Tips for open-to-close day at parks in July

[MeridaAndAngus]

I have the opportunity for a quick trip to SoCal at the end of the month, so a friend and I will be spending the last Friday in July at Disneyland. We did a one-day trip to Disneyland back in February and managed to make it from park opening to close, but the weather was cooler and park hours were shorter.

We're pretty good at organizing our time and pacing ourselves with breaks for food, snacks, a visit to Cove Bar

We are looking for some tips/ideas for making the most of a full day in the parks in the summer, and actually making it through from 8am until midnight. I'm assuming it'll be very crowded. Since we're visiting on a Friday, I'm guessing there will be a bump in crowds when people get off work in the evening?

Any ideas/strategies for beating the heat? When would be the best time to hit Cove Bar (we're thinking around lunchtime to avoid late afternoon/WOC crowds)?

This will also be our last visit while the 60th celebration is going on. We've seen Paint the Night, but we've not had a good view of the 60th anniversary fireworks. Anything else specific to the 60th that you'd recommend we see?

Also, would anyone recommend we head straight to Fantasyland at opening? We really want to ride Peter Pan and Alice before the lines are crazy. Normally we grab a fastness for either Indiana Jones or Space Mtn. on our way back to the Fantasyland rides.

Any other good tips for a one-day summertime visit are appreciated!

 

[Indiana Scott]

I wish I could help with a strategy for Peter Pan but the only tip I can give is to keep checking it and watch for a break in the lines.
Sometimes we are able to catch a 30 minute line in the mid afternoon when (I'm guessing) families have taken a break and crowds have lightened up.

We hit the Cove Bar early at about 11:15~11:30 and are often seated without waiting. It has expanded and has more capacity since we were there so it should be even better.

As far as the 60th stuff, I recommend you buy any souvenirs when you see them. We wanted to buy travel mugs and saw them all over the park all week and even during our last day. So we waited until evening just before we were to leave to buy them. We couldn't find them anywhere! The huge piles of both the mugs and the cups were gone from every shop! We finally found ONE in a store on MS.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Don't forget the special food items for the 60th! If you see something, e.g. the special cupcake at Jolly Holiday, try it now before it disappears. Agree about buying the souvenirs you want. There are some 60th items for sale at DisneyStore.com, but not a large selection, so shop in the park. One way to beat the heat is to take some time during the afternoon to do some shopping in the air conditioning. If you want photos of the Fab 5 in their 60th outfits, make sure to hit Town Square during your visit.

 

[DahliaRW]

Some of the shows are great on hot afternoons. Also the animation building and "indoor" rides like little mermaid, haunted mansion, soarin' (with a fp), etc.

 

[julesann]

I'd recommend being at security at 7:15 so you can be at the front of rope drop for DL. I find this is the way to get on and off PP, and then get to Alice. I'd then grab a fp and ride a few other rides while the lines are short; then use your fp and maybe get another one depending on the return time and how many times you want to hop and then head over to DCA; get a RSR fp; ride a few rides and get to the Cove Bar by 11:30 like the other poster suggested. After that, I'd use the DL app to manage your time. Have fun!

 

[quantumottle]

Easy answer for you: Ridemax.

Two tips that override any and all others.
1) Be at the park early for rope drop, and
2) Use Ridemax.

We discovered ridemax back in 2007 and wouldn't consider DL without it. It's scary accurate and the kids have fun playing with it a month before the trip. No need to get the annual subscription, just get the 30 day one and you're set.

Yes, do Peter Pan first, and the crowd bump happens in the afternoon, around 1 or 2, moreso than in the evening. My family and I like to go back to the hotel during the crowded afternoon and swim/nap, but you may want to just power on since you're only there 1 day.

 

[my*gracie*girl]

Another option for PP if you are staying late is doing it last. Any ride you are in line for at midnight, you get to ride. We have had good luck with shorter wait times for PP closer to midnight...25-30 minutes.

We did rope drop til after midnight on Sunday. We were in security line about 7:15 and it was quick into the park. Yesterday not so much, but maybe Mondays are crazy?? What are you hoping for with fireworks viewing? We had a great spot this time in front of the castle. We didn't expect it to be good because we entered from the Adventureland side of the hub and the CM said it would be an obstructed view. It was actually GREAT! We also watched twice from Small World and loved that view also. It wasn't the castle fireworks show, but we could see the projections really well. We do not like the Main St view because we are very short and cannot ever see well.

 

[MeridaAndAngus]

Another option for PP if you are staying late is doing it last. Any ride you are in line for at midnight, you get to ride. We have had good luck with shorter wait times for PP closer to midnight...25-30 minutes.

