PTR: of 5 adults and 4 kids going to Disneyland in December 2015!!!

[JenEMT]

I decided I should make a posting of our daily schedule and have a link in the first post. This way my first post isn't boorish or long. So I can come here and update our daily plans for our days in the parks. I still have so many questions but don't want to overload the board lol.
Please don't be afraid to post constructive criticism to any of my plans, I welcome the advice.


Disneyland game plan:

• Drive down on night of 5th
• Visit with gma on 6th, have lunch with her.
• Check into BWP raffles inn after 3 pm. Relax.

Day one: DCA
EMH: 0800-0900am
Park hours: DCA-0900-800pm
World of color 7&815pm
Disneyland: 0900-11pm
PTN: 845pm and 1045pm
Fireworks: 930p,

• Check out of BW about 6:30am, to go check into PPH
• Be at turnstiles by 0730, ask CM while in line what rides are open today for EMH
• Walk with a purpose to Toy Story and go on that once, maybe twice
• Ride California screamin.
• Ride Tower of terror.
• @0900 1 of us gets in line for RSR FP. And/or ride if standby line short. (Note: try to get a FP around 11ish to ride RSR at night, check the Disneyland app frequently to see when current FP return times are).
• explore cars land. Maybe eat breakfast
• Grizzly River Rapids. And grab FP for WOC
• When FP window opens, grab Soarin' Over CA FP. (Can get new FP when last FP window opens OR 2 hours after last FP is pulled)
• Animation building and will do Turtle Talk With Crush as a time filler. Or send everyone on rides, while Rachel and I take Lorraine to Anna and Elsa
• Use RSR FP
• Get TOT fp.
• use soarin fp
• After lunch, Aladdin maybe.
• More rides on paradise pier,
• When fp Windows open, have runner go get fp for another ride.
• Don't forget to get PP+ pics with photographers.

Go with the flow from there Eat at flos. Watch WOC at 815pm, grab FP from grizzly river
--- need to do research on what our plan for WOC will be. WHAT SECTION TO GET.

Go to DL when DCA closes. Probably ride PoTC. Or BTM. Or both. Maybe watch fireworks.


Day 2- DL
EMH 0800-0900
HOURS: 0900-11pm
FIREWORKS: 930pm
PTN: 845pm and 1045pm.

• Line up for EMH @ 0715, bring some sort of bfast snacks.
• Go to tomorrow land. Ride all those rides as many times as possible. (Space then stars then buzz -ride autopia another time, unless there is sufficient time)
• Grab a FP for Indy
• Eat bfast @ RBT
• Ride pirates Stand-By (check app, may change this to big thunder or haunted mansion)
• Grab Big Thunder FP
• Use Indy FP
• Ride Haunted Mansion and/or jungle cruise)
• Grab Splash Mountain FP
• Use Big Thunder FP
• Lunch maybe here
• Use Splash FP
• Go with flow from here. Ride other rides haven't ridden etc. maybe ride FL RIDES if times are ok
• BTBBQ RES @ 7pm.

I think our PP plan will be to just check the wait times on the app, and try to get on it late one night near closing.
MAKE PTN AND FIREWORK PLANS

Tentative : after eating btmrr go to Do some shopping in Emporium until half way through the first parade. Then walknout to sidewalk toward the castle until finding a spot near the Penny Arcade. Move into the street after parade, for a spot to see the fireworks. Then after the fireworks find a spot on the curb between a garbage can and a post to wait for the 1045 parade.


Day 3: DCA
EMH-0700-0800
Hours: 0800-9pm
DL: 0800-midnight!
Ptn: 845pm & 1045 pm
Fireworks: 930pm
Woc: 7pm and 815pm

Turnstiles by 0630 (ouch). Ask cm what rides are running today. Head to RSR if open. Then PP or TOT. Or perhaps do same routine as first day in DCA.
Finish doing everything we didn't get to do first day.
Eat at cozy cone
Consider mid day rest at hotel.
Head over to DL and eat dinner at plaza inn.


