Last Minute Help with 2 toddlers

[stacyann_1]

Hi Everyone - I posted a while back about going to DL with my parents, DH and 28 month old twins. We are actually going to see my brother and SIL, so we'll only be at DL for 1 or 2 days. We fly in on Thursday and leave on Tuesday. I'm thinking of going on Friday (brother and SIL will be working) and maybe going back on Sunday if we feel like it with brother and SIL.

So, can anyone give me a crash course? I should get there really early, right? Like 8am - but maybe not since that'll be rush hour on a Friday. I don't know. I just don't even have time to pack with working and running around, much less spend anytime planning a trip. How do all you mommy's do it!! I need help. I was thinking we'd go to California Adventure and then wing it. For 1 or 2 days, we'll just pay per day right? The quick pass or whatever is called is too confusing for me to figure out I think. Anyway, any encouragement or ideas please let me know, please . I'm feeling frazzled right now.


Stacy Mom to Maya/Thomas 28 months.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Fri. won't be a MM ~ so try to get in line about 30 min. prior to park opening and head to Fantasyland. Research "child swapping" for the rides your kiddo's can't go on, the fast pass system is pretty easy, read up on Hydroguy's sticky at the top of the page. No matter what you be at Disneyland so you'll have a blast. What about a character meal ~ children are free under 3.

 

[DLR29]

So, can anyone give me a crash course? I should get there really early, right? Like 8am - but maybe not since that'll be rush hour on a Friday. I don't know. I just don't even have time to pack with working and running around, much less spend anytime planning a trip. How do all you mommy's do it!! I need help. I was thinking we'd go to California Adventure and then wing it. For 1 or 2 days, we'll just pay per day right? The quick pass or whatever is called is too confusing for me to figure out I think. Anyway, any encouragement or ideas please let me know, please . I'm feeling frazzled right now.

I strongly suggest purchasing tickets in advance (you probably should have done this earlier so they could be shipped to you) but since you're so close to your trip I'd have them kept at will call. You don't want to stand in a long line at the parks just to buy tickets, plus you can probably find some kind of discount on tickets if you buy in advance. Check this site out: http://www.mousesavers.com/dltickets.html

Do NOT not use FastPass (ooh double negative). It saves so much time and it really isn't that confusing. Read Hydroguy's tips if you are completely confused. You'll be so glad you did.

Also if you have little ones, use the baby swap. Basically it works by having one adult stand in line for a ride and ride it (while the other has the kids), but then you will receive a special "baby swap" pass that allows the other adult to ride that ride with a much shorter wait. It is so that parents of young ones don't have to stand in line for the ride twice if they both want to ride.

 

[bumbershoot]

Definitely go both days! The first day will be kid-centric since it will just be you two. You'll hang out in bug's land at DCA for half the day, and Fantasyland the other half.

Then on Sunday when you have your family there, you will already have your bearings, you can see more rides, and that's when you would want to figure out fast pass and/or child swap.

You should get the 2 day ticket b/c if you're going to get a one day hopper anyway, the price difference is small, especially since the kids will be free. And if you hop the first day, when your family is with you, just in case they do NOT want to buy a one-day hopper, you won't have missed anything and can be happy to just spend time with them. Or leave the boys with them and run over to the other park to ride rides for an hour or two, taking advantage of single rider lines whenever possible.

You can check out my trip reports if you want...the first link in my signature has two one-day trip reports along with a longer report, and my son was around 16 months for the first trip and a year older the second trip.

 

[stacyann_1]

OMG, I feel better already. Thanks guys. I'll check out the links you suggested. Now, I'm getting excited

 

[stacyann_1]

Fri. won't be a MM ~ so try to get in line about 30 min. prior to park opening and head to Fantasyland. Research "child swapping" for the rides your kiddo's can't go on, the fast pass system is pretty easy, read up on Hydroguy's sticky at the top of the page. No matter what you be at Disneyland so you'll have a blast. What about a character meal ~ children are free under 3.

One thing, what did you mean by MM? What does that stand for?

 

[grizbuzz]

Here are some top of mind tips...

1. You can purchase and print tickets from www.disneyland.com site. I, myself, woud opt for 2-day parkhoppers. Kids are under 3, so are free.

