WDW Vet going to Disneyland - Help Please!

[BigRed98]

BTMRR will be refurbished between 7/16/18 - 07/26/18

Now what's on the refurbishment list at DL with no end date include:
Matterhorn Bobsleds 7/30/18 - Unknown
Pinocchio's Daring Journey 7/30/18 - Unknown

Thanks for posting this, Luckily Big Thunder is open for one of my days that I’m going to DL and I will also be able to ride Matterhorn and Pinocchio before it goes down for refurb.

 

[FoxC63]

For the OP: add Boo's Door to your wall photo ops! You'll find it outside the Monsters, Inc. ride in DCA.

I'm seeing two of them, which one is it? Top or bottom? Thank you!

 

[FoxC63]

Thanks for posting this, Luckily Big Thunder is open for one of my days that I’m going to DL and I will also be able to ride Matterhorn and Pinocchio before it goes down for refurb.

Could you rub it in any harder! Glad BTMRR will be available but I'll be missing the other two. Ugh!

 

[BigRed98]

Could you rub it in any harder! Glad BTMRR will be available but I'll be missing the other two. Ugh!

These closures just mean that you have to book another DL trip

 

[FoxC63]

These closures just mean that you have to book another DL trip

I told DS if he graduates from high school with honors we'd take him where ever he wants to go, he's picked Japan I'll be saving up for a looooong time to fulfill that obligation!

 

[tzeitel]

Wow, you are allowed to ride in the front with the monorail driver? This article was updated 01/10/18, I'm surprised considering what happened at WDW.

Monorail Link: https://www.tripsavvy.com/riding-the-disneyland-monorail-4092439

You can ride in the front and also in the back

 

[3DisneyFanz]

We missed Pirates due to refurb on our first DL trip so it could be worse.

We just made our first DL trip after countless WDW trips and with 4 days and MP you are good.

I hope no one takes this wrong but when we were there people were constantly complaining about the crowds and lines but compared to WDW we were ecstatic. The absence of FP+ means lines actually move and using the MP we were typically able to avoid any real waits. It’s kind of all a matter of perspective but the longest wait we had was for PP and that was 35 min at 3:00 and we just kept moving the whole time which beats the 3 steps every 20 min you get in stand by at WDW.

The 2 things I would throw out there concerning your plan is to be ready for things to go down. Maybe it was just our luck but over the course of our days our flow was thrown off multiple times due to closures. We had to take 3 shots at Casey Jr and we never got on Pooh as it went down both times we were in line for it and we just decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. Also get the hoppers. With the parks being so close together you may find you just want to shift plans based on how things are going. We ended up jumping a lot when we realized we were cruising through parts of DL and there were available times for Mission Breakout and Radiator Springs.

With 4 days we were able to do everything we wanted along with taking breaks back to the hotel and dedicating half a day just to photopass opportunities which was well worth it.

 

[tzeitel]

I'm seeing two of them, which one is it? Top or bottom? Thank you!

View attachment 331180

View attachment 331181

The second one is the entrance to the Monster's Inc ride at DCA.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... The 2 things I would throw out there concerning your plan is to be ready for things to go down. Maybe it was just our luck but over the course of our days our flow was thrown off multiple times due to closures. We had to take 3 shots at Casey Jr and we never got on Pooh as it went down both times we were in line for it and we just decided it wasn’t worth the trouble...

One of the main reasons rides go down so often at DLR is because of guest behavior/misbehavior. It isn't often because the rides are breaking. When guests can't/refuse to/think it's funny not to keep their hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the ride vehicle at ALL times, the sensors can go off and the ride can go down. When guests throw trash or other items from the vehicles, the ride can go down. Remember when someone didn't secure his backpack on CS and it fell from the vehicle during the loop? Shut down the entire ride and everyone had to be evacuated. All because of one guy's backpack. (What did he think was going to happen when the car went upside down?) When guests on BTMRR try to stand up and touch the walls or things on the walls, it sets off sensors and the ride goes down. When guests don't/can't load or unload the vehicles within the relatively short timing cycle allowed, the ride will go down and the whole system will have to be rebooted, e.g. Space Mountain. So the loading area is really NOT the place to start an argument about where to sit, who to sit with, which row you want/don't want, pull a "joke" about climbing over rows, etc. It will shut down the whole ride for everyone. Sometimes, the rides really do break down. But more often than you would think, the down time is due to your fellow guests. Oh, the CMs have stories to tell!

