dr&momto2boys
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2006
- Messages
- 3,831
I had several questions before I left (even though I wasn't a newbie.) I thought I would write down a few tips I found useful and some things I discovered on my own...
First of all, we are a family with 4 little kids (7, 6, 3, and 17 months.) These tips/discoveries will especially apply to similar families. We also were there in an off-season.
These first few are well known but can't be said enough...
EMH is well worth it. 7am EMH is less busy than 9am EMH even if the early time is on a weekend.
Arrive 45 minutes before opening to be one of the first in line at the security check point. After security, be sure to get in a line at the gate that specifically says Magic Morning at DL or has a green light at DCA.
If you're staying at GCH, the same timing applies for lining up at security. If you're not in line pretty early, you stand a better chance of getting in faster at the main gate of DCA. EMH at DCA is for onsite hotel guests only.
If heading for Radiator Springs Racers (and why wouldn't you) if you go left from the GCH entrance you will merge with the main crowds but still be a little faster if you're one of the first to enter. (If you go to the right from the GCH entrance it takes longer but there are no crowds. It only makes sense if you have someone with you who has a scooter and therefore difficulty getting through the crowd.) Stick to the far right especially as you enter down the street in Cars Land!!!
Get a child swap ticket from the cast member at the entrance of the RSR line. Then send one adult and small children to wait in the RSR FP line (or have them ride Toy Story Mania first then return to FP line before the main crowds are let in.) The other adult(s) and kids who are tall enough to ride RSR should ride right away. Afterward, ride Luigi's and Mater's if you desire, then head over to Paradise Pier and go on TSM until your heart is content. There will be no waiting until the the park officially opens. As soon as the park opens (or before if you're tired of TSM), go on Screamin', Mickey's Fun Wheel, and Goofy's. Then you'll still have time to go on Soarin' then Tower of Terror without much wait at all.
You can do everthing else at you leisure. Collect more FPs as your window opens up. Always get a child swap pass when you can.
Eat an early lunch. Take an afternoon nap/swim break. Return to the parks to use your FPs/child swap passes in the early evening. Retire early to rest up for the next day's EMH!
In case you don't know how "child swap" passes work, you ask the CM (cast member) at the entrance to most rides for a child swap pass if you have a little one who does not meet the height requirement. The child and other adult must be present. You CAN get a child swap pass even when you are using a fast pass. The child swap pass is good for 2 people. They are very strict on that with RSR and some other rides. On other rides like Star Tours, they let you take as many kids as you want with you. On Luigi's they let my husband take 2 small kids with him since they would all fit in one tire anyway. Child Swap passes are the key to an enjoyable day for both kids and their parents! Using child swap and FPs and early morning strategies we had an awesome time!
World of Color:
A good show! During off season it is certainly not essential to get reserved areas by purchasing the picnic or eating at Wine Country or Carthay Circle; FPs are available for viewing areas ALL day long! BUT if you plan to eat at Carthay Circle anyway (we were), all you have to order is either a dessert or an appetizer with your entree to qualify for the reserved tickets. We did not have to order appetizer or desserts with the kids meals to qualify. DH and I split an appetizer and dessert and it was perfect. I was surprised to see the Wine Country reserved seating was closer than the Carthay Circle, but it was fine and we probably didn't get as wet (only a little mist.) Arrive 30 minutes early to get a seat on the stairs while you wait for the show to start. Everyone stands once the show starts.
Halloween Party:
It was fine, but not nearly as good as MNSSHP at WDW. We went on a Tuesday and it was the least busy day in DL in the morning that I had seen all week. A couple of hours before the party started it was packed! It was packed for the whole party. We didn't intend to do rides anyway. If you want pictures with the characters...do this FIRST! The only "special" one I saw was Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween costumes. The rest of the meet and greets I saw were for characters you could see in the park anytime with MUCH less waiting! These were disappointing. I thought we would see villians or rare characters like at MNSSHP.
The candy lines are long in the beginning of the night but less busy later. We still hit some of the less busy lines early since there wasn't much else to do. (The character lines were too long especially for what they were and my kids didn't want to go to the dance parties.) My kids likes collecting the candy even though we will never eat it all!
