Haven't been to DL in 20+ years - going on Wednesday need help

[karabeunso]

DH and I are going to DL on Wednesday (super bummed about rain forecast) and not sure what we should be doing as far as FPs, etc. Haven't had much time to plan as this is a work trip for DH and we just found out we have a day to explore, so we are heading to DL. Yay! We have been to WDW a few times in recent years and I'm much more familiar with the layout and FP+. I should mention that we will only be going to DL Park that day. No park hopping.

DH really wants to go to Hyperspace Mtn and Star Tours. What would be the best way to do this and still go to as many other attractions as possible? Also on the "we really want to do" list is Haunted Mansion, Mr Toad, Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones, POTC, and Splash Mountain (if its not too cold). Does this even look doable? We plan on being there at park open and staying til close if necessary.

Any other tips? Like I said, we are seasoned WDWers, but not DL. For some reason, the ONLY thing I remember from going to DL as a kid was ordering room service pizza and the box had Minnie and Mickey on it. I'm sure my mom is glad she spent so much money on that trip.

 

[Ckkk]

I would definitely be inside the park before 8am waiting for the rope to drop.

1. I'd go straight for fast passes to Space Mountain and then fp buzz lightyear as buzz isnt connected to other fps or just get on buzz as it wont have a wait at 8am and fp it after)

2. Next I'd shoot over to Jingle Cruise//Pirates/Haunted. All three of these should be less than 15 minute waits in the first hour. Assuming you get on all three it should be around 930 and your space mountain fp should be good to go around 930-10. You then have to decide if youre going to fp Indy or Star Tours before going to Buzz/Space.

3. Probably shoot over to Mr Toads(line is never very long as peter pan and alice attract most of the attention in fantasyland) and then grab some lunch.

4. Probably close to noon at this point and lines are longer than they should be. Should be eligible for another fp if its been 2 hours since your last so grab whichever ride you didnt get star tours or indy.

5. Pick your lines from there. If it is cold/raining splash mountain shouldn't have a long line as most parents won't let their kids get on.

Definitely doable if you make sure to FP your top rides on time.

 

[chickapin parterre]

the good news is that Wednesday is non-early entry day, so you have a level playing field in 'FP gathering

Star tours is on your list, grab fast pass on the way to Space. Grabbing a fast pass for space is somewhat of a back track as the windows for fp use are going to be early, I'm thinking 8:45 for star tours, but then again we have different seasons to visit and FP windows. If you windows are 9:30, then great, for sure follow CKK guidelines. The windows are going to be the focal point of how you tour. the area that CKK suggest in number 2 is always empty in the morning and you will have no problem quickly completing.

As for crowds, I don't see how it would be crowded after the end of the holidays, I would think that folks in the park are locals taking in Christmas before it disappears, so lots of folks doing NBC and Small world and Jingle and choosing not to tour elsewhere.

 

[chickapin parterre]

So Tuesdays during the first weeks of Christmas in Dec is my early entry day, I hang around Fantasyland , son does space and then when the hour is over we FP star tours, ride buzz as I have never had a standby problem and I like the pretty walls anyhow. We then do Matterhorn and seems to be at 9:45 when Star tours window opens. So this is the experience i use to relate to how my windows open during Christmas for tomorrowland.

And i have never been a land jumper, so can't share what crowds are like walking from one land to another. I stay in one area and then complete and then move on to the next area or completely out of the park from 1-5 because of the crowds and FP windows being out of reach for space.

 

[karabeunso]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm a planner, and usually spend months researching trips, but didn't have the opportunity to this time. Appreciate your help!

 

[Cmangano]

The best thing you can do is have a plan. I use touring lines, it's pretty accurate and easy to use.

Also make sure you are at the gates as soon as it opens. You can get so much done that first hour before the park gets crowded.

 

[Christ0pher]

Hey I'm going on Wednesday too and am in the process of making a plan(never done a plan before so its totally foreign to me) so thank you all for the tips!

 

[chickapin parterre]

so it looks like it will be raining....do not wear cotton!!!!! Your body cannot dry cotton clothing and cotton absorbs.. Bring heavy duty rain gear and shoes, $1.00 ponchos will not give all day protection. No cotton socks!!!! If that is all you have, then bring extra pairs to replace wet soaking feet.

If it is raining when you wake up, then do not hurry, there is no place to stand out of the rain. And at the end of the day, there is no early value if you are wet longer. Everyone is crushing early to avoid rain, so may actually be more crowded then it will be at 2:00 The later you go into the day, the more uncrowded time you will have in the evening.

If it is not raining, then sure go early!!!!

go to BTMRR or NBC first, there is no protection from the rain at these attractions, then pirates. Save Indy for late into the day as it is actually warm and long wait under shelter. Jingle has some protection but not sure how sitting in the boat with no side cover will work. Tomorrowland has the most rain protection with Space, Buzz and Star tours.

After BTMRR, NBC and Pirates , head over to Small world, once again 0 protection from rain, but if it is light, then the trade off could could be the long ride.

Now as the day goes on into the rain, few small kids abound, melt downs begin to happen, this would be a good time to do fantasyland dark rides.

Tiki room, waiting in the rain my diminish dry value. So at the end of the day, tomorrowland is the best choice and all day long the train, Mr. Lincoln

 

[llump41]

SoCal storms are not like Florida's. The predicted rainfall amount is only 1/4" so it may only be a drizzle all day. Hard to say. Our typical game plan isbe at the park at opening and
[Hyper]Space Mtn picking up a FP for Star Tours and Buzz along the way. Most days by the time we get off Space we still have to wait for ST but the standby is usually 5 minutes We may do ST twice or just give away the FP if we only do it once.
Hit Matterhorn-
Get FP for Thunder and ride POTC and HM- With the HM is holiday overlay you may want to get a FP for this and then do POTC.
By now it is usually only 10am and we've done 4 maybe 5 rides.

One thing to remember is get a new FP before you use your existing one. You can get a new FP after either your return time on the one you hold is up or after 2 hours. With DL being open for 16 hrs you should be ale to do a lot without over planing.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

go to BTMRR or NBC first...

Okay, maybe I'm just being dense but I can't figure it out, what does NBC stand for? I am totally stumped!

 

[RKKUNK]

That's funny, I was thinking the same thing! NBC? LOL!

 

[chickapin parterre]

.....well on another site NBC is sacrilege to all the faithful Disney visitors who five months of the year.....don't have their Haunted Mansion.....never shall NBC and Haunted Mansion be expressed in the same sentence.... truly a nightmare for some during those five months.