Early hours day Check in first (Grand Calif) OR straight to park??

[Jilliansmiles]

SO happy to back on DIS. Going to DL, staying in Grand Cal Hotel for two days, but doing DCA check in day.

QUESTION: Should we check in first, then go to DCA OR go direct to DCA so maybe we could get the Fast pass for Radiator Springs and check in later. IT IS an early hours DCA day.

Help I know you guys can give me the advice!!


WDWJuly 1977(HS Sr trip)
DLMarch 1987(Move to CA)
WDWNov 1990(w/my mom)
WDWMay 2000(the kids 1st!)
WDWOct 2002(w/friends) KIDS GET ON THE HOLLOWEEN PARADE FLOAT
WDWSept 2010(kids all grown up)
WDWMar 2016 (visiting my DCP daughter)
DLAug 2016(DCP daughter's 1st time)

 

[Disney_Alli]

What time will you be arriving? They don't give out fastpasses during the early morning hours and if you'd arrive in time to walk in a couple minutes early I'd check in first. If you're arriving before about 11 you should be able to get fastpasses so I'd check in first if only to have bell services hold you luggage instead of leaving it in the car.

 

[Jilliansmiles]

I think I can get my kids up and in the car to arrive 9am. I've haven't done DLC in summer ever and we are only doing one day at each park, so I'm freaking out about crowds getting in the way of having FPasses for 3 rides I don't want to miss! Soarin', Radiator Springs and Toy Story. Should I worry that a Fast Pass for Radiator S's could be gone by 11 on an early hours day? Thanks!

 

[Disney_Alli]

Well Toy Story doesn't have fastpass so you'll have to wait in line for that one no matter what. I haven't been during the summer in years but if you check the DL app you can see when fastpasses are running out each day so you'll have a better idea of when things are running out.

 

[the donut]

Getting a fastpass later in the day has it's advantages. I love riding RSR at night!

 

[bumbershoot]

Your sig shows that you moved to CA, but your user info shows you're from PA. Are you coming from the east coast? If so remember that your bodies will be up waaaaay earlier than 9am pacific time. (b/c that's noon eastern)

Or if you're in CA, surely Disney fever will get them up earlier.

You're staying at the Grand, so you want to park there. Go there, check in, stash your bags, park, and get to the parks. To park at the main parking garage, when you're staying at the Grand, makes very little sense.

 

[Cats2]

OP, where are you driving from? What are the park hours on the day of arrival?? You don't want to take advantage of EMH on arrival day?? (That would be incentive enough to check in early I think). If self parking, then just pull up to the front of the hotel, let Bell Services take luggage, unload family, and park across the street in the self park lot (typically my DH's duty while I go check in) At that point, it's up to you to decide to check in (though if in AM the room might not be ready anyhow) vs just heading to parks. If you'll need a room key if attempting EMH that day.

 

[hawkfam]

You mention "freaking out about crowds getting in the way of having FPasses for 3 rides" which is how WDW works with FP+ but DLR still operates on the paper FP system where you can only hold at most 2 connected FPs at any one time and that overlap is only for a short time. So, not sure if that changes your planning or not but there will not be tons of people holding multiple FPs before you'd arrive in the park, no matter what time you show up. So, possibly something to worry a little less about.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I like to check in first and check my bags. It doesn't take much time, unless there is a long line of people checking out. I like being able to go directly to my room when it is ready and I am tired from being busy at the parks.

 

[Kender]

DLR still operates on the paper FP system where you can only hold at most 2 connected FPs at any one time and that overlap is only for a short time.

Er, not totally correct. There is no limit on held FPs under the legacy system at DLR as long as they were obtained in one of the following ways for connected FPs:

1) The time window for the connected FP has opened up.
2) Two hours since the connected FP was obtained.

One can in theory hold several FPs because of the two hour window maximum between obtaining a new FP.

Unless you're meaning one can only pull at the same time? Because that would be closer to accurate since one can pull one connected FP in both parks (if has a hopper). There is always the maximum two hour wait time between passes being pulled though (or FP window opening up, whichever happens sooner).

 

[5forMickey]

Not sure how far you are coming from but if you are staying at the Grand is there anyway you could get there early enough for early entry? That would be the most perfect time to do TS and Soarin and then you could head over at rope drop and grab a fast pass (or ride) radiator. I know it is a bit earlier than 9 but that early hour if you could make it would be perfect to your "must do's".

You can check into the Hotel as early as you want (we've done 5am) even if your room is not ready they will give you your room key so you can take advantage of the early entry.