Questions about the Southern California ABD

[sayhello]

So... I and @Grifdog22 and Mrs. Grofdog are doing the Southern California ABD in a couple of months. I have some questions! Since it's not just a regular trip to Disneyland, I'm just not sure that my normal means of research would be valid, since a lot of what goes on is specific to the ABD.

First, for anyone who has done this ABD relatively recently, how does the Disneyland portion of the trip work? I was told we get a 4-day park hopper pass to cover days 3 - 6 of the trip, and 10 Lightning Lanes for days 4 & 5 of the trip.

I personally haven't been to Disneyland since before Covid, so I really have no idea what the current setup is there in regards to Lightning Lane. It was still Fastpasses last time I was there. My understanding is that they've already changed how Lightning Lanes work, but since I never used the original setup, I'm pretty much at a loss for what the current iteration is. Are the passes we get good for any ride, or specific rides? Can you use them at any time or are there restrictions as to how/when you can use them? Do we need to use the app to utilize the Lightning Lanes? Sorry for being so clueless!

Also, since day 6 doesn't have any Lightning Lanes, what's the best way to handle that day? I believe all 3 of us have booked an extra night at the Grand Californian, so we can have a full day on Day 6. Do we need any sort of park reservation for Day 6? What happens on Day 3? I'm assuming it's a partial day because of travel from Hollywood? What are the rules around park hopping these days?

Will we need any restaurant reservations for during the ABD? Suggestions? Have we already missed the window for this since it's 2 months out?

Does anyone know what time the welcome dinner is on Day 1? We arrive pretty early that morning (by train!) and were trying to think of things to do in the area around the Hotel while we wait to check in to the hotel. Have people managed to get early checkin at the Loews?

Thanks for any and all help and information you may have!

Thanks!
Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

I did this trip in 2022 and 2023, so some things may have changed, but the online itinerary is the same as it was in 2023.

On the bus from Imagineering to Disneyland, the guides will hand out everyone's park tickets. They'll be pre-loaded with your lightning lanes for the day. I suggest adding it to the DL app so you can see everything you have and plan your day, but you technically don't have to. They will already have park reservations for each day, but the guides can change those if you want to start in a different place on days 3 and 6.

On day 3, we arrived at the Grand Cal around 5 or 5:30. Once we got our keys, they had seats waiting at Storytellers Cafe. You could eat as quickly or slowly as you wanted and head to the park. They also gave us specific times to meet at the Firehouse for Walt's apartment.

The Lightning Lane passes are added day by day. You'll get a few ride-specific ones for the attractions you'll be doing together as a group, and a few multiple-experience passes that can be used anywhere except Rise of the Resistance. All of the passes are untimed and can be used whenever you want. I'll put the exact passes in spoiler text:

Spoiler

Day 3: Haunted Mansion and 1 multi-experience
Day 4: Spiderman Webslingers, Radiator Springs Racers, and 5 multi-experience
Day 5: Indiana Jones and 5 multi-experience
Day 6: 1 multi-experience

You can still buy any lightning lane access you want through the app, but you would only need it for Rise of the Resistance or day 6. The passes you get on days 4 and 5 are more than enough.

The only dining reservations you may want to make are dinner on day 4 and lunch or dinner on day 6. The included meals on the Disneyland portion are all buffets or "order whatever you want", so you won't be hungry for a while after. Day 4's lunch is a dining gift card.

For the welcome dinner, we met at 5:30 and ate around 6 in the hotel. When I checked in on my own for the pre-night, the front desk said early check in was included with the ABD, so you should be able to access your room as soon as it's ready.

 

[sayhello]

I did this trip in 2022 and 2023, so some things may have changed, but the online itinerary is the same as it was in 2023.

On the bus from Imagineering to Disneyland, the guides will hand out everyone's park tickets. They'll be pre-loaded with your lightning lanes for the day. I suggest adding it to the DL app so you can see everything you have and plan your day, but you technically don't have to. They will already have park reservations for each day, but the guides can change those if you want to start in a different place on days 3 and 6.

On day 3, we arrived at the Grand Cal around 5 or 5:30. Once we got our keys, they had seats waiting at Storytellers Cafe. You could eat as quickly or slowly as you wanted and head to the park. They also gave us specific times to meet at the Firehouse for Walt's apartment.

