how to plan which ride to get on first

[mpadilla89]

We will be in Disneyland 7/30 and DCA 7/31. We are a group of 9 but we usually split up during the day and meet up at random spots. It will be for the most part my husband me and my daugher (8).

At disneyland we plan on doing Pirates, indiana Jones, HM(DD fav) First then a must is also IASW, Autotopia, Splash Mountain.

At DCA we plan on RSR, Soaring,TSM

How we we plan on making sure we get on these. Especially RSR. We will be there at rope drop like always.

 

[avalon451]

Are you eligible for early entry?

None of those DL rides are open on early entry, so that doesn't matter so much. It will be pretty easy to get all those in. PoTC, HM, IASW and Autopia aren't usually big wait times until later in the day, if at all. You can FP Indy and Splash (HM, too, but not really necessary)

EE at DCA would be nice, only available if you're staying onsite. Generally it's recommended that you head straight for TSMM, then RSR either FPs or ride single rider, then get Soarin' FPs when available. If you don't have EE go to CA on Saturday, if you do, take advantage of it on Sunday.

 

[mpadilla89]

no early entry. Just since we have never been in the summer i'm not sure how much longer the lines are. We were there last on Christmas and it was fine in the morning up until noon. We didn't do indy and standby for RSR was about 2 hours. Should we just FP indy do PoTC, HM and then head to Peter Pan and IASW or should we do PP before PoTC and HM?

Also in the past 3 years we have only used FP for WoC which i don't plan on seeing this time. Is it still the frozen one? If we get a fp for RSR how long do you still wait in line?

 

[agamble]

I only ride Peter Pan first if I can be on the ride in less than 15 minutes. It’s not worth a 30 minute wait in the morning. I’d rather wait 45+ minutes when all the other lines are long, than wait 30 minutes when all the other rides are walk-ons. Make sense? So if you’re there at rope drop on a non-early day and you’re strollerless and able to “run” right to the queue, then do Peter Pan first then FP Indy and head to Pirates and Haunted Mansion. If you aren’t able to “run” right to the Peter Pan queue, then I would wait until after lunch to ride it.

 

[avalon451]

no early entry. Just since we have never been in the summer i'm not sure how much longer the lines are. We were there last on Christmas and it was fine in the morning up until noon. We didn't do indy and standby for RSR was about 2 hours. Should we just FP indy do PoTC, HM and then head to Peter Pan and IASW or should we do PP before PoTC and HM?

Also in the past 3 years we have only used FP for WoC which i don't plan on seeing this time. Is it still the frozen one? If we get a fp for RSR how long do you still wait in line?

Ok, so DL on Sunday. Peter Pan first (builds quickly and lines don't go down all day, no FP). Do you want to do other stuff in FL? You really shouldn't be that pressed for time to get on the other stuff. I think if I were you and I wanted to do some of the fun FL stuff, I'd do this: PP, Matterhorn, Alice, Toad, maybe Snow White. Then go FP Indy, ride PoTC, HM, if your Indy FP is valid, go get Splash FP, then go ride Indy. Go hit up Autopia and IaSW. Then when your Splash FP is valid, grab a Space Mt. FP. Go ride Splash, do Winnie the Pooh, maybe hit HM again since it's your kiddo's favorite, then see if Buzz is do-able (often has pretty low wait times). Then ride Space with your FP. Boom! At some point I assume you'll be sitting for a break/snack lunch. Not positive without putting this into the Lines (Touring Plans) app, but I bet that would work pretty well on a Sunday.

Do you have a smartphone, and the Disneyland App? That's so helpful to get an idea of how lines are building on any particular day. I've been watching it off and on on my phone, and it's really interesting to me to see in live time how fast the lines are building and when return times are for current FPs. It's been giving me a much better idea about strategy.

Also, the Lines app is a pretty good deal for $7, and fun to play with, to make your touring plans.

Good luck!

 

[mpadilla89]

I only ride Peter Pan first if I can be on the ride in less than 15 minutes. It’s not worth a 30 minute wait in the morning. I’d rather wait 45+ minutes when all the other lines are long, than wait 30 minutes when all the other rides are walk-ons. Make sense? So if you’re there at rope drop on a non-early day and you’re strollerless and able to “run” right to the queue, then do Peter Pan first then FP Indy and head to Pirates and Haunted Mansion. If you aren’t able to “run” right to the Peter Pan queue, then I would wait until after lunch to ride it.

