Expert's opinion sought for June 30 plan

[Aussie Wendy]

We only have one day for DL June 30 staying at HoJo's. As one day don't have MM entry and decided too rushed to also do some of DCA-save for next time. Have been to DL before and more recently WDW. Not big roller coaster fans (DD and DH feel ill on them-DH only recently to his disgust). Must do's ST, IJ, POC, HM, PP, Nemo, me only prob. BTMR, Captn EO, fireworks. Like to do BLAB, Matterhorn (poss. me only), poss. SM (considering me only-I freaked out 1st visit 25 yrs ago but getting braver with age), Pinnochio, Alice, Snow White, Toad, RR, GMML (every trip its not been working and going to Washington DC this trip), "play" in TT, Fantasmic show 2, and catch small part parade-from back of crowds en route to a land.

Tentative schedule on which I seek experts input bearing in mind new ST will be open:yay and predictions 8 or 9 level crowds. Arrive at security between 7.15-7.30. Me runner to ST FP while family heads to standby IJ. Anticipate longer than ave return time as MM people will have mobbed FP at 8am. Join family ride IJ standby, ride POC standby as there and its our all time fave, me ride BTMR single rider line while DD eats (WP bakery eg). Depending on time can collect next FP, if short time to waste, ride HM, collect new FP IJ, go over to TL and ST and ride. Depending on wait times ride BLAB, then one or 2 FL rides (Alice, Pinnochio-see wait times), when able collect another FP -see if can get ST-late eve return is fine unless I decide I want SM-but can do single rider line if do and if I miss out don't really care. Choice then either TT and standby/FP RR or TL and Captn EO, decide if eat in DL or out, catch railroad back to front gate and return to hotel for rest-try to leave park 1-1.30 depending if eat lunch in or out.

Return to DL between 4-4.30, use FP, ride some of the outstanding rides on my list (incl. GMML which I anticipate is always quiet) subject to wait times. Aim to ride missing FL rides during 6.30 parade (poss. catch start first), or late eg after Fantasmic 2. Eat before or after parade to take advantage poss. shorter lines for rides. Plan to q for fireworks 9 for 9.30-we don't need best spot. Q on FrontierL side so can head over to Fantasmic 2 after fireworks over. After Fantasmic ride missing rides, fave rides, making most of shorter lines and avoiding any longer q, til midnight.

Best time to try for PP given its MM?? Best time to fit in Captn EO?
Thanks as always. Still amazed it was DH idea we take an extra day to squeeze in DL on a trip to Eastern states! He must be a closet disnut!

 

[skiingfast]

I can see a few problems that I should warn you on.

Nemo will have a long line because it will be busy from the MM crowd. PP will have a long line as you realized from the MM crowd. Buzz will probably have a long line as will space because of over flow from Star Tours. And the FP for Star Tour might have a line first thing in the morning longer than the wait for IJ.

Also to watch the fireworks, my advice is to watch it from the right or front side to get to F! easier. It's not intuitive to stay further away but has worked for me. The reason is when the first F! ends they are coming at the hub, fireworks end, and you(firework viewer) can not walk into Frontierland because the F! viewers are coming at you. It is just a traffic jam as each crowd tries to get through the other.

So you watch from the other side, as soon as the show ends get moving, easier if you watch from near an edge of the crowd. There are walkways maintained throughout the show. So when fireworks end you go down the right side of the hub and cross in front of the castle. By doing this you can get in front of hundreds of people heading to ROA for F!. If you don't see daylight in the Frontierland entrance make a right and cut through by the Plaza Gardens Stage, which will bring you out by the Rancho Del Zocal restaurant in Frontierland where the path is wider.

What I would do in the morning is you go to the ST FPs, everyone else goes to IJ. You go to IJ but don't meet them, use the single rider line and see if you get on before or after them. Like I said the ST FPs may take a while.

Now you may be thinking WDW but BTMRR does not have single rider. In fact in DL only IJ and Splash do. I wasn't real sure when you said Single Rider for SM if you meant Splash which does, or Space that doesn't.

For PP I think when the masses are lined up for a parade is going to be your best shot. Probably the same for Nemo or do them last, late night. Also keep in mind the early parade starts at the back of the park, the second parade comes from the front. So you have two chances at this and might be at the route at the right time.

Another good time to tour Fantasyland , though won't work for you if you are at the second F! is about an hour after the fireworks. Most of the attractions close in FL for the fireworks and have to be cleared for fire safety before it can reopen.

Captain EO you could probably do while waiting on ST. Remember that ST FP you get first thing may not have a return time until late morning or afternoon.

My other suggestion is to not take a midday break. Won't you have a long flight to sleep on? Also can you squeeze in a second day if only the night before or morning after?

 

[ArchOwl]

Like the PP said, Space Mountain and BTMRR do not have single rider lines, so your strategy will have to change somewhat to make room for FPs. Only Indiana Jones and Splash Mountain have Single Rider lines.

