Need planning help/criticism

[our2disneygirls]

Folks:

We leave for DL on Wednesday, spent thursday relaxing in SoCal around Carlsbad and hit DL on Friday.

Our trip plan includes hitting the following:

DL

Adventureland – Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise?, Tiki Room

New Orleans Square – Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion,

Critter Country – Splash Mtn

Frontierland – Thunder Mtn RR,

Fantasyland – Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, Matterhorn Bobsleds, King Arthur Carousel

Pixie Hollow

Tomorrowland – Jedi Academy, Autopia, Space Mtn?

Fantasmic, Fireworks

DCA

Golden State – Soarin’

Hollywood Pictures Backlot – Aladdin, Animation Station

A Bug’s Land


Here's our daily schedule:

Friday AM

Drive to DL; Get tix

DCA – A Bug’s Land

TSMM?

Soarin’ (FP)

Lunch in Park

Friday Afternoon

Aladdin

Animation Station

Back to hotel for nap and dinner

Friday Evening

Indy? (FP)

Fireworks; Fantasmic; Pixar/Electric Parade; Main St. Parade (as we can catch)

Saturday AM

Peter Pan

King Arthur Carosel

Teacups

Jedi Academy/Lunch

Autopia (FP)

Saturday Afternoon

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle

Pixie Hollow

Back to hotel for nap and dinner

Saturday Evening

Pirates of the Carribean

Fireworks; Fantasmic; Pixar/Electric Parade; Main St. Parade (as we can catch)

Sunday AM

Haunted Mansion

Jungle Cruise

Tiki Room

Splash Mtn (FP)

Sunday Afternoon

Lunch in the park

Thunder Mtn RR (FP)

Sunday Evening

Anything we may have missed

Back to hotel for nap and dinner

Fireworks; Fantasmic; Pixar/Electric Parade; Main St. Parade (as we can catch)

 

[our2disneygirls]

We're looking for help to make sure we haven't misplanned (walking from one side of the park to another, etc.) I'm trying to make use of FP's and will re-read Hydroguy's thread here shortly.

Our kiddos are two girls, 5 and 7, so I want to do a lot but not wear them out that we never get to the fireworks/Fantasmic. Our 12th anniversary is the sunday of our trip and I'm bringing my wife to see dumbo.

Lastly, if anyone has good suggestions for lunch in the park without breaking the bank, please speak up.

P.S. We are staying at the BW-PPI.

 

[Judy from Boise]

with kids that young, I would skip Indy and instead do Alice in Wonderland, Casey Junior, and small world. I would also consider trading jedi for Pixie Hollow, if your girls like faries better than Star wars.

 

[our2disneygirls]

Jedi Academy and Indy are for Daddy and maybe the older one. The younger one will kill me if we don't do Pixie Hollow. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[our2disneygirls]

Another question: I scheduled DCA on friday because I expect we will not get to park until mid-morning. Is this a good strategy or would we do better seeing what we can at DL before the weekend crowds hit?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I didn't see Tiki room (w/ Dole Whip ), Buzz or Toon town. Or toy story at DCA. The 5 year old probaby isn't tall enough for Indy (48"). Also didn't see Dumbo ride.

 

[HydroGuy]

Another question: I scheduled DCA on friday because I expect we will not get to park until mid-morning. Is this a good strategy or would we do better seeing what we can at DL before the weekend crowds hit?

OK, if you have three day tix you should have one day of Magic Morning (MM). Which day have you planned for that?

Yes, if you arrive late one morning (Friday) then DCA is a good place to start. However, IMO a lot would depend on whether you have a Magic Morning or not. If you do you can use that Saturday or Sunday. If not, then Friday will be the only day you can get a good start on Fantasyland (FL) at DL. What I mean is that Sat and Sun will be busy in FL in the early morning because of MM. Fridays do not have MM and will be less busy in the morning. Hence Friday would be the best day to get to DL early and get an early start on FL for folks without MM.

