Disneyland tips?

[lishie]

We're fairly seasoned WDW visitors, but we're making our first Disneyland trip in a few weeks, and I'm trying to put a gameplan together.

We're staying Concierge at Paradise Pier for three nights, so I'm hoping to do at least breakfast and snacks at the hotel. I want to take advantage of the hotel only hours at the parks. What should I focus on during that time? I'm guessing Radiator Springs at California Adventure. What about at Disneyland?

Is my current plan of hitting the parks early, hanging at the hotel mid day and going back at night reasonable? Will be we able to see what we want to see with that plan and a 3 day ticket?

What's not to be missed at the parks? I bought a dining package for paint the night, so we have reserved viewing for that, and I'm hoping it's a good spot for the fireworks as well.

Any tips or advice are appreciated.

[lala]

We're doing out first Land trip in November...I can't wait to hear the advice you get. I can plan a WDW trip with my eyes closed, this is totally different.

Which paint the night package are you doing?

[alleinesein]

I can type more later with lots of tips

What PTN package did you get? If you are doing the early show and you did the Blue Bayou package your seating area will be along Main Street and after the parade ends you will be herded into the center of Main St to watch the fireworks. If you opted for the Aladdins Oasis package your seating area will be near small world and you can still watch the fireworks from that spot but you will miss all of the projections along Main St and on the castle.

DCA EMH- hit up Radiator Springs Racers and Toy Story Mania first.

DLR EMH- Fantasyland and Tomorrowland will be open. You can do all of Tomorrowland in one hour or you can head over to Fantasyland to ride Peter Pan first.

Gotta run now but I will be back later with more info. We just stayed at the Disneyland hotel last week and did the concierge level so I'll be back with a menu for you.

[lishie]

Jun 1, 2016 13:03:09 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

I can type more later with lots of tips

What PTN package did you get? If you are doing the early show and you did the Blue Bayou package your seating area will be along Main Street and after the parade ends you will be herded into the center of Main St to watch the fireworks. If you opted for the Aladdins Oasis package your seating area will be near small world and you can still watch the fireworks from that spot but you will miss all of the projections along Main St and on the castle.

DCA EMH- hit up Radiator Springs Racers and Toy Story Mania first.

DLR EMH- Fantasyland and Tomorrowland will be open. You can do all of Tomorrowland in one hour or you can head over to Fantasyland to ride Peter Pan first.

Gotta run now but I will be back later with more info. We just stayed at the Disneyland hotel last week and did the concierge level so I'll be back with a menu for you.

Thanks!

We got the Alladin's Oasis package. I didn't even think about castle projections. We may want to move for that.

We have a theme park view at PP. I was debating attempting to watch World of Color from the room rather than fighting the crowds for that.

[TBM]

Everything is so much closer at the parks there, that it is easier to see more/do more....you should have no problem seeing what you want.


Have fun! I love Disneyland, and I miss it. I prefer the way certain areas look/feel compared to WDW.. Fantasyland and New Orleans square in particular. It's a Small World at DL is so much more fun to look at as you approach, (especially at Christmas), and I think I prefer Pirates at DL. ToT at DCA is my favorite of the 3 that we've ridden.

I suck at time related suggestions at the parks because we had AP when we lived there and fitting everything in wasn't an issue, and now that we have AP for WDW and live near, it is the same thing.

The lines are mostly outdoors, and it can get quite warm, so cooling bands or the spray fan things can help. Even on a hot day in the summer it can be cool in the evening. I think Disneyland sells most of their sweatshirts because people don't expect that and they have to buy them to be comfortable. lol

[Deleted]

The frozen show just opened so if you want to see that you need to get in line for fast passes for that first hour of park opening.

