Going Sat 9/16: 1st trip since 2019, only one day, booked a VIP tour and PH but want more advice!

[smiles33]

We haven't been to DLR since before the pandemic. I had planned a trip last summer but we canceled it due to a COVID surge (so we didn't feel comfortable getting on a plane). We're going this weekend, have only one day in the park (it's to celebrate my birthday), so I opted for a VIP tour and parkhoppers.

DH is staying home (he hates crowds, long lines, roller coasters, etc.) so it's going to be just my 2 teen DDs (who love all the E-ticket rides) and me. I know VIP is ridiculously expensive for what you get ($700/hour and we still have to stand in LL lines) but we only have one day and plan to go rope drop to closing. We're also staying onsite at GCH so we'll be in DCA for the 7:30 early entry.

1) What time do we line up and where? Should it be 7 am for a 7:30 early entry open? I remember last time we stayed at the GCH, we still walked to the Esplanade as the GCH entry was slow for early entry. We loved it for mid-day breaks, though. This is for this Sat. 9/16

2) I scheduled our VIP tour for 11-6 (7 hour minimum). I figured the crowds will get bad on a Saturday around 10 am so we will do what we can at DCA (GOTG, Incredicoaster and Soarin are top of the list), stop to take photos and eat around 10, and then meet the VIP guide at 11 for more thrill rides (and also hop to DL during our 7 hours with the guide). Does that sound reasonable? Not sure I'd make time for Toy Story (we went to Tokyo's DisneySea earlier this year and rode Toy Story there as I couldn't buy any other "fastpasses" for the unique DisneySea rides that day). We also plan to just grab snacks as we go to maximize LL rides. I don't think we're interested in any Fantasyland or other non-LL rides.

3) We plan to start at DCA because we want to ride GOTG more than once. Is this the right strategy? The only early entry ride at DL we'd want is Space. I know a VIP tour can get us multiple rides for LL rides (which otherwise only allow 1/day, right?). That's why I didn't opt for just Genie+ as we will max our early morning time and still want to ride later in the day. DDs and I want to ride GOTG, Space, and Incredicoaster multiple times. I hope to get on GOTG at least 2x (once during early entry and once while on the VIP tour).

4) We have never been on ROTR (or seen Star Wars land) or the Webslingers ride. What are the good new rides sine 2019 that are worth experiencing?

5) We have a preferred seating reservation for WOC One. We loved WOC in the past but I'm wondering if we are better off going on the rides. We love DLR for the rides and the ambiance. Is seeing WOC One worthwhile? I'm trying to find the best way to maximize our limited time.

6) I think I still need to buy Genie+ for the non-VIP times, right? I think I'd save them for 6-midnight as the morning (7:30-10 am) should be less crowded than evening given how locals use the park. Is that right?

Any other advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[smiles33]

I'm back from our trip and figured I'd answer my own questions for anyone who's curious in the future.

1) We were at the security line into DTD from GCH at 6:45 am on Saturday but there were already 25 people in line ahead of me. The plan had been for us to pick up Starbucks from DTD on the way in. I waited about 5 minutes in that line and then asked the security guard when the line would open. He said they wouldn't open that line until 7:15 am and then we'd have to walk to the Esplanade and get in another line to get into DCA. So he suggested I just go to the GCH entrance to DCA. I walked over there and was the 3rd person in line. My girls ended up picking us (bad) coffee from the hotel cafe near the security line into DCA (some cafe but I didn't see the name as I didn't go with them). They opened the line at 7:15, let us scan in, and then at 7:30 we fast-walked to GOTG. We went the long way past the pier because other guests told us we would have to squeeze by the guests already at rope drop who don't have EE and show our hotel keys again. Not sure if that was the right move, to be honest.

This isn't part of the question, but we got on GOTG 2x during EE and started walking toward Incredicoaster when rope drop happened. Then we rode Toy Story, since we were already there (walked in with minimal wait), Soarin', Webslingers (with a Genie+ reservation I booked right around 8 am), GOTG again (with a Genie+ reservation), and then Little Mermaid before we went to meet our VIP guide.

2) Our VIP guide was great. We spent 7 hours together and hit Matterhorn 2x (they let us stay in the sled as they moved the sled over to the side for some reason to let a few sleds bypass us and then we rode it again), Minnie and Mickey's Runaway train (Space Mtn was down so our guide suggested this new ride, it was ok), Dumbo, Peter Pan (I know I wasn't going to do FL rides but I'm glad he convinced us to do it since VIPs walk right on), Smuggler's Run, Rise, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Pirates, Big Thunder, Space, hopped back to DCA and rode Grizzly, GOTG After Dark, the Luigi cars (I can't remember the name of the ride), RSR, and we tried to ride it again but it broke down and stayed down. Our guide gave us a multi-experience pass to ride it later but it never came back up. He was so kind as to extend our tour 30 min because both Space and RSR went down during our tour.

