DL & DCA In A Day

[Ticholas]

I was just at the park Thursday - Saturday. Saturday felt like the lightest day with regard to crowds. Parks opened at 9 AM instead of 8 AM those days, so that definitely changes things. DL stayed open until midnight. On Saturday at 10:35 AM, I walked past Big Thunder. Standby was 50 minutes. Fastpass return time was 2:30-3:30. I didn't want that time since that's when our RSR fastpasses were for. I went back to Thunder at 11:45 and got fastpass return times of 4:50-5:50. So I'm not convinced that a Big Thunder fastpass even collected as early as you plan will be usable only 1 hour and 5 minutes later. I realize though that the park is opening earlier when you are there, and that will change the metrics a bit.

I would think it is near impossible for waiting, boarding, and riding Space Mountain and then walking to the Matterhorn to take only a total of nine minutes. Really curious how that one works out.

That DCA schedule looks possible to me. I'm not sure you have allowed enough time to get food and hoof it over to DCA though. We encountered few food lines that took less than 5 minutes and few times waiting at the gate took less than that either. At least 50% of the time, these waits were longer than 5 minutes. Maybe you will be lucky.

I look forward to reading about how your ambitious schedule works out.

Ridemax is showing an estimated wait of 0 minutes at Space Mountain on Monday April 14 for 8:52 AM. I too am curious how accurate this will be. My wait app showed it at a 15 minute wait this morning.

Thanks for the tip on Big Thunder. I'm hoping RideMax knows its stuff and gives me a doable return time. If Space Mountain has a long wait, I'll likely grab a FP and do stand by for Big Thunder. The ToT Fast Pass is also scary considering the return window may push 7 PM.

I'll certainly return with a post-trip analysis of my plan.

 

[Ticholas]

Also, I am planning on bringing a few cliff bars into the park. I know this isn't allowed, but I have never-fails method of sneaking them in. This will help me minimize snack time. Hopefully my bladder follows suit.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Also, I am planning on bringing a few cliff bars into the park. I know this isn't allowed, but I have never-fails method of sneaking them in. This will help me minimize snack time. Hopefully my bladder follows suit.

Official written policy and practice are different on foods and drinks. There is a bag check before you enter the plaza, but if you don't have glass, alcohol, a hard-sided cooler, or the fixings to prepare a bunch of sandwiches, and you are carrying what looks like a reasonable quantity of food and drink for your party size, they make absolutely no issue of it.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Ridemax is showing an estimated wait of 0 minutes at Space Mountain on Monday April 14 for 8:52 AM. I too am curious how accurate this will be. My wait app showed it at a 15 minute wait this morning.

Thanks for the tip on Big Thunder. I'm hoping RideMax knows its stuff and gives me a doable return time. If Space Mountain has a long wait, I'll likely grab a FP and do stand by for Big Thunder. The ToT Fast Pass is also scary considering the return window may push 7 PM.

I'll certainly return with a post-trip analysis of my plan.

I can't quite remember the Tower of Terror pass times. I know we walked by sometime Thursday afternoon to look at the return time. I think it was just before or after 3 PM, and the return time was too late for what we wanted. I think it was between 8 and 9 PM.

 

[Ticholas]

Official written policy and practice are different on foods and drinks. There is a bag check before you enter the plaza, but if you don't have glass, alcohol, a hard-sided cooler, or the fixings to prepare a bunch of sandwiches, and you are carrying what looks like a reasonable quantity of food and drink for your party size, they make absolutely no issue of it.

Great! That'll make things much easier.

 

[Ticholas]

I received an email today from RideMax stating the Space Mountain wait estimation was the result of a bug. According to RideMax, it's impossible to hit all the DL attractions before noon. Any recommendations as to which rides I should cut? I'm thinking Pooh, Peter Pan, and (maybe) Buzz? I've been on all these at WDW and don't think I'd be missing out much, right?

