I know everyone is going to have different opinions which is great as I want a range of ideas! When in DLP what is your must-do? Whether it's ride, character meet, restaurant or experience I'd love to know to help with planning! I will be with 7, 13 and 15 year olds (as well as husband whose a little daunted by the trip!) ;D
Characters, characters, characters.
I'm a character hunter, and I spend my days looking for them and meeting them.
The rest of the time I watch seasonal shows and parades.
Numerous rides are must do's for us. Plus,
walk through the castle
go see the dragon
inspect our stone at the entrance to the park
a meal in Plaza Gardens
look at the ingenious hidden Mickey on the barrel of Space Mountain
run across the floating bridge in Adventureland
We'll having only been once I can tell you my must do's for my next trip - stuff I really enjoyed last time...:
1. Space mountain, Crush, Tower of Terror - the big rides I'm excited for again. I didn't think rides would be a big part of my trip at all, I was mostly just excited for the experience, but now I am so stoked to get on these again!
2. Character meeting
3. Get to the park for 0800 for once! I didn't manage it last year so I'm determined this year to be up bright and early and up for 2 whole hours of EMH.
4. Get a good spot for dreams and stay until the park empties - both were plans for November but the cold miserable weather just did not inspire us to sit around for ages. Hopefully with it being warmer (hoping!) in May, this will be more doable.
5. Annette's diner ... Iconic as it was our first meal at dlp and it's probably one of the things were most excited for.
6. Finally, get moderately Merry on glowtinis in sports bar :)
There's so much more too but I can't have a never ending reply haha!
A must do is to plan what you want to do each day. When we go we plan which day will be for which park so our first day is only half a day so we always head to Earl of Sandwich for a quick bite before heading into the studios ( this year will be a bit different because I need an annual pass so will head to discovery land to get the pass whilst the kids & hubby go on rides).
We then get everyone to decide which ride they want to do & plan our time according to that. We also take advantage of the EMH to get on some of the more popular rides.
Use fast passes wisely.
Quote from: Zee79 on January 08, 2016, 10:15:41 AM
A must do is to plan what you want to do each day.
This I totally agree :)
I'm planning for my February trip. I type up a daily plan for each day which lists out park opening and closing times and any closures. Then I decide what times I want to eat, and book any ADR necessary. Then in the spaces between the meals I literally make a plan for ride by ride, attraction by attraction, adding in when to get Fastpasses, when to do shopping etc.
I dont do character meets and on this trip I am not planning to see any parades or shows expect for the new show in Chapperal Theatre.
My Must Do's Are
EMH
Pirates and a meal in Blue Lagoon
Star Tours
Phantom Manor
Use the hidden walkway between Fantasyland and Main Street to avoid the crowds
Buzz
Use the shopping service to send bags back to the hotel
Dragon under the Castle
Quote from: kazziep on January 08, 2016, 09:24:50 AM
I know everyone is going to have different opinions which is great as I want a range of ideas! When in DLP what is your must-do? Whether it's ride, character meet, restaurant or experience I'd love to know to help with planning! I will be with 7, 13 and 15 year olds (as well as husband whose a little daunted by the trip!) ;D
Are you staying onsite? If so, as others have said, get to the park for 8 for EMH. Ask if you can have breakfast in the park.
We don't plan. We have an idea of what we want to do, but are totally flexible on when we do it. We fit in things around when things are quiet / busy.
Basically we get there Sunday afternoon - I hope to book a table at Walts possibly parade time to see it.
On the Wednesday of our trip we have a character breakfast and Thursday lunchtime before we leave my other half has mentioned about lunch with the Princesses for my birthday ;D
I'd love to do the Princess Pavilion, Frozen Summer Fun and Singalong Show, and the parade and Dreams one night of course. We aren't too fussed on rides but I want to do Buzz's Laser Blast, POTC, Peter Pans Flight.
We also want to eat at Annettes Diner!! And either Hakuna Matata or Colonel Hathis restaurant. Oh and try a Casey;s hot dog!! :D
Thank you so much for the suggestions- I'm writing lists! :)
I do plan in as much as detail as possible- allowing for spontaneous meetings of characters of course! We went 8 years ago and I have a few ideas but it's great to get your input. So far we have booked Buffalo Bills and a Princess lunch for my youngest's Birthday (we did it for my older girl and little one has seen the photos so had to really!)
We did go in at 8 last time and had breakfast in the park but I understand you now have to pay for it from one of the takeaway places? Before, we could sit and eat- sure it was a place with Pinocchio on the front!
Keep the ideas coming please! ;D
After Disney overload, there's nothing like going for a nice walk around Lake Disney or chilling at Cafe Fantasia in the Disneyland Hotel.
Ride Phantom Manor a gazillion times! ;D
But also just strolling around the park is magical!
Quote from: msRavenswood on January 08, 2016, 02:39:10 PM
But also just strolling around the park is magical!
Agree - looking at everything and reading everything - at eye level, ground level and sky level!
Meet and Greets (I only do it for my favourite characters, which in DLP is Thumper and Stitch).
Rock n Rollercoaster
Small World
Buzz Lightyear
Pirates
Annette's for food!
