Please critique our itinerary/schedule?!

[bakers3]

Hi! After reading hundreds of posts and taking pages of notes, I have finished the first draft of our daily schedule. To set the scene, this is our first trip to DL. We arrive in the afternoon on Saturday July 12th and will spend Sun, Mon, Tues and Wed in the parks. There will be 4 of us (me, DH, DD 12 and her cousin 13). We are buying our tickets thru GAT so we will get 2 MM's.

We are staying at the Anaheim Plaza (just switched from Motel 6) and our black lab will spend her days at the kennel. We plan to be fairly rigid with the schedule in the morning but want to keep the afternoons and evenings fairly flexible with the exception of dog walks and FP collection. Meals will be grabbed (CS) as we are hungry. We will probably just graze for the most part.

All feedback and suggestions welcome - especially if you see a flaw in my plans!


SUNDAY (MM) 7:00 am - 12:00 am

6:00 - leave hotel

6:15 Kennel then to line ASAP (do sunscreen and have breakfast snack here)

7:00 Fantasyland for MM, then Matterhorn, if time check Nemo line

8:00 FP Space (do any TL rides with short lines) then over to left side (FP Splash, Indy)

10:00 - one person walk dog /one person FP Soarin' and GRR

10:30 Meet back up in DCA: Toy Story ASAP. Disney VIsa meet/greet by 11:30

2:00 one person walk dog /one person get set of DL FP - take afternoon swim/nap

5:00 one person walk dog/one person get set of DL FP, all into DCA (if holding FP) then back to DL for night

6:30 Parade? Main Street (entrance to firehouse), Town Square (if riding now, go to FL, CC, AL)

8:30 Walk dog (FP window open or too late?)

9:00 get spot for fireworks @ 9:25 [north end of main street]

10:00 Ride more rides (check Nemo). During F! ride Matterhorn, Space, Star Tours

12:00 pick up dog, leave

MONDAY 8:00 am - 12:00 am

7:00 leave hotel

7:15 Kennel then to line ASAP (sunscreen and breakfast snack)

Get Space FP, then go to left side of park- Indy, BTMRR, HMH, Pirates

10:30 to DCA until Fantasmic! FP Soarin' and GRR, Toy Story ASAP, VIsa photo op by 11:30

12:00 one person walk dog /one person grabs set of DL FP for later (hotel break?)

5:15 Pixar Play Parade

6:00 walk dog/FP window open for DL?

8:45 Electrical Parade - stand by Zephyr or by Jumpin' Jellyfish. Hop across to DL, get on train and take to NOS to get seats for F! @ 10:30. Sit down by river in front of POC. Do a ride or 2 first if time or pick up a snack. Use any collected FP and check for walk on rides.

Leave when we are ready - MM tomorrow!


TUESDAY (MM) 7:00 am - 12:00 am

6:00 leave hotel

6:15 Kennel then to line ASAP (sunscreen and breakfast snack)
Nemo Subs and TL or FL again (kids choice) then to left side

8:00 Start FP collection (Space or Indy - kids choice) and hit other rides

10:00 one person walk dog /one person FP Soarin' and GRR (DL FP window open?)

10:30 Meet back up in DCA: Visa M/G by 11:30.

2:00 one person walk dog /one person get set of DL FP - take afternoon swim/nap

5:00/6:00 kennel/runner for (DL) FP, into DCA if holding FP then back to DL for night for rides until closing.

12:00 pick up Ruby, walk to motel


WEDNESDAY 8:00 am - 12:00 am

(Last day - use to catch all missed shows, ride everyones favorite rides, etc. Collect FP accordingly)

7:00 leave hotel

7:15/7:30 Kennel then to line ASAP (sunscreen and breakfast snack)

Space FP, rides in TL with short lines then left side of park

11:00 DCA for Visa photo op by 11:30/Soarin' and GRR FP

12:00 one person walk dog /one person grabs set of DL FP for later (skip hotel break today)

1:20 be at Aladdin for 1:50 show - 1st/2nd row of rear orchestra level or first row or 2 of mezz then back to DL

5:00/6:00 one person walk dog /one person grabs set of DL FP (?)

12:00 pick up dog, walk to motel


Thanks for reading this if you got all the way through it!

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

Wow..........sounds great! My only suggestion would be to be able to deviate from the plan whenever the moment strikes you.....and not worry about being off schedule. Except for the dog appts.......you should always make those
Have a blast!!!

