Arriving Wednesday- HELP PLEASE!

[KristenCarll]

Good Morning friends!

My husband and I will be going to the parks on Wednesday for a full day, and for a few hours on Thursday morning. We purchased three day park hoppers as it was cheaper than the 2 day because of the special, and we added max pass since we will have such limited time there. We plan to use the Magic Morning ticket Thursday morning in order to get to the parks early.

My understanding is that on Thursday morning, only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland will be open for the extra hour. Is that correct?

Also, Wednesday when we get in, we plan to head to Disneyland first since CA has an extra hour in morning so it should be busier there I believe.

When we walk in and use our maxpass right away, what does everyone suggest we start with? We plan to do Big Thunder, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain for big attractions there, as well as other rides. We don't have to necessarily use Maxpass on those if we go to them first. We also plan to use Maxpass for Guardians, Incredicoaster, RSR. We will not have our children with us, so single rider is an option as well.

Between the two days, can anyone help me build a bit of an itinerary? It looks like it is going to rain on Wednesday which I am hoping will benefit us!

We are making the trip to California as on Friday I will be going through an embryo transfer to become a Gestational Carrier(Surrogate) for a wonderful couple, but we are thrilled to be able to go to Disneyland Resort while we are there. We do Disney World about every other year, so we are so excited to experience DLR.


* Edited to ask: World of Color is expected that night, as well as Mickey's Mix Magic. Should we be grabbing a fast pass for World of Color. I heard that it is pretty great. If we grab that fastpass, does it get held against us for a time limit like other fastpasses?*


Any help you can give is GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!

 

[chickapin parterre]

is this you first visit to Disneyland?

yes on Thursday morning available attractions in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland

Maxpass will help you with the DCA attractions, so ask or look for help here on what would be a good time to hop over to DCA.

Not necessarily busier at DCA, but you are behind on fastpass opportunities so best to be ahead in Disneyland on fastpass and then schedule DCA time

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

I would look at MaxPass and see what it is showing for return time for RSR. If it is more than an hour out-I would get that pass first off with the thoughts of getting another one later for the evening when the ride is way better. When the next pass becomes available I would get Guardians.

At DL, I would do, in order, Space, Matterhorn, BTRR, I would skip Splash until the afternoon when it warms up (however if it is a must-then do it now as lines will be short).

At this point, I would look to see the return time for RSR and if I could get another pass yet. If I had a 30 minute window still I would hit Haunted Mansion then CA, if I had a 45-60 minute window, I would hit HM and Pirates. Then head to CA.

Check standby time for Guardians, if less than 25 minutes, do standby line unless window for RSR is up. Use pass for RSR, check standby for IndieCoaster, should be less than 20 minutes, do standby. Check window for Guardians pass, if enough time, do Indie Coaster again or bite the bullet and get in line for Toy Story if you want to ride.

When window opens again for next pass, look to see times for RSR and when it gets dark. This is where you can get creative with waiting in standby lines while waiting for the time you want for RSR at night. This is when you could do standby for IndieCoaster too while waiting for next MaxPass window. I think IndieCoaster is my least favorite for SRL, all other seems to work out well.

Remember, you cannot hold more than one pass for the same ride. Assuming you go this route and lock up a later pass for RSR, your window for next pass will likely be 90 minutes out. Dealers choice at this point, what do you want to do next? Stay at CA and there are several rides with short lines before noon. Head back to DL, crowds are already likely showing, but you can still do several rides with less than 30 minutes waits or grab a bite. After noon, I really base my day on availability of times for passes and then plan other stuff around them. I rarely wait more than 30 minutes for a ride unless it is Guardians with my DD.

Have a magical time.

 

[KristenCarll]

is this you first visit to Disneyland?

yes on Thursday morning available attractions in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland

Maxpass will help you with the DCA attractions, so ask or look for help here on what would be a good time to hop over to DCA.

Not necessarily busier at DCA, but you are behind on fastpass opportunities so best to be ahead in Disneyland on fastpass and then schedule DCA time

Yes, this is our first Disneyland trip!

Thank you!

 

[KristenCarll]

I would look at MaxPass and see what it is showing for return time for RSR. If it is more than an hour out-I would get that pass first off with the thoughts of getting another one later for the evening when the ride is way better. When the next pass becomes available I would get Guardians.