Day 4 Disneyland
Hours?
ADR for carnation cafe @ 320... Not sure why I chose this time, there must have been some god reason so I need to revisit this lol. I do know that I will most likely be eating the bacon sourdough melt, Baked potato soup and a malt. Oh, and fried pickles


Day 5 start @ DCA EMH. Move to Disneyland
Hours?

BB Fantasmic! Reservations @8...need to call them though because it only let me reserve for 5 ppl and we have 7. -done. Have one res for 5 people and one res for 2 people.

Saturday after check out we have RFC reservations at 12:15.

 

[millie0312]

I wanted to take a moment and write down all of the places we want to eat. I'm on a diet right now (15 lbs down woohoo), so I've been dreaming of food lately.

I'd like to -for the most part- be able to play it by ear on where/when we eat. except for the TS places such as BB, where we will make reservations for. For example, if we are near critter country and hungry, we stop in at Hungry Bear. Then I'll cross it off my list.

On this list are:
Big Thunder Ranch
Harbor Gallery- BBQ chicken stuffed baked potato
Plaza Inn- (dinner)fried chicken.
Blue Bayou - Fantasmic! Dinner
River Belle Terrace (bfast)
Hungry Bear
Possibly Rainforest Cafe (maybe Saturday after checking out of PPH)
Flo's V8 cafe - banana French toast (bfast)
Bengal BBQ - bacon wrapped asparagus skewer
Carnation Cafe - fried pickles and potato soup

Other foods to try
Reds apple freeze
Dole whip

Whew I am behind on your ptr! lol! I also am on a diet and all I want to plan is FOOD Heres to hoping we both reach our goal by our trips!! I am also hoping for 15 lbs down, but I'd be ok with 10 more (I've already lost 35 lbs since I had my not such a baby, baby now lol). I like the idea of going with the flow on eating- we do that too. I try to write down what I might like at all the CS places and then have an idea of what we are close to that I will like (we are picky eaters). One update on your list- Harbor Galley no longer has the potato- there are some other options for the potato in FL, but no more chicken potato

I decided I should make a posting of our daily schedule and have a link in the first post. This way my first post isn't boorish oh long. So I can come here and update ours daily plans for our days in the parks. I still have so maypmy questions but don't want to overload the board lol.
Please don't be afraid to post constructive criticism to any of my plans, I welcome the advice.

So here it is so far:

All times are estimates as I'm going off of last years schedule.

Day one: DCA

EMH- 0800
Park hours: DCA-0900-800 and DL- 0900-1000
World of color 815pm

** plan morning prior to entrance. Are we staying at Janet's, or should I get room for one more day so we don't have to wake up so early.

Be at gate at 0730.
0800-0900: Ask a CM while in line which rides are open today for EMH. Go ride screamin, tsmm (maybe others in PP), go ride ToT if time, then ride or grab FP for RSR

Go with the flow. Eat at flos. Watch WOC at 815pm (Where, when to get fp?).

Go to DL. Probably ride PoTC. Or BTM.

Day 2- DL

EMH 0800-0900
HOURS: 0900-1000

FIREWORKS: 915?
PTN:???

Go to tomorrow land. Ride all those rides as many times as possible.
Maybe eat bf at RBT.
be in adventureland at 0900 to ride IAJ.
go with the flow from there.
Make res for plaza?


Day 3: DCA
EMH-0800-0900
Hours: 0900-8 DL is 0900-1000

Turnstiles by 0730. Ask cm what rides are running today. Head to RSR if open. Then PP or TOT.
Finish doing everything we didn't get to do first day.
Eat at cozy cone, make dinner res at DL. Maybe BTM.

