June 2017 Disneyland Check In!!!

[VandVsmama]

Question (if anyone could help.) I'm much more used to WDW fastpass program, and not so much with Disneyland's paper-tickets. I know how it works, etc, just unsure of the best "plan" of what to grab in what order. I remember being able to grab a WOC one, in addition to a ride, right?

And which rides would you recommend in what order for each park? I know that's more on a personal level, but I just mean,... going by the most popular I suppose. Obviously Mission Breakout first in Disneyland I assume now.... but then what? I'm definitely an "Itinerary Maker" for my Disney trips, so I cant just go with the flow

What order you get FP in really depends on what your family wants to do. When our family goes to DL, we don't sleep in. We are "get there for rope drop" people. Here's a typical example of a morning itinerary for us at DL on a day that we're using our Magic Morning entry:

during MM hour:

• Dumbo (if not doing Peter Pan first)
• Alice
• Mr Toad
• King Arthur carousel
• Pinocchio
• Snow White

After MM hour is done: whole family walks to Tomorrowland. We get FP for Space Mtn or Star Tours. Usually Star Tours because it's 1 of DH's favorites.

• Then get FP for Buzz (it's usually disconnected)
• go on Autopia
• go on Buzz Lightyear w/o FP
• When Star Tours FP window opens, send a FP runner to get FP for Indiana Jones. Rest of crew remains in Tomorrowland for bathroom break & shopping in Star Trader store.
• Star Tours using FP.
• Buzz using FP.
• walk to Adventureland. If IJ FP window hasn't begun yet, go to Tiki Room and/or Jungle Cruise.
• When IJ FP window opens, send runner to get FP for Splash Mtn.
• IJ using FP
• Pirates
• HM
• When FP window for Splash Mtn begins, send runner to get FP for BTMRR.
• Splash Mtn using FP
• Winnie the Pooh
• stop for lunch at Hungry Bear.

** edited to add **
Our family has followed the itinerary above a couple of times on week days in early June and we have most definitely been able to accomplish all of this before a lunch break around 12:30pm-ish. Assumes a MM starting at 7am.

 

[VandVsmama]

Question (if anyone could help.) I'm much more used to WDW fastpass program, and not so much with Disneyland's paper-tickets. I know how it works, etc, just unsure of the best "plan" of what to grab in what order. I remember being able to grab a WOC one, in addition to a ride, right?

And which rides would you recommend in what order for each park? I know that's more on a personal level, but I just mean,... going by the most popular I suppose. Obviously Mission Breakout first in Disneyland I assume now.... but then what? I'm definitely an "Itinerary Maker" for my Disney trips, so I cant just go with the flow

If I was into TOT or GOTG ride and going to DCA, I'd probably do an itinerary something like this:

• get to gates 30-45 min before rope drop.
• walk with purpose to GOTG ride. Ride GOTG.
• get FP for GOTG to use later. Note start of return window.
• Toy Story
• Mater's
• Luigi's
• single rider on RSR...only if your kids will do single rider. Otherwise, get RSR FP when your GOTG return window begins. Note that RSR FP tend to run out by lunch time.
• Ariel's
• Animation Academy a couple of times
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• GRR
• Whenever GOTG return window opens and you have your RSR FP, go on GOTG.
• When RSR FP window starts OR it's 2 hr after you grabbed the RSR FP, get FP for Soarin.'

We tend to skip most of the rest of the rides at DCA because they don't interest us very much, but we would definitely supplement with Bugsland rides as time fillers.

WOC FP are separate from the other FP at DCA.

 

[pepperandchips]

@VandVsmama that post is soooo helpful. Thank you for the detailed plan for us rookies! I hope maybe you will think of sharing your family's DCA plan for us too

 

[pepperandchips]

And there it is! Thank you!

