Help with DCA touring plan- only 1 day!! Is it worth getting ridemax?

[todzwife]

November trip with my HUGE family (there will be 17 including the babies) I'm trying to come up with the best way to tour DCA. We'll have 4 babies/toddlers, my preschooler who may or may not want to ride big stuff and my 2 older kids+ adults.

I'm thinking that I'll have the group make its way to TSMM first since everyone can go on it, do I have the FP runner grab a soaring FP on the way? WOC? Will we have enough time after TSMM to get a FP for RSR or are they still gone in an hour?

I know the adults will want to do Screaming, TOT, Goofys etc, and the babies will want to do Disney Jr. and bugs land.

I'm guessing it's going to be a 10-8 day, we may or may not need a nap break (if babies will sleep in the strollers we'll be ok).

Anyone want to help me with a touring plan?

 

[figment_jii]

I'm thinking that I'll have the group make its way to TSMM first since everyone can go on it, do I have the FP runner grab a soaring FP on the way? WOC? Will we have enough time after TSMM to get a FP for RSR or are they still gone in an hour?

RSR FP tend to last between 90-120 minutes. I think if you head straight to TSM at rope drop, as long as it's not an EMH morning, you should be able to get back to RSR in time to pull FPs. They'll probably be for later afternoon/evening by that point. After getting the RSR FP, then I would head over to WoC to pull those FP (if interested in WoC).

Anyone want to help me with a touring plan?

I'm guessing with the babies in your group, you'll be using Rider Swap at some point otherwise some of the adults will miss out on one or more of the thrill rides.

My guess is that in mid-November (before Thanksgiving), the crowds aren't going to be awful at rope drop, so you might be able to forgo the Soarin' FPs. I would consider having everyone go to TSMM first, then split up. Some folks can go ride Soarin' (get a rider swap pass for those that stay with the babies), and the other adults can go get the RSR and WoC FPs. After that, pick a place to meet up and go from there. I've never toured with the large of a group, so I don't know how quickly you can get from place to place.

 

[todzwife]

We're going the week before Thanksgiving, right after the Avengers half marathon. I don't expect it to be quiet, but hopefully not super crazy. We may split up some, but the purpose of us all going together is to go together so we don't mind the slightly slower pace. Monday it will just be my family and my sister and brother in law and we'll do Disneyland that day and get as much done as we can...

 

[94bruin]

Are any of the other adults familiar with the parks? When I went last Nov with a group of 15, I was the one who was most familiar, so I came up with a game plan. I just used my usual plan of attack, tailoring it to the needs of the group.

We made good use of Rider Switch and it was a great way for the kids to switch it up, going with adults other than their own parents. If we had to split up, we made sure that we all knew the meeting spot.

It was a lot of fun.

Usually, RSR lasts around 90mins. Going to TSMM at rope drop, then getting a FP is a good plan. That's what we did last time when it was my own family.

 

[Blue32]

Probably not worth it for one day. I think Ridemax needs to refine DCA a bit actually. And I thought DCA was kind of a breeze to tour even going during the start of the summer season. TSMM needs to be your AM priority though, then probably RSR FP. Everything else should be easier to get on or get FP for.

 

[todzwife]

Yes, TSMM is our top priority for that day. And it will be a Thursday so there won't be any EMH we have to try to deal with.

Good to know there should be time to grab a RSR FP afterward, that's my plan...