Quick help needed. Newbie to DL!

[peyjax]

I needed some suggestions quickly on Disneyland for the 4th of JULY. I am visiting my folks and we decided to try Disney for this weekend. We have never been so I am nervous about crowds and being able to see stuff. I know DW like the back of my hand but am at a loss when it comes to this place.

First question is would you go on July 3rd (FRI) or July 4th (SAT)?

Would you try Pricline for a last minute place to stay?

What would be a good plan or itenirary for one day? -We are traveling with a 2 and 5 year old. This is mostly for them!

THank you so much for your quick help!

 

[sonnyjane]

Hmmm... I'll let the vets give you a really good one-day plan, but being the 4th weekend, I'd say it's going to be very, very busy whichever day you decide to pick. I'd decide on a few things that are "musts" for the kiddos, since on a very busy day you won't be able to see or ride everything you'd like. Good luck!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I'm sort of in the same boat since I just booked a spur of the moment trip for this weekend, except I'm a Disneyland AP holder, so I know the park well. I've never gone on the 4th, and I decided last night that I wanted to do something fun on the 4th(even if the place is insanely crowded).

Frankly, if you need 2 days for the MK, you will need that many for Disneyland itself(not including DCA) since it has more attractions than the MK. I will say that you need to be inside Disneyland when the park opens. Use FastPass. If the kids want to experience Fantasyland(and I think that Disneyland's is much better than the MK's), do it first thing in the morning with Peter Pan being the first attraction you do.

 

[HydroGuy]

I needed some suggestions quickly on Disneyland for the 4th of JULY. I am visiting my folks and we decided to try Disney for this weekend. We have never been so I am nervous about crowds and being able to see stuff. I know DW like the back of my hand but am at a loss when it comes to this place.

FWIW here is some good background info for WDW vets: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

First question is would you go on July 3rd (FRI) or July 4th (SAT)?

For me it would be an easy decision to go on Friday. My best guess is crowds would be similar because of the holiday. But Saturdays are Magic Morning days and Fridays are not. So on Saturday there will be several thousand folks entering the park at 7AM one hour before normal opening. On Friday you will be able to enter at the same time as everyone else. With your young children you will want to hit Fantasyland, and like MK your best bet for that will be right when the park opens at 8AM if you want to avoid super long lines.

Would you try Priceline for a last minute place to stay?

I would try and call the Harbor Blvd hotels first. That is just me. If you are price sensitive and want to best deal then priceline will probably give it to you. But you may be further away from DLR.

What would be a good plan or itenirary for one day? -We are traveling with a 2 and 5 year old. This is mostly for them!

Well, like MK, hit Fantasyland early and then Toontown also as early as possible. If you want help with an itinerary RideMax will be your best bet for $15. See www.ridemax.com.
Have a great time with your kids. DL is truly magical!

 

[JeannieNM]

The nice thing is your kids ages, they will enjoy the shows and the atmosphere and not need to ride space mountain 6 times.

I would highly recommend heading over to DCA in the heat of the day. The bugs are is nice for the little ones as is the brother bear area. You can also cook down in the Muppet movie. I went to DLR with my dd for one day in July. We arrived around 9 ish as we were coming from Newport Beach and we spent the whole day going between parks and Downtown Disney. We left around 11 PM. We did everything we wanted at least once. She did ToT -4 times. It was not the 4th but it was packed.

Have fun.

 

[DLtorgo]

I would be careful about park hopping too late in the day if you want to be at DL for the fireworks. They will close the turnstiles when it gets full and you will have to stay at DCA. If being at DL for the evening is important to you I would just stay there. They are showing the special Fourth of July fireworks show all weekend not just on the 4th so that should help some with crowds.

If your kids aren't as into seeing the characters I would hit Fantasyland first as suggested and then skip Toontown altogether since it is so crowded and take them over to jungle boat, tiki room, pirates, pooh, etc. If they really love seeing the characters though hit Toontown, my daughter would just rather do rides. Since you are a WDW vet you know what your kids will want to see.

 

[peyjax]

YEAH! Thanks for the quick response.

So hit fantasyland first?. My oldest will definatly want to hit space mountain at least once. Should I go there first? I would like to try matterhorn as we have never done that. Basically would like to see several things disneyworld does not have. Characters are not important as we just went on DCL and to the world last month. (I feel so spoiled! LOL) We will not park hop as that seems to be too much for just one day. Fantasmic is the must of the evening. I am excited but nervous that it will be wall to wall people. Like christmas at DW?? Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

If you're there first thing in the morning, you will be able to do Fantasyland first and still get an FP for Space. If necessary, you could send a runner to get FPs for Space. Also, if you want to do the Nemo subs, hit them first thing in the morning as that line will get long and remain that way very early on.

