Best strategy on which rides to go on first when park opens?

[Matrixleos]

My family will be staying at a hotel that's just a 5 minute walk from the park entrances. We are planning to wake up early, have a quick breakfast/coffee and be at the main park entrances before the parks open. If it helps, we'll be at the Parks late July on a Thursday and Friday (hoping to avoid the weekend crowds). Wanting to take advantage of entering the parks as it just opens, I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for Disneyland.

Two options I've seen messages recommend are either go to Fantasyland first and finish all those rides before 11am where it starts to get crowded.

or

Head straight to Frontierland/New Orleans Square to do Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates and Haunted Mansion rides while the park just opens and the lines are short. Although this strategy, won't put us in Fantasyland till after 11am (especially if we also do Splash Mountain). Then we're at the mercy of the crowns at Fantasyland.

For Disney California Adventures, I'm assuming head straight to Soarin as the park opens, right?

Which options would you recommend being the best ways to start the day and do as many rides before it gets crowded?

 

[SeaDis]

Great recent post and @DLRExpert is a great Park strategist!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/disneyland-park-opening-strategy-5-13.3837037/

 

[Winnowill]

For Disney California Adventures, I'm assuming head straight to Soarin as the park opens, right?

Which options would you recommend being the best ways to start the day and do as many rides before it gets crowded?

I don't know that I'd head to Soarin' first at DCA. Soarin' takes so long to get through, it's a waste of good morning time. Our strategy usually was to get a MP for RSR when we got in, get in the GotG line, then head to Pixar Pier for Incredicoaster and TSMM. In the absence of MP, we'd probably hit RSR first, then GotG, then Pixar Pier.

 

[coaches24]

We will be in DL park for 3 of our 4 days in early June and right now my plan is to start in a different area each day just to try it out. First day we will probably head left to Indy, POTC, HM, BTMM etc. and then head over to fantasy land and such. Another day we will likely start in FL first and do the rides that we like there before heading to wherever the lines are shortest. And another day we will probably go do space and ST first and maybe ride those more than once before the lines get longer if possible. Its all just thoughts right now. Things can and often do change once in the parks and seeing the reality of the situation that day.

For our DCA day, it will be June 5th so we will for sure head to Avengers land first like everyone else I'm sure. Then we will head to cars land and SOC after that. We aren't at all worried about the lines as we will be excited to be back in the parks and will make the best of whatever the situation ends up being for us.

 

[DLRExpert]

For Disney California Adventures, I'm assuming head straight to Soarin as the park opens, right?
Which options would you recommend being the best ways to start the day and do as many rides before it gets crowded?

By July we might see the return of MaxPass.
When Spidey opens, I am hoping for a Virtual Queue.

Right now
I would do Soarin first at park opening, then Paradise Pier with Fun Wheel first, then Toy Story Midway Mania.
Racers is usually busy at the beginning of the day. Keep an eye on wait times when the Park Hopping time happens, That is when I usually see a nice drop in wait times and usually hit up Racers and Guardians.

ME