At DL, I would do, in order, Space, Matterhorn, BTRR, I would skip Splash until the afternoon when it warms up (however if it is a must-then do it now as lines will be short).

At this point, I would look to see the return time for RSR and if I could get another pass yet. If I had a 30 minute window still I would hit Haunted Mansion then CA, if I had a 45-60 minute window, I would hit HM and Pirates. Then head to CA.

Check standby time for Guardians, if less than 25 minutes, do standby line unless window for RSR is up. Use pass for RSR, check standby for IndieCoaster, should be less than 20 minutes, do standby. Check window for Guardians pass, if enough time, do Indie Coaster again or bite the bullet and get in line for Toy Story if you want to ride.

When window opens again for next pass, look to see times for RSR and when it gets dark. This is where you can get creative with waiting in standby lines while waiting for the time you want for RSR at night. This is when you could do standby for IndieCoaster too while waiting for next MaxPass window. I think IndieCoaster is my least favorite for SRL, all other seems to work out well.

Remember, you cannot hold more than one pass for the same ride. Assuming you go this route and lock up a later pass for RSR, your window for next pass will likely be 90 minutes out. Dealers choice at this point, what do you want to do next? Stay at CA and there are several rides with short lines before noon. Head back to DL, crowds are already likely showing, but you can still do several rides with less than 30 minutes waits or grab a bite. After noon, I really base my day on availability of times for passes and then plan other stuff around them. I rarely wait more than 30 minutes for a ride unless it is Guardians with my DD.

Have a magical time.

Thank you so much. I am printing off your suggestions so I can study them on the plane haha All of this looks great!

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

 

[MillauFr]

My only advice would be to skip Peter Pan during early entry hour. You should be able do do most of the other rides in Fantasyland in the first hour.

 

[Gaugersaurus]

Single Rider will be better than Maxpass for Splash, Matterhorn, Space, and possibly RSR.

Wednesday I wold start in Frontierland/Adventureland and do Thunder Mtn., Pirates, and Haunted Mansion while they have relatively low waits. Make sure you grab a Fastpass as soon as you're scanned into the park. You can probably do immediate return with Maxpass for the Thunder & Haunted Mansion during that first hour. Make sure you're watching the Fastpass return for RSR as they've been running out around noon lately.

For MM do all the Fantasyland dark rides minus Peter Pan, then head to Tomorrowland for Astro Blasters & Star Tours.

Unfortunately Indy is closed for refurb while you're there but that will give you an "excuse" to come back to DLR to see everything.

WoC is on a separate system for FP that isn't linked to Maxpass, you'll have to find the kiosk which is usually on the pathway between Little Mermaid and Grizzly Peak. It shouldn't be held against your return time for Maxpass.

 

[midnight star]

Not sure if you have already done this, but download the Disneyland app. Log into your account and make sure your tickets are linked. Load a credit/debit card on. Some of the Counter service places in Disneyland offer mobile ordering. This helps a ton when the parks are crowded. It's currently Spring Break time so it might be busy when you go.

 

[chickapin parterre]

rain will benefit you if you have several pairs of clothing to change into. What is your baggage expectations for the airlines.? If you are leaving a wet environment then bring boots and thin rain breaker coats. At target down the street from Disneyland you can buy the 5 pairs of socks, extra underwear, extra long sleeve shirts. Going to need a hat, gloves

Rain will only be to your benefit if you know where the lockers are located at Disneyland, if your lodging is close by to return and change clothes, you are carrying a pack with the change of socks and gloves and towels to wipe down seats or sit on, because everyone will be shedding the water on to the seats. The one concept that folks don't understand about Disneyland rain is that there are puddles everywhere, and by dodging people on the pathways, you frequency for splashing into puddles is higher than your expectations. and with indy closed, that eliminates the best, a very warm, rain free waiting area space and star wars and buzz, are the only place that have protected waiting areas......sure splash mt has a long covered area.....but then that advantage is lost as soon as you step into the soaking wet log.

