Slightly more than a day - What would you do?

[beachbunny]

I'm ending a ABD adventure with a layover at Disneyland before flying home. We arrive at LAX at midnight Friday and depart Saturday afternoon - Disneyland Hotel 2 nights. We are frequent visitors to WDW (once or twice a year) and infrequent visitors to Disneyland (every couple of years). We want to have lunch at Blue Bayou and dinner at Napa Rose. Other than that, we'd like to do stuff we don't/can't do at WDW like Indy and Matterhorn. I'm thinking of going with a one day park hopper - but don't know if that's worth the added cost. Or should I consider a two day single park ticket? Help! What would you do and the more specific the better (as in I'd appreciate an itinerary), because I'm a planner.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I am guessing you are really leaving Sunday afternoon?

 

[PinkBudgie]

As far as I know, they don't have two day one park tickets. Assuming you meant Sunday, there still isn't a lot of time. If you go for only one day, I would pick either BB or NR to eat at. Otherwise you will take up most of your time eating and probably be pretty stuffed. I know I would, anyway. There is a sticky at the top that is a guide to DL for WDW vets. Indy is another you should try and I've heard that DL Space Mountain is different too.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well, your choices for tickets are 2 day park hoppers or buying 2 single day tickets per day. DL does not offer single park tickets for more than 1 day. That said, I would get the hoppers, there is no reason not to hit both parks, I think you will regret it if you don't.

 

[Hound 109]

Please advise the days & the dates so we can offer accurate info. Staying at the DLH might have some benefits. & Absolutely get a One (or Two) day Park Hopper (as opposed to a one park pass).


Here's the DLR primer for the WDW vet:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599



With your short window to visit, you should know the in's & out's of FP at DLR. Read these:

FASTPASS AT DLR

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132 (Note that all FP info in this three-year-old thread is still valid)

"FastPass for Dummies and Smarties - A Photographic Explanation" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186052

"Which Fast Pass First?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107718 (see my post #4 in that thread)




Park Hopping at DLR (especially on a weekend) is the only wat to go:

"Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961




HG's "Getting the Most Out of FP during High Season" & my "One Day Visit" link below, will give you some ideas how if one has some knowledge & a plan, quite a lot can be done if one zigs while others are zagging.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.


hound

 

[beachbunny]

Nope. We're leaving LA on Saturday afternoon. We depart Ecuador on Thursday afternoon and arrive at LAX at midnight on Friday (so in the wee hours of Friday morning). We'll go straight to the hotel, get a few hours of sleep and then spend Friday at the park(s). Saturday, we'll depart for the airport before noon.

Our nights at the Disneyland Hotel are July 16 (even though we arrive in the early hours of the 17th) and 17, departing on the 18th. Yes, we decided to pay for two nights because there was no way we were going to pull an all-nighter.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Wow, that is a whirlwind! But still, better than nothing! Like I said, if you really want to do a sit down, I'd just pick one for this trip unless you don't mind giving up that that much ride time. It just comes down to what your priorities are.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

Like a PP said, choose only one restaurant to eat in (I recommend making a lunch reservation because then you won't have to worry about missing any nighttime entertainment and it'll let you spend the hottest part of the day in a relaxed environment with AC). Also, a one day park hopper is probably the best way to go, and save your shopping for the next morning (you can get a shopping pass for 2 hours if there's something you want to buy in the parks). Another tip is to write down every attraction you want to experience so that you don't get caught up in trying to figure out what to do next.

 

[beachbunny]

Lots of really good ideas! Sadly, I may have to give up one of my favorite restaurants... I know I'm probably overly ambitious but given the fact that my last visit to DLR was 5 years ago....

I've never heard about the 2 hour shopping pass. Do I just go to the ticket booth to purchase one and how much is it?

Also, do I have to go to the main ticket booths to purchase tickets or can I purchase them at the hotel - just trying to save time in the morning.

Okay, if I could do everything I want, I'd want to hit: Toy Story and Soarin in DCA, and Indy, Matterhorn, Space Mtn., BTMRR, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise, Buzz, Nemo, and Fantasmic. Any plan of action?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

also look an if you see an area (like for us bugs land) that you wont go to then cross it off. Only go to your fav rides. use fast passes

 

[PinkBudgie]

You can buy tickets online from the Disneyland website. You print out your e-ticket and take it to the gate- not the ticket booth- and they give you a cardstock ticket right there. Saves time. Hotels often sell tickets but you might risk them not having them or not having the day amount you want. We used the e-ticket one day park hopper in Jan for our boys. Very easy.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Oops, just remembered you staying at the DLH. I would hope you would have better luck there than at an off site hotel. You could call them to ask.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you go with the hopper or the 2 day, I would order the e-ticket online.

