Evening park advice needed

[danacath]

Last minute question here... My 21 y o DD is on choir tour and will have about 6 hours to spend in either DL or DCA tomorrow night with 3 friends. Not much time, but they decided a bit of Disney is better than no Disney at all. DD has been to WDW and DL numerous times, but much has changed since her last time at DL.

So, if it were you, which park would you choose, which attractions would you try for, and in what order? Any advice on how to make the most of their limited time would be greatly appreciated!

 

[VandVsmama]

I'd go to Disneyland instead of DCA. And I'd target rides like:

• Pirates
• the train
• It's A Small World
• Winnie the Pooh
• Buzz Lightyear
• Star Tours (with FP if they're still available when she gets there)
• Tiki Room
• Jungle Cruise if wait is ~ 20 min
• anything with a wait of 20 min or less
• reservation at Oga's Cantina for her & her 3 friends if they're interested

 

[mel2014]

I would do DL, get MaxPass, and try to pick up cancellations. On a Friday night in February with a family of 4, we got to the park at 6:30, picked up a Star Tours FP for 7:15, had dinner, got stuck on Pirates for 30 minutes (got one bonus FP for that) during which time we got a Buzz FP at 7:30, tapped into Buzz, were able to get a Space Mountain FP for 8:00, did Star Tours, came out to find our SM FP had become a multi-experience pass, tapped into Matterhorn using that and immediately got a Big Thunder FP, used our MEP from being stuck on Pirates to hit Space Mountain, which was back up and running, and finished with Big Thunder by 9:15. So in less than 3 hours, including dinner and a half hour of being stuck on a ride, we hit Pirates, Buzz, Star Tours, Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. They can also use single rider for Space Mountain, Smuggler's Run, Matterhorn, Splash Mountain and Star Tours if there aren't FP available. The important key to Maxpass stacking/overlapping is don't go by time, go by the last-acquired FP because as soon as you tap into that ride, you can make a new one. So in my example, even though our Star Tours FP was expiring sooner, we went to Buzz first after getting off Pirates so that we would be eligible to get a new FP sooner. You don't say the hours they'll be there, but if they can stay until midnight, the wait times drastically drop after 10 p.m. and that last hour is golden for getting on things with short standby waits.

 

[nutshell]

How long since she was last at DL?

 

[danacath]

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the FP tips! Our family loves to use all the touring strategies like that when we're in the parks. So fun! Unfortunately, I doubt all 3 friends can be talked into spending the extra $20 on MaxPass; some were already balking at the base ticket price for so few hours in the park. MaxPass seems well worth it though, so I'll still go ahead and suggest it.

DD was last at DL in June, 2016.

 

[BGinCali]

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the FP tips! Our family loves to use all the touring strategies like that when we're in the parks. So fun! Unfortunately, I doubt all 3 friends can be talked into spending the extra $20 on MaxPass; some were already balking at the base ticket price for so few hours in the park. MaxPass seems well worth it though, so I'll still go ahead and suggest it.

DD was last at DL in June, 2016.

If they decide against maxpass (even if they do get maxpass), be sure they utilize single rider lines which can be a great timesaver vs a long standby line. Hope they have a fantastic time!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Last minute question here... My 21 y o DD is on choir tour and will have about 6 hours to spend in either DL or DCA tomorrow night with 3 friends. Not much time, but they decided a bit of Disney is better than no Disney at all. DD has been to WDW and DL numerous times, but much has changed since her last time at DL.

So, if it were you, which park would you choose, which attractions would you try for, and in what order? Any advice on how to make the most of their limited time would be greatly appreciated!

When will your DD be there? (The specific date might make a difference.) Have her download the Disneyland app (free!) now to start getting used to using it. She can look at wait times for rides, FP availability and return times, menus and prices, etc. She can get her ticket ahead of time on the app and go right to the gates. If she has a credit card on file, she'll be able to purchase MP as soon as she activates her ticket at the gate and to use Mobile Ordering (big time saver!). Great suggestion above to use the SR lines! Also have her look over the entertainment schedule for that night -- timing certain rides during big shows can work in her favor, e.g. POTC during F! But she should also know to stay away from certain areas when big shows let out -- getting stuck in the traffic jams could suck up way too much time.

 

[danacath]

Great advice, thanks! DD and friends will be there tonight, March 11.

I should add that they're catching an Uber from Costa Mesa, so they decided to wait with buying park tickets, just in case they get stuck in a bad traffic jam that warrants a change of plans. They're also still undecided on which park, since some aren't ready to give up on DCA until they see what their Main Gates arrival time actually is. IMHO, the extra two hours of park time from 10-midnight makes DL the attractive choice in this situation, but I respect that others may not feel the same way. If anyone else cares to weigh in on this, I'd love to hear your opinions/advice!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Great advice, thanks! DD and friends will be there tonight, March 11.

I should add that they're catching an Uber from Costa Mesa, so they decided to wait with buying park tickets, just in case they get stuck in a bad traffic jam that warrants a change of plans. They're also still undecided on which park, since some aren't ready to give up on DCA until they see what their Main Gates arrival time actually is. IMHO, the extra two hours of park time from 10-midnight makes DL the attractive choice in this situation, but I respect that others may not feel the same way. If anyone else cares to weigh in on this, I'd love to hear your opinions/advice!

