Upcoming solo trip, need advice!

[krispin41]

So this is a repost of something I posted in the Christmas Superthread...and it moves so fast...so reposting it here, Could use some advice/insight.

So my trip will be Wednesday Dec 10th-Dec 13, staying at DLH, It's a solo trip so I can be very flexible. And it's my first trip during the Holidays.

My flight lands at SNA around 8:30pm, and DL is set to close at 10pm. I have a shuttle already paid for (did a package through Walt Disney Travel). Do you think I have any chance to spend any minute in the Park that night? I would honestly just check in to the hotel, leave my bags with bell services and sprint to the Park...or should I take a taxi and save some time? I have a four day hopper...and a day would be wasted if I didn't get into the Park that night... (My flight on Saturday doesn't leave until 7:30pm, so I would have some time in the Park on my last day.) I was thinking if I could not make it into the Park, I would hit up Trader Sam's and maybe soak up some atmosphere/shop DTD.

I have seen Fantasmic! twice, both times with the Dessert seating, which of course is going away due to the new Fast Pass system in place which opens on Friday 12/12. I was planning on booking the Holiday Tour for 12/12, but was wondering if I should skip F! and just focus on finding a good spot for the Fireworks? My gut is saying skip it and enjoy the Fireworks and other night time fun and wait until they work the kinks out.. (And I have plans to visit the Parks in 2015 anyway).

I already have a reservation for the WOC lunch on 12/11.

And last but not least, since I am traveling solo would you still purchase a PhotoPass+. I loved it for my last two trips, but that was when I was travelling with my DH.

 

[lalasmama]

Flight landing at 8:30, you'll be off the plane and to baggage claim by 9:00ish. Assuming you do all carry-ons, you'd be over to ground transportation by 9:15; 9:30 if you need to secure checked baggage. Another 30 minutes to Disneyland means you are at the hotel 9:45-10:00. Check-in will take 10 minutes. Then another 5-10 minutes to the gate... So, no, I don't think you will have any time to get to the parks at all.

I don't do PhotoPass on my solo trips, but that's because I don't need/care to have pictures of just me in front of the castle. If these a picture I want to be in, I just ask someone passing by to take my picture. People are always willing!

 

[ArchOwl]

So this is a repost of something I posted in the Christmas Superthread...and it moves so fast...so reposting it here, Could use some advice/insight.

So my trip will be Wednesday Dec 10th-Dec 13, staying at DLH, It's a solo trip so I can be very flexible. And it's my first trip during the Holidays.

My flight lands at SNA around 8:30pm, and DL is set to close at 10pm. I have a shuttle already paid for (did a package through Walt Disney Travel). Do you think I have any chance to spend any minute in the Park that night? I would honestly just check in to the hotel, leave my bags with bell services and sprint to the Park...or should I take a taxi and save some time? I have a four day hopper...and a day would be wasted if I didn't get into the Park that night... (My flight on Saturday doesn't leave until 7:30pm, so I would have some time in the Park on my last day.) I was thinking if I could not make it into the Park, I would hit up Trader Sam's and maybe soak up some atmosphere/shop DTD.

I have seen Fantasmic! twice, both times with the Dessert seating, which of course is going away due to the new Fast Pass system in place which opens on Friday 12/12. I was planning on booking the Holiday Tour for 12/12, but was wondering if I should skip F! and just focus on finding a good spot for the Fireworks? My gut is saying skip it and enjoy the Fireworks and other night time fun and wait until they work the kinks out.. (And I have plans to visit the Parks in 2015 anyway).

I already have a reservation for the WOC lunch on 12/11.

And last but not least, since I am traveling solo would you still purchase a PhotoPass+. I loved it for my last two trips, but that was when I was travelling with my DH.

Sadly, I agree that fitting in a few minutes of park time your first night is probably not going to work. I would definitely head to Trader Sam's and ease into Disney that way.