 

[superlarz]

I would be surprised if the ToT FP is for that late in the day, but maybe with Spring Breakers it is running out quicker. I wouldnt over plan, what you are trying to do is very doable. I have gotten on all of the FL dark rides that fast before, and been off by 8:25. It is very doable. I would grab the Star Tours Fast Pass at that point and go to Space Mountain before Buzz. Than Matterhorn, then Use the Star Tours FP before going to Roger Rabbit. The timing should work out and it will eliminate the back tracking. You should be able to get done all of this before 10, and Pirates and HM dont typically start building lines until 11. I would do grab a FP for Thunder, Ride HM, then Pirates, then Splash SR. Winnie the Pooh depending on the return time for BTMRR. I have pretty much followed this schedule and been over to DCA by 12 or shortly after. Then I would get a ToT FP and ride Monsters Inc (probably wont have much of a line) and them move on with the rest of the DCA plan. I can typically get through everything on there except GRR and Muppets (which i dont do every trip) by about 4.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I received an email today from RideMax stating the Space Mountain wait estimation was the result of a bug. According to RideMax, it's impossible to hit all the DL attractions before noon. Any recommendations as to which rides I should cut? I'm thinking Pooh, Peter Pan, and (maybe) Buzz? I've been on all these at WDW and don't think I'd be missing out much, right?

I don't think you're really going to get as short a wait as you anticipate for Peter Pan, so I would suggest skipping it if you're going to be pressed for time and you've been on it at WDW. Pooh is a charming little ride, but I think it could be easily skipped too. I've never been to WDW so I can't imagine not being able to lift and move my Buzz laser around when shooting at targets. I would try to do Buzz if you can fit it in. Have you done Star Tours at WDW? Aren't the ride experiences identical? I understand if this is a favorite, but you may want to put this in the to be skipped if pressed for time or I need to get a fastpass for something else category. You are going to be there during spring break, so I think you will need to be flexible.

We found the crowds and wait times a bit challenging at times this past weekend. It wasn't terrible. We go frequently during peak times like spring break, summer, holiday weekends, Thanksgiving, and even the week between Christmas and New Year's once. I just feel the resort is at its most crowded of the last few years. When DCA re-opened the crowds distributed pretty well, and we figured out the new flow. What I felt like the problem was this last weekend was the combination of heavy spring break crowds and an unusually high number of ride closures. To be honest, I didn't personally miss going on most of those closed rides all that much. What I missed was other people waiting in line and going on those rides. With Alice in Wonderland, It's a Small World, the Nemo subs, and Indiana Jones all closed at the same time, there is a noticeable impact on crowd patterns. Also factor in that Big Thunder is only recently re-opened and therefore a big draw and that at any given time during the day, something else in the park is likely to be temporarily closed, the lines for rides can at times be unexpectedly long.

 

[rtfelt]

Skip Pooh, WDW's version much better, DL's is kind of lame. No way you'll get that short of wait on PP. Skip it. It's the same as WDW. I've literally gotten to PP at 5 minutes after RD and the line was already 40 minutes. Unless you are the front of RD and literally run and don't care about making other guests unhappy with your aggressive behavior to be the first in line, there is no way you will have anything less than 15 minutes--really more like less than 30 minute wait for PP.

That week is spring break for the locals (my kids are out) that's why you have an 8 am start on a Monday. You can usually gauge how busy Disney is expecting the day to be by the hours--an 8 am start=busy day. That Monday will be like a summer day or weekend day as far as crowds go. Our spring breaks are always the week before or after Easter no matter how soon or late Easter is.

Star Tours same as WDW. Pinocchio and Snow White have the shortest wait times of any FL rides, so I wouldn't waste precious morning time there. If it were me and I was used to WDW rides I would skip Star, Soarin' (same, do NOT do SR), PP, Pooh, Toy Story (same with not as fun queue, but I know a lot of WDW vets really want this because it's such a long line in Florida).

I would get BTMRR FP then go on Space first thing, then Buzz, Mr Toad (gets long), Pirates and/or Haunted Mansion, BTMRR return?, Roger Rabbit (Toon Town opens 1 hour after rope drop), Pinocchio, Snow White, Matterhorn (SR is very short), then Indy (SR), and Splash (SR, plan on a good 20 minutes wait for SR Splash if warm). Use the FP near the end of the window to use the precious morning hours. If you really wanted one, you could get a Star Tours FP as soon as you can and squeeze that it.

