Below are some Disneyland / DCA Tips (suggestions/additions/updates welcome, Thanks Figment_Jii for your suggestions).
UPDATES: RSR and SCREAMIN FP are no longer disconnected.
This is meant to be a one page print of things that can be taken with you on vacation. You could also email it to your phone. There are some links at the bottom of the post that are worth reading before heading out. In particular HydroGuy's excellent tips.
Disneyland (DL)
Arrive 30 minutes early. If you have an Early Admission day arrive 1:15 before official park open (Early admission is on certain days and is a one shot deal for most 3 or more day tickets as well as onsite hotel guests can do this as often as they like during their stay on days that it is offered. ). There are two gates behind trees (I think they are 14 and 19) that do not form lines as folks do not see them/use them. They sometimes do not open so perhaps stay in line next to them and watch your line shrink if they do open.
Top Priority Rides: Peter Pan and Dumbo (Ride first and in this order, assuming you were early to the gate).
Exception to above is Anna and Elsa if you want to see them and their line opens around park opening . Ask a CM (Disney Employees that are roaming the parks). Hard to say if you would want to use an Early admission day for this to wait in line. I would pick a day where Early Admission is at DCA to do this if you have the option.
Jedi Training Academy. To have your child picked bring a small blank paper and pen to make a sign. Signs are not allowed into the gates but are tolerated at the Jedi Training Academy. Sign can say Pick Me or Use the Force, etc…
FastPass (FP). Once everyone has entered either one of the parks with their ticket a runner can be sent to any ride in either park with all of the tickets to collect fast passes for the entire party. FP have a time stamped on them when the next FP is available (anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours).
Rides to fast pass first are Big Thunder, Splash, Space and Indy. (normally Big Thunder does not need a FP but currently it is helpful). Star Tours, Autopia, and Roger Rabbit Car-Toon Spin also have FPs.
Disney California Adventure (DCA)
Arrive 45 minutes early. If you have an Early Admission day (onsite Hotel guests only) arrive 1:20 before official park open at the Main Gate. Do not use the Hotel entrance for Early Admission unless you are 2 hours before official park open. If you do not have early Admission the right hand gate is often best as they will sometimes will open additional gates to the right just as the park opens.
Top Priority Ride: Radiator Springs Raceway (RSR) in Cars Land. Toy Story Midway Mania(TSMM) under the SCREAMIN roller coaster (There is not FP available for TSMM).
Radiator Springs Raceway (RSR). Make sure that everyone in the party meets the height requirements for RSR.
The Single Rider Line is recommended if everyone is comfortable with that age wise (must be at least 7 and group will likely be split up).
Hotel Guests during early admission can ride in Single Rider line on busy days or jump in the main line. The RSR FP machine does not open until the park is open and only operates if the ride is functional.
If you do not have early admission and you are a first time visitor to Cars Land you can:
1) Have everyone get in the standby line and stay to the right of the line and ride standby. After riding get FP for RSR
2) Have everyone ride the single rider line. After riding get FP for RSR
3) Have everyone but the FP runner do 1 or 2 above and the FP runner gets FP and then jumps in single rider line.
Once you have experienced the ride other approaches that work well:
Ride TSMM once or twice then send a FP runner to arrive at the RSR FP machines 30 minutes after the park opens. Everyone can ride Single Rider and/or wait for FP return time.
FastPass (FP). Once everyone has entered one of the parks with their ticket a runner can be sent with all of the tickets to collect fast passes for the entire party. FP have a time stamped on them when the next FP is available (anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours).
Rides to fast pass first are RSR, SOARIN, TOT, SCREAMIN, Grizzly River Run. Also Goofy's Sky School has FP.
After visiting Carsland grab a FP for World of Color (WOC).
The WOC FP machine is disconnected from the rest of the systems. Which means you can get an additional FP on a different ride immediately.
