Need help figuring out a first day schedule

[cheshirecat.star]

Hello All!

We are arriving to LA on January 7th (Sunday). I know it will be the last day to ride a few of the rides and we had planned to go that evening. I realized we were actually going to get to LA around 11am-12pm. Check in to our house isn't until 4pm. I went to go see about renting it one more night, only so I can get entry in the morning of the 7th and found out it was already rented out.

SO....do we go to the park when we get there, leave in the late afternoon to check in, eat dinner at the house, relax a bit, then head back to the park that night? Is that too much? We have 5 day park hopper passes, we will be there Sunday the 7th - Thursday the 11th (we leave Friday morning for home).

Thanks for any input on trying to figure out the first day there.

p.s. the house says it is 1.5 miles away from Disneyland and about 10 minutes from the house to the parking lot.

 

[figment_jii]

I think it really depends on how much you want to a) see the holiday entertainment, b) ride Haunted Mansion Holiday, and c) ride some of the attractions on Paradise Pier. As you noted, the 7th is the last day for the holiday entertainment and offerings (the Christmas parade, Believe...in Holiday Magic fireworks, WoC: Seasons of Light, Festival of the Holidays, and Viva Navidad), Haunted Mansion Holiday, and select attractions on Paradise Pier (Screamin' and Mickey's Fun Wheel). If any of those are high priority to you, you'll have to go on the 7th. My guess is that it will be very busy in the parks because it's the last day for the holidays and it's the first day when the SoCal APs are allowed back in (so Signature Plus, Signature, Deluxe, and SoCal are all eligible). I would keep an eye on the Disneyland Today twitter feed to make sure they don't close the parking structures/lots while you're en-route. It's probably the only chance to see fireworks and F! as well because once the holiday season ends, there is a good chance that those offerings will only be presented Fri, Sat, and Sun of most weeks until Spring Break season. I would still go on the 7th to see as much of the holidays as I could, but personally, I would probably skip going back to the house to check in and just do that after you're done with the parks for the day (unless there is no option to do that).

 

[cheshirecat.star]

Thank you for the help!

 

[PHXscuba]

Unless you have to check in by a certain time, I'd also say to try to stay at the parks as long as you can on Sunday before leaving. I know after travel we often crash at some point, and then we don't want to go back. That 1.5 miles could be an hour each way on a busy day because of traffic, parking, security, tram, walk, turnstiles, etc. So once you leave the park it could take a while to get to your house, and even longer to get back to DL.

I'd see what FPs are available as soon as you get to the park for the last day of any attractions, then take in the holiday atmosphere along with standby lines for other holiday stuff. You'll have plenty of time the next 4 days to accomplish everything.

PHXscuba

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Unless you have to check in by a certain time, I'd also say to try to stay at the parks as long as you can on Sunday before leaving. I know after travel we often crash at some point, and then we don't want to go back. That 1.5 miles could be an hour each way on a busy day because of traffic, parking, security, tram, walk, turnstiles, etc. So once you leave the park it could take a while to get to your house, and even longer to get back to DL.

I'd see what FPs are available as soon as you get to the park for the last day of any attractions, then take in the holiday atmosphere along with standby lines for other holiday stuff. You'll have plenty of time the next 4 days to accomplish everything.

PHXscuba

100% agree with that advice. Coming and going by car takes much longer than you think it will. Wait to enter the parking structure or lot, wait to ride the bus or tram, wait through security, walk to the gates, wait in line... I would go straight to the park, do as much as you feel like doing and go to the house at the end of the day.

 

[cheshirecat.star]

Unless you have to check in by a certain time, I'd also say to try to stay at the parks as long as you can on Sunday before leaving. I know after travel we often crash at some point, and then we don't want to go back. That 1.5 miles could be an hour each way on a busy day because of traffic, parking, security, tram, walk, turnstiles, etc. So once you leave the park it could take a while to get to your house, and even longer to get back to DL.

I'd see what FPs are available as soon as you get to the park for the last day of any attractions, then take in the holiday atmosphere along with standby lines for other holiday stuff. You'll have plenty of time the next 4 days to accomplish everything.

PHXscuba

Thank you! I think you are right and we should go first, then come back to the house when we are ready for the night. Thanks for the advice.

 

[cheshirecat.star]

100% agree with that advice. Coming and going by car takes much longer than you think it will. Wait to enter the parking structure or lot, wait to ride the bus or tram, wait through security, walk to the gates, wait in line... I would go straight to the park, do as much as you feel like doing and go to the house at the end of the day.

Thank you! You all are really helping me plan that first funky day.