Please help with first timer 3 day itinerary

[pinkberryfox]

Hi,

Will bring my 5 year old and 3 year old to Disney in mid April covering Thursday to Saturday. We have 3 day park hopper passes.

Things we planed to do includes, breakfast or lunch at Ariel's Grotto, World of Color show, fireworks, and of course some kiddie friendly rides.

Can someone please kindly suggest a 3 day itinerary that would incorporates all these, and how to use our magic morning wisely, ie which park on which day, and which day to do the show, and character dining etc.

As my younger one still needs her nap middle of the day, we chose to stay at BWPPI across the park for quick in and out.

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[MikeRx]

As you are not at one of the three Disney hotels you can only use the MM associated with your 3 day PH at Disneyland on Thursday or Saturday morning. So that should make planning a bit easier. With the age of your children I'd head straight for Fantasyland on your MM day and ride Peter pan, Alice and Dumbo at rope drop. Only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland will be open for your MM and you cant get fast passes until the regular park hours begin, so maximize Fantasyland! We feel that the Plaza inn for a late breakfast (10:30am on your MM day) is a great opportunity to see upwards of 10 characters (see other threads for the probable line up). The day in DCA should include time in Bugs land as there are several smaller kid friendly rides, but don't overlook the other areas as many of the rides don't have height restrictions and would be perfect for the little ones. Our 8 year old has been enjoying Disney Parks since he was 9 months old and crawling around!
Mike

 

[MrDisneyFan]

How exciting for you!! MikeRx is right on about the MM, maximize the time in Fantasyland. And Plaza Inn mid morning to do the character breakfast is great as well. Keep in mind that Thursday should be the least busy day while you're there. Friday morning may not be too bad for crowds, getting busier the later it gets and Saturday will be busy, period. The park gets more crowded the later in day it gets every day so I recommend taking advantage of the mornings in general for attractions, especially on the Disneyland side. Later in the morning or even after nap time might be better to head to DCA and take in some things there. I find the crowds much more manageable (usually) in DCA when it's crazy in Dland. in DCA take in Bugs land, Disney Junior, turtle talk with crush in the Sorcerers workshop are great for little ones.

For World of Color you'll need to make sure to either get fastpasses (distribution is by Grizzly River Run) but if you're doing Ariels Grotto anyway I know they do a World of Color dining package for reserved viewing locations. They have details on the website. I haven't experienced that myself but we did the WOC dining package at Carthay circle and were pleased with the meal and WOC viewing location.

I would think Thursday night would be the best option for Paint the Night Parade and/or the fireworks.

And take advantage of nap time, you'll want to have a good break in the middle of the day. Have a fantastic trip!

 

[whitneyebz]

Not sure I will be much help, but our first trip we brought our two oldest ages 4.5 and almost 3, second trip our kids were 3.5, almost 6, and 7.5...next trip they will be 2, 4.5, 7, 8.5. So we have experience taking kids to Disneyland! But...DH and I LOVE rides. Our favorites are space mountain, star tours, RSR, peter pan, thunder mountain railroad, etc...sometimes we had to do a switchpass (one of us took older kids on, other one waited with younger one then we switched). We pretty much ride everything there- I won't pay that much money to miss out on the big rides, loL! But...luckily there are tons of rides for little ones!

We are also doing Thur-sat (but in early march). If you want to do Peter Pan at all, do it right away. There is no fastpass. Get a fastpass for something else right after that. Once that expires, get another one We don't go in with a plan, really. If we do DCA first thing, we go right to RSR and either walk on or get a fastpass or both. Also do toy story midway mania right away because it doesn't have a FP. Other than that, enjoy yourselves and just do whatever! I would download an app with wait times, too!

We have never done a character breakfast and I don't intend to (very expensive and it's easy enough to meet characters just walking around the parks), so I can't help there. Eat a mickey beignet! We also do not stop for naps, but might have to with the 2 year old...unless he naps in the stroller (hoping for this). Getting a hotel right across the street will be perfect- we stayed at Park Vue Inn last time and it was RIGHT THERE. Loved that, so easy to walk back at night with tired kids. No waiting for any buses, etc. I want to try WOC this time, too! And catch the Tangled show. Also taking DD to get her hair done at Anna and Elsa's boutique- she is prime age (almost 7) for that and next time she might be too old to want to do it

Lastly, have so much fun!!! We always have a blast there. We will have extra adults with us this time, which will be great help, but we can always split off from them when needed. Oh, and two rides that we can't stand- small world and nemo...our kids don't care for them either.

 

[sherilaine]

So three nights and wanting to do fireworks and WOC - I would recommend you try for fireworks your first night - as it can get cancelled easily - I've not heard of WOC getting cancelled. I'd get my fireworks in and then work on WOC for the other night or two. As for MM, I'd pick the Saturday, as it's a 7AM morning and the earlier your magic morning or EMH, the more effective as well people are lazy, tired, want to sleep in etc. I'd then do rope drop on Thursday at DCA and the same on Friday at DL. Then you are maximizing your morning hours on days where the opposite park is open to onsite guests earlier. I'd do lunch on Thursday at Ariels as if you do rope drop then you will be ready for a nice big lunch!

After rope drop for your MM you want to hit Fantasyland as your kids will be able to ride every.single.ride in that place. When you do rope drop at DCA, take them to TSMM as that has no FP and almost always has a long line. Honestly with kids that young you probably aren't going to have to wait too much beyond the Fantasyland rides, most of the e-Ticket rides have height and or scary factors and your kids likely would skip them anyway, so you should have a relaxing visit over 3 days. I'd say to check out Bugsland as we skip it ENTIRELY on our visits because our kids are so past the point of liking that place - but when they were much younger they'd of loved it.

Good luck and have a great time!

 

[pinkberryfox]

So three nights and wanting to do fireworks and WOC - I would recommend you try for fireworks your first night - as it can get cancelled easily - I've not heard of WOC getting cancelled. I'd get my fireworks in and then work on WOC for the other night or two. As for MM, I'd pick the Saturday, as it's a 7AM morning and the earlier your magic morning or EMH, the more effective as well people are lazy, tired, want to sleep in etc. I'd then do rope drop on Thursday at DCA and the same on Friday at DL. Then you are maximizing your morning hours on days where the opposite park is open to onsite guests earlier. I'd do lunch on Thursday at Ariels as if you do rope drop then you will be ready for a nice big lunch!

After rope drop for your MM you want to hit Fantasyland as your kids will be able to ride every.single.ride in that place. When you do rope drop at DCA, take them to TSMM as that has no FP and almost always has a long line. Honestly with kids that young you probably aren't going to have to wait too much beyond the Fantasyland rides, most of the e-Ticket rides have height and or scary factors and your kids likely would skip them anyway, so you should have a relaxing visit over 3 days. I'd say to check out Bugsland as we skip it ENTIRELY on our visits because our kids are so past the point of liking that place - but when they were much younger they'd of loved it.

Good luck and have a great time!

 

[pinkberryfox]

Thanks everyone's comments, really valuable and helpful information. Especially Sheri's, that's probably the plan I will build upon.

Quick question, what is TSMM?

 

[sherilaine]

Thanks everyone's comments, really valuable and helpful information. Especially Sheri's, that's probably the plan I will build upon.

Quick question, what is TSMM?

Toy Story Midway Mania