Can I get some DL scheduling/tour plan advice?

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I have never been to DL before, so I may need a lot of guidance.

I am going to purchase a 3 day ticket to be used Tuesday May 8, Wednesday May 9 and Friday May 11. It is just my BF and I, we are both 29 and in fairly good shape so touring all day won't be a big problem.

We really want to try to experience every ride at DL and DCA, and if I understand correctly there are several suggested morning rides that are either slow loaders or just have longer lines, so please let me know what you would add/take away from my plans.

The Tuesday hours are: DL 9-9 and DCA 10-8. On Tuesday my plan was to enter the park at opening (I can't enter at 8am for the extra morning hour if I am not staying at a DL hotel, right?) and go straight to Indiana Jones and then on to Fantasyland. I am going to purchase the WOC picnic package so I can get the reserved seating. We are just going to have CS for the other meals. I plan on going over to DCA at some point today, but I'm not sure if I need to hop over at park opening to hit some of the heavy hitter rides. The day is going to end with WOC at 8:45 pm.

The Wednesday hours are: DL 9-9 and DCA 10-8. Wednesday I am thinking to head straight to the Finding Nemo subs at opening. From there I really have no other ride plan, except try to hit things we have missed on Tuesday. We have a Blue Bayou lunch reservation for 11:30. My only other concrete plan was to try to catch the Magic Memories and You show at 8:30. However, if WOC does not show for whatever reason on Tuesday we would try for that.

We are taking Thursday off (Hollywood day) so that we can come back on Friday to see all the nighttime shows that are not offered during the week.

The Friday hours are: DL 8-11 and DCA 10-10. Today we hope to have most, if not all, of the rides and shows finished and to just do favorites. On a side note...I think the only parade/show/entertainment I am really interested in is the Aladdin show. We aren't huge parade people, but please someone let me know if I am missing out on something great. Friday night I am going to try very hard to see the Remember fireworks at 9:30 and then to get into the second Fantasmic showing at 10:30. Anyone have any tips for accomplishing this? Friday is also a grad night, so the crowds may be heavier.

Anyway, if anyone has stuck through me on this, pleeeease let me know any criticisms or advice.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

The Tuesday hours are: DL 9-9 and DCA 10-8. On Tuesday my plan was to enter the park at opening (I can't enter at 8am for the extra morning hour if I am not staying at a DL hotel, right?) and go straight to Indiana Jones and then on to Fantasyland.

A three-day parkhopper ticket includes one Magic Morning, so you can enter DL at 8am on Tuesday morning.

Here's DLR29's Magic Morning Superthread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

The above thread includes a suggested "touring plan strategy" for MM:

What's the best "touring plan strategy" for MM?
Assuming you are doing Fantasyland for your MM, in order to have the shortest lines, this strategy is recommended:
(0). Arrive before MM begins and run straight to...
1. Peter Pan (always first!!!)
2. Dumbo
3. Matterhorn/Mr. Toad/Alice
4. Pinocchio/Snow White/Mad Tea Party/King Arthur's Carrousel

 

[S. S. Columbia]

The Wednesday hours are: DL 9-9 and DCA 10-8. Wednesday I am thinking to head straight to the Finding Nemo subs at opening.

On the way to Finding Nemo, I would get a FastPass for Star Tours or Space Mtn.

 

[ocmommy]

Friday will definitely be your most crowded day. You might try to do Disneyland in the morning and Calif Adv in the afternoon. CA ADV doesn't get as crowded.

Finding Nemo or Indiana Jones is your best bet first thing in the morning.

You can walk into the Aladdin show 5 minutes before, don't bother getting there early or waiting in line unless you want a specific seat. In the back of the theater you can't see some "special effects" I don't want to ruin it for you!

Good luck!

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Friday night I am going to try very hard to see the Remember fireworks at 9:30 and then to get into the second Fantasmic showing at 10:30. Anyone have any tips for accomplishing this?

