Need Help With Disneyland Plan

[PrincessJasmine08]

This will be our first trip to Disneyland and I am working out a plan for that park. It will be myself, my sister, and my best friend. We won't have any kids with us. Having been to WDW so many times I know exactly how long everything is going to take! This Disneyland planning is really stressing me out! I'm wondering if this plan is reasonable and do-able. Does my timing sound about right? THANK YOU to anyone who can help!!

Sunday, March 29, 2009
*At gate by 6:45am for morning magic hour (staying at Disneyland Hotel)
*One person walks quickly to get fastpasses for Space Mountain while the other 2 head to Nemo.
*Everyone meets up at Nemo and rides.
*Ride Matterhorn Bobsleds.
*Ride Peter Pan.
*Ride Buzz Lightyear.
*Ride Space Mountain using fastpasses. (What time of day might it be by now?)
*Ride Big Thunder Mountain.
*Get Splash Mountain fastpasses.
*Ride Winnie the Pooh.
*Ride Indiana Jones.
*Ride Pirates of the Caribbean.
*Ride the Haunted Mansion. (What time of day might it be by now?)
*Back to hotel for nap/swim.
*Back to park in time for dinner at Blue Bayou at 6:10pm.
*Tour park (no set plans) until fireworks at 9:25pm.

Questions...
When would be a good time/location to stop for lunch?
When can I fit in the Golden Horseshoe show? A friend recommended it to me, but I don't quite know what it is.

 

[KerTggr]

Keep in mind that this is Spring Break for some of CA and AZ.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

How many park days do you have?

 

[avalon451]

Do you have just the one day in the park?

For MM, if you want to do Nemo on a Sunday MM during spring break, I would get to the security tables by 6:30 at the latest, 6:15 would be better.

You won't want to try Peter Pan after Nemo and the Matterhorn, because the line will be up to 45 minutes or more already, by then. It's kind of a choice between Nemo and PP. If you're not doing Nemo, around here everybody says PP first, always first!

You won't be able to pick up FPs for Space when you first get in for MM. Fastpasses aren't available until the park opens up for general admission, at 8 a.m.

You might want to take a look at Hydroguy's tips-- he has lots of helpful threads in there, for WDW vets and for getting the most out of MM and FP. It's better than any guidebook, in my opinion. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

That sounds like such a fun trip with the 3 of you! Hope you have a great time!

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Keep in mind that this is Spring Break for some of CA and AZ.

As well as Indiana. That's why I'm trying to have a firm plan in place.

How many park days do you have?

Three. We would like to do one day fully devoted to Disneyland, the next DCA, and then the third I really want to play by ear depending on which park we enjoyed more. We can also hop that third day to re-visit favorite attractions.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Do you have just the one day in the park?

For MM, if you want to do Nemo on a Sunday MM during spring break, I would get to the security tables by 6:30 at the latest, 6:15 would be better.

You won't want to try Peter Pan after Nemo and the Matterhorn, because the line will be up to 45 minutes or more already, by then. It's kind of a choice between Nemo and PP. If you're not doing Nemo, around here everybody says PP first, always first!

You won't be able to pick up FPs for Space when you first get in for MM. Fastpasses aren't available until the park opens up for general admission, at 8 a.m.

You might want to take a look at Hydroguy's tips-- he has lots of helpful threads in there, for WDW vets and for getting the most out of MM and FP. It's better than any guidebook, in my opinion. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

That sounds like such a fun trip with the 3 of you! Hope you have a great time!

You snuck in on me!

Maybe we should do Nemo that first morning in Disneyland and then plan for Peter Pan the second morning. I will take a look at that thread. Thanks for the tips!! We are definitely looking forward to this trip! All 3 of us have worked at WDW (sister is still employed there) but know NOTHING about Disneyland!

p.s. love your Twilight pic in your signature.

 

[fairycat]

First relax Disneyland takes a lot less work! Also you might want to think of switching parks mid day since its so easy to park hop and some rides are way easier to get on in the evening at Disneyland.

*Ride Big Thunder Mountain.
*Get Splash Mountain fastpasses.
*Ride Winnie the Pooh.
*Ride Indiana Jones.
*Ride Pirates of the Caribbean.
*Ride the Haunted Mansion. (What time of day might it be by now?)
*Back to hotel for nap/swim.
*Back to park in time for dinner at Blue Bayou at 6:10pm.
*Tour park (no set plans) until fireworks at 9:25pm.

