Meals and Dayplanning, what do you guys think?

[SleepingX3Beauty]

I've been puzzling like a maniac, yet I can't seem to figure it out. Some help would be VERY much appreciated!

After a rather horrible day trip last Saturday (took some non Disney fans, they sort off spoiled it for us too. I'm not gonna in detail but let's just say we REALLY need some magic next time to catch up! ) we're counting down again 'til 8th of August.

We're arriving that Wednesday morning at around 7 ish (going by car which is a nice 3 hours for us Belgians, we're leaving very early in the morning like our last 2 trips. Idea behind this is: If we're gonna get up early, might as well make it early enough to catch EMH! ) .

We're staying at the Newport Bay Club in a Standard room. Booked a one person arrangement for my Boyfriend and I just picked up my Dreampas last Saturday. We're going the one person arrangement, I pay tourist taxes way yet even after having multiple people assuring me that it worked for them, I'm still afraid we're going to arrive and they're gonna say that I'm not booked for, so I can't sleep in the room!

So we've planned to make the fullest out of the first day by arriving early, checking in and then heading for the parks by foot. We like to leave the car at the hotel and don't tend to use it while being there. Last day is Friday 10th of August. We've planned on leaving at around 8 PM, which is a maximum. Depending on how tired my Boyfriend is (who will be driving the whole way) it might become an hour earlier.

For now, this is what I had planned:

Wednesday 8th of August

8 AM u- 12.45 PM Disneyland Park

About 1 PM Lunch at Café Mickey

3 PM or something around: Heading from Café Mickey to hotel to unpack and shower

5 PM Get back to Disneyland Park

6.30 PM Find spot for Magic On Parade and watch it, obviously

7.30 PM Dinner at Plaza Gardens

21.15 PM Find spot for Dreams and watch the first showing

Depending on opening hours: Go ride some rides/Souvenir Shopping and afterwards try and catch the second showing of Dreams.

Thursday 9th of August

7.30 AM Get up!

8. 15 AM Breakfast (I hope, depending on which time slots will be available when checking in.)

9.00 AM Head for Studio's

12.00 PM Lunch At Rainforest Café

13.30 PM Go back to room to shower and freshen up a bit. Try and pack a few things we won't be needing anymore already to save time on the last morning.

15.30 PM Get back to Studio's and find a spot for the Stars 'n Cars show

17.00 PM Spend some time in Studio's or Disneyland Park, depending on opening hours of Studio's and length of queus

18.40 PM Try and find a spot for the parade near the Main Street Railroad Station (Want to be out quickly once it's over)

19.30 PM Dinner at Inventions

Depending on the hours: Watch the last showing of Dreams and try and catch some rides during the firs showing (I love BTM in the dark and I figured during Dreams queus might drop)

Friday 10th of August

6.30 AM Get up and pack everything that's left + Check Out

7.30 AM Breakfast (again, depending on what's available)

8.30 AM Head for Disneyland Park for the EMH. Calculate some shopping time in and probably redo some rides we liked here and some in the Studio's or catch the ones we haven't done yet in both parks

12.00 PM Lunch at Annette's Diner

15.30 PM Head for Studio's to catch Stars 'n Cars

17.00 PM Dinner at Café Mickey

19.00 PM Hitting the road to get home, which will probably feel like it's waaaaay to early!

Oh, in case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit early in my planning, and maybe a bit obsessive. lol. I just want to make the most out of these 3 days since our last day trip was kinda ruined by our fellow travelers. So some questions I have concerning my planning:

First day: Wednesday 8th of August

- Will it REALLY be no problem if we don't let them know anything about me being a second guest wanting to stay and I just sort off pop up along at the check in, wanting to pay tourist taxes and showing my Dreampas ? I'm very anxious about this!

- What's the earliest time you can have lunch at Café Mickey? We figured we'd go by 1 PM so we'd be able to just go from there to the hotel at 3 PM. 2 hours for lunch (will probably be eating 3 courses tough, I'm a dessert kinda person and the boyfriend loves the starters and neither of us like eating a course alone ) seems long enough doesn't it? Or may it be to long? We want to eat calmly and enjoy the characters mostly.

- Any advice on were to stand for Dreams? I'm rather tiny, so I'd like to avoid parents picking up their kids and putting them on their shoulders right in front of me. I know we'll see the fireworks from far but I'm REALLY looking forward to this show and would really like to see the projections and all clearly!

- I assumed the showing at park closing time would be less busy than the earlier one, taking in account that parents with small children will most likely opt for the first one at 10 PM. Am I correct in this or is it sort off fighting and pushing for a place never the less?

- Magic On parade starts at 7 PM. I'd like us booked for Plaza Gardens at 7.30 PM Should we be able to get to the restaurant in time? We're planning on finding a spot on Central Plaza so we'll be close by. If not will they keep our table for a few minutes? We'll try and get there in time obviously, but do they take in account that we might be stuck in the crowd?

Second day

Thursday 9th of August

- Is 12 o 'clock to early for lunch at Rainforest or should this be possible? I'm worried they might open later. Also, am I correct that I can't make a reservation for this? I've heard from some people that you can but only when showing up at the restaurant and doing it there, not trough City Hall or the restaurant reservations line. Which is it?