 

[3DisneyFanz]

One of the main reasons rides go down so often at DLR is because of guest behavior/misbehavior. It isn't often because the rides are breaking. When guests can't/refuse to/think it's funny not to keep their hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the ride vehicle at ALL times, the sensors can go off and the ride can go down. When guests throw trash or other items from the vehicles, the ride can go down. Remember when someone didn't secure his backpack on CS and it fell from the vehicle during the loop? Shut down the entire ride and everyone had to be evacuated. All because of one guy's backpack. (What did he think was going to happen when the car went upside down?) When guests on BTMRR try to stand up and touch the walls or things on the walls, it sets off sensors and the ride goes down. When guests don't/can't load or unload the vehicles within the relatively short timing cycle allowed, the ride will go down and the whole system will have to be rebooted, e.g. Space Mountain. So the loading area is really NOT the place to start an argument about where to sit, who to sit with, which row you want/don't want, pull a "joke" about climbing over rows, etc. It will shut down the whole ride for everyone. Sometimes, the rides really do break down. But more often than you would think, the down time is due to your fellow guests. Oh, the CMs have stories to tell!

Funny you should say that because one of the times Pooh was down Splash went down as well because someone decided to get out of the log and walk around. We saw them being escorted out and it was almost 45 min before they got Splash back up and running.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Funny you should say that because on the times Pooh was down Splash went down as well because someone decided to get out of the log and walk around. We saw them being escorted out and it was almost 45 min before they got Splash back up and running.

Someone else recently posted about seeing someone on POTC get out of the boat to walk around and take photos with/of the pirates. (What are these people thinking?!) His boat left without him and he climbed into a different boat with other people. (I think that would freak me out a bit to have a crazy guy climb in next to me out of nowhere.) Yes, security was waiting for him at the dock.

 

[smartlabelprint]

That really blows about the cancer. I’m sorry to hear that. You have an awesome trip planned though! Dining at DLR tends to have some better healthier options than WDW, so hopefully you have a wonderful dining experience on your trip too.

In general, the park smells themselves don’t bother me. Scent can contribute to sensory overload for me when they’re unfamiliar, but I love the churro smells, water smells, Main Street smells, etc at DL. I go often enough that they’re strongly associated with some amazing memories, so I think that helps me a lot. However, I must say, the other guest smells can get to me LOL. If I’m stuck in a crowded area with a lot of visual chaos, no where to move, loud sounds, and someone smells bad, it’s basically time to go home for me because I’ll be done and melting down at that point. Strange people touching me is what I am most sensitive too. I cannot tolerate it and a stranger bumping into my skin can cause me to instantly hit my sensory max. That is the greatest challenge in the parks for me, so most of the strategies I’ve developed are to avoid that.

At DL, the most prominent park smells tend to be the water smells (they’re more intense to me than WDW), food carts if you get near them (they don’t really carry too bad and are fairly easy to avoid if they’re a problem for your son), and Bengal BBQ in Adventureland (that one is hard to avoid in that area).

Edit: I should clarify for me a bad smell is anything that is too potent from body odor, to hair product, to perfume, or cologne.

LadyD will you please expound on your strategies to avoid visual chaos? That seems to be my 4 yo sons biggest trigger. I'm sure the compounding of sensory stuff too many smells, heat, rides adds up as well. But primarily visual stuff is our nemesis. And this kiddo will sit in the stroller but won't put the hood up. Also, won't wear sunglasses with headphones on. So, maybe I should switch out the headphones for sunglasses? Our last trip by day 5 he was done and we were done and spent an hour in the park. One ride and one quick meal. The previous 4 days we had spent max 5 hours in the park each day. Maybe I just need to bring someone along that will stay at the hotel all day with him. I don't know! We've given up for now. I'm going alone in December. LOL

 

[LadyD]

LadyD will you please expound on your strategies to avoid visual chaos? That seems to be my 4 yo sons biggest trigger. I'm sure the compounding of sensory stuff too many smells, heat, rides adds up as well. But primarily visual stuff is our nemesis. And this kiddo will sit in the stroller but won't put the hood up. Also, won't wear sunglasses with headphones on. So, maybe I should switch out the headphones for sunglasses? Our last trip by day 5 he was done and we were done and spent an hour in the park. One ride and one quick meal. The previous 4 days we had spent max 5 hours in the park each day. Maybe I just need to bring someone along that will stay at the hotel all day with him. I don't know! We've given up for now. I'm going alone in December. LOL

