ACK!! We leave in a week!

[Anal Annie]

I can't believe we leave in a week & I've done hardly any planning. This is soooo not like me!! I've just been too busy to plan. We are DVC and staying at VGC - do I need to pre-order park tix to get the early opening magic hours or whatever they're called at DL or can we just buy our park tix when we get to VGC and still get the early entrance thing? I read something somewhere about needing to have advance purchase tix to get the early opening so I got confused.

Also, I forget - what is "wide right" for RSR? Does this just mean follow the herd at rope drop? We were supposed to have done this trip LAST August and had to cancel at 8 days out due to a medical emergency with DS. I did some research LAST year but have forgotten everything now. I signed up for TouringPlans.com and when I try to plan a day at CA it doesn't have us going straight to RSR but to Soarin' first and then eventually working our way mid-morning to RSR to stand in line for an hour. I thought I'd always read it was best to head straight to RSR?! What else do I need to know? We will only be there 3 nights (2 1/2 days) so don't have a lot of time to squander getting lost or going in the wrong direction. Can we get a FP for WOC or what's the best approach to that? I think those are my biggest questions…at least for now.

I only planned 1 ADR so we wouldn't have to be tied down to a lot of ressies. I may have not planned it on the right night but oh well. We'll work with it. I just want to get the mornings right!!
TIA!!

 

[Tyggress]

Guests at the resort hotels (and I presume VGC) get early morning entry every day of their stay, regardless of the tickets you buy.

Tues/Thur/Sat is early entry to DL.
Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun is early entry into DCA.

There ARE FP's for WOC...over near the Grizzly Rapids ride. Blue is the best/most center seating.

The "wide right" tip is at rope drop...if you want to hit RSR first, go wide right with the crowd and then head left into Cars Land. The left side of rope drop is primarily people waiting to get FP for RSR, so you'll get stuck there with little movement.

The other option is to go to Soarin' and TSMM (through Condor Flats...and you could grab your WOC FP on the way!), then head back for RSR FP's once the crowds have died down. The RSR FP's don't run out until about 11am nowadays.

Yet another option is to hit RSR and TSMM during the early entry DCA day.

Have fun!

 

[Anal Annie]

Guests at the resort hotels (and I presume VGC) get early morning entry every day of their stay, regardless of the tickets you buy.

Tues/Thur/Sat is early entry to DL.
Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun is early entry into DCA.

There ARE FP's for WOC...over near the Grizzly Rapids ride. Blue is the best/most center seating.

The "wide right" tip is at rope drop...if you want to hit RSR first, go wide right with the crowd and then head left into Cars Land. The left side of rope drop is primarily people waiting to get FP for RSR, so you'll get stuck there with little movement.

The other option is to go to Soarin' and TSMM (through Condor Flats...and you could grab your WOC FP on the way!), then head back for RSR FP's once the crowds have died down. The RSR FP's don't run out until about 11am nowadays.

Yet another option is to hit RSR and TSMM during the early entry DCA day.

Have fun!

I have a question about the "wide right" thing. Since we don't know the park, does it matter which park entrance we use? Although we're staying at VGC we have been told that this entrance can back up pretty bad prior to park opening and that it might be better to go to the main gate to enter. I don't have any clue where that is right now so I don't know which entrance this "wide right" applies?! Does it matter?? Thx

 

[Tyggress]

Wide right does refer to the normal front gate entrance, which you would access by walking through Downtown Disney. Once through the gates, they line you up to a rope a few yards down Buena Vista Street (the equivalent to Main Street in DL...it's the main thoroughfare when you first walk in that leads into the park). If you go that route, line up to the right side of the rope, not the left...unless you want to wait for FP's for RSR right away. But if you want to try and get on the ride right away...go right to get past the FP crowd, and then left into Cars Land.