Can we run to Peter Pan-Yes dop we want to- probably not lol. how long are the PP lines after lunch and what time is lunch for you? I much rather do 3- 4 semi walk on rides if im lucky than 1

 

[mpadilla89]

Ok, so DL on Sunday. Peter Pan first (builds quickly and lines don't go down all day, no FP). Do you want to do other stuff in FL? You really shouldn't be that pressed for time to get on the other stuff. I think if I were you and I wanted to do some of the fun FL stuff, I'd do this: PP, Matterhorn, Alice, Toad, maybe Snow White. Then go FP Indy, ride PoTC, HM, if your Indy FP is valid, go get Splash FP, then go ride Indy. Go hit up Autopia and IaSW. Then when your Splash FP is valid, grab a Space Mt. FP. Go ride Splash, do Winnie the Pooh, maybe hit HM again since it's your kiddo's favorite, then see if Buzz is do-able (often has pretty low wait times). Then ride Space with your FP. Boom! At some point I assume you'll be sitting for a break/snack lunch. Not positive without putting this into the Lines (Touring Plans) app, but I bet that would work pretty well on a Sunday.

Do you have a smartphone, and the Disneyland App? That's so helpful to get an idea of how lines are building on any particular day. I've been watching it off and on on my phone, and it's really interesting to me to see in live time how fast the lines are building and when return times are for current FPs. It's been giving me a much better idea about strategy.

Also, the Lines app is a pretty good deal for $7, and fun to play with, to make your touring plans.

Good luck!

So Disneyland will be on Saturday on DCA on Sunday. Yes we will do other rides in FL and through out. I guess im going to need to run this through the family and ask what they rather do. I would probably prefer what agamble suggested but majority rules so we will see. I hae not used a FP other than WoC so im unsure if i could tackle that many FP with out getting annoyed. We mostly just want to have fun and not stress but make sure we go on those i listed.

And yes after i clean my iphone that keps telling me i can't download anything i will get the app.

 

[avalon451]

So Disneyland will be on Saturday on DCA on Sunday.

I think it actually should be the other way around, since you don't have EE. DL has EE on Saturday, so if you went then, you'd be an hour behind the EE crowds and lines will already have built up. If you go on a non-EE day, you'll be on a level playing field with everybody else. Same with DCA, it has EE on Sunday, so it would be better for you to do it on Saturday when you get in at the same time as everybody.

 

[mpadilla89]

OMG you are so right.. I Prefer to go to DL first but i guess we will have to switch it up we usually always have magic morning so we don't worry about that. We do have park hoppers though. We are Skipping WoC this year (is it still frozen?) and we where going to do our dining reservation at GK instead around 7 pm on Sunday after DCA. Should i switch that to Saturday night instead?

Decisions. Decisions.

 

[mpadilla89]

I think it actually should be the other way around, since you don't have EE. DL has EE on Saturday, so if you went then, you'd be an hour behind the EE crowds and lines will already have built up. If you go on a non-EE day, you'll be on a level playing field with everybody else. Same with DCA, it has EE on Sunday, so it would be better for you to do it on Saturday when you get in at the same time as everybody.

Will goint to Soaring first then heading over to get RSR FP then tSMM work. Or will we still be waiting in line forever? Those are really our top three we want to do And just kind of take our time actually enjoying our time there and walking around and have DD go on the smaller rides.

 

[agamble]

Can we run to Peter Pan-Yes dop we want to- probably not lol. how long are the PP lines after lunch and what time is lunch for you? I much rather do 3- 4 semi walk on rides if im lucky than 1

Peter Pan will have lines of 30-40 minutes within minutes of opening and generally 40-50 minutes the rest of the day.

 

[avalon451]

Will goint to Soaring first then heading over to get RSR FP then tSMM work. Or will we still be waiting in line forever? Those are really our top three we want to do And just kind of take our time actually enjoying our time there and walking around and have DD go on the smaller rides.

You know, I'm not sure what would work best, it kind of depends. The thing is, both Soarin' and RSR have FP; TSMM does not. So conventional wisdom has most people heading for TSMM first, or heading there and sending your fastpass runner to pick up Soarin' FPs, then joining you in the line if possible). I tried this last year, going to TSMM first with the intent of getting RSR FPs right after (Soarin' wasn't an issue then, it was still the old version). However, TSMM was not up and running yet, which totally screwed up my plan. I waited around and got on it in about 20 minutes when it finally opened, and was still able to get RSR FPs, but not for as early as I wanted them.

I think the plan would probably be TSMM, then ride Soarin' if standby is less than 30 minutes, picking up RSR FPs on the way to Soarin? Or if Soarin' standby is more than 30 minutes, FP it, and either go do something else till you can get RSR FPs, or else ride RSR single rider. And hope to heaven that everything is up and running at park opening!

