First Time Questions

[only hope]

Hi, my mom and I are local WDW passholders going to DLR for the first time next month. Well, she went to DL once as a teenager but barely remembers so it may as well be her first time! I've been reading the boards for quite awhile now but I still have some questions.

1. Without spoilers please! For attractions with fastpass, are there any queues at DL/CA that are themed and if applicable different from the queue at WDW? Indiana Jones I already know. I don't want to skip a really interesting queue.

2. My mom is having some mobility problems and likely will need to rent a wheelchair, though she won't need to be in it the entire time. Can wheelchairs be left in the stroller parking while we ride the nearby attractions? Can they be pushed through lines folded up and left at the boarding entrance of most rides? At attractions with steps in the queue, are there elevators even for rides where you must be mobile?

3. Is it true that during the fireworks, It's a Small World has unique projection effects?

4. Can you still get free souvenir maps from the Jungle Cruise? Do you ask upon exiting? Same with a drivers license at Autopia.

5. Does Disneyland still sometimes allow guests to sit in the monorail cockpit?

6. What attractions close during fireworks at DL and WOC at CA and how long are they closed?

 

[Disney Kidd]

While not an attraction at WDW, Roger Rabbit Cartoon Spin is one of the best, if not best, queue of all Disney attractions. I would definitely not bypass it. Also, you don't want to miss the outside queue for Haunted Mansion Holiday. All the others either go through the queue (but at a faster rate) or there's nothing particularly interesting you'd be missing.

You can definitely still sit in the monorail cockpit. Just ask any cast member.

 

[goldmay]

1. I agree, you can skip most of the queues. There aren't any that are really interactive like at WDW.

2. Not sure about the others, but Indy has an elevator.

3. Yes

4. Yes to Jungle Cruise, unsure about Autopia.

6. The railroad closes during the fireworks. Toontown closes as well and stays closed for the rest of the night. I'm sure someone else can chime in about the exact times. I think California Screamin' is the only attraction that closes during WOC

 

[grnflash]

Hi, my mom and I are local WDW passholders going to DLR for the first time next month. Well, she went to DL once as a teenager but barely remembers so it may as well be her first time! I've been reading the boards for quite awhile now but I still have some questions.

1. Without spoilers please! For attractions with fastpass, are there any queues at DL/CA that are themed and if applicable different from the queue at WDW? Indiana Jones I already know. I don't want to skip a really interesting queue.

2. My mom is having some mobility problems and likely will need to rent a wheelchair, though she won't need to be in it the entire time. Can wheelchairs be left in the stroller parking while we ride the nearby attractions? Can they be pushed through lines folded up and left at the boarding entrance of most rides? At attractions with steps in the queue, are there elevators even for rides where you must be mobile?

3. Is it true that during the fireworks, It's a Small World has unique projection effects?

4. Can you still get free souvenir maps from the Jungle Cruise? Do you ask upon exiting? Same with a drivers license at Autopia.

5. Does Disneyland still sometimes allow guests to sit in the monorail cockpit?


6. What attractions close during fireworks at DL and WOC at CA and how long are they closed?

1. You will get to experience the cool Indy queue in its entirety using FP. There are a few dislays in the outdoor portion of the standby line - not sure they're worth an additional wait.

2. I'd check out the DISabilities board for detailed info and specific advice from experts. You can definitely leave a wc in stroller parking. Some ride queues though cannot accomodate wc's so you would need to use an alternate entrance if bringing one to the ride, since that is where they will be set up to handle your wc while you're on the ride. Rides with steps entering/exiting the ride also have alternate access (Indy, Space come to mind) - the DISabilities board will help you.

**Editing to add. If you use the WC entrance for Indy you will miss the queue. If you just need to avoid stairs, you'll get to experience the queue (and use an elevator just before the stairs which lead to the loading platform.)

3. Yes. The Castle, Matterhorn and Small World facades all have their own projections.

4. Ask for a JC map exiting the ride. If they have them in stock they will send you to the desk to get one. Autopia is hit or miss. If they have them they will hand you the card while still in the queue.

5. Yes, you can ask. Same with the front of the Mark Twain.

6. In DL, Toontown will close and not reopen. Fantasyland (except Matterhorn) closes but reopens. The closing time will depend what time the fireworks go off. Ask at the park and they'll be able to tell you. Toontown will also have a sign at its entrance telling you the closing time. They do a thorough check for embers after the fireworks and will not reopen until given the all clear. The rides nearest Matterhorn reopen soonest. They will rope off where you would go to enter Toad, PP, SW or Pinnochio. This can take awhile to reopen (20-30 minutes.)

Have fun!!

 

[HydroGuy]

1. Without spoilers please! For attractions with fastpass, are there any queues at DL/CA that are themed and if applicable different from the queue at WDW? Indiana Jones I already know. I don't want to skip a really interesting queue.

Kinda sorta Soarin over CA. The queue has a much better theme to it than at Epcot. That is pretty much it. WDW puts more effort into queues - I believe partly because they have more space, partly because they need inside queues more because of the heat, humidity and rain there, and (seriously) partly because people spend a lot more time waiting for rides at WDW than at DLR.

DLR does have some interesting queues but you do not miss them when using FP - such as Space Mtn. A much better themed loading area at DLR, but no cool interactive games like at MK. Also you do not skip the cool Indy queue when using FP.

3. Is it true that during the fireworks, It's a Small World has unique projection effects?

Yes. There are unique projections around DL during fireworks with the new DL Forever show.

4. Can you still get free souvenir maps from the Jungle Cruise? Do you ask upon exiting? Same with a drivers license at Autopia.

I believe so at JC. And yes about licenses for Autopia.

5. Does Disneyland still sometimes allow guests to sit in the monorail cockpit?

Yes.

6. What attractions close during fireworks at DL and WOC at CA and how long are they closed?

For DL fireworks most of Fantasyland rides are closed in addition to the DLRR and TT. For WOC it is CA Screamin, Mickey's Fun Wheel (aka Mickey's Wheel of Death), Golden Zephyr and Silly Symphony Swings.

 

[SMD]

If a queue is not accessible for wheelchairs or walkers then they can't be taken through it folded up. Many rides do no load and unload from the same spot or there is no way to pass a wheelchair over the platform so it will be available when exiting. You can check the park map or the accessibility info on Disney's site for accessible queues and queues with stairs. Indy is the only one with an elevator. For avoiding stairs you'll need to tell the CMs at each attraction. For rides where the queue is otherwise accessible you'll be diverted to an alternate loading area. Depending on crowds and wait time some rides that do not have accessible queues will issue wheelchair return times when you go to the alternate entrance. You could leave a wheelchair in the stroller parking areas, it's more common to see ECVs parked there, but people do it.

 

[only hope]

Thank you very much Disney Kidd, goldmay, grnflash, HydroGuy, and SMD. Great tips on the queues and stairs. We'll definitely have to try an different fireworks location one night. I'm counting down the days now!