First Thing You Do/Ride in Each Park?

[StormyCA]

DL-Peter Pan, it's the first FL dark ride BFF and I rode together on her first visit to DLR. Even before it got so popular. It's also our last ride at the end of the day.

DCA-It's more crowd driven. It used to be RSR, but I expect now it will be GotG.

 

[lurpee]

In DCA we head straight for Guardians and then RSR.

In Disneyland we usually make a left and knock out Indy, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder, Pirates and Haunted Mansion using a mix of FP and standby. We always find we can get a lot done there early and we love just about every single attraction over in that area of the park.

I was wondering about this. The trip in a couple weeks has us with EME on our first day at CA, which is weird for me because my tradition is going first to DL before anything else. I was wondering what the priority is now with the new Guardians ride.

 

[lurpee]

DL we head straight for Space or Big Thunder because they're our favourites. DCA used to be Soarin and RSR but now it's Guardians. Last trip we got in line for standby at RD and booked a MP for later! We don't care for the new Soarin so it's not really a priority anymore.

I loved it in January. The only thing I don't care for is how long it takes in line when there isn't even a line. DD5, DD9 and nephew 9 loved it and we went right back on it. But I guess when you compare riding that one twice and Splash Mountain 13 times...I guess we have our other priorities too.

 

[dshimel]

Disneyland:
1) Get FP to Space Mt
2) Space Mt
3) Matterhorn (2x if both sides are open)
3a) get Fantasmic FP (before or after Matterhorn depending how crowded the rope drop was)
4) Indy
4a) Get Indy FP (get FP before or after Indy depending on time)
5) Thunder Mt.
6) Jungle Cruise or if Sept-Dec (Haunted Mansion Holiday)
7) Space Mt use FP
Next FP to get is Splash or Star Tours depending on return time.

DCA:
1) Get FP to tower.
2) ride Tower of Guardians of the Galaxy of Terror
3) Get World of Color FP
3) ride Toy Story
4) ride Racers single Rider
5) Get Racers FP.
6) Screamin'
7) Fun Wheel (if we're going to do it at all)
8) Sky School
9) Use Tower FPs

 

[dshimel]

I was wondering about this. The trip in a couple weeks has us with EME on our first day at CA, which is weird for me because my tradition is going first to DL before anything else. I was wondering what the priority is now with the new Guardians ride.

Guardians is TOP priority. It is where about 3/4 people head first. It will have the longest stand-by soonest, and its FPs go the fastest.

When people start getting let in for rope drop, most head for Guardians lines on Hollywood entrance. Cast members will be directing you to left curb for standby line and right curb for Fast Pass. A few minutes before official park opening, the lines will be walked back to the respective places (into the standby line and into line for FPs.

Second is Radiator Springs Racers.

 

[lurpee]

Guardians is TOP priority. It is where about 3/4 people head first. It will have the longest stand-by soonest, and its FPs go the fastest.

When people start getting let in for rope drop, most head for Guardians lines on Hollywood entrance. Cast members will be directing you to left curb for standby line and right curb for Fast Pass. A few minutes before official park opening, the lines will be walked back to the respective places (into the standby line and into line for FPs.

Second is Radiator Springs Racers.

Thank you for the info! If you don't mind explaining more--do you line up at Rope Drop to the left side of Carthay Circle heading in the direction of Hyperion?

 

[mich311e]

Pull a Space Mountain fast pass then ride the Matterhorn.

If it's not Magic Morning I might head to Peter Pan first.

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I was wondering about this. The trip in a couple weeks has us with EME on our first day at CA, which is weird for me because my tradition is going first to DL before anything else. I was wondering what the priority is now with the new Guardians ride.

In my experience RSR is still the more popular attraction, my son and I just happen to LOVE Guardians, so we head there first, usually while my wife and daughter get RSR FP's and grab some breakfast for everyone.

 

[lurpee]

In my experience RSR is still the more popular attraction, my son and I just happen to LOVE Guardians, so we head there first, usually while my wife and daughter get RSR FP's and grab some breakfast for everyone.

I am trying to figure this out. I saw a vlogger video right after riding it for the first time and he was excited but very clear that it was way more intense. I'm worried that if that's the first ride my daughters ride on the trip they may forget how much they love the other rides. I'm wondering if we should head straight to RSR and pull an FP on MP in route so they get one thrill out of their way. Thanks for the input!

 

[lurpee]

Disneyland:
1) Get FP to Space Mt
2) Space Mt
3) Matterhorn (2x if both sides are open)
3a) get Fantasmic FP (before or after Matterhorn depending how crowded the rope drop was)
4) Indy
4a) Get Indy FP (get FP before or after Indy depending on time)
5) Thunder Mt.
6) Jungle Cruise or if Sept-Dec (Haunted Mansion Holiday)
7) Space Mt use FP
Next FP to get is Splash or Star Tours depending on return time.

