DLR newbie FP question

[Meldev]

In DCA, which FPs sellout first? RSR? CS? Anything else that should be high priority?
I understand I should get WoC FP and can get separately.

DL what are the top tickets there? Space Mtn?
Is Star Tours in high demand?
Haunted Mansion? PotC?
We aren't die hard Peter Pan riders so can do without. Any others I'm missing?

 

[seth_r]

RSR for sure. CS I can't remember ever having a problem getting one. TOT I have seen the line get long in the past, toy story is another one that gets long lines, but doesn't have fast pass and should try to catch it earlier in the day. WOC is not connected to the rides so yes get one as soon as you can. We have done the dinner packages in the past, which per person isn't really a bad price considering what you get with your meal. That one we got right up front for the show. In DL space mountain, star tours, IJ. POTC and hm I feel the lines move faster than other rides. Splash mountain might be worth a fp. Last trip I took that ride was over an hour constantly.

 

[Kindermouse]

In DCA RSR sells out first and has longer wait times consistently through out the day. I find that I can use the "wait and ride it later when the line is shorter" method with a lot of success on CS. Another priority would be soarin because it is new and everyone wants to try it. TSMM also tends to have a pretty consistently long wait time.

In DL there are several high demand rides with consistently long wait times. Space for sure and star tours as well. Indy, POTC, BTMRR and HM have long waits from early afternoon well into the evening but in the early morning there not bad at all. I think a lot of people hit fantasyland and tomorrowland the first couple hours so the waits for the ride that are left of the entrance tend to be good during that time. After that the line start getting long and stay that way.

For that reason I have a strategy. One my MM day I hit FL and TL to death then on a subsequent days I start in Frontierland and Adventureland and New Orleans Square.

With no MM (like if I have an AP) I do a split start plan. One day start right (tomorrowland). One day start center (fantasyland) with a FP runner get FP's in TL (space and star tours are my sons favorite so we ride them everyday), one day start left (Everything else basically). And at least 1 day start in DCA With CL.

 

[Number Six]

Frozen goes fast in DCA.

 

[smartlabelprint]

What about Soarin with new theme?

 

[avalon451]

We aren't die hard Peter Pan riders so can do without. Any others I'm missing?

You realize Peter Pan doesn't have FP at DLR, right?

Do you have the free Disneyland smartphone app? It's a great way to check before your trip to get a sense of what FPs are selling out. I've been watching it all summer off and on, and I've been surprised how long FPs are lasting. Seems like it used to be pretty consistent that Space, Indy, and Splash would run out around noon-2 p.m., but lately I've been surprised to see that FPs are available quite a bit later (albeit for late return times). I saw Splash and Indy available till 4 or 5 p.m. some days (ok, for 11 p.m. return times, but still). I have seen FPs still available for BTMRR (almost always with a return time within the hour) until 2 hours before closing on a weekend. Buzz, RR, HM, the same.

Over at CA, RSR and Soarin' do seem to be running out before 2 p.m. ToT and GRR last longer but do run out. But Screamin' lasts longer and often has not bad lines later in the day (and there's single rider, but I've had bad luck with that-- took just as long as the standby queue). Goofy's Sky School seems like it doesn't really run out.

 

[PHXscuba]

Screamin' and Thunder Mountain seem to have FP return times less than an hour out on all but the busiest days. Space Mountain has been high with the Star Wars overlay (and probably will be with the Ghost Galaxy one over Halloween). Star Tours demand has dropped quite a bit. Haunted Mansion only uses FP during the Haunted Mansion Holiday/Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, and even then only on busy days.

In DCA, I'd prioritize (in order): Frozen show, RSR, Tower of Terror, Screamin, Grizzly River Run (maybe GRR higher if superhot). RSR, Screamin, and GRR have single rider lines if you want a second ride.

In DL, in order: Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Star Tours, Splash Mountain (higher if hot), Big Thunder, Buzz Lightyear. Indy and Splash also have single rider lines.

PHXscuba

 

[choirboy501]

In DCA, I'd prioritize (in order): Frozen show, RSR, Tower of Terror, Screamin, Grizzly River Run (maybe GRR higher if superhot). RSR, Screamin, and GRR have single rider lines if you want a second ride.

PHXscuba

You left out Soarin'.

 

[DizneeRailFan62]

You left out Soarin'.

Totally agree with your list, inserting Soarin' somewhere before Sreamin'. That new Frozen show is so new that all the AP crowd clears those FP really fast.

