Searching for the brave and patient

[lattemomof3]

to look over my itinerary! Do I have too much planned out? Also, does anyone see any unneccesary backtracking (I do not know the layout of the park well at all).

Sat, Nov 28 - breakfast @ Embassy Suites (where we're staying Fri), return rental car, check into DLH.
Head to CA @ 9am
Ride soarin Hollywood pict. backlot - ride Monsters Inc, get Aladdin tickets, ride TSM
11:30 Ariel's Grotto
1:50 Aladdin
4:45 stake out spot for Pixar parade
6:10 Wine Country Trattoria

(I don't have us doing MM on Sat. as we need to return rental, etc, we'll do MM on Sun. & Tues.) We're coming in late from Carlsbad Fri. so after dinner we'll head back to hotel to relax.

Sun, Nov 29
MM @ 7am: Do fantasyland rides (can we fit in most of them? - Peter P, Dumbo, Alice, Matterhorn, Teacups,etc.)
Finding Nemo @ end of MM
get Indy FP, do Splash Mt, BTMRR, Pirates, Jungle
Cruise, Pooh (is all of this possible before 11:30?)
11:30 BB
1:00 monorail to DLH to swim, rest
5:00 Hook's Point
evening - DD or DCA, or possibly stake out a spot for F (I'm just not sold on waiting for so long for this - I'm sure it is awesome but I hate to waste all of that waiting time! - as it will be ME doing the waiting)

Mon Nov 30
10 am - Toon Town
12:10 - Carnation Cafe (Is it possible to eat and get over to Billy Hill by 1:00?)
1pm - Billy Hill
3pm - Holiday Tour
5:30 - Holiday parade
8:40 - Fireworks

Tues Dec 1
9am MM - do Tomorrowland rides
10 am - head to Jedi Training (starts @ 10:30)
lunch somewhere
BBB - 12:00
Pixie Hollow (dd3 will be dressed up like Tink)
Tiana's Showboat Jubilee
snack @ Cafe Orleans
More rides or shopping, whatever we missed or want to do again.
7:30 Rainforest Cafe

Wed Dec 2
8am Goofy's Kitchen
10am leave for airport - make the looooong trek home & be home by 10pm

Whew!!!! If you are still here you deserve a Dole Whip! Any comments or advice? Thanks!!!!!! Any extra time in between planned things will just be filled w/ rides or whatever the kids and DH want to do.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Well, i can't answer all your questions but here's a few comments.

There aren't tickets for Aladdin so you'll have to plan on arriving before the show to stake out a spot in line. Others might have more insight for you as to when to line up since i was only able to try to see it once and DS was making so much noise i had to take him out 5 minutes after it started. Anyway, i think we went half an hour before the show and had seats up on the first balcony (forgot what the official name of this is called). They seemed like pretty good seats but again, not sure since i didn't see much of the show.

You should be able to do all of FL during MM.

You won't be able to see Billy Hill at 1 if you're eating at CC at 12:10. You need half an hour (minumum) before Billy Hill in order to get seats. DH and I thought we were doing pretty good showing up 30 minutes before the show and there were already a lot of people there. It was easy for DH and i to find a table since there was just 2 of us but it would be harder with a bigger group. Maybe you can plan on Billy Hill for a different day.

Hope that helps! Sounds like it will be a fun trip!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Another thing to keep in mind is getting FP's as soon as possible. Some of the really popular rides can run out of FP's by afternoon. If you can pick someone in your group to be the "runner"...do this!! The FP does not need to be used during the hour block of time listed on the ticket, so you can gather them thru-out the day & use them anytime after the allotted time.

Plan on sit-down meals taking at least an hour & character meals you get up to 90 minutes.

Have fun & enjoy your trip!!!

(by the way.....we think the wait for the fireworks are so worth it to experience it in front of the castle......we would stake out our spot & take turns holding it while others went off & did rides, shopped, etc........but we're die-hard firework fans!!)

 

[marcemc]

Just 2 things

1- I would recommend getting a FP for soarin and riding TSMM first thing in the morning. Considering it's the saturday after Thanksgiving, chances are it will be crowded later on the day.

