our tentative plan...how does it look?

[PrincessJasmine08]

We are getting ready to take our first trip to Disneyland. Been to WDW more times than I can count. We just booked our flights today!!!! We'll be staying at the Disneyland Hotel March 28-April 2. Here's what I'm thinking for a plan. Did I do okay?

Day 1
Check into hotel/unpack
Swim
Dinner at Downtown Disney (any suggestions? I am a vegetarian, just fyi)

Day 2
At Disneyland gates bright and early! (what is the best way to get there? monorail?)
Back to hotel for swim/nap
Dinner at Disneyland park (thinking maybe Blue Bayou???)

Day 3
At gates to California Adventure bright and early (best way to get there?)
Back to hotel for nap/swim
Dinner at California Adventure (suggestions? We'd like a nice sit down)

Day 4
Sleep in!
Downtown Disney-shopping!!
Either dinner at Storyteller's or breakfast at Goofy's.
Take time to see the other hotels, esp. Grand Californian
pool time

Day 5
Play it by ear...return to both parks and re-ride our favorites

Day 6
Check out of Disneyland Hotel and head out to see some more of California for the rest of the week!

I am a little confused about the evening festivities at the parks. Are both Fantasmic and the fireworks at Disneyland? Does California Adventure have any nighttime shows? What about Spectromagic?

Thanks for any help!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

We're going to DLR for the first time this upcoming June. From my research, this is what I have found:

DLP
Fireworks - Remember... Dreams Come True fireworks
Day Parade - Celebrate! A Street Party at Disneyland Park (like the new Celebrate Dreams Come True parade at MK)
Night Parade - Fantasmic! (on water, like at DHS)

DCA
Pixar Play Parade (like DHS's Block Party Bash) (usually around 5:15 PM daily)
Disney's Electrical Parade (like WDW's Electrical Light Pageant, but on land)

I hope that helps.

Jennifer

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

We are getting ready to take our first trip to Disneyland. Been to WDW more times than I can count. We just booked our flights today!!!! We'll be staying at the Disneyland Hotel March 28-April 2. Here's what I'm thinking for a plan. Did I do okay?

Day 1
Check into hotel/unpack
Swim
Dinner at Downtown Disney (any suggestions? I am a vegetarian, just fyi)

Day 2
At Disneyland gates bright and early! (what is the best way to get there? monorail?)
Back to hotel for swim/nap
Dinner at Disneyland park (thinking maybe Blue Bayou???)

Day 3
At gates to California Adventure bright and early (best way to get there?)
Back to hotel for nap/swim
Dinner at California Adventure (suggestions? We'd like a nice sit down)

Day 4
Sleep in!
Downtown Disney-shopping!!
Either dinner at Storyteller's or breakfast at Goofy's.
Take time to see the other hotels, esp. Grand Californian
pool time

Day 5
Play it by ear...return to both parks and re-ride our favorites

Day 6
Check out of Disneyland Hotel and head out to see some more of California for the rest of the week!

I am a little confused about the evening festivities at the parks. Are both Fantasmic and the fireworks at Disneyland? Does California Adventure have any nighttime shows? What about Spectromagic?

Thanks for any help!

I would swap days 3 and 4. Magic Morning hours will be offered sunday and tuesday of your dates. I would take advantage of this. So, on day 4 I would get up early, head to DL for MM then head over to CA at opening of CA.

 

[QueenDoOver]

Well, I would make sure to read the sticky threads at the top so you understand park hopping, and fast pass collecting, even if you don't do it commando, just doing it helps tremendously.

 

[Hound 109]

I agree with QueendoOver & would review many of the tip threads. Here's a couple:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

& some others in here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

& another WDW vet posed similar questions in this thread with alot of responses.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2079462



Some comments below:

We are getting ready to take our first trip to Disneyland. Been to WDW more times than I can count. We just booked our flights today!!!! We'll be staying at the Disneyland Hotel March 28-April 2. Here's what I'm thinking for a plan. Did I do okay?

Day 1
Check into hotel/unpack
Swim
Dinner at Downtown Disney (any suggestions? I am a vegetarian, just fyi)

WHY NOT STOP IN DL & GET THE LAY OF THE LAND? RIDE A COUPLE OF RIDES, WATCH A PARADE OR THE FIREWORKS...OR DO BLUE BAYOU THAT NIGHT.

Day 2
At Disneyland gates bright and early! (what is the best way to get there? monorail?)

ALWAYS USE YOUR FEET "BRIGHT & EARLY"....USE THE MONORAIL DURING "OFF PEAK" TO OR FROM THE DLH

Back to hotel for swim/nap

PARK HOP TO DCA FIRST & RIDE A COUPLE OF RIDES & PICK UP A COUPLE OF FPs FOR LATER. & GREAT IDEA TO SWIM/REST/NAP EACH DAY.

