How to visit Disneyland with MaxPass (non EMH Days) 8am Opening

[DLRExpert]

730am: Arrive at the entrance to Disneyland. The gates will open 20-5 minutes before official opening. When you are through the gates, head down Main Street toward Rope Drop.

8am-930am: Head to Fantasyland as there are no FP attractions in this area (not taking Matterhorn into account). If you are one of the first 100 guests at Peter Pan, ride it. If not, skip it and come back when waiting 30-40 minutes doesn't matter.

In this order... After Peter Pan, ride Dumbo, then Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toad, Casey Jr. (while in line for Casey Jr. use MP for the Matterhorn FP), Pinocchio, Snow White, use FP for the Matterhorn (while in line for Matterhorn use MP to get Indiana Jones FP).
Note: On EMH days you can do the above from 7am-8am easily. The only difference is...
8am-930am: Ride Autopia (while in line use MP for Matterhorn FP), then ride Finding Nemo, use FP for the Matterhorn

930am-10am: Visit Toontown and meet Mickey, ride Gadget Go Coaster, and ride Roger Rabbit.
Note: If you have no interest in Toontown you can experience Finding Nemo Submarines with no line
Note2: I you have interest in taking a break around 2-3pm, skip the above and start the 10am portion below at 930am. Save Toontown for 630pm or Finding Nemo Submarines for after the fireworks

10am-1130am: Grab FP for Fantasmic, Ride the Jungle Cruise (while in line use MP to get Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FP), use FP for Indiana Jones, ride Pirates of the Caribbean (when the line splits stay on the right side), use FP for Big Thunder Mountain (while in line use MP to get Splash Mountain FP).

1130am-1230pm: Ride Winnie the Pooh (while in line use MP to get FP for Haunted Mansion), use FP for Splash Mountain, use FP for Haunted Mansion (while in line use MP to get FP for Space Mountain).

1230pm: Lunch

130pm- On: Once you can get your next FP, make the next FP for Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters, then FP after that should be for Star Tours.

Enchanted Tiki Room, It's a Small World (stay on the right side when the line splits), Tom Sawyer's Island, and the Autopia (stay on the right side when the line splits) can all be done quite easily in between Fastpasses.

Other attractions not listed can be done easily at night after fireworks (for example, Finding Nemo Submarines).

ME

 

[CateinPhoenix]

Well Done! Overall I would say it's a great plan.
If possible, I would plan to be there even just a touch earlier to allow for any lines at bag check and for slow moving people through the turnstiles, etc. We also like to be at Toontown right when it opens (an hour past regular park opening). Usually a character will come out to open the gates and greet the children. Many people head straight for Mickey's or Minnie's house and the line will build quickly. The difference can be no wait - 30 minutes if you get there right when it opens. YMMV.

 

[DLRExpert]

Well Done! Overall I would say it's a great plan.
If possible, I would plan to be there even just a touch earlier to allow for any lines at bag check and for slow moving people through the turnstiles, etc. We also like to be at Toontown right when it opens (an hour past regular park opening). Usually a character will come out to open the gates and greet the children. Many people head straight for Mickey's or Minnie's house and the line will build quickly. The difference can be no wait - 30 minutes if you get there right when it opens. YMMV.

730am assumes you have parked and already have gone through bag check.

 

[NokOnHarts]

730am: Arrive at the entrance to Disneyland. The gates will open 20-5 minutes before official opening. When you are through the gates, head down Main Street toward Rope Drop.

8am-930am: Head to Fantasyland as there are no FP attractions in this area (not taking Matterhorn into account). If you are one of the first 100 guests at Peter Pan, ride it. If not, skip it and come back when waiting 30-40 minutes doesn't matter.

In this order... After Peter Pan, ride Dumbo, then Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toad, Casey Jr. (while in line for Casey Jr. use MP for the Matterhorn FP), Pinocchio, Snow White, use FP for the Matterhorn (while in line for Matterhorn use MP to get Indiana Jones FP).
Note: On EMH days you can do the above from 7am-8am easily. The only difference is...
8am-930am: Ride Autopia (while in line use MP for Matterhorn FP), then ride Finding Nemo, use FP for the Matterhorn

930am-10am: Visit Toontown and meet Mickey, ride Gadget Go Coaster, and ride Roger Rabbit.
Note: If you have no interest in Toontown you can experience Finding Nemo Submarines with no line
Note2: I you have interest in taking a break around 2-3pm, skip the above and start the 10am portion below at 930am. Save Toontown for 630pm or Finding Nemo Submarines for after the fireworks

10am-1130am: Ride the Jungle Cruise (while in line use MP to get Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FP), use FP for Indiana Jones, ride Pirates of the Caribbean (when the line splits stay on the right side), use FP for Big Thunder Mountain (while in line use MP to get Splash Mountain FP).

1130am-1230pm: Ride Winnie the Pooh (while in line use MP to get FP for Haunted Mansion), use FP for Splash Mountain, use FP for Haunted Mansion (while in line use MP to get FP for Space Mountain).

