Entrance to DCA and WOC question please

[FourOrchards]

We are staying at the GCH and I was wondering at what time can we enter DCA to get fastpasses for WOC?

I thought I read it was earlier than the park actually opened but I can't find where I read it.

 

[HydroGuy]

We are staying at the GCH and I was wondering at what time can we enter DCA to get fastpasses for WOC?

I thought I read it was earlier than the park actually opened but I can't find where I read it.

DCA Official Park Opening: 10AM for a number of years

DCA Unofficial Park Opening: 9:30AM for a number of years - with Soarin Over California the only ride operating, and WOC FP distribution also taking place since last summer

DCA Opening to DLR Hotel Guests for WOC FPs: Since about the time WOC opened in June Disney has allowed resort hotel guests to use the GCH special entrance to DCA to enter at 9AM to get WOC FPs

 

[FourOrchards]

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!
Leaving today to see the mouse! Yea...

DCA Official Park Opening: 10AM for a number of years

DCA Unofficial Park Opening: 9:30AM for a number of years - with Soarin Over California the only ride operating, and WOC FP distribution also taking place since last summer

DCA Opening to DLR Hotel Guests for WOC FPs: Since about the time WOC opened in June Disney has allowed resort hotel guests to use the GCH special entrance to DCA to enter at 9AM to get WOC FPs

 

[AlexJanessa]

Slight thread jack - Is it always a good idea to make getting your WOC FP first thing in the morning?

We haven't been there since long before WOC so I'm not sure how it works.

 

[skiingfast]

Slight thread jack - Is it always a good idea to make getting your WOC FP first thing in the morning?

We haven't been there since long before WOC so I'm not sure how it works.

Usually. Once you are allowed in the wait is only about 30 minutes or less. If you are there for the openeing you can get into DCA and get your WoC before DCA is fully open. This could take away from DL time.

If you delay you may get a worse ticket or no ticket. They are given out Blue, Yellow then Red viewing zones. Generally Blue is considered good viewing, Yellow is good to ok, and Red is ok to poor viewing. But inside each zone are far better and far worse spots.

Disneyland 1951 has provided great information in the WoC Superthread. Here is thier last post. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39090078&postcount=62

Note that on weekdays in slow season there is one show, on weekends there are two and in peak season a third show.

 

[AlexJanessa]

Usually. Once you are allowed in the wait is only about 30 minutes or less. If you are there for the openeing you can get into DCA and get your WoC before DCA is fully open. This could take away from DL time.

If you delay you may get a worse ticket or no ticket. They are given out Blue, Yellow then Red viewing zones. Generally Blue is considered good viewing, Yellow is good to ok, and Red is ok to poor viewing. But inside each zone are far better and far worse spots.

Disneyland 1951 has provided great information in the WoC Superthread. Here is thier last post. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39090078&postcount=62

Note that on weekdays in slow season there is one show, on weekends there are two and in peak season a third show.

That's great! Thanks so much. I'll check the WOC thread. I did look for it yesterday but couldn't find it but I see someone has dredged it up this morning.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Slight thread jack - Is it always a good idea to make getting your WOC FP first thing in the morning?

We haven't been there since long before WOC so I'm not sure how it works.

The only exception I would add to skiingfast's reply is, "Not if you want the second show." However, there is no way to guarantee that you have waited long enough to get a ticket for the second show and not too long to strike out completely. That's a balancing act.

- Dreams

 

[Funball]

Yeah it’s a toss up if whether or not the first show is sold out already by the time you get a WOC FP, or not.. because you just don’t know, but if you get the early entrance to get the WOC FP then I am sure you will get the first show…

 

[HydroGuy]

The only exception I would add to skiingfast's reply is, "Not if you want the second show." However, there is no way to guarantee that you have waited long enough to get a ticket for the second show and not too long to strike out completely. That's a balancing act.

- Dreams

I would also add:

- it may not be worth it to go at 9AM sharp to get the WOC FP. If you are going to go straight to DL from there it is fine - except 9AM at DL is prime time for rides and you will miss that if DL has an 8AM or 9AM opening that day. If you plan to hang around DCA - or are hopping to DCA at 9AM from DL - it may be better to go later than 9AM - say at 9:25AM - to beat the 9:30AM crowd but not waste as much time. Just get the WOC FP at 9:25AM and then go ride Soarin Over CA and then do your DCA day as one normally would.

