Daytrip to DCA a few days before Christmas

[megankj]

I live in San Diego, and am looking to make a daytrip with my SIL to DCA the week before Christmas- likely Wed 12/21 or Thurs 12/22. I've been to the park once years ago (Guardians was there, but Pixar Pier had not been rethemed), and she never has (though we've been to DL and the WDW parks). We're both in our 30s, and it's possible-though unlikely- my brother (also 30s) may join us.

We're hoping to get a good sampling of rides, along with some holiday spirit. We're prepared to make a really long day of it- hopefully arriving in time for rope drop as long as traffic cooperates, and staying through WOC if not park closing. We'll get G+ and play ILLs by ear, but are willing to do so if needed. Ideally I'd like us to hit at least: Webslingers, Guardians, RSS, Incredicoaster, Soarin, TSMM, and then whatever else we can fit in, along with carving out time for a good bit of the Festival of the Holidays entertainment, Avengers Campus shows, and enjoying some food, drinks, and decorations/lights.

Is it likely to be too busy to manage all that, assuming we're fairly nimble? Having recently moved from the East Coast, I would have never even considered going to WDW so close to the holiday- but I've got a vacation day to burn by the end of the year, and she's a teacher who's already on her holiday break by then- so it's the first time the stars have alligned. Plus, having recently moved to this place with year-round nice weather, I expect I'll need to seek out some holiday experiences so I actually feel like it's Christmas!

I'd love any thoughts or pointers you might have to make the most of our day! Thanks in advance.

 

[Aspencreek]

DCA has less to do in it that DL by far, which is good for a 1 day trip. I think if you get in early and stay late plus use G+, you should be able to do everything on your list (assuming the rides don't break down even more than usual.) Probably won't need ILL but you should be able to get by with just LLs I'd think. Especially if you don't mind doing Single Rider where available. That is a MASSIVE time saver. For instance on RSR we have found that single rider averages about 15-25 mins single vs 60-120 normal line. Only downside is you may feel like a hitchhiker that got picked up by some nice family, but the time saving is worth it when crowded. So use the LLs on the bigger must-do rides that don't have Single, use Single on the ones that do if lines are long (RSR, Grizzly, Webslinger, Goofy), and make sure to allow some time to do Animation Academy, Avengers campus, etc.

 

[megankj]

DCA has less to do in it that DL by far, which is good for a 1 day trip. I think if you get in early and stay late plus use G+, you should be able to do everything on your list (assuming the rides don't break down even more than usual.) Probably won't need ILL but you should be able to get by with just LLs I'd think. Especially if you don't mind doing Single Rider where available. That is a MASSIVE time saver. For instance on RSR we have found that single rider averages about 15-25 mins single vs 60-120 normal line. Only downside is you may feel like a hitchhiker that got picked up by some nice family, but the time saving is worth it when crowded. So use the LLs on the bigger must-do rides that don't have Single, use Single on the ones that do if lines are long (RSR, Grizzly, Webslinger, Goofy), and make sure to allow some time to do Animation Academy, Avengers campus, etc.

Thanks! Yes, we're absolutely fine using Single Rider where it's available. Is it fairly well marked, or should I plan ahead so I know which rides offer it and where to go? Sea World San Diego has SR for a few rides, but often it's completely unmarked and involves going in the exit line.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Single Rider is available at Web Slingers, Radiator Springs Racers, Incredicoaster, Grizzly River Run and Goofy's Sky School.

Single Rider for Web Slingers and Radiator Springs Racers are right next to the front of the lines and clearly marked although the lines sometimes do extend well past the entrance. So it's more like Single Rider for Electric Eel at SeaWorld San Diego than Journey to Atlantis.

For Incredicoaster, after you walk through the main entrance to Pixar Pier and past Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats, you'll see an exit gate for the Incredicoaster on the left which is the Single Rider line. Sometimes the sign will be facing the right way but other times not. For Grizzly River Run, near the entrance, there will be exit stairs to the right that you can go up. Talk to a cast member if you need help for either of these. Goofy's Sky School is an off-the-shelf crazy mouse coaster for kids (so possibly skippable for people your age) and you can ask the cast members in the front of the Lightning Lane if they are doing single rider.

I don't think you'll need ILL if you can do single rider. Genie+ will allow you to do more rides and more necessarily if you aren't through the gates before rope drop.

If you manage to make rope drop and don't want to pay for Genie+, I'd probably rope drop guardians, do single rider for Racers (or wait for Luigi's if you want to do that) and then hit TSMM within the first hour when waits are 15 minutes or less and then accept a 1/2 hour to hour wait for Soarin. After that, all your other priorities have single rider. The Avengers Campus showtimes usually line up so that you can go around to several of them consecutively. But you will likely have to arrive early (30 min+) for Dr. Strange since the sanctum is small. Also arrive a little bit early for Viva Navidad to get the best spots but you can usually easily find a spot further down the cavalcade route for Mickey's Happy Holidays.

 

[megankj]

Single Rider is available at Web Slingers, Radiator Springs Racers, Incredicoaster, Grizzly River Run and Goofy's Sky School.

Single Rider for Web Slingers and Radiator Springs Racers are right next to the front of the lines and clearly marked although the lines sometimes do extend well past the entrance. So it's more like Single Rider for Electric Eel at SeaWorld San Diego than Journey to Atlantis.

For Incredicoaster, after you walk through the main entrance to Pixar Pier and past Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats, you'll see an exit gate for the Incredicoaster on the left which is the Single Rider line. Sometimes the sign will be facing the right way but other times not. For Grizzly River Run, near the entrance, there will be exit stairs to the right that you can go up. Talk to a cast member if you need help for either of these. Goofy's Sky School is an off-the-shelf crazy mouse coaster for kids (so possibly skippable for people your age) and you can ask the cast members in the front of the Lightning Lane if they are doing single rider.

I don't think you'll need ILL if you can do single rider. Genie+ will allow you to do more rides and more necessarily if you aren't through the gates before rope drop.

If you manage to make rope drop and don't want to pay for Genie+, I'd probably rope drop guardians, do single rider for Racers (or wait for Luigi's if you want to do that) and then hit TSMM within the first hour when waits are 15 minutes or less and then accept a 1/2 hour to hour wait for Soarin. After that, all your other priorities have single rider. The Avengers Campus showtimes usually line up so that you can go around to several of them consecutively. But you will likely have to arrive early (30 min+) for Dr. Strange since the sanctum is small. Also arrive a little bit early for Viva Navidad to get the best spots but you can usually easily find a spot further down the cavalcade route for Mickey's Happy Holidays.

Thank you for all this detail! Yes, Journey to Atlantis was the one that stuck in my mind, having only noticed it after waiting in a 45 min line. Although I guess if they were obvious, they wouldn't be as much of a time-saver!