You are driving up from Carlsbad Friday morning?

I also agree with Judy that with girls of 5 and 7 I would spend more time in DLs Fantasyland. There also are the StorybookLand Canal Boats, Mr. Toad, Alice in Wonderland, etc.

At DCA you should try and visit Toy Story Midway Mania. I think your girls would like that. And I agree that Tiki Room should be on your list too. How about Buzz Lightyear? And Honey I Shrunk the Audience?

In general you have lots of "space" in your schedule so you should not be rushed at all and will probably be able to do lots more than you are showing here.

I would add specifically that on Friday you will have a hard time getting FPs for Indy in the evening as the FPs will probably run out in the afternoon. If you want to do Indy that night it would be worth having you are DH sneak over into DL earlier in the day to get the FPs. It might work for example as you are on your way back to the hotel for a nap.

 

[our2disneygirls]

I didn't see Tiki room (w/ Dole Whip ), Buzz or Toon town. Or toy story at DCA. The 5 year old probaby isn't tall enough for Indy (48"). Also didn't see Dumbo ride.

Did Buzz, Toontown and Dumbo on the last trip (2008), so I'm trying to hit what we missed last time.

Toy Story is a great suggestion; now need to fit it in ...

 

[our2disneygirls]

In general you have lots of "space" in your schedule so you should not be rushed at all and will probably be able to do lots more than you are showing here.

Thanks very much for this reassurance. I'm figuring about an hour in ride wait times, but wanted to leave room so we could hit things that look like fun.

I'll add the Tiki room and TSMM.

We have 3 day tickets, but they are the military special pricing, so I'm not sure we get a MM with them. I'll check at the gate and adjust.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks very much for this reassurance. I'm figuring about an hour in ride wait times, but wanted to leave room so we could hit things that look like fun.

I'll add the Tiki room and TSMM.

We have 3 day tickets, but they are the military special pricing, so I'm not sure we get a MM with them. I'll check at the gate and adjust.

Yes, the military tix do not have MM I have heard. If there is any way to get out early on Friday and get to DLR by park opening it will make things easier. In that case I would for sure do the DL park Friday. Otherwise a later arrival Friday would lead me to suggest DCA as being a good place to start.

We just finished a week at the beach in Oceanside just north of Carlsbad and are going to DLR this Wednesday for a short day trip. With only one day we will be on the road at 6AM to be ahead of the SoCal traffic as much as possible and make rope drop hopefully!

 

[our2disneygirls]

This is more in the nature of a trip report, but I thought I should provide a follow up from our trip. First of all, a big thanks to Hydroguy and everyone else who provide tips and advice. It really enabled us to make the best of our trip.

Despite my concern, we had plenty to time to hit everything we wanted to and more. We hit the electrical parade, fireworks with dumbo, and fantasmic. We missed the pixar parade, but there's always the next trip.

So, the lessons learned;

1. Hit the attractions with long lines first thing in the morning. For us, that meant Fantasyland the first morning.

2. Understand how the Fastpass system works and use it to your advantage. Grab them even if you're not sure you'll use them because you can make someone else's trip special. (We did this and benefited from this as well.)

3. Hydroguy's example plan is a good one, but make sure it works for your family! My family includes kids aged 7 and 5. They were thrilled to get out of the heat mid-afternoon, but there was no way I could get them to take a nap. As a result, we went later in the day and they burned out earlier (about 9:00 pm) than I expected. If I had to do it over again (and we will), I wouldn't go back to the room, but just jump in the car and get an early dinner. Or, get an early dinner in the park and keep going until the kids burn out.

All in all, it was an excellent trip. My 7 year old got to battle Darth Vader, Mom and Dad got to celebrate their 12th anniversary with the Disney princesses at Ariel's Grotto and the whole family got to eat Mickey bars for lunch one day so Dad could keep to the plan!

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds like a wonderful trip!!!!!!