Need Help please! Which park, which days

[Sabbysuburbia]

We are arriving around noon May 29 (2 adults, 4 kids: 10, 14, 18, 19). We have 4 day hoppers and are staying at Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. First time at DLR, half of us are WDW vets. Our tentative plan is to get our rental car, check in to the hotel early and go to DL for the evening. I figured hit a few rides, meet Mickey and grab dinner. My question for you all is how to approach the next 3 days. We have Tuesday (30th) and Wednesday (May 31) as full days. These days are also "grad nights". Then Thursday (June 1) is mostly a full day but our last day in Anaheim. That afternoon/evening we will travel to see family in Dana Point.

At first I thought, DL Tuesday morning and use our MM that day. However, I'm worried about time differences and a possible late night Monday after a long travel day. If we go to DCA Tuesday, then DL Wednesday, would we use our MM at DL Thursday? Seems like overkill since we would rope drop Wednesday at DL. Any input greatly appreciated. I'm sure I'm overthinking this somehow and just need someone to point us in the right direction! Thanks!

 

[DisTXMom]

Magic hours need to feed into your schedule because you'll want to be at the park with normal operating hours (unless you're using them). Your plan of DCA day 1, DL day 2 and DL MM day 3 rope drops is exactly what I'd do. DL has tons of attractions and having a normal rope drop plus your MM will let you see a lot of things. You need the non MM rope drop at DCA to do RSR, TSMM and Soarin (we haven't been since TSMM had FP). With the west coast time, mornings were no big deal for us (we are CST), even with Kate flight night before. Also, you'll be able to park hop easily if your current park is busy and the other one shows more reasonable wait times. We are WDW vets and have fallen in love with the ease of DLR. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Winnowill]

I would do just what you're planning for your first two full days, and then make the decision based on what you've already experienced and what you still want to do whether to do the DL MM or a rope drop at DCA on the Thursday. Either is an equally good choice, it just depends on what you decide, based on your previous two days, your next priorities are.

 

[Sabbysuburbia]

Magic hours need to feed into your schedule because you'll want to be at the park with normal operating hours (unless you're using them). Your plan of DCA day 1, DL day 2 and DL MM day 3 rope drops is exactly what I'd do. DL has tons of attractions and having a normal rope drop plus your MM will let you see a lot of things. You need the non MM rope drop at DCA to do RSR, TSMM and Soarin (we haven't been since TSMM had FP). With the west coast time, mornings were no big deal for us (we are CST), even with Kate flight night before. Also, you'll be able to park hop easily if your current park is busy and the other one shows more reasonable wait times. We are WDW vets and have fallen in love with the ease of DLR. Hope you have a great trip!

Thanks so much! Glad to hear some good feedback on my plans. Still working out the morning itineraries, but needed a day to day plan first! So excited!! We are CST too and I on other trips to Cali we are awake super early. Kind of forgot about that! Happy to hear multiple rope drops won't be difficult.

 

[Sabbysuburbia]

I would do just what you're planning for your first two full days, and then make the decision based on what you've already experienced and what you still want to do whether to do the DL MM or a rope drop at DCA on the Thursday. Either is an equally good choice, it just depends on what you decide, based on your previous two days, your next priorities are.

Good idea about the last day...I was kind of thinking that too. Play it by ear. It's just so foreign to me to plan this way...or not plan really. Our WDW trips are way less flexible I feel due to the parks being so far away from each other. Once I plan which day to go where, including FP+ and dinner reservations, I feel so locked it. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Sabbysuburbia]

Our trip is coming up fast and I'm still trying to figure out a daily plan. Here's what I have so far....

Monday 5/29 - Arrival day, check into hotel, hopefully enter DL park in early afternoon, ride what we can, see parade and fireworks if we are all still awake!
Tuesday 5/30 - Rope Drop at DCA
Wednesday 6/1 - Rope Drop at DL
Thursday 6/2 - MM at DL

So, my questions are really which rides to tackle on which day at DL??? I've read mostly that MM at DL should always be Fantasyland. Which would lead me to think on Wednesday for regular rope drop, I should go to Space first. However, Space is closed until Thursday. My dilemma is that we ALL want to ride Space at least once. I'm thinking we wouldn't have a chance on our arrival day due to our late arrival and the fact that its going to be shut down for the next few days. How will this affect Thursday's return of Space? Given all this info...should we do Fantasyland on Wednesday for rope drop and do MM of Space on Thursday?? Then after Space, what should be head to next?

 

[DLRExpert]

Keep in mind that the return of the original Space Mountain will make that attraction very popular for the first few weeks after opening.

Fantasyland should be done the first thing at rope drop or the start of MM because no attraction (not counting Matterhorn) offers Fastpass.

For your non-MM day at DL, I would try to fit in Peter Pan first. If the line is 100 guests deep, skip it and make it a priority on your MM day. Otherwise, just ride it when you are looking for something to do, maybe waiting to use your next FP. Keep an eye on the Disneyland App and if you see the wait time at 30-35 minutes, get in line.

Since the park opens at 8am, you will have one-hour to do what you need to do in Fantasyland before it starts to get crowded. Ride Casey Jr. (not open during MM), then grab FP for the Matterhorn. You really want to be out of Fantasyland by 9am.

For me, I like to be on the Westside (Adventureland, Frontierland, etc.) by 830am-9am. You can do pretty much everything (except Indy) without any line, until about 1030am.

So after you grab FP for the Matterhorn, ride Big Thunder no FP needed, then Jungle Cruise, Pirates, grab FP for Indy, Splash Mountain, Pooh, Mansion, use FP for Matterhorn, grab FP for Space Mountain, use FP for Indy. It should be around 1130am. Next FP should be Star Tours.

Since most of the Tomorrowland attractions have FP. I will get FPs starting with Space before Lunch but will not experience that area until after lunch. Finding Nemo, Autopia, and Buzz I would do right before or after the parade and fireworks.

PM me if you have any other questions.

ME