I know its a bit out of the way but I might go get a Splash Mountain FP first, Ride Winnie the Pooh, go see the line for Indy, if its not too long I would wait for that one, do Jungle Cruise head back for Splash and if the line for HM and POTC is short I would hope in them. If they are long I would go to DCA or go relax and then go back and hit POTC and HM in the evening. HM's line always shortens in the evening.

I hate to say I am terrible at planning so we usually hit things as we see good lines and try to FP everything else.

 

[Hound 109]

How many park days do you have?

& what are those days?

 

[KerTggr]

As WDW vetrans, I agree you should check out the hydroguy tips. Also keep a map handy as DL layout is considerably different than MK (esp Adventureland/ NO Square & CC). I'm sure you will have fun. Definately don't miss CA Screamin' if you like RNRC.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

First relax Disneyland takes a lot less work! Also you might want to think of switching parks mid day since its so easy to park hop and some rides are way easier to get on in the evening at Disneyland.

I will be the first one to admit I definitely do NOT excel at relaxing! I'm an obsessive planner. I'll try to tone it down some!

& what are those days?

March 29-Disneyland
March 30-DCA
April 1-Both parks (probably start at DL)

As WDW vetrans, I agree you should check out the hydroguy tips. Also keep a map handy as DL layout is considerably different than MK (esp Adventureland/ NO Square & CC). I'm sure you will have fun. Definately don't miss CA Screamin' if you like RNRC.

Thanks! I am working my way through the tips. There's a lot to read!

Can I get a do-over on the plans? I've done more research. I wrote down all of our must-see attractions in each land. I think on our first Disneyland day we'll tackle Fantasyland (starting with Peter Pan) and Critter Country. Then, we'll take our afternoon break around 1 and come back for dinner and fireworks. After fireworks we'll have about 2 hours to finish up anything that didn't go according to plan.

Then, on our second Disneyland morning, we'll get there super early and start with Nemo followed by Matterhorn which looks like so much fun!!! Nemo I'm not super excited about...looks a bit cramped in there.

 

[KerTggr]

Can I get a do-over on the plans? I've done more research. I wrote down all of our must-see attractions in each land. I think on our first Disneyland day we'll tackle Fantasyland (starting with Peter Pan) and Critter Country. Then, we'll take our afternoon break around 1 and come back for dinner and fireworks. After fireworks we'll have about 2 hours to finish up anything that didn't go according to plan.

Then, on our second Disneyland morning, we'll get there super early and start with Nemo followed by Matterhorn which looks like so much fun!!! Nemo I'm not super excited about...looks a bit cramped in there.

You may want to check out Nemo after the fireworks. I've found the line can peter out the later in the night.

 

[Rivergallery]

Indy's line will be huge! fast pass it, you can also FP buzz!
Nemo wait if you are on the first or second sub is about 10 min, the ride is about 10minutes also with the boarding and deboarding if lucky.
Allow 30 minutes for Matterhorn, the line gets longer the longer you wait. We rode it first thing one day, with it being a Magic Morning day but us not having MM that day and we waited about that. But the rest of Fantasyland was dead, in the evening the line was 1 1/2 hours! It is only open SS and sometimes F

8:00 AM is when you need to send runners for FPS it looks like most are open on weekends, check your times guide when you get there, the guide lasts a few days then they alter it the FPs open are listed at the bottom.

8:40 second fast pass. Most times you can get them every 40 minutes. So get one then ride.

I think I would get a FP for Indy on the way up to Pooh, hang out, maybe go on Haunted Mansion and Pirates, then send a runner up to Splash.. or visa versa. Anyway I think you could get one for Indy and Splash.

Even if it means riding Indy later in the day or Splash later.

If you keep your itinerary like it is

Sunday, March 29, 2009
*At gate by 6:45am for morning magic hour (staying at Disneyland Hotel)
7:15 ideally
*One person walks quickly to get fastpasses for Space Mountain while the other 2 head to Nemo.
From 7:30-7:50 *Everyone meets up at Nemo and rides.
7:50-8:10*Ride Matterhorn Bobsleds.
8:10-8:30 *Ride Peter Pan.
8:30-8:45 (if lucky)*Ride Buzz Lightyear.
9am GET FASTPASS (you could grab one for either Buzz or Space then ride the other after.