Here's a previous thread:

fireworks and fantasmic?
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1699269

And here's the key post:

Yes, I have done it and it is not very hard to see the late F! showing. We saw the RDCT fireworks in the hub from over in front of the Frontierland entrance (on the left side of the hub as you face the castle). After RDCT ends you just head thru Fronterierland. One thing of which to be aware is that DL usually sets up a traffic management system in the hub before RDCT starts. This system in my experience directs everyone counter-clockwise around the hub in a one-way traffic lane. After RDCT they try to keep this going for awhile and hence if you are too far away from the Frontierland entrance you might have to go against one-way traffic to get there which might be difficult. My advice is before RDCT starts ask one of the CMs who directs traffic in the hub where you should be in order to make it to Frontierland and F! and go with that.

-HydroGuy

 

[DLR29]

I agree with everything said above. As S.S. Columbia said, you will be entitled to 1 MM with a 3 day park hopper. Lots of info is in my MM superthread posted.

Also, WoC Picnics don't come with "reserved seating"...at least the term is misleading. WoC picnics come with a FastPass that allows you to see the show from the designated viewing area. Everyone who watches WoC from the main viewing area has to have a FP. The FPs that come with the picnic meal are no different than the FPs that you get at the WoC FP machines. Just so you know and you aren't expecting anything different.

 

[Eeee-va]

If the top priority is to ensure you ride everything once, make sure to take advantage of Fastpasses. A lot of people actually advise not to bother riding Fastpass rides in the early morning--instead, they say, get a Fastpass for the ride, go ride some things that don't offer Fastpass, and then come back to the Fastpass ride in the afternoon. That's a valid strategy if the parks are busy and if you only want to ride the Fastpass rides once per day. If you want to ride the Fastpass rides multiple times in that day, however, your best strategy is probably still to ride those rides early (getting a Fastpass to use later when possible).

Indy in particular will be much faster first thing in the morning than it will be later in the day with a Fastpass. However, Indy also offers Single Rider, which in many cases is actually faster than Fastpass. So if you are OK with riding not next to your boyfriend (and possibly in a different car than him), single rider is a great way to go.

Don't quote me, but I think your first 2 days may not be terribly crowded. If that is the case, Fastpasses won't be as important as they would be on a busy day (like your Friday). I still always grab a Fastpass when I can, though--as long as they accept late returns (and they currently do, with no news saying otherwise) it never hurts to have some extra FPs.

I wouldn't personally make the Magic, the Memories and You show a high priority...I saw it and it's fine, but I wouldn't rush to see it again. If you see it, great, but if you're doing something interesting somewhere else, I would not personally cut it short to rush to see that show.

Have a great trip!

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Also, WoC Picnics don't come with "reserved seating"...at least the term is misleading. WoC picnics come with a FastPass that allows you to see the show from the designated viewing area. Everyone who watches WoC from the main viewing area has to have a FP. The FPs that come with the picnic meal are no different than the FPs that you get at the WoC FP machines. Just so you know and you aren't expecting anything different.

Oh really? Yeah I totally thought that the picnic meal would get me the same kind of seating that a reservation package at Ariel's would. hmm. Now I am wondering if I should fork up the money for Ariel's WOC package.

Hmm, so it sounds like for Aladdin don't bother time getting there early but try to be able to sit in the middle (not in the back).

Oooh and that is awesome, I do get an early entry. Looks like I'll do that Tuesday, and do Fantasyland during the early entry.

It looks like the Magic Memories & You show may be out anyway, I just applied for the Conan O'Brien ticket lottery and the only night I could try for was Wednesday, so we may be leaving the parks early.

That is also a good point about single rider line, I think I'd like to at least ride Indy first side by side so we could have the fun experience of seeing each other's impressions, but if we go on it twice (I'm sure we will) the single rider line may be the best way to go.

Thank you everyone that is all real good advice

 

[Eeee-va]

Dining at Ariel's will not get you reserved seating either--just reserved standing. Some people say they get the Ariel's reserved standing and are able to show up for World of Color a few minutes before the show and see fine. I've heard of others who have gotten the Ariel's reserved standing and showed up well before the show yet did not get a good viewing spot.

Either way, if you want a sit-down meal anyway, doing Ariel's for the Reserved Standing FPs is not a bad idea. But sit-down meals take up time that could be spent in the parks, so unless you wanted to eat at Ariel's Grotto anyway I'm not sure I'd recommend it.