Our Disneyland plan - advice/tips, etc please

[KatieRae]

I can't believe our trip is a little more than 4 weeks away! I have a somewhat tentative plan but I don't know...it feels too loose. I am the typical Walt Disney World over planner LOL.

Who: There are 4 of us - 3 adults, 1 very feisty and independent 20 month old.

When: July 1st - July 7th

Where: Disneyland Hotel!!!

Tickets: 5 day park hoppers (with the hope we can add on the 6th day)


Mon July 1st: Fly into LAX, arrive at 4:30 pm. We rented a car. (How much traffic can we expect to sit in? I feel like we will be leaving the airport during rush hour!) We have dinner reservations at Goofy's Kitchen at 7 pm. If we don't make it, not the end of the world.

My older daughter (she's 20, so an "adult" lol) doesn't know we are staying on property! Not sure how to tell her yet? Ideas?

July 2nd: Disneyland EMH. Late breakfast at PCH. How long do we allow ourselves to get to Paradise Pier? Go back to hotel after breakfast for naps/pool time, etc. Back to Disneyland for dinner at Carnation Cafe adn Fantasmic (dessert package).

July 3rd: California Adventure EMH. Breakfast at Ariel's Grotto. (Breakfast is in the middle or prime morning touring time but important for the little one to see the princesses. Saving Cars Land for another day. Break at hotel. World of Color in evening.

July 4th: Disneyland. Late breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe (How mcuh time should we allow to get to the Grand?). Break at hotel. Dinner at Big Thunder BBQ Ranch. May or may not stay to enjoy fireworks, depends on little one.

July 5th: California Adventure EMH and Cars Land! Break at hotel. Dinner at PCH Grill. Back to park in evening for entertainment.

July 6th: Disneyland EMH. We have breakfast scheduled at Plaza Inn but seriously thinking about cancelling it. Hoping by this point, we've hit all the must do's and can relax, enjoy the atmosphere and catch a parade. Break at hotel. Evening back at park.

July 7th: California Adventure EMH. Late breakfast at Goofy's Ktichen. Check out of hotel and pack car. Enjoy rest of day at park and/or pool. We need to be at the airport around 8 so we will probably leave Anaheim around 6???

My thoughts: We definitely will be following the little one's lead so if we miss things, we miss them, we'll be back someday. Hoping though, with 6 days in the parks or at least 5, we'll get plenty done. Mostly plan to hit rides in the morning and entertainment in the evening (but also maybe some less popular rides at night too). I am nervous that with breakfast that we won't have enough of a morning so thinking about cancelling some sit down meals and eating at more counter service. I do think meals are important for the toddler though.

We are from the east coast so getting up early will not be an issue for us. I am really not sure how the time change will affect the baby especially (and we'll actually be on the west coast for 4 days before we get to Anaheim) but she is usually awake by 6 am at home LOL. Obviously I am hoping that she is somewhat on west coast time since she goes to bed at 8:30 at home and obviously we are going to bed at 5:30 while we are in California! She can nap in her stroller if she gets tired.

We plan to use baby swap for a few rides but the one adult in our group doesn't like coasters or thrill rides anyway. We plan to take the baby on to everything without a height restriction. If she starts to get fussy in line, one of the adults will take her out and if they are able to, meet back up with us when we are closer to the front (I read that this is possible on some rides in the unofficial disneyland guide). We plan to have two of us stake out show/parade spots while the other entertains the little one and bring her at the last moment.

How does all this sound? Sorry it is so long! Thanks for reading if you go this far. I am a planner as you can see!

Thanks again!

 

[tzeitel]

It sounds like you will have more than enough time to do everything - even with TS breakfasts

We flew into SNA (not LAX) so I am not sure about traffic - but that seems to be rush hour! Maybe cancel Goofy's and have dinner on your way to the hotel (there are tons of places to have dinner around DLR) or even try to do a walk-in at Goofy's. I say cancel since they now have the cancellation policy ($10pp for cancelling before 24hrs or no-show). The policy applies to all TS restaurants so if you don't think you will make it to any of the meals I would cancel and just go to a CS or try to walk-in to a TS.

 

[aceskyjump]

You shouldn't have to buy a ticket for the 20 mo old for the Fantasmic reserved seating. They should let you hold DB as a lap child. Save you $60. Btw that dessert box is awesome!

