Late Sept (25-28) Visit to DL...need advice (dining/ride plan)

[lyv4him]

Hello Fellow Dis'ers! Sorry this is long...too many questions.

I need help planning our family get-together at DL. We will be going this Sept (25-28). We want to enjoy ourselves and not rush through everything...but also want to maximize our time there and enjoy some great rides and shows. We will have an infant, toddler, 6yr old and then 5 adults....planning our trip to accomodate everyone has gotten me a little confused.

Here is a run down of what we would like to do:

SEPT 25TH - arriving, just a relax day, staying at the Courtyard by Marriott, would be open to affordable dinner dining suggestions. No park.

SEPT 26TH - will visit DL (or do you recommend California Adventure first?). Will arrive to park early and head to Fantasyland first. Or should it be Toon Town first? We don't want to hop around, but prefer going from land to land until we hit Main street at closing. Any thoughts? How would you tackle the park if you were me?

SEPT 27TH - will visit California Adventure. Have no plan. How should we approach the park with all of the different ages?

SEPT 28TH - we were thinking downtown disney. No park. Any dining suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[Funball]

i think you need a park map at least to see what your getting into . california adventure has some cool "little" kid rides, bugs land is a hit with the little ones!!

i have maps, so if you need a set please let me know!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We want to enjoy ourselves and not rush through everything...but also want to maximize our time there and enjoy some great rides and shows.

Will you not have PHs? In 2 days you will NOT see everything, not even close. I would see what's important to ride and aim for that. Is the 6 year old into roller coasters? That may determine what they will do. For the adults, take advantage of FPs and rider swap.

In DCA: Bugs Land, TSMM and Monsters Inc will be the only thing the younger ones can do. If the 6 year old is more daring there is more they can do (how much will depend on how tall he/she is).

 

[HydroGuy]

Hello Fellow Dis'ers! Sorry this is long...too many questions.

I need help planning our family get-together at DL. We will be going this Sept (25-28). We want to enjoy ourselves and not rush through everything...but also want to maximize our time there and enjoy some great rides and shows. We will have an infant, toddler, 6yr old and then 5 adults....planning our trip to accomodate everyone has gotten me a little confused.

Here is a run down of what we would like to do:

SEPT 25TH - arriving, just a relax day, staying at the Courtyard by Marriott, would be open to affordable dinner dining suggestions. No park.

SEPT 26TH - will visit DL (or do you recommend California Adventure first?). Will arrive to park early and head to Fantasyland first. Or should it be Toon Town first? We don't want to hop around, but prefer going from land to land until we hit Main street at closing. Any thoughts? How would you tackle the park if you were me?

SEPT 27TH - will visit California Adventure. Have no plan. How should we approach the park with all of the different ages?

SEPT 28TH - we were thinking downtown disney. No park. Any dining suggestions?

Thank you!

The 26th is a Sunday and the 27th a Monday and IMO that changes everything. First, do you plan to get everyone to the gates 30 minutes before the parks open? That would mean by 7:30AM on Sunday. If so, you should not do Fantasyland on Sunday as there will be thousands of people already ahead of you for Magic Morning. If you arrive early do Fantasyland first thing on Monday.

If you are late arrivers it does not matter very much which day you do Fantasyland as it will be crowded both days. But Monday should be less than Sunday and that again argues for Fantasyland on Monday.

If you want to see shows some will likely only show on Sunday. Watch out for that.

See

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

 

[Sherry E]

Also, because you're going to be at DLR right smack dab in the middle of HalloweenTime, stay tuned to our Halloween at DL super thread for breaking news, planning info, questions, answers, discussion - and of course, many, many photos!!

Halloween at DL super thread

TSMM (in DCA) will be closed, by the way. Unless something changes, TSMM is scheduled to be down for a refurb all through September, until October 10th. Too bad, because it's one of the best rides at DLR and that fact alone (that it will be closed) is preventing me from making my own Halloween trip in September.

 

[lyv4him]

Thank you Funball, 3Minnies1Mickey, HydroGuy, and Sherry E!

We will not have PHs...at least I don't think. We will do the fast pass thing as much as we can.

I actually thought that September was "low season" but it seems to me that maybe I was wrong?

Maybe it would be a better idea to go to DL on Monday instead of DCA. Do you all concur?

My family can be early risers...but since we are traveling w/other relatives I hope that they do not run late! They are NOT early risers.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thank you Funball, 3Minnies1Mickey, HydroGuy, and Sherry E!

We will not have PHs...at least I don't think. We will do the fast pass thing as much as we can.

I actually thought that September was "low season" but it seems to me that maybe I was wrong?

Maybe it would be a better idea to go to DL on Monday instead of DCA. Do you all concur?

My family can be early risers...but since we are traveling w/other relatives I hope that they do not run late! They are NOT early risers.

Monday hours will most likely be 10-8 for DL and 10-6 for DCA. Because of this I'd do DL on Sunday since you will need a full day to see as much as possible, fireworks, F!. None of that will be shown on Monday.

 

[lyv4him]

OOOoo that is right! Thanks