[Deleted]

Jun 1, 2016 13:09:49 GMT -5 lishie said:

Jun 1, 2016 13:03:09 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

I can type more later with lots of tips

What PTN package did you get? If you are doing the early show and you did the Blue Bayou package your seating area will be along Main Street and after the parade ends you will be herded into the center of Main St to watch the fireworks. If you opted for the Aladdins Oasis package your seating area will be near small world and you can still watch the fireworks from that spot but you will miss all of the projections along Main St and on the castle.

DCA EMH- hit up Radiator Springs Racers and Toy Story Mania first.

DLR EMH- Fantasyland and Tomorrowland will be open. You can do all of Tomorrowland in one hour or you can head over to Fantasyland to ride Peter Pan first.

Gotta run now but I will be back later with more info. We just stayed at the Disneyland hotel last week and did the concierge level so I'll be back with a menu for you.

Thanks!

We got the Alladin's Oasis package. I didn't even think about castle projections. We may want to move for that.

We have a theme park view at PP. I was debating attempting to watch World of Color from the room rather than fighting the crowds for that.

You won't want to (or probably be able to) move for it. It's so crowded and crazy right after the parade. The fireworks are still good!!

[roxysoxy]

It looks like you already got good advice about what rides to hit first. At Disneyland we usually go on Space Mountain first. With the new Hyperspace Mountain overlay, lines are longer and fast passes are going faster. If we end up going to Fantasyland first, we'll go straight to Peter Pan. 

At California Adventure, we go on Radiator Springs Racers first and then Toy Story. The Frozen show fast passes are disconnected from the rest of the fast pass system, so you'll still be able to get another fast pass right away. If you are going after the new Soarin' movie starts (June 17th), you'll probably want to go on that early or get a fastpass because I'm guessing lines will be long. 

Your plan of going to the parks early and then hanging at the hotel mid day is exactly what we do. I find that it works really well. We get a lot done in the morning and then are relaxed when we go back in the evening.

Have fun!

[lishie]

Jun 1, 2016 14:09:04 GMT -5 Loco Coco said:

For DCA I would get radiator springs fast passes ASAP, then book it to you story mania. After that I would go back to carsland and go from there. Disneyland I always go straight for Peter Pan and then do fantasyland, but if anyone wants to do Space Mountain grab that fast pass or ride that ASAP.

Remember that fastpasses are different there, so look up which rides have it so you can work the system in your favor.

How old are your kiddos?

My boys are 5 & 7. The 7 year old loves to ride, while the 5 year old is a little more timid (for instance, at times the MK teacups are too much for him, but he loves the tomorrowland speedway and buzz lightyear spin).

Do they do the child swap, so that if DS2 is scared, could we get a swap and I could take DS1 on ride X again while taking DS2 to something calmer?

[Deleted]

Jun 1, 2016 14:32:43 GMT -5 lishie said:

Jun 1, 2016 14:09:04 GMT -5 Loco Coco said:

For DCA I would get radiator springs fast passes ASAP, then book it to you story mania. After that I would go back to carsland and go from there. Disneyland I always go straight for Peter Pan and then do fantasyland, but if anyone wants to do Space Mountain grab that fast pass or ride that ASAP.

Remember that fastpasses are different there, so look up which rides have it so you can work the system in your favor.

How old are your kiddos?

My boys are 5 & 7. The 7 year old loves to ride, while the 5 year old is a little more timid (for instance, at times the MK teacups are too much for him, but he loves the tomorrowland speedway and buzz lightyear spin).

Do they do the child swap, so that if DS2 is scared, could we get a swap and I could take DS1 on ride X again while taking DS2 to something calmer?

Yes child swap is available, you just have to ask the employee that's usually at the line area

[Wines Not Whines]

I love DL! I think other people have answered your questions, but I'd say the must-dos are Cars Land and Paint the Night. My son also really loved the "toon town" area with all of the characters' homes. Also, if your kids like Tomorrowland Speedway, the DL version (called Autopia) is much better.

One thing that surprised me about DL vs WDW is that there's much less shade. Most lines at WDW are designed to be in the shade so you don't bake in the hot sun. DL has a lot of lines outdoors in full sun. That was the only negative thing about DL, but we were there in the summer when it was 90 degrees every day.