If your gut is telling you to do fireworks and skip F!, I would definitely go with that. It is so much fun to see the winter fireworks and holiday stuff! You will be visiting in 2015 and have a better handle on what is the best deal when it comes to F.

I am not sure about the Photopass+. If you really like taking photos, it would be a great way to get some nice shots with the CMs taking the pics for you. But not sure how many pics you want?

 

[larryz]

I would definitely head to Trader Sam's and ease into Disney that way.

on the Trader Sam's idea!

 

[SplashMo]

If your plane is on time and you carry on your luggage. And you get a taxi to wait while you drop things at the hotel and then take you to the front gate you might just make it in time. Might help to have your tickets in advance as well.

I have entered the park at the last minute to see the Electric Light Parade. Came from LAX and made it by 5 minutes.

That being said. Single rider lines will get you through rides a bit faster. And use fast passes and have a good plan should give you some advantage so you might not need the extra day. Also if you plan carefully you can do fireworks and F! on the same day.

 

[SplashMo]

I have never tried this before but perhaps jumping on the monorail at closing might would get you on the park faster than riding a taxi to the main gate. It has been awhile since I have taken the monorail. Does jumping on the monorail count as park entrance and how late do they allow you to take it into the park? Might be a good separate question?

 

[SplashMo]

You might call DLH to verify. I believe you could leave your bags without checking into your hotel.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I have never tried this before but perhaps jumping on the monorail at closing might would get you on the park faster than riding a taxi to the main gate. It has been awhile since I have taken the monorail. Does jumping on the monorail count as park entrance and how late do they allow you to take it into the park? Might be a good separate question?

Entering the monorail station from DTD counts as an entrance into Disneyland, if the monorail is running. They stop letting people ride the monorail into the park 30 to 60 minutes before closing. Also, if the fireworks are showing, they shut the monorail down before the fireworks, and reopen it after.

 

[SplashMo]

Entering the monorail station from DTD counts as an entrance into Disneyland, if the monorail is running. They stop letting people ride the monorail into the park 30 to 60 minutes before closing. Also, if the fireworks are showing, they shut the monorail down before the fireworks, and reopen it after.

Thank You! Sounds like it might not work for a last minute entrance...

 

[krispin41]

Thanks for all your tips and insight!! I will let you all know how it goes down!

 

[Sherry E]

Kristan --

You just won a Disney gift card in the Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread (surprise!!!!), so even though it moves quickly you might want to revisit it! It has served you well! I need your mailing info, so PM me with it so I can get the card out in the mail to you tomorrow morning!

 

[Angrose]

I think it's do-able, and here's why: I took a solo trip in March, flight arrived at 9:05am and I was in the park by 10:10am! I had a carry-on and SNA is a small airport so it was maybe 10min from plane to the shuttle. I took Super Shuttle which was fine, but a little annoying because we sat there waiting for about 15min until they filled the shuttle. First stop is always the Grand, then DLH. I was staying on Harbor, but got off at the Grand, walked thru lobby and Downtown Disney, thru bag check then stowed my bag in a locker in the Esplanade. I also had to go to the ticket booth to change my voucher into ticket. The turnstile line was not short, but it was efficient. If I were you I would just take it one step at a time and see how it goes. Even if you walk thru the gates at 9:55pm you can still soak in some magic and I think the shops stay open an hour or so past closing, so why not?!

You can totally do fireworks and F! both in one night, if you see the 2nd F! show which I think is normally around 10:25. Just watch fireworks on the Adventureland/Frontierland side of the hub, then book it on over there when done. Being solo you can squeeze in almost anywhere, but I was easily able to find a spot down by the water. I also put my jacket down and asked some nice people to save my spot so I could use the restroom and get some beignets!

You will have a great time going solo!