Again, if you do the early entry you should have by staying onsite, you could ride RSR early in the morning and avoid the whole crowd completely. Since DCA only has early entry for onsite guests, no ticket holders, it's not as busy as DL early mornings. Sometimes RSR is not operational for early morning, and if that were to happen, you could always grab a FP once the park opens to the public.

 

[Anal Annie]

Wide right does refer to the normal front gate entrance, which you would access by walking through Downtown Disney. Once through the gates, they line you up to a rope a few yards down Buena Vista Street (the equivalent to Main Street in DL...it's the main thoroughfare when you first walk in that leads into the park). If you go that route, line up to the right side of the rope, not the left...unless you want to wait for FP's for RSR right away. But if you want to try and get on the ride right away...go right to get past the FP crowd, and then left into Cars Land.

Again, if you do the early entry you should have by staying onsite, you could ride RSR early in the morning and avoid the whole crowd completely. Since DCA only has early entry for onsite guests, no ticket holders, it's not as busy as DL early mornings. Sometimes RSR is not operational for early morning, and if that were to happen, you could always grab a FP once the park opens to the public.

Cool beans! Thanks!! I was trying to explain all this to DH this evening and he was wondering which entrance (since I'd already told him about the backup at the VGC entrance).

 

[minniecarousel]

As for purchasing Park tix, you can do that when you check into the hotel.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

This is Disneyland. You don't need to plan too much. Of course I've been there MANY times, but still. It's not like WDW. That being said, I don't do a great deal of planning when I go to Florida either.

If RSR is a major priority for you (which it should be), hit it early (stand by), and then grab a FP for later. Then hit TSMM and Soarin', although I'm sure you've done those plenty of times at WDW. Know that the waits for these attractions are nowhere near as long as they can get at WDW.

As for WoC, I'm NOT a fan of the FP areas for this show. But I'm also not a fan of WoC in general. If you want to see it (which everybody does), I would suggest doing a dining package at Carthay Circle. The viewing area is pretty good, and you get to enjoy a meal. There should be plenty of ADRs available even at this late date. Again, this is Disneyland. ADR's are much easier to come by.

Don't stress, and have fun!!

 

[mrsmacsparky]

My neighbors just went this past weekend. They took advantage of MM (Magic Mornings) and saved a ton of time and were able to do lots of rides before the park guests were allowed in. My daughter tagged along with them to DCA on Sunday and she rode just about every ride, including Racers, twice...all before 4pm. They saw the Aladdin show in that time.

 

[Anal Annie]

This is Disneyland. You don't need to plan too much. Of course I've been there MANY times, but still. It's not like WDW. That being said, I don't do a great deal of planning when I go to Florida either.

If RSR is a major priority for you (which it should be), hit it early (stand by), and then grab a FP for later. Then hit TSMM and Soarin', although I'm sure you've done those plenty of times at WDW. Know that the waits for these attractions are nowhere near as long as they can get at WDW.

As for WoC, I'm NOT a fan of the FP areas for this show. But I'm also not a fan of WoC in general. If you want to see it (which everybody does), I would suggest doing a dining package at Carthay Circle. The viewing area is pretty good, and you get to enjoy a meal. There should be plenty of ADRs available even at this late date. Again, this is Disneyland. ADR's are much easier to come by.

Don't stress, and have fun!!

We try not to overplan in FL either but now with no more FP's and the whole magic band debacle you sort have to. Our priorities on this trip will be to do the things at DL & CA that we don't have in FL along with some of our standbys (like Space Mtn, BTM, Soarin' & TSMM). So yes, RSR & WOC are definite must do's for us. We are trying to stick somewhat to a budget and don't want to be tied to a lot of ressies since our time there is so short so we only made 1 ADR (DH wanted to try Blue Bayou in hopes we can get seated by the water). I think Carthay Circle might be out of our budget for this trip. (We're heading to Aulani for a week then Maui for a few nights after we leave CA so have to manage our money carefully so we can spread it out.)

