What would you do?

[2prettygirls]

Im just curious to see what everyone would do if it were them, my family is arriving in disneyland for our first trip ever on september 6th around 6-7 pm were staying at paradise pier hotel im just wondering if we should plan to do anything that night when we arrive or just hang out at our hotel room and relax what would you do? were going with 4 adult's and a girl who's turning 3 august 29th any suggestions?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

do a dinner maybe. if not you just relax and get ready for next day in park. im wanting to arive by 10am when i go to make sure i get the room i want. we are gona do lunch and pool and then relax and get ready for next day. but if i were getitng there 6-7 at night id just settel every one down with a movie (disney of course) and then have a quick dinner when watching movie

 

[stagemomx3]

How many days in the parks do you have? How far away are you travelling from? What time will you have gotten up that morning? Will you have eaten dinner yet?

My suggestion based on past experience(negative) do not attempt to enter the parks on your travel day. I would check into the hotel, and if you haven't eaten dinner head into downtown disney for dinner. Stroll around a little bit in DTD after dinner and then make it an early night in the hotel so you can all be up and out for rope drop in the morning.

An alternative for dinner might be Goofy's Kitchen, but with 4 adults and one not quite 3 year old who may or may not be afraid of characters I would not do it on your travel day.

 

[2prettygirls]

we will be staying until monday morning so thursday night friday saturday and sunday leaving monday morning, we probally will need to eat something i was wondering about maybe going to one of the firework shows after dinner or is that too much? Im thinking we will be so excited to be there we'll want to do something! and should we plan a full day or two at disneyland then a day at california adventure?

 

[stagemomx3]

It's super easy to park hop, but I would plan 2 days at Disneyland- Friday & Sunday, and then Saturday at DCA.

 

[Belle Ella]

Personally, I would catch dinner and then attempt to get into the park for fireworks seeing as you never know what the weather will be like while your there. You don't want to wait until last minute to see them only for them to be canceled because of high winds. But if I didn;t do that I would probably just do dinner and then relax.

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

I usually can't wait to get into the Park when I arrive, either.

HOWEVER...

Disneyland is only scheduled to be open until 8:00PM on September 6. (And DCA closes at 6:00PM.) If you don't arrive at Paradise Pier until 6:00-7:00, you really don't have much time. (And there won't be Fireworks that night, as it will still be fairly light out when the Park closes.)

With that constraint, I'd probably just go to Downtown Disney (getting my pre-Park "fix" at the World of Disney store), grab a bite to eat, and then get a good night's rest.

 

[blackerbys17]

I agree with Belle Ella, we will be at Disneyland at around 5 PM. The plan is to check-in, unpack, have an early dinner in DTD, and then head into the park for the fireworks. If lines permit and we are in the mood, we may just ride a ride or two in TL for FL. After that, we'll head back to the GC for a good night's rest so we can in the Monorail line by 7:30 AM on Sunday.

 

[Disneyenthusiast]

I would just make reservations for a nice dinner in Downtown Disney that night. Your 3 year old will be tired. The last thing you want is for the magic to disappear right away because of fatigue. Downtown Disney makes you feel like you are there anyway! There is plenty to see and do there to fill a couple of hours. Rest up and be at the gates before they open the next morning, ready to run.

 

[RMH]

I agree with Belle Ella, we will be at Disneyland at around 5 PM. The plan is to check-in, unpack, have an early dinner in DTD, and then head into the park for the fireworks. If lines permit and we are in the mood, we may just ride a ride or two in TL for FL. After that, we'll head back to the GC for a good night's rest so we can in the Monorail line by 7:30 AM on Sunday.

If you are going in September DL does not open until 9:00 on Sunday. I don't think Sunday is an EE day?, but I have not been in a while so it might be. Just double-check the calendar for the opening times before you crawl out of bed an hour too early !

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We would do dinner, and walk around DTD.

That's what we usually do on the day we arrive (that and swim in the summer). We usually get there around noon though. In Oct. were staying at the GCH and plan on going in the park, since we'll arrive so early and it's all just right there!

 

[Hound 109]

I usually can't wait to get into the Park when I arrive, either.

HOWEVER...

Disneyland is only scheduled to be open until 8:00PM on September 6. (And DCA closes at 6:00PM.) If you don't arrive at Paradise Pier until 6:00-7:00, you really don't have much time. (And there won't be Fireworks that night, as it will still be fairly light out when the Park closes.)

With that constraint, I'd probably just go to Downtown Disney (getting my pre-Park "fix" at the World of Disney store), grab a bite to eat, and then get a good night's rest.

This is very good information. Also, I agree with all the advice from LittleWoodenHead.

Another reason this is a good idea, is that you're staying at PP. "Walking to DTD" the best way would be to Walk thru the Grand California Hotel & into DTD. This is also the "best way" to walk to DL.

I would also scope out the "secret entrance" to DCA (from the GCH) while you're there.

Getting your bearings that first night will make the next day SO much easier. And the GCH is so beautiful, it's a nice task to do that first night.

When we stayed at the PP we "walked" thru the GCH at least 3 times a day.

 

[cmwade77]

I would recommend exploring the hotels, their not quite as fun as at Disney World, but still quite nice. If you don't get there until 7:00, your probably wouldn't even be admitted into Disneyland anyway, just relax the night you get there in this case.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

I'd recommend possibly doing a character dinner at Goofy's Kitchen at DLH and celebrating the 3yo's bday that 1st night if you aren't too tired. It's a great way to start off your family's 1st disney trip. After dinner explore the 2 hotels and downtown disney.

 

[tinkerbelt]

Relax, hang out at the pool, walk around Downtown Disney, have a nice dinner, and get to bed early so that you can get to the park early!

 

[kimis]

I would go to DTD and relax. Or maybe shop a little LOL

 

[2prettygirls]

I think that's a great idea to do the goofy dinner that night. We already paid for a goofy dinner when we booked the trip so do i need to call and make reservations for that? where is it at anyway's? were going to celebrate her birthday and it's our first trip there so that would be a fun way to start! great idea thanks! Also does anyone know if they do anything special at the hotel for birthday's when you arrive? like balloons or something?
So when will they be doing the fireworks is it going to happen at all while were there that would suck if we weren't able to see that! At the goofy dinner will there be character's there or are there only characters at the breakfasts? thanks for all the advice you guys are great! ~ kim