The Lightning Lane passes are added day by day. You'll get a few ride-specific ones for the attractions you'll be doing together as a group, and a few multiple-experience passes that can be used anywhere except Rise of the Resistance. All of the passes are untimed and can be used whenever you want. I'll put the exact passes in spoiler text:

Spoiler

Day 3: Haunted Mansion and 1 multi-experience
Day 4: Spiderman Webslingers, Radiator Springs Racers, and 5 multi-experience
Day 5: Indiana Jones and 5 multi-experience
Day 6: 1 multi-experience

You can still buy any lightning lane access you want through the app, but you would only need it for Rise of the Resistance or day 6. The passes you get on days 4 and 5 are more than enough.

The only dining reservations you may want to make are dinner on day 4 and lunch or dinner on day 6. The included meals on the Disneyland portion are all buffets or "order whatever you want", so you won't be hungry for a while after. Day 4's lunch is a dining gift card.

For the welcome dinner, we met at 5:30 and ate around 6 in the hotel. When I checked in on my own for the pre-night, the front desk said early check in was included with the ABD, so you should be able to access your room as soon as it's ready.

Thank you so much! This is great!

Do you do Rise of the Resistance? (Assuming no, since no LL?) What's the best way to ride that these days? I *DEFINITELY* want to ride it!!

Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

Thank you so much! This is great!

Do you do Rise of the Resistance? (Assuming no, since no LL?) What's the best way to ride that these days? I *DEFINITELY* want to ride it!!

Sayhello

Not as part of the group. There's no virtual queue, so you can always just wait in the standby line, or you can buy an individual lightning lane.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Will we need any restaurant reservations for during the ABD? Suggestions? Have we already missed the window for this since it's 2 months out?

No - the dining window is currently open through April 19. So you are still good over the next few days to try for any dining bookings you might want.

 

[sayhello]

Not as part of the group. There's no virtual queue, so you can always just wait in the standby line, or you can buy an individual lightning lane.

Thanks! Guess I need to educate myself how to buy an individual lightning lane!

No - the dining window is currently open through April 19. So you are still good over the next few days to try for any dining bookings you might want.

OK, cool. I need to look into this, too. Any suggestions for lunch in California Adventure for Day 4? I don't particularly need sit-down, but I don't know about the Grifdogs' preferences!

Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

Thanks! Guess I need to educate myself how to buy an individual lightning lane!

It's pretty simple once you link your ticket to the Disneyland app.

OK, cool. I need to look into this, too. Any suggestions for lunch in California Adventure for Day 4? I don't particularly need sit-down, but I don't know about the Grifdogs' preferences!

Since you'll already be in DCA, I suggest the San Fransokyo quick service restaurants. It's like an outdoor food court, but all the restaurants are good in my experience.

 

[sayhello]

It's pretty simple once you link your ticket to the Disneyland app.

How far in advance can you purchase an individual Lightning Lane? Do you purchase it for a specific time? Are they hard to get like fastpasses were at WDW?

Sayhello

 

[Mathmagicland]

How far in advance can you purchase an individual Lightning Lane? Do you purchase it for a specific time? Are they hard to get like fastpasses were at WDW?

Sayhello

Unlike Florida, in CA it can only be purchased day of visit. And tonight, right now at 0823pm, you could purchase it for just two minutes later at 0825pm. This is a slow day, weekday in February, but aside from maybe Christmas week those don’t usually sell out early. The week of your trip is spring break week out here, so it will likely be selling for a bit later ahead than “at the moment”. You’d want to watch the app to try to time the available window for when you’d like to go.

When you get it, it is for a specific hour timeslot, I haven’t gotten that one in a while so don’t recall if you can pick any later timeslot or if your only option is what next available.

 

[Mathmagicland]

OK, cool. I need to look into this, too. Any suggestions for lunch in California Adventure for Day 4? I don't particularly need sit-down, but I don't know about the Grifdogs' preferences!

Corn Dog Castle! Unless you get a corn dog at the Little Red Wagon or Stage Door Cafe in DL. The DL corn dogs are iconic and you must get one at some point during your visit, hand made and better than in any other Disney park.

