks: 5:00 Dinner at Blue Bayou (ask for table by water), ride Astro Orbiter when dark, watch PTN & Fireworks from Main Street with Package

If no fireworks: Use RSR FP, see lights lite up in Carsland approximately 5:30pm???, dinner at Wine Country 5:45, line up for WOC Package at 7:15 (assuming WOC 8:15).


Wednesday, March 2: Disneyland: Get to gate by 8:55 – breakfast at Minnie’s at 9:10 (if offered).

BREAKFAST AT PLAZA INN – Minnie’s Character Breakfast (if offered before gate)

- Go straight to Hyperspace Mountain and ride it standby

- Divide and conquer. Mom takes boys to sign up for Jedi Training Academy *12:40? (check schedule)*, Dad gets FP for Star Tours and Buzz

- Ride Autopia if time

- Ride Star Tours with FP and Buzz with FP

- Get a FP for Hydrospace Mountain and Buzz

- Ride Finding Nemo

LUNCH BREAK –Redd Rocket’s Pizza Port (Asian Chicken Salad)

- Ride Buzz with FP.

- Jedi Training Academy 12:40?

HOTEL BREAK

- Get FP for Star Tours

- Ride Hyperspace Mountain with FP depending on FP return time.

- 4:00 Soundsational Parade (where do I watch this and how early for curb?)

- See Star Wars Launch Bay

- 5:30/6:00 Disney Visa Star Wars Meet & Greet – Chewbacca/Darth Vader

- Ride Star Tours with FP, get next FP for ?

- Ride IASW, grab seats for PTN & Fireworks

- Boys ride Astro Orbitor once dark and use FP for ? while Mom is saving seats, grab food Jolly Holliday

- Watch PTN & Fireworks from IASW (provided they exist…if not just PTN)

Thursday, March 3: DCA - get to gate by 9:15

- Ride TSMM as many times as possible!

- Dad pick up RSR FP while we grab churros/breakfast cones at Cozy Cones

- Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

- Ride RSR with FP

- Grab Soarin FP

- Goofy’s Sky School

- Silly Symphony Swings

- Mickey’s Fun Wheel

- Soarin with FP

- Grab RSR FP for nighttime (check app or Otto for return times)

LUNCH BREAK – Pacific Wharf Café (bread bowl)

- Little Mermaid

- Grab TOT FP

- It’s Tough to Be A Bug

- Animation Academy – Meet Olaf

- Turtle Talk with Crush

- Monsters Inc – meet Sully

- Tower of Terror with FP

IS THERE A WAY TO TAKE A HOTEL BREAK ON THIS DAY??????

If fireworks on Tuesday: Use RSR FP, see lights lite up in Carsland approximately 5:30pm???, dinner at Wine Country 5:45, line up for WOC Package at 7:15 (assuming WOC 8:15).

If no fireworks during week: Will have already seen WOC: Get FP for favorite, Dinner at Flo’s – watch lights come on around 5:30?, Ride RSR at night using FP from earlier, what else is a must do at night?

Friday, March 4: DL Morning/DCA Afternoon – get to gates by 9:15

If fireworks weekend only Fireworks on Main Street and do PTN Package with Blue Bayou (Tuesday plan)

- Ride Space Mountain

- Ride Star Tours

- Ride Buzz

- Get Indy Fast Pass

- Ride Haunted Mansion

- Ride Pirates

- Ride Indy

- Get FP for Splash Mountain

- Beignets for snack (Mint Julep Bar – send runner to get RSR and WOC FP)

- Ride Winnie the Pooh

- Ride Splash Mountain

- 12:15 Mickey and the Magical Map

LUNCH BREAK – Earl of Sandwich (Downtown Disney)

HOTEL BREAK

JUMP TO DCA

- Get FP for favorite to re-ride

- 5:15pm? Pixar Play Parade

- Ride RSR with FP

- 6:30 Lineup for WOC if want to rewatch (dinner – Boys grab Corndog Castle and eat in line while waiting Mom TBD)


Saturday, March 5: Morning CA/Afternoon DL – arrive gate at 7:15

OR

Monday, March 7: Morning CA/Afternoon DL – arrive gate at 8:15 assuming 9 opening

(If fireworks weekend only – go on Saturday and see Fireworks & PTN from IASW. If fireworks happened during week skip Saturday all together and go on Monday instead)

- Screamer of the Day – Monsters Inc. (meet Sully if possible)

- TSMM as many times as possible!

