So Confused...

[cjbcam]

We will be going to Disneyland during Easter week. I'm thinking the Wednesday and Thursday. This will be our first family trip there. I went about 20 years ago and can't remember it. Is there a point in getting park hopper? We will only be there for 2 days. My kids will be 15,13,10&7. How does the fast pass work? Is it like WDW old system? What is maxpass? Should we get it? What about the photopass? We really love Disney World and can't imagine not loving Disneyland but I'm really not sure how to go about booking a trip there.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I have always park hopped and now I can't change. But for a 2 day trip it may not be necessary. We never go less than 4/5 days. Haha!

Fast pass https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/parks/fastpass/ you stick your ticket in the kiosk. It tells you when to come back to ride.

Max pass is fast pass on your phone no kiosk needed. Yes. With 2 days I'd get it.

Photo pass is included in the cost of maxpass. You can get your photos taken on rides and by park photographers.

My fave hotel is HomeWood suites convention. Bunk bed rooms!!

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm thinking the Wednesday and Thursday...Is there a point in getting park hopper? We will only be there for 2 days. My kids will be 15,13,10&7.

IMHO, no. There is plenty to do with 2 full days and I would put the money towards MaxPass.

For me I think parkhoppers are more valuable when you have more days. With two days, if you decide not to do parkhoppers, you will need to be very specific on choosing the entertainment you attend. For me, I would recommend seeing World of Color on your DCA day. At DL, maybe you should skip major entertainment.

With your days being Wednesday and Thursday, if you can arrive at park opening then unless you are staying at a DLR hotel, I would choose DL on Wednesday and DCA on Thursday because DCA has EMH Wednesday and DL has EMH Thursday and you can avoid the queues that are formed before you are allowed in.

How does the fast pass work? Is it like WDW old system?

Yes, DLRs current FP system is exactly like the legacy FP system at WDW. Kiosks with paper FPs.

What is maxpass? Should we get it? What about the photopass?

I agree with @smartlabelprint here. MP is FP on your smart phone. It will be worth getting. And Photopass is included with MP

We really love Disney World and can't imagine not loving Disneyland but I'm really not sure how to go about booking a trip there.

Good news is DLR is easier than WDW in just about every respect. This may help: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Easter week is a busy time for Disneyland, even on a Wednesday or Thursday. Many local schools are out for Spring Break during this time. With that said, I would recommend staying in one park per day. Hopping back and forth takes up a lot of time.

Yes, the MaxPass is like a FP but on your phone, but this helps A LOT, time wise and walking. You can select another FP while you are waiting in line for another ride (after the time allotted on your current FP), but you do not have to walk to the actual attraction to get a FP and come back later. And since it your first family trip, I think you could get good use out of the PhotoPass (comes with the MP anyways too!)

Have fun!
Kriss

 

[cjbcam]

Thanks so much. We won't be staying at a Disneyland hotel I'm going to look into the one mentioned here.

 

[goooof1]

That is right at the peak of Spring Break and it will be very crowded at the parks! I would try to do 4 - 5 days at the parks (with hoppers!).
Lots of off site hotels that are very, very close to the gates......easy walking distance. Find a map of accommodations and look a S. Harbor (north of Katella and south of the 5 freeway). Be sure to check out @HydroGuy's links......extremely informative!

 

[pennym]

Homewood suites convention centre is great! Book early for best rates.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Prepare yourselves for the crowds. It will be insane. Last year spring break was really crowded. I think doing a lot of planning in advance as to what order to attempt to visit the various lands and being there well before rope drop will help a lot. I think just knowing it will be crowded gets you in the right mindset too so the crowds don't get to you.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Prepare yourselves for the crowds. It will be insane. Last year spring break was really crowded. I think doing a lot of planning in advance as to what order to attempt to visit the various lands and being there well before rope drop will help a lot. I think just knowing it will be crowded gets you in the right mindset too so the crowds don't get to you.

Do you find it's crowded first thing?

We're going this spring specifically for earlier morning start to the day and less refurbs. We usually go in early November.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Do you find it's crowded first thing?

We're going this spring specifically for earlier morning start to the day and less refurbs. We usually go in early November.

Crowds for sure are usually the best at rope drop and then it gets more and more crowded as the day goes on. If you don't have access to MM or EMH then start at the park that doesn't have them for that day. For spring break it kind of depends on how close you are to Easter and what breaks schools have planned. I went several times this year during "spring break" (which is actually kind of a long period of time) and the days furthest away from Easter were the best (in my experience).

 

[cjbcam]

I was hoping going Wednesday and Thursday might have been less busy. Maybe we should wait and go when we can spend more time? I knew it would be busy. I keep second guessing even going or not. I really want my kids to see it while still somewhat young (my 7&10 year olds anyways lol). We are lucky that we get one vacation a year and the next few years are already planned.

That is right at the peak of Spring Break and it will be very crowded at the parks! I would try to do 4 - 5 days at the parks (with hoppers!).
Lots of off site hotels that are very, very close to the gates......easy walking distance. Find a map of accommodations and look a S. Harbor (north of Katella and south of the 5 freeway). Be sure to check out @HydroGuy's links......extremely informative!

 

[smartlabelprint]

Crowds for sure are usually the best at rope drop and then it gets more and more crowded as the day goes on. If you don't have access to MM or EMH then start at the park that doesn't have them for that day. For spring break it kind of depends on how close you are to Easter and what breaks schools have planned. I went several times this year during "spring break" (which is actually kind of a long period of time) and the days furthest away from Easter were the best (in my experience).

We'll be there super busy because of a comicon my DH wants to go to. we have a week in the parks.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I was hoping going Wednesday and Thursday might have been less busy. Maybe we should wait and go when we can spend more time? I knew it would be busy. I keep second guessing even going or not. I really want my kids to see it while still somewhat young (my 7&10 year olds anyways lol). We are lucky that we get one vacation a year and the next few years are already planned.

I'd go. You won't see it all but focus on their faves. Try to get in all the little kid things your 7 yo wont like next trip.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I would not even consider not getting a PH - especially with only two days.

 

[disneymum58]

Last summer I tried buying only 1 Park per day passes. By the 2nd day we ended up upgrading to park hoppers at the request of my two teenagers. I'd have been fine with just one park per day, but not my kids!

 

[mfleeting]

I would do maybe 1 day of a park hopper. We rarely use park hoppers but we also don't spend a full day at DCA either. So I would possibly do 1 park hopper for my DCA day to spend some time at DL as well.

 

[nutshell]

Never done park hoppers for two day trip. Save your money and buy maxpass.

 

[Geemo]

I was hoping going Wednesday and Thursday might have been less busy. Maybe we should wait and go when we can spend more time? I knew it would be busy. I keep second guessing even going or not. I really want my kids to see it while still somewhat young (my 7&10 year olds anyways lol). We are lucky that we get one vacation a year and the next few years are already planned.

GO!
It's always busy. Knowing this will help you to be prepared.
Being mid week might help a little.

Having the two days in the parks will also give you an idea of how to plan that future trip.

Geemo