2-I would also consider riding Finding Nemo first thing in the morning. If your kids want to ride autopia get a FP while you are waiting in line for nemo, the rest of the rides at fantasyland shouldn't be too bad.

I'll take a latte instead of the dole whip.

Have a great time. Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Eeee-va]

On Saturday, I see DCA as opening at 10 AM? If you're there an hour early, great, but I'm not sure that's necessary (I'd think 30-40 minutes might be enough?). Others here would know better.

If you can stand to wait for it, waiting for TSMM at opening is a valid strategy. As I understand it, the line will get pretty long immediately after opening and remain so throughout. The difference is that if you wait at opening, you're using "found" time, versus wasting time you could be doing something else (unless you wanted to ride Soarin' at 9:30 AM). But unfortunately, that strategy might involve some backtracking, which I wouldn't necessarily want to do with a family. But if you don't mind using FPs outside their window, you could get a Soarin' FP, get in line for TSMM and do Paradise Pier, then Ariel's Grotto, Aladdin, and then back to Monsters Inc. (moderate wait) and Soarin' with your FP (moderate wait), then the parade.

Are you purposely avoiding A Bug's Land? It's cute to look at and/but your kids may want to ride a lot of things.

I do think you'll get decent seats for Aladdin if you get there 30 minutes in advance, but if the park seems very busy you might try to get there earlier. As others said, there's no tickets (well, I think if you get a special vacation package, maybe?).

It does sound like a lot of food for me for one day, to have what I assume is a nice breakfast, and then two sit-down meals for lunch and dinner, but that's just because I am more of the "go go go! eat on the run!" school. I found the service at WCT to be rather slow, but if it's the end of your day I don't suppose it will matter.

Sunday:
Your order is right for Magic Morning and I think you should be able to do all of Fantasyland if you get to MM at opening.

"get Indy FP, do Splash Mt, BTMRR, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Pooh"

I THINK you can probably get that all done (though you didn't say when you'll USE the Indy FP ). A somewhat less roundabout order (while still taking relative wait times somewhat into account) would be, Indy FP, Splash Mountain, Pooh, BTMRR, Jungle Cruise, Pirates (which is near BB so it's not out of your way at all).

I think I'd be more likely to ride Indy first thing and get a Splash Mountain FP to use after BB, unless you think that would make you nauseous. Then it will be a bit warmer and if you get wet you'll be heading back to the hotel/swimming anyway.

(There's another thread on the board where some theorize (and I agree) that Sunday will actually be MORE busy than Saturday, just FYI.)

I think Fantasmic is really neat, but I don't blame you for not wanting to wait. IF your kids were able to stay at the parks until 11, there would be no problem (you can get good seats to the 10:30 showing with little wait), but I don't think that's plausible for your group? With a 7 AM start, that's probably hard for most families.

IF fireworks are a big priority, it is best to try to see them as early as possible, because sometimes they are cancelled due to wind. (In November 2005, the week before Thanksgiving, we had 3 nights at Disneyland and the fireworks were cancelled twice!)

Monday: I haven't done much of what you have listed, so I can't help you! If you can't stand crowds, I've been told you can get good fireworks viewing by It's a Small World. I think the crowds should be much better on Monday, though. I'm not seeing a way to wedge Billy Hill in with your PS, though, unless you can move your Carnation Cafe PS. Depending on how much your kids love toons, you may be able to manage Toontown in an hour or a little more. (Or you could eat at Billy Hill instead?)

Tuesday: Does your family just LOVE Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear? If not, an hour may actually be too much time for Tomorrowland. But much better to have too much time to do stuff, than too little. I don't know much about the rest either so I can't say what's good. Cafe Orleans is a sit-down restaurant; do you have/want a reservation? If you are not looking for a sit-down place, I got the fritters at the Royal Street Veranda in June and they were not good at all, though.

I don't think you missed much in DL (I'm assuming the omission of the Haunted Mansion was intentional?). If your kids are interested and have the energy, it can be worth spending an hour on Pirate's Lair (on Tom Sawyer's Island).

Have a great time!

