Would anyone please critique my plans?

[fiddlefaddle2]

Hi everyone!
My best friend and I are going on our first ever trip to California (we live in the UK) in October! We're coming for 7 days from the 22nd to 29th of October. As we're first timers I'm just a little nervous of my plans! If anyone has any input at all that would be fantastic!

Here's a bit about us incase it might help. I'm 24 and my friend is 29, we can't drive, we're both vegetarians, we've bought 5 day hopper tickets and we love Disney of course!

22nd - we arrive in california around 3 in the afternoon after a 10 hour flight Get on a shuttle, arrive at our hotel (HoJo) around 4. Have a good nap! If we're not too tired find somewhere to buy some cereal and stuff for the week.

23rd - First day at Disney! We'll spend the day at Disneyland and have tickets to the Halloween party. So we'll probably leave the park around midday to get into our costumes before coming back for the party (at the moment we're planning on being Jessica and Roger Rabbit!).

24th - Spend the day at California adventure. Get the WOC package from Cathay Circle (assuming WOC is on that night)

25th - Character breakfast at Goofys kitchen, spend the rest of the day at either park.

26th - Non Disney day! We're going to a mall and relaxing a bit

27th - Spending half a day in Hollywood (we'd like a full day but as we don't drive we're a bit hesitant to rely on public transport for such a trip. Luckilly there's a shuttle but it only gives you 6 hours) then returning and doing Fantasmic! (with the dessert package) in the evening.

28th - another non Disney day. Doing some more shopping and relaxing

29th - our flight home isn't until 22:15 so we'd spend our last day redoing our favourite rides at either park.

Does that all sound like a good plan? None of it is set in stone so if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them!
One thing I'd really appreciate is any opinions on the shuttles to/from the airport. There are a few and I'd like to know which is the best value for money (and reliable to get us to the airport on time!)
Thanks so much!

Lillian
x

 

[abdgeek]

Your plan looks good. Super Shuttle has reasonable rates and will probably run about $34 round trip. Check into taking the metro to Hollywood. That will give you more time there.

 

[dlinne]

Sounds like a fun trip.

You might consider doing the Goofy's Kitchen on a non park day to maximize park time if you find you need more time.

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

Thanks so much! You're right, it would be good to go to Goofys on a non-Disney day

 

[KateDrake]

You guys are going to have so much fun! Southern Cal is quite a change from the UK, but both are two of my favorite vacation destinations.

I think your plan sounds really good. Here are just a couple of musings, but even if you don't do them, you'll have a great trip.

On arrival day, I would recommend staying up and going to bed at a regular time. So if you go to bed at 11 p.m. in the UK, go to bed at 11 p.m. California time. This has always been the best way for me to avoid jet lag, even if it meant touring Westminster Abbey on no sleep I'm worried if you take a nap, you won't be tired when it is bed time in Cali.

I think you will do fine with public transportation to get to Hollywood. It's certainly worth looking into so you can have more time, especially when you are coming from so far away.

Lastly, SoCal is a vegetarian paradise! You are going to find some great stuff to eat, especially on your non-Disney days. Disney does OK for vegetarians, but you are going to find some really great food off property.

I hope you have an awesome trip! Especially at the Halloween party, it is so fun to dress up. You'll have to post pictures of your costumes!

 

[disneyfam2000]

Sounds like a fun trip.

You might consider doing the Goofy's Kitchen on a non park day to maximize park time if you find you need more time.

I definitely agree, Goofy's Kitchen on a non park day been there done that.

 

[quantumottle]

I hope I'm wrong about this, but doesn't Disney have a policy against adults dressing in costume of Disney characters? Again, I'm not trying to rain on anyones plans, just hoping to help you avid an issue - if indeed there is one.

To the experts out there, am I mistaken about this policy?

:

 

[munchkin322]

I think it is ok for Halloween party...there were lots that dressed up during those events...at least on the east coast so I assume it's fine there too. They don't want adults to dress up during the day (especially the elaborate costume) because they don't want children to mistaken them as one of the "character" (or a cast member).

 

[Eeee-va]

Yes, adults can dress as Disney characters during the Halloween party (and the 3 hours early you can get in for the party). That's one of the big perks! The costumes just have to be family-friendly.

Fiddlefaddle2, I'd suggest you go to Toontown before the party officially starts (so after 3 but before 6) and get some really cool photos of yourselves there! Toontown will almost certainly close for the party.

If you want to get the most Disney time in as possible, I'd move your Fantasmic! day to a day you can be at the parks full-time, and do your shopping/relaxing the same day as your Hollywood day. Right now you're basically spending a little more than 4 days' worth of hours in the parks, when you have a 5-day hopper and a Halloween ticket that adds 8 hours to that. If you want a more relaxing trip, nothing wrong with your schedule, of course. I just like to go go go on vacation and stuff in as much Disney fun as possible, so I try to use as many hours of my park hoppers as I can.

Have a great trip!

 

[socalduo]

I will say don't get your hopes up for Hollywood. It's loaded with homeless and teen runaways and it's really dirty. Be prepared for traffic. The 101 freeway is always stopped right there too. Other then that, have fun

 

[chrissiecutie]

OP- arrange to have groceries delivered to your hotel room on arrival day. That way you don't have to bother with it after a long travel day.

