Serious planning help needed!

[DLR29]

Ok everybody out there who thinks that they are a super planner check out this puzzle. So I'm going to DL for a day next Tuesday (23) with a bunch of family and it will be my little cousins' (3 and 5) first time. How would YOU plan out a 1 day trip with these rides on a MM day, assuming you can arrive between 8 and 8:30.

Rides that would be good for their first visit:
-Peter Pan
-Dumbo
-Nemo
-Toontown (mickey's house, minnie's house, etc.)
-IASWH
-Winnie-the-Pooh
-JC
-Disneyland Railroad
-Autopia (although we can FP this, even though FP isn't the most effective on Autopia)
-A Christmas Fantasy Parade

Bold means I assume that they will have incredibly long lines.

That's mainly it, because the 5 year old gets scared really easily. But more than 1/2 of those will have hour long lines all day because of the crowds and we'll need to save seats for the parade like an hour+ in advance. Also, 1/2 of those rides will already have lines when we enter because we won't have MM privileges. Usually I can plan days out pretty well, but I'm stuck here!

 

[DangerMouse]

Ouch, I feel for you DLR29. Have you considered purchasing ridemax? In this instance, it might really pay off.

 

[BillyFan]

You can use the observation deck on Nemo, and that will cut that line out completely. Aside from that, I'd plan on long lines thoughout the day.

 

[HydroGuy]

Ouch, I feel for you DLR29. Have you considered purchasing ridemax? In this instance, it might really pay off.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[HydroGuy]

Ouch, I feel for you DLR29. Have you considered purchasing ridemax? In this instance, it might really pay off.

Double post.

 

[princessCKL]

What is ridemax? I have never been to Disneyland and hope to go either in March or this summer.

 

[dalepool]

Oh yes Peter Pan, Dumbo, railroad-- dino land might scare them, small world- for sure, jungle cruise, cars at that age are fun --I have heard ppl say Nemo was a lot for the 3-4 year olds. You can not go wrong in toon town with little ones.

Don's stress, remember what might be important to you for them to do might not be high on their list. ( I know they will not have a list).

Some of our best memories of DL when my daughter was little are the times we took time to breath, took that extra 5 mins to get auto-graph of her favorite character, and stood in line to get the biggest mess makingest carmel apple. We did not have baby wipes either . She remembers those things still. Oh, she does not remember her first ride -- or even what it was. -- and all my planning back then --

You will have fun no matter -- Disneyland with kids -- Is there anything better?

Patty

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Ridemax will help you get the comando touring aspects down, but is that really the focus you want to have? Also, it's another expense.

I think it sounds as if you want to focus on the 5 yr old having a good time and not being scared, lso et her have a hand in deciding what to do. She'll feel important and you guys will have a little more piece of mind.

I have to echo Patty's sentiments in that we have kids younger than yours and what we tend to do is give our 3 yr old the map when we walk through the gate and ask her what she wants to do. (In all fairness, she's a DL pro and knows the park and how to read the map to know where her favorites are.) Then we sort of wander that way. If we run into an experience on the way, we devote some time to that and then head for the ride. No one is disappointed that way. The girls get to see things in a relaxed pace and we all enjoy it a lot more. We have had some exceptionally cool experiences, because we have done it that way.

You forgot the Storybook Canal Boats - not at all scary and my girls love them. The Casey Jr Train goes through the same area. Also, Tarzan's Treehouse. Not really scary at all (height aside), and the play area at the bottom is accessible through the exit if you don't want to climb.
Buzz Lightyear is another one that is perfect for them - they are so busy shooting everything and will have a blast! You can pick up FPs for it, too.

 

[HydroGuy]

Ridemax will help you get the comando touring aspects down, but is that really the focus you want to have? Also, it's another expense..

To some people RM may be about commando, but to me and many others it is not. It is about helping make more informed decisions on when to go on certain rides.

When I, DLR29 or probably you do DLR in a typical way for us (whatever that may be) we are in our comfort zone and know pretty much what to avoid and certain times of the day.

However, when are out of our comfort zone it can get more complicated. Especially if it might be crowded.

As for the RM expense, many people would consider $15 to be very small compared with other expenses of visiting DLR.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

To some people RM may be about commando, but to me and many others it is not. It is about helping make more informed decisions on when to go on certain rides.

When I, DLR29 or probably you do DLR in a typical way for us (whatever that may be) we are in our comfort zone and know pretty much what to avoid and certain times of the day.

However, when are out of our comfort zone it can get more complicated. Especially if it might be crowded.

As for the RM expense, many people would consider $15 to be very small compared with other expenses of visiting DLR.

How does Rm work? We would like to plan our trips better. Thus far we have been winging it -- i.e. sleep in late, have no plan other than get as many FP as possible. What is the website address? Is it downloadable info? TIA!

 

[trodrigue]

ridemax.com

I love it. Don't live and die by the plan, but love the planning help. Absolutely worth the $15.

Basically it uses a computer program to anaylyze wait times etc. and when you tell it when you will be in the park, what rides you want to do etc, it utilizes the program to give you the ideal itinerary with minimal wait times.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

ridemax.com

I love it. Don't live and die by the plan, but love the planning help. Absolutely worth the $15.

