Couple of DCA and DL questions

[kron7777]

I am trying to plan a one long day at DCA for a group of 5 and some people that cannot walk a lot. So I am trying to plan accordingly to minimize walking.
Couple of questions.

1. I understand there is an entrance to the DCA at the Grand Californian Hotel. It would be very convenient for us to use since we are staying on West st at Katella av.
I am reading conflicting info about this entrance: some say it only for Hotel guests the whole day, others say after 11 am they would let in anyone.
What is the latest info? Will we be able to enter the park using this entrace in the evening?
Will we at least be able to exit the DCA using it and be able to return later thru the main entrance?


2. We won't have an Early Entrance privileges so will enter the park at 8 a.m on Wednesday , Aug 22.

So I am thinking about the following plan of actions:
We enter the park at 8 a.m.
Person 1 with all the tickets gets in line for the WOC FP.
Person 2 gets in line for the RSR FP.
The rest are walking slowly to TSMM and get in line and ride it.

At around 8.20 Person 1 gets WOC Fast passes and walks to to Person 2 and gives him all the tickets so that he gets RSR Fast passes.
After that Person 1 and 2 go to TSMM and meet the group.

Will that strategy work or am I missing something?


3. The touringplans indicates the crowd level will be down to 4.5 from current 9.8. Do you think it will make getting a good spot for WOC easier then currently when the crowds are high? I am thinking 10.15 pm show.
Don't really want to stand there for 2 hours before the show and there are 6 yo so I don't want her to be upset if she doesn't get a good view.

Should I make a reservation for Wine Country Trattoria or should I take chances with a FP considering it is the second show and the crowd level is lower?

4. If I decide to have a dinner at WCT and make a reservation for 5 p.m will I be able to ask them for tickets for the second show instead of the 9pm one?
Also, will we be able to see the Parade from the WCT?

5. DL question. We have a 3 day hopper ticket with one Magic Morning. Which we will start with Peter Pan and other Fantasyland rides and then will move to Tomorrowland and do all the rides there.
I have to choose which day to do this: Saturday , Aug, 18 (more crowded) or Tue, Aug 21 (less crowded). Which day is to use for MM?

All advice is appreciated,
Thanks.

 

[HydroGuy]

1. I understand there is an entrance to the DCA at the Grand Californian Hotel. It would be very convenient for us to use since we are staying on West st at Katella av.
I am reading conflicting info about this entrance: some say it only for Hotel guests the whole day, others say after 11 am they would let in anyone.
What is the latest info? Will we be able to enter the park using this entrace in the evening?
Will we at least be able to exit the DCA using it and be able to return later thru the main entrance?

You can always exit DCA thru the GCH. The issue is entering. And as you noted that is usually only an issue during morning hours.

2. We won't have an Early Entrance privileges so will enter the park at 8 a.m on Wednesday , Aug 22.

So I am thinking about the following plan of actions:
We enter the park at 8 a.m.
Person 1 with all the tickets gets in line for the WOC FP.
Person 2 gets in line for the RSR FP.
The rest are walking slowly to TSMM and get in line and ride it.

At around 8.20 Person 1 gets WOC Fast passes and walks to to Person 2 and gives him all the tickets so that he gets RSR Fast passes.
After that Person 1 and 2 go to TSMM and meet the group.

Will that strategy work or am I missing something?

That should work as long as the WOC FP person can easily reach the RSR FP person to pass off tickets.

3. The touringplans indicates the crowd level will be down to 4.5 from current 9.8. Do you think it will make getting a good spot for WOC easier then currently when the crowds are high? I am thinking 10.15 pm show.
Don't really want to stand there for 2 hours before the show and there are 6 yo so I don't want her to be upset if she doesn't get a good view.

Should I make a reservation for Wine Country Trattoria or should I take chances with a FP considering it is the second show and the crowd level is lower?

I would say Touring plans is wrong and note that they are still learning DLR and have a poor track record in many of our opinions.

WCT will not really reduce your wait time for WOC so don't do it unless you really like WCT.

