First trip to DL/DCA 10/17-10/21

[njtravelerof6]

I am planning my first trip for me (a very young and energetic 49 Mom!) and our youngest son (will be 11) from Oct. 17-21st. We are from NJ and will be in southern CA for a family wedding that weekend (Columbus Day weekend) and although my DH will fly home on Wed. 10/17 with two of our older sons (16 and 14, both in high school and can't miss that much school), I get to stay behind with DS11 for our first visit ever to DL/DCA!!

We've been to WDW 5 times before but DS11 was so young (last trip was in 2008 when he was only 7, and too small for the big rides) and I've always wanted to return to WDW (but timing hasn't worked out, plus we've wanted to do other vacations, see other places - I know, I know! Why, you ask? , and it's harder to convince the older boys, including our 19 y/o college son to go to WDW. I thought this would be a perfect "substitute" for DS11.

I will be busy now trying to read all that I can on the "other side" of MousePlanet as I check in daily but only to read about WDW. We will be staying at my BIL's house in nearby Yorba Linda (about 20 minute drive, I'm told).

Any suggestions (must-sees for either me or DS11 or both, hidden secrets, insider tips, etc.) for our itinerary, I would really appreciate your help! We will likely not do any character meals (with three older brothers, DS11 has grown up a bit "fast") and will not be as concerned about table service restaurants as much. I know he will want to finally go on the "thrill - E-ticket rides" (as will I!) and see some of the shows (though we are not big on the parades). I want to make the most of fast passes and we will likely buy a 4 day ParkHopper passes (no early entry since we aren't staying on-site).

We are very excited and can't wait! Plus, what a special time this will be for me to have with just DS11. Thanks in advance for your help!

[AnotherJenny]

With a 3 or 4 day park hopper you should have 1 magic morning (early admission).

On Friday the 19th DL will close early for Mickey's Halloween Party. You'll have parkhoppers, so no big deal to go to DCA. But if you wanted to go for 1 less day on your parkhoppers, you can always buy Halloween party tickets and enter the park at 4pm (3 hours before the party) for that day's admission. When I was 11, I thought staying up until midnight was pretty cool.

[tea4two]

If you will be driving to the parks each day, AAA sells a DLR ticket deal that includes parking. That will save you $15 a day.
Are you interested in Fantasmic! or World of Color? Both those nighttime shows are lots of fun and have different viewing options (ranging from free fastpasses for WOC to paid dining options for better viewing options, and for F! ranging from free "camp out to save your spot" to paid VIP reserved seating with a dessert box). The special Halloween Screams fireworks will only be shown at the Halloween Party, so that might be a consideration. And the party really is fun for all ages.
I would suggest scanning the threads for topics that interest you, then coming back as often as needed to ask questions.
Here's hoping for a magical trip for you and your son!

[tea4two]

Also, your trip dates coincide with part of UEA (Utah Educators' Association) weekend (see this weeks MP DL Update for more info in the calendar of events section). This means that Oct. 18th-22nd will have heavier crowds. This shouldn't be a big problem if you read the threads here on how to use fastpass and single rider info to your advantage. That will make your wait times shorter and your daily schedule more efficient. If you decide to attend the Halloween Party on Friday, 10/19, don't wait too long to buy your tickets, since that party may sell out.

[candles71]

Must see is Aladdin. I was going to say you get one Magic Morning'Early entry with your ticket. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday is the norm. It does change for special circumstances. If you have AAA, buys your parkhoppers through them, they mail them if you order online, so give yourself time to get them.
There are 2 lots, the Mickey and Friends parking structure, and the newer Toy Story lot. Mickey and friends has a tram, Toy Story uses buses since it is down the street.

[letshavefun]

With your DS being 11 if your comfortable about single rider I would encourage you to use it for RSR. My DD and I used it twice and got on the same car both times and only waited 20 minutes each time during the busy summer month in July.

[njtravelerof6]

With your DS being 11 if your comfortable about single rider I would encourage you to use it for RSR. My DD and I used it twice and got on the same car both times and only waited 20 minutes each time during the busy summer month in July.

Thanks everyone for your responses! I was disappointed to see that Utah school weekend - ugh! I can anticipate what that is like because we have a similar situation in NJ when we have a few days off in November and many flock to WDW in Orlando, dubbing that "Jersey Week'. Oh, well ... nothing I can do about it since our dates are not flexible (tied to the wedding).

I would definitely be comfortable having DS do the single rider (as the 4th child in our family, he's pretty independent), so I will utilize that as much as possible, too!

I need to get more familiar with the "lay of the land" of Disneyland so that we can easily navigate and know where we are going without constantly referring to a park map.

We purchased our airlines tickets and we are definitely set now! My obsessive researching (starting here) can start so we maximize our time there. Any other suggestions or tips would be welcome!

[Drince88]

We purchased our airlines tickets and we are definitely set now! My obsessive researching (starting here) can start so we maximize our time there. Any other suggestions or tips would be welcome!

Ridemax can be helpful for the obsessive researcher. Just be willing to throw it out the window (and consider it time well spent on getting background information) if it's not working on your actual park days. (It generates customized touring plans. Like the Unofficial Guide for WDW - but customizable)

My first advise for first time DL visitors/regular WDW visitors is "Don't make fun of the size of the castle. They're sensitive about it." And then embrace the intimacy of the parks (they're not cramped, they're intimate!)
(The opposite visitors are advised not to make fun of the WDW pirates - so do make sure that's on your list for DL!)

[candles71]

Our castle is not small, it's quaint.

[LacyBelle]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I was disappointed to see that Utah school weekend - ugh! I can anticipate what that is like because we have a similar situation in NJ when we have a few days off in November and many flock to WDW in Orlando, dubbing that "Jersey Week'. Oh, well ... nothing I can do about it since our dates are not flexible (tied to the wedding).

Yeah, we got caught up in Jersey week in 2006. As visitors from California, it was definitely something to hear the Jersey accent, well, everywhere.

I need to get more familiar with the "lay of the land" of Disneyland so that we can easily navigate and know where we are going without constantly referring to a park map.

You'll do just fine. The Magic Kingdom is laid out very similar to Disneyland, so you'll likely get your bearings very easily. Yes, there are differences in attractions in each of the parks, but the general layout is the same...Tomorrowland to the right of the hub, Fantasyland straight through the castle, Frontierland to the left of the hub.

Happy planning!

[CariBelle]

My obsessive researching (starting here) can start so we maximize our time there. Any other suggestions or tips would be welcome!

Since you're there on UEA weekend my biggest piece of advice is get there early, go back to your hotel in the afternoon and take a break, and then stay late. That afternoon breaks makes a world of difference for our trips (and we're two adults! haha) and being able to stay in the parks until closing usually allows us to get in way more rides that we would have in the 2-3 hour break we take back at the hotel.

As for learning the layout of the parks, I like touringplans.com. We are DL veterans, but when my whole family goes on our every other year trips I forget about things that we normally skip like ToonTown or the water rides. Their schedule tool allowed me to look at a drop own menu of the attractions in each area and makes notes if I needed to along the way. My nephews got a kick out of the note I put on Splash Mountain- "Auntie will stock up on candy while everyone else gets soaked. Don't forget to make fun of their squishy shoes for the next 20 minutes!"

[Drince88]

Our castle is not small, it's quaint.

Did I SAY smalll???? No, I just REFERENCED size.

...My first advise for first time DL visitors/regular WDW visitors is "Don't make fun of the size of the castle. They're sensitive about it."

(See what I mean, njtraveler...)