My plan - any suggestions?

[DLKiwi]

Hello all

Like many I like the planning and reading what other people are up to. I'm heading to DL in April with my GF and sister. I've mentioned in another thread why this trip will be a special one for us... no need for me to repeat it but if you a curious you can search it out under my name I'm mainly curious for any improvements/suggestions that anyone may have.

We fly in to LAX on Tuesday 17th April in the morning. Rental car for the day to check out Santa Monica, Griffiths Park, Chinese Theatre before going to our hotel. It's right near Disney but not a DL hotel this time unfortunately.

Wednesday is a slightly slow start, getting into the park a little after it opens. Taking the train around the park, walking up Main St. Was thinking about rides like Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Tiki Room (I love pineapple so looking forward to finding what this Dole Whip is all about).... plus whatever Fast Passes we get any any of the big rides that happen to have short lines. Thinking about getting Ridemax and using a line-times app to help us out. Ridemax maybe just in the afternoon.

Not yet sure when to pop over to DCA, perhaps when the line-time app shows it to be a good time. Dinner at Wine Country and the Preferred Viewing area for WOC. I know many people here say reserved dinner does not equal good viewing... but surely it must help just a tiny bit?? Anyways we (the gf and sister especially) like to eat good as much as possible (don't think fine-dining; avoiding fast and fatty mainly) so I'm sure Wine Country will help in that.

Probably won't push it too late at the park Wed night except if we see some small lines (we don't like lines!).

Thursday is MM. My previous thread had about 1000 people out of 100 tell me that we have to do Peter Pan; so we are going there first. Then maybe Toad's, Space Mt.... we'll see. Big rides day. Trying to get a lot of both DL and DCA done. Maybe Fantasmic tonight or maybe Friday.

Friday wrapping up whatever we didn't get on the big rides, or repeating good ones. Got to try hit a couple of parades and Fantasmic if we didn't the night before. Fantasimic will be reserved desserts just because how often do people from New Zealand get to go to DL?

Saturday is Universal Studios. I had a question in the "So Cal" thread but didn't have much luck with feedback there: I'm considering using Southern GreyLine to get from Anaheim to Universal. Possibly the Combo tour that does a short tour on the way home.

The hotel pick up is around 8:15am, off to their main base, and then to the park. They say that we'd get there around 10am. Is that accurate? Or are we going to be getting to the park late and not getting as much time at Universal? Since it's Saturday hopefully traffic is not too bad.

I'm renting a car the following day anyway, and we are a group of 3, so I'm considering just renting the car a day early and getting to the park as it opens. I like the idea of a tour after we have finished in the park (as offered by Greyline) but I guess we may be that tired that we just want to get back to our Anaheim hotel. Or we may want to look around ourselves.

Sunday rental car... free day to check out whatever in LA takes our fancy. The girls may make me go to an outlet store before leaving

I guess that's about it. I'm missing a few bits of information and especially low on dining options. I don't want to sit down every meal, but want to be good not-typical theme park food where possible. I'll be looking through those threads as well so not asking for repeated info as such

Any info/feedback/improvements on anything greatly appreciated.

 

[Eeee-va]

Ridemax is very good for avoiding lines, but it gives you a very strict outline you must follow to experience the rides with little wait. It feels like you're on a schedule (which you are!) more than wandering through a magical place. On the other hand, since you are only there 3 days, if there are more than, say, 20 rides on your "absolutely must do" list, Ridemax could help you ensure you can do them all.

I haven't read enough of your posts to quite follow what you're looking for in a trip. You say you don't like lines, yet you're arriving after park opening on Wednesday, then riding the train around the park. That's a fun and relaxing way to start the day but it's not the best way to do a lot of rides with no lines. So from that, I am guessing (again, not sure) that you want to kind of relax and meander (yet avoid lines when possible). If that's the case, I think a line times app will probably be more helpful to you than Ridemax. I've never used one (my phone is not that cool) but I think it'd be great.