2. Go to park, if you can, on early entry days (Magical Mornings - MM).

3. Get to park before opening and go to Disneyland first.

FIRST MORNING: I'd go to Fantasyland and, personally, I like to go to PeterPan, Dumbo and then Alice in Wonderland. Other dark rides (Toad's, Snow White, Pinocchio) may be frightening to your kids. My kids always want to do the Carousel as well. If you're up for spinning (not me!) tea cups are fun. Then I'd go to tomorrowland for Buzz Lightyear.

SECOND MORNING: Go straight to Nemo Submarines.

4. Bring double stroller

5. Plan in run around time for kids to get wiggles out. I like the Redwood Park area in Calif Adventure and Huck Finn island (what's that called now?) in Disneyland.

6. Enjoy some sit down shows like Tiki Room in Disneyland, Playhouse Disney in California Adventure and Aladdin in Calif Adventure. Don't go to It's Tough to Be a Bug. Too scary.

7. Bring healthy food to supplement all the sugar they'll get

8. Take naps (in strollers, probably)

9. Don't try to do everything. There will be opportunities to go back to Disneyland, so don't sweat it if you can't get on every attraction. More important to enjoy the ones you do get to

10. Prepare for the fact that kids will probably have a breakdown and parents may be grumpy. Rest, eat, relax and regroup and then go back to have more fun.

ENJOY!!!

 

[DSNY4ever]

We just got back and had a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 1/2 year old in our group. It was 97 degrees both days we were there and they had a hard time (even the adults had a hard time because it was sooo hot). The 3 1/2 year old was afraid of EVERYTHING. The only things he liked were the Casey Jr circus train in Fantasyland and the Autopia ride in Tomorrowland. He also LOVED the Playhouse Disney show. I suggest sitting farther from the stage because when you are really close it is hard for the kids to see over the stage. He also liked Turtle talk with Crush, but it took us about 20 minutes to convince him to go inside the Animations building because he thought it looked scary (but it doesn't).

We all liked the Aladdin show, but it is 45 minutes long so only the 3 1/2 year old stayed to see it with us, and even he had a hard time sitting through the whole show (and there are no bathrooms in the building). We only had two days so we didn't see much, and it was very hot and very crowded, so if you have those spray fans, bring them!

Have fun!

 

[bumbershoot]

One thing, what did you mean by MM? What does that stand for?

Magic Mornings.

People who have 3 day or more parkhopper tickets, and people who are staying at the onsite hotels, get at least one day where they get to enter an hour before the park opens. Going on a MM day, when you don't have MM, means that there will be many people in the parks when the gates open to the public, though they will have only been in Fantasyland and parts of Tomorrowland.

The 3 1/2 year old was afraid of EVERYTHING.

We all liked the Aladdin show, but it is 45 minutes long so only the 3 1/2 year old stayed to see it with us, and even he had a hard time sitting through the whole show (and there are no bathrooms in the building).

Yep, once my guy turned 3 he developed many of his own ideas about what was scary and why, and this year has been fun, but he hasn't gone on MANY of his formerly favorite rides. He tells me he'll be over it for his 4th b'day, which we are spending at DLR.

For the Aladdin show, if someone does have to use the bathroom, just go over to the CM lurking near the doors, tell them. They will give you a paper that lets the CMs outside know you were inside. Rush to the bathrooms over near the trailer things, towards monsters inc, then rush back to the standby entrance, show the CMs your pass, and you get back in.

DS had finally gotten into the show (spent the first quarter of it on my lap with a blanket over him, with his little lightsaber keychain on for protection (I doubled the blanket over the saber so the glow didn't show through)) then had to pee, and we missed the flying carpet ride. But it's a long show, and those little bladders can't always wait! So make use of the bathroom pass if you need to.

 

[grizbuzz]

Magic Mornings.

People who have 3 day or more parkhopper tickets, and people who are staying at the onsite hotels, get at least one day where they get to enter an hour before the park opens. Going on a MM day, when you don't have MM, means that there will be many people in the parks when the gates open to the public, though they will have only been in Fantasyland and parts of Tomorrowland.

Here's some great info on Magic Mornings
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

And some great overall tips from Hydroguy (if you didn't already get these)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

And yes, you do need to stay on site or get a 3 day park hopper to get early entry. Hmmm...so since you won't have early entry, I change my above advice to getting to DL on Friday before it opens (since I believe that isn't a early entry day) and doing Fantasyland.