 

[moppety]

My input based on our trip this past week is that if you want to do Nemo, I'd put it at the top of the list on a non-MM. This past Wednesday we were there for rope drop, we "walked with purpose" to Nemo and got on the first boat. By the time we finished the ride, the line was aready at an hour wait and it never eased up.

Since you're going in July, I'm not sure how much that will affect the MM attendance. On our Thursday MM we were able to ride Peter, Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Teacups, Alice, Matterhorn, Buzz and Space in the MM time slot. Plus we picked up FastPasses for Space right after park opening.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Your plan sounds great!! I second going straight to Nemo, the line gets very long, very fast. Also, 1 thing I noticed, but maybe it was just the way I was interpretting it, on day 1 it shows you guys in DL, and 1 person walks dog and gets FP for I think Soarin with a meetup time of 10:30 in DCA. How is the 1 person going to get those FPs and have you guys meet in the park if the other person has the tix for the FPs? Maybe I just am understanding it wrong, or maybe that person was just going to come back out with your tickets and you didnt mention that. Sorry if I am confused

Anyways, have a great trip!!

 

[bakers3]

Thanks for the feedback so far!

We have Nemo scheduled on our 2nd MM. We planned to head straight to Nemo and then to either to FL again or to the TL ride, whichever the kids choose. If you guys who have just been there think we would be better off heading straight there on the non-MM morning though, I'll switch that around!

Also, we had planned to keep our eyes on the Nemo lines those first couple of days (especially at night) and grab an opportunity if we see one.

DizneeCrazee - you are right! I was thinking that once we were through the ticket gates in the morning that we were free to hop from park to park (and kennel) without tickets in hand.

Instead, what we will need to do is all go to the kennel, then have one person take all of the tickets and run for the FP while the other is at the kennel (kids can go with their choice of adult) and then meet up out by the gates and enter DCA together, right?

Thanks again for the advice, everyone!

 

[mikayla73]

I believe that you each actually have to go through the gate at DCA so the park "knows" you are there before you can send someone to get FP's for everyone. So that plan would work later in the day, but not for the first trip into DCA.

I could be wrong though, but that's the way I understand it.

I am sure someone else will know for sure, I'll look around to see if I can verify it too.

 

[pumpkin5156]

On Monday after the ELP in DCA I think you may want to skip the train ride to see F!. Depending on how crowded it is and the timing of the train, you could arrive quite late to get spots for the show. My sister and I sat at Golden Dreams and left before the EP was all the way over. We RAN thru the back part of DCA, thru the gates, across the esplanade, thru the DL gates and made it to the Hub at 9:20 for the 9:25 fireworks (which were then canceled.) My point is, is that it takes time to get over to the other park and you may want to walk rather than wait for the train.

 

[bakers3]

Mikayla - that makes sense. I guess for the morning transition to DCA, we just all swing into the kennel (or have one of the adults do that while the other takes the kids for a snack/restroom break) and all just meet up and go into DCA together. That would sure be simpler! I was just looking for the chance to get those FP's as soon as possible!


Pumpkin - good to know. We'll leave walking (FAST) open as an option for sure!

 

[tinkcollector]

mikayla73 is correct you do need to activate passes before they work as FP's in each park. Also, I think your schedule is great. I have been going to the DLR for a long time and it concerns me you left no time for relaxing and strolling around the park. Also, it is a great place to let the cousin's roam for awhile you, there's really no safer place to let teens be on thier own. Then you and the hubby can have some time to relax, maybe even sit down and have a drink. My favorite place is the lounge in the Grand California Hotel. We can sit and have a drink maybe an appetizer and play a game of checkers, or chess. If you decide to split up make sure you pick a common meeting place. It's a good idea to do this anyway, just in case someone gets lost from the group. Remember, cell phones and even the new range walkie talkies are great for this, but some of the rides you will get no service. Also I would suggest making a priority seating reservation for at least one meal a day. Your feet, and backs will thank me for this one. July can be warm and muggy in So. Cal. So I would suggest late lunch reservations. So you can have a break from the heat, humidity and the hot cranky crowds, and not become hot and cranky yourself.

 

[Hound 109]

A very well thought out schedule. As others have mentioned, be prepared for deviations as they present themselves....but like you, i like to have a schedule to start from.

Thanks for the feedback so far!