3) Thanks to the EE, VIP guide, and Genie+, we hit our goals of riding GOTG, Space, and Incredicoaster multiple times.

4) The girls and I loved Rise. Did not care for Smuggler's Run (got motion sickness), Minnie & Mickey's train, or Webslingers. They were only ok.

5) WOC One was great and my girls enjoyed it. Plus, at that point our shin splints and feet were hurting so it was great to sit down for the show (preferred seating was included in the tour guide fee).

6) Genie+ was worth it for before and after the VIP tour. After the VIP tour, we rode Incredicoaster a second time, GOTG AD a second time, Space a second time, Matterhorn a 3rd time, and Buzz twice.

We were there from rope drop to just past midnight (we walked through some stores at the end). Exhausting and I think we had more than 30,000 steps (18 miles?).

My takeaways: VIP tour is best if you have limited time. I'd much rather use Genie+ over 3 days and have a more leisurely pace. We walked so much and my legs still ache a few days later!

Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[Carolwoodpr]

Sounds like a wonderful day. Happy belated birthday! I have always wanted to do a vip tour but simply can’t justify the price.

We will be at the gch for thanksgiving. Can’t wait. Glad you gave the time info for early entry,

 

[DizMe]

Nice detailed report! So glad you had a great time. That's a lot to fit into one day, so the VIP seems to have worked well for you!

I've never even used Genie+, because that's not my touring style. My kids are grown and I go as much for the atmosphere and sit-down dining as the rides. But I can see how great that would be when you've got limited time, kids, and stamina, ha ha! Oh, and can afford it, too. I like to eat at Blue Bayou, Carthay, etc every time I go and a lot of people say they'd never spend that much on dining. I get that, for sure, but it's special to me. I'm just saying that so you don't think I'm down on your VIP choice

What did your kids think? What ages are they? It must have been really special for them.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and congrats for getting so much fun condensed into one day.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Thanks for posting. Sounds like a great day, and happy belated birthday

 

[smiles33]

Sounds like a wonderful day. Happy belated birthday! I have always wanted to do a vip tour but simply can’t justify the price.

We will be at the gch for thanksgiving. Can’t wait. Glad you gave the time info for early entry,

Thanks so much! It was a great way to celebrate my birthday, although I think I was over-ambitious trying to squeeze so much into one day. I hope you have a fantastic time at Thanksgiving!

Nice detailed report! So glad you had a great time. That's a lot to fit into one day, so the VIP seems to have worked well for you!

I've never even used Genie+, because that's not my touring style. My kids are grown and I go as much for the atmosphere and sit-down dining as the rides. But I can see how great that would be when you've got limited time, kids, and stamina, ha ha! Oh, and can afford it, too. I like to eat at Blue Bayou, Carthay, etc every time I go and a lot of people say they'd never spend that much on dining. I get that, for sure, but it's special to me. I'm just saying that so you don't think I'm down on your VIP choice

What did your kids think? What ages are they? It must have been really special for them.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and congrats for getting so much fun condensed into one day.

We usually do 3 day PHs so it was a bit intense. However, my teens are so busy (my HS senior is working on college apps and balancing AP classes, sports, and a busy social life) so I knew we didn't really have much time. We flew in late Friday night, hung out at DTD, did all day at DLR Saturday, and flew out on Sunday.

When they were younger, we focused on character dining, meeting the princesses, eating at Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, etc., watching parades, and just soaking in the atmosphere. Once they hit middle school, it was all about the E-ticket rides. Now, time is money so I figured this is our last family trip together so I went all out. They loved that we got on 30+ rides and did all our favorites multiple times. We also stopped for Photopass photos and have some hilarious ones. If it weren't for not wanting to share my face, I'd post some of them (the ride photos are predictably funny but some of the posed ones with magic effects are unintentionally funny, too!).

Thanks for posting. Sounds like a great day, and happy belated birthday

Thank you!

 

[DizMe]

When they were younger, we focused on character dining, meeting the princesses, eating at Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, etc., watching parades, and just soaking in the atmosphere. Once they hit middle school, it was all about the E-ticket rides. Now, time is money so I figured this is our last family trip together so I went all out.

Oh, I can really relate. One of mine just graduated from college and the twins are both in college (all girls). One is on a study abroad in Australia right now and the other is in SF. It's truly amazing how fast they grow up! I miss going to DLR with my little princesses, but the older versions are delightful so no complaints. I also have 2 older kids who have kids of their own so I do get to go sometimes with them!