 

[VandVsmama]

On our DL & DCA days, we usually end up taking a break from the heat and crowds at our hotel and return around 4-5pm. So our evenings at DL look something like this:

• check FP times for Star Tours or Space Mtn. If FP return times are before the witching hour for my kids (i.e., time of night that kids become chiefs of the cranky pants, usually ~10pm), get FP for Star Tours or Space Mtn.
• IASW
• eat dinner somewhere. If doing TS, have a reservation ahead of time at a TS place.
• if wait times not too bad, go on Storybook Land Canal Boats.
• Mad Tea Party
• I go on single rider Matterhorn while DH & kids do something else (shop or go on another ride). The 3 of them hate Matterhorn and I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
• If seeing a nighttime parade, get a spot for the parade 30-45 min before parade. DH or I stay at our spot, sitting on a lightweight blanket we've brought with us, while the other adult takes the 2 kids on a ride or 2. Or gets them an ice cream or other treat.
• See parade.
• Ride monorail round trip.
• Pirates or HM again. Or ride both a 2nd time (since 1st time we rode them were much earlier in the day).
• Other good time fillers: Great Moments with Mr Lincoln, get silhouettes of your family at the shop on Main Street, whatever other stuff you want to do.
• last ride of the day is always Pirates!

 

[ClaraOswald]

We will be going with no itinerary at all since we have no clue how our son will do. I hate that we have to go in June where the park opens so early. There's no way we will be making rope drop. Ugh. I am still so bitter about not being able to go in February. This June trip is going to be a whole new world to us.

Last time we only used fast pass a couple times. I am worried we'll have to use them a lot this time. I hope they don't have that new extra cost fast pass for our trip but they probably will. Though we won't be paying for it.

 

[VandVsmama]

Hang in there, @ClaraOswald ! Everything will work out on your trip. You'll still have a nice time...just at your son's speed. And that's a-ok! Some of our family's favorite Disneyland memories are when we slow down.

 

[tinklvsu]

What order you get FP in really depends on what your family wants to do. When our family goes to DL, we don't sleep in. We are "get there for rope drop" people. Here's a typical example of a morning itinerary for us at DL on a day that we're using our Magic Morning entry:

during MM hour:

• Dumbo (if not doing Peter Pan first)
• Alice
• Mr Toad
• King Arthur carousel
• Pinocchio
• Snow White

After MM hour is done: whole family walks to Tomorrowland. We get FP for Space Mtn or Star Tours. Usually Star Tours because it's 1 of DH's favorites.

• Then get FP for Buzz (it's usually disconnected)
• go on Autopia
• go on Buzz Lightyear w/o FP
• When Star Tours FP window opens, send a FP runner to get FP for Indiana Jones. Rest of crew remains in Tomorrowland for bathroom break & shopping in Star Trader store.
• Star Tours using FP.
• Buzz using FP.
• walk to Adventureland. If IJ FP window hasn't begun yet, go to Tiki Room and/or Jungle Cruise.
• When IJ FP window opens, send runner to get FP for Splash Mtn.
• IJ using FP
• Pirates
• HM
• When FP window for Splash Mtn begins, send runner to get FP for BTMRR.
• Splash Mtn using FP
• Winnie the Pooh
• stop for lunch at Hungry Bear.

** edited to add **
Our family has followed the itinerary above a couple of times on week days in early June and we have most definitely been able to accomplish all of this before a lunch break around 12:30pm-ish. Assumes a MM starting at 7am.

If I was into TOT or GOTG ride and going to DCA, I'd probably do an itinerary something like this:

• get to gates 30-45 min before rope drop.
• walk with purpose to GOTG ride. Ride GOTG.
• get FP for GOTG to use later. Note start of return window.
• Toy Story
• Mater's
• Luigi's
• single rider on RSR...only if your kids will do single rider. Otherwise, get RSR FP when your GOTG return window begins. Note that RSR FP tend to run out by lunch time.
• Ariel's
• Animation Academy a couple of times
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• GRR
• Whenever GOTG return window opens and you have your RSR FP, go on GOTG.
• When RSR FP window starts OR it's 2 hr after you grabbed the RSR FP, get FP for Soarin.'

We tend to skip most of the rest of the rides at DCA because they don't interest us very much, but we would definitely supplement with Bugsland rides as time fillers.

WOC FP are separate from the other FP at DCA.

