Itinerary help please - we leave in a week!

[j_lehr]

We will be at Disney July 17-20. We have 4 day park hoppers.

I have also downloaded Ridemax, have read HyrdoGuy's tips and have been to Disney World a few times so we know how to work fastpass, etc.

Yet...I am stuggling!

This is what I am thinking...

July 17 - Disneyland for Magic Morning. During Magic Morning, ride the Nemo subs. We have dinner at Goofy's Kitchen in the evening. Option 1: Stay until 5 pm or so and then head for downtown disney and dinner. Option 2: Stay until 3 or so, then head over to California Adventures for the Aladdin show before heading to dinner. (I am really worried about squeezing in all the entertainment!) We are planning to head back to hotel after dinner.

July 18 - We have the Welcome to Disneyland tour scheduled, it is at 10 am. We may or may not get to the park early enough to do anything before hand. I guess I am thinking if we get there late, we can skip a mid day break. After the tour, planned to stay in Disneyland and ride a few rides, catch the parade and fireworks in the evening. As far as rides, not sure what to select in ridemax because how will I know what we missed the day before? Does that make sense?

July 19 - Breakfast at The Plaza and then we are heading to California Adventure. Hoping to fit in rides, the Pixar parade and the Electrical parade. This is why I was thinking about trying to squeeze in Aladdin on the 17th.

July 20 - No plans yet. I figured we would hit whatever we missed, but then again, how do I get a ridemax plan if I don't know what we will want to do?

Maybe I am over thinking this!! But I am so used to going to WDW armed with a good plan and never having to wait in hardly any lines, even during Spring Break this year and Christmas a few years back.

I think my main concern is not knowing what rides to select for ridemax.

I also am not sure if I should schedule mid day breaks. We always take them at Disney World but we also usually are up every day at the crack of dawn and up very late and we are usually there for more than 4 days.

Thanks for any tips, opinions, advice, anything you may have to offer. It will be appreciated!

Thanks,
Jes

 

[Wavy Blue]

Don't stress too much about what rides to go on. DL fills you with spontaneity, and I feel much too bound if I have a set ride itinerary. Plus, there are unexpected things that can happen that can interrupt your perfect ride plan--rides break down, usually short lines become hellishly long, fastpasses run out, etc.

My advice would be to not make a ride agenda until you actually get to the park. Then you can guage the crowds, check if any rides have suddenly broken down, and the works. Be aware of the wait time for the rides (made simple by the board you pass in the hub) and go from there. My friends and I are going in a couple weeks and one wanted to decide what ride we were going to go on first, but after some deliberation we decided against that for the very reason that DL can be very unpredictable until you actually get there.

 

[Queenbillabong]

See, I think it's best to have a good idea of what rides you want to do on which days - you can plan on where you need to be, etc. You can certainly be flexible within that plan - if the lines are longer than you expected, move on to the next thing. If you notice something you planned on doing later has an awesome wait time of 5-10 minutes, jump in line then.

I don't think you necessarily need Ridemax (we don't use it), but we get there early, use Magic Mornings when available, collect Fast Passes, and have an idea of what we want to do, so we don't miss the things we really want to do (barring any unforeseen circumstances). Use the last days to do things you really loved for the second (or third, or fourth, or fifteenth time;-).

So have a plan, but be flexible

 

[kaoden39]

I am famous for over planning and analyzing every part of the trip before we go. I own three, count them three different planning books. I have been to Disneyland so many times I can make a pre trip report sound like an actual trip report. But I always map out everything and then when I get there almost every plan or schedule I make flies straight out the window. Would I change any of that? No way. Our last trip was totally different than I planned because I was really sick and I thought it would be my last trip to Disneyland so I did everything I wanted. It ended up being one of the best trips we ever took. So by all means plan to your hearts content and then just enjoy yourselves.

 

[avalon451]

Hi, Jes,

Looking at the plans you have so far, I am thinking that the one thing you should probably plan for is to be at the gates every morning well before opening. For Nemo, you'll want to get there 45 minutes before. You mentioned showing up in time for your tour without going to the park beforehand, but by doing that, you are losing the opportunity to get several FPs for later. By the time you get to the parks they will be packed, and you will have lost the opportunity for quick FP gathering. At all costs, I'd show up early. Hydroguy's first rule.

Are you not that interested in the Fantasyland rides? Just wondering, because you could get them ALL in on your MM if you skip Nemo. But that would be up to you.

As far as Ridemax, I would make 2 or 3 plans for each day, as backup. i.e., one plan for if we go to the parks before the tour, one for starting after the tour, one with a break midday to see Aladdin... etc. That way, not only will you have those plans ready, but if anything happens where you can't use them, just by having played around with it and having them to refer to, you will have learned a lot about what order to go on stuff, etc.