 

[Meldev]

Thanks for all your input - this is really helpful!
I won't stress over the frozen show though - my kids are Frozen'd out - not that they won't sing along if it comes on in the car, but they passed on seats to the sing-along at DHS last November...so il focus on RSR first in DCA. I can't wait to see Carsland with my DS4 (nearly 5)!

 

[ktlm]

If you can, try to ride RSR once during the day and once at night. It is like a different ride at night- so beautiful! We try to time it to either get a ride in at rope drop or an early FP, and then an evening FP. We were there in July. The Soarin FPs, were not going as fast as RSR. Since you are used to WDW, the TSM line will probably not seem that bad to you. If you can hit it early it is great and you are probably looked at 20 minutes or less-- but unlike WDW where the TSM line could be an hour to an hour and a half all day long (hopefully that has changed with the new track)- TSM is typically 30 to 45 minutes most of the day. So long...but not WDW long.

Also, I don't know if you have hoppers, but you can have FPs in both parks if you are hopping. It was nice to grab a RSR FP for the evening and then be able to immediately hop over to DL and get a FP for something else.

On the DL side, the Star Tours line is regularly much longer than it usually is at WDW. It stays long most of the day. When we were there it seemed like the SM FPs were going the fastest (the Star Wars overlay I'm sure!). If you want to ride Splash in the afternoon while it is warm, that is another one where those times can go pretty fast (that one is difficult to time- too early and the FP are for right away in the morning-- too late and the afternoon line is huge and the FPs are for night). Star Tours and Indiana Jones are the other two. I think the Star Tours FP typically runs out faster than Indy.

My DD is with your kids-- totally Frozened out. She did not want to set foot in the Hyperion to see it this summer. She is still mad Aladdin is gone to make way for more Frozen. It made our day easier not having to deal with that one.

 

[PHXscuba]

You left out Soarin'.

Totally missed it!

Revised list of my preferences: Frozen show, RSR, Tower of Terror/Soarin', Screamin, Grizzly River Run (maybe GRR higher if superhot).

I couldn't decide which I valued more -- seeing the new Soarin' movie, or seeing Tower of Terror before it closes. I think that's where simple geography or return times start to come into play.

PHXscuba

 

[Meldev]

Totally missed it!

Revised list of my preferences: Frozen show, RSR, Tower of Terror/Soarin', Screamin, Grizzly River Run (maybe GRR higher if superhot).

I couldn't decide which I valued more -- seeing the new Soarin' movie, or seeing Tower of Terror before it closes. I think that's where simple geography or return times start to come into play.

PHXscuba

Side question:
How does ToT at WDW compare to ToT at DCA ?

 

[choirboy501]

Side question:
How does ToT at WDW compare to ToT at DCA ?

The theming is great at both parks, as is the elevator drops. But the DCA ToT sits on a smaller footprint, so the cars do not move horizontally through the ride like they do at DHS. The total experience is a little less.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I don't know a comparison of tot but it has a great part view at dlr.

 

[Winnowill]

Depending on how crowded it is, I'd skip Screamin' as an FP attraction. The line is usually not long enough to justify wasting one on it. The others, yes, for sure. But I'd prioritize everything else over Screamin'.

 

[PHXscuba]

Side question:
How does ToT at WDW compare to ToT at DCA ?

I think another person commented the basic difference, in that you don't move forward in the elevator shaft. That takes some DW vets off-guard when they suddenly start dropping without the forward scene. Everything else you like about ToT at WDW is the same.

PHXscuba

 

[Darkbeer1]

One thing to consider, that both the Frozen and World of Color FastPasses do not count against getting another one before a specific time.

So I would do Frozen, get the RSR FP, and then World of Color, that does also lower the walking needed, just head left when entering the park's main entrance, and then head west.

If I was looking at Grand California Entrance, World of Color since it is right there and the queue is fairly short, then Frozen, then RSR.

After that I play it by ear, but I would put Soarin' high on the list, then Tower of Terror and then the others.

And this is something coming from the person who wrote the original FastPass guide for multiple websites and even the Unofficial Guide books.

I miss the days that I could use my Ralphs/Kroger Supermarket Frequent Shopper card or another parks AP to get them basically anytime I liked, since the original system was a lot more basic than the current version, where they even track the fact that the barcode was used to enter prior to being able to get one. A lot of changed over the last 20 years or so....