I still think that it is your best bet to ride Fantasyland rides during the morning, even on a MM day when you don't have MM. Why? Because even on a busy day, the morning is the best time to ride the slow loaders. It could mean the difference between a 15-20 minute wait or a 45 minute or longer wait. Even though it is better to ride Peter Pan on a non-MM day, it doesn't mean that the morning is worse than the afternoon. These rides will just get longer as the day goes on (until really late, but you want to see Fantasmic and Fireworks).

I would employ a FP collection strategy in the morning along with riding the Fantasyland rides. Star Tours is of course, an unknown at this point. As your dates get closer, we will have a better idea of a strategy for ST. For now, I would assume that you should get a FP for ST first thing.

Arrive at gates by 7:20am

You take all admission media upon entering park and run to ST for FP
DH and kids go to PP (I would say PP will be 15-20 minute wait, far better than you will see later. Depending on ST FP line, you may or may not ride this ride.)
By 8:25 they are off PP
Mr. Toad
Alice (longish wait, probably another 15-20 minute wait, skip if you like)
Snow White
Pinocchio
Buzz
(9:30 ish, window for FP now open)
Get Space Mountain FP
Captain EO
Go to ToonTown to play around and get Roger Rabbit FP (disconnected)
Pirates
Haunted Mansion
(11:00 ish, window for FP now open)
Get FP for Indiana Jones

At this point you can start using your early morning FPs, i.e. Star Tours and Space Mountain or Roger Rabbit. Or you can ride other choices until 12:30 when I anticipate you will be able to get a FP for BTMRR. Lunch and rest.

Be back in the park before the first parade (4:30) so you can hop on Finding Nemo during the parade (anticipating a 25-30 minute wait). But pick up a FP for your choice of ride first (repeat Indiana Jones, etc.).

Then you ride Matterhorn (the Fantasyland side might be closed off for the parade earlier, sneak in before everyone else realizes it is open again!) which will be about 25 minutes or so. If you don't want to wait that long, ride the Matterhorn right after you watch Fantasmic.

Now cash in your unused FPs that you have left including Indiana Jones and BTMRR. Pick a time to watch Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, perhaps before or after dinner.

Honestly, you now have a few hours to fill between about 6:30 or 7pm until fireworks. Pick some more rides! Keep an eye open for any available FPs such as BTMRR, which you will have eligibility for around 6:30pm.

Fireworks

Fantasmic!

Now use your FPs you got when you re-entered the park at 4:30pm and any others you may have got later.

I think you can put more rides on your schedule if you are willing to run around and collect FPs during the morning while riding slow loaders. If you wait until the afternoon to do Fantasyland, you are looking at 45 minutes to ride Peter Pan or Alice. Since you want to see Fantasmic! after the fireworks, you won't be able to wait in line to hop on PP first thing.

Hopefully this makes sense. Have fun!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Skiing Fast and Archowl - thanks very much-suggestions taken on board. We may well decide to not take a break in the arvo-see how tired/hot we are but have found it works well on long days and will be battling jetlag as start of trip from Aus. Found similar timing on an earlier trip stopping off in San Fran my plans for sightseeing for a few hours later on arrival evening were capput-we slept! but put in a mega day the next day though flagging by 10pm. Of course there's always the fanatic me who might stay and the others go for a rest! Didn't realise so few rides in DL had single rider lines but hadn't tried them before WDW. Will be following ST posts in June as info comes in hot off the press! Thanks again-its exciting when I can say we fly out next month

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

June 30th is the only date in June with HOJO Entertainment Retro Rates available today. Did you use that rate? If not, call and get it!

 

[farmfresh]

Great advice here. The ST FPS seem like the real unknown though. Seeing as you are intending to be in the park until late, it might be better to get an FP for one of the other rides first. My thinking here is that, depending on how mobbed the line is ( poss with MM people waiting) you may end up with the two hour window on your first FP with ST, rather than a shorter collect if you picked up an SM, or IJ FP.

If it really doesn't matter what return time you get for it, and provided you pick one up before they run out (that info will be interesting!) then the current strategy doesn't seem to me to maximise FP collection opportunities.

Also - if you can live without Fantasyland rides (which will be definitely best in the morning) then you could really work some DCA rides in very easily. You could push the HM, POC rides forward, then try for a soaring FP. It's great!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Thanks-yep will refine strategies when get feedback on line-ups for ST. Loved Soarin' in WDW-tempting.......

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Thanks v much for tip

 

[farmfresh]

Whilst I'm tempting you....on a hot afternoon, a grizzly river run can't be beat... pick up FPs after 12ish WOC distribution ends.....

PS just across the tasman from you!

 

[nana50]

I have a tip about getting ill on the roller coasters. I always do as I get sick sitting in the back seat of a car! I take one Bonnie at night and 2 the next morning before we go to DL and I'm fine. I love Big Thunder and would be so sad to miss it. Especially your son, he is young and will probably do well with just bonnie (or another sea sickness pill). Make sure you don't go over and over, on a full stomach, on an empty stomach, and too soon after the teacups! LOL