Schedule and EE day

[momof4squids]

Ok all you professional planners...I need some advice. With what I have planned now...We only have one day in which we could use our EE. Since we have not been for a long time and some of the kids don't even remember Disneyland, it might be hard to really "work" the EE (get the most out of the EE) when the kids might just want to look around when we first arrive.
Here is what we have planned: (feedback welcomed)

Dec 3rd-Monday
Arrive at hotel 4:00pm
Dinner at Rainforest

Dec 4th-Tuesday
Disneyland (EE???)
Hours 9-6

Dec. 5th- Wednesday- Walt Disney's birthday (Something special going on???)
Disneyland
Hours 10-8

Dec 6th- Thursday
Universal

Dec7th-Friday
Disneyland
Hours 8-12

Dec 8th-Saturday
Knotts (free entrance with Toys 4 Tots...think it will be busy?)

Dec 9th- Sunday
Disneyland
Hours 8-12

Thoughts??? Trade any days around?

 

[bumbershoot]

If you're worried about them wanting to just look around, I'd use a later EE day. But, the later EE days that week will be much earlier, so that's difficult too. Well, at least it is for us; we're all lazybones in the AM.

We'll be there almost the same days, by the way. But we're staying offsite and we have APs, so you won't be competing with us for the Peter Pan line during EE!

 

[Hound 109]

Where are you staying & how old are the kids?

What type of rides do you & the kids like?

Tues. EE sounds like a good idea.

 

[kimis]

My dh and I will be at DLH from Monday the third until Thursday the 6th with two of our grandchildren. As our grandkids turn four they get a trip to DL for their birthdays. So this year there are two of them ( a girl and a boy). We are sooooo excited to be there and we are hoping they will have a great magical trip! I too am wondering when the EE hours? Can anyone help me? I went to DL website and found the calendar but no info on EE hours. I am hoping it is Tuesday. We are having breakfast at the park on Tuesday and it would be fun to let them ride a couple of rides before breakfast. I appreciate any help you may have!

 

[Hound 109]

My dh and I will be at DLH from Monday the third until Thursday the 6th with two of our grandchildren. As our grandkids turn four they get a trip to DL for their birthdays. So this year there are two of them ( a girl and a boy). We are sooooo excited to be there and we are hoping they will have a great magical trip! I too am wondering when the EE hours? Can anyone help me? I went to DL website and found the calendar but no info on EE hours. I am hoping it is Tuesday. We are having breakfast at the park on Tuesday and it would be fun to let them ride a couple of rides before breakfast. I appreciate any help you may have!

Assuming you purchased "3 (or 4) Day Park Hoppers" that entitled you to EE priviledges, Tuesday is a great day for EE:

- EE days (until we are notified that it is different) are Mon / Tue / Thur & Sat.
- EE (available ONLY at DL - not at DCA) means that DL opens ONE HOUR prior to General Adm. opening.
- Arrive in line at the gate 30 min. prior to EE opening.

Ride (in order) for your grandkids:

- PP
- Dumbo
- Alice
- Matterhorn (if old enough)
- Teacups
- Toadie (if old enough)
- Carousel
- Pinochio (if old enough)
- (SW probably too scary)
- Buzz (possibly 2 X)
- Pick up a FP at Indy (or Buzz or BTMRR)

Then have breakfast.

Have fun.

 

[kimis]

Hound 109----thank you so much for your help! I really appreciated it!

 

[DLR29]

The only problem with using EE later in your trip is your stamina level. You will feel less tired at the beginning of your trip, which makes it (somewhat) easier to wake up early. Maybe if you want to visit the park before using EE, try one of these:

A) Go to USH on Tuesday, use EE on Th. That allows you to go to DL on W before using EE on Th.

B) Go to USH on Wednesday, use EE on Th. Then the kids can explore on Tuesday and you can get into the park touring on Th.

OR
Tell the kids that one of the other days can be devoted to exploring. You have 4 days in a not so crowded time, so I know you will see everything that you want to. If you use EE on Tuesday, promise that on Thursday they can "look around".

 

[Hound 109]

Hound 109----thank you so much for your help! I really appreciated it!

My pleasure.....i just looked at your signature & it looks like you're DLR vets. Sorry if i gave you info you already know.

It's just that so many first timers to DLR don't realize:

- how much you can get done during EE, if you know the drill.
- how quickly PP & Dumbo get long lines if you don't do those two at EE opening & (long lines with little kids are best avoided).
- how crowded FL gets throughout the day & by doing it early it opens up the rest of the day for "relaxing" or "eating".
- how great it is to walk back to the hotel in the early afternoon (for a rest) with FL & 3 other major rides behind you & with 3 -4 FPs in your pocket.

 

[bumbershoot]

My dh and I will be at DLH from Monday the third until Thursday the 6th

Since you're staying onsite, you get EE each day it is offered, regardless of your tickets! I'm thinking Hound didn't notice the resort part.

So if you got in super-early on Monday, you could do EE Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Yowza.

 

[Hound 109]

Since you're staying onsite, you get EE each day it is offered, regardless of your tickets! I'm thinking Hound didn't notice the resort part.

So if you got in super-early on Monday, you could do EE Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Yowza.

Good catch bumbershoot!!

Definitely do EE on Tues. AND Thurs (even if you don't do it on Monday.)

 

[DLR29]

Good catch bumbershoot!!

Definitely do EE on Tues. AND Thurs (even if you don't do it on Monday.)

Yes, very good call. You are eligible to have EE both T and Th because you will be staying onsite.

 

[farmfresh]

You could always consider going in to the park on monday night if hours permit.

We thought the same thing with our kids the first time around. They were up very early the first morning because they were excited, so EE makes sense from that point of view. Also - there isn't that much they can look at during ee, so that removes a complication anyway.

My kids were quickly converted to the plan on seeing the ee queues. We had forewarned them about waits etc, but when they understood the numbers, they really were quite happy to by pass things knowing we would get back to them later.

If you want, think about using Ridemax. We use it to plan out an itinerary with the kids, so they can see how it all plays out.

Also - I would trade your universal day for a non ee day...maybe switch knotts to sunday, do universal sat, and use fri for DCA. HAve fun

 

[Samantha Becker]

Is Nemo open for EE?

 

[DLR29]

Is Nemo open for EE?

Yes