DL pros..SM FP then head to HM?

[patty57]

Hi All, Hoping you pros have advice. With the Halloween overlays in place, would you suggest I FP SM at rope drop, then head to HM next since there is no FP? Or something else?

Will arrive at the DL hotel this Sunday, Oct. 30, and leave DL early on Nov. 2. Have tickets for MHP on Oct. 31st, but will probably go to park early in the day as well. I would like to see the fireworks and parade at the party, but not so interested in characters or trick-or-treating. I can't imagine that the lines for attractions will be so small that I can ride everything at the party?

I'm a WDW vet, but DL novice. Not sure how much Halloween influences ride order. Any suggestions about touring?

 

[SMD]

HMH does have FP, but there is no FP during the party. Is the 31st your only park day? If so, I'd do HMH first, either get an FP or just standby. Then go to TL and ride either Space or Star Tours and FP the other. By the time you get to TL your HMH FP window should be open, so if you didn't stay around NOS to use it or rode standby, you can pull another FP. However, that's a lot of crossing the hub while people will be pouring into the parks. If you have 2 park days, I wouldn't do them on the same morning. Especially if one of those mornings is the 30th, as that's CHOC Walk.

 

[patty57]

HMH does have FP, but there is no FP during the party. Is the 31st your only park day? If so, I'd do HMH first, either get an FP or just standby. Then go to TL and ride either Space or Star Tours and FP the other. By the time you get to TL your HMH FP window should be open, so if you didn't stay around NOS to use it or rode standby, you can pull another FP. However, that's a lot of crossing the hub while people will be pouring into the parks. If you have 2 park days, I wouldn't do them on the same morning. Especially if one of those mornings is the 30th, as that's CHOC Walk.

I must have looked at old/bad info on HM and FP. I won't be going to DL on Oct. 30th, due to CHOC Walk and not arriving until later in the day. Thought I might hit one of the parks for a few hours in the afternoon. Going to DL early on the 31st, and staying/returning for the party. I will do CA on Nov. 1st. I have PH tickets, so can hop between the two parks.

 

[mom2rtk]

I must have looked at old/bad info on HM and FP. I won't be going to DL on Oct. 30th, due to CHOC Walk and not arriving until later in the day. Thought I might hit one of the parks for a few hours in the afternoon. Going to DL early on the 31st, and staying/returning for the party. I will do CA on Nov. 1st. I have PH tickets, so can hop between the two parks.

I remember in 2013 we didn't have FP on HMH, but thankfully did have it the last 2 years. It's a big help!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Your order is fine for the first morning you are there if those are your two priority rides. You will doing a lot of crossing the park, but that is what we do, we would rather walk than wait in a line. After riding HM, we would hit up BTMRR on the way to SM. Depending on next FP window, I would either hot foot it to IJA for a FP while others in your party got in line for Star Tours, or would just get in line for Star Tours, then get a FP for IJA, then hit up POC and HM again.

If you stay away from character lines during the party you should be fine with rides. I would spend some time to scout out a seat for Fireworks and the Parade if you have little ones and you need some sight lines. HM will still be packed during the parties, but you should be able to ride others with little wait. Look at the schedule for the party, not all rides will be open. You might also want to eat a big meal prior to the party starting.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I can't imagine that the lines for attractions will be so small that I can ride everything at the party?

On Monday at during the party, the lines were very short for everything. We had a one minute wait for Pirates, about 25 mins for Haunted Mansion, 10 minutes for Dumbo, less than 5 minutes for Storybook Canals. The wait for Indiana Jones was about 15 minutes, but the ride broke down while we were in line and we decided to leave and come back later. When we came back, it was about 10 minutes. I don't ride Space Mountain, so I didn't see how long that wait was.

When we were in Fantasyland, Peter Pan, Snow white, Tea cups, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland were all closed. The fireworks did go off while we were in there, but I didn't see those rides open back up.

I think you can get most rides done if you aren't doing anything else. We had a very leisurely meal at French Market and then hit a lot of treat trails. We watched the first parade. All of those things cut into your ride time. The lines were short enough that I decided that I would have no problem booking several Halloween Parties next year, just for the ability to walk on to the rides so easily. I am going again this Saturday and hoping for the same experience as I will be with a different daughter who will want to do all the main rides.

 

[patty57]

All good info. Thanks everyone.

 

[mich311e]

I went to the Halloween Party on 10/14. The HMH line was at least 45-50 minutes long. Space Mountain was less than 20.

 

[DLRExpert]

Saving Fantasyland for MHP is a great idea.

I would recommend doing this...
- Head to Adventureland and ride the Jungle Cruise.
- Grab FP for Indiana Jones
- Ride Haunted Mansion no FP needed
- Ride Big Thunder Mountain no FP needed
- Ride Pirates. Ride Pirates after Indy if you are in risk of the Indy FP expiring.
- Grab FP for Space Mountain before you use FP for Indy. This is usually a good time for a bathroom break while the FP runner gets the FP for Space
- Use FP for Indy
- Next FP you want to get is Star Tours and immediately Buzz Astroblasters (disconnected FP)

ME

 

[patty57]

Saving Fantasyland for MHP is a great idea.

I would recommend doing this...
- Head to Adventureland and ride the Jungle Cruise.
- Grab FP for Indiana Jones
- Ride Haunted Mansion no FP needed
- Ride Big Thunder Mountain no FP needed
- Ride Pirates. Ride Pirates after Indy if you are in risk of the Indy FP expiring.
- Grab FP for Space Mountain before you use FP for Indy. This is usually a good time for a bathroom break while the FP runner gets the FP for Space
- Use FP for Indy
- Next FP you want to get is Star Tours and immediately Buzz Astroblasters (disconnected FP)

This is great! Thank you.

 

[patty57]

How about the Matterhorn? Any special time or squeeze it in? I especially want to try the DL specific rides.

 

[WonkaKid]

I suggest Peter Pan right at rope drop, since the lines get long rapidly... and *stay* that way ;-). Then get a FP for SM (Ghost Galaxy, actually). On the FP it will indicate when you can get your next one. Make a mental note to head over to HMH at that time. Then do Buzz Lightyear at least twice -- the line will still be short -- *and* get a BL FP, since that system is disconnected and won't count against other FPs.

Hope you have a great time! I'm headed there on Saturday, a rarity for me. I almost always go on Sundays but I've been warned about the Chalk Walk so. Saturday it is ;-).

P.S. Matterhorn has a single-rider liner, as does Indi. Use them wisely .

 

[DLRExpert]

How about the Matterhorn? Any special time or squeeze it in? I especially want to try the DL specific rides.

If you can do Matterhorn Single Rider then do that at any time.
The vehicle layout is very similar to Space Mountain in WDW. So SR usually isn't too bad since you sit by yourself anyways.

Otherwise, save Matterhorn for the MHP as the line is usually short.

Keep in mind that even though a DL attraction has the same name as a WDW attraction, you will always notice a difference in either the ride experience of theming.

 

[patty57]

Keep in mind that even though a DL attraction has the same name as a WDW attraction, you will always notice a difference in either the ride experience of theming.

Yes...really looking forward to seeing the differences. Unfortunately, my favorite ride at WDW is Splash Mountain, and that whole area is closed at DL while we are there. Also, just realized It's A Small World is also closed. While not my favorite ride, I would have liked to see the differences.

Looks like a lot is closed at DL for construction. Too bad since I have no idea if I will ever get back to DL again.