VandVsmama, Thank you SO much for taking the time to list the examples for me! This will really help when planning our days!!! Thank you, Thank you!! We have the 3 day park tickets, so we will only get one MM, and your Disneyland example sounds like a PERFECT way to take advantage of that hour. I will definitely try to do those with my 6 year old, to get them done early, will shorter wait times <3

 

[VandVsmama]

VandVsmama, Thank you SO much for taking the time to list the examples for me! This will really help when planning our days!!! Thank you, Thank you!! We have the 3 day park tickets, so we will only get one MM, and your Disneyland example sounds like a PERFECT way to take advantage of that hour. I will definitely try to do those with my 6 year old, to get them done early, will shorter wait times <3

You're very welcome! We've learned that if we plan on doing Peter Pan first thing, we don't get 6 rides in during MM. We might get 3-4 based on whether we have to wait 15-20 min or not to get on Peter Pan.

 

[griffin123]

We will be going with no itinerary at all since we have no clue how our son will do. I hate that we have to go in June where the park opens so early. There's no way we will be making rope drop. Ugh. I am still so bitter about not being able to go in February. This June trip is going to be a whole new world to us.

Last time we only used fast pass a couple times. I am worried we'll have to use them a lot this time. I hope they don't have that new extra cost fast pass for our trip but they probably will. Though we won't be paying for it.

How early do they open in june? i was hoping to be there for rope drop but my family arent really morning people. what's the extra cost for fast pass? I thought those were free. we might be going without an itinerary too but that's ok it's Disneyland we'll have fun no mater what!!

 

[agamble]

How early do they open in june? i was hoping to be there for rope drop but my family arent really morning people. what's the extra cost for fast pass? I thought those were free. we might be going without an itinerary too but that's ok it's Disneyland we'll have fun no mater what!!

Typically the parks open around 8AM in June, meaning MM is at 7AM. Sometimes DCA doesn't open until 9AM. Tell them to be morning people for a few days, they can always nap after lunch when it's super hot and crowded. This is what I'm telling my mom. Fast Passes are free. There is a new digital FP service coming to DL where people can pay to use FP on their phones instead of collecting paper ones. The paper ones will still be free. It's fine to not have an itinerary. Sometimes more fun. Just know what you want to do in any given hour, or after each ride. If you're waiting for Peter Pan have an idea of what's next.

 

[Disney_Alli]

So we just cleared our THIRD waitlist for this trip and snagged a One-Bedroom at GCV for June 11th. We're now trying to figure out where we're going to stay on the 10th. Hubby agreed to see if any AP rates come out to bring the Disneyland Hotel down (right now a standard view is $512 that night) If not maybe he'll agree to stay at Paradise Pier which is only $370. All this and I leave for Aulani and then Kauai in 5 days!!! It's been a pretty good day so far!!!

 

[lalasmama]

We're at 4 months from TODAY! Woo hoo!

We've got the hotel, we've got the road trip aspect planned (where we are stopping and staying), and the general things are we are hoping to do. We've even got our food planned! And, we've added a 4th day (Hubs was wavering on it).

Now to find some LuLaRoe leggings that will work for the trip!

 

[VandVsmama]

So we just cleared our THIRD waitlist for this trip and snagged a One-Bedroom at GCV for June 11th. We're now trying to figure out where we're goning to stay on the 10th. Hubby agreed to see if any AP rates come out to bring the Disneyland Hotel down (right now a standard view is $512 that night) If not maybe he'll agree to stay at Paradise Pier which is only $370. All this and I leave for Aulani and then Kauai in 5 days!!! It's been a pretty good day so far!!!

That's awesome!

 

[VandVsmama]

It looks like we just might be able to squeeze 2 nights at the GCH or DLH on our trip! If we do that, we'll be at Hojo's from 5/30-6/2 and then GCH or DLH from 6/2-6/4. Just waiting until March to book the GCH/DLH reservation. This will be a surprise for the kids. GCH is supposed to be going through renovations during that time, but the DL website says that the pool renovations are supposed to be done this spring.

However, I don't know if that means early spring or late spring! That's probably why a standard room at the DLH is currently running just ~$70 less than a standard room at the GCH.

