Leaving in 3 days and need help planning!!

[verygfy]

Hi everyone, my husband and I just booked a last minute trip to California and we will be stopping by Disneyland. Unfortunately we are only able to spend a half day there with our schedule, we are going to go Friday the 15th from 3pm until they close at midnight.

What are the must do's at the park? Any touring suggestions? Best place for dinner? I appreciate any help!!

 

[DLR29]

Wow, that's not a lot of time. Here's what I suggest:

-Going straight to Indiana Jones and picking up a FP. By 3PM, the Space FPs will most likely be gone, but Indy should still have them for the late evening.

-Do Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Pinocchio, Buzz, Snow White, It's a Small World from 3-7ish. These rides hold a lot of people and have shorter lines generally, so you want to do them when the crowds are highest. You should be able to fit about 4-5 of these types of rides during those hours, including a stop for dinner.

-Quick dinner places that are pretty good include Rancho del Zocalo (Mexican, over by Big Thunder) or Redd Rockett's Pizza Port (ok pizza, pretty good pastas and salads by Space Mountain). There are also a couple of places that just got updated menus such as Pinocchio's Village Haus (by Pinocchio in Fantasyland) and Hungry Bear Restaurant (in the corner by Pooh), if you want to check out some more unique options.

-If you want to see the fireworks, they are at 8:45. Probably the best fireworks show I've ever seen. If you want the best spots for the show, you'd have to show up at least 2 hours in advance. I don't recommend that with your time constraint. Find a spot back in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland like 10 min before show time if you want to see them, just know that you aren't getting the whole experience of standing in the hub in front of the castle.

-Rides like Big Thunder, Nemo, and Buzz will have lines that die down as the evening continues. Also, use your FP for Indy at night. Matterhorn's line will also decrease as the night goes on, but it will still probably have lines longer than 20/30 min until about 11PM.

-Last ride of the night is Space, just make sure you get in line before 12:00. They'll let you ride if you are in line on time.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

-If you want to see the fireworks, they are at 8:45. Probably the best fireworks show I've ever seen. If you want the best spots for the show, you'd have to show up at least 2 hours in advance. I don't recommend that with your time constraint. Find a spot back in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland like 10 min before show time if you want to see them, just know that you aren't getting the whole experience of standing in the hub in front of the castle.

One correction: Fireworks are scheduled for 9:30 that night. That's also the time they were running when we were there earlier this week.

 

[verygfy]

WOW, this is great, thank you so much for the tips. This trip was just sprung on us by my DH's boss and since my job is slow I decided to tag along. Disneyland has been our must do list for quite some time so it will be nice to enjoy it. I knew I could count on the DIS to help me out on such short notice.

If anyone else has suggestions, please keep adding.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Couple questions?

First time to DLR?
Park hopping or only doing Disneyland?
Thrill seekers or?

 

[verygfy]

Yes, First time a DLR, but over 100 times to WDW.

It will just be DH and I so we enjoy both thrill rides and tame ones, we also like the fireworks and if there is a parade those to.

DH says no matter what he is doing the Matterhorn and Space mountain (it's his favorite at WDW).

Unfortunately no park hopping this trip, only DL.

 

[oc_tony]

Since you are WDW vets, you could skip the rides that are very similar such as Big Thunder, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, and Small World, if time becomes an issue.

Some duplicate rides are better at DL though, so don't miss Space and Pirates. The fireworks are great (better than Wishes, IMHO) and many agree that DL's Fantasmic is better than DHS's. Catch the later show, if you decide to see F!.

Finally, some rides are unique to DL, so don't miss Indy and Matterhorn. DLR29 gives good advice to grab a FP for Indy upon arrival. These should still be available, and will save you much time.

As for food, grab a quick counter service meal at one of our new favorites, Hungry Bear (in Critter Country, just past Splash) or Village Haus (in Fantasyland). Both of these restaurants recently re-opened and have new menus with tasty and unique offerings.

Enjoy your quick trip to Walt's original magic kingdom. I hope you are able to see and do lots of fun things.

 

[skiingfast]

Finally, some rides are unique to DL, so don't miss Indy and Matterhorn. DLR29 gives good advice to grab a FP for Indy upon arrival. These should still be available, and will save you much time.

Totally agree with making Indy a priority and using FP for it.

POTC is much better in DL and a must as well. Space is different and may be more well liked at DL or just ride it once.

Matterhorn will close for fireworks so if you are in the right spot when it reopens there will not be a line. It loads from two sides, I suggest the Fantasyland side.

Tony had good suggestions on food too, also have DLR only Tigger tails from back in Critter Country. Perhaps you would like some creole inspired dishes from New Orlean Sq. too.

 

[verygfy]

Thank you for the tip on the Matterhorn loading side, I would have never known that.