 

[lattemomof3]

Ok - I think we will hit DCA @ 9:30 to do Soarin, then do Toy Story Mania, then the Paradise Pier rides, then Ariel's, and Aladdin's @ 1:50. Thanks Eeeee-Va, this will save some steps! We will fit in Bugs Land (and Pirate's Lair @ DL, etc w/ non-accounted for time). I just planned the must-sees, and hopefully we'll have time to see pretty much everything else during unplanned time.

If the parks are busier on Sun, would you switch my Sat. and Sunday around, doing DL on Sat and CA on Sun? I don't think we can make it in time for MM on Sat, though.

Good to know we won't make Billy Hill in time - now we won't stress and waste time trying. Maybe we can fit it in another day - if not - I guess we'll have to come back

Getting excited - we're flying in to San Diego, doing Coronado Island and Sea Port Village our 1st day, spending Thanksgiving day @ Sea World, Legoland the next day, then driving our rental car to Anaheim. We will need a vacation after our vacation!

 

[lattemomof3]

Just 2 things

1- I would recommend getting a FP for soarin and riding TSMM first thing in the morning. Considering it's the saturday after Thanksgiving, chances are it will be crowded later on the day.

2-I would also consider riding Finding Nemo first thing in the morning. If your kids want to ride autopia get a FP while you are waiting in line for nemo, the rest of the rides at fantasyland shouldn't be too bad.

I'll take a latte instead of the dole whip.

Have a great time. Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm going to try a dole whip, but I have a feeling I will agree with you about the latte.

 

[DanT]

Soarin' is open at 9:30 but some times you don't actually get on the ride until almost 10am..
I would get my FP for Soarin as soon as you get thru the turnstiles then wait in front of GCH or to the left of the rocks of GMR. Then head straight to TSMM at Rope drop. If you do Soarin' first you will have a much longer wait for TSMM. The line gets long within minutes of Rope Drop...
We did this on a Friday and Saturday morning in Mid October and our wait for TSMM was no more than 10 minutes...by the time we got off TSMM the wait was over 30mins
by the way.. Fast Passes can be used anytime on the day you collect them after the first time in the window....
We got FPs for HMH and Indy at around 8:15 and 8:45AM and rode them both in the late evening with the FPs from the morning...you do not have to use them only within the window times.

 

[vickiea]

Ignore me!

 

[rmom]

On Saturday,
(There's another thread on the board where some theorize (and I agree) that Sunday will actually be MORE busy than Saturday, just FYI.)

Any idea of why sunday may be busier? We are going to be there from Sunday (10/29) - Wed. we also leave after our 8:20 breakfast with Goofy. There are a couple of things I am hoping to do on Sunday because that is the only day they are offered during our stay.

thanks.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Why not visit both parks each day? We hop most days ~ start in DL early, head over to CA early afternoon and then back to DL in the evening.

I (and my kids) do not enjoy Nemo ~ it's not worth any wait IMO. We often start our MM in FL ~ PP, Dumbo, Toad, Alice, Tea Cups, Matterhorn, then over to TL for Space, then Buzz or Star Tours.

 

[DanT]

Any idea of why sunday may be busier? We are going to be there from Sunday (10/29) - Wed. we also leave after our 8:20 breakfast with Goofy. There are a couple of things I am hoping to do on Sunday because that is the only day they are offered during our stay.

thanks.

Historically Sundays are busier because APs are usually not blocked, but may be for that weekend, since it is the last day of the Thanksgiving weekend.
Just checked and only the Socal Select AP is blocked for that Sunday, all other APs are able to come in....along with everyone else

 

[lattemomof3]

Soarin' is open at 9:30 but some times you don't actually get on the ride until almost 10am..
I would get my FP for Soarin as soon as you get thru the turnstiles then wait in front of GCH or to the left of the rocks of GMR. Then head straight to TSMM at Rope drop. If you do Soarin' first you will have a much longer wait for TSMM. The line gets long within minutes of Rope Drop...
We did this on a Friday and Saturday morning in Mid October and our wait for TSMM was no more than 10 minutes...by the time we got off TSMM the wait was over 30mins
by the way.. Fast Passes can be used anytime on the day you collect them after the first time in the window....
We got FPs for HMH and Indy at around 8:15 and 8:45AM and rode them both in the late evening with the FPs from the morning...you do not have to use them only within the window times.