We sought out a spot near Small World for the parade. It started near there and wasn't nearly as crowded as Main Street. The parade was fine but again nothing special like MNSSHP. I had already expected that. Then we hot a few more candy trails, took the train around the park and returned to the Small World area for the fire works. Where was everybody? The place was deserted! I thought I must be misinformed about it being a good area to watch the fireworks. When it started I was not disappointed. This was the best part of the entire evening! It was a great place to watch fireworks...not even anybody's head in my way. There was a show to match the fireworks display on the Small World building too. What a gem of a secret this turned out to be! We then made our way out of the park slowly.
It was fine to do once. Seeing everyones costumes was neat. The fireworks were good. It just can't compare to MNSSHP at WDW.
Any other questions? Hope this helps someone.
Edited to add a few other comments...
RSR is not always open right away during EMH. (Because it breaks down a lot!) Once they didn't tell us until we were following Mater down the street at the entrance to Carsland. They wouldn't let anyone line up until it was running. DH decided to wait in the FP line while the rest of us rode Luigi's then headed to TSM.
Once they told us at the ticket booth at GCH that RSR would be delayed 30 minutes. We headed to TSM again only to find TSM wasn't open yet either! It took about 30 minutes for that to get up and running. It wasn't technical difficulties; they were just getting a late start probably since it's not slammed first thing in the morning anymore. Annoying. This morning it was just my oldest son and myself, so we didn't bother waiting for the RSR FPs. We went to RSR shortly after park opening and decided to try the single rider line. There wasn't a sole in it! We walked right on the ride. The disadvantage is you won't be seated together, but we actually were even in the same car (on in front and one in back.) I highly recommend single rider line if you don't mind being split up.
Don't be surprised if the ticket gates don't open up right at the stated EMH time. Several times we were waiting a few extra minutes or even longer. When we were at the GCH gate, we wondered if the main gate was let in on time, but it never was. They do synch up the opening at all gates even if they don't let you in on time. Again though, just annoying after waiting in line for 45 to 60 minutes already. Perhaps there is a reason I do not understand, but it just seems run poorly.
First of all, we are a family with 4 little kids (7, 6, 3, and 17 months.) These tips/discoveries will especially apply to similar families. We also were there in an off-season.
These first few are well known but can't be said enough...
EMH is well worth it. 7am EMH is less busy than 9am EMH even if the early time is on a weekend.
Arrive 45 minutes before opening to be one of the first in line at the security check point. After security, be sure to get in a line at the gate that specifically says Magic Morning at DL or has a green light at DCA.
If you're staying at GCH, the same timing applies for lining up at security. If you're not in line pretty early, you stand a better chance of getting in faster at the main gate of DCA. EMH at DCA is for onsite hotel guests only.
If heading for Radiator Springs Racers (and why wouldn't you) if you go left from the GCH entrance you will merge with the main crowds but still be a little faster if you're one of the first to enter. (If you go to the right from the GCH entrance it takes longer but there are no crowds. It only makes sense if you have someone with you who has a scooter and therefore difficulty getting through the crowd.) Stick to the far right especially as you enter down the street in Cars Land!!!
Get a child swap ticket from the cast member at the entrance of the RSR line. Then send one adult and small children to wait in the RSR FP line (or have them ride Toy Story Mania first then return to FP line before the main crowds are let in.) The other adult(s) and kids who are tall enough to ride RSR should ride right away. Afterward, ride Luigi's and Mater's if you desire, then head over to Paradise Pier and go on TSM until your heart is content. There will be no waiting until the the park officially opens. As soon as the park opens (or before if you're tired of TSM), go on Screamin', Mickey's Fun Wheel, and Goofy's. Then you'll still have time to go on Soarin' then Tower of Terror without much wait at all.
You can do everthing else at you leisure. Collect more FPs as your window opens up. Always get a child swap pass when you can.
Eat an early lunch. Take an afternoon nap/swim break. Return to the parks to use your FPs/child swap passes in the early evening. Retire early to rest up for the next day's EMH!
