Been Twice...Still Have Questions

[flyingjay]

Hey Dis Fam. We are Canadians that have been to DLR twice in the last couple years and are going again for Spring Break. I've got SO many great tips from this board and it's really helped maximize our experience at the parks. We've got five day hoppers this year and I was wondering if you could help me out with a few questions that I still have.

1) I've never been to Fantasmic. This will be totally new to me. We are thinking of doing the Hungry Bear dinner. Is it quite a bit different experience than if we pulled regular F! FP's? Will we need to stand if we get there early, or do most sit in that section? Would you suggest we go to the earlier show, or the later one? How early would you grab a spot for the 9 PM show?

2) Main St. Vehicles...looks like they'll be back up and running when we are on our trip. I've never known where to stand to get on one of those...or how often they run. Is there a schedule for this, or is it totally random? Any tips on how to get on a horse carriage with my DW and kiddos (7, 5, 3)?

3) Are there any tips on where to stand for fireworks so that we can be among the first to get on to PP when Fantasyland opens back up? I'm guessing in front of the castle...but was wondering if you had any tips on that as well. Also, I've heard that IASW is a good place to stand for Fireworks. Can anyone speak to that? I've only really watched fireworks from the Castle Hub and once in Main St.

4) If you're parking at Toy Story lot (where we usually park), how early should I park to maximize our mornings (say 8 AM opening)? Would you try to park by 7? 6:45? Would the busses be running already if there's no MM?

5) Maxpass will be new to us. Is it possible to have the five of us in a party on MP and then select different rides? Or do all the members of the party have to select one ride together? I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who will want to ride Space Mountain (my daughter might try it)...but they freaking love Astro Blasters. Am I able to select a Space FP and the rest of the fam get the AB FP's (for example)? Or do we all need to select the same one every time?

Thanks to all who are so generous with their tips and help! We are very excited for our visit.

 

[Niltiac]

5) Maxpass will be new to us. Is it possible to have the five of us in a party on MP and then select different rides? Or do all the members of the party have to select one ride together? I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who will want to ride Space Mountain (my daughter might try it)...but they freaking love Astro Blasters. Am I able to select a Space FP and the rest of the fam get the AB FP's (for example)? Or do we all need to select the same one every time?

I don't have answers for most of your questions but I can cover this one. You can select different rides. When you go to book a FP, it brings up a list of the tickets you have linked and you can un-check any that you don't want to get the current FP for. So in your example you would go in to get a FP and un-select yourself and get the rest of the family Astro Blasters FP, then you could go back in and un-select everyone else and get yourself the Space FP (keep in mind, of course, return times aren't likely to match up).

 

[figment_jii]

1) I've never been to Fantasmic. This will be totally new to me. We are thinking of doing the Hungry Bear dinner. Is it quite a bit different experience than if we pulled regular F! FP's? Will we need to stand if we get there early, or do most sit in that section? Would you suggest we go to the earlier show, or the later one? How early would you grab a spot for the 9 PM show?

I don't know that there is a huge difference in terms of the overall view for the F! FP and Hungry Bear viewing sections, other than the FP viewing area is to the right (when facing the island) and the Hungry Bear is to the left (the RBT and BB dining packages are in the middle between them). The FP viewing area is relatively small and more of the overall viewing area now seems given over to the standby. Technically, the Hungry Bear (and RBT) viewing areas are standing, but there have been several reports indicating that they've been able to sit down. So it might be one of those "it depends on the day" kind of things.

2) Main St. Vehicles...looks like they'll be back up and running when we are on our trip. I've never known where to stand to get on one of those...or how often they run. Is there a schedule for this, or is it totally random? Any tips on how to get on a horse carriage with my DW and kiddos (7, 5, 3)?

There isn't really a schedule per se, but they don't run during the parades (I can't remember for sure, but I also don't think they run after sun down). As long as they're running, it's pretty easy to board, just find the sign indicating where the vehicle will stop (the horse drawn trolley stops across from the train station in Town Square and across form the castle in the Hub) and wait for it to arrive. You cannot get on or off once the vehicle is in motion and they usually ask everyone to de-trolley when they've gotten to their stop.

