OK - I guess I didn't specify in my first post - we are going for the
first time this summer.
Have a great time at Walt's park. 
I was simply commenting based on the research I made. When I was talking about planning strategies, I am talking about big picture planning. For a WDW trip, I have a spreadsheet set up 180 days in advance with which parks we are doing which days, as well as when to do DTD and Water parks, plus scheduling all our dining reservations.
Us planners love to plan. 
I would do the same.
For DL, I haven't done that at all. I booked a hotel, and that's it. I wasn't meaning to imply that a park touring strategy is not needed, as you point out. Clearly it still is, because the crowds can be even worse there than at WDW. (I must say, thank you for mentioning that locals show up in the evening though - I hadn't thought of that!)
I was referring to the locals coming out at night (& it having an impact on touring strategies) at holiday times (all December & most of October) & all summer & during spring break (3-10 - 4-20). Also virtually all Friday & Saturday nights (all year), the parks will seem a little more crowded because of local AP'ers out for a fun evening.
But not at night during the week at other times.
But in the end, the level of planning is much, much less for DL.
I agree, but a good plan can save the 2-4 day visitor hours of extra line waiting & increase his productivity by 100% or more. (which gives a family MORE time during the crowded times to smell the roses, rest, or just leisurely poke around. 
)
I also am sorry I said it would take 30 minutes to get from a point inside DCA to Blue Bayou instead of 10 minutes. My point there was if I want to do the same thing at WDW - I leave 90 minutes, not 10-30 minutes.
I was using your post to show the first time visitor (who might be reading this) HOW CLOSE the two parks are to each other. Hop off Soarin' in DCA & be in line for your reservation at Blue Bayou (in DL) 5-7 minutes later. 
Maybe we have no hope of "getting it done in 3 days" my comment was something about we are giving ourselves 3 days, though I think I would've preferred 4. (The OP looked like they were going to try a day and a half.)
A "planner" like you & me can get ALOT done at DLR in 3 days. (but it helps to be productive, have a plan, be prepared to bail on the plan (& have a plan B) if needed. (this is when park hopping can come into play).
We are using this as a layover on our way to a "trip of a lifetime" to Australia, I wanted to spend 2-3 days in California in both directions, so we have 3 days to see what we can see. Being WDW vets, certain things that are the same (Star Tours, Soarin, TSMM) can be skipped, while we want to have the oppurtunity for seeing the things that are alternative versions (Pirates, Space M., HM) and those that are completely new to us (Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, etc.)
Don't forget Toady, Storybookland, Alice & Pinocchio!
We certainly will be up for park opening each day,as with the time change we will be lucky if we can sleep past 5 AM.
Me neither.
I know we won't miss Alice and Storybook land because our first day is a Magic Morning,
Storybookland isn't running during MM.
and we are going to hit the Nemo Subs first thing, and then head directly to fantasyland via the Matternhorn and will likely not leave until we've ridden everything.
No, no, no & no. Don't waste any early morning on Nemo. There is a MM ride order......follow it. It's not an opinion, it's a refined strategy. Peter Pan is first (always first). After that, slight variations of the ride order are acceptible (but frowned upon). 
Save Nemo for an afternoon when you need a 20 min. line for resting & a 10 min. nap. 
(WE are no strangers to early-morning touring and the gathering of FP for later.)
Actually - one thing about DL that sort of amazed me is that there is not a single FP attraction in all of Fantasyland, and I think only 7 FP attractions in the park.
Don't need them if you follow the ride order. 
I'm going to add another comments: DL vets seem to want to convince Newbies that they should hop. You often here "I hop back and forth between the parks three of four times a day". That makes a lot of sense for vets,
It makes sense for anyone who wants to tour productively. The opening of CarsLand may change some things......but....the goal will still be to tour & collect FPs early (for use later). DCA is merely "CaliforniaLand". When the other 4-5 "lands" (in DL) get crowded in the mid day, we stroll into CaliforniaLand aka DCA. Some of us on our way to our DLR hotel.
You don't have to "hop back & forth". But many of us start in DL, spend some time in DCA (& spend the evening in DL). Maybe one of the days (especially with CarsLand opening up), you might want to start in DCA hop to DL & then end it in DCA.
But 2 out of 3 days of a productive Diser will include starting in DL, hopping to DCA (when it gets crowded)....then maybe a break..... & then back to DL.
but I really think for a newbie it makes more sense to focus on one park one day, the other park the second day, and THEN hop after that to see attractions you missed or re-visit favorites. The exception would be maybe to hop to see F! or WoC in the park you are not in that day.
You're over thinking it. First map out your first 3 hours of each day (for maximum productivity).....then plug in the events you want to do (without worrying about where they are), & then you'll have huge blocks of time with NOTHING planned. Great.
Use those huge blocks to hop (if crowded).....or not. Doesn't matter what park you're in....it's a 5 min. walk.
If you get stuck, ask folks here.
