Need advice

[taniapacheco]

So we have been to disneyland twice before. Once with a 4 year and a 13 month old and once with a 12, 9,5 and 2 yo. we have done whatever we wanted not worried too much about things. this time we have 8 people going. One a 18yo first timer. The others are me my dh and my mother who is 59 but she just ran 21K this weekend so she is in shape. Another 18, 15,10 and 7 yo. we bought a package through the disney travel company. So we got magical extras. As vets should we use the extras(early mornings etc) especially because we have a first timer with us. I want her to get the most out of it she is super excited. we've never done the early morning things because of small kids or just being lazy. I am going to book a character breakfast we have done goofy's kitchen before would like to try another. Someone from where I live loved minnie and friends in the park??? Anyone else think it was good. Any other great tips. thanks in advance I am getting super excited myself. we will arrive the evening of the 23 of july so the 24 will be our first day. We have 4 day passes.

 

[DLR29]

I definitely recommend using the various forms of Early Admission. Check out the Early Admission SuperThread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

If you're staying onsite (which you didn't mention where you're staying), you can take advantage of Extra Magic Hour at both DL and DCA. If you're staying offsite, you will have 1 Magic Morning on your ticket. The thread clarifies the difference between these 2.

Especially when it's gonna be pretty crowded this summer (with Carsland opening a month before you go), the mornings are wonderful times to get lots of rides/attractions done with shorter lines. And it's not just the big roller coasters...Peter Pan and Dumbo can have really long lines later in the day. With Early Admission (or even just showing up in the early morning), you can knock off these rides with minimal wait times.

 

[taniapacheco]

We are staying across the street at a good neighbor hotel and bought through the Disney website as a package with 4 day park hoppers

 

[DizFan13]

It would be a great idea to take advantage of your early entry, especially with the crowds that you will experience. We will be there the same week, and are expecting lines to build fast and early.

Some people do not like to stick to a schedule, and prefer to tour in a more relaxed fashion. It sounds like that has been your approach prior to this trip. Have you always gone during busy times? I am a hard and fast believer in hitting the parks early, riding while the lines are reasonable and collecting fastpasses, then relaxing in the middle of the day by either enjoying shows or parades, visiting DTD, or returning to the hotel for a rest and/or swim. We return to the park in the evenings to use our fastpasses and to watch nighttime shows. This is so routine to us that it does not feel strict or rigorous, but when I describe the up at dawn method to others, I have seen people wince. If it won't be fun for your family to follow a plan such as this, it might not be worth it. However, I can promise you that if you do, you will ride more rides with less wait time. You have to decide what is most important to you. If you want the first timer to experience everything in July, I would highly recommend using early entry to its max potential, and to enter the parks at opening on the other three mornings.

We have never had the character breakfast at Plaza Inn, but it is popular here on the boards, so that's probably a good sign.

 

[taniapacheco]

Thanks for the replies so far. I am totally on board using the early start. Thanks for btdt advice. Glad to hear the extras are worth it. Ive heard others getting up early and rest mid day. Do you have experience staying really late close to closing?

 

[DizFan13]

We have stayed late, and "closed the park." It is it's own kind of fun, and I think it is great to do every once in a while. We used to stay in the park all day, every day, but experience has taught us that this should be a once in awhile venture. One fun way to enjoy the night is to watch the first of the night shows on a night with late closing, and then enjoy rides until closing. The lines get shorter as closing approaches, and some rides are a different experience at night. Some of our favorite rides to experience at night are Big Thunder, Jungle Cruise, and Screamin'. Screamin' is hard to ride in the dark since WoC, though, since it closes down half an hour before the first show.

We now stay late as a part of the "break-days," when we have rested in the afternoon. The break helps to refresh everyone. If you do stay til close, I recommend riding rides until the last minute, and plan on a slow, leisurely exit. Because the shops stay open an hour after closing, the crowd disburses slowly. If you are in line for a ride just before closing, however, you will be allowed to ride. That is the best way to close the park, in my opinion!

 

[mouseymommy]

We always get there at open and take a midday break. We return around 5 or 6 pm and stay until close. We usually go during spring break and it gets pretty crowded. Late at night it really calmed down and we were able to get on lots of rides quickly. That big nap in the middle of the day helps keep all my kids going into the late night. They are 10, 4, and 2. Have fun!

 

[indygirl99]

Another thing to think about is do you expect the group to stay together no matter what or can you plan to split up.

An example might be: No way am I getting on Ca Screaming from part of the group and the others say no way to Silly swings. Can you split and meet up latter at a different ride all want to ride.

 

[taniapacheco]

I think we are ok to split up. I think all of the kids are dare devils and my mom is ok to wait and watch. We are pretty flexible although I want a loose schedule for coming and going