I can tell from the little bit that I toodled around with the TouringPlans.com website that the wait times are much lower than at WDW in August. That will make a lot of the waits more tolerable. I just don't know all of the strategies for DL & CA like I do for FL.

 

[sunflare]

If RSR is a major priority for you (which it should be), hit it early (stand by), and then grab a FP for later. Then hit TSMM and Soarin', although I'm sure you've done those plenty of times at WDW. Know that the waits for these attractions are nowhere near as long as they can get at WDW.

As a note, RSR FPs aren't handed out until park opening, so it would be a waste of your EE to wait in line for those. Hit TSMM and Soarin, then double back right around opening to get your RSR FP.

 

[Tyggress]

We try not to overplan in FL either but now with no more FP's and the whole magic band debacle you sort have to. Our priorities on this trip will be to do the things at DL & CA that we don't have in FL along with some of our standbys (like Space Mtn, BTM, Soarin' & TSMM). So yes, RSR & WOC are definite must do's for us. We are trying to stick somewhat to a budget and don't want to be tied to a lot of ressies since our time there is so short so we only made 1 ADR (DH wanted to try Blue Bayou in hopes we can get seated by the water). I think Carthay Circle might be out of our budget for this trip. (We're heading to Aulani for a week then Maui for a few nights after we leave CA so have to manage our money carefully so we can spread it out.)

I can tell from the little bit that I toodled around with the TouringPlans.com website that the wait times are much lower than at WDW in August. That will make a lot of the waits more tolerable. I just don't know all of the strategies for DL & CA like I do for FL.

The best plan to accomplish a waterside table is to eat here at lunch and set your reservation for 11:30 when the restaurant first opens and check in around 11:10. Most of the first reservations are automatically seated at waterside tables, but you could request one when you check in to guarantee it.

Dinner time is harder...you can still get waterside, but you may have a long wait for it, even with a reservation.

 

[Anal Annie]

The best plan to accomplish a waterside table is to eat here at lunch and set your reservation for 11:30 when the restaurant first opens and check in around 11:10. Most of the first reservations are automatically seated at waterside tables, but you could request one when you check in to guarantee it.

Dinner time is harder...you can still get waterside, but you may have a long wait for it, even with a reservation.

I considered lunch but we prefer our bigger meal of the day for dinner. We rarely eat TS meals for lunch. Somebody I know who's been there a couple of times b4 told me to try to get there about 30 min. ahead of our ressie and to be willing to wait. So that's my plan…crossing my fingers.

 

[XMom]

As a note, RSR FPs aren't handed out until park opening, so it would be a waste of your EE to wait in line for those. Hit TSMM and Soarin, then double back right around opening to get your RSR FP.

Our plan of attack in Ca Adv is that we go straight to RSR then after we get off that, we go to the FP area for RSR and get a FP for that to ride later in the day. Next we head to Soarin to get a FP, next head up to Grizzly Rapids to get a FP for World of Color. Then we head to Paradise Pier and ride Toy Story Mania and Screamin. By the time we are finished with those, it is time to get to Soarin for our FP. This way we hit the headliners and still have a FP for RSR later in the day.

Keep in mind that RSR and WOC are not linked to the FP system so that is why you can still obtain the FP for Soarin. Toy Story does not have a FP. Not sure of the ages of your family. But the Aladdin Show is amazing if you have time or interest in seeing it. Animation Academy is also a favorite of my kids and is a nice way to cool down.

 

[laughinplace199]

OP, we're in the same boat. We leave next week (also staying at VGC) and other than knowing which days we'll go to the parks and making some dining reservations, that's all I've done.

I don't know why, but I just can't bring myself to make a plan of attack for the rides. I feel overwhelmed and just wish I automatically knew what to do like I do in WDW!

I just bought tickets online through aRes travel - they had a 3 day PH with the 4th day free. Apparently, I can pick up my tickets when I check into the resort.

Maybe we'll see you there. I'll be the clueless one with the park map in one hand and my cell phone in the other, trying to figure things out.

