Help with 1st DL trip plan

[JenniferH]

We have two whole days at DL on 3/6 and 3/7 planned. We will arrive on 3/5 and have some time that day. I have a tour plan for the whole days, but it doesn't currently include most of the younger rides (Dumbo, Alice, Small World, etc).

Are the evenings slow in the Fantasyland area? Would it be better to do those on the night we arrive or rearrange my whole days to fit them in and do something else for our first evening?

Which park do you suggest for 3/6 and 3/7? We will not have park hoppers and I'm not sure what the crowds will be like bc I don't have access on the TouringPlan website.

I'm currently showing that we should get the Indiana Jones pass first for DL and Radiator Springs first for CA with our first actual rides being Peter Pan in DL and Toy Story for CA. Do you think that's a good plan to make sure we don't end up in long lines?

 

[Epek]

Your first FP in DL should be Hyperspace Mountain. All the seasons of the force stuff is very popular right now and Tomorrowland gets busy fast!

 

[figment_jii]

Are the evenings slow in the Fantasyland area? Would it be better to do those on the night we arrive or rearrange my whole days to fit them in and do something else for our first evening?

Portions of FL do close for fireworks, but will re-open afterwards (usually, they may not if fireworks are at or near park closing time). Yes and no to the slow down...parts will have shorter lines (generally), but the popular attractions (like Peter Pan and Alice) will have lines until closing.

Which park do you suggest for 3/6 and 3/7? We will not have park hoppers and I'm not sure what the crowds will be like bc I don't have access on the TouringPlan website.

I wouldn't get to hung up on Touring Plans; you can look a few free crowd calendars (e.g., IsItPacked.com, RMH Travel). They just announced that Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters will official open on 3/7, so I would expect to see some crowds on the 7th in DCA (especially in the evening). Both Sundays and Mondays are DCA's EMH morning, so unless you're staying on-site there will already be a line for RSR and TSMM by the time you get into the parks.

I'm currently showing that we should get the Indiana Jones pass first for DL and Radiator Springs first for CA with our first actual rides being Peter Pan in DL and Toy Story for CA. Do you think that's a good plan to make sure we don't end up in long lines?

I agree that if you want to ride HyperSpace Mtn, I would get that FP before getting one for Indy. Yes, I would get the RSR FP in DCA first. Unless you're one of the first guests into DL, there will be a line for Peter Pan (>30 minutes). I would consider doing other rides and saving Peter Pan for later in the day (basically, waiting for Peter Pan is the same regardless of when you wait, so you might as well take advantage of the generally less busy morning hours and do other things instead of waiting for Peter Pan).

 

[VandVsmama]

3/6 and 3/7 will both be crowded with local visitors. There are no big conventions scheduled right around that time at the Anaheim Convention Center, so you're in good shape there (sometimes big conventions can draw in a lot more people to the parks).

Here's how you maximize FP usage:
I agree w/the suggestion to 1st get a FP for Hyperspace Mountain. Then at the start of your FP window for Hyperspace Mountain, get FP for Indiana Jones. Then when the FP window for Indiana Jones begins, get FP for the next "E Ticket" FP ride that you want to go on. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Radiator Springs:
In my opinion, this is the best ride in all of DCA. You could actually arrange to go on this 2-3 times in 1 day, but it takes some strategy. Here's what you do:

1. Decide which day you're going to focus mainly on DCA. I would recommend Saturday morning for this since Saturday is normally a Magic Morning day at DL. I'm assuming that you won't have EMH from staying on site and you don't have Magic Morning entry tied to your park tickets.
2. Get to DCA main gate EARLY. 30-45 min before park opening. Preferably closer to 45 min beforehand.
3. "Walk with purpose" to Carsland. When you get to Carsland, stay as far to the right as possible.
4. CM will walk everyone to the RSR entrance. Stay as far right as possible. Everybody who's crowded up on the left will be forced to hang back and get in line on the right side of the 'street.'
5. Go on RSR without a FP. This is why getting to DCA main gate early is so important. You can be on the ride & done within 10-20 min.
6. Once you're off the ride, go get a FP for RSR for everybody in your group. FPs tend to run out for RSR 1-2 hours after the park opens. Last October, it was taking a couple of hours for FP to run out when we were last there.
7. Now you can also go on it again in the Single Rider line. If you have kids, they need to be at least 7 years old to ride in Single Rider, I think. And they need to be confident enough to ride by themselves. So let's say, if you have a skittish 9 year old, maybe don't do Single Rider line except for the adults.