 

[AquaDame]

Corn Dog Castle! Unless you get a corn dog at the Little Red Wagon or Stage Door Cafe in DL. The DL corn dogs are iconic and you must get one at some point during your visit, hand made and better than in any other Disney park.

So are the churros... I love them at Disneyland - they just don't taste the same in Florida.

 

[jimmymc]

How far in advance can you purchase an individual Lightning Lane? Do you purchase it for a specific time? Are they hard to get like fastpasses were at WDW?

Sayhello

You can buy it after entering the park, you buy it for a specific time, and they are generally easy to get at Disneyland. Even on weekends in the summer, you can get a return time within a few hours.

 

[sayhello]

Unlike Florida, in CA it can only be purchased day of visit. And tonight, right now at 0823pm, you could purchase it for just two minutes later at 0825pm. This is a slow day, weekday in February, but aside from maybe Christmas week those don’t usually sell out early. The week of your trip is spring break week out here, so it will likely be selling for a bit later ahead than “at the moment”. You’d want to watch the app to try to time the available window for when you’d like to go.

When you get it, it is for a specific hour timeslot, I haven’t gotten that one in a while so don’t recall if you can pick any later timeslot or if your only option is what next available.

Actually, as best I can tell, we are going the week after Spring Break. You had me scared for a minute until I double-checked! I would NOT have signed up for that on purpose! Thanks, I'll keep an eye on the timing in the app. (Assuming I can look at that in the app without a ticket?)

Corn Dog Castle! Unless you get a corn dog at the Little Red Wagon or Stage Door Cafe in DL. The DL corn dogs are iconic and you must get one at some point during your visit, hand made and better than in any other Disney park.

Noted!

So are the churros... I love them at Disneyland - they just don't taste the same in Florida.

I've had Disneyland churros at Downtown Disney in Anaheim. Are they the same? I *love* them!

You can buy it after entering the park, you buy it for a specific time, and they are generally easy to get at Disneyland. Even on weekends in the summer, you can get a return time within a few hours.

Cool!! I've only ridden ROTR once, in February of 2020. I *LOVED* it, but could not get a re-ride back then, and I've been longing to re-ride it since then!!

Do I need a MagicBand+? My understanding is the usefulness at Disneyland is less than at WDW, but I haven't checked that lately. I'm assuming my WDW MagicBand from 2020 is probably no good anymore.

Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

Do I need a MagicBand+? My understanding is the usefulness at Disneyland is less than at WDW, but I haven't checked that lately. I'm assuming my WDW MagicBand from 2020 is probably no good anymore.

Sayhello

You can either use MagicBand+, your paper ticket, or the DL app to scan in at rides. I don't think the older MagicBands work.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Actually, as best I can tell, we are going the week after Spring Break.

Some CA school districts have spring break the week before Easter and some have it the week after. Hotel pricing and D-VC points are at same higher levels both weeks.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on the timing in the app. (Assuming I can look at that in the app without a ticket?)

Yes you can check ride wait times & show schedules & etc in the app without an active ticket.

 

[sayhello]

Some CA school districts have spring break the week before Easter and some have it the week after. Hotel pricing and D-VC points are at same higher levels both weeks.

That's interesting. I mean, obviously Spring Break doesn't just have people at Disneyland from Southern California, but my understanding is that the majority are "local". And I can only find 3 or 4 out of over 100 school systems in SoCal that have their Spring Break after Easter. But I really appreciate the heads' up!

Sayhello

 

[jillinastoria]

I’m also doing this AbD in a few weeks (the week before Easter, but we’re used to WDW that week and feel semi-prepared).

I have a separate question about how early the group meets up most days, and which days are the earliest. I’m a runner and would like to be able to run on some of the slightly later days, at least.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jimmymc]

I’m also doing this AbD in a few weeks (the week before Easter, but we’re used to WDW that week and feel semi-prepared).

I have a separate question about how early the group meets up most days, and which days are the earliest. I’m a runner and would like to be able to run on some of the slightly later days, at least.

Thanks in advance!

Days 2 and 3, breakfast was available at the hotel buffet from 7 to 8 and we left soon after that.

Days 4 and 6 we met around 8 am to head to breakfast.

Day 5 is the earliest, we met at 6:15 or 6:30 (blanking on which one) and had an activity before breakfast.

 

[jillinastoria]

Thank you! Looks like I should be good every day but day 5.