- Reride favorites!

- Disney Visa Meet and Greet Hollywood Land (10-1)

- Meet Oswald (10-5 on Buena Vista Street)

- Check times for Operation Playtime with Green Army Man (11:05,12:00,1:05,1:50,3:05,4:25?)

- Check times for Red Car Trolley News Boys (10:30,11:35,12:45,2:20,3:30,4:30?)

JUMP TO DL

- If loved Mickey and the Magical Map – see again check times (12:15, 1:20, 2:30,4:35, 5:45?)

- Reride favorites

- If Saturday, fireworks plan from Wednesday

- If Monday, what are good things to do during the parade? And where do I need to go to not get trapped?

Where to Fit These In Without Screwing Up Schedule:

- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin

- Storybrook Canal Boats

- Mad Tea Party

- Tiki Room

- Storytelling at the Royal Theater

- Character Meet & Greets: Peter Pan, Aladdin & Jasmine, Bert & Mary Poppins, Pinocchio, Tinkerbell

- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

- SuperHeroes HQ: Meet Thor and SpiderMan


Snacks if in Area:

Disneyland

- Tigger Tails from Pooh's Corner and the Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel from Coke Corner

- Main Street Cart - cream cheese filled pretzel and can ask for jalapeno one too

- Pooh Corner Bakery – Peanut Butter Chocolate Sandwich

- Café Orleans - beignets, monte cristos, mint julep (half and half add water), pomme frittes

CA

- Cozy Cones Pretzel Bites, Churros, Pomegrante Limeade, Breakfast Cones

DTD

- Ralph Brennan’s To Go – po boy sandwiches


Questions

- Should I buy the paintbrush and lighted hats for PTN? Still enough people using them? Worth the money?

- We’ll be eating at PCH Grill on a non-Disney day for the Character Breakfast! Must see Stitch…is this the only place to see him or is he ever in the park – conflicting reports.

- Use gate 14 or 19 obscured by trees at rope drop at DL?

- If no PP – check during parade…is this a good plan?

- Do I have time for Wilderness Explorer if so where?

- What did I leave out? We LOVE shows. We LOVE characters.

THANKS in advance for any and all input!! I cannot wait to do the happy dance and come "home".

 

[figment_jii]

Boys head to Toontown to meet Mickey! (How long is this going to take?)

Remember that Mickey also meets in Town Square and on BVS in different outfits. Town Square should still be the 60th Anniversary outfit and BVS is in his 20's outfit. The Disneyland App will often list times when they'll be out.

send Dad to DCA to grab RSR FP if no fireworks.

Depending on timing, I would consider having him go get the RSR FP at the same time he's getting the Indy FP. Once a ticket has been used to enter a park, you can get FPs in either park.

Get a FP for Hydrospace Mountain and Buzz

There is a good chance that the Buzz FP will only be 45 minutes or so into the future. So you might not have time to ride Nemo and eat lunch before the time window opens and closes.

Dad pick up RSR FP while we grab churros/breakfast cones at Cozy Cones

I truthfully think this is going to be one of the harder things to accomplish unless you have your husband get the RSR FP right at opening (so be there pre-opening). RSR FP times do still move pretty quickly, so it's very possible that your return time will be more than two hours later. In that case, you'd have to wait two hours to get the Soarin' FP and then have to wait for that one to start before getting the second RSR FPs. By this time, it's highly possible that RSR will be out of FPs. I would prioritize whether you want a day or night ride and concentrate on getting that FP, and then see about the other one on a "if possible" basis.

