What to do When Arriving at DL After Lunch?

[pokee99]

We're arriving late Monday morning (March 21), and then we'll have four full days at DL (Tue - Fri), so I was planning on a 4-day hopper pass, and just relaxing on Monday. BUT...knowing the kids (and ME - tee hee), we're going to want to go to DL on Monday, too! So a 5-day hopper pass is looking like a smart plan.

I am having a hard time getting a decent itinerary out of Ridemax for an afternoon arrival, though. Seems as though we have very long waits for every ride I put in (even non-fastpass rides)...sigh...

Are there some rides we should 'try' in the afternoon? Also, is there a nice, introductory sort of way to spend our first day at DL without waiting in long, long lines? Of course, if we see rides with no lines, we'll go! But, I am wondering what sort of 'plan' I can come up with for a Monday afternoon (shows? character greets? character lunch/dinner?).

Thanks!

 

[sonnyjane]

Are there some rides we should 'try' in the afternoon? Also, is there a nice, introductory sort of way to spend our first day at DL without waiting in long, long lines? Of course, if we see rides with no lines, we'll go! But, I am wondering what sort of 'plan' I can come up with for a Monday afternoon (shows? character greets? character lunch/dinner?).

Thanks!

I think planning is really important - in general - but sometimes it's best to go with the flow. If you have four very structured days at Disneyland, it wouldn't hurt to have a half-day before that just getting a lay of the land. I know that even on busy park days, sometimes there are random rides that just don't have a line, even in the afternoon. I will be at the parks at the same time you will be, actually, with my sister. We have gone that time every year, and even though it is Spring Break and somewhat crowded, sometimes Pirates is a walk-on, or the Fantasyland rides (OTHER than Peter Pan) are walk-on, etc. Basically, you might want to just go and explore that first half day. I think you'd be surprised at how much you can accomplish, and I think it's very important to be flexible. Use ridemax as a helpful guide, not as a rule. Enjoy your trip!

 

[pokee99]

I think planning is really important - in general - but sometimes it's best to go with the flow. If you have four very structured days at Disneyland, it wouldn't hurt to have a half-day before that just getting a lay of the land. I know that even on busy park days, sometimes there are random rides that just don't have a line, even in the afternoon. I will be at the parks at the same time you will be, actually, with my sister. We have gone that time every year, and even though it is Spring Break and somewhat crowded, sometimes Pirates is a walk-on, or the Fantasyland rides (OTHER than Peter Pan) are walk-on, etc. Basically, you might want to just go and explore that first half day. I think you'd be surprised at how much you can accomplish, and I think it's very important to be flexible. Use ridemax as a helpful guide, not as a rule. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks! That was the general idea (with the use of Ridemax), but I was hoping to get it to spit something out for Monday that would be more usable... I think our mornings for those 4 days will be really structured (with a runner grabbing the fastpasses and trying to get on non-fastpass rides that had huge lines the day before), but almost all of our afternoons will be more flexible.

I think your idea is great (getting the lay of the land) and you're right, that we may get lucky and just get on some rides without waiting. I like the idea of loitering around Fantasyland that afternoon to get a nice, simple introduction for the kids.

Thanks again!

 

[sonnyjane]

I know a lot of people say "the more days, the better!", but I think 5 days, even during Spring Break, is really quite sufficient and you should have no problems doing everything you want Also, don't underestimate the value of going late in the evenings. If you go back to the hotel in the afternoon and return to the parks in the evening, you can accomplish SO MUCH, especially if you can stay up late enough to be there after the fireworks. It turns into a virtual ghost town then. That's a great time to ride things like Nemo that don't have a FP and have long lines throughout the day.

I'll be there the 20th-22nd WHOOHOO!!!

 

[pokee99]

I know a lot of people say "the more days, the better!", but I think 5 days, even during Spring Break, is really quite sufficient and you should have no problems doing everything you want Also, don't underestimate the value of going late in the evenings. If you go back to the hotel in the afternoon and return to the parks in the evening, you can accomplish SO MUCH, especially if you can stay up late enough to be there after the fireworks. It turns into a virtual ghost town then. That's a great time to ride things like Nemo that don't have a FP and have long lines throughout the day.

I'll be there the 20th-22nd WHOOHOO!!!

Funny you mention Nemo, because Ridemax recommends doing it after 8pm at night, as even first thing in the morning, the lines will be 1 hour+. That seems to be the only ride that Ridemax has this type of 'altert' for. WHY, oh WHY, do they not have a fastpass for Nemo???