1230pm: Lunch

130pm- On: Once you can get your next FP, make the next FP for Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters, then FP after that should be for Star Tours.

Enchanted Tiki Room, It's a Small World (stay on the right side when the line splits), Tom Sawyer's Island, and the Autopia (stay on the right side when the line splits) can all be done quite easily in between Fastpasses.

Other attractions not listed can be done easily at night after fireworks (for example, Finding Nemo Submarines).

ME

How were FPs affected if you were not using Maxpass, I imagine they are running out faster? Would love to know your suggestions for a ride plan now if you were pulling FPs as usual, without Maxpass. Thank you!

 

[DLRExpert]

How were FPs affected if you were not using Maxpass, I imagine they are running out faster? Would love to know your suggestions for a ride plan now if you were pulling FPs as usual, without Maxpass. Thank you!

The park was pretty busy today. Only Indy and Space seemed to be a bit faster but that may be due to the amount of crowds.

Without MaxPass on non EMH day, follow this...

8am-9am: Alice, then Toad, Dumbo, Casey Jr., Pinocchio, Snow White.

9am-12pm: Big Thunder no FP, grab FP for Fantasmic, then Jungle Cruise, grab FP for Indy, ride Pirates, then Mansion no FP, grab FP for Splash Mountain, use FP for Indy, grab FP for Space, ride Winnie the Pooh, use FP for Splash.

12 lunch

1pm-3pm: Grab FP for Star tours, ride Autopia, us FP for Space, grab FP for Buzz, use FP for Star tours, use FP for Buzz

 

[onlyoneash]

Wow, awesome!!! Ok, you are obviously pro efficiency in this whole thing, so how would you recommend touring DCA on a EE day (Wednesday)....but you have no EE .
I'm bummed because it's our only day to go to that park, but I'm afraid getting there the EE peeps will already have taken over the park.

 

[ExcitedMama]

Why do you recommend staying on the right side for line splits? Thanks!

 

[Winnowill]

Wow, awesome!!! Ok, you are obviously pro efficiency in this whole thing, so how would you recommend touring DCA on a EE day (Wednesday)....but you have no EE .
I'm bummed because it's our only day to go to that park, but I'm afraid getting there the EE peeps will already have taken over the park.

Are you going to have MP? If so, per the experience yesterday, you should still be able to get FPs through MP (once you've been scanned in) even though you haven't officially been let in to the park.

 

[Frozen2014]

So helpful....both your MaxPass version and your non-MaxPass versions (we'll probably be the latter).

Thank you for sharing!

 

[DLRExpert]

Wow, awesome!!! Ok, you are obviously pro efficiency in this whole thing, so how would you recommend touring DCA on a EE day (Wednesday)....but you have no EE .
I'm bummed because it's our only day to go to that park, but I'm afraid getting there the EE peeps will already have taken over the park.

Not having access to EE at DCA is much easier to handle than it is at Disneyland.

I'm at DCA today and will create a post when I get the chance.

 

[DLRExpert]

Why do you recommend staying on the right side for line splits? Thanks!

Right side choice at Small World is faster because left side shares the line with the disability entry line.

At Pirates the line is just shorter as the left side goes around the side of the building.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Wow, awesome!!! Ok, you are obviously pro efficiency in this whole thing, so how would you recommend touring DCA on a EE day (Wednesday)....but you have no EE .
I'm bummed because it's our only day to go to that park, but I'm afraid getting there the EE peeps will already have taken over the park.

To be honest I have never seen it that way unless you do not follow the rules and be there when they let you in and I have gone there many times since DCA opens.

Good luck,

Jack

 

[blackjackdelta]

To be honest I have never seen it that way unless you do not follow the rules and be there when they let you in and I have gone there many times since DCA opens.

Good luck,

Jack

 

[onlyoneash]

To be honest I have never seen it that way unless you do not follow the rules and be there when they let you in and I have gone there many times since DCA opens.

Good luck,

Jack

Wha? I didn't mean how to sneak in DCA without EE privileges. I meant if you don't have EE privileges and are waiting for your time to go in (one hour after the EE people) then there will obviously already be a crowd in the park when you are let in.

I was asking, once you are let in, what order would you tour that park at that time? With a crowd already there and such.

 

[onlyoneash]

Not having access to EE at DCA is much easier to handle than it is at Disneyland.

I'm at DCA today and will create a post when I get the chance.

Thank you so much. Us once in a lifetime out of towners need all the help we can get! I will be awaiting your post

 

[blackjackdelta]

Wha? I didn't mean how to sneak in DCA without EE privileges. I meant if you don't have EE privileges and are waiting for your time to go in (one hour after the EE people) then there will obviously already be a crowd in the park when you are let in.

I was asking, once you are let in, what order would you tour that park at that time? With a crowd already there and such.

When the gates are open, all the quests will either go right or left while merging to get to RSR or GOTG. Some may just go collect a GOTG FP and then hit a few rides like TSMM. Over all not that many people, really not a big deal. Best times for both parks is at their opening times. EMH, EE are the best to get things done.
Have a great trip

Have a magical trip.

Jack