Starting a Trip in the Afternoon - where to start?

[Piglet99645]

Our first day at the parks will be a 1/2 day starting in the afternoon, possibly as late as 4pm.

As it will be my daughter's first trip to Disney, I plan to take the kids to DL first, walk down Main Street, see the Castle, and just enjoy that first moment with them without feeling hurried to get to a ride.


We will be seeing fireworks, which are early that night due to grad night (8:40 pm).

So what would you do from 4-8 on your first day at Disney? I was thinking of getting Tune Town out of the way, or doing some Fantasyland rides..... but I am thinking those areas may be swamped at that time of the day.

Suggestions?

(Ridemax doesn't have June 8 up yet).

Thanks.

 

[smile4stamps]

I would try and catch the parade the first day so you don't have to stop your touring on your following day(s)

 

[skiingfast]

If I could get into DL on the 8th, by 4pm. I'd look frantically for a spot in Town Square to watch the 4 o'clock parade.

This probably isn't what you were thinking but if you can't get in by 3:30, why fight the crowd on Main Street first thing when you can start the trip with an event like that?

Otherwise try taking the train around to the Toontown station, and sneak into Fantasyland while people are moving to the parade route.

 

[Piglet99645]

Great suggestions! Keep them coming!

 

[Dizneydaz]

The good news is that if you miss the 4 p.m. parade you can still catch the 6:30 one and if it's a hot day you may want to do that anyway. If you catch the 4 p.m. parade I rec. sitting on the west side of the street (if open) to grab some shade.

If you don't see the first parade, hop on the train and get off at the FL/TT station. TT closes early every night due to fireworks .

Hopefully it won't be too crowded even though it's summer. The local school district (AUHSD) doesn't go on summer break until Aug. 16th so they won't be there yet. However our school's last day is June 2nd and we are only about 30 min. from DLR. Also the 2 cheapest AP are already blocked.

You may still be able to grab a few FP to use later in the day. Probably not Space though. Those go fast. And if Star Tours has FP (as reported) those will probably be gone as well.

You could take the kids over to Pirate's Lair to run around a bit. This closes around dusk to get ready for F!.

 

[grumpy's fan]

Do you have a smartphone? If so, You might want to consider buying the touringplans.com DL Lines app. It shows current wait times for all attractions and entertainment for both parks (it also lists the current FP distribution return time and single rider wait time as well). We used it the last time we went to DL (last fall) and it helped making "on the fly" decisions about whether to trek across to pull a FP or going to stand in a line somewhere and how long we would have to wait.

 

[HydroGuy]

A lot of good ideas here. In general I think late arrival days are great for seeing shows and parades because you are at no disadvantage with regard to guests who have been there all day. So SoundSational or WOC are great ideas.

 

[Piglet99645]

Do you have a smartphone? If so, You might want to consider buying the touringplans.com DL Lines app. It shows current wait times for all attractions and entertainment for both parks (it also lists the current FP distribution return time and single rider wait time as well). We used it the last time we went to DL (last fall) and it helped making "on the fly" decisions about whether to trek across to pull a FP or going to stand in a line somewhere and how long we would have to wait.

I do have one. Is it better than the free app I have: MouseWait?

 

[grumpy's fan]

I also have mousewait and I like dl lines better...it uses historical information and user input to compile the wait times. Also the fastpass info seems to be more accurate as well...I've found mousewait fp are not always accurate or updated in a timely fashion. I will PM a discount code for touringplans.com that you can use if you want to buy the dl portion of the subscription

 

[Piglet99645]

I will PM a discount code for touringplans.com that you can use if you want to buy the dl portion of the subscription

Thank you! That's very nice of you.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

On a somewhat related note, is it still a good idea to get to DL in the afternoon, if your arrival date is a SATURDAY? We arrive Saturday, August 13th, and I keep reading that summer weekends are a zoo. Is it worth it to get into DL for a few hours that evening, or just start out fresh on Monday morning (we're planning Universal Studios perhaps for Sunday). Thanks!