 

[rune_74]

I know a lot of people say "the more days, the better!", but I think 5 days, even during Spring Break, is really quite sufficient and you should have no problems doing everything you want Also, don't underestimate the value of going late in the evenings. If you go back to the hotel in the afternoon and return to the parks in the evening, you can accomplish SO MUCH, especially if you can stay up late enough to be there after the fireworks. It turns into a virtual ghost town then. That's a great time to ride things like Nemo that don't have a FP and have long lines throughout the day.

I'll be there the 20th-22nd WHOOHOO!!!

I don't know, I buy seven day passes for basically 20 more then 5 days....why wouldn't I?

 

[SnowWhite09]

Is the parade on the afternoon that you arrive? If so, perhaps you could get the parade in that afternoon or use the time while everyone is at the parade to enjoy shorter lines. Perhaps you could try other relaxing things like riding the Mark Twain, the DL Railroad or the Monorail.

Have a great time!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Normally I would suggest you watch the afternoon parade on an afternoon arrival day, but there won't be any. Still, there are plenty of shows to choose among on that first day. With four full structured days to follow, you don't really need to spend a lot of time waiting in lines for rides the first day you arrive. Visit the Tiki room, Abe Lincoln, Captain Eo, Animation Studio, Tough to Be a Bug, Muppets 3D, the Billies or Laughingstock, whichever of these your family enjoys.

If the ride board says something has a short line, then head for it, or if you pass an unexpectedly short line, then hop on. Big Thunder will likely still have fastpasses available in the afternoon, as will Buzz, so you can grab fastpasses for one or both of those. A good afternoon ride sometimes is Toy Story since it so often has a long line anyway. If you have to wait in a long line, why waste valuable morning time doing so when you can do it in the afternoon or evening when everything has longer lines?

 

[Dobie]

You might want to think about going to DCA for the afternoon. Grab a FP for GRR, go to Toy Story Mania (the line is going to be 45 minutes long, at least, all day every day, so you might as well hit it when you are fresh and excited) let the kids run around the wilderness play area, and it is time for dinner! Then you can have a swim in your hotel pool and be fresh for magic morning on Tuesday.

 

[pokee99]

You might want to think about going to DCA for the afternoon. Grab a FP for GRR, go to Toy Story Mania (the line is going to be 45 minutes long, at least, all day every day, so you might as well hit it when you are fresh and excited) let the kids run around the wilderness play area, and it is time for dinner! Then you can have a swim in your hotel pool and be fresh for magic morning on Tuesday.

Yeah, there's no way we can wait in a 45 min line our first hours there. DH will blow his top! As it is, I am trying EVERYTHING under the sun to make the ride liness under 30 mins. long. That's how I convinced him to go! That ride will have to wait until I've proved that under 30 mins for most rides is do-able! lol...

BUT...out of all the rides at DL / CA, that Toy Story Mania ride looks like it would blow everyone's mind - even Grumpy DH's!

 

[HydroGuy]

I think first day late arrivals are great for shows. With rides you are behind the curve for FPs and everything else. For shows you are onthe same footing as everyone else. See WOC and/or Fantasmic and/or Aladdin and/or fireworks. See Animation Academy at DCA and Turtle Talk with Crush. Eat a good long meal. Do Tiki Room and Captain EO at DL or It's Tought To Be A Bug at DCA.

 

[jory29]

I think first day late arrivals are great for shows. With rides you are behind the curve for FPs and everything else. For shows you are onthe same footing as everyone else. See WOC and/or Fantasmic and/or Aladdin and/or fireworks. See Animation Academy at DCA and Turtle Talk with Crush. Eat a good long meal. Do Tiki Room and Captain EO at DL or It's Tought To Be A Bug at DCA.

Excellent suggestions!!

 

[Belle Ella]

I think first day late arrivals are great for shows. With rides you are behind the curve for FPs and everything else. For shows you are onthe same footing as everyone else. See WOC and/or Fantasmic and/or Aladdin and/or fireworks. See Animation Academy at DCA and Turtle Talk with Crush. Eat a good long meal. Do Tiki Room and Captain EO at DL or It's Tought To Be A Bug at DCA.