DCA looks good. Aladdin is great, but it is a long show. It would be difficult to fit it in. I think you can do it, but you may have to eliminate the WDW duplicates--just my opinion.

 

[Ticholas]

As of the last 10 years, I've become more of a Universal Orlando Vet than WDW, although I have been to WDW many times. I have not been since they added Toy Story Mania or updated Star Tours. Therefore, I'd really like to catch these two rides while I'm visiting. If Peter Pan and Pooh are the same as WDW, I'll skip those for time. Same for Soarin'. I would skip Splash Mountain, but it's one of my favorites and I would like to compare the two versions.

I'm about to rework the itinerary and will post the update. Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[Ticholas]

After reworking RideMax, this is what I've come up with. It's suggesting I start with CS at DCA, and work my way around, then go back to RSR at 3:48 PM. I'm afraid this will be cutting it too close, so I am sticking to my original plan and estimating waits based on the update. Tower of Terror is still showing a return window of 7:00 PM, which I hope isn't true. If not, it's estimating a 120 minute wait at 5:30 PM. I think I'd have better luck begging a CM than risking my departure time.

The Snow White and Goofy's SS are marked to indicate skipping if I'm behind schedule. I also may use my SW FP sooner and/or obtain a BTM FP well before the suggested time.

5:30 AM: Indio Valley → Disneyland (1hr 45 min)

7:30 AM: Line Up For Disneyland Entry GATE 14

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Disneyland
• 8:05 AM Space Mountain
• 8:17 AM Grab Star Tours Fast Pass
• 8:24 AM Buzz Lightyear
• 8:41 AM Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• 8:46 AM Snow White’s Scary Adventure *
• 8:56 AM Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• 9:14 AM Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• 9:29 AM Matterhorn Bobsleds (Single Rider)
• 9:43 AM Use Star Tours Fast Pass
• 10:06 AM Grab Big Thunder Fast Pass
• 10:08 AM Pirates of the Caribbean
• 10:46 AM Use Big Thunder Fast Pass
• 11:02 AM Haunted Mansion
• 11:30 AM Splash Mountain
• 11:50 AM DOLE WHIP & FOOD ON THE GO!

12:15 PM-6:00 PM California Adventure
• 12:15 PM Grab Tower of Terror Fast Pass
• 12:25 PM Radiator Springs Racers (Single Rider)
• 1:25 PM Toy Story Mania
• 2:33 PM California Screamin’ (Single Rider)
• 3:02 PM Goofy’s Sky School (Single Rider) *
• 3:32 PM Grizzly River Run (Single Rider)
• 4:18 PM Muppet Vision 3-D
• 4:53 PM Monsters, Inc.
• 5:30 PM Use Tower of Terror Fast Pass

If there’s extra time...
• Aladdin (DCA)
• Redwood Challenge (DCA)
• Animation Academy (DCA)
• Jungle Cruise (DL)
• Castle Walk Through (DL)
• Captain EO (DL)

6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Go back to anything else. Relax. Eat. Get to the car.

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Drive to LAX (45 min) & return car.

8:00 PM – 10:15 PM: Check in for flight

10: 15PM: DEPARTURE

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

After reworking RideMax, this is what I've come up with. It's suggesting I start with CS at DCA, and work my way around, then go back to RSR at 3:48 PM. I'm afraid this will be cutting it too close, so I am sticking to my original plan and estimating waits based on the update. Tower of Terror is still showing a return window of 7:00 PM, which I hope isn't true. If not, it's estimating a 120 minute wait at 5:30 PM. I think I'd have better luck begging a CM than risking my departure time.

The Snow White and Goofy's SS are marked to indicate skipping if I'm behind schedule. I also may use my SW FP sooner and/or obtain a BTM FP well before the suggested time.