- when I visited DLR in September I really wanted a red section FP for WOC so I could get down in the wet zone right on center. I came by the FP distribution area and they were doing blue. So I came back later and they were doing yellow. Finally I came back a third time and they were doing red. This was a Sunday in September and each time the wait was less than a minute. On days when the WOC FP line backs up more it is harder to do this. My point is that coming to get WOC FPs before 9:30AM means you will be in the blue section (since blue is given out first). Some people think blue is best. Others think blue is worst. Only go before 9:30AM if you are OK with blue. Just FYI...

 

[AlexJanessa]

Good to know. We'd definitely want early show as my dd is 3 and there is no way she'll make it to the second.

Maybe I should just suck it up and buy the picnic packs online and than we're guaranteed to get a spot. What do you guys think?

 

[Funball]

Good to know. We'd definitely want early show as my dd is 3 and there is no way she'll make it to the second.

Maybe I should just suck it up and buy the picnic packs online and than we're guaranteed to get a spot. What do you guys think?

The picnics are good. my BF and I did that.. I really liked the meal we had. And it was just enough food…

 

[mydisneyobsession]

DCA Official Park Opening: 10AM for a number of years

DCA Unofficial Park Opening: 9:30AM for a number of years - with Soarin Over California the only ride operating, and WOC FP distribution also taking place since last summer

DCA Opening to DLR Hotel Guests for WOC FPs: Since about the time WOC opened in June Disney has allowed resort hotel guests to use the GCH special entrance to DCA to enter at 9AM to get WOC FPs

Sorry to be dense, but I just wanted to be sure:
We will not be staying on property. Will we have access to DCA for the "unofficial opening" at 9:30AM? Does this happen everyday? Are all entrances open for unoffical opening, or do we have to go to a specific place to get in?

Thanks so much for the clarification!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Sorry to be dense, but I just wanted to be sure:
We will not be staying on property. Will we have access to DCA for the "unofficial opening" at 9:30AM? Does this happen everyday? Are all entrances open for unoffical opening, or do we have to go to a specific place to get in?

Thanks so much for the clarification!

Yes, DCA starts letting everyone through the main entrances at 9:30 AM.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Good to know. We'd definitely want early show as my dd is 3 and there is no way she'll make it to the second.

Maybe I should just suck it up and buy the picnic packs online and than we're guaranteed to get a spot. What do you guys think?

If it is crucial that you get the first show, then you want to either be at the FP distribution machines earlier than later or just pre-order the boxes. $15 for a meal and convenience is a pretty good deal. It's an issue of what's important to you.

When I went with my Mom because she wanted to see WoC, she did not want to get to DLR early in the day on that day. (She had a 3rd day on a 3 day PH to use up.) We were hoping for 1st show and did not want the wet zone. Tough bill to fill. Lunches were sold out for the day we wanted so I gave her the choice of a new day, meeting me at the park early to get FPs and then coming back in the evening, or taking our chances.

We went at around 4:30pm, we got 2nd show, red (wet) zone. Stood in the back section so as not to get wet. You sort of have to weigh what's most important to you and plan as such.

- Dreams

 

[Funball]

If it is crucial that you get the first show, then you want to either be at the FP distribution machines earlier than later or just pre-order the boxes. $15 for a meal and convenience is a pretty good deal. It's an issue of what's important to you.

- Dreams

I am going to have to agree with dreams. you really can't beat the convenience of the picnic lunches let alone that when you do order one you do get a ticket.. because you never know with the FP tickets if they have already sold out or not..I would go with the picnic meals. and you know what, they are really good my BF and i did them when we saw WOC in september, and it was a perfect dinner(or it can be a lunch too!) and you don't have to eat them in the park

here is the link to help you ..

woc dining options... including info on pre-fixe meals


woc picnic info, and full list of picnics served along with photos

​

 

[kailuagirl]

I had the same questions as you when we stayed at the GCH a couple weeks ago. How many days are you doing to be in the parks? If you are there several days then maybe the day you get your FP for WOC is the day you do DCA?? We checked in on a Monday morning, buy the time we were done it was after 9, so we went straight to DCA to get our FP, we so lucked out as we just got there before the huge line of people got there from the main entrance let in. We got blue. DCA was pretty empty so it was a great time to enjoy it. Our return time was 7:15, my bad and I knew better but we were having too much fun, we got there to line up at 7:05ish and we were way way to late, so many many many other people were already there, we were really bummed, so we were maybe the 4th or 5th group let in. We still got railing at the bridge but we could have did better, so make sure to get there early.

Have a great time, you are so going to love it!!!!