CA Adventure - 1 day strategy?

[Princess_Kirky]

Hi All,

We will be spending one day at CA Adventure during week of the 4th of July. I have some questions regarding best touring strategy. We only have one day there and want to take it all in but have some time for a decently slower pace. Grandma, Mom, Uncle, Aunt and Niece so a wide range in ages...

Questions:
1.) Character Dining: Worth it or No? Ariel's is the only in-park option. It'd be fun but are we better off skipping. Niece is 10 and had fun at Minnie's last year. Are there enough other character meetings in the park to make skipping this alright?
2.) FP - RSR first, then Soarin' anything else? I don't mind being a FP runner Love paper FP!!!
3.) Best QS dining we just have to try? Best times to hit those?
4.) Other hidden gem's we can't miss?

 

[Winnowill]

With just one day, I don't know that I'd take the time to do Ariel's, but that's your call. There aren't quite as many characters at DCA as there are at DL, but there are plenty to get to meet. If you do go ahead with Ariel's, ask for a table by the water.

FP is available for Screamin', Soarin', RSR, GRR, and Goofy (maybe by the 4th of July TSMM will have FP, too). I assume the GotG ride will have FP, too, and it'll be new enough that they may come at a premium. As always, watch the app. My strategy for a morning would be: rope drop, get RSR FPs, then ride TSMM and Screamin' without - twice each if you want, before getting a FP for Soarin'. Ride RSR with your FP. Ride Goofy and Little Mermaid, and whatever else you want while waiting for your Soarin' FP window to open. Get FP for GotG. Depending on how fast it looks like GotG FPs are going, you might want to switch Soarin' and GotG.