Soaking in the magic on the first day

[KatieCharlotte]

Our summer 2017 plans include two days in each park, with lots of rides in the mornings, mid-afternoon breaks, and relaxed evening visits. We'll have one beach day and one break day. If we arrive in Anaheim in the early afternoon, it's tempting to buy five-day tickets. We could get set DS's disability card, put his favorite ride, Haunted Mansion, on the card to enjoy, and have no rush to get to any other attractions that day.

If your first day in DL is a bonus day, what would you do to soak up the magic without waiting in lines? -- keeping in mind that it will be a crowded and hot afternoon (and we will be ready to crash by 8 p.m. because of the time change) Walk through the castle? Main street vehicles? What other small things to check out on main street, or anywhere else? The railroad if it's open by then?

 

[my*gracie*girl]

We always buy a 5 day if we will be there more than 3. The cost difference is so minimal and I enjoy going IN the parks even if just for a couple hours one evening or a last Starbucks on Main St one morning. Main St is our preference for soaking in the magic. I love to sit and watch the castle....our last trip we did the horse carriage and double decker bus for the first time and it was so much fun to just ride up and down Main St listening to the music and seeing the beauty all around us! We do usually try and get to at least one ride if we can....depends on what. Big Thunder for me. Space Mountain for dd. Dh doesn't love rides, but will do BTMR at least once. If we could we would grab a fast pass for one of those.

 

[tzeitel]

I was just debating 4 vs 5 day PH. Went with the 5 since it was only $4.22 more per person (I get them through lmtclub which is over $50 cheaper per person than direct from Disney). We arrive on a Saturday and expect big crowds. Our flight is pretty early and we could easily be in the park at around 10AM. The plan is - go in, get DD's DAS (we will probably add HM as well ), get a Dole Whip, try to do a few rides between FP and the DAS, have dinner at Carnation Cafe (made a reservation) and leave the park around 7-8pm. Not worrying about parades or fireworks that day. I told DH that we would do as much or as little as DD wanted that day, it is our "whatever" day

 

[Nevada Jen]

I like to enter through the GCH entrance on the first day. It is much less overwhelming. Also, it would be fun to hit the lights going on in cars land as the end of your night if you are planning on having an early night anyway.

 

[smartlabelprint]

We'd go on pooh. It's my das user kiddos fave ride.

 

[avalon451]

A couple of times I have made a point on our "bonus" arrival day to see a parade. It's a fun and magical introduction into the parks, while your excitement is high. And, that way you've seen it once, and you don't have to figure it into your touring during the rest of your stay-- and you can plan to avoid the parade route on your other days, by staying in one of the lands or going to the other park while the smash of humanity is squeezed in tight. You generally have more energy for that on your first day, anyway. This last trip we did both a DL parade and the CA parade on our last couple of days, and I think it was harder.

 

[mseyre]

Hmm these are all good points. I was just deciding if we needed 4 day or 5 days.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

A couple of times I have mad a point on our "bonus" arrival day to see a parade. It's a fun and magical introduction into the parks, while your excitement is high. And, that way you've seen it once, and you don't have to figure it into your touring during the rest of your stay-- and you can plan to avoid the parade route on your other days, by staying in one of the lands or going to the other park while the smash of humanity is squeezed in tight. You generally have more energy for that on your first day, anyway. This last trip we did both a DL parade and the CA parade on our last couple of days, and I think it was harder.

That's a good idea. That way, we don't have to try to be in the park at afternoon parade time on any other DL days.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Hmm these are all good points. I was just deciding if we needed 4 day or 5 days.

5. Need, it's a need!

I like pp comment about parade. We came in feb this year and I had BB reserved for ptn. I went early the night before to get a stroller pass. Happened upon the parade with front curb seating. Ordered off the regular menu at BB.

 

[agamble]

Hmm these are all good points. I was just deciding if we needed 4 day or 5 days.

If (as in OP cases) you're already going to be in Anaheim for 5+ days then the cost is minimal to add the extra day to your tickets even if you can only use it for a half day. If you are deciding between going to Anaheim for an extra day or not though you would have the added costs of food and hotel for another day/night. All worth considering when planning your trip.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I'd definitely do a parade, so you don't use your ride time on later days for the parade. I'd also do things that don't have big waits ... you can do the Tiki Room and get a Dole Whip just about anytime, possibly ride Pirates and Pooh. If the ROA attractions are open, I'd do the Mark Twain. And what others said about Main Street vehicles. Maybe eat at one of the restaurants in NOS with a river view. Or eat at BB.

 

[Donalyn]

I would walk down Main Street at a slow pace, take it all in, get pictures taken, grab a favorite snack (Dole Whip, whatever), ride a favorite ride, or any ride with a short line. We also try to meet Mickey on our first day, to get that taken care of. (Helps me relax for the rest of the trip knowing that I have the traditional pictures taken.) We aren't huge parade people, but that is a good idea too.

Our plan for our first half day next month is as follows: enter DCA through the GCH entrance. See if we can get a FP for a headliner for later in the evening. Go to DL. Walk down Main Street, get our pictures taken, go to Toon Town for Mickey if the wait isn't too long. Maybe grab a fast pass for something, if we can get it in before heading back to DCA for our other FP. See if we can ride anything without too much of a line. The idea is to be relaxed (our two full days in park will not be, that is for sure), but hopefully enjoy a few things that will make the other days better (because we will have gotten to do some of the things on our list already).

And definitely go for the 5 days. We are there for three nights, we got 4 day passes. So, we also get a few hours in the park on our departure day, to squeeze in the last ride or two.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Not even a Dole whip makes Tiki tolerable for DS. But we're fans of Pooh at WDW, and the Mark Twain is a good idea. We might also stop at Snow White if the line isn't long. DD and I are weird and *loved* the Snow White ride at WDW, so it will be a nice welcome to DL to be able to ride it again.

 

[mseyre]

If (as in OP cases) you're already going to be in Anaheim for 5+ days then the cost is minimal to add the extra day to your tickets even if you can only use it for a half day. If you are deciding between going to Anaheim for an extra day or not though you would have the added costs of food and hotel for another day/night. All worth considering when planning your trip.

Sorry yes, we are going to be there for 6 actually but are doing a day at Universal too.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I would make a reservation for Blue Bayou. Especially since there would be no rush, I wouldn't mind waiting for a waterside table while soaking up the New Orleans Square ambience. You could do HM before or after and then decide if you were ready to crash for the night.

 

[rentayenta]

Not even a Dole whip makes Tiki tolerable for DS. But we're fans of Pooh at WDW, and the Mark Twain is a good idea. We might also stop at Snow White if the line isn't long. DD and I are weird and *loved* the Snow White ride at WDW, so it will be a nice welcome to DL to be able to ride it again.

Love this and same. I have to bribe the whole family with Dole Whips to go to the Tiki Room.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I would make a reservation for Blue Bayou. Especially since there would be no rush, I wouldn't mind waiting for a waterside table while soaking up the New Orleans Square ambience. You could do HM before or after and then decide if you were ready to crash for the night.

Blue Bayou looks delicious but is a bit out of our price range, with two teens, especially if we're going to splurge on the WOC dessert party. But this gave me an idea --dinner at Plaza Inn with two plates of fried chicken and couple desserts to share.

 

[rentayenta]

^^^ We do this with 5 of us. We'll do 2 plates of chicken, double mashed on one, and a Cobb salad. We aren't super into dessert but their desserts are really good.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Can your DS do steep stairs?