- If we grab a spot at Railroad Station for the parade. Should we be in time at Inventions for our dinner reservation at 19.30 PM? Is it easy to find the restaurant? I've never been inside the Disneyland Hotel so I'm worried we might have to look for it and be late for it this way.

- I know Café Mickey has less characters now, only the fab 5. Is this the case in Inventions to now or do they still get Eeyore, Winnie, Tigger, ... and others?

Third Day

10th of August

- What's the earliest we should be able to have dinner at Café Mickey? Is open constantly from lunch time like Annette's or Rainforest or does it work in shifts? We figured 17 PM, we'd leave at about 19 PM and be home by 22.30 PM.

Might become an hour later but all depends on how tired the boyfriend will be. We're home on Saturday and Sunday so time enough to rest and sleep in. Yet we do want him to be alert when driving obviously! Rather leave an hour earlier and arrive safely at home then stay for one extra hour and cause an accident or something.

- How soon can we make restaurant reservations (I'm assuming now is a bit early)? And are Annette's and rainforest the only ones that can't be reserved or are there more?

Sorry for the boatload of questions and text! I'm just so excited and want to plan everything ahead to make the most out of it.

Thank you very very very much in advance for working trough my whole explanation and for any help!!

 

[tennisfan]

That sounds fine but do you really want to be doing 2 sit down meals a day i.e. Cafe Mickey & Annette's diner?

Apart from that it looks good

 

[jothp]

I think you might be better booking the evening meals you want to have after the parade a little bit later. We have often found the parade can run a little bit late and the crowds afterwards can make it a bit more difficult to get to where you are going.

For the day you want to be near the end of mainstreet try getting on the island where the gazebo is. We enjoyed being here because noone was allowed to cross the street to get there once the parade had started so it was a bit less crowded.

I can't say for sure about dreams but I was thinking that the second show would be less busy because a lot of people would leave after the first. Another member said in another thread somewhere that they start closing off some of the routes around the park before dreams so it can be difficult to get around - can't remember who now though.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

The parade isn't before 19.15 and often starts later so you won't be able to eat at 19.30 if you want to see it.

You can't reserve at RFC and yes they open at 12.00

Café Mickey is open all day but the characters are only there at certain times ie 12.00 on for lunch and from 18.00/18.15 for dinner. So if you go between 14.30/15-17.30/18.00 say you aren't going to see them

Reservations can be made 60 days before at the earliest

 

[lojo]

- Will it REALLY be no problem if we don't let them know anything about me being a second guest wanting to stay and I just sort off pop up along at the check in, wanting to pay tourist taxes and showing my Dreampas ? I'm very anxious about this!

You have no need to worry at all about this, just say you want to add one guest to the room when you hand over your reservation. You won't even have to show your Dream Pass. They will do some fiddling around with the computer (possibly checking a staff manual - as they did with us) and reprint the prepared documents they have for you. Easy peasy.

 

[SleepingX3Beauty]

You guys are the best, thank you! We'll move our dinnertimes up to 19.45/20 PM then, should be enough time to see the parade and get to the restaurants in time. I've always counted two full hours for dinner yet we probably won't be using those up, so we should still be in time to find a spot for Dreams.

Yes I know we have two sit down meals, I was already doubting on 2 times Café Mickey. Might switch it around a bit and replace one by something else. I was thinking of giving Earl's a go but boyfriend doesn't think he'll be filled up enough with that so I'll probably head there after park closing time for a late midnight snack or something for on the road when we drive back home. I mostly wanted something we can make a reservation for on our last day, so we don't have to queue at Annette's or something for dinner. Seems a bit safer seeing as we're heading home after dinner. We'll move that one up to 17.30 PM too, we'll still catch the characters at 18 PM then but we'll probably have had a course by the time they show up. Saves us half an hour so we'll still be on the road early enough.

Think I'm gonna go and check out some more restaurant reviews and see if I find something I can replace one Café Mickey with. There are just so many options on offer I sort off can't see the trees trough the forest anymore!

 

[DLPDreams]

Your plans sound great - although a little early but like all of us on here - we like a plan

We've always found if we get to CM for 12 noon, the characters come out just after and it is nice as there aren't many other people around at that time! Be warned though, both times we've been they wouldn't even let us in the door before 12!!

Re your Dream AP - if you are anxious why don't you get the email address for the hotel and email them a week or so before to let them know you also will be in the room but have an AP. We will be doing that with ours - but ours is slightly different as there are 4 of us so we need 2 double beds, so need to make sure we ask before we get assigned our rooms.

Sorry to hear your trip wasn't that great. Hope their picnics weren't too huge .

 

[A Small World]

Sorry to hear your trip wasn't that great. Hope their picnics weren't too huge .