 

[smile4stamps]

No matter the day if you use that afternoon admission to catch some of the entertainment and not rides I think it is worth it. If you have energy to stay through close you can do some rides after the crowds leave...

 

[HydroGuy]

On a somewhat related note, is it still a good idea to get to DL in the afternoon, if your arrival date is a SATURDAY? We arrive Saturday, August 13th, and I keep reading that summer weekends are a zoo. Is it worth it to get into DL for a few hours that evening, or just start out fresh on Monday morning (we're planning Universal Studios perhaps for Sunday). Thanks!

Worth it. Just plan to do things that are good in the afternoon. Shows. Parades. Turtle Talk with Crush and the whole Animation Studios. Its Tough To Be A Bug. Tiki Room. Captain Eo. Castle Walk Through. Photos. Shopping. Dining.

 

[bumbershoot]

Now see OUR family goes to DCA if we're arriving in the afternoon.

Seeing the castle is best done without scads of people, and to me that's best done in the morning.

And bug's land is so great for kids (we like it better than Fantasyland, as FL rides can be a bit scary to a nervous kid, but the bug's land *rides* are all out in the open), it's a fun way to start a trip when you can't start it in the morning.

That's us, though.

 

[ConnieB]

Do you have a smartphone? If so, You might want to consider buying the touringplans.com DL Lines app. It shows current wait times for all attractions and entertainment for both parks (it also lists the current FP distribution return time and single rider wait time as well). We used it the last time we went to DL (last fall) and it helped making "on the fly" decisions about whether to trek across to pull a FP or going to stand in a line somewhere and how long we would have to wait.

Check out the FREE Mousewait app....I find it to be very accurate and it does all that Grumpy's fan lists....current wait times (including when that wait time was last updated), FP return time (and whether FP are still available), shows entertainment, has a forum to talk to others while you wait in line, lol....just a really nice app and free! It also opens up Allears.net dining menus so you can check out where to eat...or snack.


Disclaimer: I have a Droid X...I don't know if Mousewait is available for other platforms.

 

[Corpsebride]

you can also use coasterq.com. it only works for the day of ride wait times but its free. i check it in the park when i don't want to race across the park to see how long the wait for something is. also, make sure to go to city hall to get your "1st visit" button!

 

[brenda1966]

We are another family that just heads into DCA if we are arriving late in the day, especially on a Saturday. We'll go into the bug's life area -- great for kids! Grab a cherry slushie. And then head over to MK to try to see fireworks (because it seems they often get cancelled due to wind in summer, so we try multiple nights).
Then we start our Sunday morning bright and early in Fantasyland.

 

[Piglet99645]

Now see OUR family goes to DCA if we're arriving in the afternoon.

Seeing the castle is best done without scads of people, and to me that's best done in the morning.

And bug's land is so great for kids (we like it better than Fantasyland, as FL rides can be a bit scary to a nervous kid, but the bug's land *rides* are all out in the open), it's a fun way to start a trip when you can't start it in the morning.

That's us, though.

This is a great suggestion. THIS trip is my 5yo daughter's first, so I want to have that "castle moment" first thing. She's big into the Princesses. But this is a great idea.

 

[Piglet99645]

also, make sure to go to city hall to get your "1st visit" button!

I had no idea! I think everyone in my group except me is eligible for one!!

 

[skiingfast]

. also, make sure to go to city hall to get your "1st visit" button!

I had no idea! I think everyone in my group except me is eligible for one!!

I would get the pin, but not at City Hall on the afternoon of a Grad Night. There could be a very long line to get that button.

You could go to the always shorter line at Guest Services in DCA. Ask at a Disney Hotel front desk or concierge. Ask at the counter of a store in the parks. Ask any CM if they have one. These buttons are not only at guest services and by asking elsewhere may be able to casually pick one up.