Planning a Trip to DL - Tips + Advice Appreciated!

[StarSpeckledSky]

Here's a possible too detailed go-over of what I have so far on the trip.

My mom will be attending a meeting the week of June 9-15 in LA. The rest of us plan to use this time to explore different areas around LA, and one of those places is Disneyland Park (which we went to almost monthly until we moved away). We plan on visiting Thursday, June 13 (my dad refused to listen to my sentiments and complaints about visiting on an EMH day when we don't have EMH, so oh well... we'll still be rope dropping I guess. I'd love tips on how to structure an EMH day when you don't have EMH). We already have reservations for Galaxy's Edge from 11am-3pm. It'll be dad, my 3 year old sister, and me going. Our hotel is already booked - from the hotel we're staying at to Disneyland Park is about a 40 minute drive (but we expect more due to traffic).

We are WDW Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom veterans but haven't been to Disneyland in 8-7 years. I've read through the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and have been doing extensive research on sites such as TouringPlans (but without a subscription), MouseHacking, Disney Tourist Blog, and the official Disneyland website.

We want our trip to be fun for all of us and minimize line time as much as humanly possible - makes all of us cranky, thank god mom isn't here or she'd march us right out the moment she got tired or annoyed. As a huge fan of Disney Parks and the one who's been doing the research, I have the most on my wishlist, which has made me feel quite guilty, so I'm putting my dad's one ride request as top priority.

Here are our personal wishlists (my sister's should be taken the least seriously, I just threw together a bunch of stuff she'd probably like from our experiences at WDW):
Me: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Matterhorn, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, Alice in Wonderland, Storybook Canal Boats, Buzz Lightyear, Mad Tea Party, Finding Nemo, It's a Small World, Star Tours, Soundsational Parade, Fantasmic!, fireworks, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Enchanted Tiki Room, Millennium Falcon (there's a lot here so I'm willing to let go of a few)
Dad: It's a Small World (yes, only one compared to my hundred, so this is a priority as aforementioned)
Sister (listed, unlike above, from most to least important for her): Dumbo, King Arthur Carrousel, Casey Jr, any of the little playgrounds such as Chip and Dale's or Tarzan's.

I totally understand that all this is most likely not possible in one day, especially since we're devoting 3-4 hours for Galaxy's Edge and the parks will be super crowded.

Dining-wise, hopefully we'll make a reservation for lunch at Cafe Orleans ASAP, as well as a reservation for the Hungry Bear Fantasmic! Package. For breakfast we might just eat a quick bite in the car or get a macaroon at Jolly.

We also plan on getting MaxPass.

Right now we just need a plan of sorts that'll minimize wait times and maximize fun, alongside tips for getting through the day (especially since we don't have EMH)! We found that the plans offered in the Unofficial Guide didn't work well with our personal wishes, and don't plan on subscribing to TouringPlans to get their plans. We may get Lines and use the 24-hour free trial, but I'm not sure... personally I'd prefer to just have a plan from the start! After reading a bit I understand how crowds sort of work at Disneyland - a smaller amount until about 11am, crowds from 11am to 4pm, then slightly less people afterwards I think. I'm nervous about this changing with SWGE though.

Sorry for all the info and rambling, I'd love any advice or tips and would be happy to answer any questions.

 

[wench]

I’m sorry to say that no one can give you a magic plan that will make this even close to doable. That’s just so much for 1 day. Especially with a SWGE reservation stuck in the middle of your day, during the prime time for getting FP. The best advice I can give you is to get MP & use it as much as possible. And perhaps you need to separate from your father & sister. Let him take her on the small rides, while you go on all the E-tickets? If you’re trying to rider swap all those big rides it’ll be even harder to get stuff done. I would drop the Cafe Orleans reservation as what you want to accomplish doesn’t really allow for a TS meal. And beyond that, just try to temper your expectations. If you go in relaxed & expecting that you won’t make everything, you’ll enjoy the day much more. If you go in crazy stressed about getting to everything, you probably won’t be present enough to really enjoy the things that you do make it onto.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I’m sorry to say that no one can give you a magic plan that will make this even close to doable. That’s just so much for 1 day. Especially with a SWGE reservation stuck in the middle of your day, during the prime time for getting FP. The best advice I can give you is to get MP & use it as much as possible. And perhaps you need to separate from your father & sister. Let him take her on the small rides, while you go on all the E-tickets? If you’re trying to rider swap all those big rides it’ll be even harder to get stuff done. I would drop the Cafe Orleans reservation as what you want to accomplish doesn’t really allow for a TS meal. And beyond that, just try to temper your expectations. If you go in relaxed & expecting that you won’t make everything, you’ll enjoy the day much more. If you go in crazy stressed about getting to everything, you probably won’t be present enough to really enjoy the things that you do make it onto.