 

[Rebekkap]

I'd swap carnation cafe, where I wasn't at all impressed with the food, for cafe Orleans, which was heaps yummier. Other than that, I recon it all sounds great!

 

[SFMommy]

I can't believe our trip is a little more than 4 weeks away! I have a somewhat tentative plan but I don't know...it feels too loose. I am the typical Walt Disney World over planner LOL.

Who: There are 4 of us - 3 adults, 1 very feisty and independent 20 month old.

When: July 1st - July 7th

Where: Disneyland Hotel!!!

Tickets: 5 day park hoppers (with the hope we can add on the 6th day)

It doesn't sound like you plan on doing any park hopping. Not sure if it's worth getting the PH ticket if you don't plan to hop a little.


Mon July 1st: Fly into LAX, arrive at 4:30 pm. We rented a car. (How much traffic can we expect to sit in? I feel like we will be leaving the airport during rush hour!) We have dinner reservations at Goofy's Kitchen at 7 pm. If we don't make it, not the end of the world.

My older daughter (she's 20, so an "adult" lol) doesn't know we are staying on property! Not sure how to tell her yet? Ideas?

July 2nd: Disneyland EMH. Late breakfast at PCH. How long do we allow ourselves to get to Paradise Pier? Go back to hotel after breakfast for naps/pool time, etc. Back to Disneyland for dinner at Carnation Cafe adn Fantasmic (dessert package).

Depending on where you are in DL, give yourself 30 minutes.

July 3rd: California Adventure EMH. Breakfast at Ariel's Grotto. (Breakfast is in the middle or prime morning touring time but important for the little one to see the princesses. Saving Cars Land for another day. Break at hotel. World of Color in evening.

Since you have the EMH, I would give RSR a try first thing. If you save it for other days and things don't work out, you will be disappointed that you didn't at least try.

July 4th: Disneyland. Late breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe (How mcuh time should we allow to get to the Grand?). Break at hotel. Dinner at Big Thunder BBQ Ranch. May or may not stay to enjoy fireworks, depends on little one.

July 5th: California Adventure EMH and Cars Land! Break at hotel. Dinner at PCH Grill. Back to park in evening for entertainment.

July 6th: Disneyland EMH. We have breakfast scheduled at Plaza Inn but seriously thinking about cancelling it. Hoping by this point, we've hit all the must do's and can relax, enjoy the atmosphere and catch a parade. Break at hotel. Evening back at park.

July 7th: California Adventure EMH. Late breakfast at Goofy's Ktichen. Check out of hotel and pack car. Enjoy rest of day at park and/or pool. We need to be at the airport around 8 so we will probably leave Anaheim around 6???

All the way to LAX and you have to return a rental car? If your flight is at 8:00, I would leave at 4:00. But you say you have to be there at 8:00, so leaving at 6:00 should be OK.

My thoughts: We definitely will be following the little one's lead so if we miss things, we miss them, we'll be back someday. Hoping though, with 6 days in the parks or at least 5, we'll get plenty done. Mostly plan to hit rides in the morning and entertainment in the evening (but also maybe some less popular rides at night too). I am nervous that with breakfast that we won't have enough of a morning so thinking about cancelling some sit down meals and eating at more counter service. I do think meals are important for the toddler though.

We are from the east coast so getting up early will not be an issue for us. I am really not sure how the time change will affect the baby especially (and we'll actually be on the west coast for 4 days before we get to Anaheim) but she is usually awake by 6 am at home LOL. Obviously I am hoping that she is somewhat on west coast time since she goes to bed at 8:30 at home and obviously we are going to bed at 5:30 while we are in California! She can nap in her stroller if she gets tired.

We plan to use baby swap for a few rides but the one adult in our group doesn't like coasters or thrill rides anyway. We plan to take the baby on to everything without a height restriction. If she starts to get fussy in line, one of the adults will take her out and if they are able to, meet back up with us when we are closer to the front (I read that this is possible on some rides in the unofficial disneyland guide). We plan to have two of us stake out show/parade spots while the other entertains the little one and bring her at the last moment.

How does all this sound? Sorry it is so long! Thanks for reading if you go this far. I am a planner as you can see!

Thanks again!

Overall sounds like a great plan! Have fun!