5:30 AM: Indio Valley → Disneyland (1hr 45 min)

7:30 AM: Line Up For Disneyland Entry GATE 14

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Disneyland
• 8:05 AM Space Mountain
• 8:17 AM Grab Star Tours Fast Pass
• 8:24 AM Buzz Lightyear
• 8:41 AM Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• 8:46 AM Snow White’s Scary Adventure *
• 8:56 AM Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• 9:14 AM Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• 9:29 AM Matterhorn Bobsleds (Single Rider)
• 9:43 AM Use Star Tours Fast Pass
• 10:06 AM Grab Big Thunder Fast Pass
• 10:08 AM Pirates of the Caribbean
• 10:46 AM Use Big Thunder Fast Pass
• 11:02 AM Haunted Mansion
• 11:30 AM Splash Mountain
• 11:50 AM DOLE WHIP & FOOD ON THE GO!

12:15 PM-6:00 PM California Adventure
• 12:15 PM Grab Tower of Terror Fast Pass
• 12:25 PM Radiator Springs Racers (Single Rider)
• 1:25 PM Toy Story Mania
• 2:33 PM California Screamin’ (Single Rider)
• 3:02 PM Goofy’s Sky School (Single Rider) *
• 3:32 PM Grizzly River Run (Single Rider)
• 4:18 PM Muppet Vision 3-D
• 4:53 PM Monsters, Inc.
• 5:30 PM Use Tower of Terror Fast Pass

If there’s extra time...
• Aladdin (DCA)
• Redwood Challenge (DCA)
• Animation Academy (DCA)
• Jungle Cruise (DL)
• Castle Walk Through (DL)
• Captain EO (DL)

6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Go back to anything else. Relax. Eat. Get to the car.

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Drive to LAX (45 min) & return car.

8:00 PM – 10:15 PM: Check in for flight

10: 15PM: DEPARTURE

This is looking more probable. The two big things I would be concerned about are Thunder and Tower. I am skeptical that two hours after opening Thunder will give a fastpass with a window that opens the minimum forty minutes later. Based on what we experienced recently, I would guess that pass wouldn't be usable yet at 10:46. I don't have a suggestion for you, and Ridemax could very well know better than me, but you might end up having to flip those last DL things around a bit.

I really do think Ridemax is right in predicting such a late fastpass return time for Tower. That's in line with what we saw last week.

Aladdin is a great show, but unless there are a lot of ride closures, you're not going to be able to squeeze in a 50 minute show.

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is still closed for refurbishment through April 20.

Castle Walk Through is neat and worth a few minutes time.

Jungle Cruise had waits of 25-40 minutes every time we looked after the first couple hours the park opened. Didn't bother riding last trip.

 

[Ticholas]

This is looking more probable. The two big things I would be concerned about are Thunder and Tower. I am skeptical that two hours after opening Thunder will give a fastpass with a window that opens the minimum forty minutes later. Based on what we experienced recently, I would guess that pass wouldn't be usable yet at 10:46. I don't have a suggestion for you, and Ridemax could very well know better than me, but you might end up having to flip those last DL things around a bit.

I really do think Ridemax is right in predicting such a late fastpass return time for Tower. That's in line with what we saw last week.

Aladdin is a great show, but unless there are a lot of ride closures, you're not going to be able to squeeze in a 50 minute show.

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is still closed for refurbishment through April 20.

Castle Walk Through is neat and worth a few minutes time.

Jungle Cruise had waits of 25-40 minutes every time we looked after the first couple hours the park opened. Didn't bother riding last trip.

Again, thanks for the heads up. Based on this, I'm going to change up tentative attractions. Has anyone tried to use a Fast Pass early? I'm hoping I can talk a CM into letting me use it if I explain it's the last ride and I have to catch a flight.

Updated schedule:

5:30 AM: Indio Valley → Disneyland (1hr 45 min)

7:30 AM: Line Up For Disneyland Entry GATE 14

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Disneyland
• 8:05 AM Space Mountain
• 8:17 AM Grab Star Tours Fast Pass
• 8:24 AM Buzz Lightyear
• 8:41 AM Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• 8:46 AM Snow White’s Scary Adventure *
• 8:56 AM Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• 9:14 AM Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• 9:29 AM Matterhorn Bobsleds (Single Rider)
• 9:43 AM Use Star Tours Fast Pass
• 10:06 AM Grab Big Thunder Fast Pass
• 10:08 AM Pirates of the Caribbean
• 10:46 AM Use Big Thunder Fast Pass
• 11:02 AM Haunted Mansion
• 11:30 AM Splash Mountain (Single Rider)
• 11:50 AM DOLE WHIP & FOOD ON THE GO!