I was going to ask about that - if thats what spoiled the trip

I know you said you wanted to stand at the station end of main street to make a quick exit but if the parade ends there as it usually does (check with a CM on the day) then you will be waiting for at least 20 mins before it even starts for you. Sometimes its better to watch at the beginning near Bella Notta, escape via fantasyland into Adventureland, come out by the hub and then go out via the arcade - you dont need to cross the parade route and if you are quick you are out before it even reaches the other end of mainstreet

 

[SleepingX3Beauty]

Your plans sound great - although a little early but like all of us on here - we like a plan

We've always found if we get to CM for 12 noon, the characters come out just after and it is nice as there aren't many other people around at that time! Be warned though, both times we've been they wouldn't even let us in the door before 12!!

Re your Dream AP - if you are anxious why don't you get the email address for the hotel and email them a week or so before to let them know you also will be in the room but have an AP. We will be doing that with ours - but ours is slightly different as there are 4 of us so we need 2 double beds, so need to make sure we ask before we get assigned our rooms.

Sorry to hear your trip wasn't that great. Hope their picnics weren't too huge .

Uhm. Well, they ended up going to Annette's with us for dinner. And they shared a lasanga between the two of them at Bella Note's for lunch. And they survived on their boatload of sandwiches for the rest of the day. I tought my heart was pounding out of my chest at the backpack check. God. They both had 2 HUGE backpacks with them, both full with sandwiches, cookies, drinks and sweets and stuff. I almost got a heartattack when we picked them up that morning. It looked as if they were packed for a whole week!
They ended up being lucky with a very lacky CM at the check who just sort of gave your backpack a slight poke and then let you off. Tough we did point them the huge NO PICKNICK INSIDE THE PARK signs, but they didn't really seem to care at all.

They spent the day whining about queus being to long (which they honestly weren't! 5 minutes BTM, 15 Indiana Jones, Space Mountain fastpass so barely 5 minutes, ... The longest we waited was 25 minutes for Pirates which in my opinion is not long considering it was a Saturday AND school break in France!), everything being expensive, attractions being boring (Phantom Manor and Pirates for instance, because "wow that drop was so tiny, are we just going to float around in a boat the rest of the ride and watch those stupid puppets along the side? REALLY?"). To keep it short: It REALLY wasn't their cup of tea. The only thing they did enjoy were BTM and the other coasters, but I don't think they even caught a glimpse of all the theming.
We didn't get to catch the parade since it started to late and we still had to eat, Dreams was on long after we'd be on the bus back home but we knew this before booking this daytrip, ... We did see the Celebration train but they just didn't care about the characters and shows. Such a shame 'cause they missed out on all the magic.
They basically spent the day whining that it was wet (we had a little rain, yet really not even that much), to crowded, the attractions were rubbish and not thrilling enough, everything was to expensive, ... And I could almost literally feel them stepping on my toes with each of their complaints. God, They annoyed me to the bone, I was so glad when we got to drop them off at home!

So I am looking forward to august, when we can enjoy the magic for real this time!

 

[DLPdaft]

and rest - do you feel better now for getting that all out??

I'm impressed you managed to keep calm - I'd have been silently seething as well. Some people just don't get it though, do they?

 

[Bexx]

They do sound like very difficult people to go to Disney with!! Are they the sort of people who see the downside in general? I'm fine with people who don't get, but still appreciate how well done the place is - my mother for instance!! But to call the attractions rubbish...???

Anyway, after that, and with all your planning, you deserve a fab trip next time.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

They sound like Europa park - Silver star people. Send them to Asterix next time

 

[SleepingX3Beauty]

@ Dlpdaft: Loads! Haha I've sort of been walking around with it. My boyfriend let me have my go once we were home but sort off took the "It's over, just enjoy the next trip" attitude while I just couldn't get around the fact that they really had so many complaints. I've tried and tried to look at it their way yet I just can't seem to be able to see it all so negatively.

Yes definitely more the Europa park kind of people! They don't usually tend to go away for weekends and stuff and don't like spending money. I get that it's not in everyones budget but it's not like we forced them to come! They must have known that this wouldn't be their thing so why just not refuse to come and say they're not interested? Would have been fine with that. Now I sort off felt guilty as if I dragged them along for what in their eyes was just a horrible and expensive day out.

Anyways, we've got 3 days in August to look forward to, so I'm trying to get up in the planning of this as much as possible and just enjoy that!

 

[Ware Bears]

Oh well, you know for another time.

Enjoy looking forward to your next trip when it's just the two of you.

 

[jothp]

@ Dlpdaft: Loads! Haha I've sort of been walking around with it. My boyfriend let me have my go once we were home but sort off took the "It's over, just enjoy the next trip" attitude while I just couldn't get around the fact that they really had so many complaints. I've tried and tried to look at it their way yet I just can't seem to be able to see it all so negatively.

Yes definitely more the Europa park kind of people! They don't usually tend to go away for weekends and stuff and don't like spending money. I get that it's not in everyones budget but it's not like we forced them to come! They must have known that this wouldn't be their thing so why just not refuse to come and say they're not interested? Would have been fine with that. Now I sort off felt guilty as if I dragged them along for what in their eyes was just a horrible and expensive day out.

Anyways, we've got 3 days in August to look forward to, so I'm trying to get up in the planning of this as much as possible and just enjoy that!

glad you feel better for letting it all out Now you can enjoy planning this next trip.