Last minute trip....I need a kind person to help with a schedule?

[addiedisney]

Hi!

My husbands grandparents are not doing so well, so we have planned a last minute trip for Thanksgiving.

We are flying into San Diego tomorrow night and we just all decided to go to DCA on Sunday and Disneyland Monday....

Here is my problem, I am dog dead tired. I still have to pack tonight, get a rental car, hotel etc, in order to make our international flight tomorrow at 8:30am.

We will arrive in San Diego at 11:30 tomorrow night, stay in a hotel then drive up to Disneyland in the AM.

I know Disneyworld like the back of my hand, but I really don't know Disneyland very well at all.

Is there some kind person that would take the time to share your itinerary with me because I do not have time to make one. I need to know what time we have to be at WOC to get fast passes/tickets etc, where to go, then when we need to be in line. I would love to buy ridemax, but I just don't have the time.

I'm afraid there is no way my family will make it for rope drop on Sunday (maybe) but that would mean little sleep for us. Therefore that make me really nervous that we won't get a seat for WOC?

If anyone out there will share a Sunday/Monday itinerary (including where to be when, to hit most popular attractions with the least wait time) I would be so grateful and send lots of good thoughts/prayers/karma your way.

A little about us..

DH 35
me 32
ds 9
dd 2.5
2 grandparents

This trip is mostly going to be for our daughter. This will be her first time in the parks. On her MUST see list is World of Color, meeting Ariel and Tinkerbell. Anyone know where I can find them?

We will stay at a hotel in the area (not on property) and plan on being at Disneyland for rope drop on Monday.

Thank so much for reading this!
Addie

 

[SplashMo]

SUNDAY

WOC

Arrive at DCA at 9:20 AM...

This is 40 minutes early...

However if this does not work. Arrive by 10:30 AM or as soon as you can...

There are two showing that day.

OR

order picnics at

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneys-california-adventure/world-of-color-picnics/

They each will have a WOC fastpass and you will need one for each person in your party.

If this does not work out. Then on Monday have everyone enter disneyland and then send a runner over at 9:20AM with all of the tiickets (All must have enteed into Disneyland or DCA with the ticket). Stand in the right most line and they will likey open a line even more to the right that will allow you to move closer to the front.

Obtain a fastpass. And then rejoin your party at Disneyland about 10AM

WOC Fastpasses are actually tickets. They should not be thought of as fastpassees. You will need one to watch the show...

 

[SplashMo]

The main tip for WDW going to DL and DCA is to get to the park 40 minutes early. However DCA won't be a problem given that you need sleep and you have a 2.5 year old.

Use a strategy above to get a fastpass for WOC. The rest of the day Fast Pass Soarin over California and other rides. You can get a baby swap that will allow folks to trade off on rides while someone watches the toddler....

You will want to see Mike and Sully and Turtle Crush. These are to the left as you enter the park. At the entrance to bug land are characters. Also outside Turtle Crush and Mike and Sully are characters.

I recomend eating at Taste Pilot Grill because it is airconditioned and they serve a broad range of food. Most restaurants in DCA and DL are not airconditioned. Something I was not prepared for. You will want a place to kick back and eat and rest. Even then Taste Pilot grill is not fancy... But more restful than others. It is also located next to soarin.

Arrive to WOC 30 minutes before the Fastpass says to go there....

As you enter get a spot on the rail. I told everyone in our party this and we walked along the rail until we hit a crowd and then we stopped and watched.

Also across from Grizzly River Rapids is a huge playtoy if it is open. Kids love it.

 

[SplashMo]

For Monday arrive at DL 40 minutes before the open. I would highly recomend a 11AM reservation for Minnie and Friends. Character meal and all you can eat buffet breakfast.

It is located on the end of MAIN street as you are turning right into tomorrow land.

When the park opens go through the castle to Peter pan and then Dumbo. However if peter pan is 25 minutes you might skip it... This wont happen if you are 40 minutes early and ride it on park entry.

After this go to Its a Small World Holiday. Amazing!!!! Take entire family. It is in back of park to the right of toon town.

At some point have grampa take DS9 to Jedi Training. Make a small sign out of a sheet of blank paper that says FORCE or YODA or anything really. Also wear a star wars shirt or brightlly colored shirt. This will greatly increase chances of getting picked. Have DS9 go to star traders and custom make a lightsaber for 20 dollars....

The first two people who come out do not pick the kids so no sign is needed until the jedi master comes out... DS9 may not want to hold up the sign. A little coaxing may be needed....

