Questions for next week's trip (Dec 12)

[Pluto468]

Well, my daughter woke up with some respiratory bug complete with fever this morning so I canceled the trip because I know she won't be able to travel by Thursday. Thanks for everyone's input and advice, I'll be able to use it on our next trip

I'm going to look at either leaving a few days later, like Dec 16th, or going at the end of January. All depending on how my daughter's health looks.

~ ~ ~


Ok. As of now it looks like this last minute whirlwind trip is actually happening (Knock wood, cross fingers & toes.)

I have a few questions:

What's the best way to get VQ for Tiana and Haunted Mansion? Any tips for making sure to get one? Tiana is a priority but I only have about 1.5 park days.

Will I need a change of clothes after Tiana, and where is the best place to change? The Hungry Bear restrooms?

Where can I park for walking around DTD to see the decorations in the resort hotels? We aren't going into the parks the first night but the hotel isn't walkable so I thought of just driving over or going straight from the airport. My main goal is to see the Grand lobby

Is DAS registration inside or outside the park these days, and how long does the process usually take?

Where are the biggest lockers? (For carry on/large backpack)


Thanks!

 

[LKing]

What's the best way to get VQ for Tiana and Haunted Mansion?

HM is no longer VQ

Best way is LLMP. If not, try to book your VQ exactly at 7 am.

 

[LKing]

Will I need a change of clothes after Tiana, and where is the best place to change? The Hungry Bear restrooms?

Hungry Bear restrooms are the closest. My son went last week, wore a poncho and put bags over his shoes. He thought the combo was better than changing clothes/shoes and was a lot easier to carry around.

Where can I park for walking around DTD to see the decorations in the resort hotels? We aren't going into the parks the first night but the hotel isn't walkable so I thought of just driving over or going straight from the airport. My main goal is to see the Grand lobby

DTD parking is in the Simba Lot.

Downtown Disney District Parking​

Location
Downtown Disney District Parking is at the Simba Lot, located off of Disneyland Drive, between West Katella Avenue and Pixar Place Hotel.
The first hour of parking costs $10. Validations apply after the first hour of paid parking.
Enjoy an additional 3 hours of same-day parking with a $20-minimum purchase and validation from any Downtown Disney location—or up to 5 additional hours of same-day parking with validation from any Downtown Disney table-service restaurant.
Beyond these validations, each additional hour costs $14, charged in 30-minute increments, with a minimum $7. The maximum daily parking and lost ticket fee is $66. Parking is subject to capacity.
Please note that restaurants and lounges within Disneyland Resort hotels do not validate for Downtown Disney District parking areas.

 

[disneychrista]

There are Jumbo lockers near the picnic area to the left of the Disneyland entrance.

DAS registration is outside the gates in a set of the old ticket booths. Or you can also do it online with a virtual chat.

I plant to carry a pair of leggings ( I usually wear jeans) to change into for the ride, as well as wearing water shoes and a poncho for Tiana's. The biggest obstacle I see is not knowing exactly what time your VQ will be called or where you will be in the park at the time. If I don't get a VQ on day 1 or at the 7am drop on day 2, I will spring for LLMP. I don't foresee another trip to Disneyland for about 5 years, so it is worth it for me to pay the $36 plus being able to use it for other attractions will be an added bonus.

 

[KimberMama]

As noted, Accessibility Services is in the Esplanade between the parks. It takes a long time, first to wait for a cast member and then to get helped. It’s much better to use the online option. Last time I was there it took us 90 minutes between the wait and consultation, this was around 4PM on a Monday, and I think it’s possible they have more cast members available earlier in the day. After about an hour of were waiting they started bringing more cast members over to help.

 

[Pluto468]

As noted, Accessibility Services is in the Esplanade between the parks. It takes a long time, first to wait for a cast member and then to get helped. It’s much better to use the online option. Last time I was there it took us 90 minutes between the wait and consultation, this was around 4PM on a Monday, and I think it’s possible they have more cast members available earlier in the day. After about an hour of were waiting they started bringing more cast members over to help.

