Is 2 Parks 1 Day doable?

[ArchOwl]

I would think for DCA something like this...

Soarin' Single Rider
Tower of Terror
Monster's Inc (it is in the same area and a really good dark ride IMO)
Screamin' Single Rider
Toy Story

You could probably ride your favorites multiple times with the Single Rider. You could also FP Soarin' when you first arrive and ride it together after Toy Story.

Ridemax will help some, but it doesn't take Single Rider into account. So you will have to plan that on your own.

 

[rokstedy]

IDL:
Indiana Jones
Big Thunder Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
Space Mountain
Matterhorn
Buzz Lightyear
Alice in Wonderland

DCA:
Soarin Over California
Tower of Terror
California Screamin
Toy Story

My 2 cents..

Go straight to tomorrowland and pick-up a fast pass for Space Mountain. Hit Matterhorn, Alice and buzz lightyear, then back to space mountain. This is a nice neat circle, and reduces some of the back and forth (alternatively, you could just hit space mountain, but every few minutes count in the early AM and you might see added wait times for the other 3 rides if you hit Space Mountain first).

Head to DCA next and go straight to Toy Story. This ride lines up fast, while the others can be done without much effort without even needing a fast pass. You save more time going direct to TSMM than getting a fast pass first for Soarin. You may though go ahead and grab one for california screamin.

After ToyStory, hit screamin, soarin and tower of terror (or vice versa for the last two depending on your preference). The walking for these last two is significant no matter what you do. I think though it might be more efficient to hit Tower first.

Head back to AdventureLand and grab a fast pass for Indy. Pirates and Haunted should be no sweat still at this point. But before you ride Indy, check your fastpass and see if you can get one for Big Tunder. If so, get one, then go on Indy.

With this list of rides and itinerary, you should have no trouble hitting everything with time to spare.

 

[ArchOwl]

My 2 cents..

Head to DCA next and go straight to Toy Story. This ride lines up fast, while the others can be done without much effort without even needing a fast pass. You save more time going direct to TSMM than getting a fast pass first for Soarin. You may though go ahead and grab one for california screamin.

If the OP will be heading over to DCA in the afternoon (since DL doesn't open until 10am) there really isn't any advantage to doing Toy Story first. The line doesn't vary much, so I don't think there is any advantage to getting at Toy Story at 12:15 vs. 1:15pm. It is probably going to be about the same wait.

I wouldn't rush over to DCA because the parks open at the same time, there is no reason to try and get over there early. I would follow Hound109's advice and pick up FPs for Space, Indy, and BTMMR before hopping over to DCA. Do your DCA highlights and when you re-enter Disneyland, you will be able to pick up additional FPs at that time.

Have fun!

 

[Hound 109]

I think it's cool when folks offer opinions on touring strategies. When there are some minor differing opinions, if makes the reader (& all of us) think thru how best to work the plan.

ArchOwl.....I like you're plan. After touring DL & hopping to DCA, I'd probably:

- FP Soarin'
- ride ToT (not sure what the standby might be at noon of a 10am DL opening....I'd guess 15 min. or less)
- Monsters
- Screamin' Single Rider (probably the best SR ride)
- Toy Story (agree with Arch Owl that doesn't matter if it's 11am, noon or 1pm....It'll be a 30-40 min. line either way)
- Griz if under 15 min. (FP it if over 15 min.)
- Poke your nose into the GCH (because you can )
- Ride Soarin'
- Hop back to DL.

(if doing animation academy, then I'd probably save Monsters & it for after Soarin' (& before returning to Griz with FP).

I would think for DCA something like this...

Soarin' Single Rider
Tower of Terror
Monster's Inc (it is in the same area and a really good dark ride IMO)
Screamin' Single Rider
Toy Story

You could probably ride your favorites multiple times with the Single Rider. You could also FP Soarin' when you first arrive and ride it together after Toy Story.

Ridemax will help some, but it doesn't take Single Rider into account. So you will have to plan that on your own.

 

[ArchOwl]

I think it's cool when folks offer opinions on touring strategies. When there are some minor differing opinions, if makes the reader (& all of us) think thru how best to work the plan.

Agree!

There is one thing wrong with this plan, though. No lunch break! Seriously, though. You will need some food! How about poking your head in the GCH as Hound109 suggested and grabbing lunch at Whitewater Snacks? There are lots of other options as well...

And I am guessing that ToT on May 11th (projected 1 out of 10 by Touring Plans) at around 12:15 will be close to a walk-on.

As an aside, what is the single rider line like at Soarin'? Do you just go through the fastpass line? I have never used the single rider line at Soarin. But I agree that Screamin' is the best!

 

[HydroGuy]

As an aside, what is the single rider line like at Soarin'? Do you just go through the fastpass line? I have never used the single rider line at Soarin. But I agree that Screamin' is the best!

Yep, that is it. You ask the CM at the FP Return line entrance.

