need itenerary Help!

[dizzi]

OKAy i am planning our first day. EVER (never been)
It will only be from about 3 until DL closes at 12.

But need a bit of help.


1. Do you think it possible to get any FP at this time????
thinking of Soarin and Grizzly

2. if not these Fp would any other Fp be better?

3. If there is Fp still available what do you think the return times would be?

4. IF NO FPs, what else woudl you do?

lastly.....

5. Would like to go ahead and fit in at least one parade this day it is at 5;15 in DCA where would you sit?

 

[ballarinamom]

When are you going? Do you have meal plans? You should be ok on all FPs. Return times for Soarin' may be late- but.... I would sit around the umpin' Jellyfish ride as it's the beginning of the parade and you can get on other rides while the parade is getting to the end of the route. DCA does not get too crowded so you should be ok. Don't forget that Grizzly is not online with the other FP rides. So you could get it right after your Soarin' pass

 

[dizzi]

We are going to arrive May 30
No we dont have meal plan

I guess late is okay for soarin.

Thank you!

 

[Hound 109]

dizzi, are you not going into DL? (Soarin' & Griz are in DCA)

Will you only be there that one day?

(if so, are there any "i can not miss" rides?)

 

[dizzi]

No we are going to be there 2 full days and 2 half days before and after a cruise.

yes we are going to do both parks.

I was just trying to organize day 1.

i am the one you see with an index card with an itenerary on it, in my hand while in the park!

So trying to get myself organized.
And having nver been is pretty hard!

VERY easy to organize for WDW as i have been there ALOT!

 

[dizzi]

Not being familiar with the parks i am still unsure.......

As to the route of the parades......

Specifically the Electrical Parade.

Where is its begining and end.........
And becareful with your initials and slang, I AM A NEWBIE to DL and DCA

 

[HydroGuy]

Look at getting RideMax to help with your plans and FP availability. www.ridemax.com

 

[bumbershoot]

Electrical Parade starts back near Jumpin' Jellyfish in/towards the Paradise Pier "land" section (vs the hotel, LOL). It goes towards the front of the park (DCA).

I like watching it from back there b/c it finishes first, and if I want to "hop" over to Disneyland I can do it before the parade even finishes (after it's done in your area, walk along towards the Golden Dreams theater, turn left, go around the Grizzly River Run ride (either to the right or left, it circles around to the same spot...going left seems to be a shorter distance, but going right might have fewer crowds), go past Soarin', then go out of the park, across the esplanade, and to the Disneyland gates.

Grizzly's FP is not connected to the other FP machines in DCA. So you can hold a FP for Grizz and something else at DCA (Soarin, TOT, Screamin'...is that all?) at the same time. I don't know when things might run out, sorry.

And to be thorough, the FP machines at DL (Disneyland) aren't connected to the ones at DCA, AND Roger Rabbit's machine isn't connected to the rest of Disneyland's FP machines.


I think when you were asked about any meal plans, they were wondering if you have plans for meals that day, not if you bought a meal plan.

Is the 5:15 parade the Pixar Play Parade? I'm not totally sure if its route, but I figure it's the same that the Block Party Bash used to be, and there always seemed to be good views from anywhere you wanted to stand. Others can help you figure out where the "parade stops" might be for that.

Have you read through HydroGuy's tips in the "sticky" on this forum? Not sure they can help you with specific questions, but they can be helpful for DLR (disneyland resort) newbies!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Not being familiar with the parks i am still unsure.......

As to the route of the parades......

Specifically the Electrical Parade.

Where is its begining and end.........
And becareful with your initials and slang, I AM A NEWBIE to DL and DCA

The parade starts and stops either in front of Small World or Main Street depending on the time of day. Basicaly, the parade will go from Small World down between Fantasyland and the Matterhorn, around the center plaza and down Main Street.

The Electric Parade will probabaly not be running in May. They have the new Pixar parade. You can check Disneyland.com and check out the maps of the parade routes.

 

[bumbershoot]

We're going to be doing some of the same things as you, just the week before. I think I've had the calendar up on my computer for a week now.

Just added the 30th to the calendar I have up, and in case you hadn't seen it (but I think you have since you mentioned the 5:15 parade):

Friday May 30, 2008
Disneyland® Park
Hours:
9:00 am - 12:00 am
Parades Event:
Time:
Prince Caspian Pre-Parade
3:20pm 6:10pm
Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams
3:30pm 6:30pm
Fantasmic!
9:00pm 10:30pm



Disney's California Adventure® Park
Hours:
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Parades Event:
Time:
Disney's Electrical Parade
8:45pm
Pixar Play Parade
5:15pm


If that's the only day that the Electrical Parade is playing during your stay (and it very well might be) I would *definitely* catch that.