 

[pepperandchips]

So we just cleared our THIRD waitlist for this trip and snagged a One-Bedroom at GCV for June 11th. We're now trying to figure out where we're goning to stay on the 10th. Hubby agreed to see if any AP rates come out to bring the Disneyland Hotel down (right now a standard view is $512 that night) If not maybe he'll agree to stay at Paradise Pier which is only $370. All this and I leave for Aulani and then Kauai in 5 days!!! It's been a pretty good day so far!!!

I hate you with the teeny tiny bit of my heart that is not supremely jealous. What did I say about the luck? Pleeeeeease send it my way! All that wishing in the casino must be landing on you since your waitlists are shoo-ins (or maybe this is pixie dust for your Canadian loonies?) I am so excited for you guys!!! And I can't wait for Hawaii so I am not sure how you're not absolutely exploding. So much wonderful!!!

 

[Disney_Alli]

I hate you with the teeny tiny bit of my heart that is not supremely jealous. What did I say about the luck? Pleeeeeease send it my way! All that wishing in the casino must be landing on you since your waitlists are shoo-ins (or maybe this is pixie dust for your Canadian loonies?) I am so excited for you guys!!! And I can't wait for Hawaii so I am not sure how you're not absolutely exploding. So much wonderful!!!

I don't know how I'm getting such good luck! I'm 3.5 hours from the end of my last shift at work and then the rest of the week is laundry and packing and trip prep stuff - and the ever important switching away from my usual vampire life to be awake during the day! I swear I'm trying to send the good vibes out too! Hopefully I'll get some more stuff into my pre-trip report on my days off and then throw in some Aulani and Kauai info and photos. My mom told me today they're going to pay for us to go to a Luau on Kauai as a birthday present for my husband since he has never been to Hawaii before - so that's going to be so fun!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Change of plans for us. We were originally going 6/27-6/29, but scheduling didn't work out with work. We moved our trip up to 6/11-6/13 and will be staying at the Courtyard Theme Park Entrance. I'm excited about the move to the Courtyard as it's my favorite hotel in the area, but I'm kind of bummed since the last time we went earlier in the month, there were still a bunch of grad nite issues to deal with.

 

[Khokhonutt]

We have been planning to book our flights this week. But now I am just wondering about taking our trip at all. Our son is 3.5 years old, has autism, and is pretty much non-verbal at this point. Lately, his behavior has been so bad. I am so stressed about flying with him. So I just don't know what to do.

I can appreciate your position. One of our nephews is autistic and his parents have been through the ringer with his behavior. I understand your need to keep him on his schedule, I know routines are key for kids with autism. I'm not sure what you've tried in regards to medication. I understand folks have different opinions on that matter, but I know they had some luck going that route. That said, I'm going to throw a suggestion out there that we used with our kids. Again, not pressing if this is not your thing, I'm just one who likes to know my options so I thought I'd share.

Anyway, when our kids were young (heck, we do it on long flights) and couldn't understand popping their ears and such, we would give them Dramamine before flights. If you've not heard of it before, Dramamine (and Bonine) are over the counter medications that help with motion sickness. Folks mostly use it on boats, but I know some folks who use it for flights because they are hyper sensitive to motion. The difference between Dramamine and Bonine is Dramamine is known to cause drowsiness where Bonine does not. So basically I take Bonine if I want to stay awake and I take Dramamine if I want to sleep. To me it doesn't have a knock out effect, but it does relax me to the point where it's easy to doze off. If it was me and you were open to trying it, obviously I'd consult the doc first, but then maybe consider taking your boy out for a day of driving and try it out then (just so you're not trying it for the first time on your trip). Your mileage may vary, but we always found it to work well and head off any issues with air sickness as well as relaxing both us and the kids.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Wow! We have quite a group going to Disneyland in June. I think I have everyone caught up on the first post (either added, dates changes, or hotels updated). I'm so sorry it took me awhile. Work was crazy the last couple of weeks and while I had a chance to read the Disboards (it's my sanity break), it's hard to edit a post on my phone. I always worry I'll end up deleting the entire thing!!!

Anyway, this is everyone I added:
@DisBud,
@8lovesmickey
@griffin123
@jkluttrell
@rootbeer
@Drcbelle
@EsmeCullen
@disneymouse16
@Canadian Harmony

I hope everyone who had to move to a different month enjoys there future trips!