DHS help planning my day

[MDIME]

Hey! My DD17 and I have park reservations for DHS on 3/31. We haven’t been there since she was 4 years old, but we’ve been to the other 3 parks numerous times since then. We love doing all of the thrill rides and are hoping for a RotR BG number (been practicing!). From what I have read here and elsewhere, we should try to get to the parking lot toll booth an hour early and go right to MMRR to ride that first Upon entering the park. From there, I’m not sure! Do we head to Toy Story Land? Sunset Blvd? These are the rides we really want to do:
MMRR
SDD
TSM
Alien saucers
ToT
Aerosmith
hopefully RotR
We have an ADR at 50’s Prime Time at 3:25
We also love snacking and people watching and plan to be in the park all day long (hours as of now are 10-7). Any ideas on how we should go about our day? I’m expecting it to be crowded as there are no park passes left. Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[GBRforWDW]

On our DHS day, we drove to the park and got there an hour before official park opening and were allowed through toll booth at 815 to the parking lot. We rode MMRR, SDD, TSM, AS2, and RotR in the first 2-3 hours with little waits and some food/restroom stops. We could have squeezed in mfsr if my dd6 wasn't so against it. We didn't have much desire to ride the rest of the rides, but I believe you could do nearly all the rides before your ADR. But even if you don't, you might have just a few left.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Note that when they add hours, they usually add them to the FRONT at HS - so the hours for the first week of March changed from 10 to 7 to 9 to 7 for example.

If you get there at opening you should be able to get a lot of stuff done in the first couple of hours. I'd head to Toy Story 1st as the line to Slinky seems to stay longer most of the day while the new Mickey and Minnie ride seems to drop off to lower wait times later in the day.

Glad you already got a dining reservation! I think that was the hardest thing on my last trip - HS felt crowded at times without the shows to absorb people so having a sit down reservation gives you a nice break. Especially if you do get a ROTR boarding group and it's later.

 

[MDIME]

Note that when they add hours, they usually add them to the FRONT at HS - so the hours for the first week of March changed from 10 to 7 to 9 to 7 for example.

If you get there at opening you should be able to get a lot of stuff done in the first couple of hours. I'd head to Toy Story 1st as the line to Slinky seems to stay longer most of the day while the new Mickey and Minnie ride seems to drop off to lower wait times later in the day.

Glad you already got a dining reservation! I think that was the hardest thing on my last trip - HS felt crowded at times without the shows to absorb people so having a sit down reservation gives you a nice break. Especially if you do get a ROTR boarding group and it's later.

Ok, I’ll head to SDD first then. Now that you say that, Ive seen the ride times on MDE fall for MMRR in the late afternoon. After SDD should we then do TSM and Aliens saucers then move on? Or chase the low wait times on the other must-do’s? We don’t mind criss-crossing the park since it’s so small.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

I would probably do TSM and Aliens before moving somewhere else.

One thing I have really come to love about the Parks post-Covid is that without FastPass there's no need to run from one side of the park to another. It's been pleasant (and relaxing) to do all the rides in an area before moving to another section of the park. It's so much more relaxing.

 

[conandrob240]

On our DHS day, we got there as early as we could driving to the park and went through MMRR, SDD, TSM, AS2, and RotR in the first 2-3 hours with little waits and some food/restroom stops. We could have squeezed in mfsr if my dd6 wasn't so against it. We didn't have much desire to ride the rest of the rides, but I believe you could do nearly all the rides before your ADR. But even if you don't, you might have just a few left.

What is “as early as you could”? Time?

 

[GBRforWDW]

What is “as early as you could”? Time?

We were at the gates at 755 (not sure why I skipped that important detail, ), they let us through at 810-815 for a 9am open, so we were among the first cars parked. People walking from the boardwalk area and skyliner were in before us, but there wasn't a line at temp check, security or ticket scan, so we were able to keep walking.

I was conflicted about doing MMRR first or SDD, but when we were walking down Hollywood boulevard toward MMRR, we saw people were walking straight into the MMRR building, so we just followed and nearly walked right onto the ride. SDD right after that was about a 15-20 minute wait. TSM and AS2 were near walk ons.

 

[conandrob240]

We were at the gates at 755, they let us through at 810-815 for a 9am open, so we were among the first cars parked. People walking from the boardwalk area and skyliner were in before us, but there wasn't a line at temp check, security or ticket scan, so we were able to keep walking.

I was conflicted about doing MMRR first or SDD, but when we were walking down Hollywood boulevard toward MMRR, we saw people were walking straight into the MMRR building, so we just followed and nearly walked right onto the ride. SDD right after that was about a 15-20 minute wait. TSM and AS2 were near walk ons.

And it was a 9am open? Going tomorrow trying to plan it out

 

[GBRforWDW]

And it was a 9am open? Going tomorrow trying to plan it out

Yes 9am open, sorry, updated that after I submitted the first time. Have a fun day! I wish I could go to HS every day. Well maybe once a month. Wouldn't want to wear it out too quickly. Lol

 

[conandrob240]

Thanks! Setting the alarm fir 6:45am. If we don’t get RoR, we’re likely going to AK instead avd trying again for RofR next day.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Let us know if you get ROTR!! Good luck!

 

[conandrob240]

Got Boarding Group 22 and we are first in line at temp screens waiting to get in.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Got Boarding Group 22 and we are first in line at temp screens waiting to get in.

Congrats! I was bg 27, we rode at 1030, so you should get a lot done before you're called. Have a great day!

 

[conandrob240]

We did MMRR, SDD, TSM and AFS. Had blue milk, went in shops. They stopped at BG20 and rude has been down now for 30 minutes.

 

[GBRforWDW]

We did MMRR, SDD, TSM and AFS. Had blue milk, went in shops. They stopped at BG20 and rude has been down now for 30 minutes.

Nice, how were your waits? Looks like they’re getting long now.

 

[conandrob240]

Walked on to all but SDD which was around 25 min

 

[conandrob240]

Is it normal to be down for almost an hour?

 

[conandrob240]

Frustrating because we could be doing other things

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Is it normal to be down for almost an hour?

You have an hour to return once your boarding group is called so I would re-ride things in Toy Story Land or something ;-)

 

[conandrob240]

Waits are too long now