Yep, I totally understand that I won't be able to complete everything. I definitely plan on using MP as much as possible. That's a good idea (the splitting up) that we may use (as long as we stay in the same land and have a meeting point it's good). We're not going to rider swap - my dad's not really interested in the big rides. I'm going to use single line on as many as possible, so that'll hopefully decrease time spent on some attractions. Thank you for the help.

 

[EmJ]

You're ambitious! I can't help you plan since I haven't been to DL, but I'm in the process of planning a vacation for myself, DH, and 5-year-old son, so a similar group to yours. The attractions you've listed above are pretty much our ride wish-list as well, except you're trying to do 26 attractions in one day... I've planned on three days and am still not convinced we will do it all. Also, that seems like a LOT for a 3-year-old. So if I was in your position, I would do two things. First, plan "tiers". Pick 5 or so attractions that are Tip Top Priority One, plus one big show (Fantasmic or the parade or fireworks). Then a next tier of 5 plus one show as Would Like To Do. Then the next tier of 5 plus the last show as If We Have Time.

Also, if your dad isn't into big rides and your sister wants to do kid stuff, then look playgrounds or children's attractions that are near big rides and overlap them. For example, Dad takes Little Sis to Tarzan's Treehouse while you go on Indiana Jones Adventure. Then he takes her to Tom Sawyer Island while you knock out Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

You're ambitious! I can't help you plan since I haven't been to DL, but I'm in the process of planning a vacation for myself, DH, and 5-year-old son, so a similar group to yours. The attractions you've listed above are pretty much our ride wish-list as well, except you're trying to do 26 attractions in one day... I've planned on three days and am still not convinced we will do it all. Also, that seems like a LOT for a 3-year-old. So if I was in your position, I would do two things. First, plan "tiers". Pick 5 or so attractions that are Tip Top Priority One, plus one big show (Fantasmic or the parade or fireworks). Then a next tier of 5 plus one show as Would Like To Do. Then the next tier of 5 plus the last show as If We Have Time.

Also, if your dad isn't into big rides and your sister wants to do kid stuff, then look playgrounds or children's attractions that are near big rides and overlap them. For example, Dad takes Little Sis to Tarzan's Treehouse while you go on Indiana Jones Adventure. Then he takes her to Tom Sawyer Island while you knock out Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

If we don't have much else that we'd like to do we may go to Disneyland a second day but I'm just planning for one day. The tiers are a great idea! I'll start organizing our wish-list like that.

Yes, that was my idea - my dad's quite cautious about safety and the like so we'd have to be relatively close (in the same land). Those options sound perfect! Thank you so much for the help!

 

[agamble]

I'm guessing You're the only one interested in big rides. If that is the case you really only need Max Pass for one ticket.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I'm guessing You're the only one interested in big rides. If that is the case you really only need Max Pass for one ticket.

True!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

And try to use the free PhotoPass as much as possible! Your sister may not remember much from this trip, but you'll have the photos!

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

And try to use the free PhotoPass as much as possible! Your sister may not remember much from this trip, but you'll have the photos!

Yep! About that, do you have to get all the pictures the same day that you use MaxPass? Or can you do that any time so long as you've purchased MaxPass?

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

Oh also another question to anyone - from the research I've done, I believe that Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain offer both single rider and Fastpass. Which ones should I use a Fastpass on and which ones should I single ride? I heard that for Indiana Jones, Fastpass is better, for Matterhorn, single rider is better, and for Space and Splash Mountain Fastpass and single rider line are about equal. Is this true?

