Critique my tour plan

[kermit116]

Below is our tentative tour plan. We only have one day to do DLR & DCA, so we are trying to hit many rides, including those that are unique to Disneyland and/or different from their WDW counterparts.

Here's the background:

The weekend day we're going DCA will be open 10am-9pm, and DLR will be open 9am-12am (w extra magic hours in the morning). It's supposed to be a medium-crowd day. (Touring Plans has it as a 4 out of 10)

We're driving in from about 1 hour away the day of our visit.

We are a group of 4 adults willing to hustle to get to rides, but we don't need to hit every single ride.

We're on a budget so we'll likely just be snacking and getting fast food for meals.

We can arrive at any time, but since we are trying to stay late we're planning to a little before 10am and just go straight to DCA first.

Here's the plan & questions I have:

1. Can we get Fastpasses for a ride right after we get Fastpasses for WOC?

2. Can we use Fastpasses AFTER the time stated on the actual pass? For example, if we get Fastpasses that say we can ride from 12pm-1pm, can we ride later in the evening? (Not trying to open a big debate here, just looking for info)

3. Do you all think my plan below will be possible?

4. Do I need to make adjustments to the order of things?

5. Should I cut some rides?

10am – California Adventure:

-get Fastpasses for World of Color
-get Fastpasses for Toy Story Mania
-ride Little Mermaid Undersea Adventure
-see Muppets 3D
-(?) get Fastpasses for Soarin’
-ride Toy Story Mania

Disneyland:

-get Fastpasses for Indiana Jones
-ride Pirates of the Caribbean
-ride Haunted Mansion
-ride Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
-ride Big Thunder Mountain
-get Fastpasses for Peter Pan
-ride Indiana Jones
-see Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Thru
-ride Snow White
-ride Storybook Land boats
-ride Alice in Wonderland
-ride Matterhorn
-get Fastpasses for Space Mountain
-ride It’s a Small World
-ride Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
-ride Space Mountain

Evening – back to California Adventure:

-ride Monster’s Inc.
-ride Soarin’
-9:15pm World of Color show

We can go back to Disneyland for another ride or two after WOC, but I assume we'll be pretty tired and probably just want to leave after the show.

 

[DisneyMomof2inSLC]

Unfortunately, there are not fast passes for Toy Story or Peter Pan. Hydro Guy has a great strategy in one of the threads, basically it is that you should start at opening time at Disneyland. I would recommend that too. California Adventure is usually less crowded than Disneyland.

 

[kermit116]

Unfortunately, there are not fast passes for Toy Story or Peter Pan. Hydro Guy has a great strategy in one of the threads, basically it is that you should start at opening time at Disneyland. I would recommend that too. California Adventure is usually less crowded than Disneyland.

Okay, thanks for the info. I was going based on my assumptions from WDW. Good to have this info before we go!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

One thing you do need to know that rides that are very popular at WDW may not be at Disneyland.

Perfect example is Winnie the Pooh. I've waited forever for WDW Pooh, I've never waited more than one minute in DL. No joke...spring break, walk on.

Other examples....Star Tours is very popular at DL. I was amazed when I went to WDW a couple of weeks ago and rode ST five times in a row. They didn't even make us leave our shuttle. Absolutely no wait at WDW...can be a big wait at DL. It's a Small World is popular at DL, not WDW. Jungle Cruise is usually a walk on at DL. Tiki Room is usually a wait at DL. Dumbo...never a long line at DL. You know the hoops you go through at WDW...They don't call it Dumbo or Die for nothing!

A touring plan is a must at WDW, not so much at DL. It is more like an overall strategy. The most important..get there early. You will be amazed how quiet things are at DL in the first couple hours after opening.

Ride slow loaders early (like the Subs), fast loaders like Pirates and HM can wait for busier times.

If DL opens a hour or two before DCA, head to DL, grab FPs and ride the rides that typically have waits at DL....Peter Pan, Nemo Subs, Indiana. Then head over to DCA at opening. Grab Soarin FPs on your way to WOC FPs. Then go ride Toy Story or California Screamin. Toy Story seems to have a big push of riders in the morning, then it's pretty steady. It isn't at all like the incredible scene at WDW. It is a popular ride, but it isn't crazy.

Just to give you some ideas....

-get Fastpasses for World of Color-yes, or order a picnic lunch online that includes FPs
-get Fastpasses for Toy Story Mania-no FP, just ride
--ride Little Mermaid Undersea Adventure-never a wait, always walked on
-see Muppets 3D-no wait, other side of park, save it
-(?) get Fastpasses for Soarin’-grab on your way into the park, temporary entrance
-ride Toy Story Mania

Disneyland:

-get Fastpasses for Indiana Jones-good idea
-ride Pirates of the Caribbean-never a long wait, save it
-ride Haunted Mansion-save for busier times
-ride Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh-walk on, save for later
-ride Big Thunder Mountain-never wait in the mornings, good choice for FPs later
-get Fastpasses for Peter Pan-this is always our first ride of the morning, no FP
-ride Indiana Jones
-see Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Thru-no wait, just walk through anytime
-ride Snow White-never a wait
-ride Storybook Land boats-this can get a wait, ride in the morning, slow loader
-ride Alice in Wonderland-ride in the morning, never really a long wait
-ride Matterhorn-will this be open? if so, ride in the morning
-get Fastpasses for Space Mountain--Don't forget Star Tours FPs
-ride It’s a Small World
-ride Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
-ride Space Mountain


Hope this helps! Have fun!

 

[miss.potatohead]

I don't know when you are travelling but these are a list of refurbs/closures in Jan/Feb incase they have any influence in your touring plans.

Disneyland
Jan. 9 – June 14, 2012: The Matterhorn Bobsleds will be closed for refurbishment.
Jan. 23 – Feb. 2, 2012: it’s a small world will be closed for refurbishment.
Jan. 23 – Feb. 17, 2012: Sailing Ship Columbia will be closed for refurbishment.
Jan. 24-24, 2012: Davy Crockett Canoe Docks will be closed for refurbishment.

DCA
Jan. 9-27, 2012: The Redwood Challenge Creek Trail will be closed for refurbishment.
Jan. 23 – March 2, 2012: Grizzly River Run will be closed for refurbishment.
Jan. 23-27, 2012: Soarin’ Over California – Theater A will be closed for refurbishment.
Jan. 30 – Feb. 3, 2012 Soarin’ Over California will be closed for refurbishment.