Cars Land Plan - what do you think?

[onelilspark]

My Mom and I are headed to DLR next week (woo! )

We'll be arriving on the 25th (Saturday) and our first day at the parks will be the 26th (Sunday.) We'll be staying until the 30th (Thursday) but our last day at the parks will be the 29th (Wednesday.)

The parks open at 8am on Sunday, but 9am Monday-Wednesday. We'll have 4 day Park Hoppers, so 1 Magic Morning entry which can be used Sunday or Tuesday. We're coming in from the East Coast and we're fairly early risers to begin with.

So...knowing all of that...my plan is to save our MM until Tuesday and get to DCA at rope drop on Sunday. We'll immediately line up for Fastpasses to RSR and then we'll have the rest of the day to enjoy at a much more leisurely pace.

We'd like to ride RSR for the first time together, but after that we'll just do the Single Rider line if we'd like to do it agian.

We'll have a good solid 4 days to do everything we want between the two parks, but I don't want to get to Wednesday and be waiting in line 2 hours for RSR because we didn't plan ahead for it.

Other things to note: Fantasmic! is only being shown Sunday of our trip. And Haunted Mansion closes on Monday, so we also need to hit that on Sunday as well. Oh, and while I've been before, my Mom has not. We're both adults and we have no children with us.

So with all of that considered...would you stick to my plan of rope drop on Sunday and get Fastpasses for RSR? Or would use the MM on Sunday to get into DL at 7am since I can guarantee we'll be ready to go by then? If you'd pick DL for Sunday, what day would you do RSR and how would you plan it? Or if you'd still enter DCA on Sunday, would you not get Fastpasses and approach riding RSR differently?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Pesky]

By no means the expert here, and I'm sure the regulars will weigh in but in all the threads I've read about MMH, the advice is generally to use it sooner than later. Theory is that as you go into your trip you get more tired and less likely to rise at the crack of dawn to use the MMH.

 

[Girimama33]

If it was me, I would do MM at DL on Sunday and watch F! that night. Like Pesky said...Use it early in your trip.
You may want to consider the F! Dessert package, but it may be sold out already for your night.
I would plan DCA on Monday morning for rope drop and get a RSR FP first thing. Ride it together the first time and use SR line the rest of the time. If the lines are shorter for MJJ or LFT, I would get those out of the way before RSR.

My thinking is Sunday is going to be busier for DCA due to locals, AP holders, etc. Might as well enjoy DL, and take on DCA during the weekdays where there is likely to be less crowds.

 

[Brisal73]

You have multiple days so don't rush it. Go to Disneyland on Sunday and California Adventure on Saturday.

If you see Fantasmic wait for the 2nd show and avoid the first show. You can even ride Manison while the first show is playing. Once the first show is done, go down to the viewing area and secure your spot right before the fireworks start.

For California Adventure on Sunday. Get there at least a half hour before opening. The RSR Fastpass line starts to queue up at this time. Have one person get the Fastpass for Racers while the other gets in line for Luigi's Tires.
Meet up in the line for Luigi's Tires. There are locations behind the building where you can easily join each other. Once that is done go to Paradise Pier and see all of the attractions there. Toy Story Mania being the first one.

Also look for the small print time on the RSR FP for when you can get your next Fastpass. It is something that is different from most Fastpasses.

 

[DisneyMommy403]

I was going to say pretty much the same thing as Girimama...

Utilize the MM on Sunday, and save RSR for a weekday morning rope drop.

but most of all, HAVE AN AWESOME TIME!

 

[Girimama33]

You have multiple days so don't rush it. Go to Disneyland on Sunday and California Adventure on Saturday.

If you see Fantasmic wait for the 2nd show and avoid the first show. You can even ride Manison while the first show is playing. Once the first show is done, go down to the viewing area and secure your spot right before the fireworks start.

For California Adventure on Sunday. Get there at least a half hour before opening. The RSR Fastpass line starts to queue up at this time. Have one person get the Fastpass for Racers while the other gets in line for Luigi's Tires.
Meet up in the line for Luigi's Tires. There are locations behind the building where you can easily join each other. Once that is done go to Paradise Pier and see all of the attractions there. Toy Story Mania being the first one.

Also look for the small print time on the RSR FP for when you can get your next Fastpass. It is something that is different from most Fastpasses.

According to the OP, Saturday is not a planned park day for them...it is a travel day.

 

[rokstedy]

I've never done a MM or EMH before myself. Are the fast passes for RSR open to MM/EMH guests before regular opening?

 

[onelilspark]

Thanks all. Yes, Saturday is a travel day, so no parks that day.

 

[brenda1966]

Sunday morning, early entry at Disneyland is my favorite time of all in the Disney parks!

I'd start my trip of there. Simply magical.

You have plenty of time to devote to Carsland. I wouldn't want to start my trip off by standing in long lines at Carsland. Start it off in Walt's park.

I like the idea of being near Haunted Mansion for the first Fantasmic. We normally watch the fireworks from the hub, and then join the masses of people trying to get in for the second F!. But with limited F! showings, I think being back there is a good strategy.

Line up Monday for rope drop at DCA and get your fastpass then.