Only 2 day hoppers, how to plan for Oct?

[kristie73]

I need help figuring out stuff. We'll be there Sun-Tues Oct 21-23.

We were just at WDW in March, but we'll be in San Diego this October (for Legoland, beach, family/friends), so we decided to also do a few days at Disneyland.

So we will drive up from San Diego on Sun, Oct 21. We have two nights booked at the Best Western Park Place Inn. We will probably only be here for night sleeping. No going back for swimming or afternoon naps.

I'm thinking Sunday, we'll just do Downtown Disney. Then Monday do California Adventure mostly? Of couse we have hoppers so we can mix it up. Tuesday do Disneyland until they kick us out for the Halloween Party. I think we'll skip this. We have never been to Disney at Halloween so I am looking forward to decorations and the fall vibe. I'm sure the Halloween Party is really fun, but we will be checking out that day and I just think it's a little more money than we wanted to spend.

With all that, I'm struggling to decide:
1. Do we start at California Adventure on Monday or start with Disneyland - knowing that Halloween Party is Tuesday and we'll get kicked out of Disneyland. We may just get in the car and head back to San Diego Tues evening. We'll have hoppers, just trying to see where we want to start.
2. Since we are limited in time, I think counter service meals mostly. Should we even bother with a sit down meal in the parks or resort? We may do ESPN zone Sunday night in Downtown Disney.
3. Speaking of meals, should I just rule out a character meal? We have done Goofy's Kitchen before for dinner so we don't want that. If we did one, it would be breakfast but that really cuts into time in the parks? Unless we get an early entrance into CA through Grand Cali hotel at Storytellers Cafe. Is that even possible or worth it?
4. My kids are 5 (almost 44") and 9. Some rides we have to do because we've missed them in the past or they are brand new or just new to my kids due to their height. So I think we can manage a plan that highlights our must do rides, but I'm feeling worried about the whole Carsland stuff and the crowds. DL -Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Matterhorn, Buzz, Star Wars, whatever else we can fit in. CA-Carsland, Bugs, Toy Story Mania, Monsters, Goofy's coaster, Grizzly, Tower or Terror? The Animation stuff too, my 9 year old loves drawing. What shows should we do? I think we can skip Playhouse Disney- we have seen that enough.
5. We won't have any early entry advantages because we are staying offsite. And the parks close earlier in this season. What are the hours and fireworks schedule usually?
6. Parades - should we even bother trying to work that in?

So...any tips, things I should consider or think about? Thanks.

 

[Stitch35]

I have gone during that week every year for 3 years due to it being my DS birthday week! Crowds tend to be pretty light and the decor is amazing!

1) Have you thought about doing your hoppers on Sunday and Monday, then doing DTD and Halloween tickets on Tuesday? You get to enter DL at 4pm. The lines are pretty short for all attractions and if you like characters the villains come out to play. It's a pretty fun night. Also Sunday has longer hours and has fireworks.

2) Counter service is fine. We usually do one counter service and bring our own PB and j so we can eat in line during the day.

3) you can enter DL early by doing Minnie's on a mm day. It's fantastic character interaction and the food is ok.

4) I recommend not missing World of color if you want to take in a show. Aladdin is fun, but both my DS lose interest (last try was ds6 birthday and DS 3) last year this week we did everything you listed and so much more on day 1!

5) fireworks generally are on Saturday and Sunday, but the Halloween parties do special halloween fireworks! In the past weekends are open 8/9-11/12 for DL and 9/10-9/10 at DCA and weekdays have been 10am-8pm. Carsland may change that, however.

6) if you find yourself at the parade route near parade, I say go for it! Disney's play parade is pretty fun. Soundsational gets mixed reviews. I personally enjoy it.

Remember DL is a different experience then WDW. The attractions are closer together as are the two parks. Get there early, utilize fastpass (although that time of year some fastpasses aren't necessary), relax and have a good time! That time of year it isn't uncommon to have 5-10 min waits for the smaller attractions. E tickets getting up to 25-50min has been our experience. However hard to predict with CL this year.

 

[skiingfast]

1. Do we start at California Adventure on Monday or start with Disneyland - knowing that Halloween Party is Tuesday and we'll get kicked out of Disneyland. We may just get in the car and head back to San Diego Tues evening. We'll have hoppers, just trying to see where we want to start.

You have hoppers and it's so easy to hop you may end up in both parks 5 or 6 times. You probably will want to start in DCA on both days for Radiator Springs Racers or its FP. It's the ride that is getting the bulk or traffic right away in the morning and building a long line and running out of Fast Pass. The FP will probably be lasting into the day so pay attention to this situation before you get there.

Also Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain build long line and each has FP.

