2 Day Trip to Disneyland - Day 2 Disneyland

Question

Sunday March 22: Disneyland:

Up at 5:45 again, same drill as yesterday, only we had to pack the rest of our stuff and check our bags at the desk before checking out. My wife and I did that while the kids went down to wait in line for security. We finished in short order and she got the bags checked while I checked us out of the room. We got to security not long after 6:30 and we had a good spot in line.

Through security fast and me and my oldest made our way to the DL turnstiles in short order. She was the first one in line at the gate. They opened the gates a bit before 7:30 and it was a rush to the TomorrowLand rope. We were held there and told NOT to run and when the rope dropped, we complied, but others didn’t so they got the jump on us on our way to Space Mtn. We were still in the front of the pack, but we were maybe 30th or so in line. I liked Space Mtn at DL! The train is better, the effects are cooler, and I’d say it's better than WDW.

Off to Batuu, but we saw we were at the back of a very large pack at the rope, which again was surprising… I guess people just came straight here at 7:30?? Guests without EA access didn't have access here. Anyway, my oldest scouted out an alternate route and we decided to line up at a different rope that was deserted. We’d have a less direct path to Batuu, but we wouldn’t have to fight the crowd and we could run straight to Rise of the Resistance. At 8 sharp, that’s what we did! We quickly outpaced the 8 o’clock horde from the other rope drop, but we lost my wife and the little girls. I called her and told her to come find us in line. RotR is a great experience - exactly the same as at WDW. I was just glad it was open first thing (always a bit of a gamble).

It was time for our first LL at Smugglers Run. We walked right on and my oldest daughter and I piloted with some success. She was left and I was right, so I made the jump to hyperspace! We spent some time walking around Batuu; we got some blue and green milk, we saw Chewie, Boba Fett and Rey and we hit some of the shops and even stopped into Oga’s Cantina for a quick pic. Off to Frontierland!

Big Thunder was fun and the girls liked being able to spot the different animals during the day. Then we went for a LL at Pirates of the Caribbean. PotC is better at DL, it's longer, has a better drop and got us just a bit wet. Next, we went standby for Jungle Cruise as we waited for our next LL at Haunted Mansion. Jungle Cruise was a bit of a miss, we didn’t have a great skipper… and that makes/breaks the experience. Haunted Mansion was a hit again though - just love the New Orleans theme here.

Time for lunch at Tiana’s Palace! We eventually got our food and sat outside in the shade. We got Muffaletta, Gumbo, Jambalaya, corn bread, mac n cheese and some “man-catching” beignets to share. It was all good, but none of it was great. It just felt like “Disney-fied” creole food.

We hit Buzz Lightyear after lunch, and it was ok (same as WDW) but Midway Mania is just so much better. We bit the bullet and waited 35 min to ride Finding Nemo submarines next (not LL eligible). It turned out to be a letdown too. It doesn’t go up/down and you don’t get to see any real sea life. Just projections and cartoons. Next we had a LL for Matterhorn and it was fun to ride that again. I thought it was better during the day cause you could see the Yeti better.

We waited 20 minutes standby for StoryBook Canal Boats. That was a pretty tame ride, but we did see some baby ducks. Then we had a LL for Minnie/Mickey’s Runaway Railway. It did seem a bit better here than at WDW, but maybe that’s just because the theme fit better. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin was a waste of time (even with a LL), yikes, what a bust.

We were done with all the main rides we wanted to do at DL, but we still hadn’t done Peter Pan or Dumbo which don’t offer LL and both had 40+ minutes waits; plus, they're both the same as their counterparts at WDW… So we asked the girls what they wanted to do. We could either stay and ride those rides, or we could go back to the hotel and swim. They wanted to swim! We hit the Emporium on the way out of the park and the girls got some souvenirs. I personally like the Emporium at WDW better (its much larger).

Back to the GCH to let the kids swim for an hour before we left the resort to continue our vacation in Los Angeles. Stay tuned for some tips/tricks/observations!

Answer

Your second day at Disneyland appears to have been another well-organized and fun-filled day, balancing thrill rides, family attractions, and downtime effectively. Starting early and using rope drop again allowed you to access popular rides like Space Mountain and Rise of the Resistance efficiently.

Some key observations from your day:

Rope drop strategy remains crucial, especially for high-demand attractions like Space Mountain and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge rides. Positioning and knowing alternate routes can save significant time in crowded areas.
Lightning Lane (LL) usage is essential for maximizing your day, especially for rides like Smugglers Run, Haunted Mansion, Matterhorn, and Runaway Railway.
Splitting up strategically to navigate crowds (e.g., when your wife and younger kids were separated) can be managed effectively with phones and clear communication.

Your ride experiences:

Space Mountain: Strongly preferred over WDW with better effects and train design.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Effective strategy for Rise of the Resistance first thing in the morning ensured minimal wait. Smugglers Run offered hands-on piloting fun.
Frontierland rides like Big Thunder Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean provided enjoyable family experiences, with Pirates slightly better than WDW.
Fantasyland attractions such as Buzz Lightyear and StoryBook Canal Boats were similar to WDW; some rides like Finding Nemo Submarine were underwhelming.
Character/themed experiences like Runaway Railway and Haunted Mansion showcased superior theming and immersion.

Dining:

Tiana’s Palace for lunch offered themed New Orleans-style dishes. While the food was decent, it was noted as "Disney-fied" and not exceptional.
Sharing dishes allowed the family to sample multiple options without over-ordering.

Other tips and takeaways:

Some attractions (Peter Pan, Dumbo) without LL access may require longer standby waits; having flexibility and prioritizing what the family wants is essential.
In-park shopping (Emporium) is convenient for souvenirs, though preferences may vary compared to WDW.
Returning to the hotel for a brief swim is a great way to rest and recharge before continuing travel or park activities.

Overall, your approach of early entry, strategic LL use, and balancing rides with meals and downtime allowed your family to experience most of Disneyland's highlights efficiently. Communication, flexibility, and knowledge of ride patterns made this a successful second day, and swimming at the hotel capped off the day with a relaxed activity for the kids before moving on to your next destination in Los Angeles.

2 Day Trip to Disneyland - Day 2 Disneyland

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