Time to start the real planning.....

[Dukland]

With only 60 days to go, I now need to plan out when we will have our Character Meals (I paid for 3 ) what day to go to Sea World, and when we can fit in a trip to the American Girl store. We are driving down from Washington, so we will have a car. We are staying 7 nights at the Tropicana, arriving on the 20th of June, which is a Friday night. We have 6 day hoppers. We were planning on 5 days in the parks, but adding a 6th day was only $20 for 4 of us (the baby will only be 21 months so he doesn't need one) so we added that 6th day. I told dh we can stop in the parks for a few hours on the day we arrive, if we like, because only $20 more is a good deal.

We've been twice as a family to Disneyland. The previous times, we didn't really do a weekend. Maybe a Sunday in June, but that was it. So, I'm trying to figure out the best day for MM, Toon Town, Lilo and Stitch breakfast, Goofy's dinner, and Ariel's for lunch. I am assuming that Saturday wouldn't be the best day for MM, even though it would be our first day in the parks, because that's likely to be the most crowded MM, right? We intend to take a one day break to go to SeaWorld, as well.

Anyone know how long we should plan for the American Girl store? My dd has two American Girl dolls, and she more collects them than plays with them. But she said she would enjoy buying the dolls an outfit, with one for my dd to match. I don't know if we should plan for tea or not

 

[mikayla73]

We have done the day trip to SW twice. We think it is easier to go on a weekend, less traffic and the weekends are busier at DL anyway. There will be traffic of course, it's California, but for us it wasn't bad. We leave early in the morning and return in the evening. I think both times we went on a Sunday. There will still be a lot of people at SW, since it is a weekend, but with that we consider more feel, touch, shows type attractions than actual rides, it's not quite the same. Plus it is easy to do SW in a day, even a busy one. That's not to say the rides aren't good, but we have always had plenty of time to do what we wanted. Going to SW on a weekend allows you to go to DL during the less crowded weekdays.

I'd say space out your character meals, and maybe instead of doing all breakfast/brunch ones, do a lunch at Ariel's and a dinner at Goofy's.

Have a great trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Hi fellow Tacoman!

Will you have any rest on your way down? Will your family want to rest on that Saturday, or get up really early?

If they want rest, would they be able to stand getting back in the car on Saturday to go to seaworld on that day? That would allow for a later start, and I have always found seaworld to be relaxing (though we've only been there n Sept, Oct, and early Dec).

Then maybe you could do your MM on Sunday, and get a really solid hour in FL. Then on Monday when everyone gets in at the same time, you can go to FL again right at the beginning, and, assuming your kids like the FL rides, they would have two really nice starts to the days!

For character meals, we haven't figured out the best timing on those yet. Try to not let them interfere with getting to the parks nice and early, though...that's my only advice on that.

Do you have MTTMM vouchers? I don't remember the days for that, so if that's what your'e asking about, I can't help.


This is really weird weather we're having right now at this moment (between 5 and 5:30pm)....DS and I are watching out the window here at the edge of downtown Tacoma just being confused....

 

[sunshinemummy]

We were at the American Girl store on Saturday, it was really busy and the parking at "The Grove" was a nightmare, super busy! We spent 2 hours in the store picking out a new doll and outfits. Book nowfor tea, it was full when we went. They are having birthday celebrations every Sunday for the dolls so avoid going on any Sunday for the next month. My DD loved the store, have fun!