Need help with schedule

[amylz]

I have read every thread on this site for the past year. I'm still a little stumped. We will be at DLR December 5-8. We will only have until about 1pm on the 8th. My kids are 8 and 13 and we typically can be open to closers each day. At any rate, I understand that the candle lighting processional will be 2 of the nights we are there. My kids (husband) also have zero interest in parades and shows but I'm kind of thinking we should do them because it's a good opportunity for some down time. So when would you be at each park? I guess I'm most confused about the candle lighting thing. We definitely have no interest in seeing that. Should I be avoiding DL that afternoon and evening? Here is what I was kind of thinking:

Friday 12/5
Get to DL by 7:30am.
Jedi Training Academy by 10am (10:30 show)
Find a place to watch parade around 2pm (3:00 start)
We have dinner reservations at Goofy's Kitchen 5:55pm
Get seats for Fantasmic around 8pm (9pm show)
If we happen to see the Fireworks that night great but we won't sit and watch them. Park closes at midnight.

Saturday 12/6
Get to DCA by 9AM??? (DCA opens at 8AM and DLR 7am for EE and we can do that)
Get RSR Fast Pass and WOC Fast Pass (do you still need these?)
At this point I don't know if we should stay at DCA or go to DLR and go back to DCA in the evening when DL will be doing the Candlelight stuff.
We have House of Blues reservations 5:30pm
Get seats for WOC by 7:30pm (8:15 show)
DCA Closes 11pm, DLR closes midnight

Sunday 12/7
Get to DCA by 9am?? (This is 7am EE day for DCA)
Get seats for Aladdin by12pm (12:40 show)
Get seats for Pixar Play Parade by 4:30 (5:15 start)
We are planning to have dinner at ESPN Zone this night but are totally flexible as to when.
DCA closes 11pm, DLR closes midnight

Monday 12/8 (I'm thinking my kids will be exhausted at this point and may not get up and around super early)
Get to DLR at least by 9:30am???? (Both parks open at 9am but DCA does have EE)

That's all I've got. I'm worried we're going to be wasting a lot of time. My boys care most about big Thrill rides. We will do Fantasyland (well we'll do every ride) but we don't want to spend half a day there either. Is it a mistake to split DCA up in to two days or should we try to do it all in one day? I know my kids will want to do Tower of Terror and California Screamin a zillion times but other than those they'll want to be at DLR. At this point I have no plans to do the EE because frankly, it confuses me. I guess I don't see what it gets me to go an hour early other than we'll all head to Fantasyland. Please help me!

 

[RHMH]

Hello Dis - Friend

Sounds like you have a great agenda planned. Wish we were going during the Holidays.

Sorry I can not help with your questions since we are July Vacationers.

But if you have the time. Please read our DLR trip report below my signature.

 

[SMD]

It was smart to plan meals outside the parks on the CP nights. You said that your family has zero interest in parades and shows, but on day 1 you have a parade, 2 shows, and possible fireworks. And you're planning to wait an hour for a parade they don't want to see. Does your 13 year old really want to watch Jedi Training? Maybe one parent could split off with him or he could do something like Matterhorn single rider or be a FP runner during that time. And if you are the only one watching the parade, it's pretty easy to find a spot for a single person, you don't need to invest a whole hour.

If your kids like thrill rides, Space Mountain, Star Tours and Matterhorn are all open during Magic Morning. You should go in early, let them loop those as much as they want, and then when the park opens head to get a FP for Indy, and ride Big Thunder.

I think you're wasting time starting in DCA on day 2. If you have hoppers, I'd ask them if they'd rather do WoC or Fantasmic on day 1. If they choose WoC, you can do ToT and possible single rider RSR that night. If you want to use FP for RSR, I'd still start day 2 in DL and send a runner to get RSR FPs a little later for a later return time. Then hop to DCA when the CP crowds pick up. Worst case scenario you'll have the morning of day 4 to get the RSR FP and rope drop.

 

[Happytotrip2]

i

 

[amylz]

SMD - Thanks, that is really helpful! To answer some questions, my family doesn't love parades and shows but I kind of think we should watch them? Am I being dumb? My kids have no idea about this trip so I can't just ask them. Recently my 8 year old did see something about Fantasmic (I think he saw a pic of a big snake) so he says he has to see that. I could really go without seeing the Pixar parade and WOC but I was thinking they might be good resting times so that we can stay in the parks late. We typically stay together as a family and my 13 year old will like watching Jedi Training, especially if little brother gets picked. That is really helpful information about EE though. You may be right, we should skip going to DCA in the morning on day 2 and do DL instead until it's time to head over to DCA that evening.

