Disneyland tomorrow - quick help?

[mackmama]

DC is 4yo. We will be driving from San Diego to Disneyland tomorrow. We will stay about 4 hours. DC really really wants to see favorite characters from TV shows like Diego/Dora, 7D's, Disney movies, etc. Is there a certain place where we'd go to meet these characters, maybe take a pic with them? I'm not sure DC really cares very much about rides, but we'll do a couple. Any particular rides or areas where you'd suggest we go since we won't have that much time? What time should we try to get there - is it important to be there when it first opens in terms of lines etc? I'd appreciate any tips. I have only been to DL once when I was in high school. Thanks!

[PZMommy]

We are also going to Disneyland tomorrow!

Diego and Dora are not Disney. The rest of the characters are in various places throughout the park. The Pixar movie characters are at California Adventure.

I would get there as close to opening as possible, as the lines are less in the morning. I'm not sure how much you will be able to do in 4 hours though. My boys love the Buzz Astro Blaster ride. It is their favorite.

[geochick]

There's an app that tracks the characters. You're only staying for 4 hours?! Can't you stay longer? There are so many fun little rides that are perfect for 4 year olds! Dumbo, It's a Small World, ...

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/my-disney-experience/mobile-apps/


Be there at rope drop (like IN the park at opening buzzer). It's amazing what you can do in the first few hours before the rest of So. Cal wakes up!

http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/cad...s-for-kids.htm

[PZMommy]

There's an app that tracks the characters. You're only staying for 4 hours?! Can't you stay longer? There are so many fun little rides that are perfect for 4 year olds! Dumbo, It's a Small World, ...

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pl...e/mobile-apps/

The Dumbo ride wait is usually about an hour long though, so you will waste a large portion of your time in lines.

To be honest, unless you have free passes, I'm not sure I would spend all that money on tickets to only stay for 4 hours. With the crowds you won't get much done.

[sariana]

It's been a while since we were there, but the last time we went, the daily schedule had SOME info about character meetings. Not the map, but the printed sheet of paper (usually colored paper) with all the show times and parade times. Keep in mind, though, that some characters appear only in California Adventure, and some only in Disneyland. (Some will be at both.)

If you get there before opening, you MIGHT get to see a character or two out on the central plaza between the two parks. We caught Donald Duck once that way.

I think the only way to see Mickey Mouse is to wait in the long (LONG) line at his house in ToonTown. Same with Minnie Mouse. She has her own separate house.

I would expect very large crowds tomorrow. A few school districts are back in session this week, but most are not. And August is a huge month for European tourists (though they seem to prefer the national parks).

[SnuggleBuggles]

It's super important to get there by 9:30-10. And be open to staying longer than 4 hours, as we all said before. Start in the back of the park.

[lmr1101]

When we've gone the last few years they open main street before rope drop - there are usually some characters right there waiting to great people before the rest of the park opens. We always try to get there about an hour before rope drop to hang out in main street area before racing to the rides.
Otherwise if you just want to see the characters and don't have to personally hug each one plan to be there during the parade. You can see them all that way without running all over the park.

[twowhat?]

Can you just do a character meal instead? Making that drive from San Diego and paying that much for tickets just to go for 4 hours is going to be pretty disappointing.

But, you could book a character meal at someplace like Goofy's Kitchen (easy to meet lots of characters and get lots of pictures and feel less rushed), and do a little browsing in Downtown Disney? That would be much more do-able for 4 hours.

Do you already have tickets?

If you already have tickets I would plan to start driving (accounting for traffic) so that you can be there at least 15 minutes before rope drop. Be prepared to battle crowds and spend time waiting in lines. Hopefully your DC is a good car rider - my kids have been cranky after being in the car for 2 hours for that drive, especially if there's a bunch of stop and go traffic.

eta: if Dumbo is important, we've been there on crowded days and headed to dumbo first right at rope drop and get about a 20 minute wait time. So maybe hit that one first? I do agree that lines at the front of the park fill up fast, so it may be worth heading to Toon Town first, which is sort of a ghost town at the beginning of the day, but I don't know if Mickey and Minnie are available first thing in the morning.

[SnuggleBuggles]

If $ is no object, maybe you can call today to see if you can organize a VIP tour and guide?

[Tenasparkl]

Like the others said, get there as early as you can. With limited time you don't want to waste too long waiting in lines. The line for Peter Pan is crazy long lately, so skip that unless you really want to ride it.

You can meet some of the avengers (Captain America and Thor) in Tomorrowland after 10AM. Tinkerbell and another fairy or two are in Pixie Hollow. You can meet 3 princesses at the Fantasy Faire. In Toontown you can see Mickey and Minnie at their houses. Goofy and Pluto are usually walking around. Sometimes Daisy is too. We often see other characters walking around. We've seen Peter Pan and Captain Hook near the Dumbo ride, Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter near Pixie Hollow, and sometimes Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Pluto etc. are right at the beginning of main street. Aladdin and Jasmine are in Adventureland, but I've never timed it right to see them. Sometimes Tiana is out near the Haunted Mansion, but I haven't seen her in a while.

Some of the Disney Jr. characters (Jake, Doc McStuffins) are out at California Adventure, but I think that's too much for your short visit. Have fun!