DCA:
1) Get FP to tower.
2) ride Tower of Guardians of the Galaxy of Terror
3) Get World of Color FP
3) ride Toy Story
4) ride Racers single Rider
5) Get Racers
6) Screamin'
7) Fun Wheel (if we're going to do it at all)
8) Sky School
9) Use Tower FPs

I love "Tower of Guardians of the Galaxy of Terror"

 

[Robinjay]

Keep your eyes on the Pirates waits. It can go from no wait to 5 minutes to winding every which way around New Orleans and be a 45 minute or more wait. It is best in the first hour or two or last hours because there is no fast pass for it. Used to not be an issue, but ever since the last refurb, lines can get crazy busy.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I am trying to figure this out. I saw a vlogger video right after riding it for the first time and he was excited but very clear that it was way more intense. I'm worried that if that's the first ride my daughters ride on the trip they may forget how much they love the other rides. I'm wondering if we should head straight to RSR and pull an FP on MP in route so they get one thrill out of their way. Thanks for the input!

Guardians is intense! I never rode Tower of Terror so I can't compare if it's more intense than that ride but I would say it's the most intense ride at DL/DCA personally, moreso than California Screamin IMO.

 

[dshimel]

Thank you for the info! If you don't mind explaining more--do you line up at Rope Drop to the left side of Carthay Circle heading in the direction of Hyperion?

At the Carthy Circle, make the left into Hollywood land. On the right side of the street (side with Playhouse Disney/Animation) is the line for Fast Passes (if not using MaxPass). On the left, (with Award Wieners and shops) is the line for stand-by.

RSR is more popular later in the day, and will usually have longer lines by mid-day. However, right at opening, the big rush is to Guardians of the Galaxy. Perhaps that is because more people with younger children sleep-in a little more, while the thrill seekers are there for opening.

 

[dshimel]

Keep your eyes on the Pirates waits. It can go from no wait to 5 minutes to winding every which way around New Orleans and be a 45 minute or more wait. It is best in the first hour or two or last hours because there is no fast pass for it. Used to not be an issue, but ever since the last refurb, lines can get crazy busy.

I leave Pirates, and the other "long ride-time" rides until after I have done the shorter ride-time rides.

Let's say park opened at 8. Space 0 wait + 10 min ride(from group to walking out the exit), Matterhorn 5 min wait + 5 min ride, Indy 5 min wait and 10 min ride(movie + up-over + group + ride + walk out exit), Big Thunder 5 min wait + 5 min ride. 4 rides the first hour.

Pirates has a 20 min ride time(group to exit) so even with 5 min wait is still taking up the better part of half an hour. Mansion about the same vestibule + elevator+ line under tracks + load + ride + exit. Two rides like that is a full hour.

So, I do 7 or 8 of the short-ride-time rides in the first couple hours, even if that means 20-30 min extra in line for a pirates or mansion.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

I always do three days at disneyland and the remainder at DCA. Each morning for Disneyland I use a different tactic to accomplish different sections of the park. I always start with a ride that has a long load time and hard transitions to knock it off first. One morning Finding Nemo, the other will be Dumbo and the last will encompass the area we hadn't completed yet. I don't mind waiting when the line is moving, it is the standing still that causes my kids to realize they are waiting.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I leave Pirates, and the other "long ride-time" rides until after I have done the shorter ride-time rides.

Let's say park opened at 8. Space 0 wait + 10 min ride(from group to walking out the exit), Matterhorn 5 min wait + 5 min ride, Indy 5 min wait and 10 min ride(movie + up-over + group + ride + walk out exit), Big Thunder 5 min wait + 5 min ride. 4 rides the first hour.

Pirates has a 20 min ride time(group to exit) so even with 5 min wait is still taking up the better part of half an hour. Mansion about the same vestibule + elevator+ line under tracks + load + ride + exit. Two rides like that is a full hour.

So, I do 7 or 8 of the short-ride-time rides in the first couple hours, even if that means 20-30 min extra in line for a pirates or mansion.

This is a really great point!

 

[aussiejen]

Peter Pan is my all time favourite ride.....i will be going straight to that I cant wait ...68 more days till im there ...........

 

[lurpee]

At the Carthy Circle, make the left into Hollywood land. On the right side of the street (side with Playhouse Disney/Animation) is the line for Fast Passes (if not using MaxPass). On the left, (with Award Wieners and shops) is the line for stand-by.

RSR is more popular later in the day, and will usually have longer lines by mid-day. However, right at opening, the big rush is to Guardians of the Galaxy. Perhaps that is because more people with younger children sleep-in a little more, while the thrill seekers are there for opening.

Thanks! I think the first ride of the trip shouldn't be GotG just in case it freaks them out. I think I'll head to RSR and go for a MP for Guardians for later in the day. DD9 wanted to ride CS at the very end of the trip last time and I wouldn't let her because it was raining sideways and I knew it would be like needles on her face and then she would never do it again. I'm glad we should be able to do it this time.

Anyone have any general ideas of when you should pull RSR FP's for an early evening return? Also, does Radiator Springs still do the dusk "doo-whop" (probably spelled that wrong) lighting at dusk?