Quote from: kazziep on January 08, 2016, 01:13:40 PM
We did go in at 8 last time and had breakfast in the park but I understand you now have to pay for it from one of the takeaway places? Before, we could sit and eat- sure it was a place with Pinocchio on the front!
Keep the ideas coming please! ;D
This is an OPTION that they do when the hotels are at peak capacity. Basically they use one of the restaurants in the park as an overflow for hotel guests during EMH. They do it to take the pressure off the hotel restaurants at breakfast time.
When you check in ask if this option is available during your stay. I was at DLP Christmas 2013 and we had breakfast in Plaza Gardens on Boxing Day during EMH.
We were offered this option when we stayed in Hotel Santa Fe in March, to have breakfast in Plaza Gardens during EMH. There was a cheerleaders event ( contest or something) and the hotels were at full capacity. However we didn't take the option as we prefered to use EMH for rides and have breakfast at 7, in the hotel. Breakfast in the park started only at 8.
Quote from: msRavenswood on January 08, 2016, 02:39:10 PM
Ride Phantom Manor a gazillion times! ;D
100% THIS!!!! ;D ;D ;D
I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to horror things... how scary is it?! :-[
Barely scary at all. Like about 2 out of 10 on the scare-o-meter.
Do not under any circumstances miss the dragon under the Castle - it's awesome! Definitely do It's A Small World and Mad Hatter's Tea Cups in Fantasyland, explore the Castle fully, if you like roller coasters you will have to settle for Space Mountain (Big Thunder being closed). Meet Mickey at some point and certainly DO NOT miss Dreams!
In terms of food, if you like desserts you must have a tiramisu from the Pizzeria Bella Notte or Colonel Hathi's and the hot chocolate is nice too! If you prefer something more alcoholic have a Kir Royale in the bar at any of the Disney hotels.
If you like shopping, visit World of Disney in the village - it's really huge!
In the Studios (if you're going in there) don't miss The Studio Tram Tour, Stitch Live! and Ratatouille.
Re Phantom Manor, it is fantastic but it is very, very dark so if that bothers you I would give it a miss. If not it is not that scary but does have a few scenes which might bother you (there are videos of the full ride on line look them up and judge for yourself).
Hope this helps, enjoy your trip.
TTFN
My family's must-do is a meal (or even two) at Inventions! The character interactions there can't be beat, as they really take their time with each table. And we love the food.
We enjoy having dinner there right after Wishes, when possible. But my kids are a lot older than yours, so they don't mind eating super late,
The breakfast and brunches are amazing as well.
Big Thunder Mountain is a favorite and we tend to use our Fast Passes a lot on it.
Another must for us is getting up early and scheduling breakfast for as early as possible. That way you can take advantage of EMH and get the edge over all those who like to sleep late.
My must do's are:-
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Its a small world
- Phantom Manor
- Cinemagique (not sure why but I love it)
- The Studio Backlot tour
- The Parade
- Dreams
- soaking up the atmosphere/ people watching
- Eating in Blue Lagoon and Rainforest Café
- Walking through Disney Village
- Motor Stunt Show
and if I was child free (and it was open)
- Big Thunder Mountain (lots of times!)
- Tower of Terror
- Crush's coaster
Why that's quite a list! I'm getting excited just thinking about it :D
As soon as we get in the park, it's candied apple's time!
Marvel around main street, see if there's some sale going on...
Go check the board in main plaza for rise waiting times...and then lay our "plan"...!
Seriously, every time we start like "ok, this time we're going to take it slow and enjoy walking around, etc...no going back to the hotel with your feet hurting this time!"...but soon after we find ourself running to Indiana because it's just 5 minutes queue, then maybe another ride...then run here, run there...!
One thing that I would not miss for anything in the world is the teacups, BTM, Pirates, Tower, The whole toy story/ratatouille area...oh god, so many things!
Soooo many things....
Family picture in the Gardens
Photo/video of my little brother dancing in the Gazebo
New Minnie ears
Visiting the dragon
New Christmas bauble from the Castle shop
Inventions!
Rides - Snow White, Pinnocchio, Peter Pan, Pirates in that order. Then Big Thunder Mountain and Phantom Manor as many times as possible! If it is a nice day, we will wander through Alice's Labyrinth so we can take some lovely photos from the top of the castle. Leaving Discoveryland for night time, then a nutella brioche and hot chocolate from Cable Car before settling in to a spot for Dreams :)
Studio - Animagique :( ToT, RnRC, RC Racer, Crush and Ratatouille with a visit to Spiderman!
Must Do:
* Do Mad Hatter's Tea Cups after dark - it looks fantastic.
* Eat at Blue Lagoon if you've never had the pleasure (possibly my favourite in the parks).
* If it's someone's birthday on your trip take them to City Hall and ask for a special birthday call from a certain Mr Mouse.
Definitely Recommend:
* Guided Tour of Disneyland Park - a far more interesting 2 hours than you can possibly imagine.
* Staying in the parks after closing (not as in hiding in the loos until the caretaker locks up, but just hanging around when the crowds leave!!).