We have Nemo scheduled on our 2nd MM. We planned to head straight to Nemo and then to either to FL again or to the TL ride, whichever the kids choose. If you guys who have just been there think we would be better off heading straight there on the non-MM morning though, I'll switch that around!

Also, we had planned to keep our eyes on the Nemo lines those first couple of days (especially at night) and grab an opportunity if we see one.

I like your strategy, & if you can "snag" a Nemo ride in under 20 min..... at a time other than at rope drop (GenAdm or MM) the first 3 days, please report back.

DizneeCrazee - you are right! I was thinking that once we were through the ticket gates in the morning that we were free to hop from park to park (and kennel) without tickets in hand.

I'm going to disagree with a couple of posters above. It's my understanding that ONCE ALL OF THE PARTY gets their entrance media initialized AT EITHER PARK....then one person of the party can take ALL the entrance media (PARKHOPPERS) to the OTHER park....to gather FPs for the entire party.

I base this opinion on my experience in Dec. & more importantly on HydroGuy's tip threads. (Unless this has changed recently).

Instead, what we will need to do is all go to the kennel, then have one person take all of the tickets and run for the FP while the other is at the kennel (kids can go with their choice of adult) and then meet up out by the gates and enter DCA together, right?

I'm confused, but (assuming my info above is correct) a runner (or runners) can enter DCA, collect FPs for the entire party (at say Soarin & Griz).....exit DCA & meet up with the group outside the gate.....then all enter together.

Thanks again for the advice, everyone!

Good "on the go" food would also include Corny Dogs, Churros, & if near Pooh Corner early to mid morning....a nice uncrowded snack (cookies, brownies, tigger tails etc.) can be had there as well.

Sounds like you've got it figured out very well. Have a great time.

 

[bakers3]

Hound 109 - thanks so much for the info. I thought I had read that same information about the tickets bit maybe we'll just have to try it and see what happens. You can bet that corny dogs AND churros are on the agenda.

 

[DangerMouse]

FWIW, I agree with Hound that the entrance media will be activated to get FPs at BOTH parks once you enter ONE park. We have done this several times successfully, and Hydro's rules clearly state this is the case as well.

 

[avalon451]

FWIW, I agree with Hound that the entrance media will be activated to get FPs at BOTH parks once you enter ONE park. We have done this several times successfully, and Hydro's rules clearly state this is the case as well.

Yup, I pulled a Homer Simpson (d'oh!) on an earlier thread once, and claimed that you had to enter the other park to be activated and get fastpasses, but realized later that that was wrong. Entering one park activates them in both. I'd just panicked while I was at DL and THOUGHT that, and thus made my sick kid and the rest of the family shuffle out of the hotel room in GCH in the afternoon, shuffle through the GCH's private entry into DCA, and shuffle back out again so I could go get FPs for later. Then I felt like an idiot when I later realized that hadn't been necessary, since we'd all been in DL earlier in the day.

 

[mikayla73]

FWIW, I agree with Hound that the entrance media will be activated to get FPs at BOTH parks once you enter ONE park. We have done this several times successfully, and Hydro's rules clearly state this is the case as well.

Opps Sorry about the misinfo. I am glad to know I was wrong

 

[OurDogCisco]

Maybe some more sleep??? I find your time from leaving the parks and arriving the next day too short. 7 hours would not be enough for me but it might be for you if you are intending to be tired.

You'll definitely get a lot of rides done during MM. You'll be ahead of the crowds. We just did Finding Nemo Ride and we were on the 1st boat out and the entire morning process took about 40 minutes. They really stalled us a lot in the line walk through to loading the submarines, etc...

 

[bakers3]

Maybe some more sleep??? I find your time from leaving the parks and arriving the next day too short. 7 hours would not be enough for me but it might be for you if you are intending to be tired.

You are right - it isn't enough sleep! BUT.... this is our first trip to DL and it may very well be our only trip so we want to get as much time in as we can. If, on any night, we decide that we have hit the wall and would rather go back to the motel and crash rather than staying until close, we will.

Thanks, Danger Mouse and Avalon!

Mikayla...no problem!

 

[OurDogCisco]

You are right - it isn't enough sleep! BUT.... this is our first trip to DL and it may very well be our only trip so we want to get as much time in as we can. If, on any night, we decide that we have hit the wall and would rather go back to the motel and crash rather than staying until close, we will.

Thanks, Danger Mouse and Avalon!

Mikayla...no problem!

LOL... I kinda figured that but I just wanted to make sure!!! You'll have a great time...