Newbie's first attempt at a touring plan. any advice?

AmyK

Mouseketeer
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
110
These are really rough, first drafts and I'm sure I'm forgetting things. And I haven't even attempted our day 3 which will focus more on DCA with the new Ariel ride opening. We're deliberately skipping Star Tours, and ToT. Also skipping WOC in favor of fireworks and Fantasmic. (Yes, really, I'm sure about WOC.) Not sure about Matterhorn, it's rumored to be closed the days we're there. I'm planning an early night the first night because the 2nd day is a MM day with fireworks planned that night. Am thinking of having the 3rd day be a start at DCA so we can rest a little.

I realize the times are rough, it's more for a guide. I can adjust rides but I'm curious if I'm hitting meal time (around 11:00) right and for Day 2, when we should leave to line up for DCA.

Day 1 (June 22 - Wed) no MM
7:30? line up for DL
8:00 FP SM
Indy
Pooh
8:45? FPV Splash
BTMRR
BTMRR again if time
9:30 FP Indy if we liked it, FP Splash again if we didn't like Indy
HM
POTC
Tiki room??
10:30 FPV BTMRR
Eat?
SM using FP
FPV Roger Rabbit
Small World

?? shop, get silhouettes of the girls

FP SM (if they want to do it again)
BTMRR with FP
Indy with FP
Splash with FP

leave around 3-4 and be done for day. Use pool at Hojo, relax


Day 2 -(June 23 - Thurs) MM
6:30 line up for DL
7:00 MM entry
PP
Alice
Teacups
Mr Toad
Pinocchio
Carrousel
?? Matterhorn
Buzz Lightyear
8:00 FP SM (if they want it) FP Splash (if they don't)
Indy?
POTC
HM
FP BTMRR

head over to DCA

?9:30 line up for DCA
FP Soarin'
Soarin'
TSMM
FP Screamin
Sun Wheel
? lunch time?
FP GRR
12:00 line up for Aladdin show (maybe I should do this and Animation on Day 3)
Animation Studios
use FPs for Screamin, GRR, Soarin'
FP Soarin again

BREAK (want to break around 1-2)

return
eat dinner
use Soarin FP
use DL FPs from morning
shop/take pictures
find spot for fireworks

BED

Day 3 - DCA
9:30 FP Soarin'
Ariel

then no idea yet. We do want to watch Fantasmic this night, so it'll be a park, break, park day


So, what do you think so far? Thanks!
 
With 3 days you really do not have to miss much of anything! After watching videos of WOC I really wasn't interested. But the kids won and we went ahead. It was a pretty neat show, much better than I had expected. Still, Fantasmic is better if you can only see one.

DCA and DL are only a 5 minute walk between at most so its very easy to visit both parks on the same day. Also, DCA usually closes 2 hours before Disneyland. That allows you to spend most of a day at DCA then catch the fireworks or fantasmic at DL in the evening.

TOT is scary only in name!! The whole concept, preshow film, and mood of the building as you enter is what scares 1st timers rather than the ride itself. Have an adventerous member of your party ride it and let everyone else know how it is.

We've never bothered with a set plan for each day. It just never works out. Rides maybe down for part of a day, lines longer or shorter than expected, kids get tired or hungry etc. Instead we look at show schedules and follow some basic strategy of do's and don't to see and do as much as we can.
 
Thanks for taking a look. :)

I mostly like to make a plan because it helps me learn the park as I plan. I know when we went to WDW as first timers in '08, I was able to improvise when things were down or timing went wacky because I felt like I'd looked at the maps so often and understood why I was planning that order. Does that make sense? So, we probably won't follow theplan exactly but it helps me get a better grip on a place I haven't been to before.
 
Day 2 -(June 23 - Thurs) MM
6:30 line up for DL
7:00 MM entry
PP
Alice
Teacups
Mr Toad
Pinocchio
Carrousel
?? Matterhorn
Buzz Lightyear
8:00 FP SM (if they want it) FP Splash (if they don't)
Indy?
POTC
HM
FP BTMRR

Wow! Is it possible to fit all those rides in in 1 hr??? I know it's MM entry, but still!
 

