Need advice! 3 days, No midday break, in July...

[pinkprincess30]

We will visit DLR for three days in July (looking at any time from July 10-16th). We hope to do DLR 2 days and DCA one day. We are staying with family in the area, about an hour away. This is a budget trip, so hotel is not an option. With the Summer crowds and long hours, how do we handle the schedule? Fireworks and parade are very important to us but we do not need to see them more than one time. We are used to taking a midday break. I had thought about leaving the park for a nice long lunch, and maybe the kiddos could get comfy in the van on the drive to lunch and possibly even get in a short nap. The kids are older but I know we'll all be tired.

Would you suggest arriving late and staying until closing? Arriving early and go strong all day, leaving early when we just can't stay any longer? Doing a marathon day with some low-key attractions midday (tiki room, POTC, etc.)?

We could take a rest day between park days, so going from open to close could be an option, but is that a realistic expectation? I'm just not sure what's best! Advice please!

 

[hanna-nana]

How often do you get to DL? We go every couple of years and like to push through and see as much as we can. We've done 3 days in the summer. Almost opening to just after dinner. With little kids! It's do able. I'd plan a sit down lunch, and some shady rides for mid day.

 

[avalon451]

You can do the whole thing in 3 days and hit all the major attractions, with a plan. I'd suggest reading up on here, like Hydroguy's tips, or investing in an app like Touring Plans (by the authors of The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland). Also that book has some premade plans in the back that work well; you can borrow them from the library. With the app on a smartphone, you can build in breaks, meals, shows and itineraries to fit your family.

I'd suggest getting there first thing, at least 30 minutes before opening. You can take a midday break either at lunch, maybe like you said going somewhere else or to DTD... or someplace quiet like Redwood Challenge Trail... then staying through your nighttime shows.

You might have a challenge getting the family to the gate before opening when you are parking. I'd suggest one of you drops off the rest of the family and goes to park, while the fam get in line.

Good luck, hope you have a great time!

 

[offwithyourhead]

Your kids are old enough that they probably won't want to nap, but the sitdown will be welcome. I think it's a must to have a seated break for lunch, especially in the heat of the day. This is a good time to catch some seated attractions like the tiki room when you're in need of a rest.

Heat is what will probably do you in. Don't run around too much in the hottest parts of the day if possible. You'll feel tired and yucky. If you can keep cool and stay to attractions you don't have to stand outside in the sun for or walk across the park for, you'll be able to go much longer without feeling sluggish.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Personally, I wouldn't leave the resort for lunch. I think getting to the car, driving somewhere, re-parking, and coming back to the parks will just add extra tiredness. But maybe that's just me.

When we choose to skip a hotel break, we just take things a lot slower through the afternoon, especially if it's hot. Some of the things we might choose to do:

Have a leisurely meal. This doesn't necessarily need to be sit-down. Plaza Inn, French Market, Pizza Port, and Flo's can all work for this, although if you want the possibility of air conditioning then Plaza Inn or Flo's are best. Nothing wrong with sit-down either if that will be more relaxing and the budget allows. I usually prefer downtown Disney though for that.

Ice cream break.

Watch a movie at the downtown Disney theater. If legs are tired, you can take the monorail.

We used to watch the Aladdin show right in the middle of the afternoon because that would get us nearly an hour of sitting down inside an air conditioned theater. The Frozen show will have begun by the time of your visit so maybe consider that.

If you're in Disneyland, Mickey and the Magical Map. Not air-conditioned but covered. Also plenty of seating, so you can still get in even if you're running late.

The 3D movies in the parks. Currently those are Path of the Jedi in DL, Bug's Life in DCA, and a movie preview in DCA.

Star Wars launch bay.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Over the years we have found ourselves taking less breaks during the day. On our last trip we didn't come back to the hotel until the end of our day. We've gone that direction because we take things slower during the day. In the early afternoon we find ways to sit down a lot or visit TSI and slow ourselves down.