I'd still get to the park at opening that first day if you can possibly swing it, though. The first couple hours are much less crowded than the rest of the day. Even if you just ride the train around.

And if you get there at opening and are going to the train anyway, I would ask the CM at the station if the Lilly Belle (the private car on the back of one of the trains) is running and if you can ride it. If it's available they will give you a time to come back later and ride it around. I've heard you have to rush to the train station first thing in the morning and ask...so if you're there early in the morning anyway, you're not losing any time to ask!

For food, others have different favorites, but here are mine. (You can see ALL the options at http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm or you can try http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/dining/menus.cfm )

*Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta in Paradise Pier in DCA (counter-service) - nice atmosphere and very good pasta, served on real plates!

*Pacific Wharf area at DCA (quick service) is great if you really don't know what you want to eat, or if your party has differing tastes--there are several eateries (Mexican, Asian, bakery with salads and soups). I really enjoyed a salad in a sourdough bread bowl.

*Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square, Disneyland (sit-down restaurant) - beautiful atmosphere and great food...though in my opinion the best thing is the pommes frites, so not sure if that would be too fatty for you.

*Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square, Disneyland (fanciest restaurant in park) - Since you just have 3 days, I would choose between this and Cafe Orleans. I prefer the food at Cafe Orleans, and the atmosphere is still nice. Since the Blue Bayou is inside Pirates of the Caribbean, you're paying for eating inside the ride. But it was nice enough.

*Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country, Disneyland (quick service) - The Fried Green Tomato Sandwich is interesting, though it sounds like the "fried" aspect may not be quite what you want. (Worse, if I could do it again I would get onion rings instead of sweet potato fries! )

Fortunately, most of the quick-service restaurants at Disneyland had menu revamps in the last year or two, so they have some interesting options now. And actually, there's a place in Fantasyland (Troubadour Tavern) that serves baked potatoes with toppings like barbecue chicken! Rancho del Zocalo is a pleasant place to eat with pretty good food (Mexican-style).

Have a great trip!

 

[skiingfast]

I think taking the Grayline package is a good idea. If you rent you could leave about 30-45 minutes later and beat the bus, but then spend 15 minutes parking.


You WoC meal mostly just put's you close to the center view. Still show up early to get against a rail or at the top of steps to watch from.

 

[DLKiwi]

Eee-va,
Hopefully we get to see your name sake in Pixar Pal's Parade... (I've no idea who is in it).

You are quite perceptive... I'm trying to avoid lines whilst not arriving early on our first day. My theory here is that I give my sister and gf a good first impression (not needing to rush to be at the front of any lines) by going around the park on the train then taking in Main St and maybe DTD. Thanks for the idea for the Lilly Belle!

Perhaps I'll play around with Ridemax and start it mid-morning on the first day, then stick to its schedule as much as possible on the second day. At night at the hotel I can adjust as needed for the second day.

Thanks for the food recommendations - perfect! I don't meant to make it sound like we have a perma-ban on fried food - I'm just trying to find a good balance. I'll be looking into your recommendations in more detail.

Skiingfast,
If the bus arrives at 10am like the company claims, that will be close to opening, so that is good... originally thought that the park opened earlier and/or the bus wouldn't be there until 11am. I think I just need to make a personal decision about our post-park plans. Self-tour do-what-we-want vs 2hr bus tour with commentary.

Thanks guys/girls. Good stuff worth thinking about.

 

[rella's fan]

Me and DD did a similar trip last year. We didn't do Universal but we did do a day trip to San Diego Zoo with Grayline and it was great. Just wanted to mention that instead of renting a car we took the train (Amtrak) and then the subway to the Chinese theater and this is also where we caught the hop on and off bus for the day. Loved the hop on and off bus - no parking hassles and it has stops at all the places we wanted to get to (the Grove/Farmers Market, Pinks hot dogs, Rodeo drive and it even goes to Santa Monica)