Planning our first trip - overwhelmed

[SommerNyte]

So I posted this in the wrong forum the first time. Let's try again...

We are sitting here, trying to plan our strategy for our DL trip. We have 3-day park hoppers, and will be there from Sept 5-7. Our children are ages 3 (boy), 3 (boy), and 7 (girl). I just tried to measure them (in their sleep ) and think the smallest is 39" (I am hoping it's 40" when he's standing, else I'll be looking for tall shoes for him!) and my tallest is 48". The other seems to be about 42", but again, I'll verify when he's awake and standing up.

Also, the 5th is the 7 year old's birthday, so I guess she'll really be 8.

I am completely overwhelmed. A friend's sister works at the Grand Californian hotel or whatever it's called, so she sent us a park map of each DL and California Adventure, as well as some local guides to Anaheim. We are staying at the Portofino and will be walking.

We plan to arrive 30 minutes or so before the parks open each day. Day 1 will be at DL. We'll get daughter a birthday button and then get Fast Passes for rides, I guess? How many do you get? I'm lost after that. I know we plan to go back to the hotel mid-day for down time, and we will eat lunch at the hotel, dinner will likely be at the park (for daughter's birthday). But how do we pick the rides we want to go on, know the best order to go for them, or even know what's going to be good for the kids???

Day 2 will be similar, minus the birthday and at CA. Again... how do we know what to do??

Day 3 we planned on splitting between both parks to see what we might have missed the first two days.

My head is spinning. Please help!

 

[HydroGuy]

You might want to invest in either RideMax www.ridemax.com or Touring Plans www.touringplans.com. They can create itineraries for you that might help you feel more confident.

Then (important point here) if you do make itineraries do not be a slave to them. Use them when you feel like they are helping you. Depart from them when they do not.

From your post I highly suspect you will benefit from a touring plan on your first day. After that it depends.

There is lots of good info in Mary Jo's sticky thread at the top of the forum:

* DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I second the link above and wanted to add that just hanging around here and reading old threads that interest you will help too. I find that LOTS of people have had the same questions I do and the answers are super easy to find

Honestly, for us, we just wing it. It is a lot more relaxing for me (which says a lot because I LOVE PLANNING...total Type A). I think if I started planning everything, it'd consume me. So that's the one area I just let 'happen'. There's a recent thread hanging around about 'park hopping'. I usually do what you stated with the one day at disney then one at DCA then the last day hitting the last. But some people in the park hopping thread have some cool ideas on how to get the best use out of hoppers

 

[blackjackdelta]

I would suggest you read the Fast Pass thread in the stickys, all the info there is of great help.

Jack

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Prior to our first visit, we picked up a copy of Birnbaum's guide and read through that, figured out what our "must rides" were (for each of us) and where they were, then just started with that.

So, when we arrived on our first day, we headed right for Indy, DS's first choice, but it was down so we continued around to Pirates and on to Haunted Mansion and just continued around riding whatever we came upon that any one of us wanted to ride. We didn't bounce around trying to hit specific rides in a specific order; we just went with the flow but had an idea of what was important to us to ride and what we'd come back and ride if we ended up with time.

 

[roma753]

I recommend reading "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland", which has an entire chapter on traveling the park with small children. The 2012 volume is due out any day now, but I'm sure the 2011 edition will be just fine.

It also has in-depth reviews of each ride, with suggestions about whether kids will like it. This will help you figure out what are your Must Rides, and what are things that you'd like to do if you have time.

 

[pinktink83]

We are staying at the Portofino and will be walking.

That walk is not horrible, but it is definitely not fun at the end of the day, especially with TWO 3 yos. (when we did it w/ a 3yo DH ended up carrying her the whole way back) You may want to look into the shuttle ART transit. Most of the hotels have a pick up station nearby. It costs about $10 per person for the week, iirc. And it just may be worth it w/ all the walking you'll be planning doing (going back for lunch, etc) You'll be wasting a lot of time/energy on walking to and fro! The one thing to watch out for is that in the afternoon there is a 2 hour break for the shuttle, so you have to make sure you go back to the hotel before then, and then find out when the earliest one starts again, so you aren't left stranded. However, when we used, it was perfect for our situation (we did the same daily schedule- naps/lunch at hotel midday).

http://www.anaheimoc.org/Articles/Archive/Webpage10399.asp

We'll get daughter a birthday button and then get Fast Passes for rides, I guess? How many do you get?