I highly recommend HYDROGUY'S SUPER THREAD TIPS:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483
Extra Magic Hour: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/gue...rly-admission/
Magic Mornings: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/gue...rly-admission/
UPDATES: RSR and SCREAMIN FP are no longer disconnected.
This is meant to be a one page print of things that can be taken with you on vacation. You could also email it to your phone. There are some links at the bottom of the post that are worth reading before heading out. In particular HydroGuy's excellent tips.
Disneyland (DL)
Arrive 30 minutes early. If you have an Early Admission day arrive 1:15 before official park open (Early admission is on certain days and is a one shot deal for most 3 or more day tickets as well as onsite hotel guests can do this as often as they like during their stay on days that it is offered. ). There are two gates behind trees (I think they are 14 and 19) that do not form lines as folks do not see them/use them. They sometimes do not open so perhaps stay in line next to them and watch your line shrink if they do open.
Top Priority Rides: Peter Pan and Dumbo (Ride first and in this order, assuming you were early to the gate).
Exception to above is Anna and Elsa if you want to see them and their line opens around park opening . Ask a CM (Disney Employees that are roaming the parks). Hard to say if you would want to use an Early admission day for this to wait in line. I would pick a day where Early Admission is at DCA to do this if you have the option.
Jedi Training Academy. To have your child picked bring a small blank paper and pen to make a sign. Signs are not allowed into the gates but are tolerated at the Jedi Training Academy. Sign can say Pick Me or Use the Force, etc…
FastPass (FP). Once everyone has entered either one of the parks with their ticket a runner can be sent to any ride in either park with all of the tickets to collect fast passes for the entire party. FP have a time stamped on them when the next FP is available (anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours).
Rides to fast pass first are Big Thunder, Splash, Space and Indy. (normally Big Thunder does not need a FP but currently it is helpful). Star Tours, Autopia, and Roger Rabbit Car-Toon Spin also have FPs.
Disney California Adventure (DCA)
Arrive 45 minutes early. If you have an Early Admission day (onsite Hotel guests only) arrive 1:20 before official park open at the Main Gate. Do not use the Hotel entrance for Early Admission unless you are 2 hours before official park open. If you do not have early Admission the right hand gate is often best as they will sometimes will open additional gates to the right just as the park opens.
Top Priority Ride: Radiator Springs Raceway (RSR) in Cars Land. Toy Story Midway Mania(TSMM) under the SCREAMIN roller coaster (There is not FP available for TSMM).
Radiator Springs Raceway (RSR). Make sure that everyone in the party meets the height requirements for RSR.
The Single Rider Line is recommended if everyone is comfortable with that age wise (must be at least 7 and group will likely be split up).
Hotel Guests during early admission can ride in Single Rider line on busy days or jump in the main line. The RSR FP machine does not open until the park is open and only operates if the ride is functional.
If you do not have early admission and you are a first time visitor to Cars Land you can:
1) Have everyone get in the standby line and stay to the right of the line and ride standby. After riding get FP for RSR
2) Have everyone ride the single rider line. After riding get FP for RSR
3) Have everyone but the FP runner do 1 or 2 above and the FP runner gets FP and then jumps in single rider line.
Once you have experienced the ride other approaches that work well:
Ride TSMM once or twice then send a FP runner to arrive at the RSR FP machines 30 minutes after the park opens. Everyone can ride Single Rider and/or wait for FP return time.
FastPass (FP). Once everyone has entered one of the parks with their ticket a runner can be sent with all of the tickets to collect fast passes for the entire party. FP have a time stamped on them when the next FP is available (anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours).
Rides to fast pass first are RSR, SOARIN, TOT, SCREAMIN, Grizzly River Run. Also Goofy's Sky School has FP.
After visiting Carsland grab a FP for World of Color (WOC).
The WOC FP machine is disconnected from the rest of the systems. Which means you can get an additional FP on a different ride immediately.
I highly recommend HYDROGUY'S SUPER THREAD TIPS:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483
Extra Magic Hour: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/gue...rly-admission/
Magic Mornings: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/gue...rly-admission/
