Help me start my days off, please...

[Lucky'sMom]

WDW vet, DL newbie here, traveling with DH, and 2 teen DDs. 3 day park hoppers. Should we start all 3 days at DL? I have a lunch reservation for PTN at noon at Aladdins one day and a lunch reservation at Cafe Orleans another day. Do you usually start days off at DL then move over to DCA late morning/ early afternoon? I do expect that we take an afternoon break at the hotel all 3 days, we are used to that schedule on our WDW trips. Would you be willing to share exactly how you start off a day? Do you grab a FP first, then hit certain rides? I am most interested in rides that WDW doesn't have or that are better/different at DL, like Pirates and Hyper Space Mt. Is a rope drop day necessary at DCA, or can you see everything with FPs and shorter lines than DL? Thanks SO much!

 

[mom2rtk]

I would start my day at whatever park I could get into as the rope drops.

We don't have a set routine for where we start. We go where the spirit moves us. I love that about DLR.

Generally though, at DCA, most are heading to RSR. We occasionally do that, but enjoy it more when we zig when others zag. We love to do California Screamin at rope drop with we have it almost all to ourselves.

At DL, starting at Space or Indy is a good idea (Indy isn't open during early entry though). But sometimes we do smaller Fantasyland rides first. Most will go to Peter Pan, but we prefer to do whatever the crowds aren't doing.

 

[smartlabelprint]

We too generally start wherever the lines look shorter. But our min is 4 days.

I'd start in the park that doesn't have mm/ee.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread has lots of good info for you to help with planning: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.

 

[sweethannah]

I would base my days on EE/MM and go from there. One morning at DCA, arriving early ( like, early ) at the gate for a non EE morning will allow you to bang out quite a bit of CA.
Use single rider line for Radiator Springs. We did several times and never waited more than 20 minutes.

You can do Screamin' over and over again first thing in the morning if you arrive early enough. Nothing like being whipped upside down 3-4 times in a row to get your morning started off right.

The proximity of the Parks takes you by surprise. With teenagers I would definitely think about using a runner to crisscross between Parks to pull fastpasses. Use the app to check return times. If you know you are going to end your day in DL ( with your Paint the Night meal ) spend some time at CA and have a runner monitor Star Tours, HyperSpace or another favourite and pull a pass for when you'll be back to that side.

 

[sweethannah]

well this is awkward...

 

[disneychrista]

I think you should do at least one rope drop at DCA.

If you plan to see the new Frozen show head over to get your show ticket (FP). You need a ticket to guarentee a seat. Standby is not guaranteed a seat.

Then head to either Toy Story Mania or Soarin' over thew World (then do the other). If you want FP for Racers get it after your first ride on your way to the second. Once you have hit these three attractions (or have FP for Racers) then just tour the park as you normally would.

 

[BriannaRuth]

In addition to what others have said re: rope drop and EE -- there are a couple of rides at DCA that tend to break down often. One is TSMM and the other is RSR (at least they did as of the last time we were there). We try to do those sooner rather than later. Especially TSMM since it doesn't have FP and the lines can get REALLY long.

 

[pinkprincess30]

The proximity of the Parks takes you by surprise. With teenagers I would definitely think about using a runner to crisscross between Parks to pull fastpasses. Use the app to check return times. If you know you are going to end your day in DL ( with your Paint the Night meal ) spend some time at CA and have a runner monitor Star Tours, HyperSpace or another favourite and pull a pass for when you'll be back to that side.

Can you pull a FP if all members of the group are not in the park you're trying to pull for? For example, if my party is in DLR, can I send my teen to DCA with our tickets to get RSR fastpasses?

 

[tlovesdis]

Can you pull a FP if all members of the group are not in the park you're trying to pull for? For example, if my party is in DLR, can I send my teen to DCA with our tickets to get RSR fastpasses?

Yes as long as everyone has used their ticket to get into a park for the day you can!