In general WOC is not a good choice on a day trip because it requires so much time waiting to get a good spot where 6 year olds and smaller stature folks can see.

If you really want to see it and want to see the 10:15 show, you should plan to arrive in line at least 60 minutes before the show.

4. If I decide to have a dinner at WCT and make a reservation for 5 p.m will I be able to ask them for tickets for the second show instead of the 9pm one?
Also, will we be able to see the Parade from the WCT?

You should be able to see the parade from WCT. I am not sure whether you can request second show tickets.

But I think you should skip WCT and get regular FPs.

5. DL question. We have a 3 day hopper ticket with one Magic Morning. Which we will start with Peter Pan and other Fantasyland rides and then will move to Tomorrowland and do all the rides there.
I have to choose which day to do this: Saturday , Aug, 18 (more crowded) or Tue, Aug 21 (less crowded). Which day is to use for MM?

First day is best for MM - you have more energy and it is easier to get an early bed time the night before since you are not at a park.

And I see now you are not on a day trip so WOC will be worth it to see - if you get there early enough.

 

[Jkpark]

I would just add that if you want to see the second WOC, you won't want to get a FP first thing in the morning, as it will be for the first show. I would just get your RSR FP and get WOC later. Also- you will know your 6 yo better, but mine often falls asleep while waiting for WOC or Fantasmic. It is a long wait after a long day and she doesn't always make it to the actual show..

 

[abdgeek]

They usually have a CM standing near the entrance to CA at GCH checking for room keys. They don't check for room keys when leaving from CA.

When I did WOC I did the dinner package for the first show. Even with reserved standing, people were still in that area more than an hour ahead of time. You may want to check and see what time they allow people to start standing in the area. If you are up font you will get wet.

 

[kron7777]

You can always exit DCA thru the GCH. The issue is entering. And as you noted that is usually only an issue during morning hours.

That should work as long as the WOC FP person can easily reach the RSR FP person to pass off tickets.



I would say Touring plans is wrong and note that they are still learning DLR and have a poor track record in many of our opinions.

WCT will not really reduce your wait time for WOC so don't do it unless you really like WCT.
.

Yes, the touringplans is ridiculours regarding RSR. It shows return time 1 hour later if using FP. That is why I am asking questions here.

And I agree with WCT. It still requires waiting and there is no guarantee for best view. I was thinking about getting Picnic lunch boxes around the parade time. So we would kill several birds: get passes for the second WOC, get something to eat and watch the parade. But don't know yet.

Could you please elaborate:
1. If we exit around noon through GCH, will they stamp the hands? Or it does not really matter since we could enter again by showing our park hopper tickets?

2. Are you saying they might let us back in around 2 p.m. through GCH? Or is it 50/50? Actually, I will ask them when exiting the DCA.

3. What problem can arise when passing tickets to a person standing in the RSR FP line?

Also couple more questions:

4. I am reading the line for people with FP for RSRis around 45 minutes. Is it all the day like this or should I expect shorter line during the day?

5. Do they enforce return time at RSR or can we return much later than our window indicates?

Thanks.

 

[HydroGuy]

Could you please elaborate:
1. If we exit around noon through GCH, will they stamp the hands? Or it does not really matter since we could enter again by showing our park hopper tickets?

2. Are you saying they might let us back in around 2 p.m. through GCH? Or is it 50/50? Actually, I will ask them when exiting the DCA.

3. What problem can arise when passing tickets to a person standing in the RSR FP line?

Also couple more questions:

4. I am reading the line for people with FP for RSRis around 45 minutes. Is it all the day like this or should I expect shorter line during the day?

5. Do they enforce return time at RSR or can we return much later than our window indicates?

Thanks.

They will give you hand stamps if you exit DCA thru the GCH.

If you came back at 2PM they typically let you in thru the GCH entrance.

No problem passing tickets to RSR FP as long as you can reach them.

I missed my chance to ride RSR a couple weeks ago but I understand that FP return can be as short as 10 minutes or longer like 45.