Dinner at Disneyland park (thinking maybe Blue Bayou???)

Day 3
At gates to California Adventure bright and early (best way to get there?)

IF EVEN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS DO DL FIRST....THEN HOP TO DCA.

Back to hotel for nap/swim

Dinner at California Adventure (suggestions? We'd like a nice sit down)

THE TRATORIA IS NICE....OR FOR REAL NICE THERE'S NAPA ROSE NEXT DOOR IN THE GCH.


Day 4
Sleep in!
Downtown Disney-shopping!!

MAYBE GO TO THE BEACH FOR THE DAY....OR BACK TO DL OR DCA.

Either dinner at Storyteller's or breakfast at Goofy's.
Take time to see the other hotels, esp. Grand Californian YOU'LL BE WALKING THRU THE GCH OFTEN IF YOU'RE HOPPING TO DCA EACH DAY.

pool time

Day 5
Play it by ear...return to both parks and re-ride our favorites

YEP....DL AT ROPE DROP....HOP TO DCA.....HOTEL REST.....BACK TO DL WITH A POCKET FULL OF FPs THAT EVENING.

Day 6
Check out of Disneyland Hotel and head out to see some more of California for the rest of the week!

I am a little confused about the evening festivities at the parks. Are both Fantasmic and the fireworks at Disneyland? Does California Adventure have any nighttime shows? What about Spectromagic?

Thanks for any help!

Have a great time visiting Walt's Park.

 

[splash5]

Just a little info on entering the park on the monorail. It doesn't start running until the park opens, therefore you would be about 10-15 minutes behind those who wait at the gates. Just FYI - it would be fine to do if you didn't want to get into Nemo or some of the Fantasyland rides.

 

[QueenDoOver]

I will say that one of my best MM was when I didn't think we were going because my son had been sick. So we didn't set the alarm or anything, but we all woke up naturally, got ready, had breakfast and then decided my son felt up to it. So we jumped on the monorail, and arrived about 15 minutes into MM. We went on about 8 attractions with minimal waits, but we had none of the commando morning feeling. It was really rather lovely.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

We're going to DLR for the first time this upcoming June. From my research, this is what I have found:

DLP
Fireworks - Remember, Dream Come True fireworks
Day Parade - Celebrate! A Street Party at Disneyland Park (like the new Celebrate Dreams Come True parade at MK)
Night Parade - Fantasmic (on water, like at DHS)

DCA
Pixar Play Parade (like DHS's Block Party Bash)
Disney's Electrical Parade (like WDW's Electrical Light Pageant, but on land)

I hope that helps.

Jennifer

Thank you!!! I am going to go check again, but last time I checked there were no park hours available for our dates. I guess DLR doesn't put them up on the website as far in advance as WDW.

I would swap days 3 and 4. Magic Morning hours will be offered sunday and tuesday of your dates. I would take advantage of this. So, on day 4 I would get up early, head to DL for MM then head over to CA at opening of CA.

I hadn't taken the magic morning hours into account, thank you. I know at WDW, we steer clear of parks that have magic morning hours (extra magic hours there) if we're not able to arrive as soon as they open. It seems those parks are the ones that get swamped throughout the morning. Is the same true at DLR? If we can't make it for magic hours, should we avoid that park altogether?

Well, I would make sure to read the sticky threads at the top so you understand park hopping, and fast pass collecting, even if you don't do it commando, just doing it helps tremendously.

Looks like I have a good amount of reading to do! Should get a lot of useful information...thanks.

Hound...I'm still torn about what to do in terms of a car, so I don't think we'll be able to do the beach one day. I think we're going to take a shuttle from the airport to the hotel and then a couple of local friends are going to drive us around on the other days.
Also, one member of our party only has a 3 day pass, so we can't go into Disneyland that first day. I am a WDW cast member, so I have unlimited entrances, but the others do not. Bummer, I know. Thanks for the tips...will look into the Trattoria!

Just a little info on entering the park on the monorail. It doesn't start running until the park opens, therefore you would be about 10-15 minutes behind those who wait at the gates. Just FYI - it would be fine to do if you didn't want to get into Nemo or some of the Fantasyland rides.

Thanks for pointing this out. I think we'll use our own two feet!

I will say that one of my best MM was when I didn't think we were going because my son had been sick. So we didn't set the alarm or anything, but we all woke up naturally, got ready, had breakfast and then decided my son felt up to it. So we jumped on the monorail, and arrived about 15 minutes into MM. We went on about 8 attractions with minimal waits, but we had none of the commando morning feeling. It was really rather lovely.

That sounds like a really nice time.

I guess now that I have a loose day by day schedule I need to break down what we're doing once we enter the parks. I've read that at DLR it isn't quite as necessary to have a step by step plan, but this is spring break, so we'd like to. Does anyone have any input on how important it is to plan our day out once we get into the park?

Thanks for all the help so far!!