On both days, Carsland will likely be packed with people because the new Luigi's ride is opening up on 3/7. This is another reason to go do DCA on Saturday 3/6. Plus, if you're lucky, they'll do a 'soft opening' for Luigi's on 3/6 (i.e., they open up the ride before the official opening date but they don't announce the ride being open to anybody).

Sunday 3/7:
Focus on Disneyland this day. Most local DL visitors don't show up to DLR until 10:30-11am on Sundays. It is TOTALLY WORTH IT to get up early and be there for rope drop! My recommendation would be this:

1. Get to DL main gate 30 min ahead of time. This means you're through security check before that, so get to the security check 45 min before official park opening.
2. 20 min before park opening, they'll open up the turnstiles. Give 1 person in your group everybody's tickets. That person will be the Hyperspace Mountain FP runner. Have that person go to the rope at the entrance to Tomorrowland. That person gets Hyperspace Mountain FP. Meanwhile, everybody else in your group goes to Fantasyland. FP runner meets up with the rest of you in Fantasyland.
3. If Peter Pan is not a "must do," go on rides in approximately this order: Matterhorn, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White, Pinocchio, King Arthur's Carousel. You can also throw in Casey Jr's Circus Train if you have little kids or if you just feel like it. Storybookland Canal Boats is a slow loader and good to go on in the morning.
4. At start of Hyperspace Mountain FP window, send runner to Indiana Jones and get FP for that. Then runner & everybody else meets up in Tomorrowland to go on that ride. But before you go on the roller coaster, get FP for Buzz (it's usually disconnected).
5. At start of IJ FP window, get FP for Star Tours. Go on non-FP rides while you are waiting for your next FP window to begin. Pirates & Haunted Mansion lines go pretty fast...when it says 20 min wait, it's usually not 20 min. By mid-afternoon, both of those lines will probably be 45 min.
6. Afternoon - go on 'not as popular' rides & see shows. This means stuff like this: go see "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln," go on Winnie the Pooh, or hop to DCA & go to the Animation building & do Animation Academy a couple of times, then go see Turtle Talk With Crush and go on Monsters, Inc after that.

 

[JenniferH]

They just announced that Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters will official open on 3/7, so I would expect to see some crowds on the 7th in DCA (especially in the evening). Both Sundays and Mondays are DCA's EMH morning, so unless you're staying on-site there will already be a line for RSR and TSMM by the time you get into the parks.

I agree that if you want to ride HyperSpace Mtn, I would get that FP before getting one for Indy. Yes, I would get the RSR FP in DCA first. Unless you're one of the first guests into DL, there will be a line for Peter Pan (>30 minutes). I would consider doing other rides and saving Peter Pan for later in the day (basically, waiting for Peter Pan is the same regardless of when you wait, so you might as well take advantage of the generally less busy morning hours and do other things instead of waiting for Peter Pan).

Your first FP in DL should be Hyperspace Mountain. All the seasons of the force stuff is very popular right now and Tomorrowland gets busy fast!

Thanks for the quick replies! We are staying on-site so we can do the early morning hours.

I will definitely swap to do Hyperspace Mtn first.

How crazy should I expect it to be for Luigi's first day? I think we may try to to DL on the 6th so we can do CA on the 7th. Is that a mistake since they will have the new ride that day? Or do you think both parks will be equally crowded?

Any suggestions on how to fit the parade/fireworks into my schedule? I know my girls would love to see the "snow" but I've only seen it mentioned - not sure where/when it happens.

 

[hootey]

Have went to DL for years and had many friends ask touring advise. I will offer one tip for DL: Take the time to enjoy being there

 

[robin2588]

Sunday 3/7:

I believe Sunday is 3/6 and Monday is 3/7.

 

[Gamertara]

Those seem like really good ideas so far. I highly recommend not missing Soarin' in DCA, and Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean in DLR. Best of luck in the parks. Hope you have a magical time! Keep us up to date!

 

[TeamUrsula]

3/6 and 3/7 will both be crowded with local visitors. There are no big conventions scheduled right around that time at the Anaheim Convention Center, so you're in good shape there (sometimes big conventions can draw in a lot more people to the parks).