Aha! I thought we'd be able to get on Soarin right @ 9:30 - sounds like FP for Soarin & ride TSMM 1st is the way to go!

 

[DanT]

......and there you go

 

[aprincess@mail.com]

I think you have a great vacation planned! Make sure you leave wiggle room for the unexpected. Have a great time!
We will also be there 11/28/09 - 12/3/09!!! Maybe we will see you there!
Look for the alien green Mickey head!

 

[Eeee-va]

If you get your Soarin' FP when you enter the parks, I think you can still follow the order plan I mentioned (FP first, but don't ride, then go for TSMM, etc.). Don't miss Monsters Inc. if you like the movie at all. My mom hasn't even seen the movie and she thought it was delightful!

If the parks are busier on Sun, would you switch my Sat. and Sunday around, doing DL on Sat and CA on Sun? I don't think we can make it in time for MM on Sat, though.

If you were a group of young adults I might consider some tweaking to take more advantage of park hopping. But given that you're arriving to the parks well before opening on Saturday, and I'm assuming that you'd prefer a bit less walking, I think your plan is smart.

IF you decided to switch things around (and I don't think I would) then you could go to DCA around 10 or 11 AM, but I would definitely suggest going to DL for MM on Sunday no matter what. You will get more rides done in that first hour than you could in 3 or 4 hours in the afternoon, maybe more. I just wanted to warn you to be a bit more patient with crowds on Sunday. And if you're expecting bad crowds then hopefully they won't be as bad as you expect. (Whereas if you go to DCA on Saturday and find that it's really un-crowded on Saturday and expect DL to be the same on Sunday, you'll probably be disappointed.)

I think Sea World and Legoland might both be kind of relaxing? Not sure how crowded either will be. Sounds like fun at any rate!

 

[lattemomof3]

I think you have a great vacation planned! Make sure you leave wiggle room for the unexpected. Have a great time!
We will also be there 11/28/09 - 12/3/09!!! Maybe we will see you there!
Look for the alien green Mickey head!

Thanks for the reminder - I need to get my lime green Mickey! Have a great trip!

 

[lattemomof3]

If you get your Soarin' FP when you enter the parks, I think you can still follow the order plan I mentioned (FP first, but don't ride, then go for TSMM, etc.). Don't miss Monsters Inc. if you like the movie at all. My mom hasn't even seen the movie and she thought it was delightful!



If you were a group of young adults I might consider some tweaking to take more advantage of park hopping. But given that you're arriving to the parks well before opening on Saturday, and I'm assuming that you'd prefer a bit less walking, I think your plan is smart.

IF you decided to switch things around (and I don't think I would) then you could go to DCA around 10 or 11 AM, but I would definitely suggest going to DL for MM on Sunday no matter what. You will get more rides done in that first hour than you could in 3 or 4 hours in the afternoon, maybe more. I just wanted to warn you to be a bit more patient with crowds on Sunday. And if you're expecting bad crowds then hopefully they won't be as bad as you expect. (Whereas if you go to DCA on Saturday and find that it's really un-crowded on Saturday and expect DL to be the same on Sunday, you'll probably be disappointed.)

I think Sea World and Legoland might both be kind of relaxing? Not sure how crowded either will be. Sounds like fun at any rate!

My kids will definately want to ride Monsters Inc. I think we'll keep Sat. @ DCA, less walking is a good thing w/ 3 littles (and my 4th kid - DH). I'm not sure if we will even notice the differences in crowds day to day - we live in a town pop 3,500 in the middle of NE (the largest town near us is an hour away, pop 25,000) - we will think every day looks beyond crowded! I have to admit, I'm a little excited to people watch though!

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Your MM will be great at Fantasyland to get all of those rides done quickly. We run to PP 2x, Dumbo, Alice, teacups, matterhorn, Buzz and hit space as the regular park hours start. That makes you feel like you got so much done in a short time. The last time we were there Nemo had just opened. The line was long with MM and it broke down anyway so going with the sure thing of FL rides is better.

If you don't want to wait in line for the subs you can always ask to go to the Nemo viewing room and watch the show without waiting in line at all.