 

[pinkprincess30]

How often do you get to DL? We go every couple of years and like to push through and see as much as we can. We've done 3 days in the summer. Almost opening to just after dinner. With little kids! It's do able. I'd plan a sit down lunch, and some shady rides for mid day.

We try to go every few years. We went in 2011, then four years later in 2015. It's a happy accident that we get to go again this year. I didn't think we would get to see PTN, which I am super stoked about seeing! We missed it by a couple days last year to avoid crowds.

 

[amyg1975]

I wouldn't leave either, instead we make reservations for a long dinner break (or lunch) to cool off and rest our feet.

 

[ktlm]

Are your kids high energy kids? DD was 9 last year when we went in July. Our flight got there Saturday morning. We were in the park around noon and stayed until just before closing at midnight (we saw the late PTN). The next 2 days, we got there at park opening at 8:00 a.m. and stayed until about 11:00 p.m. both days. We did not take breaks- other than to sit down for meals or a snack. Other things good for a short rest are tikki room, shows, longer rides (like POTC, Small World) etc. DD is a high energy kid and she did fine. (We did another full day after that- but we spent the afternoon of that day at the pool). I will say that I think good shoes are a key. As long as the feet don't wear out or start hurting really badly= we will keep going. We use Body Glide on our feet in the mornings to avoid blisters. It really works.

If you are staying with a friend and can do a beach day or something in between for some rest- that could help if you are not used to full days. We typically almost always do open to close days at WDW and DLR. If you can fit hoppers into the budget, that really helps us get a lot done in a day at DLR- especially since DL was open later than CA- we would hop over when CA closed at 9:00 for a couple more hours at DL. It was also nice because we all love RSR, and we would hop over and single rider it multiple times about every day.

If they run PTN twice a night like they did last summer, and you can make it to the later parade, it makes it much easier to find a spot without a big time investment. We decided to just try it the night before we had really planned to watch the parade, and easily found a 2nd row spot on Main Street about 10 or 15 minutes before the parade started. At least last summer, they were making the first row on the curb sit, and the 2nd row stand, so we had a totally non-obstructed view and it was great!

 

[Kontos]

Out of the 3 days I'd spend one evening and catch Paint the Night and the Fireworks together. Hopefully the fireworks aren't cancelled though. So maybe make this the 1st night? Not sure how good of a spot you'll want for these but people start staking out spots around 5 when I was there a few weeks ago. You can lay down a blanket and have some of your party hold down your spot while others ride and then switch every now and then if you want. And hopefully the park will be open late so you can catch some more rides after the fireworks

 

[Angrose]

For a nice lunch/afternoon break, I would take the monorail to DTD and head to Tangaroa Terrace or Trader Sam's at the DLH. The terrace overlooks the swimming pools which are very tropical with tons of palm trees. It's so peaceful and relaxing over there and it never seems crowded. There are also some cozy sofas just down the steps from Sam's, in front of the fire place, which is another good place to relax. We have also taken breaks in the GCH lobby before.

Something else to consider, since you are driving in from an hour away, is the LA traffic and commute patterns. I would definitely look into this. It might affect your drive to the parks if you're trying to get there for an 8am rope drop, but might not be an issue if you're leaving late at night.

 

[DLgal]

I would strongly recommend against physically leaving Disney property and driving elsewhere at lunchtime. The parking situation is a fiasco on crowded days and you will waste so much time.

A sit down lunch at DtD or one of the hotels is the way to go.

A movie in the afternoon is a great idea. There is also the arcade at ESPN zone.

I am going to go against the grain and suggest that on the day you want to watch the parade and fireworks, DON'T arrive early. Sleep in and have a leisurely morning. Arrive around 10 or 11 or later. That way you won't be beat by late afternoon. When the park is open until late, arrive later is often much more enjoyable.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I would always choose early morning hours in the park over staying late. If I wasn't able to do open to close, Id choose to get there at opening, ride what you can until the lines get long. Then, find other things to do- watch a parade, go to innovations or animation academy, watch the new frozen show, etc. Then head out after fireworks/ world of color if you are tired.