I dont' think they do the shopping pass anymore.

That was complicated figuring out what days you'd have! So all day Friday and half day Saturday.

Staying at the DLH, you get Magic Morning on Saturday, so that's nice! Sure, a 2 day might be a bit of money, but come on, you'll have just been on an Adventures by Disney trip, so why not???

I'd probably do it, get the 2 day. If you REALLY want both restaurants, how about early lunch for BB (I think they start at 11:30), then a later evening Napa Rose?

You could do what you could do on Friday, then take the MM and the few precious hours of Saturday morning to do your absolute faves.

If you really don't want to do the 2 day (2 single park single days would be more, I believe, than the 2 day ticket (which is naturally a hopper)) then just have the first half of your day at DL, second half, leading to Napa Rose, in DCA.

Sure seems a shame to miss the MM on Sat though!

 

[AmericanItGirl]

The shopping pass (if they still have it) is free, but you do have to give them your credit card so that if you're in there more than 2 hours they can charge it for a full day ticket.

Since DL opens before DCA, I would head there first and hit up Space and Matterhorn right away. I would also save Indy and BTMRR for later, maybe after DCA has closed (it closes a full 2 hours before DL and opens a full 2 hrs after DL opens).

 

[beachbunny]

So what are the big headliners that people run to (er, walk in a nice orderly fashion) at opening? I know what they are at WDW (space mtn. followed by btmrr and splash), but they may be different at DL?

 

[PinkBudgie]

I would say Indy, Space, Matterhorn, Nemo. And in DCA Toy Story and ToT and Screamin. Pirates is a fast loader so do later. Oh, and there is the "new" IASW so don't know how the lines for that are these days.

I would try for Indy first because sometimes it breaks down and ends up closed for awhile. Also that ride seem to go quickly through FP times.

 

[Hound 109]

So what are the big headliners that people run to (er, walk in a nice orderly fashion) at opening? I know what they are at WDW (space mtn. followed by btmrr and splash), but they may be different at DL?

Most folks "walk with a purpose" to either:

- Nemo
- PP
- SM
- & Indy

But I really recommend reading (& re-reading) the links in the posts above. If you are ONLY going to be there one day...a Friday....believe it or not, I'd be doing some FL rides & collecting FPs first.


I'm not sure what RideMax would recommend, but I'd probably do:

- Pick up SM FP (maybe ride SM as well).
- Matterhorn.
- Alice (but if a line skip till the evening)
- Toady (same as Alice)
- BTMRR (unless it's time to pick up another FP)
- Pick up Indy FP.
- HM
- Pirates
- Splash FP
- Pirates Lair &/or Canoes
- Bite to eat/Dole Whip or Jungle Cruise
- FP at BTMRR.
Hop to DCA

Thats a thought for a start on Friday. If you go on Saturday (during MM) then you can save the first 3 for then & instead immediately start your left side touring.

But read the links printed in my previous post.....it covers alot of info that you might need to tour effectively with only one day. But most importantly....:

- Bet to the security table 40 min. prior to Gen. Adm. or MM opening.
- Collect FPs early & often (to use later in the day).

Have fun at Walt's Park.

 

[pixiewings71]

You will definitely want to FP a lot of rides, you can get the FPs then come back later and ride to your heart's content. Definitely try to do Indy early as it does tend to break down a lot. We usually get Indy, then Splash, then Big Thunder, then Space, then Buzz, we never get Autopia because we hate that ride. lol When it's going to be super hot we will get Splash then Indy. So get your FP's and do FL rides in between, Hound is a smart puppy!

 

[kerickson]

Also, if you are staying at DLH I think you can use the special DCA entrance from the Grand California. On a non MM (Fri in your case), you could go there 45min before park opening. Let's say DCA opens at 10am, you'd line up at the GCH entrance at 9:15, they let you in to ride Soarin at 9:30, then you go wait behind a rope at Grizzly River Run and at 10am the let you into the rest of the park. We ran to Toy Story and still were in a 15 min line and that was during the week on a non/busy day. All week I never saw the line below 45mi - 1hr. But, if you do the above you miss being first into DL that same day. So, it just depends on how many top DL attractions you want to hit. If you had to cross one off I'd say Nemo. The line was never under 1hr when we were there, and the 2 times I've ridden it I've gotten off saying 'that's ok, but not worth a long wait...' Even my little ones weren't that impressed.

I agree with PP that you want to hit Indy early in case it closes down, and only do it Fast Pass.

 

[beachbunny]

Wow! Thank you soooo much! You are all DLR super geniuses.