 

[midnight star]

Oh also another question to anyone - from the research I've done, I believe that Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain offer both single rider and Fastpass. Which ones should I use a Fastpass on and which ones should I single ride? I heard that for Indiana Jones, Fastpass is better, for Matterhorn, single rider is better, and for Space and Splash Mountain Fastpass and single rider line are about equal. Is this true?

I prefer just fastpassing and only using single rider when absolutely necessary. Single rider lines can be helpful, but if they get too long they close down. Or if the ride itself breaks down, they will keep it closed until they get a better handle on the standby and fastpass lines. With that said, I would say Space has the best single rider line. And yes, fastpass Indy! That is by far the worst single rider line ( maybe I am just unlucky, but I've been held in there for 45 minutes). Matterhorn is also pretty good, but it does get too long occasionally and will close. But it reopens fast. I haven't used the Splash mountain one.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I prefer just fastpassing and only using single rider when absolutely necessary. Single rider lines can be helpful, but if they get too long they close down. Or if the ride itself breaks down, they will keep it closed until they get a better handle on the standby and fastpass lines. With that said, I would say Space has the best single rider line. And yes, fastpass Indy! That is by far the worst single rider line ( maybe I am just unlucky, but I've been held in there for 45 minutes). Matterhorn is also pretty good, but it does get too long occasionally and will close. But it reopens fast. I haven't used the Splash mountain one.

Thanks for the info about single rider lines. I'm trying to single ride as many as possible because I want to save fastpasses for rides that don't have single rider. Plus, I'm the only one in our group interested in the rides with single rider, so it sounded convenient. However, it's good to know that single rider lines close if there are too many people/if the ride breaks down. I'll try to single ride Space and Fastpass Indy! Thanks for the helpful info!

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

WAIT A SECOND I just went to the Disneyland site and apparently Star Tours has a single rider? Never knew! Is there?

 

[midnight star]

WAIT A SECOND I just went to the Disneyland site and apparently Star Tours has a single rider? Never knew! Is there?

I think so, but I heard people say it opens and closes...but I think it is through the exit

 

[dieumeye]

Thanks for the info about single rider lines. I'm trying to single ride as many as possible because I want to save fastpasses for rides that don't have single rider. Plus, I'm the only one in our group interested in the rides with single rider, so it sounded convenient. However, it's good to know that single rider lines close if there are too many people/if the ride breaks down. I'll try to single ride Space and Fastpass Indy! Thanks for the helpful info!

In my experience, the Space Mtn single Rider line is not reliably open. That is, you can't just count on it being open all the time. I was lucky and hit it open many visits in a row with short waits when it first came available, but then hit a string of visits where it seemed to always be closed when I tried to use it, so YMMV.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I think so, but I heard people say it opens and closes...but I think it is through the exit

Interesting! Never heard of it...

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

In my experience, the Space Mtn single Rider line is not reliably open. That is, you can't just count on it being open all the time. I was lucky and hit it open many visits in a row with short waits when it first came available, but then hit a string of visits where it seemed to always be closed when I tried to use it, so YMMV.

I see. Is there a way to tell before you arrive at an attraction whether or not a single rider line will be closed (as in it is posted on the Disney app/site or something like that)?

 

[midnight star]

I see. Is there a way to tell before you arrive at an attraction whether or not a single rider line will be closed (as in it is posted on the Disney app/site or something like that)?

Sadly no. I wish! Would save so much time!

 

[dieumeye]

I see. Is there a way to tell before you arrive at an attraction whether or not a single rider line will be closed (as in it is posted on the Disney app/site or something like that)?

As far as I know, there is no place that shows whether the single rider lines are open/closed or how long the waits might be. Single Rider is awesome and, combined with FP, will really help you do a lot of stuff. Just don't get your hopes up that it's going to always be available or that the lines are always going to be short. Be prepared to switch tactics if necessary.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

Sadly no. I wish! Would save so much time!

Agreed! They really should implement that! Sorry if this sounds like a silly question, but if it's a really packed day (9/10 or 10/10), what's the chance that the single rider line is closed? Close to 100?