Suggestions on improvement - rookie here.

[kunman]

So a group of 6, with 3 adults, a 4yr old, 7 yr old and 16 yr old are going to Disenyland for the first time next week for 1 day only. We are driving up from San Deigo and going to LA for the day then back to Anaheim for a hotel. Based on these boards this is my game plan.

Get my tickets online ahead of time

Arrive 30 minutes prior to the park opening.

We will head to Fantasyland right away to get on the slow loader rides first. While there I will be the runner to the fastpass rides that we want. Every hour I'll go get another one.
After Fantasy land we are heading to ToonTown for more slow loading rides. I figure at this point the crowds would have caught up so we'll go do the fastpass rides and fast loading rides.
Thinkign it will be noon ish we'll go do the Tiki rom and Honey I shrunk the Aduience, since those dont usualy have long lines. Grab some lunch and do some shopping, then back to the other parts of the park for more lines.

What I have not figured out yet is where to eat and when we'll fit in the shows and parade. I know we want to get the castle early for a good view of the fireworks and tinke bell flyng around. Tinkebell is my daugthers favorite.

Also, is there mush a difference in crowd since on a Monday compared to a Tuesday?
Any others suggestions to make the 1 day better?

Thanks for you help!

 

[Eeyore617]

FYI, Honey I Shrunk the Audience is Captain EO now (or should I say again).

 

[groovygirl927]

Check the time on your fast pass when you can get another one. Last week we could not get another fast pass until 2 hours after the one we just got. the time you can get another fast pass is printed on the fast pass.

 

[TahoeMom]

One thing to consider is that Tuesdays are early admission mornings for some guests so Fantasyland will already be pretty crowded by the time the regular admission starts.

 

[KimiCoconuts]

Sounds like a great plan. I guess you do not have park hoppers? Will you be seeing Fantasimic?

Just wanted to say, see you there, we will be there as well!

 

[Hound 109]

Welcome to the Disboards!

We need a little bit more info (are you only visiting DL...not DCA??).....other questions in your post below:

So a group of 6, with 3 adults, a 4yr old, 7 yr old and 16 yr old are going to Disenyland for the first time next week for 1 day only. We are driving up from San Deigo and going to LA for the day.....

What day of the week visiting LA & what day of the week at DL?


.....then back to Anaheim for a hotel.

Which hotel?


Based on these boards this is my game plan.

Get my tickets online ahead of time. & hand them to the CM at the turnstile.


Arrive 30 minutes prior to the park opening.

Arrive where? IMO you should be at Security no later than 40 min. prior to opening. But it depends on what day (& if you're staying on-site or not).


We will head to Fantasyland right away to get on the slow loader rides first. While there I will be the runner to the fastpass rides that we want.

What is your Fantasyland order & what is your FP collection order. The answer to this will depend if "the runner" should head for the first FP collection while all others ride the first ride.

Every hour I'll go get another one.
After Fantasy land we are heading to ToonTown for more slow loading rides.

There are only two "rides" in toontown (& RR has a FP). I think I'd be heading to other rides (Buzz, Pirates, HM, BTMRR maybe others) after the first hour in FL.


I figure at this point the crowds would have caught up so we'll go do the fastpass rides and fast loading rides.
Thinkign it will be noon ish we'll go do the Tiki rom and Honey I shrunk the Aduience, since those dont usualy have long lines.

Add Pirates Island, the Canoes, Pooh & Jungle Cruise to Tiki room during the mid day.

Grab some lunch and do some shopping, then back to the other parts of the park for more lines.

Continue to pick up FPs throughout the day.

What I have not figured out yet is where to eat

Counter Service or Sit Down?

and when we'll fit in the shows and parade. I know we want to get the castle early for a good view of the fireworks and tinke bell flyng around. Tinkebell is my daugthers favorite.

Also, is there mush a difference in crowd since on a Monday compared to a Tuesday?
Any others suggestions to make the 1 day better?

Thanks for you help!

Know Hydroguy's FP threads frontwords & backwords. Check out my one day visit in the link below (& other Diser's one day visits) for extra ideas.

Have a plan the first 2-3 hours. Be prepared to skip attractions in your plan (when "stuff" happens)....it will).

Eat Lunch before 11:15am. Eat Dinner before 5:15pm.

Don't be afraid to split up occasionally (so the 4 y/o & 16 y/o can both ride what they want to).

Answer some of the questions above & Have a great time at Walt's park.

 

[kunman]

Thanks for all of the responses.

Hound 109 here are many answers.

We are traveling to LA on a Sunday and DL on Monday.

Don't know which hotel yet, looking for one that is close and has rooms that will hold 6.

I was speaking about arriving to the enternance gate 30 mins early. You suugest make it at least 40 minutes earlier?

No sure yet about the order in Fantasyland of FP. I know my girsl want to do evrey ride in Fantasy land. Do you have a suggested order?

Thanks for the info on TT, we'll adjust the plan then.

FOr food, i am not sure, I am thinking a nice sit down place for lunch and counter for dinner, since we'll have time to kill mid day. Any suggestions?

Thanks again!

 

[disneybride96]

FYI, Honey I Shrunk the Audience is Captain EO now (or should I say again).