Café Orleans - beignets, monte cristos, mint julep (half and half add water), pomme frittes

Cafe Orleans is a table service location, so it's not always possible to get a walk-up...even during the less busy times of the year. You can get the beignets and mint julep from the Mint Julep Bar adjacent to the French Market.

Should I buy the paintbrush and lighted hats for PTN? Still enough people using them? Worth the money?

There are people that use them, but it isn't usually a huge number. I've seen more of them during PtN than during fireworks (I think a fair number of people turn off the lights during the fireworks as a courtesy to the guests around them). They're fun and if you're going to buy one, I would buy both so that you can play with them yourself afterwards.

We’ll be eating at PCH Grill on a non-Disney day for the Character Breakfast! Must see Stitch…is this the only place to see him or is he ever in the park – conflicting reports.

I've read that he's one of the rotating characters at the Visa M&G in DCA, but other than that, he is not a regular character in the parks. So PCH Grill for breakfast is your best bet.

 

[texasgingerbread]

Thanks so much figment. I appreciate your guidance. I think I'm going to make a Cafe Orleans reservation to be on the safe side.

Remember that Mickey also meets in Town Square and on BVS in different outfits. Town Square should still be the 60th Anniversary outfit and BVS is in his 20's outfit. The Disneyland App will often list times when they'll be out.

How fun! Love the different outfits!! About how long do I need to put into the schedule for a meet and greet...30 minutes except Toontown or are the other just as popular?

so it's very possible that your return time will be more than two hours later. In that case, you'd have to wait two hours to get the Soarin' FP and then have to wait for that one to start before getting the second RSR FPs. By this time, it's highly possible that RSR will be out of FPs. I would prioritize whether you want a day or night ride and concentrate on getting that FP, and then see about the other one on a "if possible" basis.

Do I "need" a Soarin FP? Maybe we could do that on Saturday after riding TSMM...

 

[figment_jii]

MiceChat just posted a new entry that seems to indicate Soarin' Around the World is likely to be in place by early-February. If that is case, I do think it'll be popular, so you may need to get a FP if that happens.

Truthfully, I don't really know how long to block out for the characters. They don't do super long sets when they're out in the parks (e.g., Mickey in Town Square is showing multiple times today, but each set is only about 30 minutes long). So my guess is that you won't wait for more than 30 minutes because they do cut the line off so that the character can take their break. I didn't really time the lines when I went, but I know that it can be tough to catch more than one character during each set (because the lines do tend to build up). Things might be a little better during the "non-peak season", but I'd probably figure about 30 minutes per character.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

It looks like you've really done your research and have a great plan in place!

I do have one suggestion, and it may be the hardest to implement...
Be flexible! Go with the flow! Don't stick so rigidly to the schedule that you miss out on magical opportunities. You will find that the vibe at DLR compared to WDW is more relaxed and casual. By all means, make a plan (I always do, can't help it, it's in my nature), but don't be afraid to deviate from it. I am often able to fit in more rides and fun when I take advantage of opportunities around me (such as a ride that was closed suddenly opening up with no line) or stop to smell the roses.

I hope you really enjoy your trip!

 

[texasgingerbread]

Just realized Autopia will be closed for refurb. Need to take that off the list!

 

[texasgingerbread]

It looks like you've really done your research and have a great plan in place!

I do have one suggestion, and it may be the hardest to implement...
Be flexible! Go with the flow! Don't stick so rigidly to the schedule that you miss out on magical opportunities. You will find that the vibe at DLR compared to WDW is more relaxed and casual. By all means, make a plan (I always do, can't help it, it's in my nature), but don't be afraid to deviate from it. I am often able to fit in more rides and fun when I take advantage of opportunities around me (such as a ride that was closed suddenly opening up with no line) or stop to smell the roses.

I hope you really enjoy your trip!

yes I always start with a touring plan and then it goes to crap because I'll see short wait times, etc on a different ride or the boys will want to re-ride Star Tours six times in a row. lol

This is a plan to "cover" all my bases and to know what I need to get back to if we don't make it. If I have it all in my head and planned out then if we deviate I still won't miss something later because I know what we have missed. I know that prob doesn't make sense but in my head it does. One time we tried to follow a touring plan at WDW (not mine but one of the major TP sites) and it was a joke! They must have been jogging thru that park with NO waits. There was no way that TP was possible. Especially with two little boys in tow. We quickly threw that out the window and knew it wouldn't work for us.

