Help me decide about tickets...

[az4boys]

One last question for anyone who is willing to put up with my endless string of questions? The benefits of utilizing magic morning vs. Extra Magic morning is a bit confusing to me. At WDW there is only one option, and it is only Resort guests.

Magic Morning is for guests with certain 3 day or longer passes. It gets you into DL one hour early on certain days. Extra Magic Hour is for on-site resort guests. It gets you into DL or DCA one hour early on alternating days.

When DL is designated as the early entry day, MM is essentially the same thing as EMH. If you are up early anyway, I would definitely take advantage.

 

[agamble]

Crowds are always lightest the earliest in the mornings. So if you get hoppers and are staying on site you should definitely use the EMH. At WDW they say the problem is that people stay at that park all day so it just gets more crowded as the day goes on. That's not really the case at DL because it's so easy for people to hop from one park to the other, and many guests have APs which allow park hopping, but not extra hours. Since you plan to go to bed early and stay on your own time schedule, I wouldn't recommend going to DCA around 4pm. Just thinking you said you plan to leave the parks around 4 or so on your other nights. I still suggest spending the better part of 2 days at DL, but if you're getting hoppers you may as well start those two days at DCA and hop over. You can get a lot done in that first hour. Toy Story will be a walk on, as will most of the rides. You can't get a FP for Racers until the park opens, but you can get in line to get one right before the park opens to ensure you get an early time slot. Once the park with the EMH opens, it will be busier than the other park for a while and could be a good time to consider hopping over.

 

[Nicolette11785]

Thanks so much! That is the direction I was leaning in terms of the parks, just was really unsure about Sunday. I appreciate your advice and reasoning!

The more I think about it, although I'd love to hit DL Thursday afternoon, it would be $116 for at most a few hours, depending how bad the ride from San Diego is and how long the expo takes. I'm also forgetting I need to add in a little time somewhere for a quick grocery stop for our villa. I like your idea of checking out DTD after the Expo too, it probably makes the most sense time wise, not sure when else we'd get there.

Don't forget the time to check in to the hotel on Thursday. Are you able to leave San Diego earlier in the day to get to DL earlier? I imagine you will be going to bed super early on Thursday since you have to get up early the next day and you are 3 hours ahead. I don't think there will be much time for you to do much in the short amount of time on Thursday.

I personally would skip spending time in downtown disney unless you have spare time. It is not like Downtown Disney at WDW.

Does the GCH have grocery delivery? If so, that would save you some time too so you may be able to make a Thursday park day worth it.

 

[Nonsuch]

A few comments for the OP:

• Get Parkhopper tickets
• Take advantage of EMH
• Avoid the GCH entrance to DCA for EMH or regular park opening, the main entrance is much faster