 

[lk2500]

I would think you could marathon 3 days if you didn't go at a crazy pace. I would suggest getting park hoppers though, but then up goes the budget obviously.

I saw somebody post that the Mark Twain river boat is docked and there is plenty of seating in the shade there to enjoy.

 

[coaches24]

I have done a long break without leaving the park by finding a good shaded spot to sit and eat at one of the CS restaurants in the parks. Most people eat and leave so wherever we decide we want to eat if its packed we find the first available spot and then look out for people in the prime spots leaving so we can grab em quick. Then we eat and relax and people watch for a while till we are all energized again and ready to go. Longest we have braked like that was about 2 hours but usually its about an hour or so and we might do it again around dinner time if we plan on staying in the parks late again.

We have done the same in DTD. Eating at a sit down place in DTD disney where there is A/C you can stay for a while there too.

 

[pinkprincess30]

You might have a challenge getting the family to the gate before opening when you are parking. I'd suggest one of you drops off the rest of the family and goes to park, while the fam get in line.

Great idea. I'm sure DH won't mind.

Your kids are old enough that they probably won't want to nap, but the sitdown will be welcome........Heat is what will probably do you in.

You're probably right, the nap idea was probably mostly for me! haha, and I KNOW the heat will be my biggest challenge. I'm a pale red-headed Oregonian!

Personally, I wouldn't leave the resort for lunch. I think getting to the car, driving somewhere, re-parking, and coming back to the parks will just add extra tiredness. But maybe that's just me.

VERY good point. A lot of great ideas in your post. Thank you!

Are your kids high energy kids?.......I will say that I think good shoes are a key. As long as the feet don't wear out or start hurting really badly= we will keep going. We use Body Glide on our feet in the mornings to avoid blisters. It really works.

No, I wouldn't say my kids are particularly high energy but they are troopers. Thanks for the Body Glide suggestion. I always get blisters in the parks and last trip they were so bad I even had to get a scooter to get through our last day.

For a nice lunch/afternoon break, I would take the monorail to DTD and head to Tangaroa Terrace or Trader Sam's at the DLH. The terrace overlooks the swimming pools which are very tropical with tons of palm trees. It's so peaceful and relaxing over there and it never seems crowded. There are also some cozy sofas just down the steps from Sam's, in front of the fire place, which is another good place to relax. We have also taken breaks in the GCH lobby before.

Something else to consider, since you are driving in from an hour away, is the LA traffic and commute patterns. I would definitely look into this. It might affect your drive to the parks if you're trying to get there for an 8am rope drop, but might not be an issue if you're leaving late at night.

Sounds wonderful! Great suggestions on places to relax. My thoughts exactly about L.A. traffic. I am really concerned about that. I don't mind leaving the house early but don't want to sit in traffic for hours.

I would strongly recommend against physically leaving Disney property and driving elsewhere at lunchtime......A movie in the afternoon is a great idea. There is also the arcade at ESPN zone.

I am going to go against the grain and suggest that on the day you want to watch the parade and fireworks, DON'T arrive early. Sleep in and have a leisurely morning. Arrive around 10 or 11 or later. That way you won't be beat by late afternoon. When the park is open until late, arrive later is often much more enjoyable.

Great point about not leaving. I think we've ruled that out. Love the idea of a movie if the budget allows. It's hard to pay $60 to sit in a movie theater when we have a literal amusement park available right next door that's already paid for, ya know? But I get it! I don't know about arriving late...I have heard lines are so long by then. But we may have to make that tough decision if we decide we're just not up for an all-day visit!

*** Thanks everyone for the wonderful suggestions! They have all helped so much!

 

[DLgal]

I would always choose early morning hours in the park over staying late. If I wasn't able to do open to close, Id choose to get there at opening, ride what you can until the lines get long. Then, find other things to do- watch a parade, go to innovations or animation academy, watch the new frozen show, etc. Then head out after fireworks/ world of color if you are tired.

It's not just the lines though. The heat and sun midday can be really intense. Once the evening comes, around 6pm, it begins to cool down considerably and a lot of people (locals) leave by then. The park is so much easier to enjoy in the later times of day in the summer months.

