Here now Tidbits

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

My family and I (DW, DD (11) and DS (10) have been at DLR since 22 Sept. We've been attending the pair of parks since 23 Sept. Following Tidbits are provided down below. Please keep in mind that these are just my personal thoughts based upon the past week:
RSR. The wide right works exceptionally well. My family was first in line today (Sun, 30 Sept). DCA opened at 7 AM and we were at the gate at 7:10 AM. Unfortunately the ride was down. We waited 90 minutes until the ride started at 8:40 AM. I left to get our FPs at 7:45 AM and returned before the ride started.
DCA. Greatly prefer to tour DCA at the first couple of hours from park opening and then again at night. DCA is a very hot park. DCA is a lot more manageable and enjoyable at PM than DL. RSR and CL is just truly magical at PM. FLO's V8 seat location for PM is just awesome!
Photopass. It seems their are about three times as many Photopass Photographers at DCA than DL. A DL photopass photographer agreed with my assesment today. There are about 10 PPs at CL alone, with about six at RSR.
MM. During the offseason, there is no much magic in MM Mon-Thu. The parks open at 10 and the MM opens at 9 AM. Due to the late start most people can make 9 AM compared to 7 AM on weekends. We generally averaged only three rides during the MM hour at DL Mon-Thu. However, the MM on weekends and Halloween Party PMs is grealy more efficient. Last Friday and Sun (23 Sept) we knocked out all of FL and were into TL (at DL) within our MM.
No FP. This past week Mon-Fri the FP machines at BTMRR and Autopia were closed. They are only opened on Halloween Party nights and weekends during the off-season.
Canoe Rides. Canoe rides are only available during weekends during the off-season. 11-5. However, if it gets too hot they close the canoe rides. They closed them today (Sun, 30 Sept) at about 2 PM. We enjoyed the last one for the day.
Halloween Party. The best view of the fireworks is on the west side of the Hub (Frontierland and Adventureland). Great candy for everyone. Great selection and plenty of locations. You will not be able to eat all of the candy. CMs will kindly give you the candy of your choice. Generally about three pieces. Park was very crowded until about 7:30 PM this past Friday during the first party. A lof of non-party customers stayed at DL until about 7:30 PM (party started at 7 PM).
Halloween Party DL vs MK. MK has a vastly superior parade. Fireworks are equal. DL's them is Nightmare before Christmas. DL has better candy selection and greater quantity. MK is easier to manuver due to being bigger. DL is very small, dark, crowded and confusing. MK's Halloween decorations and spirit is greatly superior to MK.
Halloween ceramic. At least Blue Bayou and Rancho Del Zocalo (MSP?) offer special Halloween theme dessert with both Mickey and Donald ceramic holders. They're totally awesome! Greatly recommended.
Aladdin. Still no flying carpet.
Soarin. According to the Disneyland Tour Guide it's the most popular ride in all of DLR. Wow.
That's it for now. We're here until Wednesday (03 Oct).

 

[txcorey]

Thanks for that info. I will take any tidbits I can get!

 

[Reneas06GTYUP]

What wonderful tidbits, thanks so much for taking the time to give us all the scoop. Please keep them coming.

 

[leaukake808]

mahalo guynhawaii for the tidbits. Our family DH, myself, DS (9) and DS (5) will be there Oct. 3.
Your tidbits helped us figure out are strategies.

 

[twinkletink]

Thank you! Great little tidbits!

 

[DLRfan31]

Great info...thanks!

Be sure and post some more if you have some. We will be there next week and I'm already seeing that it will be more crowded than a usual oct trip.

 

[hollyshoffbrau]

Aloha,

CMs will kindly give you the candy of your choice. Generally about three pieces.

Were they 3 large pieces or small fun size?

The reason I am asking is cause a lot of people on the board say you get a lot of candy at the treat stations and 3 pieces doesn't sound like a lot to me.

 

[ethanwa]

This is from the mom of our group now: We just arrived today and will be attending the Halloween Party tomorrow night (Tues). I heard there are healthy treats available at the Trick-or-Treat stations (dried fruit, apples, ect) - did you see this at all?

 

[KateDrake]

This is from the mom of our group now: We just arrived today and will be attending the Halloween Party tomorrow night (Tues). I heard there are healthy treats available at the Trick-or-Treat stations (dried fruit, apples, ect) - did you see this at all?

