Need 1 Day DL for next week!

[gemduncan]

I have done very little to no planning. We are going to be at DL for 1 day next Thursday, June 16. I'm traveling with daughter (7 yrs old) and my brother. We are staying with my brother who lives 20 minutes from DL. He has never been to the park.

Brother wants to do the big rides. I'm too scared of heights for big rides. Not sure what daughter will want to do. We've watched YouTube of the popular rides.

Also, we have no dining reservations. Any recos?

What time and where should we go for the day and night parades?

Not to concerned about seeing characters because we went on Disney Cruise in March and saw ALL the characters there.

Any advice for 1 day at DL park only?

 

[Nevada Jen]

Get there before the park opens. Like be pulling into the parking garage an hour before (or better yet, take an uber). Take a breakfast to eat while you wait for the park to open. I don't think any of the rides at DL are off limits if you have a fear of heights. Maybe skip Peter Pan because that has a height factor (its really more visual than actual height). Oh, and I guess Splash Mountain. I would make one sit down reservation. Maybe one that comes with a package for the evening entertainment. And I can't be firm enough that the key to enjoying the park is to get there when it opens. I would say you probably want to grab a space mountain fastpass and then head straight to fantasyland. Although, if you can live without fantasyland, you will have a much easier time hitting the highlights. Also, check your daughters height against the rides requirements before you go. If she is average height, she should be good for all the rides.

 

[gemduncan]

Get there before the park opens. Like be pulling into the parking garage an hour before (or better yet, take an uber). Take a breakfast to eat while you wait for the park to open. I don't think any of the rides at DL are off limits if you have a fear of heights. Maybe skip Peter Pan because that has a height factor (its really more visual than actual height). Oh, and I guess Splash Mountain. I would make one sit down reservation. Maybe one that comes with a package for the evening entertainment. And I can't be firm enough that the key to enjoying the park is to get there when it opens. I would say you probably want to grab a space mountain fastpass and then head straight to fantasyland. Although, if you can live without fantasyland, you will have a much easier time hitting the highlights. Also, check your daughters height against the rides requirements before you go. If she is average height, she should be good for all the rides.

I was planning on making Peter Pan our very first ride once we enter the park. We MUST do Fantasyland. DD would love all those rides there. My DD and brother will probably go on Splash Mountain without me. But she seemed scared of Space Mountain since it's in the dark, so we might skip that ride. DD is 52" tall, so she can ride pretty much anything. Yay!

Thanks for the tip on sit-down dinner. I just made reservations at Cafe Orleans. This way we can stay inside the park for dinner. It will also be a good break for DD because I'm sure she will be exhausted. Oh, and thanks for tip on parking garage. My brother lives 20 minutes from the park, so we will definitely drive.

Any other tips and must dos for 1 Day at DL?

 

[Angrose]

You will be there on a Thursday, which is a Magic Morning day, so there will be a lot of people that entered the park an hour before you. Peter Pan will already have a long wait because of this, but it will be long all day. You will probably be better off doing the other Fantasyland rides first, while their lines are still relatively short, and then either do PP or move on to Adventureland/NOS and pick a time when everything else is busy to ride PP. The west side of the park will feel pretty quiet with short waits until about 10am. Rides like Splash Mtn, Pirates, BTMRR, HM, Jungle Cruise will be almost walk-ons.

I would recommend that you load the Disneyland app if you have a smartphone. The app is just called "Disneyland" and it is a blue icon with a white castle. The app will give you wait times and tell if fast passes are still available and that the returns time are. It's super helpful!!

When it starts to feel super crowded after lunch, definitely take a break to see a show like Mickey and the Magical Map or one of the shows at the Royal Theatre. The Magical Map show does not require you to show up too far in advance, but you would want to get to the Royal Theatre about 15min early if you see any of those shows.

You asked about parades. I don't see the afternoon parade, Soundsational, on the schedule for that day, maybe due to budget cuts? So, you will want to find a spot for PTN about an hour ahead of time. If you want to see the fireworks after the parade then being on or close to Main St. is the best place to be. I have had good luck finding places in Town Square. There is a little trick that you can try. They will rope off two sections of the street at the start of Main St about 20min before the parade: one area is between the Emporium and the Fire Station, and the other area is across the street between Disney Showcase and the Square. Once they put the ropes up then people can sit or stand right in front of the rope. After the parade, just move up onto Main St for the fireworks. You will probably need to hold up your daughter so she can see the fireworks.

Café Orleans is fantastic. I recommend sitting outside on the patio. Enjoy!

 

[gemduncan]

You will be there on a Thursday, which is a Magic Morning day, so there will be a lot of people that entered the park an hour before you. Peter Pan will already have a long wait because of this, but it will be long all day. You will probably be better off doing the other Fantasyland rides first, while their lines are still relatively short, and then either do PP or move on to Adventureland/NOS and pick a time when everything else is busy to ride PP. The west side of the park will feel pretty quiet with short waits until about 10am. Rides like Splash Mtn, Pirates, BTMRR, HM, Jungle Cruise will be almost walk-ons.

I would recommend that you load the Disneyland app if you have a smartphone. The app is just called "Disneyland" and it is a blue icon with a white castle. The app will give you wait times and tell if fast passes are still available and that the returns time are. It's super helpful!!

When it starts to feel super crowded after lunch, definitely take a break to see a show like Mickey and the Magical Map or one of the shows at the Royal Theatre. The Magical Map show does not require you to show up too far in advance, but you would want to get to the Royal Theatre about 15min early if you see any of those shows.

You asked about parades. I don't see the afternoon parade, Soundsational, on the schedule for that day, maybe due to budget cuts? So, you will want to find a spot for PTN about an hour ahead of time. If you want to see the fireworks after the parade then being on or close to Main St. is the best place to be. I have had good luck finding places in Town Square. There is a little trick that you can try. They will rope off two sections of the street at the start of Main St about 20min before the parade: one area is between the Emporium and the Fire Station, and the other area is across the street between Disney Showcase and the Square. Once they put the ropes up then people can sit or stand right in front of the rope. After the parade, just move up onto Main St for the fireworks. You will probably need to hold up your daughter so she can see the fireworks.

Café Orleans is fantastic. I recommend sitting outside on the patio. Enjoy!

Wow! Angrose - very helpful!! I didn't realize it was a Magic Morning day. I knew Summer would be a crazy / busy time, but now it sounds like it will be even more crowded because of this. And I guess this means we will not be able to see the "rope drop" when the park opens? I appreciate the tips about the west side of the park.

Yes, I downloaded the DL app plus some other ones.

DD definitely wants to see the fireworks at night. I probably won't be able to pick her up. She weighs about 65 lbs. I'm not familiar with the layout of the park, so I will have to Google for maps; and figure out where the Emporium/Fire Station and the other locations are for the best views.

Any tips about the PhotoPass? Should I buy it the day I'm at the park?

Also, any advice on where to grab lunch inside the Disneyland Park?

 

[gemduncan]

Bump! Angrose - any help with my other questions? Thanks in advance!