 

[HydroGuy]

YEAH! Thanks for the quick response.

So hit fantasyland first?. My oldest will definatly want to hit space mountain at least once. Should I go there first? I would like to try matterhorn as we have never done that. Basically would like to see several things disneyworld does not have. Characters are not important as we just went on DCL and to the world last month. (I feel so spoiled! LOL) We will not park hop as that seems to be too much for just one day. Fantasmic is the must of the evening. I am excited but nervous that it will be wall to wall people. Like christmas at DW?? Thanks for the suggestions.

I would not park hop either with only one day, but you should know it is much easier than at WDW. DCA's gates are about 100 yards away from DL's gates. Parkhopping takes one minute on foot. So do not rule it out because of perceived difficulty.

If you want to ride Space Mtn, then grab some Fastpasses early in the morning. Fantasyland will be least crowded in the first hour and then later in the evening. Matterhorn can be done in the first hour with a short line.

Fantasmic will be crowded for the 9PM show. The 10:30 is usually easier to see but probably too late for kids your age. Bottom line is you should get your Fantasmic spot at 7PM if you want to see the 9PM. While waiting in your spot you can send someone to grab some dinner to bring back to you. Or have one person save your spot while the other takes kids on rides near the show like POTC. Just making sure, but you know that Fantasmic at DL is performed on teh Rivers of America and there is no stadium seating like WDW?

It is pretty unanimous around here how to make your way thru Fantasyland. Adapt it however you want according to your goals. Note this works best during a Magic Morning or first thing on a non-Magic Morning day.

Arrive at DL gates 30 minutes before the park officially opens. That will be 7:30AM in July.

1. Peter Pan
2. Dumbo
3. Alice in Wonderland/Matterhorn (either one first)
4. Mad Tea Party/Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (either one first)
5. Carrousel/Snow White/Pinnocchio (any order)

Note this only gets you on rides open during the first hour in Fantasyland. There are two more rides that are in Fantasyland. You will for sure, for sure want to do the Storybook Land Canal boats as it is is unique to DL and great for youngsters. It generally would open at 9AM. And the line can get pretty long after awhile.

Also there is the Casey Jr RR also unique to DL. I can't remember if it opens at 8AM or 9AM. Usually the line builds slowly.

If you only want to ride Space Mtn once you can head over there to get FASTPASSES as soon as you finish Fantasyland. If you want to try it twice then you will want to get 2 sets of FASTPASSES and you may want to try to get over their a little earlier. That might mean sending a member of your party over there while you take the kids on a couple rides.

Another unique ride at DL in Tomorrowland is Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Most of us would not mind waiting in a 15 minute line for this ride. It is an interesting ride but not that great. Unfortunately the line builds up to 45-60 minutes rather quickly. You might be able to ride it with a 30 minute line if you wait until later in the day. Most of us who have multiple days do FNSV first thing on one of our DL mornings.

 

[dizzymomx4]

The one thing that I would share from our past trips during July4th....
we went every year for 6 years straight so have been many times please note that the park is not only crowded, it is unbelievable! You will be in a grid lock so be prepared. We have been pushed, shoved, and stomped on not to mention we were routed down Main Street in the "alley ". There are parts of DL that I never knew existed and truly ruined our Dream Trip...Please be careful with the little ones...
The fireworks are great, the atmosphere is wonderful, the crowds INSANE!

 

[Hound 109]

I would not park hop either with only one day, but you should know it is much easier than at WDW. DCA's gates are about 100 yards away from DL's gates. Parkhopping takes one minute on foot. So do not rule it out because of perceived difficulty.

If you want to ride Space Mtn, then grab some Fastpasses early in the morning. Fantasyland will be least crowded in the first hour and then later in the evening. Matterhorn can be done in the first hour with a short line.

Fantasmic will be crowded for the 9PM show. The 10:30 is usually easier to see but probably too late for kids your age. Bottom line is you should get your Fantasmic spot at 7PM if you want to see the 9PM. While waiting in your spot you can send someone to grab some dinner to bring back to you. Or have one person save your spot while the other takes kids on rides near the show like POTC. Just making sure, but you know that Fantasmic at DL is performed on teh Rivers of America and there is no stadium seating like WDW?

It is pretty unanimous around here how to make your way thru Fantasyland. Adapt it however you want according to your goals. Note this works best during a Magic Morning or first thing on a non-Magic Morning day.

Arrive at DL gates 30 minutes before the park officially opens. That will be 7:30AM in July.

1. Peter Pan
2. Dumbo
3. Alice in Wonderland/Matterhorn (either one first)
4. Mad Tea Party/Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (either one first)
5. Carrousel/Snow White/Pinnocchio (any order)

Note this only gets you on rides open during the first hour in Fantasyland. There are two more rides that are in Fantasyland. You will for sure, for sure want to do the Storybook Land Canal boats as it is is unique to DL and great for youngsters. It generally would open at 9AM. And the line can get pretty long after awhile.

