Cannot rope drop anymore; need new strategy

[hyperminimalism]

Buy MaxPass. It really helped us maximize our touring time during our Disneyland trip.

This is my suggestion. Coming to the park at 10 am puts you with the other people who tend to show up around that time, which is quite a bit more. But having MaxPass will give you the option to grab some FastPasses once you hit that gate and you're in the parks. I feel like it'll give you an edge up without having to feel rushed.

 

[asumom]

This superthread will be very helpful (ask any questions there!): "Maxpass/Fastpass: an overview and some strategy" by @Skyegirl1999 - www.disboards.com/threads/maxpass-fastpass-an-overview-and-some-strategy.3726246/. If you choose to request a DAS (and receive one), it can work very well together with MP.

Thanks for the information. I won't need the DAS unless there are unforseen circumstances, like a gout flare! I hope not though. Already did that once (wheelchair and walking boot). The cast members were awesome with return times for space mountain (so I didn't have to walk the entire queue) and letting me go in the back way of Indiana Jones (again, saving me some walking, but I didn't even ask for that, they offered!).

 

[asumom]

If you have a DAS pass it will still be super easy. Just use FP when its available. If you don't know the crowd patterns...

For Disneyland
8am-850am: Is prime time to visit the Fantasyland attractions (except for Peter Pan unless you rope drop)
9am-930am: Toontown. This area opens at 9am, you can easily do it all in 30 minutes
If you do not want to do Toontown go to...
9am-930am: Finding Nemo Submarines
I would get a FP for Matterhorn first since you will be closest to Toontown or the Nemo Submarines.
Whichever you don't do you can do it later in the day.
930am-10am: Jungle Cruise
10am-1030am: Pirates of the Caribbean
After 1030am: start going back to the FP attractions you have yet to do
Star Wars Land can be done between 1-3 or at night.
FP order = Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters, and It's a Small World

For Disney California Adventure
8am-830am: Is prime time to visit the non - FP Attractions in Cars Land, start with Maters', then Luigi's.
Make Toy Story Midway Mania your first FP attraction
830am-10am: Head to Pixar Pier and ride Pixar Pal Around, then Emotional Whirlwind, Jellyfish, Goofy, Zephyr, and Symphony Swings
Whichever you miss don't do you can do it later in the day.
10am-on: Start to use your FPs and ride the Little Mermaid
FP order = TSMM, Incredicoaster, Racers, Guardians, Soarin, Grizzly

ME

Thanks for taking the time to put that all together. We've been many times, but crowd patterns do change so I appreciate your input. Going to keep an eye on Galaxy's Edge crowds as well. Won't be getting the DAS unless there are unforeseen circumstances. I do like how Disney has made that fair for people who do need it now, with the return times and more queues that accommodate wheelchairs.

 

[asumom]

Life is too short for me to get up that early on what is supposed to be a vacation. I feel like Disneyland is still a place where you don't have to plan everything as rigidly as WDW - thank goodness. I can't wait to go to Disneyland again (been a few years now).

YES! Our last trip was to WDW. (wasn't on dialysis at that time) LOVE LOVE WDW , but the planning makes me nuts! First time making fast passes on the phone. Mixed emotions. Very convenient, but hated that I seemed to have that phone out too much, refreshing, refreshing to get a last minute great fast pass.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I have found that if we get up to do rope drop, we get tired and cannot stay as late as we would like. We do 5 days and never miss anything we want to do. The use MaxPass and the only reservations we make are for Carnation Cafe and Ralph Brennan's. The biggest problem we have is figuring out how to eat all the good things we want to eat when we only have 15 meals to do it in.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Thanks for taking the time to put that all together. We've been many times, but crowd patterns do change so I appreciate your input. Going to keep an eye on Galaxy's Edge crowds as well. Won't be getting the DAS unless there are unforeseen circumstances. I do like how Disney has made that fair for people who do need it now, with the return times and more queues that accommodate wheelchairs.

Wheelchair use and das are not the same.