 

[goooof1]

Do you need a rental car? Yes, it will be rush hour traffic (ugly, ugly). Check into shuttle options like PrimeTime or even the Disneyland Express bus. If you aren't going other places you will just end up paying for parking for no reason.
Also, I would limit sit-down/table service meals to maybe one a day. A huge breakfast will fill you up for a long time.....you won't even want another big meal for dinner! There are plenty of counter service places that have nice areas to sit and eat and lots of meals are easy to share.
Be flexible!!

 

[goooof1]

Agree with pp about RSR......go first each early morning. You don't want to wait and then find out it is down. And then you can ride it more than once!

 

[KatieRae]

Thank you for the tips!

We want to have park hoppers so we have more choices in the evening. I am guessing at some point, we will hop and if we don't, my older daughter might. There will be some evenings we go back to the hotel with the little one and she'll want to stay and do her own thing.

I really struggled with whether to rent a car but in the end decided to get one. I already purchased using price line so I can't cancel it. I am really worried about rush hour, but then I live in New Jersey and rush hour isn't pretty here either (stopped traffic/moving at like 5 mph a few inches at a time).

The main reason I wanted a car was we had planned to take a taxi to Target and possibly a grocery store. We're in Disneyland for a week and I will need diapers (easier to buy there than try to pack) and other things for the toddler and snacks for the room, etc. I figured between the shuttle for three adults and taxi rides, it was almost cheaper to rent a car and have the convenience of having to install my daughter's car seat once for the whole trip.

Thankfully, Disneyland doesn't have their dining system fully updated yet and I wasn't required to provide a credit card. But I would hate to cancel reservations last minute or not show up when someone else could have had those reservations. I actually asked Disney planning if they thought I would be able to get there by 7 and they said yes, but I am doubtful LOL.

Our return flight is at 10:45 pm. :/ I figured if we are at the airport by 8, we'll have time to return car and find gate, etc.

Thanks again for the help! I am so excited! Oh and I should find out about Fantasmic today (Disney planning is supposed to call after they book it!) One of the great things about taking my toddler is she is free for so many things and I just know she is going to love the experience even if she doesn't remember it.

 

[ilovedisneyoyesido]

Whatever you do try to make rope drop. You will get more done in 2-3 hours before the crowds set in for the day.

 

[KatieRae]

Oh we'll definitely be at rope drop every morning! If there is EMH, we will be there early for that as well. I already warned my group that we have to be up early and focus in the morning then we can "relax" the rest of the day! LOL

 

[Rubygoose]

When we went for 6 nights when DS was still in diapers, I thought of just ordering them with our grocery order from Vons, but then decided to just bring them. They took up a good portion of a suitcase on the way there, but I ended up with a lot of room at the end of the trip to pack souvineers. I ended up buying sets of Barbie style princesses for my 3 nieces, knowing I had the space in the suitcase.

 

[Barry Browning]

Rent a car, the LA traffic is terrible, I thought Austin was bad but nothing beats LA.California allows motorcycles to come between the car lanes so have husband look out for these, they constantly appear and you really have to be careful.LAX will be a good 45 minute-60 minute trip.There is always the unexpected here a car can come in handy.We have had to make trips to Target and almost the ER for wife who got sick.I know you can go without it but man I have sure enjoyed having one.I guess I am to the point in life that when I want or need to go I can.Yes its a luxury but it sure is nice.I have gotten my best rental deals from Costco.Also most rentals allow a second driver for no charge so you may want to take the freebie you never know.

If you want a break from Disney the Santa Monica Pier is really beautiful and worth the trip.There are rides, shell shops, Bubba Gumps and a beautiful beach.

 

[stlm]

I can only answer fir your first part, DH, DD (23 months) and I arrived at LAX at the same time, rented a car and was checked in at the
DLH and at our room by 6:30. Settled in at was on time for our dinner reservation at Goofy's at 7. After dinner we went to Target to get diapers, snacks and essentials for our daughter. I'm sure you'll make it! Have fun!

 

[coaches24]

For telling your oldest DD I think I wouldn't tell her. If she asks where you are staying I would avoid it by saying something like " oh no where neat, just a small little motel near by" or something like that and then let her find out when you actually get there. A nice surprise to start the trip that she's old enough to appreciate. That would be my idea.