Place your order online, select a time frame for them deliver it (just make sure the time frame is well after you've arrived) and viola!

I suggest using Vons and look online for coupon codes for FREE delivery!

I do this everytime we fly and we always stay at HoJo's. Never had any problems!

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

I definitely agree, Goofy's Kitchen on a non park day been there done that.

Yes I really can't remember why I thought going on a park day was a good idea now! I'm looking forward to trying the PB&J pizza! XD

 

[Diegosmom]

Why dont you make your halloween party day a non park day? Sleep in relax do some shopping then get to disney at earliest possible time with party tix...you could even do the character meal on this day. No sense in wasting a park day when you are already going for the party.

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

I will say don't get your hopes up for Hollywood. It's loaded with homeless and teen runaways and it's really dirty. Be prepared for traffic. The 101 freeway is always stopped right there too. Other then that, have fun

That's alright, I live in London so am used to that sort of thing. We're just figured since we were in CA we might as well have a trip to Hollywood!

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

Why dont you make your halloween party day a non park day? Sleep in relax do some shopping then get to disney at earliest possible time with party tix...you could even do the character meal on this day. No sense in wasting a park day when you are already going for the party.

Well that would be a really good idea, except that we have tickets for the tuesday Halloween party instead of the Friday one (as it was cheaper). I'm very shy and while I know it's gonna be crowded all the time I've heard the weekends are always worse. So if we had a non-park day on the tuesday of the party we'd have to go to the park on a weekend :/

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

OP- arrange to have groceries delivered to your hotel room on arrival day. That way you don't have to bother with it after a long travel day.

Place your order online, select a time frame for them deliver it (just make sure the time frame is well after you've arrived) and viola!

I suggest using Vons and look online for coupon codes for FREE delivery!

I do this everytime we fly and we always stay at HoJo's. Never had any problems!

I may be wrong but I thought I read that you needed to be a US resident to order from Vons? If not that's a great idea! Although, lame as this may sounds, I absolutely love visiting American supermarkets!

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

I hope I'm wrong about this, but doesn't Disney have a policy against adults dressing in costume of Disney characters? Again, I'm not trying to rain on anyones plans, just hoping to help you avid an issue - if indeed there is one.

To the experts out there, am I mistaken about this policy?

:

Adults are allowed to wear costumes for the party but not all day. . Though I think it depends what the people at the gates consider a costume. When I went to Florida a few years ago I wore a red and white polka dot dress like Minnie Mouse for several park days and everyone as lovely, cast members called me Miss Mouse and I even got a drink 'On Mickey' because the server said I'd brightened her day Then I went to Disneyland Paris and even though I was just wearing a red and white polka dot skirt and mouse ears (purchased from the park) and nothing else Minnie related the cast members pulled me out of the line and were really mean to me about it. They called some other member to come and check if i was appropriate and refused to talk to me. I was so embarrased at being singled out and people in the line (which they made me stand right next to) were staring at me like I was a criminal. Eventually I started crying and just made my friend take me back to the hotel. It was a horrible experience and now I'll never be Minnie again

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

Your plan looks good. Super Shuttle has reasonable rates and will probably run about $34 round trip. Check into taking the metro to Hollywood. That will give you more time there.

Thank you, I'll look into Super shuttle now. I had a look at the metro but... I don't know, it sounded a little complicated. I like the simoplicity of the shuttle and I'll think we'll be ok with 6 hours. We're going to do a one hour walking tour that will show us most of the main sites. Thanks for the suggestion anyway!

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

You guys are going to have so much fun! Southern Cal is quite a change from the UK, but both are two of my favorite vacation destinations.

I think your plan sounds really good. Here are just a couple of musings, but even if you don't do them, you'll have a great trip.

On arrival day, I would recommend staying up and going to bed at a regular time. So if you go to bed at 11 p.m. in the UK, go to bed at 11 p.m. California time. This has always been the best way for me to avoid jet lag, even if it meant touring Westminster Abbey on no sleep I'm worried if you take a nap, you won't be tired when it is bed time in Cali.

I think you will do fine with public transportation to get to Hollywood. It's certainly worth looking into so you can have more time, especially when you are coming from so far away.

Lastly, SoCal is a vegetarian paradise! You are going to find some great stuff to eat, especially on your non-Disney days. Disney does OK for vegetarians, but you are going to find some really great food off property.

I hope you have an awesome trip! Especially at the Halloween party, it is so fun to dress up. You'll have to post pictures of your costumes!

Thank you so much for all your suggestions!

I agree about it being best to stay awake to beat the jetlaf\ but I honestly don't think We'll stay awake until our usual bedtime if we don't have a nap!I don't cope well on little sleep
I think if we just have a short nap we'll be ok to still go to bed around 11. Hopefully!

I've heard CA is good for vegetarians, so I'm not worried about eating. If the worst comes to the worst the hotels right near a Denny's so I can live off pancakes and waffles

 

[fiddlefaddle2]

I think it is ok for Halloween party...there were lots that dressed up during those events...at least on the east coast so I assume it's fine there too. They don't want adults to dress up during the day (especially the elaborate costume) because they don't want children to mistaken them as one of the "character" (or a cast member).

Yes, I've checked and adults are definately allowed to wear costumes at the Halloween party. And it's a great excuse to get free candy!