I recommend Craftsman Bar & Grill in the CA Grand. Itâs poolside, which is a relaxing break from the hubub. Itâs easy to book, probably safe enough to wait to book until last minute, or even do walk-up. You can also relax a bit in the Grand Lobby.
There is value to taking a break where you can lay down and maybe even take a nap. As long as the drive to the apartment isnât too long, donât rule it out. I always enjoy the evening much more if I take a hotel break, especially if itâs hot.
Iâve only purchased this on light crowd days, and both times we bought and had immediate Return Times. Youâll need to keep an eye on it and not count on getting them late in the day. I assume you can book those even if youâve left the parks, just like regular LL. The good news is that the Rise LL is separate from the regular LLs, so it doesnât affect your two hour booking window.
Thatâs a great idea, as Din T is as far away from the parks as you can get in DTD. It doesnât sound like youâll have time for that, esp if you take an apartment break.
The most Iâve seen, even on moderate crowd days, is like 1-2 hours out for both RSR and RotR. Usually itâs fairly immediate all day long.
We enjoyed this in January!
Nothing to do with this thread, but hope she and family are going well! I canât remember seeing her lately..hopefully life is just super busy 
This sounds wonderful! Is it easy enough to get to from DL?
Spoke to my daughter yesterday and we are going to head back to her apartment for a break so we can make it to close on our day together. This might work for me on my solo day though. Iâll only do rope drop until 4ish that day and only plan on doing the one park. Could even hit it on my way out to an uber if not for lunch.
Do you have a few favorites? We eat pretty healthy so weâd probably skip burgers and hot dogs.
Yes!
DCA
Pymâs
Smokejumpers
Aunt Cassâs
DL
Tianaâs Palace
Jolly Holiday
Red Rose Taverne
Docking Bay 7
Now I just want to go back to eat!
This is just a smattering. 
Responding to "this sounds wonderful: I assume you are referring to the Craftsman Bar and Grill? Yes, itâs very easy to get to from DL. Head to Downtown Disney to enter into the main entrance from DTD to the Grand. Itâs easy to pass by without seeing it, so look for the Sophera (something like that) store, and itâs right in that opening next to it. If you have a hopper that day, a shorter route is to enter into DCA, pass by Soarin, and youâll find an entrance to the hotel in that area, across from Grizzly River Run. Follow the signs to the restaurants.
Another questionâŚ
My daughters work schedule has changed a bit and we can do our two park day together either on Tuesday, October 6th or Wednesday, October 7th . If we go Tuesday, weâd rope drop DCA since there is an OBB that night and on Wednesday would maybe switch it to DL? Definitely want to hit both parks. Any suggestions on which day would be better? I canât decide if going on a OBB day is a benefit or not.
I was just there & started in DCA on an OBB day. Crowds were very lite most of the day up until about 3 when party people could enter. And DL after 6 was very busy as all the non-party guests with hoppers hopped to DL. If you donât have hoppers, but start at DCA, you could do dinner and shop in DTD after 6.
We do have hoppers and since it will be my daughterâs only day Iâm worried about those DL crowds after OBB starts. Did the crowds lighten up at all near closing at DL?
Crowds tend to lighten up at DL after fireworks, or during fireworks if youâre focused on rides. Just avoid Main Street from 8:30-10pm.
I think since your daughter will only have one day in the parks, you should do that on Wed. The only real advantage to starting at DCA on an OBB day is the super-light crowds there until 3. DL is open until midnight on Wed, and 11 on Tue. Youâll have a more evenly distributed crowd on Wed in both parks. Especially if youâll be taking that mid day break to the apt, youâll enjoy the evening in DL way more on Wed than you would on Tue. Plus you can stop in DCA, maybe when first returning after the break, and see the gorgeous fall lighting there, and maybe ride RSR via SR in the dark.
Iâd start in DL, take your break after lunch (hot and crowded then), stack LLs in DCA for the evening, be in DCA from around 6 to 8, then hop to catch night shows in DL and close down the park. You may not get many rides in at DCA, so just pick 2 LLs you want the most. Be clear of the Pier and the lagoon area at least 45 mins before WoC starts or youâll have to endure that cattle drive caused by show traffic control.
Thanks! I do think this makes the most sense. Roping dropping DL (FL) with my daughter sounds great. We can enjoy all of the WDW rides we used to do when she was little and explore the ones WDW doesnât have. It was bugging me that we might miss those with high crowds on the OBB night. Iâll grab LLs for Space, HM, and BTMR then start stacking DCA for after our break.
I think I will then rope drop DCA on my solo day (itâs also a OBB day). Iâll use the plan outlined above and scope out a few rides I shouldnât miss with my daughter. I have a hopper both days thanks to the ticket deal I got so will spend some time in DL as well. Glad I have that hopper!
Yay! It sounds like you are settling in on a great plan. Itâs good to do the dark FL rides first since the rides are nearly walk-on (except Peter Pan), and the small area feels very cramped once the strollers roll in by 9 or 9:30. I usually head to Mickeys Runaway Train after the dark rides, as its still pretty much walk -on at 9, and it gets hot and busy out there by 10. Small World is usually walk-on in the a.m. and is an easy stop after Tune Town. Matterhorn works well for SR, if you like being battered around. (I love it.) Iâm excited for your day in DL with your daughter! Mom and daughter visits are the best!
Iâm a gonna die! 
Iâm no stranger to the heat (live in Charleston, SC) but this is no joke!
Hit me with ways to keep cool at the parks.
Well the humidity in Anaheim is much less oppressive than SC, so this isnât as bad as it looks.
But yeah, it will still be hot. Especially during the afternoon. Plan to have a break when itâs the hottest part of the day, either at the hotel / pool, or in a restaurant, shop, or other indoor venue. Check out the Grand Californian and Disneyland Hotel. Etc.
Even when itâs this hot it will often feel downright chilly at night, so just be aware you may still need a light jacket. (But check the forecast â if itâs over 70 all evening you wonât need one.)
Make sure to hydrate. Donât go too fast. Get a LL for a wet ride â watch the times at like 10am and snag one before they run out for the afternoon heat. You will want to ride by like 4pm.
Good luck! Itâs doable.
Does Disneyland have free cups of ice water and/or places to fill up a water bottle?
