Fantasyland/PP access at rope drop + park pics

[WonkaKid]

As other posters have mentioned, the castle refurb means that guests that wish to visit FL first thing after rope-drop have to take the long way around. I/we thought this morning that the side path near Fantasy Faire would be an alternate route. We learned at around 7:50 that it was not.

We were concerned that there would be a crazy dash for FL but once we passed the bathrooms that face Matterhorn, we realized that people were going at a reasonable pace. So it was a lot better than we expected.

Park attendance was lighter that usual today. It was first day back in the park in nearly a month and it was great to be back. I was happy to learn that my Buzz skills hadn't softened over the intervening says and weeks.

A few park pics from today. No captions since I can barely keep my eyes open. Heading to bed the moment I've posted this.



First in the park.


First in the park. Still ;-).




The new Tropical Hideaway. Looks really nice.

 

[WonkaKid]

A few more pics:

 

[WonkaKid]

Bonus pic: I spend a lot of time (at least three nights a week) at Upright Citizens Brigade, an improv comedy theater in Hollywood. Amy Poehler is one of the original four founders and sometimes shows up to perform, as she did last night. A truly awesome show. She sang -- literally -- Dolly Parton's "Nine to Five" as part of the show.

 

[edhmom]

A few more pics:


My daughter wanted to see Moana on this trip but we missed her. Bummer. She also really wanted to see Belle but she was never on the schedule for character appearances which honestly really surprised me considering she's one of their big princesses.

Thank you for all your tips on Buzz. Unfortunately my family read my notes so my husband beat me, but I still got an all time high score for me (229,600) so I'm happy...and he didn't beat me by much.

 

[YayforMickey]

Were you first on Peter Pan? Would you recommend doing Peter Pan first or Alice with the castle closure?

 

[HopLow1968]

I am curious if the castle closure confuses some of the folks making the dash for Peter Pan. And I'm equally curious which route is now the quickest to Pan.

 

[Bossy22]

Love the pics. Lets me live a little vicariously through you but also lets me visualize what I've read about!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[WonkaKid]

Were you first on Peter Pan? Would you recommend doing Peter Pan first or Alice with the castle closure?

Yes, I was first. It seems that many/most people were confused by the alternate route. About 1/3 of the way to PP, we realized that we were all well in the lead. I suspect that in coming weeks, the confusion will pass and it'll become more competitive.

Yes, I always advise doing PP first. Lines for that get crazy within thirty seconds of rope drop. We'll often do Alice third or fourth and lines are still reasonable.

 

[WonkaKid]

I am curious if the castle closure confuses some of the folks making the dash for Peter Pan. And I'm equally curious which route is now the quickest to Pan.

I believe it did confuse some people. The quickest -- and really only -- way to PP is to go around past Matterhorn and Alice and enter FL from the back (near the teacups).

 

[YayforMickey]

Yes, I was first. It seems that many/most people were confused by the alternate route. About 1/3 of the way to PP, we realized that we were all well in the lead. I suspect that in coming weeks, the confusion will pass and it'll become more competitive.

Yes, I always advise doing PP first. Lines for that get crazy within thirty seconds of rope drop. We'll often do Alice third or fourth and lines are still reasonable.

Thanks for your thoughts. I've always been among the first 5-20 people when I do Peter Pan first, but I was unsure whether I should try with the castle being closed. I will be there in three weeks. I hope people are still somewhat confused. Hahaha.

 

[WonkaKid]

I will be there in three weeks. I hope people are still somewhat confused. Hahaha.

Me too! ;-). It was the most sane rope drop I've ever witnessed.

 

[WonkaKid]

I forgot to mention this is my last weekend park update. Around noon, I saw two Japanese girls at the popcorn wagon near Haunted Mansion that looked confused. I often offer to help guests that seem lost and in this case I’d taken a few years of Japanese in college. I approached and asked where they wanted to go. They wondered where they could get flavored popcorn. I laughed a little and then asked if they asked because curry popcorn was enormously popular at DL Tokyo. They laughed too and said that I was right. I explained that we don’t have it at our park but I remember seeing crazy lines for it at DL Tokyo. It was their first day at DL so I also offered some tips — single-rider lines and so forth. It’s always fun to help new guests.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I know you were in Disneyland at the time, but for future reference in case the knowledge ever comes in handy, DCA does sell flavored popcorn, though not curry flavor, at Cozy Cone #5 in Carsland.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Cute story! I wish we had as much variety of popcorn flavors like Tokyo Disney has. We are starting to get unique popcorn buckets like Tokyo Disney, now all we need are more flavors.

There's caramel flavored popcorn in DCA too right? By the airplane near Soarin.

I wonder why the flavored popcorn is only in DCA. Thoughts?

Kriss

 

[wowsmom]

I would love if we got the Japanese curry popcorn here.

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

I love your "first in the park" photos.

 

[B3rlingirl]

I always enjoy your park day report and those empty park pictures...