[alleinesein]

I'm back! Time for the WOT*

Concierge level- I have done this at the Grand and Disneyland Hotel. The lounges are not very big but it appears that they have been limiting access to the lounges (it used to be that anyone could pay a fee to get access and it would get stupid crowded in the lounge; now you can only get access if you are in a designated concierge level room.)

Menus may vary but in my experience they have the same things at each hotel.

Beverages available all day- Minute Maid fruit punch juice boxes, Ocean Spray cranberry juice, Tomato juice, Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Sprite, Coffee, Tea, Hot chocolate, Espresso (they have a fancy machine in the DLR lounge and you can make lattes with flavored syrup and steamed milk)

Breakfast- pastries/muffins, fresh fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, cereal (4 types), bagels, cheese, sliced turkey and ham, OJ, milk, GF waffles on request (they do have items for food allergies but you have to ask for them).

Snacktime (late morning until around 5pm)- fresh fruit, fresh veggies, potato chips, tortilla chips, salsas, Uncrustables, Nature Valley granola bars, goldfish crackers, pretzels, cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal), mini cupcakes Lemonade, Iced Tea

Hot Apps/Happy Hour- These change nightly. When we were there they had Mini corn dogs, mini pizzas and mini chicken quesadillas on one night and the following night they had shrimp lumpia, beef teriyaki skewers and stuffed mushrooms. They also keep out most of the snack stuff and add cheese and crackers.

Dessert- a variety of treats. Cookies, rice krispie treats, macaroons, mini cupcakes, etc.

Alcohol- they have 4 beers (domestic/dom light, corona, heineken) and a selection of wines (prosecco, a few whites, white zin, and a few reds). They also will make a prosecco and cranberry mimosa.

Fast passes are not available until the park opens so don't plan on being able to get in during EMH and being able to grab one. You can only get one at a time and then you can get your next one when your FP return time is up OR 2 hours after you got your last one (the 2 hour thing is because some rides can have FP times that are for much later in the day; I've gotten a Space mountain FP at 11am for a return time of 10:50pm that night!)

World of Color- if you still have a dining time open for your planned DCA day look into the WOC dining packages. You will want to see it in the park; watching it in your room will not give you the full experience. You also have the option of getting a FP for WOC; when you check into the hotel the newsletter they give you will tell you where you need to go to get one. They have some reserved just for hotel guests.

Jedi Academy. If your little ones want to do this you need to get there when the park opens to register. You can get a jump on this on your EMH morning; registration is at the Launch Bay. Look for the podium. Your kids will need to be present to register. Registration begins when the park opens.

EMH at DCA. There is no need to rush to any ride. You can enter the park by using the guest entrance at the Grand or you can hoof it to the main gate. The line at the grand can be long so you want to get there 15-30 minutes before opening to allow for security, etc. The main gate might be a bit faster. We typically hit up Toy Story Mania first and then head over to Radiator Springs and the line tends to only be about 15 minutes or so.

Soarin will be closed on June 16th. June 17th it will become Soarin around the World and I expect that lines will be stupid long and FPs will be needed.

EMH at DLR- if you opt to do Tomorrowland use this plan of attack. Take the monorail into the park and head over to Space Mountain first. After space mountain hit up Buzz. After Buzz head over to Star Tours. After you get off Star Tours you should be able to grab a FP since the park should be open. If you opt to do Fantasyland you will want to hit up Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland first. There are no FPs for Fantasyland and most of the lines move quickly.

Rides that tend to have a long line- Pirates, Nemo, Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain (only when it is hot).

Getting to and from the park. You can cut through the Grand to easily access DCA. For DLR the monorail will be your best bet. The easiest way to get to the monorail is to go out the back door of the PP and walk into downtown disney. The monorail does not run between 8:30pm-10pm because of the fireworks.