visit the park on arrival day?

[mangosink]

We are coming to DL for 4 nights, arriving Saturday 5/10. It's me, DH and 3 kids age 2-6. Our flight gets into LAX at 12:30. I was just wondering how feasible it would be to visit DL that day or if we should just get some lunch, do downtown Disney and go to bed early to get there when the park opens Sunday. Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[Dopey's MIL]

Your arrival time is about the same as ours. I expect to get into our hotel around 3 after the shuttle ride. Yes we are going into DL. But my kids are older. 7 and 5..........We are going to ride the train around to ToonTown for a bit and then we will stop and wait for the parade that starts at 7 (I think)...then meander out of the park...gathering postcards and such....back to the BWPPI for the night.

It is possible to do the park late in the day...but with small children...I'd give them a small taste of the events to come. Maybe ride the train all the way around the park...do one ride...have a snack...back to bed.

I always tell my kids.....the faster they go to sleep the quicker we'll be in Disneyland. AND the more patience they have in line....the more fun we'll have.

I guess what I'm trying to say....a small intro is perfect.

 

[MaiynaMouse]

One thing to consider is how early you had to get up to get to the airport. The first time we went to DL, we had to leave home at 4:30 to get to the airport in time for our flight. We literally got the kids out of bed and put them in the car. I thought for sure they'd sleep on the flight but they were way too excited. So, we went to the parks, played all day and finally the kids were starving for dinner. Stopped in DTD to grab a bite to eat and all three kids (3, 6, 11) fell asleep at the table waiting for their food. This was only at 8:00. YIKES!!!!

Anyway - we love doing the parks on the first day we're there. We're leaving in just a couple of weeks but our flight doesn't leave nearly as early so I think we'll be able to spend the day in the park without the kids being totally exhausted.

If you decide not to spend time in the parks on your arrival day, you can always spend some time in DTD or do Goofy's Kitchen for dinner. My kids love doing that on our first night, too.
~mm

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We usually get to DL around noon-1pm. Normally no, we don't go in. We spend the day in DTD and swimming. But this year with AP's we totally plan on going in to the parks! That's a lot of day to enjoy left, plus it's a Sunday for us, which means Fireworks/EP/Fantasmic!

 

[Hound 109]

We are coming to DL for 4 nights, arriving Saturday 5/10. It's me, DH and 3 kids age 2-6. Our flight gets into LAX at 12:30. I was just wondering how feasible it would be to visit DL that day or if we should just get some lunch, do downtown Disney and go to bed early to get there when the park opens Sunday. Thoughts?

Thanks.

Is this your first visit to DLR?

What time zone are you coming in from?

What hotel are you staying in?

What day (or days) are you going to enjoy Magical Mornings (aka as MM...formerly known as EE)?

& to answer your question.....absolutely go to the parks the first day. If only for a few hours.

 

[pixiewings71]

I think it really depends on the time difference and how much rest your family gets on the trip. We always go when we get in but we have AP's and we drive so even if it's for a couple hours for us it's worth it.

 

[Pinkstarblm]

I can't imagine not going to the park on arrival day!

 

[Leofoenget]

We are coming to DL for 4 nights, arriving Saturday 5/10. It's me, DH and 3 kids age 2-6. Our flight gets into LAX at 12:30. I was just wondering how feasible it would be to visit DL that day or if we should just get some lunch, do downtown Disney and go to bed early to get there when the park opens Sunday. Thoughts?

Thanks.

This is what I did on arrival day. I decided to hit Nemo first to get it out of the way. Yes the line was long but if that's the ONLY ride first day who cares. You don't feel like you are wasting tons of time standing in line. Plus you could catch the parade and fireworks. You could take it real slow knowing the next day you can do whatever you want.

that's what I did anyway

 

[keishashadow]

the pricing difference on the 4 vs 5 day tix i bought were negligable; so we'll hop on over the late afternoon we arrive; if only to ge the lay of the land

may even skip most of another day & see Universal/simpsons ride if the spirit moves us...

imo, DL tix are a bargin

 

[ballarinamom]

Adding a day to your parkhopper is not that much more. If you geta ride or two out of it, it pid for itself. If the kids aren't up to tons of rides, stake out a spot and watch a parade.

 

[gramto2boys]

I drop everything at the hotel, most times the room is not ready so they take my things and put them in a closet. we run like mad for the parks. Usually the first day we spend in california adventure and have fun there, then when it closes we go eat dinner, then to our room and get ready for the big day in disneyland the next day by going to bed early. we get up super early for MM ... then off to other rides.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Our 1st day is this Sun.! We will arrive at LGB at 7 am, we'll drop our things at our hotel and go to DL! We'll take a much needed break in the afternoon (we will have woken up at 4 am and the park is open till midnight ~ 1 am for us) for a nap and then head back to enjoy a late night!

 

[Danauk]

Firstly I will admit we do not have kids. However we will have a 3 hour drive to the airport (need to leave at 5am), need to be at the airport 2 1/2 hours before we leave, then have a 11 1/2 hour transatlantic flight plus transfer to the hotel. So I guess we will have been travelling around 19 hours before we get to the hotel (at around 5pm I guess, 8 behind ahead of our body clock time zone!!)

Are we going to the parks when we get there? Yes we sure are!! Our plan is to go into the parks, ride a few rides but mainly take photos and get our bearings so we know where things are (it is our 1st trip). Perhaps we will stay for the fireworks, perhaps we will be too tired. But either way we will be in the parks as soon as we arrive!!

 

[rentayenta]

You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the park on arrival day. I can't imagine arriving that early and not going in.

 

[Anything Disney!]

You know your kids best! No way my 6 year old would have waited, but a 2year old might have other ideas! If you are staying onsite, the monorail easy access. What ever you do, it will be fun

 

[AStamm]

Traveling from the East Coast was a major shock to our internal clocks during our first trip to DL two years ago. After giving quite a bit of thought to it we decided to do DTD and dinner at Goofy's Kitchen that first evening and it was a smart move.

If you're doing any major traveling I'd say take it easy. (But then again, when we get to WDW earlier in the day we always go to Epcot right away )

 

[stacymomof2]

Thanks to this thread...we are going to now have 4 days in the park!

I didn't think it would be feasible for us to do...but after reading this and checking out the prices (very little difference) and seeing how many hours we would get...we are going for it!!

NOW...we get to see Fantasmic!

 

[Anything Disney!]

Excellent! Have a super time

 

[Hound 109]

.....Are we going to the parks when we get there? Yes we sure are!! Our plan is to go into the parks, ride a few rides but mainly take photos and get our bearings so we know where things are (it is our 1st trip). Perhaps we will stay for the fireworks, perhaps we will be too tired. But either way we will be in the parks as soon as we arrive!!

Danauk's comments are why i was asking the OP if this was their first visit. I think the "getting the lay of the land" aspect of spending 2-5 hours the first day (or night) at the parks is so helpful.

We all read where rides are & where hotels & restaurants are, but if a first timer is able to stroll around and visually mark things it is SO handy when one comes to DLR the first time. Many benefits to spending a few hours at the park the first afternoon/early evening:

- Get a lay of the land.
- See how the gates work.
- Pick up tickets.
- See how FP works.
- Take pics, talk to characters.
- Walk down Main St. & maybe ride a couple of rides.
- Catch the fireworks (or a parade).

Much better to do this the afternoon/early evening before your first morning (especially if it's a MM morning) than on your "first" morning at DL if a DLR newbie imo.

 

[bethy]

We are getting in at around the same time and will totally go in to Disneyland. However we don't have to get up near as early.