12:15 PM-6:00 PM California Adventure
• 12:15 PM Grab Tower of Terror Fast Pass
• 12:25 PM Radiator Springs Racers (Single Rider)
• 1:25 PM Toy Story Mania
• 2:33 PM California Screamin’ (Single Rider)
• 3:02 PM Goofy’s Sky School (Single Rider) *
• 3:32 PM Grizzly River Run (Single Rider)
• 4:18 PM Muppet Vision 3-D
• 4:53 PM Monsters, Inc.
• 5:30 PM Use Tower of Terror Fast Pass

If there’s extra time...
• Animation Academy (DCA)
• Castle Walk Through (DL)
• Captain EO (DL)

6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Go back to anything else. Relax. Eat. Get to the car.

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Drive to LAX (45 min) & return car.

8:00 PM – 10:15 PM: Check in for flight

10: 15PM: DEPARTURE

 

[tiffjoy]

I've never tried to use FP early since they started enforcing. It can't hurt to try, but if you are going to, i would have my plane ticket to show the CM. I'm skeptical about getting from in the park all the way to LAX in 45 min. That's with no traffic.... I suppose you have a late enough departure time to arrive more like 8:30ish, but then you still have rental car return.

 

[Ticholas]

I've never tried to use FP early since they started enforcing. It can't hurt to try, but if you are going to, i would have my plane ticket to show the CM. I'm skeptical about getting from in the park all the way to LAX in 45 min. That's with no traffic.... I suppose you have a late enough departure time to arrive more like 8:30ish, but then you still have rental car return.

My itinerary is designed to give myself 1 hour of time between the park to the car from 6-7. Of course, this depends on how the day goes and if anything runs late. I want to be in the car, driving out of the lot exactly at 7 PM. I also doubt I'll get to LAX in 45 minutes, but 60-75 minutes won't throw me off too much. Rental car return is simply drop off and hop on the bus. It shouldn't take more than 20 minutes. TSA is my primary concern since they're so unpredictable.

 

[Ticholas]

Another day, another itinerary update. Feeling good about this one since a few items for DL were reworked. I realized since I am going solo, I can act as the "Fast Pass Runner" on RideMax. This pushed up obtaining a BTMR FP.


5:30 AM: Indio Valley → Disneyland (1hr 45 min)

7:30 AM: Line Up For Disneyland Entry GATE 14

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Disneyland
• 8:05 AM Space Mountain
• 8:16 AM Grab Star Tours Fast Pass
• 8:24 AM Buzz Lightyear
• 8:41 AM Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• 8:46 AM Snow White’s Scary Adventure *
• 8:56 AM Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• 9:14 AM Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• 9:25 AM Grab Big Thunder Fast Pass
• 9:40 AM Matterhorn Bobsleds (Single Rider)
• 9:54 AM Use Star Tours Fast Pass
• 10:17 AM Use Big Thunder Fast Pass
• 10:28 AM Pirates of the Caribbean
• 11:08 AM Haunted Mansion
• 11:38 AM Splash Mountain (Single Rider)
• 11:56 AM DOLE WHIP & FOOD ON THE GO!

12:15 PM-6:00 PM California Adventure
• 12:15 PM Grab Tower of Terror Fast Pass
• 12:25 PM Radiator Springs Racers (Single Rider)
• 1:25 PM Toy Story Mania
• 2:33 PM California Screamin’ (Single Rider)
• 3:02 PM Goofy’s Sky School (Single Rider) *
• 3:32 PM Grizzly River Run (Single Rider)
• 4:18 PM Muppet Vision 3-D
• 4:53 PM Monsters, Inc.
• 5:30 PM Use Tower of Terror Fast Pass

If there’s extra time...
• Animation Academy (DCA)
• Castle Walk Through (DL)
• Captain EO (DL)

6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Go back to anything else. Relax. Eat. Get to the car.

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Drive to LAX (45 min) & return car.

8:00 PM – 10:15 PM: Check in for flight

10:15 PM: DEPARTURE

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

So how did it go?

 

[mich311e]

So how did it go?

I was wondering the same thing...