They do not enforce RSR FP return times as of now.

 

[ArchOwl]

4. I am reading the line for people with FP for RSRis around 45 minutes. Is it all the day like this or should I expect shorter line during the day?

5. Do they enforce return time at RSR or can we return much later than our window indicates?

Thanks.

Was there last week and used FPs on three different occasions. The most we waited was 15 and the least we waited was 5.

Used late FPs everytime and there was no problem. Have fun!

ETA: I would actually encourage you to use at least one set of FPs at night. I think it is a really cool ride at night.

 

[abdgeek]

You have to get your hand stamped to re-enter either park even with the park hopper ticket.

 

[mgd]

Unless you want to make sure you get the blue section of the 9 show, you don't need to rush to get a fp. They last a long time. The important part is waiting to enter the area for your choice of view.

I was waiting for the 10:15 show while they were still giving out 9 at ~10am, and asked the cm when 10:15 would start. He said they can give it now, so I got in the fp queue, told the (different) cm at the fp machine that the other guy said I could get the 10:15 show now, he seemed confused, but asked some other cm and she somewhat begrudgingly swapped out the 9 yelllow they gave my tickets for handwritten 10:15 yellow without telling me I would be stuck with yellow. Otherwise I would have tried my luck later to get my own 10:15 blue. These cms were some of the least friendly I encountered. Worked out OK though and got a decent view.

I wonder if one ticket can get fp for both woc shows????

 

[kron7777]

From what I read, it is impossible. Only one WOC FP for a ticket. Those damn computers.

 

[wenrob]

I would get your RSR FPs before WOC FPs. The RSR FP line moves fairly quick and smoothly. You'd have plenty of time to get good WOC FPs . DD got us the blue section around 8:30am on Friday with no issues. If your are in line when they let you into DCA (7:30) for RSR passes you'll be out 8:15-8:30.

 

[kron7777]

I would get your RSR FPs before WOC FPs. The RSR FP line moves fairly quick and smoothly. You'd have plenty of time to get good WOC FPs . DD got us the blue section around 8:30am on Friday with no issues. If your are in line when they let you into DCA (7:30) for RSR passes you'll be out 8:15-8:30.

Makes sense. Thanks. Especially since I am shooting for the second WOC.
I am reading conflicting info regarding WOC FP. Some say the machine first issues FP for the first show and only after that for the second. But I read someone asked the CM to get a ticket for the second show while the FP for the first show were still be given out and the CM gave them FP for the second show. Anyone can confirm that is possible. I don't want to wait who knows how much time waiting for the FP for the second show to be distributed.

I was thinking about starting with the TSMM but I check touringplans and it says there wait time is 30 min at 8.20 am. So I decided to leave it to after the WOC when the lines are shorter and we are in that area anyway.
Are you saying they would let us into the park at 7.30 am and we will be able to walk to the TSMM and be there before 8 am?

Thanks.

 

[DLR29]

Makes sense. Thanks. Especially since I am shooting for the second WOC.
I am reading conflicting info regarding WOC FP. Some say the machine first issues FP for the first show and only after that for the second. But I read someone asked the CM to get a ticket for the second show while the FP for the first show were still be given out and the CM gave them FP for the second show. Anyone can confirm that is possible. I don't want to wait who knows how much time waiting for the FP for the second show to be distributed.

I was thinking about starting with the TSMM but I check touringplans and it says there wait time is 30 min at 8.20 am. So I decided to leave it to after the WOC when the lines are shorter and we are in that area anyway.
Are you saying they would let us into the park at 7.30 am and we will be able to walk to the TSMM and be there before 8 am?

Thanks.

I wouldn't trust touringplans with that wait time. My guess is that the TSMM line will be no more than 15 min at 8:20. TSMM even after (or during) World of Color is usually a 30-40 min wait just like the rest of the day.

They'll let you in at 7:30 and hold you by the Carthay Circle Theater. At 8, they'll drop the rope and you can probably be in line for TSMM around 8:05 (if you walk quickly).