Help! Here now...WOC? Fountains and Fireworks? Fastpasses?

[momtoce&j]

Morning.

Well, we made it. (We drove yesterday from Berkeley. Total of 12 hours because of partial coastal drive and LOTS of LA congestion.)

Now that we are here, I'm having trouble grasping how to "plan" our day/fastpasses. It seems so different from WDW.

Here are my questions right now:

1) WOC? Fountains and Fireworks? Fantasy in the Sky fireworks? Which to do when? There are 2 shows tonight...

2) How does the Fastpass system work? Where and when should we get the fastpasses?

3) DD(18) is on crutches (has a knee brace most likely has chipped cartilage), how does that factor in? We will probably end up getting her a wheelchair at some point during the day.

4) What else are the must see/ride attractions?

5) Fastpasses....here at DL, the fast passes seem to be what they used to be like at WDW years back? How can we get FP for WOC so early in the day? Doesn't that mess up any other fastpasses we would want for during the day?

I made it here, now I'm overwhelmed with what to do, when, how and crowd levels.since it's NYE.

TIA....

~Momtoce&j

 

[lvdis]

I can help with one of your questions at least; The fastpass system at DLR does work like the old fp system at WDW. The WOC fp's don't count against getting other fastpasses, they are disconnected from the rest of the system.

Also, if you have parkhoppers and everyone in your party has entered one of the parks, a runner can go to the other park and get fp's for everyone. The two parks are disconnected from each others fp system.

I would try to get Radiator Spring Racers (DCA) and/or HyperSpace Mountain (DLR) fp's early because they tend to run out first. Get other fp's as soon as your window opens (it will be printed on the bottom of your paper fp).

I hope this helps some! Have fun despite the crowds!

 

[Malcon10t]

If you are thinking you will need a wheelchair today, get it asap. They very likely will run out.

 

[Niltiac]

3) DD(18) is on crutches (has a knee brace most likely has chipped cartilage), how does that factor in? We will probably end up getting her a wheelchair at some point during the day.

Hopefully others with experience will be able to chime in here, but I've heard that wheelchair rentals are in limited supply and tend to run out at some point in the day. You might want to get one early. I'm not sure how fast they run out, it's just something I've heard and I know it will be crowded today, so I wouldn't take the chance if it's something she needs.

 

[Tasscrapper]

I don't believe you can actually get fastpasses at DCA just because your group has entered Disneyland. I think the entire group has to activate there pass for that day at DCA as well. 95% sure on this one.

Get the wheelchair for your dd now. Don't wait till she is exhausted and the crowds are crazy.

Both WOC and Fantasmic! fastpasses are disconnected from everything else. I would try for the Winter Dreams WOC rather than the Celebration WOC. It is earlier and you might be able to see it and get back over to Disneyland for the fireworks and Fantasmic! Not sure exactly when to try for those fast passes. Ask a castmember at hte kiosk before actually getting the fastpass. They can tell you what time the pass is for that is being distributed right then.

At this point you are probably better off talking to a cast member to get answers on some of these questions because they are right there. If you don't know where a fastpass machine is ask someone instead of wasting time looking around for it.

You don't say if you plan on staying all day or until closing but especially considering the circumstances of your long drive and your dd being on crutches I would make sure to take some time to slow down at some point and find a place to relax. Maybe take in some of the parades where you can just sit for a while. A good place in Disneyland to sit comfortably and relax for a bit is Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. DCA has Animation Building that is a good break place including the drawing class.

Have fun today!

 

[tlovesdis]

I don't believe you can actually get fastpasses at DCA just because your group has entered Disneyland. I think the entire group has to activate there pass for that day at DCA as well. 95% sure on this one.

Nope! You can! Once the tickets have been activated in DL someone can run over to DCA and obtain FP's there.

 

[Niltiac]

I don't believe you can actually get fastpasses at DCA just because your group has entered Disneyland. I think the entire group has to activate there pass for that day at DCA as well. 95% sure on this one.

You can. I did this a few weeks ago and it worked fine, and I've heard from others as well. Everyone has to have used their ticket to enter one of the parks, but then you can send a runner to the other park for FP.

 

[tlovesdis]

Today will probably be the busiest day of the year, so be prepared for crazy crowds and gate closures. If you need a wheelchair, get it now! They may run out. Have lots of patience!! I've seen pictures from NYE past and you may very well be shoulder to shoulder once the evening hits! Good luck and have fun!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Don't get a push wheelchair, get a scooter. You don't want to push a grown adult when none of you are used to that.

WOC fps don't affect the other fps.

I'm hurting for you that there was little planning done for THE busiest day of the year.

I rested on my laurels last summer, thinking my experience would get me through, and I had the worst trip ever.

 

[momtoce&j]

Thanks for all the advice!

We are getting a wheelchair now.

I've been at WDW at very very busy (and very very hot) times. I'm curious to see how busy busy is here.

Us coming here was a last minute thing. Believe me, not having things planned out is killing me. My kids are laughing at me because I feel like I've got the shakes ie. "didn't plan a thing syndrome" compared to how I have just about every minute of our WDW trips planed.

We are here in the area for me to visit Whittier College. DD(18) has been accepted and with a very generous scholarship. We were visiting my eldest DD in Berkeley (here for grad school) and decided I should see where the other one might be spending the next 4 years.

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again everyone and Happy New Year! !

~Momtoce&j

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

Best wishes on your trip! It will probably be a crazy day with the crowds, but hopefully still a fun Disney day.
If you are a WDW vet, then I would focus on unique attractions and favorites. Off the top of my head, DL: holiday overlays at IaSW and HM, Hyperspace Mountain, Mr. Toad, POC (different), Indiana Jones Adventure, Toontown, and walk through the castle (may not work for your daughter though, lots of stairs). DCA: Carsland (RSR mostly), we enjoyed Bugsland but had small kids.
We don't mind seeing WOC or fireworks from odd views or in passing, mostly because we don't like to sit for 1-2 hours for a spot. Fantasmic would be worth it maybe, especially since its going dark for a while. If the nighttime spectaculars are big for you then stake out a spot early and grab FPs (as others have said those FP are also disconnected). I've also seen a list of disconnected FP on DLRprepschool but I haven't tried it out myself so I'm not sure it would work, thinking I saw Buzz and Roger Rabbit Spin listed.
DL also has Marvel M&G if you like that and Olaf in DCA (WDW didn't have Olaf when we were there in September).

Enjoy your trip!

EDIT: Oh! and see Aladdin stage show in DCA (I believe the FPs are also disconnected) as it is being replaced by Frozen in another couple of weeks and its the main reason we are going this weekend!

 

[SMD]

I would do a wheelchair over and ECV in this situation. I'd rather push someone, even though it's more physical effort for me than have a first time ECV user try to navigate the parks on the single busiest day of the year.

If you hop to DCA to see WOC you probably won't get back into DL for fireworks. If you see the early fireworks in DL you could do the midnight WOC in DCA. But you'd be ending your night in DCA. You also risk a hard close at DL if you hop over to get the FP.

 

[dina444444]

For the fireworks if it's the usual New Years ones they do the show twice once at 9pm and again at midnight. I would do the 9pm fireworks so you can also see the DCA fireworks at midnight since that is the only time they do them there.