We did rope drop til after midnight on Sunday. We were in security line about 7:15 and it was quick into the park. Yesterday not so much, but maybe Mondays are crazy?? What are you hoping for with fireworks viewing? We had a great spot this time in front of the castle. We didn't expect it to be good because we entered from the Adventureland side of the hub and the CM said it would be an obstructed view. It was actually GREAT! We also watched twice from Small World and loved that view also. It wasn't the castle fireworks show, but we could see the projections really well. We do not like the Main St view because we are very short and cannot ever see well.

Thanks for this info. We're actually a little more interested in seeing the projections that the fireworks themselves, so i'm thinking we'll head over by Small World or the Matterhorn so we can see the projections there. But, it'll be one of those things where we'll figure it out based on where we are right before the fireworks start. We're not much for staking out a claim to a place to sit/stand hours before the fireworks or shows. So, if we don't get a perfect view that's fine; we just want to see it.

 

[DahliaRW]

I rode Alice on a

Thanks for this info. We're actually a little more interested in seeing the projections that the fireworks themselves, so i'm thinking we'll head over by Small World or the Matterhorn so we can see the projections there. But, it'll be one of those things where we'll figure it out based on where we are right before the fireworks start. We're not much for staking out a claim to a place to sit/stand hours before the fireworks or shows. So, if we don't get a perfect view that's fine; we just want to see it.

If you hang out in the seating area for Jolly Holiday as the parade is going by you can get a good spot in front of the castle area without a lot of time. Watch for the CMs to take the rope down behind the parade watchers, go stand right behind, and then walk out into the hub with everyone after the parade passes.

 

[GenGen22]

As far as the PTN parade or WOC I noticed there were a lot less people during the 2nd show as most of the families with little ones watch the first one and then head home. So if your interested in that the 2nd show would be better

 

[my*gracie*girl]

Thanks for this info. We're actually a little more interested in seeing the projections that the fireworks themselves, so i'm thinking we'll head over by Small World or the Matterhorn so we can see the projections there. But, it'll be one of those things where we'll figure it out based on where we are right before the fireworks start. We're not much for staking out a claim to a place to sit/stand hours before the fireworks or shows. So, if we don't get a perfect view that's fine; we just want to see it.

The projections are much clearer (in my opnion!) on Small World than either the castle or the matterhorn. We were able to stand very near the ride entrance and it was a spectacular view. This area is very empty after the PTN parade ends. We have seen them from every vantage point now (including just the fw while we rode Big Thunder...which was very thrilling!). In front/very close to the castle would be my first choice and Small World would be my second. Something to enjoy about every location and you will love them no matter! Have fun!

 

[kwdw]

We also thought the projections were better on Small World than on Main Street - and we showed up in that area just by chance a few minutes before fireworks and got a good spot.

For a LONG DAY like you are planning - I might actually suggest a table service dinner. I think a chance to really sit and settle into "one temperature" for a bit really gives you a break in the middle of the day - without having to go back to a hotel.

I'd also suggest avoiding alcohol until later in the day. Sure - it's nice to have a drink mid-day - but that can also back-fire sometimes - and make you either dehydrated, sleepy, or hot. If you want to go ALL day - this can backfire even on the most responsible of drinkers.

I agree with the buy stuff when you see it approach. There was plenty of 60th merchandise around last week - but you didn't find everything at every store. Definitely hit or miss. We only saw the one thing I wanted at one store - and no place else over a 3 day time frame.

Check the schedule and make sure you know what shows, parades, etc. you want to watch - you can't hit all of them on the same day (are you doing both parks, or just DL?). We were really glad we saw the Mickey and the Magical Map show - but we gave up the afternoon parade for it. The shaded auditorium with seats won out that choice and we were glad we made that choice.

I'd suggest PP and Alice at rope drop. Those lines were awful all day!

 

[WonkaKid]

Also, would anyone recommend we head straight to Fantasyland at opening? We really want to ride Peter Pan and Alice before the lines are crazy. Normally we grab a fastness for either Indiana Jones or Space Mtn. on our way back to the Fantasyland rides.

I always make sure I'm one of the first riders on PP immediately after the rope drop. Otherwise, it's almost not worth riding. Then I go to Mr. Toad (sometimes I do it two or three times in a row if the lines are short, and they usually are at 8:10 on a Sunday). Then I hit Alice and then jump aboard Dumbo. I find that this is the best strategy for FL. It doesn't take long for it to get crowded. I often don't even set foot in it after 10:30 or so. Sometimes I'll pass through, simply to witness the madness ;-). Hope this helps.