3) Are there any tips on where to stand for fireworks so that we can be among the first to get on to PP when Fantasyland opens back up? I'm guessing in front of the castle...but was wondering if you had any tips on that as well. Also, I've heard that IASW is a good place to stand for Fireworks. Can anyone speak to that? I've only really watched fireworks from the Castle Hub and once in Main St.

Unless it's changed, they allow guests to start forming a line for PP before they've reopened Peter Pan. When FL re-opens, the CMs will escort the line to PP. When I last saw it, the line was forming near the Hat Shop in FL. I think if you come in from the castle side, you'll be at the end of the line.

I think IASW mall is the second best place to view fireworks, after Main Street. It's better than the RoA, but they both suffer some of the same drawbacks. I feel like the fireworks shows are really designed to viewed with the castle in view, so if you're watching from the mall, you'll have to turn to look back at the castle to see any of those effects (e.g., Tinkerbell flying). IaSW is a good option if you don't want to deal with the hassle/crowds on Main Street, but I felt like it there were some drawbacks to the overall viewing experience.

 

[BadPinkTink]

3) Are there any tips on where to stand for fireworks so that we can be among the first to get on to PP when Fantasyland opens back up? I'm guessing in front of the castle...but was wondering if you had any tips on that as well.

I did this in June 2017, I was the first person on Peter Pan when they reopened Fantasyland after the fireworks

1. You need to be in Fantasyland around 8pm, between the carousel and Toads Wild Ride.
2. Look on the ground for the line of covered holes, this is where they put up the rope barrier.
3. They will put the rope barrier up while the rides are still on, and not let anyone else enter
4. I sat on the low wall at the carousel facing the gates of Toads ride and watched the CMs
5. When they started to close the area I went over to the CM's putting up the rope barrier and starting asking about where the pre queue line would be.
6. They wouldnt say but just told me not to move. So I causally hung about at the hedge beside Toads Wild Ride gates
7. It happened really fast, one minute I was chatting to the CM's and next minute they had extended the rope barrier in front of me and to the right side of me.
8. To me left was the hedge, rope barrier infont of me and to the right of me creating a pen
9. Once this happened a huge queue formed before me. This all happened about 8.30pm I think.
10. Sooo many people came up to the Cms asking about the Peter Pan pre queue and were really disapointed to see about 50 people already in line.
11. The fireworks are at 9pm
12. You have a really unique view, as you are in Fantasyland, the fireworks are set off in front of you from The Castle and behind you from Toontown
13. You also get to see other cool stuff like the Fire Marshal doing his rounds on The Castle and a unique view of Tinkerbell and ash from the fireworks in the air
14. Once the fireworks had ended, the CMs have to wait for the Fire Marshal to give the all clear to reopen Fantasyland.
15. Once the all clear has been given, the CM's first move the Peterpan Pre Queue into the gated area of Toads Wild Ride. No one else is allowed into Fantasyland, everyone else is behind the main rope barrier
16. Then they start all the rides
17. Once the rides have been started and everything is working again, they move the people in the Peter Pan prequeue in the Toads gated area to the Pete Pan Queue
18. The CM goes first and then I was next and then one by one the rest of the people in the prequeue.
19. One by one we walked though the Peter Pan queue right to the very top. The CM who walked us in, then hands over to the ride CM's
20. And then I was first on Peter Pan after the fireworks

 

[FCDub]

5) Maxpass will be new to us. Is it possible to have the five of us in a party on MP and then select different rides? Or do all the members of the party have to select one ride together? I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who will want to ride Space Mountain (my daughter might try it)...but they freaking love Astro Blasters. Am I able to select a Space FP and the rest of the fam get the AB FP's (for example)? Or do we all need to select the same one every time?

You can all have different attractions. When you book a MaxPass FP, it will give you the option to select a FP party. Simply select the people you want and you can break up your group.