Wow, that's a long wait! I did the video calls in the past but I'm not sure if I'll qualify any more. I'm pretty sure my daughter will, but she's at school during the day so I don't know if we'll be able to call. I'll try, though!

 

[Pluto468]

There are Jumbo lockers near the picnic area to the left of the Disneyland entrance.

DAS registration is outside the gates in a set of the old ticket booths. Or you can also do it online with a virtual chat.

I plant to carry a pair of leggings ( I usually wear jeans) to change into for the ride, as well as wearing water shoes and a poncho for Tiana's. The biggest obstacle I see is not knowing exactly what time your VQ will be called or where you will be in the park at the time. If I don't get a VQ on day 1 or at the 7am drop on day 2, I will spring for LLMP. I don't foresee another trip to Disneyland for about 5 years, so it is worth it for me to pay the $36 plus being able to use it for other attractions will be an added bonus.

Thanks! I always used the Main St lockers but they didn't seem very big. I'll check the ones outside.

Good idea about the leggings. I'm trying to pack light this trip but leggings shouldn't take too much extra room.

 

[Pluto468]

HM is no longer VQ

Best way is LLMP. If not, try to book your VQ exactly at 7 am.

Oh, good. That's one VQ I don't need to worry about

 

[disneychrista]

Thanks! I always used the Main St lockers but they didn't seem very big. I'll check the ones outside.

Good idea about the leggings. I'm trying to pack light this trip but leggings shouldn't take too much extra room.

I have never even noticed the picnic area in all my trips to Disneyland. Check out this Park Pass video about lockers, he shows exactly where they are and the sizes, which is very helpful.

 

[KimberMama]

Wow, that's a long wait! I did the video calls in the past but I'm not sure if I'll qualify any more. I'm pretty sure my daughter will, but she's at school during the day so I don't know if we'll be able to call. I'll try, though!

If your daughter qualifies due to a developmental disability, you can either try after school, or once you are in the parks you can get in the online queue and supposedly you are bumped to the front of the queue because they know you are already in the parks. It was exhausting for me last time, and also very cold, and the cast member told me to do it that way next time because it should be faster. I don’t qualify for DAS anymore, but since I only go with one other person and require assistance we are considered a party of unique size, and on busy days they will sometimes give me a couple of multiple experience passes for the attractions that don’t have location return times offered.

 

[disneychrista]

they will sometimes give me a couple of multiple experience passes for the attractions that don’t have location return times offered.

Which attractions are these?

I almost want to call just to talk to someone about all the options. I qualified for DAS my last trip but know I won't this time, which could lead to a very embarrassing situation but that is a different story.

 

[KimberMama]

Which attractions are these?

I almost want to call just to talk to someone about all the options. I qualified for DAS my last trip but know I won't this time, which could lead to a very embarrassing situation but that is a different story.

They are mostly Lightning Lane attractions, I think.

I’m sorry it would be an embarrassing situation — I’m right there with you. But I also know that even with DAS, for me the same situation can happen if the return line is too long. I miss having DAS and think it really sucks that so many people tried to cheat the system, but at the same time I think a lot of people managed their disabilities using FastPass and MaxPass, so with those gone more people sought out DAS.

The options as far as I understand them are:

1) Developmental disabilities such as autism qualify for DAS. In line a person behind me told me Down’s Syndrme qualifies as well.
2) Return to queue: you wait in line, if you have to leave you let a cast member know you are using the return to queue accommodation and you are supposed to be allowed to get back in line at the same place. I was also told that if I had to leave line so quickly we couldn’t stop and tell a cast member (like if I were going to faint or had an emergency bathroom situation), I could explain it to them afterward and be let back in the line. I did read somewhere that some people are taking a photo of where they were on line, but honestly, that isn’t going to happen for me in a medical emergency.
3) Meet up with your party waits in line (they tell the cast member you will be joining them and ask where that should be in the line), and you join them where the cast member says. You and your party need to say you are using the attraction queue meet up accommodation.
4) Rider switch, works as it always has. It could be good for someone who has difficulty with low light, such as in the line for Indy.
5) Location return times. This allows to you wait away from the standby line and return after the assigned time. If you also have a mobility device or mobility issues, you might be directed to an alternative entrance, or you might not, depending on the attraction.
6) Multiple Experience return times. These are supposedly given out sparingly, for guests who have a unique party size that makes return to queue, party meet up, and rider switch unusable options. This is usually a party of two people, or an adult with very young children. The first time I went to Accessibility Services, I was told I was receiving 3 of these passes but only got 2. That person told me I should buy LLMP. They appeared to be very new, reading from a script. The next time I went I did pay for LLMP, and that was a disaster. The times were pushed really far out on most attractions, and I don’t have the stamina to stay in the park until late at night. I got to use it for 2 attractions. I went to Accessibility Services again, and this time did receive 3 MEs. That cast member told me they aren’t supposed to recommend LLMP as a disability option. She put the 3 MEs on all of my reservations for the month and told me I would have to ask again after that.

 

[crystal1313]

For Tiana’s, We used Disney ponchos and wrapped grocery plastic bags on our feet to protect our shoes. It worked well, but we were in the last two seats of the log.

 

[Pollito916]

I plant to carry a pair of leggings ( I usually wear jeans) to change into for the ride, as well as wearing water shoes and a poncho for Tiana's. The biggest obstacle I see is not knowing exactly what time your VQ will be called or where you will be in the park at the time. If I don't get a VQ on day 1 or at the 7am drop on day 2, I will spring for LLMP. I don't foresee another trip to Disneyland for about 5 years, so it is worth it for me to pay the $36 plus being able to use it for other attractions will be an added bonus.

We just went earlier this week, and Tiana's VQ was offered at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 4 PM. I didn't realize until 11, so I had missed 7, then tried at 12:04 but was too late for that one. I got right through at 4, with a return time of 5:29-6:29.

There were way more people wearing ponchos than when it was Splash Mountain. We used some cheap ones from Target, then handed them off to people getting on the ride when we got off. I saw a lot of people doing this. We were pretty much dry that way, feet didn't get too wet, but you never know.

 

[Pluto468]

For Tiana’s, We used Disney ponchos and wrapped grocery plastic bags on our feet to protect our shoes. It worked well, but we were in the last two seats of the log.

Did you use the regular kind with the handles and tie them on, or just slip your feet inside the bags? I'll ask about sitting in the back

 

[LKing]

Did you use the regular kind with the handles and tie them on, or just slip your feet inside the bags? I'll ask about sitting in the back

Tie them. The water comes from above. It is like a wave landing on your lap.

 

[crystal1313]

Tie them. The water comes from above. It is like a wave landing on your lap.

Yes! We tied them on!

 

[disneychrista]

I just have to repeat how ridiculous it is to me that guests are having to tie plastic bags over their shoes because the ride gets them this soaked. On a ride like Grizzly River Run, it is somewhat more acceptable. But on a ride like Tiana's there should be MINIMAL splash. Why can't they lower the water level?

Poncho's have gone from for the whimps (like me) to a necessity. They should be handing them out to guests like they do 3-D glasses at Star Tours.

 

[LKing]

I just have to repeat how ridiculous it is to me that guests are having to tie plastic bags over their shoes because the ride gets them this soaked. On a ride like Grizzly River Run, it is somewhat more acceptable. But on a ride like Tiana's there should be MINIMAL splash. Why can't they lower the water level?

Poncho's have gone from for the whimps (like me) to a necessity. They should be handing them out to guests like they do 3-D glasses at Star Tours.

I agree, however look at the Disney Imagineering video. They seem to be embracing it.

 

[Pluto468]

On the Tiana ride do they still give you a ziploc bag for your phone? I have a few of those left from Splash Mt