Most of all, know that you know the basics already... and even if the plans all fly out the window, you can still have a great time. I am not one of those people who like to "go with the flow" and "just soak it all in"... I hate lines, and I like to see and do stuff with minimal wait, and if planning can help that happen, I will enjoy planning it out, too. So I know what you mean by being frustrated with not being able to plan it out completely. I just wanted to say, try not to stress- by telling yourself that you know how to let go and go with the flow if need be, and that you will have a wonderful time regardless!

Have a great trip, and be sure to tell us how it all went when you come back!

 

[j_lehr]

Thanks for all the advice so far.

On the 17th, as for the Nemo subs, we really want to ride these. So I was thinking if we could get these out of the way first thing during MM, maybe the wait wouldn't be that bad. I set up Ridemax on this day for all the attractions that we want to do, minus the subs of course, since those will be done already.

OR

Do you think it would be better to do the subs the way I explained above or my new thought is to possibly skip them all together on the 17th and to ride them on the 18th at opening. We'll have about an hour before the tour (tour starts at 10 am and we need time to go to guest services). If we are at the gates early, quickly walk to subs and possibly afterwards grab a set of fastpasses for later in the day. We'll also be getting some fastpasses on the tour we are taking.

Btw, I am a mix between wanting a plan and wanting to just relax and enjoy it all. I have found at Disney World, when using Tour Guide Mike, in the mornings I am all about a plan (although I learned after the first trip to relax enough to enjoy what we were doing) and in the evenings we are very relaxed and stroll around, take in the sights, eat dinner, shop and ride mostly only rides we have fastpasses for. So I am hoping this plan will work for Disneyland as well.

Thanks again for all the replies.
Jes

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

FP space and splash for sure also california screaming gets busy unless you are there first thing.

If the other rides with fastpass is long FP them but buzz isnt as busy tower isnt a bad wait either.

4 days is enough time to go on all the FP rides and hit them again.

Best time to go on nemo is during the prade 45 min to 50 min is an ok wait.

I think everyone tries to go on MM so it makes it more busy.

FL late at bight you can hit a lot of it with no wait except peterpan it is always busy.

I dont think you need ridemax just take advantage of FP and you will be fine

 

[Hound 109]

Hi, Jes,

Looking at the plans you have so far, I am thinking that the one thing you should probably plan for is to be at the gates every morning well before opening. For Nemo, you'll want to get there 45 minutes before. You mentioned showing up in time for your tour without going to the park beforehand, but by doing that, you are losing the opportunity to get several FPs for later. By the time you get to the parks they will be packed, and you will have lost the opportunity for quick FP gathering. At all costs, I'd show up early. Hydroguy's first rule.

Are you not that interested in the Fantasyland rides? Just wondering, because you could get them ALL in on your MM if you skip Nemo. But that would be up to you.

As far as Ridemax, I would make 2 or 3 plans for each day, as backup. i.e., one plan for if we go to the parks before the tour, one for starting after the tour, one with a break midday to see Aladdin... etc. That way, not only will you have those plans ready, but if anything happens where you can't use them, just by having played around with it and having them to refer to, you will have learned a lot about what order to go on stuff, etc.

Most of all, know that you know the basics already... and even if the plans all fly out the window, you can still have a great time. I am not one of those people who like to "go with the flow" and "just soak it all in"... I hate lines, and I like to see and do stuff with minimal wait, and if planning can help that happen, I will enjoy planning it out, too. So I know what you mean by being frustrated with not being able to plan it out completely. I just wanted to say, try not to stress- by telling yourself that you know how to let go and go with the flow if need be, and that you will have a wonderful time regardless!

Have a great trip, and be sure to tell us how it all went when you come back!

As usual, i agree with Avalon.

- MM for FL rides.
- 2-4 FPs in pocket each day (to use at night when it's crowded) by arriving EARLY.
- It's easier to relax when you've got FPs in your pocket & you've gotten 12-15 rides under your belt the first 2-3 hours.
- Do Nemo at the end of MM....or in the afternoon (when you want to relax)...or during a parade.....or during the fireworks.....or right before closing.

Have a great time at Walt's Park.

(ps: Get there early & follow HG's strategy of collecting FPs early & often the first 2-3 hours......THEN relax & smell the roses.)

 

[tofubeast]

Just one thing to keep in mind.... July 17th is Disneyland's bday. There might be slightly more people in the park, but then again it isn't a "big" bday like in '05! It appears crowds are down this summer...so it probably won't even be a factor.

As stated above, make a few Ridemax plans ...either divide them up by time of day or regions of the park you want to see. Also make some "phoney" plans putting in the rides at different times of the day to see when are some good times to hit them.

And most of all, have a ...dare I say...magical time!

 

[avalon451]

Btw, I am a mix between wanting a plan and wanting to just relax and enjoy it all. I have found at Disney World, when using Tour Guide Mike, in the mornings I am all about a plan (although I learned after the first trip to relax enough to enjoy what we were doing) and in the evenings we are very relaxed and stroll around, take in the sights, eat dinner, shop and ride mostly only rides we have fastpasses for. So I am hoping this plan will work for Disneyland as well.