Somebody chime in here?

 

[mpadilla89]

You know, I'm not sure what would work best, it kind of depends. The thing is, both Soarin' and RSR have FP; TSMM does not. So conventional wisdom has most people heading for TSMM first, or heading there and sending your fastpass runner to pick up Soarin' FPs, then joining you in the line if possible). I tried this last year, going to TSMM first with the intent of getting RSR FPs right after (Soarin' wasn't an issue then, it was still the old version). However, TSMM was not up and running yet, which totally screwed up my plan. I waited around and got on it in about 20 minutes when it finally opened, and was still able to get RSR FPs, but not for as early as I wanted them.

I think the plan would probably be TSMM, then ride Soarin' if standby is less than 30 minutes, picking up RSR FPs on the way to Soarin? Or if Soarin' standby is more than 30 minutes, FP it, and either go do something else till you can get RSR FPs, or else ride RSR single rider. And hope to heaven that everything is up and running at park opening!

Somebody chime in here?

The thing is if anyone is going to go get FP is probably going to be and no matter how many times we have been with this same group they are not willing to do much on their own. I have at times gotten "lost or seperated" from the group for this reason. they rely on me for everyhting since i am the one always obsessed with coming back and the planner in the group that sometimes im just willing to do whatevers easiest because i don't want to be stressed at Disneyland dealing with so many fast passes and them not knowing what to do. I do have some teenagers in the group that i can now send of alone to grab some FP hopefully that will help.

 

[avalon451]

The thing is if anyone is going to go get FP is probably going to be and no matter how many times we have been with this same group they are not willing to do much on their own. I have at times gotten "lost or seperated" from the group for this reason. they rely on me for everyhting since i am the one always obsessed with coming back and the planner in the group that sometimes im just willing to do whatevers easiest because i don't want to be stressed at Disneyland dealing with so many fast passes and them not knowing what to do. I do have some teenagers in the group that i can now send of alone to grab some FP hopefully that will help.

Ugh, I can see how that'd be frustrating. Nice to have some teenagers that could maybe be your "runners," though.

It can be a pain to keep track of FPs, and when they become valid, when you can pick up a new one, etc.; on the other hand, I guess I'd rather deal with the stress of that, than waiting in 60 minute standby lines. I really can't take line-waiting! Some people actually like it, though.

 

[WonkaKid]

Can we run to Peter Pan-Yes dop we want to- probably not lol. how long are the PP lines after lunch and what time is lunch for you? I much rather do 3- 4 semi walk on rides if im lucky than 1

FWIW, I did PP first yesterday. Several other Fantasyland rides following it -- Mr. Toad, Alice, Dumbo -- were virtual walk-ons. Definitely do PP first. Even 40 minutes or so after the park opened, Pirates was still a walk-on, as was HM. Hope this helps!

 

[GatorGirl]

We will be in Disneyland 7/30 and DCA 7/31. We are a group of 9 but we usually split up during the day and meet up at random spots. It will be for the most part my husband me and my daugher (8).

At disneyland we plan on doing Pirates, indiana Jones, HM(DD fav) First then a must is also IASW, Autotopia, Splash Mountain.

At DCA we plan on RSR, Soaring,TSM

How we we plan on making sure we get on these. Especially RSR. We will be there at rope drop like always.

We managed to do really well - we were at DCA 7/9 at rope drop. DH and DD headed straight for RSR. When they got there it wasnt open yet. They lurked around about 10 minutes and then were one of the first 20 or so in line when it opened. They rode it and immediately got back in line and rode it again. By the time their 2nd ride was over I was back with Soarin FPs and frappicinos and we all got in line again (waited 25 minutes that round). So they rode it 3 times before 9 am - they were stoked and it was a fantastic start to the day!

We loved the new Soarin too FYI but only got to ride it once....

 

[mpadilla89]

We managed to do really well - we were at DCA 7/9 at rope drop. DH and DD headed straight for RSR. When they got there it wasnt open yet. They lurked around about 10 minutes and then were one of the first 20 or so in line when it opened. They rode it and immediately got back in line and rode it again. By the time their 2nd ride was over I was back with Soarin FPs and frappicinos and we all got in line again (waited 25 minutes that round). So they rode it 3 times before 9 am - they were stoked and it was a fantastic start to the day!

We loved the new Soarin too FYI but only got to ride it once....

I think that's just what we will do run to RSR as we enter I don't mind waiting even 20 min If it's too long once we get there we will just get a fp and maybe ride the single rider

Thanks