You might also think long and hard about leaving DCA after the electrical parade to go over to Disneyland to check out the fireworks there.

The week before, there's whole group of cruisers doing the parade and fireworks and Fantasmic thing, and my family too, b/c it's the only day the three things are going (which is bizarre b/c Monday is Memorial Day and one would think they would have such things on a holiday).

 

[Hound 109]

No we are going to be there 2 full days and 2 half days before and after a cruise.

yes we are going to do both parks.

I was just trying to organize day 1.

i am the one you see with an index card with an itenerary on it, in my hand while in the park!

So trying to get myself organized.
And having nver been is pretty hard!

VERY easy to organize for WDW as i have been there ALOT!

If it was me on my "first day" at the parks at 3pm ish on a Friday. I would:

- Step into DL (Main St.) see a character or two, take some pictures, pick up a map...whatever.
- Send a runner to Indy or SM & pick up FPs.
- Then hop (walk) 100 yards over to DCA.
- Pick up a Soarin' FP & Grizz FP. (It's now 3:40pm & you have 3 FPs in your pocket).
- Then follow advice above, or ridemax, or smell the roses....whatever at DCA for a 2-4 hours. (I'd probably try the Pier rides prior to riding Griz & Soarin')
- then hop back over to DL at night for a few rides (including your FP at Indy or SM).

Have fun planning a trip to Walt's Park.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Not being familiar with the parks i am still unsure.......

As to the route of the parades......

Specifically the Electrical Parade.

Where is its begining and end.........
And becareful with your initials and slang, I AM A NEWBIE to DL and DCA

Here's some more info...

Here is a link to a map of DCA (wikimapia):
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.806289&lon=-117.920058&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

Here is a link to a map of DL (wikimapia):
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.81235&lon=-117.918502&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

Here are a couple of links to DLR calendars:
http://www.laughingplace.com/guide-cal-DLR2-200805.asp
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...span=5&parkDCA=true&parkDLP=true&parkDTD=true

For the month of May the (DL) Parade of Dreams will be shown twice (at 3:30 and 6:30) on Fri, Sat, and Sun; and once (7:00) on Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thurs; except on Memorial Day (Mon, 5/26) when it will be shown at 3:30 and 6:30. The 3:30 parade will start at "it's a small world," go down the path that's between the Matterhorn and Mad Tea Party, go to the hub and down Main Street, and end at Town Square (next to the Main Street Opera House). The 6:30 parade will travel in the opposite direction. On days with only the 7:00 p.m. parade, the POD travels from IASW and ends at Town Square.

The (DCA) Pixar Play Parade will start at 5:15 p.m. and will be shown every day in May. The Pixar Play Parade enters DCA from the side of Sunshine Plaza, travels in front of Bountiful Valley Farm, goes past the Golden Vine Winery, Golden Dreams, Golden Zephyr, past the Jumpin' Jellyfish, and ends in Paradise Pier (near the Orange Stinger area), then exits DCA.

The (DCA) Disney's Electrical Parade (DEP) will be shown at 8:45 p.m. (Fri, Sat, Sun) throughout May. The DEP starts in Paradise Pier (near the Orange Stinger area), and goes past Jumpin' Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, Golden Dreams, Golden Vine Winery, travels in front of Bountiful Valley Farm, and ends at the Sunshine Plaza.

HTH

 

[S. S. Columbia]

1. Do you think it possible to get any FP at this time????
thinking of Soarin and Grizzly

2. if not these Fp would any other Fp be better?

3. If there is Fp still available what do you think the return times would be?

4. IF NO FPs, what else woudl you do?

lastly.....

5. Would like to go ahead and fit in at least one parade this day it is at 5;15 in DCA where would you sit?

I second HydroGuy's recommendation for RideMax. It's only $15, and it only requires a software download and an internet connection to use, and you're allowed to load it onto two computers. It's very user friendly.

At DL, even if the return times for Indy or SM are late, you could still get another DL FP two hours later. I think BTMRR and Buzz Lightyear (BLAB) usually have 40 minutes return times. And at DL you can always get a FP for RR (Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin), as the FP machine for RR is disconnected from the rest of DL. I think the return time for RR is usually 40 minutes or so.

At DCA, even if the return time for Soarin' or Calif. Screamin' is late, you can still get another DCA FP two hours later. You could get a FP for ToT, as its return time is usually 40 minutes. (You can get a FP for Grizzly at any time, since its FP machine is disconnected from the rest of DCA.)

But as Dennis Miller likes to say... "Of course that's just my opinion ... I could be wrong."

My estimates for the return times may or may not hold up for a Friday afternoon. (This is where RideMax would be helpful.) I'm sure some recent visitors might be able to add some better information.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

FWIW...

