My brother is visiting from Texas with his 7-year-old
and wanted me to take them to Disneyland on July 3 or 4.
Since I don't like going on the most crowded days,
and since I don't want to begin using our AP's for at least for a month,
I talked him out it and have other plans for them.
But (I like big buts) I got thinking, what if you were going to go on July 3 or 4 while this Carsland-mania is at its apex?
If you "had to," how would you spend a day at Disneyland when it's at its absolute most crowded?
We're winding up a two-year Disneyland hiatus so below I have a couple of questions about the resort as it is in July of 2012. Your answers will be appreciated!
I consider myself a summa *** laude [Thanks auto-censor!], blackbelt, Jungle Cruise Guide-caliber Disneyland expert (former attractions host, AP's from 2006 through 2010),
but I'd like to hear your ideas on this because I will be playing Disneyland tour guide for friends and relatives a few times this coming year.
My plan A:
Get to Disneyland when it opens and hit favorite rides for the first 90 minutes, using Fastpasses like a pro, if there were professional Fastpass users.
Have lunch with a reservation (Blue Bayou, Main St., or rarely-too-packed Big Thunder BBQ),
or hit the (Soon to open? When?) Earl of Sandwich,
or get to Pizza Port right when it opens (at 11?) for great views of Tomorrowland.
The rest of the day is about crowd avoidance, less popular attractions (in the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room :whistling) and attractions via Fastpasses and--above all--live entertainment. Many entertainers are most enthusiastic in front of bigger crowds. I remember some characters in parades acting like they were rock stars in front of large, roaring fans.
Then get away from those crowds again in more remote areas like the one under the Hungry Bear. (That's still open, right?)
I'd like to hit Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel for a drink (Can kids stay there to eat and have a soda or juice? My daughter and I have looked around inside a couple of times and the bartenders were very nice, but we didn't see any other kids inside.)
And I'd like to hang out somewhere in the Grand Californian--maybe so the kids could hear a storyteller by the fire.
Plan B: DCA
Probably just hang out in Carsland at the start of the day and before we left at night. I've read that that part of the park has been a bit popular since mid-June.
Follow the Disneyland plan above with a drink in the Cove bar, or a chicken salad in a bread bowl with an overpriced beer on the wharf. Avoid the crowds in one of my favorite uncrowded Disney places, the Animation lobby.
So, fellow, self-proclaimed experts: what's wrong with my plans? What specifics can you add so I can improve as a crowded-day tour guide? Someone going to Disneyland tomorrow might actually be helped by this!
and wanted me to take them to Disneyland on July 3 or 4.
Since I don't like going on the most crowded days,
and since I don't want to begin using our AP's for at least for a month,
I talked him out it and have other plans for them.
But (I like big buts) I got thinking, what if you were going to go on July 3 or 4 while this Carsland-mania is at its apex?
If you "had to," how would you spend a day at Disneyland when it's at its absolute most crowded?
We're winding up a two-year Disneyland hiatus so below I have a couple of questions about the resort as it is in July of 2012. Your answers will be appreciated!
I consider myself a summa *** laude [Thanks auto-censor!], blackbelt, Jungle Cruise Guide-caliber Disneyland expert (former attractions host, AP's from 2006 through 2010),
but I'd like to hear your ideas on this because I will be playing Disneyland tour guide for friends and relatives a few times this coming year.
My plan A:
Get to Disneyland when it opens and hit favorite rides for the first 90 minutes, using Fastpasses like a pro, if there were professional Fastpass users.
Have lunch with a reservation (Blue Bayou, Main St., or rarely-too-packed Big Thunder BBQ),
or hit the (Soon to open? When?) Earl of Sandwich,
or get to Pizza Port right when it opens (at 11?) for great views of Tomorrowland.
The rest of the day is about crowd avoidance, less popular attractions (in the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room :whistling) and attractions via Fastpasses and--above all--live entertainment. Many entertainers are most enthusiastic in front of bigger crowds. I remember some characters in parades acting like they were rock stars in front of large, roaring fans.
Then get away from those crowds again in more remote areas like the one under the Hungry Bear. (That's still open, right?)
I'd like to hit Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel for a drink (Can kids stay there to eat and have a soda or juice? My daughter and I have looked around inside a couple of times and the bartenders were very nice, but we didn't see any other kids inside.)
And I'd like to hang out somewhere in the Grand Californian--maybe so the kids could hear a storyteller by the fire.
Plan B: DCA
Probably just hang out in Carsland at the start of the day and before we left at night. I've read that that part of the park has been a bit popular since mid-June.
Follow the Disneyland plan above with a drink in the Cove bar, or a chicken salad in a bread bowl with an overpriced beer on the wharf. Avoid the crowds in one of my favorite uncrowded Disney places, the Animation lobby.
So, fellow, self-proclaimed experts: what's wrong with my plans? What specifics can you add so I can improve as a crowded-day tour guide? Someone going to Disneyland tomorrow might actually be helped by this!
:meet: :meet::meet: :meet::meet::meet::meet::meet::meet:
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