 

[Anal Annie]

Our plan of attack in Ca Adv is that we go straight to RSR then after we get off that, we go to the FP area for RSR and get a FP for that to ride later in the day. Next we head to Soarin to get a FP, next head up to Grizzly Rapids to get a FP for World of Color. Then we head to Paradise Pier and ride Toy Story Mania and Screamin. By the time we are finished with those, it is time to get to Soarin for our FP. This way we hit the headliners and still have a FP for RSR later in the day.

Keep in mind that RSR and WOC are not linked to the FP system so that is why you can still obtain the FP for Soarin. Toy Story does not have a FP. Not sure of the ages of your family. But the Aladdin Show is amazing if you have time or interest in seeing it. Animation Academy is also a favorite of my kids and is a nice way to cool down.

Thanks for this info.!! Others had mentioned that the FP machines for RSR didn't open until the park opened but you are the first one to share what that MEANS and that we could actually pull more than 1 FP at a time for anything!! I didn't know that RSR & WOC weren't connected to the system!! I wasn't sure how hot it would be in CA - figured NOT NEARLY AS HOT as FL in August so didn't know how hot we might get. Guess we'll wing it on the Aladdin Show & Animation Academy - our DS is 17 so there are things we'll likely skip but we don't have an Aladdin Show in FL so maybe we'll do it (now that Mickey & Minnie's houses are gone in FL DS said maybe we should swing by them in DL just bcuz we CAN). I think I will plug your "plan" into the TouringPlans.com app & print it out to bring.

Question - how early do we need to get to WOC even w/ a FP?! We have dinner scheduled at Blue Bayou for 6:50 this day but I saw somewhere that WOC wasn't until like 9:45 so I thought we'd have time to eat and still come back. I made the ADR at 60 days (being used to the 180 days of over planning you have to do in FL for ADR's) so I didn't know then which park we'd be doing on which day. My thought at the time was we'd just do our 1 ADR on our middle night since we're only there 3 nights. I checked the other day and there was still an opening for Thurs. that I could switch to but with the whole cr card guarantee I figured it would be a pain to cancel. DH said not to worry about it since the parks are so close. Not like in FL when park hopping takes at least 30-45 minutes.

OP, we're in the same boat. We leave next week (also staying at VGC) and other than knowing which days we'll go to the parks and making some dining reservations, that's all I've done.

I don't know why, but I just can't bring myself to make a plan of attack for the rides. I feel overwhelmed and just wish I automatically knew what to do like I do in WDW!

I just bought tickets online through aRes travel - they had a 3 day PH with the 4th day free. Apparently, I can pick up my tickets when I check into the resort.

Maybe we'll see you there. I'll be the clueless one with the park map in one hand and my cell phone in the other, trying to figure things out.

That sounds like a good deal on your tix. Don't suppose they had a deal for buying 2 days & get 3?! We were originally supposed to do this trip LAST summer but then DS had a medical emergency 8 days before we were to leave and wasn't allowed to fly so we had to cancel the entire trip. We had planned 4 nights at DL last yr. 'cuz we had more points to work with. This yr. we had to borrow so we cut back to only 3 nights before heading to Aulani. I wish we had more time tho. That would've been nice (we'd have probably done a little sightseeing one day in So. CA too). I think the park tix have gone up 2x since last yr. (last yr. I had pre-ordered our park tix in May before the June increase). After we cancelled last yr. we were able to rebook at the last minute at WDW and we drove down and spent 9 nights - I brought our DL tix with us and they were able to scan them and see that they weren't used so we were able to turn them in and get credit toward AP's. After last years debacle I didn't bother pre-ordering tix this yr…

We will be the dysfunctional family wandering around aimlessly and argueing over which way looks like the best way to go. See you there!!!

 

[Tyggress]

Someone mentioned recently that the RSR FP's were, in fact, now connected to the system...can anyone clarify?