Here's how you maximize FP usage:
I agree w/the suggestion to 1st get a FP for Hyperspace Mountain. Then at the start of your FP window for Hyperspace Mountain, get FP for Indiana Jones. Then when the FP window for Indiana Jones begins, get FP for the next "E Ticket" FP ride that you want to go on. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Radiator Springs:
In my opinion, this is the best ride in all of DCA. You could actually arrange to go on this 2-3 times in 1 day, but it takes some strategy. Here's what you do:

1. Decide which day you're going to focus mainly on DCA. I would recommend Saturday morning for this since Saturday is normally a Magic Morning day at DL. I'm assuming that you won't have EMH from staying on site and you don't have Magic Morning entry tied to your park tickets.
2. Get to DCA main gate EARLY. 30-45 min before park opening. Preferably closer to 45 min beforehand.
3. "Walk with purpose" to Carsland. When you get to Carsland, stay as far to the right as possible.
4. CM will walk everyone to the RSR entrance. Stay as far right as possible. Everybody who's crowded up on the left will be forced to hang back and get in line on the right side of the 'street.'
5. Go on RSR without a FP. This is why getting to DCA main gate early is so important. You can be on the ride & done within 10-20 min.
6. Once you're off the ride, go get a FP for RSR for everybody in your group. FPs tend to run out for RSR 1-2 hours after the park opens. Last October, it was taking a couple of hours for FP to run out when we were last there.
7. Now you can also go on it again in the Single Rider line. If you have kids, they need to be at least 7 years old to ride in Single Rider, I think. And they need to be confident enough to ride by themselves. So let's say, if you have a skittish 9 year old, maybe don't do Single Rider line except for the adults.

On both days, Carsland will likely be packed with people because the new Luigi's ride is opening up on 3/7. This is another reason to go do DCA on Saturday 3/6. Plus, if you're lucky, they'll do a 'soft opening' for Luigi's on 3/6 (i.e., they open up the ride before the official opening date but they don't announce the ride being open to anybody).

Sunday 3/7:
Focus on Disneyland this day. Most local DL visitors don't show up to DLR until 10:30-11am on Sundays. It is TOTALLY WORTH IT to get up early and be there for rope drop! My recommendation would be this:

1. Get to DL main gate 30 min ahead of time. This means you're through security check before that, so get to the security check 45 min before official park opening.
2. 20 min before park opening, they'll open up the turnstiles. Give 1 person in your group everybody's tickets. That person will be the Hyperspace Mountain FP runner. Have that person go to the rope at the entrance to Tomorrowland. That person gets Hyperspace Mountain FP. Meanwhile, everybody else in your group goes to Fantasyland. FP runner meets up with the rest of you in Fantasyland.
3. If Peter Pan is not a "must do," go on rides in approximately this order: Matterhorn, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White, Pinocchio, King Arthur's Carousel. You can also throw in Casey Jr's Circus Train if you have little kids or if you just feel like it. Storybookland Canal Boats is a slow loader and good to go on in the morning.
4. At start of Hyperspace Mountain FP window, send runner to Indiana Jones and get FP for that. Then runner & everybody else meets up in Tomorrowland to go on that ride. But before you go on the roller coaster, get FP for Buzz (it's usually disconnected).
5. At start of IJ FP window, get FP for Star Tours. Go on non-FP rides while you are waiting for your next FP window to begin. Pirates & Haunted Mansion lines go pretty fast...when it says 20 min wait, it's usually not 20 min. By mid-afternoon, both of those lines will probably be 45 min.
6. Afternoon - go on 'not as popular' rides & see shows. This means stuff like this: go see "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln," go on Winnie the Pooh, or hop to DCA & go to the Animation building & do Animation Academy a couple of times, then go see Turtle Talk With Crush and go on Monsters, Inc after that.

Not to hijack this thread, but I just wanted to say this was incredibly helpful and saved me from posting a similar question about utilizing our Sunday at DLR. thanks!

 

[Angrose]

Definitely do DL on Sunday. Sunday mornings at DL are what I call the "golden hours." It will feel like you have the park to yourselves and whatever you do between 8-10am will have minimal waits. For snow during the fireworks, it's best to be on Main St. or the Hub. If your kids are small, you might have to hold them up to see.

For DCA and RSR, I don't think they do the walk to Carsland anymore, at least that's what I've read. You should be good there if you do EMH or get ther close to rope drop. I wouldnt expect it to be too crowded in the AM since most locals will be at work and it's a little early in the season for too many spring breakers.

Have fun!

 

[Angrose]

OK, I could be wrong about the crowds. I just checked Touring Plans and they say 7 on Mon and 8 on Tue. Now, you can take their predictions with a grain of salt. Last year they predicted 7's for both days and "what they saw" were also 7's. Regardless of the crowds, the mornings will still be great.