These are really rough, first drafts and I'm sure I'm forgetting things. And I haven't even attempted our day 3 which will focus more on DCA with the new Ariel ride opening. We're deliberately skipping Star Tours, and ToT. Also skipping WOC in favor of fireworks and Fantasmic. (Yes, really, I'm sure about WOC.) Not sure about Matterhorn, it's rumored to be closed the days we're there. I'm planning an early night the first night because the 2nd day is a MM day with fireworks planned that night. Am thinking of having the 3rd day be a start at DCA so we can rest a little.

I realize the times are rough, it's more for a guide. I can adjust rides but I'm curious if I'm hitting meal time (around 11:00) right and for Day 2, when we should leave to line up for DCA.

Day 1 (June 22 - Wed) no MM
7:30? line up for DL That would be the latest I would show up in summer, 7:15 or 7:20 is better. Eat breakfast in line!
8:00 FP SM Keep in mind you will need to work around the ST FP and standby mess, it may take a little longer than usual
Indy
Pooh
8:45? FPV Splash
BTMRR
BTMRR again if time
9:30 FP Indy if we liked it, FP Splash again if we didn't like Indy Probably will be closer to 9:45 or even 10
HM
POTC
Tiki room??
10:30 FPV BTMRR Probably will be later, like 11 or so
Eat? Good time to eat, before the lunch rush!
SM using FP
FPV Roger Rabbit Remember, Roger Rabbit FP is disconnected, so you don't have to wait for your window to open, you can grab at any time
Small World
Grab your next FP as soon as you can, by now 12:30 or so
?? shop, get silhouettes of the girls

FP SM (if they want to do it again)
BTMRR with FP
Indy with FP
Splash with FP

leave around 3-4 and be done for day. Use pool at Hojo, relax


Day 2 -(June 23 - Thurs) MM
6:30 line up for DL
7:00 MM entry
PP
Alice
Teacups
Mr Toad
Pinocchio
Carrousel
?? Matterhorn
Buzz Lightyear
Your MM seems a little ambitious for summer. I would expect you could do 6 or 7 rides in an hour
8:00 FP SM (if they want it) FP Splash (if they don't)
Indy?
POTC
HM
FP BTMRR

head over to DCA

?9:30 line up for DCA
FP Soarin'
Soarin'
TSMM
FP Screamin
Sun Wheel
? lunch time? It will probably be 11:15 or so right now so you probably won't make a 12 line up for Aladdin
FP GRR
12:00 line up for Aladdin show (maybe I should do this and Animation on Day 3)
Animation Studios
use FPs for Screamin, GRR, Soarin'
FP Soarin again

BREAK (want to break around 1-2)With your schedule, it will be at least 2pm I think

return
eat dinner
use Soarin FP
use DL FPs from morning You could probably get another FP for BTMRR if you wanted
shop/take pictures
find spot for fireworks

BED

Day 3 - DCA
9:30 FP Soarin'
Ariel We don't really know the situation for Ariel yet, but you may want to go there first thing. We will have better information once it opens and we see how the line is.

then no idea yet. We do want to watch Fantasmic this night, so it'll be a park, break, park day


So, what do you think so far? Thanks!

All of this sounds good, but you are repeating a lot. That is okay if that is what you like, but I wouldn't miss out on some of the smaller things. ToonTown for smaller kids (if you have any), character meet and greets like Pixie Hollow or Princess Fantasy Faire. There is also Mark Twain and Columbia, Storybookland Canal Boats, Autopia, Finding Nemo Submarines, Jungle Cruise, Tree House, or Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island. You have more than enough time to see these and other cool things on Main Street like the Fire Station, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, etc. Also the Castle Walkthrough and Snow White's Grotto.