For managing visual chaos, I think for me my biggest strategy for that has just been to learn to self-monitor. If it is becoming too much for me, I go somewhere less chaotic and small to calm down. Usually for me that means a corner in a gift shop or a more isolated bench (like in critter country or the path from fantasyland to frontier land or the covered bridge area near small world and Matterhorn). If it gets bad enough and I can’t get somewhere relatively quickly, I’ll close my eyes and have my wife lead me somewhere better. Sunglasses are a must on most days, but only my prescription polarized ones. I also have a tendency to be glued to my phone and not look up, but rather hold onto my wife and let her lead me around. I avoid the Astro orbiter area of Tomorrowland as much as I can and the entrance to Adventureland since those are some of the worst spots for me with all the movement and people going every which way. I also avoid fantasyland in the afternoon since I have a hard time with it at that time of day. Main Street can be a problem, so I either take a ride vehicle in the morning if there are a lot of people or I cut through the shops.

At 4, that is going to be a lot more challenging. Does he let you know in some capacity that the visual stimulation is getting to be too much for him that you’d be able to go somewhere else to take a breather? Sunglasses may or may not make the situation worse in some instances. I know with my really dark sunglasses that they can actually make things worse for me when they obstruct my ability to clearly make out what is in front of me. It screws with my ability to process more. I’m with your son on no headphones with sunglasses though lol. It’s really uncomfortable have the sunglasses pinch behind your ears from the headphones. If you give him the option of headphones or sunglasses, will he pick one?

I would definitely say knowing what happened your last visit, build your itinerary with LOTS of breaks. Do a few things, and then go find a corner of the park for him to just chill and watch ducks or engage in an activity he finds fun. Spend the afternoon back at the hotel if you can. Use maxpass so you’re not having to walk all over the park back and forth to retrieve FP. If lines are challenging for him with all kinds of people packed around him and he does better waiting elsewhere, try a DAS pass or getting a tag to use your stroller as a wheelchair so he can stay in it in lines.

 

[smartlabelprint]

For managing visual chaos, I think for me my biggest strategy for that has just been to learn to self-monitor. If it is becoming too much for me, I go somewhere less chaotic and small to calm down. Usually for me that means a corner in a gift shop or a more isolated bench (like in critter country or the path from fantasyland to frontier land or the covered bridge area near small world and Matterhorn). If it gets bad enough and I can’t get somewhere relatively quickly, I’ll close my eyes and have my wife lead me somewhere better. Sunglasses are a must on most days, but only my prescription polarized ones. I also have a tendency to be glued to my phone and not look up, but rather hold onto my wife and let her lead me around. I avoid the Astro orbiter area of Tomorrowland as much as I can and the entrance to Adventureland since those are some of the worst spots for me with all the movement and people going every which way. I also avoid fantasyland in the afternoon since I have a hard time with it at that time of day. Main Street can be a problem, so I either take a ride vehicle in the morning if there are a lot of people or I cut through the shops.

At 4, that is going to be a lot more challenging. Does he let you know in some capacity that the visual stimulation is getting to be too much for him that you’d be able to go somewhere else to take a breather? Sunglasses may or may not make the situation worse in some instances. I know with my really dark sunglasses that they can actually make things worse for me when they obstruct my ability to clearly make out what is in front of me. It screws with my ability to process more. I’m with your son on no headphones with sunglasses though lol. It’s really uncomfortable have the sunglasses pinch behind your ears from the headphones. If you give him the option of headphones or sunglasses, will he pick one?

I would definitely say knowing what happened your last visit, build your itinerary with LOTS of breaks. Do a few things, and then go find a corner of the park for him to just chill and watch ducks or engage in an activity he finds fun. Spend the afternoon back at the hotel if you can. Use maxpass so you’re not having to walk all over the park back and forth to retrieve FP. If lines are challenging for him with all kinds of people packed around him and he does better waiting elsewhere, try a DAS pass or getting a tag to use your stroller as a wheelchair so he can stay in it in lines.

Thanks! I will have to try stopping somewhere quiet between rides. Our itinerary was ride 2 rides (maybe more if they were short & close) back to back, with MP or DAS. Lunch, go to hotel 1-5:30. (dinner at hotel was chaotic also-maybe we should have started keeping him and one adult in the room and bring his food up earlier in the trip. We had to do that the last two days). Ride one ride (maybe 2) and sometimes a snack. Bed at 8.

He will choose... I will ask glasses or headphones next time.