9:40 if using a fastpass *Ride Space Mountain using fastpasses. (What time of day might it be by now?)
10:10-10:30 *Ride Big Thunder Mountain.
10:45 *Get Splash Mountain fastpasses.
10:50 - 11:10*Ride Winnie the Pooh.
11:30- 12:35 (with no fast pass the line I saw was up to 55minutes about this time on a weekday! even with fast passes it was about 20min wait)*Ride Indiana Jones.

LUNCH???

12:40- 1:15 *Ride Pirates of the Caribbean (the waits on this varied during my stay but got longer as the days went on.
1:15 - 1:40 (I saw only 5 min waits there but who knows)*Ride the Haunted Mansion. (What time of day might it be by now?)

Are you using ART? If so allow 40minutes. The routes sometimes take 20 minutes and they might have just left. On weekdays they do not run 12:30-2
2:30- ?*Back to hotel for nap/swim.
*Back to park in time for dinner at Blue Bayou at 6:10pm.
*Tour park (no set plans) until fireworks at 9:25pm.

Questions...
When would be a good time/location to stop for lunch?
When can I fit in the Golden Horseshoe show? A friend recommended it to me, but I don't quite know what it is.

If you want to stop for Golden Horseshoe eat lunch there, get a times guide, you can check at disney.com also for the calendar for when you will be there.

As you can see you are setting yourself up for long wait times if you don't use FPs a bit more, FP INDY, and Buzz. Ride them when you come back.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

I will be the first one to admit I definitely do NOT excel at relaxing! I'm an obsessive planner. I'll try to tone it down some!

Overplanners of the world, unite!

March 29-Disneyland
March 30-DCA
April 1-Both parks (probably start at DL)

Because you're staying at the DLH, you can go to the Magic Morning on Sunday (March 29) and Tuesday (March 31). So you definitely want to start your Tuesday at DL.

The following 2 threads are in the HydroGuy Tips Compilation, and they are excellent for Magic Morning:

"Critique of MM/EE" by Hound 109
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671

"Magic Morning (Early Entry) Super Thread" by DLR29
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

Wait, there's more!

"Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

Try to see the fireworks on your first night, because unlike WDW -- where the fireworks are hardly ever cancelled-- the fireworks at DL can get cancelled due to winds aloft.

If you're going to see Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show at the Golden Horseshoe, make sure you see it on Sun or Mon, because it's dark on Tues.

Collecting FPs at DLR is slightly easier than WDW, because at DLR the first Return Time is typically 45 minutes (first thing in the morning), while it's 60 minutes at WDW.

Hope this helps.

 

[avalon451]

p.s. love your Twilight pic in your signature.

Thanks! OT, if you're a Twilight fan, you've gotta come check out the fun at our Twilight thread on the community boards. That's where I got my Blue Banana Gang member card. : http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2079586

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Thanks! OT, if you're a Twilight fan, you've gotta come check out the fun at our Twilight thread on the community boards. That's where I got my Blue Banana Gang member card. : http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2079586

Oh, I am definitely a Jacob...uhhh I mean....TWILIGHT fan. I'll have to check that out sometime.

Another question...
Is Disneyland like WDW where you can use your fastpass anytime after the time printed on the pass? In WDW if you have a fp for between 4 and 5, you could use it at 5, 6, 7, etc. As long as it's after the first time. In Disneyland do they adhere to the one hour time window?

THANKS FOR ALL THE SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!!! 16 days!!

 

[Misskitty3]

Oh, I am definitely a Jacob...uhhh I mean....TWILIGHT fan. I'll have to check that out sometime.

Another question...
Is Disneyland like WDW where you can use your fastpass anytime after the time printed on the pass? In WDW if you have a fp for between 4 and 5, you could use it at 5, 6, 7, etc. As long as it's after the first time. In Disneyland do they adhere to the one hour time window?

THANKS FOR ALL THE SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!!! 16 days!!

You can use the FP's anytime after the first time....so if it says to come back a Noon but you want to ride at 5pm, that works fine too.

 

[pixiewings71]

Hey, Team Jacob over here too!

That's really all....I don't have much to add, except to say don't rule out park hopping, we hop basically every single trip. Sometimes DL gets reallllly crowded in the middle of the day, hopping over to DCA at this time is sometimes the smartest thing to do.