Also- just wanted to throw my 2 cents in about your schedule: If you are on the fence about staying closer I say YES!! Also Disney just released their discounts so see if they will add it into your ressie and save some money! You will be tired after just one park day and sleep is your friend LOL On day 2 of our trip last year I literally couldn't wake up DD(then 7) and my mom for our evening in DCA- COULD NOT WAKE THEM haha It was a fun date night for DH and I (with DS who was 3 months so not awake too much). Anyway- 30 mins early to the gate is a good plan UNLESS the crowds are huge- I'm waiting to hear how it will go to gauge when we line up too- with the holidays, star wars starting early, the 60th, stuff closing for good and a bunch of others closing for over a year to make sw land it may be crazy and I'm starting to think that it may be busier than I hoped that week.... Anyway- I would suggest you hit TSMM first as its always a LONG line and there is no fp. We are planning on hitting it at least a couple times (you end up competitive even if you dont think you will be LOL) before we do anything else. If you wanted to hit up RSR after doing TSMM the crowd should have died down and you can hit it probably with pretty much zero line. If you go to RSR first on either day expect to spend pretty much all your EE wasted waiting in line there- if you go after the initial rush to it then you will have almost no line. We made this mistake and I could just hit my head against the wall for doing it lol Also if you are interested in photos with the cars do it during EE- no line at all and after EE the lines are usually pretty long (it makes for some fun photos). Then I would suggest hitting stuff close by like screamin, soarin, etc the nice thing is those and tot also have fp that will last some amount of time so you dont need to worry about much of a standby wait. The pier is pretty dead in the morning so its nice to hit those early! Also I'm sure you know but Aladdin is leaving in Jan so if you want to see that, now is the last chance As far as WOC the fp usually don't go very fast and I believe they are over by GRR. You might take a look at the superthread and decide what color you want and aim to get that section- I think there are good seats in every section so its not a big deal but its nice to have a place in mind when you go (we scoped it out during the day to see what spot we liked the best LOL). Also Viva Navidad is a fun one to watch and the Green Army men marching to operation playtime (we didn't watch their show but it was fun seeing them go down the street). For DL if you "walk with a purpose" to PP first thing you can avoid the 60 min wait and then do FL. I think that was and will be our strategy- we are starting some touring plan ideas now lol I can't think of much else right now but looks good and fun so far!! Sounds like we will see you in the parks

 

[koalagirl5]

I try to write down what I might like at all the CS places and then have an idea of what we are close to that I will like (we are picky eaters)

Umm...how did you get inside my head?!

Carry on.

 

[JenEMT]

Whew I am behind on your ptr! lol! I also am on a diet and all I want to plan is FOOD Heres to hoping we both reach our goal by our trips!! I am also hoping for 15 lbs down, but I'd be ok with 10 more (I've already lost 35 lbs since I had my not such a baby, baby now lol). I like the idea of going with the flow on eating- we do that too. I try to write down what I might like at all the CS places and then have an idea of what we are close to that I will like (we are picky eaters). One update on your list- Harbor Galley no longer has the potato- there are some other options for the potato in FL, but no more chicken potato

No potato!!! Noooooo!! That is sad news, it was one of the things at the top of my list to try. Oh well, so many more things on the list. We are going to do CS eating very similar to you. I have a list of places I think we would like, plus specific foods at some of those places that I know I want to try. When we get hungry, we can choose the closest place on the list, or if we feel like something specific we will trek over. I cannot wait to eat...and eat some more at Disney! As much as I loooove carrots and salads ( read my sarcasm).

 

[JenEMT]