HappytoTrip2 - Thanks for the information. I guess I don't know which EE thing I have. We booked through Costco Travel and it was one of the perks but we are staying at a Good Neighbor hotel. I'll have to look into that.

 

[amylz]

Ok, we get one EE. So, which day should we do it then? Probably Saturday at DL, right?

 

[SMD]

In my experience, night time shows aren't times to rest or recharge. You're better off just doing your last few attractions, then leaving. When will they know about the trip? You could always wait until you tell them to let them plan. If your 8 year old mentioned Fantasmic, then I'd just do that. Last year's WoC Winter Dreams was heavily Frozen oriented, and I can't imagine this year is different, so maybe not that appealing. I think they'll find the Christmas parade pretty boring. Consider something like Mickey and the Magical Map, or Mr. Lincoln, which are shorter and don't require an hour wait. Even a trip around the park on the railroad can be downtime, and you have the option of starting and ending at stations of your choice.

 

[Happytotrip2]

i

 

[Sherry E]

amylz --

I just wanted to point out that I suspect the crowds will be substantial over 12/6 and 12/7, and maybe even on 12/5 -- and not just because of Candlelight (which happens every year). This year there are other events factoring in:

During your trip, not only is the Candlelight Processional happening on 12/6 and 12/7, but there will be something called RaverDay (which I had never heard of before last week) -- see info HERE. I am guessing that will increase crowds in Disneyland on 12/6.


There is also a pharmacist convention in town (starting on 12/7) -- info is HERE -- which will likely involve a lot of the attendees staying at the onsite hotels (because they got special rates for the Disney hotels due to this convention). I am guessing that -- since many of the convention attendees will be coming from out of town -- some of them will arrive earlier over the weekend and go to the parks prior to the start of the convention on 12/7. They could be in the parks on 12/5 and/or 12/6.

Anyway, I only mention those factors because they are new this year and they could be a wild card in terms of crowds, combined with Candlelight-related crowds.

 

[amylz]

Thanks again for all the advice. I think we're going to skip WOC. We saw it in 2010 and my kids weren't impressed. We didn't see Fantasmic though so that will be something new.

We aren't telling the kids about the trip until we're at the airport. I can still ask them at that point what they want to do but I know they won't say they want to see a show or parade. We do want to see Aladdin though. We saw that in 2005 and when we were there in 2010 it was closed. I think the kids will enjoy that. I also talked to my husband more about it last night so I think I have a fairly decent plan.

It sounds like the parks are going to be pretty crowded so we are better off being very flexible.

 

[SMD]

Thanks again for all the advice. I think we're going to skip WOC. We saw it in 2010 and my kids weren't impressed. We didn't see Fantasmic though so that will be something new.

We aren't telling the kids about the trip until we're at the airport. I can still ask them at that point what they want to do but I know they won't say they want to see a show or parade. We do want to see Aladdin though. We saw that in 2005 and when we were there in 2010 it was closed. I think the kids will enjoy that. I also talked to my husband more about it last night so I think I have a fairly decent plan.

It sounds like the parks are going to be pretty crowded so we are better off being very flexible.

Flexibility and attitude are always key to having the best park experience. You should come back and do a trip report after your trip. It will be interesting to see strategies for avoiding CP crowds. 8-9 years ago it was fairly easy to get around it by going through stores down Main St and then staying in the back of the park, but the last time I was there, about 4 years ago it seemed like word had gotten out about crowding the area to get a standing spot and that the crowds did not dissipate as much afterwards, so I will probably never attempt to go on that day again.

 

[Sherry E]

Flexibility and attitude are always key to having the best park experience. You should come back and do a trip report after your trip. It will be interesting to see strategies for avoiding CP crowds. 8-9 years ago it was fairly easy to get around it by going through stores down Main St and then staying in the back of the park, but the last time I was there, about 4 years ago it seemed like word had gotten out about crowding the area to get a standing spot and that the crowds did not dissipate as much afterwards, so I will probably never attempt to go on that day again.

For the last 3 years I've gone to DLR on CP days/weekends and it's crowded at times and in certain spots, but it's not that bad in general. Honestly, I thought that the Unleash the Villains event on 9/13/13 was much crazier and scarier in terms of crowds.

Believe it or not, a lot of people who don't follow boards like these, and who don't subscribe to RSS feeds or newsletters from Disney, don't necessarily keep up with everything, and some don't even know about Candlelight until they get to Disneyland. I chatted with a lady last year who had been going to DLR every year -- she was even there on the day it opened -- and somehow she had never known about Candlelight. It's not advertised by Disney most of the time, so it sometimes flies under the radar and people discover it when they get to DLR and look at the Times Guide or take a tour and the tour guide mentions it.

However, the combination of the CP crowds with the crowds gathered for the other events happening that weekend is what is going to be the problem, I think.