 

[VandVsmama]

Possible plan for Thursday morning:
Your Magic Morning hour will be 7-8 am. So here's a possible itinerary:

• Be at the park entrance with tickets in hand ~ 6:30-6:45 am. If you're not staying within walking distance & you're driving to the parks, allow enough driving time so you get to the parking lot by 6:30 am. Mickey & Friends parking garage and the Toy Story lot open 90 min before regular park opening on Magic Morning days.
• Walk with purpose to Fantasyland and go on...
• Dumbo
• Alice in Wonderland
• Mr Toad
• Mad Tea Party
• Pinocchio
• Snow White
• Some time shortly after you've entered the park, use Max Pass to get a FP return time for Space Mtn or Star Tours.
• Now head to Tomorrowland and go on...
• Autopia
• Buzz Lightyear
• use your FP for Star Tours or Space Mtn. Get a FP for the other one (Star Tours or Space Mtn, whichever one you didn't do first). Pay attention to the time that the app tells you that you can grab your next FP. Set an alarm on your phone for that time as a reminder (I did this ~ a week ago and it was very effective).
• While waiting for your 2nd Star Tours or Space Mtn FP, you could go on It's A Small World.
• If it's ~ 1 hour after regular park opening, if you want to meet Mickey Mouse with no wait, go to Toon Town and meet him in his house. You can take photopass pics there with Mickey.
• Then go on Roger Rabbit.
• Now go back to Tomorrowland and use your 2nd Star Tours or Space Mtn FP. Next FP should be for IJ (if it's not under refurb), BTMRR, or HM.
• After Star Tours or Space Mtn, now head to Adventureland and go on...
• Jungle Cruise
• Tiki Room
• If the BTMRR or HM FP return window has started, go on that. Then get a FP for the other one (BTMRR or HM).
• Now go on Pirates of the Caribbean
• Good time filler ride is Winnie the Pooh. There's almost never a line.
• then go on BTMRR or HM.

It'll probably be ~ 12:00 pm by the time you're done.

World of Color FP do not restrict you from getting other FP. They're not "connected" to other FP.

 

[VandVsmama]

Wednesday:

This would be a good day to hop back & forth. Doesn't really matter which park you start with. Even though EMH is at DCA on Wednesdays, that's only for on site hotel guests and not all on site hotel guests take advantage of EMH. If you start at DCA, here's a possibility:

• right after getting into DCA, get a FP for RSR.
• go on Mater's & Luigi's.
• When you can get another FP, get one for either GotG, Soarin, Toy Story, or Incredicoaster (depending on your preference).
• At start of your RSR return window, go on RSR.
• A lot of the Pixar Pier rides (except for Toy Story & Incredicoaster) often don't have long lines. Go on those as time filler rides while you wait for your next FP return time to open.
• You can go on RSR as single riders, so that can save you a FP OR it can help you ride it twice in the same day (which you'll probably want to do; it's an amazing ride). Same for Incredicoaster, Grizzly River Run, and Goofy's Sky School. But I think that GRR is still under refurbishment right now.
• Other good time fillers at DCA: Monsters, Inc, Animation Academy, Turtle Talk is cute, plus check out the Sorcerer's Workshop in the Animation building. Plus superhero meet & greets in Hollywood Land.

Once your FP return times start to be 1.5-2 hours out and let's say you're still at DCA and you've exhausted all of the time filler rides, that's when you hop over to DL. Definitely hit up Pirates & HM (HM has FP, by the way). If ride wait times are getting a bit long, do stuff like:

• Great Moments with Mr Lincoln
• ride a Main Street vehicle or 2
• go see a show...Mickey & the Magical Map, 1 of the storytelling shows in Fantasyland, or the Frozen musical in DCA
• go to Tom Sawyer's Island
• ride the Davey Crockett Explorer Canoes if they're running
• ride the Columbia sailing ship and the Mark Twain riverboat
• ride the train once the whole way around the park
• go check out Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrowland
• take some fun pictures with a photopass photographer
• get silhouettes done of yourselves at the silhouette shop on Main Street
• watch Alice & the Mad Hatter play musical chairs with children at Coke Refreshment Corner on Main Street in the afternoon (ask at Coke Corner earlier in the day to confirm the time).
• go on Matterhorn in Single Rider line.

 

[chickapin parterre]

hard decision on Wednesday morning if it is not raining....if you are a fan of Walt Disney, you really have to experience the environment of ROA in the morning, if you are fan of just Bucket List thrills at Disney parks, then a Wednesday morning at DCA would work better for you.....Wednesday morning at ROA a masterpiece of vision / Wednesday morning at DCA.....State Fair environment.