Definitely read the entire Fast Pass thread. But basically, you can only collect FPs for 1 ride at a time. You have to wait 1-3 hours before getting your next set. (it will say on the ticket, it changes throughout the day) It will say return time: 10am-12pm, or something like that. The main thing you need to know is that the FP does NOT expire after 12pm (or whatever the ending time is for that ticket). You can use it up until the park closes for that day. The only time that really matters is the 10am...you can't come back and ride it until at least 10am, but anytime after that is fine. Don't stress too much about them. Just know which rides have them, and as you move through the park, keep an eye on your times and when you can collect another set thats nearby.

But how do we pick the rides we want to go on, know the best order to go for them, or even know what's going to be good for the kids???

Check out the height restrictions for all the rides. If they are tall enough, they'll want to ride it most likely. Your 8 yo will be able to ride everything (the tallest restriction is 46"). The next restriction is 40" so you MAY be out of luck on those rides unless the twins are that tall standing up. There are only a handful of them though...mostly the mountain rides (Space Mtn, Thunder Mtn, Splash Mtn, & Star Tours). Other than that, they'll be able to ride everything else.

Day 2 will be similar, minus the birthday and at CA. Again... how do we know what to do??

You'll have to check the DCA ride list for their restrictions, they have more over there. All the info is on DL.com. Just take some time to scroll through all their info...look through the rides, the events, and attractions. You'll get a better feel on whats available.

Day 3 we planned on splitting between both parks to see what we might have missed the first two days.

You probably won't need more than 1 day at DCA.

Check out my trip report the first time we went to DL (links in my signature). We had a 3yo and a 5yo that time, and had a very similar schedule planned out!

 

[Brady's Mom]

I second the Ridemax suggestion. We used it when we went as a family the first time. My youngest were 2 and 4 then. It's about $15 so it won't break the bank and it does have some very helpful suggestions and plans.

We spent a LOT of time in Bug's Land in DCA, because the rides were kid friendly, the lines were short and the rides were open. My littles were a little afraid of the dark rides the first day.

We moved up to FL the second day and they did really well on the rides there - we did NOT take them on Mr. Toad or Snow White! Too scary for my kids. (I don't even like Snow White!) They liked PP, Alice, Teacups and Dumbo. Small World was closed for their big refurb then, so they didn't get to ride it until later.

You should check the hours for DLR and if the hours are shorter it might not be worth it to go back to the hotel for a nap - if you can manage it. Our sons slept in the stroller the first time we went and it worked fine. If the hours are longer - a nap at the hotel is a great idea.

Since you have 3 day hoppers you will have a Magic Morning (MM) and should use it! This gets you into FL to ride those rides w/out a big line. It's also a fun time to ride Buzz! MM is usually on S and T days of the week.

You should also check out Child Swap passes - these are fabulous. It's basically a pass that you can use to switch adults on rides. One adult goes first with 8 yr. old, comes out and watches little boys, second adult goes with 8 yr. old and rides again. 8 yr. old makes out like a bandit since she is basically riding twice more than anyone else! We loved these - they are usually available from the CM at the FP entrance - or if there's no FP - the CM at the exit/entrance. Just ask, the CM's will help you find them.

We find that we park hop a lot. It works for us. We almost never spend the whole day at one park.

 

[RedRosie]

I suggest reading some trip reports that people have posted here. Some write their report right in the post, others have links in their signatures. It would give you a sense of how much time it takes to go through different areas. I like to use the map and the schedule (on disneyland website under park hours and entertainment) as a general guide about where to be at certain times if you really want to see a certain show (Aladdin!) or parade. But don't go overboard. If the kids are having a great time doing something, don't leave to go see the parade. You can catch it next time or not at all. Winging it really is nice sometimes! Have a wonderful time. And remember that the kids will love it, whatever it turns out to be.

 

[mousterpiece]

I've never used RideMax or Touring Plans too much, but the links from HydroGuy's post are essential. They're very detailed, but they're not complicated. The bulk of the questions you're going to have will be answered there.