Also there is the Casey Jr RR also unique to DL. I can't remember if it opens at 8AM or 9AM. Usually the line builds slowly.

If you only want to ride Space Mtn once you can head over there to get FASTPASSES as soon as you finish Fantasyland. If you want to try it twice then you will want to get 2 sets of FASTPASSES and you may want to try to get over their a little earlier. That might mean sending a member of your party over there while you take the kids on a couple rides.

Another unique ride at DL in Tomorrowland is Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Most of us would not mind waiting in a 15 minute line for this ride. It is an interesting ride but not that great. Unfortunately the line builds up to 45-60 minutes rather quickly. You might be able to ride it with a 30 minute line if you wait until later in the day. Most of us who have multiple days do FNSV first thing on one of our DL mornings.

If i was going to take a family of 4 to DLR for ONE day......& that day was the 3rd or 4th of July.....& they wanted a good overview of DLR (knowing they have visited WDW often).....then i would:

- Have them read HG's "How to use FP on a crowded day" tip thread.
- Read all the rest of his threads.
- Make sure they have a FP & touring strategy the first 2 hours.
- Read my one day trip below.
- Get them to the park & in line at 7:20am.
- Get park hoppers (not necessarily because they want to tour DCA, but because they could "escape" to DCA when DL gets crazy crowded)


Given the variables listed above, my recommended touring plan (for the first couple of hours) would be (assuming 7/3):

- In the security gate line at 7:20am
- hopefully one of the first in line at the turnstiles.
- Have a "runner" pick up a SM FP while the rest head to the Matterhorn.
- (skipping Peter Pan because it's in WDW & unless you're first on the line is a killer) Ride Matterhorn.
- FP runner catches up at Matterhorn...so ride the other side.
- Alice.
- Toady.
- Storybookland (if open) & or Casey Jones.
- Pinocchio (note - skip the teacups, the carousel, dumbo & snowy because they're in WDW)
- Runner picks up Indy FP (since it's 9am'ish) while the family heads to BTMRR
- Ride BTMRR.
- Ride Haunted Mansion.....or head to?

I'll stop here because there are a couple of directions one could go at this point & am curious what others think about the above & am curious what others would do after BTMRR . But after 3 (or 4 FPs) are in my pocket, i'd head to DCA.

 

[HydroGuy]

If i was going to take a family of 4 to DLR for ONE day......& that day was the 3rd or 4th of July.....& they wanted a good overview of DLR (knowing they have visited WDW often).....then i would:

- Have them read HG's "How to use FP on a crowded day" tip thread.
- Read all the rest of his threads.
- Make sure they have a FP & touring strategy the first 2 hours.
- Read my one day trip below.
- Get them to the park & in line at 7:20am.
- Get park hoppers (not necessarily because they want to tour DCA, but because they could "escape" to DCA when DL gets crazy crowded)


Given the variables listed above, my recommended touring plan (for the first couple of hours) would be (assuming 7/3):

- In the security gate line at 7:20am
- hopefully one of the first in line at the turnstiles.
- Have a "runner" pick up a SM FP while the rest head to the Matterhorn.
- (skipping Peter Pan because it's in WDW & unless you're first on the line is a killer) Ride Matterhorn.
- FP runner catches up at Matterhorn...so ride the other side.
- Alice.
- Toady.
- Storybookland (if open) & or Casey Jones.
- Pinocchio (note - skip the teacups, the carousel, dumbo & snowy because they're in WDW)
- Runner picks up Indy FP (since it's 9am'ish) while the family heads to BTMRR
- Ride BTMRR.
- Ride Haunted Mansion.....or head to?

I'll stop here because there are a couple of directions one could go at this point & am curious what others think about the above & am curious what others would do after BTMRR . But after 3 (or 4 FPs) are in my pocket, i'd head to DCA.

I would also check height requirements on Space Mtn, Indy and BTMRR. Your 5 year old may not be be tall enough in which case these would only be for adults.

 

[Hound 109]

I would also check height requirements on Space Mtn, Indy and BTMRR. Your 5 year old may not be be tall enough in which case these would only be for adults.

Good point.

The variables here (only one day & WDW vets, gonna be crazy crowded because of the date, ages & height of kids) have me thinking that a customized touring plan would work better for this family than our (my) typical advice (or a typical ride max plan).

If the OP hasn't left, hopefully he/she can look at the DLR rides & let us know what rides are must do's & which are definitely won't do's.

(& fwiw....I'd skip Nemo for about 4 different reasons )