Last-Minute Planning Help

[NemoRocks78]

Hey everyone, I am less than 4 days away from heading to Disneyland! But have ran into a problem--Crowds. I've been reading on many sites that spring break crowds have started to pour in from the western states, which is causing a delay into my day planning, as in which park to visit on which day. We've decided that in the 4 days we have, we'll visit DCA, DL, and Knott's. I have been reading of crowds and of hour wait times for Thunder Mt. and more. How have crowds actually been, and will these crowds progress into the next week? If so, will it be necessary for two days at Disneyland and one at DCA? We will be there from the 21st-25th. We get into John Wayne Airport at around two in the afternoon on the 21st, and we planned on heading to DCA for the Electrical Parade at 8:45, and then running over to DL to catch the 10:30 Fantasmic!. This way, we could do some attractions at DCA. The next day was to be for Knott's Berry Farms, Tuesday for DCA and DL, and Wednesday at DL. Since DCA usually doesn't take long to do, we were going to head to DL after we finished up at DCA on Tuesday. But will it be necessary to forget a park on Sunday, and then do DCA and DL over the course of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday because of crowds? We have a three-day park hopper as well.

Your information will be appreciated!

 

[RU42]

From what I am hearing, the crowds are picking up and quite thick. And these are mid week reports. There is no reason to believe the crowds will lessen until 4/19 (the week of the 12th will be absolutely hammered).

If I look at this correctly, you have an evening, a 1/2 'n' 1/2 day, and a full day at DL. It all depends on how the first evening goes and if you can get on any rides. If you do, it wont be many.

I would suggest alter your strategy a little. Use Sunday night as planned and then Monday as 1/2 and 1/2. Then judge the crowds and what you have been able to accomplish. If you didn't get to do as much as you wanted then you will have to decide to sacrifice a little at DL to go to Knotts or sacrifice Knotts.

I hope that helps.

RU

 

[NemoRocks78]

Thanks RU42. I like the way you put it. Sunday night same, then the DCA-DL day Monday, Knotts on Tuesday and DL full day on Wednesday is what i'm thinking, because i'll be able to get in at least a couple rides at DL and DCA on Sunday, and then DCA again on Monday as well as DL, and then full day DL on Wednesday. I think that should be enough to get everything done and visit Knotts, because it's actually a favorite park of mine and I wouldn't want to miss out on it until next year.

Thanks for your help once again!

 

[JackSkellington]

Hold on now. The John Wayne Airport is at least a hour away from DL without traffic. And you will hit traffic I almost guarantee. So your arrival time at the hotel is probably 3:30-4:00. Now you have to get the room and settle the arangements, and park. Now it is 4:15-4:30. If you have kids this time will be lengthened with potty stops and other things. You will want to eat before going into the park, and in that area, unless you are eating at like McDonalds. It will take about a hour to and hour and a half to eat. I would forget going that night and get some sleep and go to the park super early. That way you can ride a lot of rides early in the morning. If you want to go this is my suggestion. Chose one or the other. People line up to see Fantasmic! at 8:45 when the Electrical Parade starts. By the time the parade ends and the crowd allows you to get to Critter Country, there will not be anywhere to see. I suggest seeing the ELC Parade. Then go to Critter Country and hit some rides in that area. Fantasmic funnels a lot of people outof that area. As for the other days I dont know. If I find anything I will post it tomorrow. (Get lots of rest!!!!)

 

[NemoRocks78]

Thanks for your info JackSkellington. Actually, i'm not the one with kids, my parents are! :lol:

As for travel from John Wayne, my Birnbaum's Disneyland 2004 book says DL is about a half-hour drive from the airport. I've never flown into John Wayne (we usually fly into LAX), so I actually don't know what to expect. We also aren't renting a car and will use one of those airport buses to our hotel (we're actually staying off-site at the Radisson). The parks are just a block away from the hotel, and unless they've got a shuttle to the park when we want to go, we planned on walking over and using the hotel shuttle in the next days. We'd do a few rides at DCA, maybe a quick dinner at Taste Pilots or something. The Electrical Parade is at 8:45, and Fantasmic! is run at 9 and 10:30. Right after we saw the Electrical Parade we would go over to DL and, depending on time, ride a ride or two and then get a spot for Fantasmic!. That was my plan, as this way we would also be able to visit Knott's Berry Farms, which is a favorite park of mine and we haven't been since October 2002.

Monday has been planned for DCA and DL, Tuesday at Knotts and DL (Knotts closes at 6...DL at 8, we can make it to DL for an hour or two and dinner over at ESPN Zone or something), and Wednesday a full day at DL.

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[RU42]

HOLD ON. John Wayne to DL is no where near 1 hour. It is 15 miles. If you hit a little traffic you might take 30 minutes - extreme traffic is 45 minute. I drove that route every day for 5 years (until 1 year ago.) Landing at 2:00, baggage at 2:15, shuttle around 2:30. You might have thick traffic but it will not be impossible. (Sunday's can be real iffy on the 5.) You should be there around 3:30. Since you are not driving this will give you a little time to relax.

You also should be fine for the parade and Fantasmic. When you view the parade place yourself in the exit area instead of by the paradise pier area. Getting to the Fantasmic area should be your priority. If you have time for rides - great - but if not you should still be able to get a good spot for the show.

RU

 

[JackSkellington]

I am wrong. I was thinking of the Bob Hope. You are right you should be able to go to the park with no problem. Again I am sorry. For Knotts, I would hit Surpreme Scream and Xcelleratror first. These have some of the slowest loading speeds, so ride 'em first. Then hit Ghostrider, and sit in the middle if you don't want to rattle your teeth out. The rest of the plan is up to you. It all depends on what the day is like, and what you plan to do. I would use the half and half day plan. Hit california Screamin, and California Soarin, these are the best DCA rides. At DL on the half day, if it is the later part of the day, all or most of the FP, will be gone. So prepare to wait in some lines. IJA is down if you didn't know. But when you see Fantasmic! try to hit Haunted Mansion after, it really increases the fun and "scare fare" for the ride. And if you want to Splash Mtn is usually open, so ride it. Sometimes the CM will let you ride a few more times after, just be really nice to the CM. (That worked for me, the CM let me and my Dad ride 3 times over when the IJA was working after we asked him nicely)