As far as Fantasmic, is it like DHS where you have to get to the theater about 45 minutes before the show to get a good spot? I am just wondering if we have time to see the fireworks from Fantasyland and the ride the Matterhorn before heading over to Fantasmic? The fireworks are at 9:30 and the last show for Fantasmic is at 10:30pm.

We have definitely knocked out a sit down dining option, I appreciate the tips on QS!!

A few more questions:

Is Small World just like WDW?
I was wanting to do Alice in Wonderland is that worth the time? Are the lines usually long for that?

You all have been so great helping me out with this!!

 

[skiingfast]

Thank you for the tip on the Matterhorn loading side, I would have never known that.

As far as Fantasmic, is it like DHS where you have to get to the theater about 45 minutes before the show to get a good spot? I am just wondering if we have time to see the fireworks from Fantasyland and the ride the Matterhorn before heading over to Fantasmic? The fireworks are at 9:30 and the last show for Fantasmic is at 10:30pm.

We have definitely knocked out a sit down dining option, I appreciate the tips on QS!!

A few more questions:

Is Small World just like WDW?
I was wanting to do Alice in Wonderland is that worth the time? Are the lines usually long for that?

You all have been so great helping me out with this!!

Fantasmic is different in many ways, such as there is no arena style seating like in DHS. It's a great show though but you sit on the ground of stand to watch it. It takes place on the rivers of America. A PP mentioned seeing the second show of it because people show up hours before the first show but then leave to watch the fireworks. So if you watch fireworks you can go over to ROA after since the F! people have emptied out. Fireworks will end leaveing you about 40 minutes to get over to RoA.


Small World except for the awesome DL show building is about the same ride.

Alice is fun, but a typical Fantasyland dark ride so it really depends on how much you like those rides. Mr Toad is still there though and probably worth a revisit.

 

[DLR29]

Just a clarification, Matterhorn does not close during the fireworks. Also, Alice is a worthwhile ride, but unfortunately it does have very long lines most of the day.

 

[jessredrabbit]

First you can always eat a late dinner at the plaza inn and watch the fireworks from your table. You can then make a bee line for Fantasmic as people are leaving from the first show and get a pretty decent spot. If you do the matterhorn last after fantasmic most of the time there isn't a line because people are heading home.

I would say Alice in Wonderland is definately worth it you can see it before you go to your late dinner at the plaza as that would be during "prime" dinner hours and the lines are usually a little bit shorter.

Hope this helps.

 

[ahutton]

We were there in March, and are frequent WDW visitors and had not been to DL in years.

Getting a Fast Pass for Indy when you arrive is a great idea, it is really fun.

Pirates is a not to be missed ride - if the line splits, go to the right. It worked for us that the line was always slightly shorter than the posted wait time. Big Thunder and Haunted Mansion are very similar to WDW, could be skipped in favor of attractions that are different.

Our favorite meal was the soup in bread bowls - available at a counter service placeoutside of pirates and another on the right side as you cross the bridge into critter country. We also really enjoyed the Mexican food at Rancho del Zocalo.

The Fantasyland side of the Matterhorn line was better for us too - it was not by the smoking section and the one time we went on the Tomorrowland side lots of people were smoking and it was blowing right at us.

Innoventions in Tomorrowland was really cool, and when you come out of there the upper deck is a fantastic fireworks view. If you go in there about 45 minutes before fireworks and tour upstairs until a few minutes before they start you can step outside and enjoy the show.

Right after fireworks was a great time for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I have missed that from WDW and it was great to ride it again.

Small World in DL is different, but was not worth the 30 minute wait that was posted - its line was longer than Pirates!!!

The hands down family favorite was the train - between Tomorrowland station and Main Street. The Grand Canyon and Dinosaur parts are awesome! We had the best luck boarding in Toontown or Tomorrowland.

 

[BlueBayou]

\Matterhorn will close for fireworks so if you are in the right spot when it reopens there will not be a line. It loads from two sides, I suggest the Fantasyland side.

Also sometimes they have everyone line up on the tomorrowland side - but once you get the the covered area - you choose which side you want to ride. If this is happening the line looks twice as long as it really is.

I also think that you are getting great advice on how to make the most of your short visit.

I am also a fan the The Veranda Cafe (bread bowls outside Pirates) and the Bengel BBQ (meat and veggie k-bobs in front of Indy/Jungle Cruise).

Have a great visit!

 

[verygfy]

These are amazing tips, I am printing this thread out and taking it with us to the parks. Thank you all so much

 

[Dobie]

I agree with the previous posters...Indy is not to be missed, and I would definately get a FP for it as soon as I got to the park...then I would head straight to Pirates...and then to HM...and then to Small World, which is way cooler in Disneyland than WDW because it starts outside.

You can ride BTMRR and JC fairly easily after the late Fantasmic, then you should have time to head to Tomorrowland for a quick run through Buzz before you queue up for Space Mountain.

For a quick dinner in DL, the Dobies like the corndogs from the little red wagon in the hub.