Thank you!I haven't commented much, but I know we will all be cheering for you! What a fun day you have planned for you 3! Special memories will be made for sure. You seem more than capable of doing some touring on your own, you are very matureAwesome job!
Right, honesty at this point getting him to let me explore by myself will be new and a stretch, there is no way on earth that he would ever be leaving me at the park by myself!
I would go over the one day itinerary for DL (the one for MP) -- and walk them through it. You've mentioned that your parents aren't great planners and that they tend to choose rides with 60+ minute wait times, which means not that many rides in a day and a not-that-positive view of Disney overall (understandable!). So clearly what your parents see in their minds is totally not what you see in your mind when a day at DL comes up. Being able to familiarize them with how things could go (which they've not experienced before) and why so much organization is important to helping things be better (and to prevent the hapless 60+ minute wait times!) might be a positive step in the right direction. They still might not get it (it is a big concept change for them, after all), but it will give you something to refer back to with your dad when you visit in June. And he'll start to get it when he sees your plan in action. He can help explain to your mom. And then your tentative visits in July should be easier because he'll have a better idea of what's going on! And so on, and so on... Gotta start somewhere and Disneyland Daily is good (not too complicated) place.
I really think this part is key. When we take my parents, 4 rides a day is a lot. And most of the rides they enjoy don't have FP. But we plan a relaxed day so that the waits aren't too bad, take in lots of park atmosphere, and everyone has a good time. Often when we go alone, we might only ride one ride a day (and often enough, not even that!) -- and still have a great time. (And we've also done the commando days with nephews, nieces, and friends -- you know, when 15+ rides a day isn't enough!) With my in-laws, it's the opposite -- it's not the lack of rides or the long wait times or even the lack of a plan that create the biggest problem; it's the non-stop griping and complaining that make sure that no one enjoys the day. Positive attitude really is a big part of the magic at DLR, as well as being flexible. When those two things are missing, even the best day isn't going to be much fun.
Ugh, yeah. We had some of that early on, and it just makes everyone miserable. My vacations have improved so much since I started working on actively being happy.
It’s more expensive to buy 2 sets of tickets. You can upgrade for just the cost difference.Right, honesty at this point getting him to let me explore by myself will be new and a stretch, there is no way on earth that he would ever be leaving me at the park by myself!
Yep, we'll probably just buy two sets of tickets.
I have read the itineraries/other posts on Disneyland Daily. Are there any links in particular that could be eye-opening to my parents?
I think that we'd have to buy 2 sets of tickets. We're visiting outside of the 13 day period that you have to use all your tickets in.
Oh bummer.
You've mentioned several times that your parents aren't the best planners and don't do well with long wait times. In order to get a decent-to-good view in the free FP sections for F!, you're looking at at least an hour wait before getting into the viewing area (if not a 2+ hour wait, depending on which area you pick), then the wait until the show begins. If you don't get the front row, will your family be fine with taller people standing in front of you?
Some quick thoughts:Quick update:
- We leave for LA tomorrow! Flight's in the early evening. I'm so excited, even though we don't go to Disneyland until the 13th.
- My mom has decided that she's interested in coming with us. Bye bye single rider line I guess. Also, would it be possible for my dad and me to wait in line for an attraction, have my mom switch with my dad, then have my mom and me ride again? That way someone is always with my sister and no one has to ride alone.
- Some sort of magic must have happened because my mom agreed to rope dropping. :O
- Going to get MaxPass tomorrow morning, just for me is what I've heard but we might get a second MaxPass in case my mom or dad wants to ride something as well and they'll "share" that MaxPass.
- Reservations for Cafe Orleans have been made for 2:30pm, hopefully they can seat us at 2:15pm if we arrive early. Planning on a 40 minute lunch and then going to the parade.
- Hearing the short wait times has me so relieved, maybe our plan is doable with my sister now!
Overall very positive stuff going on.
Thanks for these thoughts! I'll be sure to inquire with a CM about the rider swap. I'll plan for an hour at CO. And right now I'm assuming ~20 minutes for most rides and ~40 minutes without FP for the biggies.
That does sound worth it... we're okay with holding down a spot for one hour but 2-3 hours sound like a lot! And it would free up time for some attractions before Fantasmic. I'll ask my dad about the dining package, thank you.
Not sure about this one. It should be fine, especially if your mom has the same credit card that was used to place the order. Why can't your mom be with your sister and your dad go with you to pick up the food?