 

[SplashMo]

I think it's do-able, and here's why: I took a solo trip in March, flight arrived at 9:05am and I was in the park by 10:10am! I had a carry-on and SNA is a small airport so it was maybe 10min from plane to the shuttle. I took Super Shuttle which was fine, but a little annoying because we sat there waiting for about 15min until they filled the shuttle. First stop is always the Grand, then DLH. I was staying on Harbor, but got off at the Grand, walked thru lobby and Downtown Disney, thru bag check then stowed my bag in a locker in the Esplanade. I also had to go to the ticket booth to change my voucher into ticket. The turnstile line was not short, but it was efficient. If I were you I would just take it one step at a time and see how it goes. Even if you walk thru the gates at 9:55pm you can still soak in some magic and I think the shops stay open an hour or so past closing, so why not?!

You can totally do fireworks and F! both in one night, if you see the 2nd F! show which I think is normally around 10:25. Just watch fireworks on the Adventureland/Frontierland side of the hub, then book it on over there when done. Being solo you can squeeze in almost anywhere, but I was easily able to find a spot down by the water. I also put my jacket down and asked some nice people to save my spot so I could use the restroom and get some beignets!

You will have a great time going solo!

What size bag did you have? Was it a carry on with rolling wheels or something softer to fit in the lockers? That for sure is faster then dealing with a hotel. I also wonder if the Grand would let you check a bag if you were not staying there... Might be something to look into...

 

[SplashMo]

Slightly off-topic. But be sure to use the Main entrance to DCA for early admission as the DCA entrance is much slower...

Also remember the single rider line for RSR. For early admission in DCA you could likely do TSMM 2-3 times, SREAMIN and SOARIN before jumping in the single rider line for RSR and then Jump to DL or stay in DCA. Also Indy has a single rider line.. That with FP running you should be able to get through the rides very quickly.

 

[Angrose]

What size bag did you have? Was it a carry on with rolling wheels or something softer to fit in the lockers? That for sure is faster then dealing with a hotel. I also wonder if the Grand would let you check a bag if you were not staying there... Might be something to look into...

I just had a backpack which fit in the smallest locker. They have larger lockers that could definitely fit a rolling carry on bag. The small ones cost $7, not sure how much the larger ones are.

I would be surprised if the Grand would hold your bags, but it's worth a call to check with them.

 

[krispin41]

Now my wheels are turning...

I am totally going to take advantage of all the single rider lines...and shopping for as long as I want! LOL!

 

[momrek06]

Kristan --

You just won a Disney gift card in the Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread (surprise!!!!), so even though it moves quickly you might want to revisit it! It has served you well! I need your mailing info, so PM me with it so I can get the card out in the mail to you tomorrow morning!

HOW EXCITING!!!!!!!!!

 

[krispin41]

Just wanted to update you all...as I purchased a package through Disney that came with a four day park hopper ticket, I really wanted to take advantage of having some park time on my first day. Thankfully, my flight is not a long one (I live in NorCal), and even though I will have to work in the morning, I decided to switch my flight. I am now arriving at 5:10pm. Hooray! I still will probably spend some time at Trader Sam's though! Got to get my tiki on!

Thanks again for all of the advice!

 

[Jennafoo]

Just so you know, I arrived at SNA at 8:30 on my recent solo trip (arrived Tuesday, 10/21) and was checked in to Howard Johnson and in my room by 9:05. So, you may be able to spend a few minutes in the park that night...

ETA: Sorry...just saw you changed your flight! I think that's wise and I will arrange to be in earlier next trip, myself. According to what the taxi driver told me, you might want to factor a little more time for traffic at that hour.

 

[SplashMo]

Just wanted to update you all...as I purchased a package through Disney that came with a four day park hopper ticket, I really wanted to take advantage of having some park time on my first day. Thankfully, my flight is not a long one (I live in NorCal), and even though I will have to work in the morning, I decided to switch my flight. I am now arriving at 5:10pm. Hooray! I still will probably spend some time at Trader Sam's though! Got to get my tiki on!

Thanks again for all of the advice!

Great to hear! Have Fun!