Agree that DL's hours make it the better choice -- more bang for the buck! Whichever park they choose, make sure they buy their tickets ahead -- skip the ticket booths! -- have their tickets ready to go on the app and go right to the gates. Make sure their phones are charged so that they can use them all night (MP or not, they'll need their phones for the app, photos, Mobile Ordering, etc.). They can be dropped off at either the Harbor drop off or at the DTD drop off -- their choice. They will go through bag check at either point, so make sure they don't have any glass/weapons/anything that looks like a weapon/laser pointers in their bags. Security changed in Jan. 2017, so tell your DD that once they clear security, they won't have to go through again between DL/DCA/DTD. Easy!

 

[cruisehopeful]

IMHO, the extra two hours of park time from 10-midnight makes DL the attractive choice in this situation, but I respect that others may not feel the same way. If anyone else cares to weigh in on this, I'd love to hear your opinions/advice!

If someone was going to stay until closing, I'd go with DL. If they will be tired and "over it" before closing, they may want to go to DCA for the Food and Beverage event going on right now if they enjoy eating and drinking (trying out new things). My favorite rides are in DCA, but that may just be because I haven't ridden them as many times as I've ridden the ones in DL.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If they want to do the Food & Wine Festival in DCA, be aware that the booths shut at 8 pm.

 

[danacath]

Another thing I'd been wondering... Since DCA is the EMH park today and Food Wine Fest is going on, even though booths close at 8, could DCA be more crowded than DL? Or does the popularity of SWGE/late hours in DL tonight kind of even out the crowd sizes?

Hoping the cloudy, possibly rainy, weather today might "dampen" crowd levels. Pun intended. lol

 

[danacath]

OP here. DD and friends chose DL. They just arrived at the park and are so excited! But they're a bit confused on stacking FP's, the 30 min wait time, the 2 hour window, etc. so if anyone is good at clearly explaining DL FP's, they'd be grateful. I'm scrambling to help them, but I'm much more familiar with WDW.

Also, any QS recommendations? They don't want to spend much time eating, but they'll need dinner at some point. Thanks so much everyone!

 

[VandVsmama]

OP here. DD and friends chose DL. They just arrived at the park and are so excited! But they're a bit confused on stacking FP's, the 30 min wait time, the 2 hour window, etc. so if anyone is good at clearly explaining DL FP's, they'd be grateful. I'm scrambling to help them, but I'm much more familiar with WDW.

Also, any QS recommendations? They don't want to spend much time eating, but they'll need dinner at some point. Thanks so much everyone!

QS recommendations:
Hungry Bear
French Market
Docking Bay 7
Plaza Inn

How to stack FPs:

1. Go to FP machine, insert ticket, select ride you want FP for. It tells you return window, which is 1 hour long. It will also tell you what time you can get your next FP.
2. Set alam on your cell phone for the time that the machine told you that you can get your next FP. Let's say it says you can get next one at 7:00 pm.
3. Alarm goes off at 7:00 pm.
4. Go to FP machine (or do this on your phone if you have Max Pass).
5. Select ride you want the FP for. Do rest of stuff in step 1.
6. Do step #2.
7. Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[VandVsmama]

I just looked at the DL app.

FPs appear to be unavailable for:
BTMRR
Space Mtn
Matterhorn
Indiana Jones

FP still available for:
Autopia
Buzz Lightyear
Star Tours
it's a small world
Roger Rabbit
Splash Mtn

 

[VandVsmama]

If they are there RIGHT NOW, then what I personally would do in terms of ride strategy is this:

Get FP for Roger Rabbit (7:35-8:30 pm return time)
Pirates (15 min wait right now)
Tiki Room (10 min wait) or Jungle Cruise (15 min wait)
pics in front of castle
eat dinner at Plaza Inn
It's a small world (10 min wait right now)
meet MIckey in Toon Town at his house (15 min wait right now)
Roger Rabbit using FP
** get next FP for Star Tours
take train from Fantasyland/Toon Town station to Tomorrowland station
Autopia (15 min wait, FP return window right now is 6:50-7:50 pm)
Astro Orbiter (20 min wait right now)
skip fireworks, go on Mad Tea Party instead.
immediately after fireworks are done, go on Mr Toad & Pinocchio, then Dumbo
After Star Tours FP, if there are any FP left available, pick Buzz, Splash Mtn, or Autopia.

 

[VandVsmama]

Last ride of the night (i.e., you're getting in line just before the park closes at midnight, assuming they're staying until then):

BTMRR, Space Mtn, or Splash Mtn. Preferably Space Mtn if none of them have ever been on it.

 

[danacath]

Wow, thank you so much for all the info! It's very kind of you to take the time to reply!

They just got off Matterhorn a while ago. Lines were short due to the parade. DD isn't seeing the same FP's that you're seeing though, so I'm not sure what's up. All she's seeing is an 8:30 FP. She's using the park app on her phone so maybe it's not loading right? Is there a better display board in the park to check for FP's?

 

[danacath]

Disregard the questions in my most recent message. DD and friends got things figured out and they're having a blast! Thanks again, to all of you who replied with advice. Very much appreciated!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

So glad they're having a great night!