I can't speak to this year, but last year they gave out apple slices (both dried and fresh), carrot sticks, craisins, raisins ... that's all I can think of at the moment, but there was a pretty good selection. We got a lot of these because we had a slight peanut allergy in our group, and if you say you have an allergy, they just give you the healthy snacks, no candy. Our little friend was getting so sad, so her parents just gave up and got whatever candy they were giving, and sorted through it later. She just can't have outright peanuts or peanut butter, but all other candy is fine. So keep that in mind if you have any allergies in your group, they are very good with special diets! Though you may not end up with a lot of candy

As to the other poster asking about size of the candy, they give out the fun sized mini candy bars. If you get three pieces from each CM handing it out, you'll end up with more than you can carry!

Mahalo for all the tips Guy! They have me very excited for our trip next week!

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

To help answer a few questions from the past 10 days and first Halloween

1. Yes on healthy choices. Mostly apple slices.
2. Candy size. Average. My DS and I were receiving three Snickers/ Reese Peanut Butter Cups at each stop.
3. TorT Stations vs LOCATIONS. There are TorT LOCATIONs with multiple TorT stations. Each TorT LOCATION might have three to six stations. So you can receive 18+ pieces of candy at ONE TorT Location. I hope that makes more sense. There is no way my pair of kids and I will finish all of our candy!

More Tidbits.

1. Heat Impact. The Monorail reduces its occupancy rate to 80% when it gets over 80 degrees. They also close the front and rear cabins when it gets over 80 degrees.
2. Monorail. The Monorail DOES open for the MMs. Including the 7 AM starts. The Monorail gets underway five minutes prior to park opening...may it be regular hours or MM hours. The line for security check and boarding are grealy smaller than in front of Main Street. It's a great way to start at TL.
3. Canoe Rides. Only during the weekends and they secure when it gets over 90 degrees.
4. RSR. It breaks down a LOT. Be prepared for alternative strategies.
5. Mark Twain. No problem getting a ride in the Pilots Cabin. Awesome treat for the kids. Get to ring the bell and blow the steam whistle!
6. Lille Belle and Tender Ride. Also reduced because of the heat.
7. Happiest Haunts Tour. I was greatly disappointed. I guess my expectations were too high due to the cost of the Tour. They take three hours to do five rides (Haunted M, BTMRR, Matterhorn, Ghost Galaxy and TT), do get head of line privleges though...a pin and a couple of sweet treats. The fictional story plot to take you from one ride to the other is very weak and makes no sense what so ever. The acting is very poor. I would not recommend the expense or the time unless you have plenty of both.
7. Splash Mountain. It's been walk on for about the first 90 minutes of each day (including the first 60 minutes of MM). Most definitely recommend to do it in the AM. The lines in the afternoon or LOOONG.
8. Haunted Mansion. Most definitely recommend to do it in the AM within the first 90 minutes of park opening. The lines have been very long with the holiday decorations and Indy being closed.
9. Nemo. My children and I were happily suprised by the Nemo ride. It was much better than we had anticipated. Greatly superior to EPCOT's version. But you need to ride it early or very late when the lines are small.
10. Matterhorn. Ouch! I'm 5-10 and 185. A tight fit for me. And yes, everyone is right about how uncomfortable the sled and ride are.
11. Characters. Able to catch most if not all of them. Including some villians (at Thunder Ranch Jamboree and Main Street). It took a while but we got Donald Duck at 10 AM this past Sunday at Main Street in front of the Train Station.
12. Characters at Halloween Party. For pixs with the Star Wars Clone Troopers, you line up at the Star Tours Fast Pass Distribution.

 

[redsoxfan808]

Hi,

Thanks for the pointers and updates. Another local boy who will be taking his family to DL/DCA starting on Thursday. We have been hitting the San Diego attractions the last several days and arrive in Anaheim on Wednesday. Did you guys go to Universal Studios? If so, any pointers?

Thanks.

 

[nunzia]

Were they 3 large pieces or small fun size?

The reason I am asking is cause a lot of people on the board say you get a lot of candy at the treat stations and 3 pieces doesn't sound like a lot to me.

Last year my son (and his backpack)ended up with over 20 pounds of candy (combined from his DW and kids)

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

My son and I got 15lbs just at the exit gates! They kept filling our bags until they were full.

 

[Tennor]

My son and I got 15lbs just at the exit gates! They kept filling our bags until they were full.

What time were you exiting?