Also- just wanted to throw my 2 cents in about your schedule: If you are on the fence about staying closer I say YES!! Also Disney just released their discounts so see if they will add it into your ressie and save some money! You will be tired after just one park day and sleep is your friend LOL On day 2 of our trip last year I literally couldn't wake up DD(then 7) and my mom for our evening in DCA- COULD NOT WAKE THEM haha It was a fun date night for DH and I (with DS who was 3 months so not awake too much). Anyway- 30 mins early to the gate is a good plan UNLESS the crowds are huge- I'm waiting to hear how it will go to gauge when we line up too- with the holidays, star wars starting early, the 60th, stuff closing for good and a bunch of others closing for over a year to make sw land it may be crazy and I'm starting to think that it may be busier than I hoped that week.... Anyway- I would suggest you hit TSMM first as its always a LONG line and there is no fp. We are planning on hitting it at least a couple times (you end up competitive even if you dont think you will be LOL) before we do anything else. If you wanted to hit up RSR after doing TSMM the crowd should have died down and you can hit it probably with pretty much zero line. If you go to RSR first on either day expect to spend pretty much all your EE wasted waiting in line there- if you go after the initial rush to it then you will have almost no line. We made this mistake and I could just hit my head against the wall for doing it lol Also if you are interested in photos with the cars do it during EE- no line at all and after EE the lines are usually pretty long (it makes for some fun photos). Then I would suggest hitting stuff close by like screamin, soarin, etc the nice thing is those and tot also have fp that will last some amount of time so you dont need to worry about much of a standby wait. The pier is pretty dead in the morning so its nice to hit those early! Also I'm sure you know but Aladdin is leaving in Jan so if you want to see that, now is the last chance As far as WOC the fp usually don't go very fast and I believe they are over by GRR. You might take a look at the superthread and decide what color you want and aim to get that section- I think there are good seats in every section so its not a big deal but its nice to have a place in mind when you go (we scoped it out during the day to see what spot we liked the best LOL). Also Viva Navidad is a fun one to watch and the Green Army men marching to operation playtime (we didn't watch their show but it was fun seeing them go down the street). For DL if you "walk with a purpose" to PP first thing you can avoid the 60 min wait and then do FL. I think that was and will be our strategy- we are starting some touring plan ideas now lol I can't think of much else right now but looks good and fun so far!! Sounds like we will see you in the parks

I'm continuing to look into staying closer, as I know it will make day one a lot easier. Prices of most places are just through the roof right now, so I usually stop looking after a bit. Then come back to it later lol. Reminds me, I need to cancel my DI&S res. We were originally going to stay there, but couldn't stop thinking about staying on site. I've also called to update our res at PPH, to include the new discount...but they were out of rooms

A date night with Hubbie and I would be nice...we may have to try for this. I know he really wants to go to ESPN zone..

We are going to do TSMM first, I keep hearing that's the best plan and it sounds like it suits our family well also. I'd be happy with hitting the pier, and then grabbing a FP for RSR right as the park opens for normal hours.

We are sooo going to watch Aladdin. At least I am. My teens don't seem to be into watching some shows, but we will see how they feel after 20k+ steps lol. I look forward to seeing it, and I am sad it's leaving. Same for BTMBBQ

what spot for WOC did you like the best, and why?

I've been messing around on touring plans, and not sure I like it lol. I'm sure we can use it as more of a guideline, per say.. Lol..

I reallllllly can't wait for Disney to publish the calendar... And to be able to make our reservations for BB!

 

[JenEMT]

I think I may be going a bit mad lol. I'm just obsessed with this trip. Always checking the boards, trip reports, researching odds and ends lol... I can't stop.

Hubby even started some of his own research, I'm looking forward to seeing if he comes up with anything exciting for us.

I read my son our count down, and he said he better get to packing.

The vacation package is nearly paid, and I've made a few dinner reservations.

I just can't wait for the schedule to come out!

 

[JenEMT]

Well, I made reservations at best western raffles inn for the night of the 6th. After hours of searching for something that can accommodate 7, at a reasonable rate, that's what I came up with. It seems to be a comfortable, clean hotel with a breakfast which will be nice.

I cancelled our original reservation for DI&S. No going back now, paradise pier it is

I now have 4 ADRs. 5 if you want to include that I had to make two separate for BB Fantasmic! They didn't have any availability for a party of 7. It's ok if we don't get to eat together, as long as we get to eat lol.


ARE WE THERE YET?!?

 

[JenEMT]

PP+ purchased this morning and in its way

I've slowly been updating my above post with our tentative plans. I get more excited every day. It's all coming together so great!

I found the pics from our 2008 trip. I'll try to post some soon.

Some thigs I need to do:
-Start purchasing things we wil need for the trip. (Rain gear, pocket chargers etc).
-organize my list of things I need to purchase and add it to my PTR here. I'd like to be able to utilize this PTR As a one stop shop for reference. I don't have a cool binder...but I'm sooo tempted
-make WOC plans. What day, what location do we want, etc.
-make PTN plan. What day(s), locations we want, etc
-make firework plan. What day(s), locations, etc.