Arriving early doesn't help as much as people think it does. The "shorter lines" benefit runs out within the first hour, if that. After that, lines keep a pretty steady pace for the rest of the day. Plus, a LOT of people arrive early, so that just means longer lines at the parking lot trams, security, and the turnstiles. You waste a lot of time in those lines and by the time you actually get IN the park, the benefit to arriving early is lost.

During the off season, arriving early DOES make a big difference, but not so much in summer.

 

[ktlm]

Thanks for the Body Glide suggestion. I always get blisters in the parks and last trip they were so bad I even had to get a scooter to get through our last day.

You are welcome, I learned about it on the Dis! I used to get blisters every WDW or DL trip. I started using Body Glide years ago, and I have not had even ONE blister at WDW or DL since. I don't know if you are like me and also get blisters every time you get a new pair of shoes- but I use Body Glide when I get a new pair of shoes too, and it works great! No more blisters!


I don't know where it is you are staying or what the drive would be like, but we have been to DLR every summer for the last 6 years and I will say that those first few hours do make a huge difference. We get there when the gates open at 8 (we don't do the early morning hours at 7) and we get a ton done in the first 2 hours. The parks feel empty to us for that first couple of hours. We go to WDW too, and it is night and day from mornings at WDW, where you are lucky if you get 30 or 45 minutes before the crowds start to set in. I would say that the crowds at DLR really start picking up around 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. Even last year in July, we found the park pretty empty the first couple of hours-- definitely more empty than later at night (but last year PTN and the version of WOC were new- so the local crowds were staying later). I think it is probably because of the local traffic though and people trying to avoid it-- so the early time might not work out so great for you with traffic.

Also, even if you do CA your first day and don't have hoppers, I would try to watch the DL fireworks from the plaza between the parks. Last July, I was sorry we did not catch them our first night because they were cancelled the other 2 nights we tried to see them from Main Street. I think they are cancelled a lot for wind during the summer. We couldn't even feel any wind the nights they were cancelled, and based on fireworks at home the fact they were cancelled seemed a bit ridiculous to us-- BUT DLR is shooting them off in a really populated area so I think they have to be extra careful. As far as the heat and sun midday being "really intense"- I think that is going to depend on where you live. We live in the Southern Mid-West and California's version of hot is not even remotely close to our version of hot. There have been days when we have been in the parks and heard the locals complaining of how horribly hot it was and how miserable they were and we thought the temperature was nice- much cooler and less humid than home!

 

[pinkprincess30]

Also, even if you do CA your first day and don't have hoppers, I would try to watch the DL fireworks from the plaza between the parks. Last July, I was sorry we did not catch them our first night because they were cancelled the other 2 nights we tried to see them. I think they are cancelled a lot for wind during the summer. We couldn't even feel any wind the nights they were cancelled, and based on fireworks at home the fact they were cancelled seemed a bit ridiculous to us-- BUT DLR is shooting them off in a really populated area so I think they have to be extra careful. As far as the heat and sun midday being "really intense"- I think that is going to depend on where you live. We live in the Southern Mid-West and California's version of hot is not even remotely close to our version of hot. There have been days when we have been in the parks and heard the locals complaining of how horribly hot it was and how miserable they were and we thought the temperature was nice- much cooler and less humid than home!

Actually, when we were there last May they closed Disneyland early but no one knew why....turned out they were doing a test run of the 60th Fireworks show and we got to watch it from the plaza as we left DCA and it was Ah. Maze. Ing! I can't wait to see it in all it's glory on Main Street!

We are from the high desert of Oregon, so we are used to snow in the winter & 90's in the Summer. I am a delicate red-headed flower though, so I wilt! haha

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The Waze app (free) might be helpful for your drive to/from DLR. It gives you the choice of the most direct route or the quickest (sometimes very different things in Southern California terms). The DLR app can be handy, too. Also, don't wait until you are thirsty to get a drink. Keep hydrated throughout the day (free cups of ice water from most CS places). This will help prevent overheating in the parks.