In case you don't know how "child swap" passes work, you ask the CM (cast member) at the entrance to most rides for a child swap pass if you have a little one who does not meet the height requirement. The child and other adult must be present. You CAN get a child swap pass even when you are using a fast pass. The child swap pass is good for 2 people. They are very strict on that with RSR and some other rides. On other rides like Star Tours, they let you take as many kids as you want with you. On Luigi's they let my husband take 2 small kids with him since they would all fit in one tire anyway. Child Swap passes are the key to an enjoyable day for both kids and their parents! Using child swap and FPs and early morning strategies we had an awesome time!
World of Color:
A good show! During off season it is certainly not essential to get reserved areas by purchasing the picnic or eating at Wine Country or Carthay Circle; FPs are available for viewing areas ALL day long! BUT if you plan to eat at Carthay Circle anyway (we were), all you have to order is either a dessert or an appetizer with your entree to qualify for the reserved tickets. We did not have to order appetizer or desserts with the kids meals to qualify. DH and I split an appetizer and dessert and it was perfect. I was surprised to see the Wine Country reserved seating was closer than the Carthay Circle, but it was fine and we probably didn't get as wet (only a little mist.) Arrive 30 minutes early to get a seat on the stairs while you wait for the show to start. Everyone stands once the show starts.
Halloween Party:
It was fine, but not nearly as good as MNSSHP at WDW. We went on a Tuesday and it was the least busy day in DL in the morning that I had seen all week. A couple of hours before the party started it was packed! It was packed for the whole party. We didn't intend to do rides anyway. If you want pictures with the characters...do this FIRST! The only "special" one I saw was Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween costumes. The rest of the meet and greets I saw were for characters you could see in the park anytime with MUCH less waiting! These were disappointing. I thought we would see villians or rare characters like at MNSSHP.
The candy lines are long in the beginning of the night but less busy later. We still hit some of the less busy lines early since there wasn't much else to do. (The character lines were too long especially for what they were and my kids didn't want to go to the dance parties.) My kids likes collecting the candy even though we will never eat it all!
We sought out a spot near Small World for the parade. It started near there and wasn't nearly as crowded as Main Street. The parade was fine but again nothing special like MNSSHP. I had already expected that. Then we hot a few more candy trails, took the train around the park and returned to the Small World area for the fire works. Where was everybody? The place was deserted! I thought I must be misinformed about it being a good area to watch the fireworks. When it started I was not disappointed. This was the best part of the entire evening! It was a great place to watch fireworks...not even anybody's head in my way. There was a show to match the fireworks display on the Small World building too. What a gem of a secret this turned out to be! We then made our way out of the park slowly.
It was fine to do once. Seeing everyones costumes was neat. The fireworks were good. It just can't compare to MNSSHP at WDW.
Any other questions? Hope this helps someone.
Edited to add a few other comments...
RSR is not always open right away during EMH. (Because it breaks down a lot!) Once they didn't tell us until we were following Mater down the street at the entrance to Carsland. They wouldn't let anyone line up until it was running. DH decided to wait in the FP line while the rest of us rode Luigi's then headed to TSM.
Once they told us at the ticket booth at GCH that RSR would be delayed 30 minutes. We headed to TSM again only to find TSM wasn't open yet either! It took about 30 minutes for that to get up and running. It wasn't technical difficulties; they were just getting a late start probably since it's not slammed first thing in the morning anymore. Annoying. This morning it was just my oldest son and myself, so we didn't bother waiting for the RSR FPs. We went to RSR shortly after park opening and decided to try the single rider line. There wasn't a sole in it! We walked right on the ride. The disadvantage is you won't be seated together, but we actually were even in the same car (on in front and one in back.) I highly recommend single rider line if you don't mind being split up.
Don't be surprised if the ticket gates don't open up right at the stated EMH time. Several times we were waiting a few extra minutes or even longer. When we were at the GCH gate, we wondered if the main gate was let in on time, but it never was. They do synch up the opening at all gates even if they don't let you in on time. Again though, just annoying after waiting in line for 45 to 60 minutes already. Perhaps there is a reason I do not understand, but it just seems run poorly.