 

[JenEMT]

Disney has posted 3 of the 5 days worth of park hours so far, so I've been doing more active research on PTN and fireworks. I keep updating my post with our schedule. I'm super excited about the extended hours, but a bit intimidated at the same time.

 

[JenEMT]

2.5 weeks!!!!

I'm thinking I may need to rethink our head to TL at EMH strategy....it appears that with season of the force, most are heading straight to TL. Might be a good chance to hit up the FL rides.

I'm also waiting to make plans for WOC. Just awaiting more feedback from the boards as to how the two shows are going.

I also need to finalize some firework plans.

I've purchased everything needed for the trip and even packed up for my 8yo DD. One less thing to do before we leave. I have a growing pile in my closet, of items to pack. Unfortunately I work like 6 days in a row before we leave. I'm lucky in that I get to do shift trades, but 12 hr shifts 6 days in a row...ack All worth it though!

My 15 yo DS sent me a list he's been working on, I need to screen shot it and post it...I couldn't stop laughing! One of the items in the list is "get a princesses phone number"
He also came up with some amazing, very insightful things, such as separate snacks for the drive, so they don't fight over a bag of chips, Trash bags in each row of the excursion for trash, and more

Oh oh oh, and I'm supposed to get our travel documents from UPS tomorrow!!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

glad to see your plans are coming together

Not sure if this helps or not, but here is what we did for some of the nighttime entertainment
- for WOC we did the dining package at Carthay Circle. Worked out well but still wish, even with that, we got to our section earlier as it was crowded. good spot though
- For PTN and Disneyland Forever fireworks, this wasn't the plan but we wound up in this elevated area across from Materhorn near Small World (it's where Alice and the Mad Hatter meet during the day) and wound up with a great view of the projections on It's a Small World and the Paint the Night parade as it came by and we only got there about 15 minutes or so before the parade. For the fireworks great shot of those behind It's a Small World but less so for those shot of at the castle

Hope this helps

 

[JenEMT]

We are back! It went by MUCH too quickly! Amazing trip! So amazing infact, that we are contemplating returning for a quick trip at the end of April! Its DH bday, so when I started researching rates and found the dapper day info, I was ecstatic! Back to planning! You know that empty feeling you get when the trip is all done and over and you have all this time on your hands, previously consumed with Disney trip planning? Yeah, I couldn't handle that feeling!


Pre Disneyland:
Alas, lets work on this trip report first! Everything went really well! I got off work the morning of the 5th and slept for a few hours (surprisingly). Woke up and finished packing up the excursion. then had a big spaghetti dinner at my moms. From there we picked up BFF, and left. For the drive down we watched 3 of the PoTC movies, and Tron. Slept off and on while hubby drove. We ate at Dennys on the Grapevine at about 5 am. Arrived in Anaheim at about 830 I think. We tried to check into BW raffles Inn, however the room wasn't ready so only got all the paperwork done and room assignemt. This was fine since we were headed to my grandmas anyway. Visited with grandmas for a few hours, and back to BW at about 1 ish. Room still wasn't ready. Now I know it was still before check in time (by an hour), but I was irritated at this point. They were letting others check into their rooms. The same girl checked me in at 8am, now I don't expect anyone to bend over backward for me. They had assigned us the room when we checked in at 8, so we knew which room we would get and could see thru the window that it was clean. We were simply waiting for someone to go check it. In our pajamas, after a 17 hour drive..... so after an hour, I went back in letting her know we were still waiting. She then told me the lady who needed to check the room went on lunch break and for me to come back in 15 min. NOW, I was irritated. I kindly said my family and I are tired, after an 17 hour drive from Oregon, and still in our pajamas. After lady got off break, she went to check the room and we were able to finally get into our room. It was nice, and clean. Good size. The shower head was wonky and sprayed all over and the carpet was soaked in the walk way. Comfy beds, great size for our family of 6+1.
That evening we made the trek into downtown Disney (stopping at CVS for a toothbrush I forgot to pack for DD8).