2. Since we are limited in time, I think counter service meals mostly. Should we even bother with a sit down meal in the parks or resort? We may do ESPN zone Sunday night in Downtown Disney.

Maybe you should do ESPN zone or something else in DTD on Tuesday after 6pm when DL closes for the party. Of course DCA will still be open a while but busy. Otherwise I wouldn't do a long meal while the parks are open.

3. Speaking of meals, should I just rule out a character meal? If we did one, it would be breakfast but that really cuts into time in the parks? Unless we get an early entrance into CA through Grand Cali hotel at Storytellers Cafe. Is that even possible or worth it?

You may want to do Breakfast with Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn at the first reservation 50 minutes before the park opens. This way you can eat before the park opens, Magic Morning will be going on so if you eat quickly you can join in.

4. My kids are 5 (almost 44") and 9. Some rides we have to do because we've missed them in the past or they are brand new or just new to my kids due to their height. The Animation stuff too, my 9 year old loves drawing. What shows should we do? I think we can skip Playhouse Disney- we have seen that enough.

You should stop in the Animation Academy in Hollywood Land. You can learn to draw a character, this is also where Turtle Talk is.

 

[k3chantal]

I need help figuring out stuff. We'll be there Sun-Tues Oct 21-23.

We were just at WDW in March, but we'll be in San Diego this October (for Legoland, beach, family/friends), so we decided to also do a few days at Disneyland.

So we will drive up from San Diego on Sun, Oct 21. We have two nights booked at the Best Western Park Place Inn. We will probably only be here for night sleeping. No going back for swimming or afternoon naps.

I'm thinking Sunday, we'll just do Downtown Disney. Then Monday do California Adventure mostly? Of couse we have hoppers so we can mix it up. Tuesday do Disneyland until they kick us out for the Halloween Party. I think we'll skip this. We have never been to Disney at Halloween so I am looking forward to decorations and the fall vibe. I'm sure the Halloween Party is really fun, but we will be checking out that day and I just think it's a little more money than we wanted to spend.

With all that, I'm struggling to decide:
1. Do we start at California Adventure on Monday or start with Disneyland - knowing that Halloween Party is Tuesday and we'll get kicked out of Disneyland. We may just get in the car and head back to San Diego Tues evening. We'll have hoppers, just trying to see where we want to start.
2. Since we are limited in time, I think counter service meals mostly. Should we even bother with a sit down meal in the parks or resort? We may do ESPN zone Sunday night in Downtown Disney.
3. Speaking of meals, should I just rule out a character meal? We have done Goofy's Kitchen before for dinner so we don't want that. If we did one, it would be breakfast but that really cuts into time in the parks? Unless we get an early entrance into CA through Grand Cali hotel at Storytellers Cafe. Is that even possible or worth it?
4. My kids are 5 (almost 44") and 9. Some rides we have to do because we've missed them in the past or they are brand new or just new to my kids due to their height. So I think we can manage a plan that highlights our must do rides, but I'm feeling worried about the whole Carsland stuff and the crowds. DL -Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Matterhorn, Buzz, Star Wars, whatever else we can fit in. CA-Carsland, Bugs, Toy Story Mania, Monsters, Goofy's coaster, Grizzly, Tower or Terror? The Animation stuff too, my 9 year old loves drawing. What shows should we do? I think we can skip Playhouse Disney- we have seen that enough.
5. We won't have any early entry advantages because we are staying offsite. And the parks close earlier in this season. What are the hours and fireworks schedule usually?
6. Parades - should we even bother trying to work that in?

So...any tips, things I should consider or think about? Thanks.

I would plan on finding out when California Adventure opens and try to run to Carsland. I hear the wait time is really long so your probably going to be happiest if you get there as fast as possible.

I would make reservations SOMEWHERE for dinner. Two hungry kids waiting to be seated is not fun. It's pretty easy to get on the monorail and take it to Downtown Disney where you can eat at the Rainforest Cafe.

Also, a favorite for many but I find it too dark, the Blue Bayou? You can watch people ride the Pirates of the Caribbean while you eat.

Have you stayed at the hotel before? It is REALLY close to Disneyland(just across the street). We have stayed there dozens of times; dated but you can't beat the location. If I remember corrected, you get a 'free' continental breakfast at the restaurant next door. I have only had one 'bad' experience and it was when we were coming in really late 11 pm and for some reason had been booked (without me realizing) it, at their 'sister hotel'. It was the next block over so a little farther away.

You can get on the Disney website and go to the calendar section to find out when the parades and fireworks are. Be careful, when Disneyland closes for the Halloween Party, California Adventure is opened but their World of Color show closes a lot of that park down. Perhaps now that Carsland is open, there is more to do.

Have fun!!