These rides offer the Single Rider option:

DL:
Splash

DCA:
Grizzly (GRRrrrrrrr)
Calif. Screamin'
Soarin'
Maliboomer
Mulholland Madness

 

[dizzi]

I purchased the Ridemax yesterday.........

NOT IMPRESSED!

i guess if i had not made DOZENS of iteneraries for my self and even soem for friends and family it might have been nice but (FOR WDW),

And if it wasnt only $15 i would ask for my money back they do give a 30 day money back but live and learn.

In the end it is still a hit and miss this might work kind of deal same as i can do, actually one i came up with was abotu the same as what they gave me.

Oh Well

 

[mom2febgirls]

I purchased the Ridemax yesterday.........

NOT IMPRESSED!

i guess if i had not made DOZENS of iteneraries for my self and even soem for friends and family it might have been nice but (FOR WDW),

And if it wasnt only $15 i would ask for my money back they do give a 30 day money back but live and learn.

In the end it is still a hit and miss this might work kind of deal same as i can do, actually one i came up with was abotu the same as what they gave me.

Oh Well

I felt the same way when I purchased RideMax. I did ask for my money back, though, because if people don't let them know they aren't happy with it and why they won't know where to make improvements.

 

[HydroGuy]

I purchased the Ridemax yesterday.........

NOT IMPRESSED!

i guess if i had not made DOZENS of iteneraries for my self and even soem for friends and family it might have been nice but (FOR WDW),

And if it wasnt only $15 i would ask for my money back they do give a 30 day money back but live and learn.

In the end it is still a hit and miss this might work kind of deal same as i can do, actually one i came up with was abotu the same as what they gave me.

Oh Well

I felt the same way when I purchased RideMax. I did ask for my money back, though, because if people don't let them know they aren't happy with it and why they won't know where to make improvements.

RideMax is far from perfect. I myself have given them many suggestions for improvements which I am sure they also hear from other people. But it does not change the fact that I think it is a cool product. I know it made me feel much more comfortable visiting WDW for the first time - even though I never followed any of the RM itineraries very closely.

In any case, it was clear that you both felt disappointed by RideMax. What was not clear was why. Maybe you could share some constructive feedback that is more specific?

 

[dizzi]

Well,
these are some of the reasons that i was not happy with Ride Max.

1. YES, it did a good itenerary, But nothing that i could not and did not do on my own.

2. It did not help me to decide what was the best route for me to take in days in which i had only a few hours. Still having to put in my own rides etc..

3.Obviously RIDE MAX does not know when or if i would get a fast pass and when ( if i did get one) the return time would be, there fore only making these things suggestions in the long run.

4. I have to say i have not read but one of the hints......so maybe i would learn more if i did but i had to say that iw anted fre time to do a parade i would like there to be a spot to put in parade as a choice and work this into the ACTUAL schedule and therefore by foloowing the guide end up in the spot in wich they say is good to watch the parade.

5. I would perfer not to jump all over the park, and do more of a "route", and end up soem where instead of jumping here there and everywhre........understandablely they did this for sort times inlines!

I can see where this would be very helpful to soemone unlike me who wants soemone to do this itenerary for them, AND i am sure that their iteneraries work, as i did one before hand and they werea lmost identical.the very reason i wont ask for a refund, becasue i am sure it works, just wold not pay for it again...........

 

[mom2febgirls]

Maybe you could share some constructive feedback that is more specific?

We plan to see the Parade, Aladdin & Jasmine in Adventureland, Ariel in Fantasyland, visit Princess Fantasy Fair and do the Jedi Training in Disneyland.

None of these activities are choices in Ridemax. That was my biggest issue. I didn't like how the program puts chunks of free time in that may or may not be enough time to see a character, etc. and you only get to schedule 2 breaks (lunch and dinner) So I would have to split the day up into parts to schedule my time. That, to me, defeats the purpose since I want to know the best time to ride the rides, not just the best time to ride the 5 rides that will fit in the 6 hours I have to break my day into.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

I would email RideMax with your specific questions. I know that some people have found RideMax to be very responsive. RideMax's email address is feedback@ridemax.com.

On the RideMax web-site, they describe their guarantee as follows:

"Our guarantee is simple: Purchase your RideMax subscription, download the software, and use it to create optimized itineraries for the dates of your visit, for the attractions you want to ride. If, after using these touring plans you don't feel like they were worth the price of your subscription, simply contact us by email within 30 days of your purchase and explain the reason for your dissatisfaction. We'll then refund the full price of your subscription.
With this guarantee you have nothing to lose but a lot of time standing in line, so why not purchase your RideMax subscription and start planning your Disney visit today?!!"