We ate at ESPN zone with the coupon we got from the Costco package. It was still expensive, but included some game play and the beer (and food) was good! I didn't get any pics of the food, I completely blanked it. It was a loud, but fun environment.
Kids had a blast too, and it was fun watching them have fun, even though we weren't in the parks yet:


Then mom gets to say: "that's what you get"


after we ate, we had some amazingly fun arcade time. We received 4x $10 cards. The games were outrageously expensive. I knew they would be high though lol. My kids ended up finding this 4 sided air hockey game that they played probably over an hour. Funny thing is that is was like the cheapest thing to play there! Joke is on you ESPN zone! I'm sure they could hike up the price of that game. At first the older three didn't want youngest sis to play, but they soon learned she could hold her own and was fun to play with!

After this we walked back down DTD and stopped in World of Disney to look around a little. Then made the long trek back to BW. BFF stopped at CVS again, for a bottle of rum and pop.

The breakfast the next morning was ok too. No complaints as its exactly what we expected, a hotel free continental breakfast. I made myself an egg, sausage mcmuffin. We were there right when it opened and it wasn't too crowded either. Just enough to take care of us for a few hours.

 

[JenEMT]

Day one

DCA:
We nailed it. This is what we should title this day. Woke up about 530, checked out at 6 ate breakfast at BW, then headed to PPH. Checked in about 7am. This went smoothly and quickly. The CM checking us in gave us a Birthday and first trip buttons for BFF, Celebrating buttons for everyone else and gave us adjoining rooms without me even having to ask. She told me we would receive texts when the rooms were ready. We ended up getting 1007 and 1007. we got Standard rooms with pool views. I like that as the kids went swimming every day and I could check up on them!

back to the morning, we were at bag check at 720-730 and then were able to be first in line. The CM even asked for our tickets and scanned in our photos before EMH opening (we weren't let in early, just took photos). That felt like a little pixie dust! So as soon as they opened the turnstiles (I think about 10 min early?), we were able to make it in and head down to rope drop. From there the kids begged to start at Screamin, instead of toy story. So off to screaming we went, walking with a purpose. While everyone else in line headed for RSR (which broke down anyways). I believe we were on the first coaster. OMG amazing. What a way to open up a trip! Then we went off to Toy story for about a 5-10 min wait and back on screaming with maybe a 5 minute wait. Next we went to ToT and again got right on. I forgot how great that ride is. The anticipation is awesome. I got a glimpse of the line for RSR FP, and we all decided heck nooo! So we went and got FP for Soarin, then FP for the WOC 815 show. Then went to Grizzly and got right on of course. Crazy Oregonian's. Got a bit wet, but it was manageable!


Next we waited standby for Soarin, and then went on again using our FP. I have to say, the first time around we were in the second row and I could barely smell the smells I had eagerly been awaiting! Then on our second time around, we were in the first row and I was able to smell them much better.

After this I went into the photoshop to pick up our photopass card. and we broke into two groups. DH, BFF and youngest DD and I went to meet anna and Elsa, and tour around a bit.. We grabbed FP for tower and then went to bugs land for a bit. Next went on goofys sky school. OMG, this one freaked me out! Nothing scares me, I love the scariest of scary, fastest of fast rides! However, this one had me so worried lol! Just the feeling of going over the edge, surprised me. We then rode the rockets and Mickeys fun wheel. We rode in the swinging gondolas and I expected it to be different....I had read about people hating it, making them sick, etc...it was so mellow, I was almost confused lol.

 

[JenEMT]

Couple of things before I move on. First, I used the gas buddy app to find the locations of best gas prices along the way. 5stars to this app! Prices would be $3.19/gallon in one place and 3.69 a mile down the road. So glad I downloaded this.

Second:
I loved this @ PPH

So came home and did this:

Pics don't do it justice. For either pics for that matter. But I'm super happy with our family tree.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Glad to hear you had such a great time!

Rough start with the issue with your BW room, but nice to also move on from that to better location. Sounds like a good start - I was somewhat surprised how much I enjoyed California Screaming! Was up there for favorite ride of the trip. You definitely were getting a ton done and nice that they took your pictures before MM time started - even just having those few extra minutes is nice!