One evening DH and I had my sister stay with the kids. He was still awake when we got back at 11. We got 3 glorious hours in the parks. So much done! Dinner, matterhorn, mr. toad, BTMRR during fireworks, pix at castle, I think possibly something else maybe space and or/star tours (maxpass hoarding in the afternoon to the rescue!) He loves it at the park. I think I need to adjust my expectations. I want him to experience all of the attractions! But if he doesn't ride little mermaid or monsters inc, would he even know? no! not at this age. We are saving up and fundraising for a service dog for him. So, hopefully next time (in 3 years haha) he will both 1. be mature enough to express when he's had enough and 2. have the dog with us!

 

[FoxC63]

You can ride in the front and also in the back

Yes, that's what @gottalovepluto stated [URL="https://www.disboards.com/threads/wdw-vet-going-to-disneyland-help-please.3688744/page-3#post-59373480"]here[/URL], that's amazing! DS will be so thrilled!!
I take it Disneyland does not pass out Transportation cards like they do at WDW:



There, they cover all modes of transportation including water crafts, monorails and buses. It would be nice to see railroad and Main Street vehicles. Are there any cards my son can collect at DLR? Thank you!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yes, that's what @gottalovepluto stated here, that's amazing! DS will be so thrilled!!
I take it Disneyland does not pass out Transportation cards like they do at WDW:

View attachment 331247

There, they cover all modes of transportation including water crafts, monorails and buses. It would be nice to see railroad and Main Street vehicles. Are there any cards my son can collect at DLR? Thank you!

Haven’t seen any but I didn’t even know they existed in WDW.

 

[FoxC63]

We missed Pirates due to refurb on our first DL trip so it could be worse.

We just made our first DL trip after countless WDW trips and with 4 days and MP you are good.

With 4 days we were able to do everything we wanted along with taking breaks back to the hotel and dedicating half a day just to photopass opportunities which was well worth it.

I agree about rides being on the refurb list, that it could be worse so NO complaints here! Things like that are out of my control! Many people recommend park hopping and I do understand the time saving potential but DS is just not into it and neither is DH. I'd do it on a solo trip but that's not what's going on here.

If I can add park hopper during our stay, provided they're ready I plan on doing it. I just have to see what's going on first. I have "penciled" in Wednesday but since many have stated Downtown Disney isn't worth a lot of time, I'm also considering adding another park day. So thinking tank is spinning!

Oh, you mentioned you and yours did photopass, would you mind sharing your photos? Please feel free, I'd love to see them, fair warning I host the WDW [URL="https://www.disboards.com/threads/magic-shots-current-listings.3619546/"]Magic Shots - Current Listings[/URL] thread and might ask questions. Scratch that, I will ask questions... okay, okay lots of questions! It's in my nature.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I agree about rides being on the refurb list, that it could be worse so NO complaints here! Things like that are out of my control! Many people recommend park hopping and I do understand the time saving potential but DS is just not into it and neither is DH. I'd do it on a solo trip but that's not what's going on here.

If I can add park hopper during our stay, provided they're ready I plan on doing it. I just have to see what's going on first. I have "penciled" in Wednesday but since many have stated Downtown Disney isn't worth a lot of time, I'm also considering adding another park day. So thinking tank is spinning!

Oh, you mentioned you and yours did photopass, would you mind sharing your photos? Please feel free, I'd love to see them, fair warning I host the WDW Magic Shots - Current Listings thread and might ask questions. Scratch that, I will ask questions... okay, okay lots of questions! It's in my nature.

I'd definitely add a day. We don't even bother with DTD unless we're headed to a restaurant.

 

[FoxC63]

The second one is the entrance to the Monster's Inc ride at DCA.

Okay, and are you and @theluckyrabbit saying this is part of "The Walls at DLR" collection? I just want to make sure before added it to [URL="https://www.disboards.com/threads/wdw-vet-going-to-disneyland-help-please.3688744/page-4#post-59375025"]Post #62[/URL]. Thank you so much!

 

[FoxC63]

For managing visual chaos, I think for me my biggest strategy for that has just been to learn to self-monitor. If it is becoming too much for me, I go somewhere less chaotic and small to calm down. Usually for me that means a corner in a gift shop or a more isolated bench (like in critter country or the path from fantasyland to frontier land or the covered bridge area near small world and Matterhorn).

THIS^ That's why I added
Tuesday: Tarzan’s Treehouse & Chip ‘n Dale Treehouse
Wednesday: The Disney Gallery & Abe Lincoln
Thursday: Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island & Sailing Ship Columbia
Friday is my wild card and I need to read more.

I'm not sure if anyone noticed but the main page is a "working itinerary" I'm added and omitting as I move along while learning more. Your tips & tricks that are current is what's going to make this experience flow.