I very much agree with this! Another thing I like to do if I arrive in the afternoon are the things like riding in the wheelhouse on the Mark Twain, or the Lilly Belle or the Tender if they are allowing anyone to that day. They are fun little extras. Sometimes it requires a little wait or a return time but it's so much easier to squeeze in on more of a "go with the flow" day which is how I look at those days. I tend to plan out days I'm there at opening only.

ETA: They are also the days I feel more inclined to wait in lines for characters!

 

[Brady's Mom]

There are always the fast loaders to consider for that first afternoon - HM, Pirates, IASW. I agree with the pp who said BTMRR and Buzz will be easier to get FP's for. My family loves Billy Hill and we love Muppets and some of the other hidden gems.

We've ridden in the Mark Twain and the kids have steered the boat - that is fun, we've tried the Lilly Belle, but they weren't running it that day - that will be for another day!

We like Turtle Talk and Monsters, Inc. is usually a pretty quick loader.

You could probably still get FP's for ToT and Screamin' if you decide to do DCA that afternoon instead of DL.

Ride the train around the whole park, take the Monorail around, ride Casey Jr. or Storybook Canal Boats. And I agree with the idea of loitering in FL to see if you could get on Alice or the teacups with only a small wait. Mr. Toad and Snow White usually have pretty short lines as well.

 

[mellers]

We're arriving late Monday morning (March 21), and then we'll have four full days at DL (Tue - Fri), so I was planning on a 4-day hopper pass, and just relaxing on Monday. BUT...knowing the kids (and ME - tee hee), we're going to want to go to DL on Monday, too! So a 5-day hopper pass is looking like a smart plan.

I am having a hard time getting a decent itinerary out of Ridemax for an afternoon arrival, though. Seems as though we have very long waits for every ride I put in (even non-fastpass rides)...sigh...

Are there some rides we should 'try' in the afternoon? Also, is there a nice, introductory sort of way to spend our first day at DL without waiting in long, long lines? Of course, if we see rides with no lines, we'll go! But, I am wondering what sort of 'plan' I can come up with for a Monday afternoon (shows? character greets? character lunch/dinner?).

Thanks!

You might want to consider making that the day everybody checks out Downtown Disney, and then have a character dinner at Goofy's Kitchen, instead of buying another day. If you're not buying a park ticket, there's no rush to leave the restaurant, so you can get some real character time.

Also, if anybody is planning to buy souvenirs, almost everything they sell anywhere at Disneyland is at the World of Disney, and if you have a Disney Visa and spend more than $50, they give you a pretty decent discount (I think it's about 10%). If you plan to shop and do a character meal, I'd skip buying a ticket and do that your first day.

If you're staying at HoJo's or one of the Disney Hotels, I'd make this recommendation even stronger--they have such wonderful swimming pools/water parks, make that the day you do the water park, Character dinner, and shopping. By the time you've done all that, after noon, you'll have had a full day, and get a good night's sleep and be up bright and early for the parks.

We have the same situation when we go, only for us, it's that we're leaving at around 1 on our last day--we're going to do our shopping, Character Breakfast and pool time on that day.

 

[CrazyDuck]

On the half/short days I like to get some of the shows out of the way... any parades, world of color, fantasmic, fireworks etc... Also try and get some of the real time consuming rides/attratcions out of the way like nemo, autopia, a bugs life, captain eo, muppet 3d, aladdin, etc.... Also any character meets like minnie/mickeys house etc...

 

[Prometheus]

Since our family have AP passes, we typically hit the park after lunch. We go in DCA first , get a FP for Soaring. Do Muppet 3D, Animation class, talking with Crush, rides in Bugsland or may be catch Aladdin, depends on how long are the lines. Then we will head to DL after a couple hours in DCA. Depends on the FP resturn time, we gets FP for Autopia or Buzz (these FP return time are typically shorter). Get on POC or Haunted Mansion, then get another FP for Big Thunder Mountain. We may return to the first FP ride, eat dinner and wait for one ride. Before we headed back to DCA, we will finsih riding the ride that we have fast pass with. Then we will headed back to DCA for Soaring and then hit Toy Story while most people will be watching WOC. The line is typically shorter at Toy Story during WOC. We typically get there around 2 to 3 and leave at 10.

The trick is to collect the FPs first and ride them the most convenient time for you. You do not have to return within the hour indicated on the FP, just has to after the time indicated on the FP and before closing. For instance, if your FP says 3:00 to 4:00 pm, you can return anytime after 3:00 pm.

Lots of option even you arrived in the afternoon, have fun planning.