 

[HydroGuy]

I did this in June 2017, I was the first person on Peter Pan when they reopened Fantasyland after the fireworks

1. You need to be in Fantasyland around 8pm, between the carousel and Toads Wild Ride.
2. Look on the ground for the line of covered holes, this is where they put up the rope barrier.
3. They will put the rope barrier up while the rides are still on, and not let anyone else enter
4. I sat on the low wall at the carousel facing the gates of Toads ride and watched the CMs
5. When they started to close the area I went over to the CM's putting up the rope barrier and starting asking about where the pre queue line would be.
6. They wouldnt say but just told me not to move. So I causally hung about at the hedge beside Toads Wild Ride gates
7. It happened really fast, one minute I was chatting to the CM's and next minute they had extended the rope barrier in front of me and to the right side of me.
8. To me left was the hedge, rope barrier infont of me and to the right of me creating a pen
9. Once this happened a huge queue formed before me. This all happened about 8.30pm I think.
10. Sooo many people came up to the Cms asking about the Peter Pan pre queue and were really disapointed to see about 50 people already in line.
11. The fireworks are at 9pm
12. You have a really unique view, as you are in Fantasyland, the fireworks are set off in front of you from The Castle and behind you from Toontown
13. You also get to see other cool stuff like the Fire Marshal doing his rounds on The Castle and a unique view of Tinkerbell and ash from the fireworks in the air
14. Once the fireworks had ended, the CMs have to wait for the Fire Marshal to give the all clear to reopen Fantasyland.
15. Once the all clear has been given, the CM's first move the Peterpan Pre Queue into the gated area of Toads Wild Ride. No one else is allowed into Fantasyland, everyone else is behind the main rope barrier
16. Then they start all the rides
17. Once the rides have been started and everything is working again, they move the people in the Peter Pan prequeue in the Toads gated area to the Pete Pan Queue
18. The CM goes first and then I was next and then one by one the rest of the people in the prequeue.
19. One by one we walked though the Peter Pan queue right to the very top. The CM who walked us in, then hands over to the ride CM's
20. And then I was first on Peter Pan after the fireworks

Thanks for the very detailed summary!

FWIW I tried this once last year and I was not first but at the rope on the right hand side. Once they dropped that rope there was such a stampede of people going to the PP queue I judged I had a 20 minute wait from the people who managed to be in front. I decided to skip it.

 

[disneylover102]

I can answer 4 and 5.
4) Park as soon as they let you park. I think they generally only open the parking lot 1 hour before opening so make sure to be there by then. (6:45-7 is probably good)
5) You can select different rides. When you get a Fastpass through Maxpass, it asks who is in your party and you can select/deselect anyone who is linked to the account.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Where are you driving from?it would be better to stay at a m/Hotel on harbor and walk.

 

[flyingjay]

@smartlabelprint I'm staying with my Aunt in Placentia. I usually come in from Katella.

 

[Winnowill]

Fireworks from IaSW are okay, but not terrific. The projections are fine, but it's hard to watch both the projections and fireworks simultaneously, because the fireworks are going on behind and to the side. The castle and Main Street are far superior.

 

[cmpeter]

The busses from Toy Story start running 1 hour before park opening.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

We noticed the vehicles were on the outside of the first circle - so in front of City Hall and along that stretch between the entrances. The horse carriages were right across the street, by the benches. There are signs - just look up on the poles and you'll see them.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

You can board the vehicles and horse drawn carriage in front of the castle (at the hub) or in front of the train station on Main Street. I have never had any trouble getting on when I wanted to.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Regarding question 2: make sure to talk to the drivers about their vehicles! The drivers love sharing the history of the cars and the trolley drivers love, love, love sharing all about their beloved horses. We've gotten to know so much about the different horses and can recognize them by sight now, thanks to the loving descriptions from their drivers. Each horse has such a distinctive personality, and it's fascinating to learn about how much care goes into each animal. Walt loved the fire truck -- make sure to ask the driver about that one!

The vehicles run often from opening until about noon or so, maybe a bit later. If the weather is very warm, they may stop running a bit earlier. You can ask any driver how late they'll be running that day.