This is what we like to do too-- all about the plan in the a.m., and relaxed in the p.m., using what FPs we have and strolling around and shopping. I think that works great.

See, you've got the basics down. You'll have a wonderful time.

 

[Vacation Dad]

I sometimes think we make things here seem too difficult with all the information that gets passed out. As long as you get to the park before opening, get every fastpass you can and have some sort of an idea about how you want to spend the day (especially for the first couple hours when you enter the park), you will do fine.

We went last year for most of 3 days over the first part of Thanksgiving week, a fairly busy time, and never spent more than 20 minutes in line for any ride. In one day between 8:00am when the park opened and about 2:00 pm when we headed back to the hotel for lunch I gathered 8 fastpasses for use later in the day. We knew what rides we wanted to go on to start the day, and just kind of adjusted as we went along. For example Splash Mt. opened late one day and was pretty much a walk-on at about 10:00am just after it opened, so it was an easy decision to decide to go on that ride immediately when we saw this.

 

[Handbag Lady]

If it helps, we were at DCA on July 4th from noon to closing and we were able to do everything.

Of course, we know our way around and we even rode MM twice, once in the long line and once in the single-rider line.

The one thing I'd point out is that the Pixar parade thing is only once a day. I am SO used to the two parades-per-day Disney schedule, I was going to skip the first one and watch the second one.

Only, there isn't a second one!

Friends went on Sunday to both and said it was dead, too.

I'll be there on the 16th-18th for DL's birthday!

 

[bumbershoot]

I sometimes think we make things here seem too difficult with all the information that gets passed out. As long as you get to the park before opening, get every fastpass you can and have some sort of an idea about how you want to spend the day (especially for the first couple hours when you enter the park), you will do fine.

We went last year for most of 3 days over the first part of Thanksgiving week, a fairly busy time, and never spent more than 20 minutes in line for any ride. In one day between 8:00am when the park opened and about 2:00 pm when we headed back to the hotel for lunch I gathered 8 fastpasses for use later in the day. We knew what rides we wanted to go on to start the day, and just kind of adjusted as we went along. For example Splash Mt. opened late one day and was pretty much a walk-on at about 10:00am just after it opened, so it was an easy decision to decide to go on that ride immediately when we saw this.

Well, you might just know so much about it all that you don't even know what you know.

When my brother and SIL went with us on our first visit back as adults, if I hadn't had a strategy in my head, they would have probably gone on 5 rides all day. They got us there more than an hour after opening, they had no interest in walking briskly (my normal way of walking), they wanted to just go get in line for whatever they felt like at that exact moment (no planning ahead). They probably wouldn't have done FP. And these are very smart people who are extremely successful in real life, with no problems planning for anything else. They just don't even think to do it at Disneyland. AND they were making fun of the planning I had done. I had to resort to *pretending* to look at the park map with them, after every ride, and "oh gosh I just thought of this" sort of subterfuge to get them to the next thing on the list hidden away in my backpack, LOL.

And that was before I'd even become a member of the Dis (not even sure I knew about it at the time!).

 

[caldad]

Relax! We have been taking our kids to DL for the last five years. Last year we used HydroGuys tips and Ridemax. Best trip ever! Best advice I can give is to just use Ridemax to get the general plan for the day. Just knowing what you will do on that day makes a HUGE difference. But just use it as a guide. As the day goes, play it by ear and use all the tips you've learned from this board.

Relax and enjoy your trip!

 

[travelmel]

We will be at Disney July 17-20. We have 4 day park hoppers.


Thanks for any tips, opinions, advice, anything you may have to offer. It will be appreciated!

Thanks,
Jes

I am in the same boat as you are (ridemax junkie) and we only have 2 days! I totally feel ALL of your pain. After EXTENSIVE ridemax-ing I have decided that I really feel I have a "feeling" for what they're saying (how and why to go where and when) and I planned my best for the first day but after that... it's going to depend on what happened the first day!

As much as I ab-so-lutely HATE the idea of not knowing... it's just the way it is. IT's like reading a chose your own mystery book without any of the endings available. LOL But like I said... you know what you want to do. You'll be fine.

Will you be able to access it from your vacation place? IF not, I suggest just going over a few different scenerios that include key rides that you KNOW you want combined with the shows you want for each day and get the general picture. With a long trip like 4 days you should be able to see and do everything you want.


In terms of mid afternoon breaks: From my limited planned excursions to DL I'd say that you should leave DL when it fills up and head over to DCA (as pointed out in several tips on this board). The cool air in one of the great shows is a good enough break for us but we're pretty rambo as we don't have alot of time.

Good travels,
Melissa
P.S. I just strated typing this after reading your initial question.. if I'm repeating other advice, I apologize.