Basically it uses a computer program to anaylyze wait times etc. and when you tell it when you will be in the park, what rides you want to do etc, it utilizes the program to give you the ideal itinerary with minimal wait times.

Is it difficult to learn? I leave in about 18 days or so...Can I learn how to use it in that time frame?
Does RM depend a lot on MM entry? Because we'll have APs this year so no MM entries. Or do they have provisions for AP people?

 

[DangerMouse]

Is it difficult to learn? I leave in about 18 days or so...Can I learn how to use it in that time frame?
Does RM depend a lot on MM entry? Because we'll have APs this year so no MM entries. Or do they have provisions for AP people?

There's no learning curve, really. You just plug in your date, arrival time, and which attractions you want to go on and it pulls up an itinerary for you with wait times and indicates when to pull FPs. Ridemax does not provide itineraries for MM, it starts at official park opening time -- so it would work great for you.

Ridemax does not work on a Mac, unfortunately, or I would probably utilize it more.

 

[HydroGuy]

One key thing IMO to using RM is summarized by trodrigue. Do not live and die by the plan RM creates. It is a tool. That is all it is. Do not fall into the trap that if you have a RM itinerary in your hand you must follow it. Follow it if it is helping, and skip if it is not. If it helps partly then follows the parts that help.

We personally have never followed a RM itinerary all day. On a few occasions we have followed it for parts of a day. Usually we do not follow it at all. But RM does provide guidance before the trip that I find valuable in some cases.

For instance, I have never been to DLR during Christmas week which is known for crazy crowds. Although I know DLR well, I do not know it at Christmas. For me it would be a no-brainer to lean on RM for some advice during such a trip as I would lean on other DIS-ers here for advice.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Can I present the other side of lines?

Time with your kids.
Time to talk about what they are enjoying.
Time to look, see, talk about so many fabulous park "things" in eye-sight.

It's holiday time at DL. There WILL be lines. Make the most of them and enjoy the time with your family. I have seen many families that have created Disney-related trivia, games, fun activities specifically for line time. They seem not to mind the lines at all as they are playing while they wait.

Also, depending on which parade you hit, you may need to leave more than an hour to reserve seats. People camp out for HOURS, truly. It really depends on how many are in your group and if you have hopes for seats or just viewing area.

- Dreams

 

[HydroGuy]

Can I present the other side of lines?

Time with your kids.
Time to talk about what they are enjoying.
Time to look, see, talk about so many fabulous park "things" in eye-sight.

It's holiday time at DL. There WILL be lines. Make the most of them and enjoy the time with your family. I have seen many families that have created Disney-related trivia, games, fun activities specifically for line time. They seem not to mind the lines at all as they are playing while they wait.

Also, depending on which parade you hit, you may need to leave more than an hour to reserve seats. People camp out for HOURS, truly. It really depends on how many are in your group and if you have hopes for seats or just viewing area.

- Dreams

I read this three times and am still not sure what you mean. On the one hand we all agree there will be lines, which you say. But you seem to imply that avoiding lines should not be one's goal because lines are somehow good. Sorry if I misread this as I already said I am confused about the intent.

Personally I agree that accepting lines and crowds as part of the experience is a good idea and will help one avoid frustration. However, for me personally I will try my best to avoid all lines as that is my nature. If I am in a line I will accept and even enjoy the time (usually), but I will not seek out a line to stand in and would rather be in a shorter line than a longer one.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Thanks for the additional info. I'm going to check it out.

 

[DLR29]

Can I present the other side of lines?

Time with your kids.
Time to talk about what they are enjoying.
Time to look, see, talk about so many fabulous park "things" in eye-sight.

It's holiday time at DL. There WILL be lines. Make the most of them and enjoy the time with your family. I have seen many families that have created Disney-related trivia, games, fun activities specifically for line time. They seem not to mind the lines at all as they are playing while they wait.

Also, depending on which parade you hit, you may need to leave more than an hour to reserve seats. People camp out for HOURS, truly. It really depends on how many are in your group and if you have hopes for seats or just viewing area.

- Dreams

While I agree with you a little, I think Hydroguy has a point. Since I go a ton and am an AP holder, this trip is mostly for them and as an avid DIS member planner I want the kids (and their parents) to experience the most possible in one day. I can already see their disappointment if we go to DL and we don't see Mickey or we don't ride Nemo! I want them to have the most fun day that they've ever had, and I'm sure their parents do too.

Saying that, I don't want crabby kids who are impatient waiting for hours for nemo or peter pan. I think that the most that they are able to see in a quicker time/shorter lines = a happier 3 year old or a happier 5 year old. Especially at that age, they question a lot and they will question why we have to wait in line for an hour to see Mickey. The concept of patience isn't there yet, so the shorter the lines, the better. Yes, we will get them involved in looking around at the different stuff to see in the lines, but one can only play "eye spy" for so long.

Thanks to everybody for their opinions. I really do appreciate every single post. I will probably purchase Ridemax to just try it out. I just have to get through this week at school! Then off to the House of Mouse