Then there is DCA with Monster's Inc, It's Tough to be a Bug, Muppets, Red Wood Creek Challenge, Silly Symphony Swings, and the whole Bug's Life area (which is awesomely themed). While the E tickets are great, don't miss out on these cool things. I would probably tend to hop more both days, but that might not work with your group. :confused3

Anyway, just some thoughts on not missing all the cool little things that make Disneyland special. Have fun! :goodvibes
 
With 3 days you really do not have to miss much of anything! After watching videos of WOC I really wasn't interested. But the kids won and we went ahead. It was a pretty neat show, much better than I had expected. Still, Fantasmic is better if you can only see one.

DCA and DL are only a 5 minute walk between at most so its very easy to visit both parks on the same day. Also, DCA usually closes 2 hours before Disneyland. That allows you to spend most of a day at DCA then catch the fireworks or fantasmic at DL in the evening.

TOT is scary only in name!! The whole concept, preshow film, and mood of the building as you enter is what scares 1st timers rather than the ride itself. Have an adventerous member of your party ride it and let everyone else know how it is.

We've never bothered with a set plan for each day. It just never works out. Rides maybe down for part of a day, lines longer or shorter than expected, kids get tired or hungry etc. Instead we look at show schedules and follow some basic strategy of do's and don't to see and do as much as we can.
 
All of this sounds good, but you are repeating a lot. That is okay if that is what you like, but I wouldn't miss out on some of the smaller things. ToonTown for smaller kids (if you have any), character meet and greets like Pixie Hollow or Princess Fantasy Faire. There is also Mark Twain and Columbia, Storybookland Canal Boats, Autopia, Finding Nemo Submarines, Jungle Cruise, Tree House, or Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island. You have more than enough time to see these and other cool things on Main Street like the Fire Station, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, etc. Also the Castle Walkthrough and Snow White's Grotto.

You're right I am repeating things too often. Some things I know we'll want to do a few times because we enjoyed them at WDW (Splash, BTMRR, Soarin') but I do need to get some of the other stuff in there too. I'll keep working at it. Thanks! :)
 
Does this have less repeats and more of the "smaller" things?

Day 1 - no MM
7:15 line up at DL
8:10 FP SM
Indy
Pooh
8:50 FP Splash
HM
PoTC
BTMRR
9:45? FP BTMRR
Tom Sawyer Island
11:00 FP Splash
Eat at Hungry Bear
ride train around to Toontown
FP Roger Rabbit
Small World
12:30-1:00 FP Autopia
SM using FP
shop, silhouettes of girls, Mr. Lincoln, pictures
BTMRR using FP
Tiki Room
Splash with FP x2
Autopia with FP
Leave for day and go back to hotel, or eat here, then go back. Play at pool. Get to bed at a good time.

Day 2 - MM morning
6:30 line up at DL
7:00 early entry
PP
Alice
Teacups
Mr Toad
Pinocchio
?? Matterhorn, may or may not be open at our dates
if time, ride Buzz, if not...
FPV SM? Indy? Splash?
Buzz (if not before)
Storybook Canal
? time to head to DCA?

9:15 line up for DCA?
9:30 FP Soarin
Soarin
TSMM
10:30 Me FPV Screamin, family ride Screamin'
Sun Wheel (stationary cars)
eat (not sure where)
12:00? FP GRR
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
use Screamin FP (if they want),
use Soarin' FP
use GRR FP

BREAK

eat dinner
use DL FP from morning
Carrousel
pictures, shop ??
find spot for fireworks


Day 3 - sleep in. If have time go to DL for a FP, if not, go straight to DCA
9:30 entry?
Ariel first

then in no order yet:
Animation Studios, Crush, Monsters Inc, Bug's Land, Aladdin, GRR, Paradise Pier rides?, Screamin?, Soarin'?

BREAK

eat
DCA to use any FPs
DL to use FP and wander

Fantasmic
 
I guess one thing that stood out to me is why do you have Pooh listed as the second ride to do in the morning? Even on busy days that ride usually has a short line so i personally would save it for later in the day when other things have longer lines. It's not a huge deal, it just caught my attention since i don't usually see people planning it so early in the morning.
 
Well, it was really more because I want to get the Splash FP as my 2nd FP and Pooh is over by Splash. So it's more a proximity thing rather than a need to ride it right away.
 





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