WoC is never connected. Depending on where you want to sit, getting there about 60 - 90 minutes before showtime will get you right up to the railing...but be aware you WILL get wet if you are right up on the railing. Sometimes it's just a little mist, sometimes it can really drench you if the winds blow right, etc.

And your DH is right, park-hopping from DL to DCA only takes a few minutes' walk. From Blue Bayou to WoC will probably take you about 15 minutes walking, due to maneuvering around crowds and depending on your pace.

 

[Anal Annie]

Someone mentioned recently that the RSR FP's were, in fact, now connected to the system...can anyone clarify?

WoC is never connected. Depending on where you want to sit, getting there about 60 - 90 minutes before showtime will get you right up to the railing...but be aware you WILL get wet if you are right up on the railing. Sometimes it's just a little mist, sometimes it can really drench you if the winds blow right, etc.

And your DH is right, park-hopping from DL to DCA only takes a few minutes' walk. From Blue Bayou to WoC will probably take you about 15 minutes walking, due to maneuvering around crowds and depending on your pace.

Should I start a thread to ask if WOC is connected now?!

We don't need to be front row for WOC but would be nice to have a somewhat decent view. Is this whole viewing area standing or are there seats like with the Fantasmic theater in FL? I doubt we'll be there an hour early. Does the FP only get you into a special viewing area? It's not really a timesaver?

 

[Tyggress]

The FP just puts you in either the blue viewing area, or the yellow viewing area. Once there, you can sit while you wait, but I believe everyone pretty much stands up once it starts.

You don't have to be up against the railing if you don't want to. If you want to be further back, you might want to be one tier up so you can see over other people's heads. (I believe there is a map in the WOC Superthread with the areas colored in so you can see what I'm talking about).

They do not have stadium-like seating. It's first-come, first-served in whatever color area you pull with the FPs.

 

[Anal Annie]

The FP just puts you in either the blue viewing area, or the yellow viewing area. Once there, you can sit while you wait, but I believe everyone pretty much stands up once it starts.

You don't have to be up against the railing if you don't want to. If you want to be further back, you might want to be one tier up so you can see over other people's heads. (I believe there is a map in the WOC Superthread with the areas colored in so you can see what I'm talking about).

They do not have stadium-like seating. It's first-come, first-served in whatever color area you pull with the FPs.

OMG that superthread is overwhelming!! Since there's only 1 show / night now I'm wondering if we should switch our ADR to the next night so I don't have to worry about what time we're done with dinner. Our ressie is at 6:50 and I plan to get there 30 min. early to try to get by the water. So say we get seated around 7:00 - will hopefully be done by 8:15 or 8:30 at the latest. Show is at 9:45 so that gives us the 15 min. to walk back and 60 min. to wait. Think that's enough? Uggg. (BTW I just started a thread to try to confirm if the RSR FP's are connected now.) Thanks again for your replies! I need to stop obsessing over this stuff and get my house cleaned so I can start packing!!

 

[Tyggress]

OMG that superthread is overwhelming!! Since there's only 1 show / night now I'm wondering if we should switch our ADR to the next night so I don't have to worry about what time we're done with dinner. Our ressie is at 6:50 and I plan to get there 30 min. early to try to get by the water. So say we get seated around 7:00 - will hopefully be done by 8:15 or 8:30 at the latest. Show is at 9:45 so that gives us the 15 min. to walk back and 60 min. to wait. Think that's enough? Uggg. (BTW I just started a thread to try to confirm if the RSR FP's are connected now.) Thanks again for your replies! I need to stop obsessing over this stuff and get my house cleaned so I can start packing!!

I think getting to the show area 60 minutes ahead is plenty of time to grab a good viewing spot. That thread is overwhelming...but the map I referred to is in the first post, I think.

I would definitely stop stressing so much. I've never been to WDW, but I am a long-time DL vet. The DL parks really don't require as much planning as WDW does...go with the flow and enjoy yourself!