 

[texasgingerbread]

Looking at February hours I think fireworks might be nightly! So glad I changed my flights. Fingers crossed! Revamping my schedule now with all your suggestions. Thanks all.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'm not sure I have any specific advice, really. Looks like you have everything listed out already. You are going enough days that I think you'll have no problem doing everything you want.

Just some general tips:

Looks like you have the right thinking with fireworks, try to go as early as you can in the trip. They do get cancelled so saving them for the last day would be bad.

I'd ask everyone in your family what their 3 top must dos are, then make sure to get those done early on.

A previous poster already said, but I have to second that you shouldn't try to stick to the schedule too much. It is good to have a plan about where your going, especially in the mornings. But maybe the afternoons could be a bit looser.

I was with a big group for WOC and we all had the light up ears, however, not many other people did. I think if you buy the wands, do it with the thought that you might just be changing your own ears, then you won't be disappointed.

You are allowed to take food into the Tiki Room, so that is a good time to buy a dole whip. Also, there is a second dole whip counter that usually has a very short wait, it faces the Tiki Room entrance. You can purchase dole whips there even if you don't go into the show.

Make sure to look around all the time for characters. They are very free roaming in Disneyland, we found them tucked into all kinds of corners. There is oftentimes princesses right inside the gates before you go through the tunnel to enter the parks. There is usually a character back by the wishing well.

 

[sherilaine]

Just a couple of things - depending on how late you pull your RSR fastpass you may be looking at a return time close to park closing - so keep that in mind. If Stitch is not out during your Surf's Up Breakfast then just ask - my 11 year old DD went up to the manager and explained what a fan she was and she wanted to see him before we left and about 5 minutes later out came Stitch right over to my DD and gave her a big hug! Don't be shy!

Also, even the best made plans can run into problems - you have a LOT planned and that is great but one thing we have done is we've all written down our top and bottom 5 - meaning Top 5 means we make all efforts and bottom 5 means we are okay if we don't get to do that attraction, character, show etc. I think you need to be able to scratch things off the list depending on how things go - so that is just how we handle that kind of thing.

 

[robin2588]

I see you plan to do a WOC package @Wine Country Trattoria @ 5:45. I believe the Pixar parade typically always starts at 5:15. So if you wanted to knock out your WOC dinner, and see the parade at the same time you could move your dinner reservation up to 5pm and ask for a railing seat. We did this and the Pixar parade came right by us while we ate. I believe the parade came by the restaurant at about 5:25-5:30. Or if you did not wish to move up your dinner time you can just get to the restaurant early at 5 and sit in the Wine/beer garden area attached to the restaurant and watch the parade before your dinner. I would not recommend trying to get to the restaurant at anytime between 5:15-5:30, because it may be difficult due to people sitting and watching the parade and all the blocks they have set up for the parade. After our dinner their we just hung around the little mermaid ride until we saw them setting up the lighted posts for each FP section. The Wine Country Trattoria section to line up is straight in the middle. I just asked if I could line up and they said sure. We were first in line and got the elevated railing. Make sure to play the Mickey Wheel game while waiting at your spot. Your boys would enjoy that. Have fun

 

[disneyland999]

If you want to meet Stitch, I would recommend the VISA m&g in DCA

 

[disneyland999]

I don't know if it's still there but if he is you would mosy likely be able to meet him

 

[texasgingerbread]

If you want to meet Stitch, I would recommend the VISA m&g in DCA

Great thinking. I will try this and if we don't meet him then we'll keep our PCH Grill res. If we do, then we could save some $.

 

[geergirl]

I have never used Uber so maybe this is a non-issue but are they going to have boosters for your 7 year olds? Unless they're both over 4'9" they are required to be in a booster or car seat. We're dealing with the question of travelling with car seats or not right now which is why I have looked up CA laws.