IMHO....skip Captain EO. (I say this and the '80s were my decade) We saw EO at WDW and the kids are still disappointed that HISTA is gone!

 

[TahoeMom]

No sure yet about the order in Fantasyland of FP. I know my girsl want to do evrey ride in Fantasy land. Do you have a suggested order?

If you go to Fantasyland first then Peter Pan is your best bet for the first ride - it always has long lines all day long. We usually go right to Toad's Wild Ride next and then Alice and Wonderland as those 3 usually are the longest lines during the day. Dumbo is the exception - we don't usually ride Dumbo because the lines are so long and my kids are older and just not interested anymore. I would put that in after Peter Pan maybe if you want to ride it.

As for the other Fantasyland rides, in our experience Snow White and Pinocchio never have long lines and can be ridden at any time. Casey Jr. can have a bit of a line because it only can take a group at a time and then everyone else waits for the train to get back. StorybookLand Canal boats is a favorite too and nice to get away into some calm and quiet for a bit but the line can be a little long. It also closes for parades and for fireworks (all Fantasyland attractions close for the fireworks) so keep that in mind.
The Matterhorn can get pretty long as well but the line moves fairly quickly.

Finally Small World - usually the line is not too bad but in any case, it moves really quickly, especially if they have both sides open.

None of the Fantasyland rides have Fastpass (unless I am forgetting one). One thing that is not a ride but an attraction is the walk-through of the Sleeping Beauty story in the castle - that can be done any time but it kind of fun. It does have stairs but there is apparently a room where you can see the whole thing if stairs will be a problem for you.

When we are at Disneyland we always have at least one morning where we go to Fantasyland right when the park opens and our order is:
Peter Pan, Toad, Alice, Matterhorn. We generally save the rest for later in the day or visit and then head to Tomorrowland to do Nemo, Space Mountain, Autopia, etc. hopefully while it is still early.

 

[jicarv]

Eat Lunch before 11:15am. Eat Dinner before 5:15pm.

Why? I must have missed this strategy in all that I've read so far. Thanks!

 

[todzwife]

Depending on where you buy your tickets, you may have to exchange the vouchers for actual tickets, in which case, I suggest doing the night you arrive in LA. The ticket booths are open until about an hour before the park closes, and it will save you a LOT of time and headache in the morning.

I think the PP suggested eating early because the lines for some of the food can get REALLY long. Around noon and 6 PM. When we were there in November, my mom waited in line for an HOUR for a chowder bowl at DCA. It was insane. That time is better spent in ride lines, IMO.

 

[Hound 109]

I pretty much agree with all of Tahoe Mom's opinions. (with a couple of minor differences...but no biggie). Comments in post below:

.......We are traveling to LA on a Sunday and DL on Monday.

Great! You'll be on an even footing with everyone since MM is NOT on a Monday.


Don't know which hotel yet, looking for one that is close and has rooms that will hold 6.

Hopefully others will offer an opinion. My only advice would be to choose a motel on Harbor Blvd close to the DLR crosswalk....an easy 6-8 min. stroll in the morning.


I was speaking about arriving to the enternance gate 30 mins early. You suugest make it at least 40 minutes earlier?

If this is your one & only day, (& it's a summer day)....then I suggest you get to the security tent at 7:15 - 7:20am. They'll start letting folks thru at 7:30....you might as well be near the first of the line. Grab some b'fast to go & munch on at the turnstiles while you wait.


No sure yet about the order in Fantasyland of FP. I know my girsl want to do every ride in Fantasy land. Do you have a suggested order?

My suggested order for Fantasyland (whether during MM or on a non MM day) is very similar to TahoeMom's & can be found here:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671

..... & also on DLR 29's MM SuperThread. BUT....I would strongly consider one adult runner taking all the tickets & snagging your first FP at 8:01am while the others enjoy PP (or Dumbo). Meet up with them at Alice.


Thanks for the info on TT, we'll adjust the plan then.

FOr food, i am not sure, I am thinking a nice sit down place for lunch and counter for dinner, since we'll have time to kill mid day. Any suggestions?

Not sure about "time to kill".....but I like Carnation Cafe late morning (or early lunch). I've heard great things about other places as well.


Thanks again!

Here are the FP threads to read thru (with a DLR map handy):


"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

"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

"Strategies For Using DL and DCA Opening Time Differences to Collect More Fastpasses"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1553197


If you have kiddos ages 4-11, then Jedi Training is a must:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699


Put a plan together for the first 2 1/2 - 3 hours (& decide on your lunch place) & post back. You'll get further opinions.

Have a blast planning a one day visit to Walt's Park.

 

[Hound 109]

Depending on where you buy your tickets, you may have to exchange the vouchers for actual tickets, in which case, I suggest doing the night you arrive in LA. The ticket booths are open until about an hour before the park closes, and it will save you a LOT of time and headache in the morning.

Good point. OP, will you have tickets or vouchers??


I think the PP suggested eating early because the lines for some of the food can get REALLY long. Around noon and 6 PM. When we were there in November, my mom waited in line for an HOUR for a chowder bowl at DCA. It was insane. That time is better spent in ride lines, IMO.

Correct.

Unless one enjoys food lines, avoid popular eateries between 11:30 -1pm & between 5:30pm - 7:30pm. At DLR it's always best to zig when others are zagging.