 

[exbjd]

WOW! You guys are all great! So much to think about now. I was not aware that Ride Max does not take into consideration the Single Rider line (which we plan on using).

Does DL or DCA have Turkey Legs?????? please say yes...please say yes....please say yes...... This is our lunch break at WDW and love - love - love them!

I appreciate all the input and I've been reading the threads about DL for WDW vets. I can't wait to see where it all started!

Thanks for all your help.

 

[sonnyjane]

WOW! You guys are all great! So much to think about now. I was not aware that Ride Max does not take into consideration the Single Rider line (which we plan on using).

Does DL or DCA have Turkey Legs?????? please say yes...please say yes....please say yes...... This is our lunch break at WDW and love - love - love them!



Thanks for all your help.

They both have them. In Disneyland the turkey legs are sold at a cart in Frontierland that you'll see as you walk from New Orleans Square to Big Thunder Mountain. In DCA the stand is near kind of near the carousel as you walk from Screamin' to Toy Story.

 

[HydroGuy]

WOW! You guys are all great! So much to think about now. I was not aware that Ride Max does not take into consideration the Single Rider line (which we plan on using).

RM does have options for the single rider lines actually...

 

[ArchOwl]

RM does have options for the single rider lines actually...

Really? Where do you find the option in the program?

 

[HydroGuy]

Really? Where do you find the option in the program?

My RM subscription is not current so I cannot check it, but I do remember that, for example, when you add an attraction to your itinerary you will see options for Splash Mtn and then Splash Mtn (Single Rider). Same thing for GRR. So you just add the single rider attraction in.

Can't remember but I think they did not offer that for Soarin or Screamin or the old Mulholland Madness.

 

[ArchOwl]

My RM subscription is not current so I cannot check it, but I do remember that, for example, when you add an attraction to your itinerary you will see options for Splash Mtn and then Splash Mtn (Single Rider). Same thing for GRR. So you just add the single rider attraction in.

Can't remember but I think they did not offer that for Soarin or Screamin or the old Mulholland Madness.

OMG, I am so blind! Yes, right now all it has is Single Rider for GRR and Soarin'. Splash is on refurb so it is not an option right now.

I wonder why no Single Rider option for Indy, though? Or for Screamin?

 

[Hound 109]

Yes, right now all it has is Single Rider for GRR and Soarin'. Splash is on refurb so it is not an option right now.

I wonder why no Single Rider option for Indy, though? Or for Screamin?

I've never tried GRR for single rider....I would think that it would be a good option for 2 people. Especially as it gets warmer.

& odd that RM doesn't include/mention Single line for Indy or Screamin'. Two very good rides to employ this strategy.


(ArchOwl....you're right....i forgot lunch. Although i rarely do .

For the one day visitor WhiteWater is a good option....but imo, Corny Dogs are better & quicker ).

 

[HydroGuy]

OMG, I am so blind! Yes, right now all it has is Single Rider for GRR and Soarin'. Splash is on refurb so it is not an option right now.

I wonder why no Single Rider option for Indy, though? Or for Screamin?

Indy is a recent addition to SR. Not sure why for Screamin.

 

[ArchOwl]

I've never tried GRR for single rider....I would think that it would be a good option for 2 people. Especially as it gets warmer.

& odd that RM doesn't include/mention Single line for Indy or Screamin'. Two very good rides to employ this strategy.


(ArchOwl....you're right....i forgot lunch. Although i rarely do .

For the one day visitor WhiteWater is a good option....but imo, Corny Dogs are better & quicker ).

Maybe RM doesn't have data on the Single line for Indy since it is newish. For Screamin' I don't have an explanation, but there probably is one!

I forget about corn dogs since I don't like them (I am a pseudo-vegetarian). But they are kinda perfect for a one-day park strategy...eat and walk at the same time!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Indy is a recent addition to SR. Not sure why for Screamin.

Recent... DS SR Indy quite a bit in 2009 *early 2009*

 

[HydroGuy]

Recent... DS SR Indy quite a bit in 2009 *early 2009*

A long time ago Indy had SR then they stopped. I never heard about Indy SR opening again until summer 2010 and I think they had it sporadically before that. But I may be off on this.

 

[sonnyjane]

Recent... DS SR Indy quite a bit in 2009 *early 2009*

A long time ago Indy had SR then they stopped. I never heard about Indy SR opening again until summer 2010 and I think they had it sporadically before that. But I may be off on this.

Yeah, I have been using the Indy single rider line regularly since I got my first AP back in September 2009 - that's more than enough time for Ridemax to incorporate it I would think!

 

[exbjd]

I sent RideMax an email asking if their plans utilized Indy and Screamin - there reply was no. I wonder why they don't????

 

[HydroGuy]

I sent RideMax an email asking if their plans utilized Indy and Screamin - there reply was no. I wonder why they don't????

It takes time to get the data and they have limited resources I would guess. The SR thing is a special thing and not central to most people's touring plans. I guess I would take the glass half full approach and be glad that they do include SR for Splash, GRR and SOC.