Fast pass whatever big rides the adults want to see. Fast passes are accepted even after they expire so collect them throughout the day.

Make sure you go on Pirates and Haunted Mansion. They are real treasures at DL. The Christmas Haunted house is not as haunted during Christmas. It is a must see. Very good...

Have fun.

The secret to enjoying it is the 40 minute early arrival. Sounds weird but that is key and not obvious to folks coming from WDW.

Eat at Pizza Port near Space Mountain for Dinner as it is inside and air conditioned. Unless you find something else. pasta or salad or pizza.

Again a good place to rest. And great standby in a pinch.

As long as you hit the morning you really cant go wrong at DL....

Also Splash and Thunder are not next to each other like in WDW....

You could also eat at Blue Bayou for dinner. Really nice but more than many would like to spend...

 

[SplashMo]

For DD2.5

When you take train to toontown in DL. As you exit the Princess are to your right in a coverd area that looks like a performance could be going on inside. They might have Arial there (with legs). Princesses for sure. Arial with fins is in Fantasmic show but no one-on-one interaction there.

Pixie Hollow in DL has Tink and is worth the 30-40 min wait....

 

[Nala83]

Picnics for WOC are still available for that Sunday. I would snatch those up- you'll want the early show with the little one and you don't know what time you'll be able to get there. They're an easy way to get a fastpass, and you have to buy a meal anyway! These will sell out (soon!) so I suggest buying them now.

I like sketching ride itineraries and I have a lot of work that I don't want to do, so I'll create something and pass it along later this morning. Procrastination is great!

 

[Nala83]

Not know anything about the people in your group and what they like/dislike, here's a stab at Monday. It is mostly little kid and grandparent friendly, with a couple extras thrown in for DS.

Park opens at 9am, arrive by 8:30
Peter Pan
Dumbo
Alice
(somewhere in here send someone with all the tickets to get FP for Buzz)
Teacups
Casey Jr. train
Carousel
Small world Holiday
Buzz with FP
Lunch (should be around 11:45 or 12:00), send someone to get FP for Splash
Tiki Room
Jungle Cruise
(Someone get FP for Haunted Mansion Holiday)
Pirates
Mark Twain
Haunted Mansion with FP
Splash with FP
Pooh

Depending on how fast you're moving and how many breaks you've taken, it's probably only mid-afternoon here. You can add more stuff- more rides, naptime, parade, etc.

Somewhere you'll want to fit in Pixie Hollow for DD- this is where you meet Tinkerbell. The only guaranteed way to meet Ariel is to eat breakfast or dinner at Ariel's grotto (DCA). You can visit the Princess Fantasy Fair (DL) to meet 3 princesses, but you may/may not get Ariel.

I can play with this more if you pass along what rides you do/don't want.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

SplashMo ~ why are you concerned for them about finding an AC restaurant - it's late November *I'd suggest to them bringing along jacktets/sweatshirts *my favorite way to explore Disney parks *it's miserable when it's hot.

 

[Cagirl767]

If meeting Tinkerbel is a must do, I'd head there first after rope drop when there will be a minimal wait. It is to the right of the castle. Maybe your group can split up for that one thing while your DS goes on the rockets? That's usually our plan for my DD and DS.

 

[SplashMo]

SplashMo ~ why are you concerned for them about finding an AC restaurant - it's late November *I'd suggest to them bringing along jacktets/sweatshirts *my favorite way to explore Disney parks *it's miserable when it's hot.

I like to be in the parks from open to close without breaks...

Lunch and Dinner I like a place to sit that is out of the sun...

That is just me.

Some of the restaurants did not have much seating (Bengal BBQ) or had outside seating with limited shade (It was 80 a couple days that we were there last week...)

Also just having a restaurant you know will be good as a fail safe backup...

I found the food at DL to be good but was suprized at the lack of places to sit and relax in the shade or A/C...

 

[SplashMo]

SplashMo ~ why are you concerned for them about finding an AC restaurant - it's late November *I'd suggest to them bringing along jacktets/sweatshirts *my favorite way to explore Disney parks *it's miserable when it's hot.

Actually by air conditioned I mean roof walls and windows.

So cool in the warm weather. Warm in the cool weather.

Shade during the sun and shelter during rain.

Also the restaraunts mentioned serve food that appeals to a large number of people... This equals happy Dis Family

I wanted to eat New Orleans food all week but my party was more pasta and salads...

Best Wishes - SplashMo!