Just got back-10 useful random tips

[travispete]

1. Maxpass is the greatest thing ever. Make sure you pay the extra money for it. It is so worth it. Smart strategies to game it as well by grabbing another FP immediately after the window opens for an attraction with a window that is just a few minutes away, then grab another one for a more difficult attraction like RSR or TSMM.

2. If you are staying off property, uber to Grand Californian Hotel and its entrance or DD using monorail.

3. Grizzly River Run is our new favorite ride, but can get a little wet so dont sit near the openings on the boats.

4. Those lemon ice cream pixar parfaits that everyone waits in line for are yucky!

5. Try to pilot the Riverboat. My DD got to and it was amazing to watch her "steer" the boat. (Cool view of Galaxy's Edge too)

6. The grilled cheese tomato soup combo at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe is real great!

7. Maybe I am paranoid, but I used an external photopass to link my pics each time to maxpass because on 2 occasions, the maxpass scan didn't show up

8. Front row on Big Thunder actually was not as good as middle or back because it creeps over the drops to "wait" for other cars behind.

9. Front row is a must for Soarin. But try not to be first in the line or you get an end.

10. Star Tours really seems to have upped the quality of the movies. Really better than I remembered from last year.

Have fun!

 

[blackjackdelta]

On soarin you can just ask the CM if you can wait for row 1, always works for us.

Jack

 

[deedubb]

I would echo your comments on MaxPass. I would never go to DLR without it. We had some time to kill before our next FP so we hopped into a stand-by line with a short wait but while in the queue, I found out we could get another FP and there was one available for the ride we were waiting for so we got out of line and basically got right onto the ride with the FP. We also did Buzz 6 times in a row with MaxPass with no wait in-between each ride. The fact that PhotoPass is included makes it a bargain.

We got absolutely soaked on River Run as we got hit by the geyser. It was a blast. It is definitely somewhere in my top 5 rides.

Last row is the most fun for Big Thunder. This ride seems better at DLR than WDW.

I would add one: Go for the Fantasmic Dining Package. Getting a front row seat and actually being able to sit for the whole show is priceless. We did River Belle one day and Blue Bayou another. Go for the latter as the food is better and the seating pad they give you is much better than sitting on cement. The only con is you have to carry the pads around so if you are not staying close to the park, it can be a bit of a nuisance.

 

[figment_jii]

Great tips!

2. If you are staying off property, uber to Grand Californian Hotel and its entrance or DD using monorail.

Just a caveat on this one, there have been reports that only registered guests at the GCH can use their entrance into DCA in the morning (I don't know when that restriction ends).

3. Grizzly River Run is our new favorite ride, but can get a little wet so dont sit near the openings on the boats.

Only a little wet? Whenever I rode GRR, I ended up soaked! You are soooo lucky to only get a little wet!

8. Front row on Big Thunder actually was not as good as middle or back because it creeps over the drops to "wait" for other cars behind.

I've found this to be generally true for most all of the coasters in DLR, but it's really pronounced for BTMRR. The middle-back is more intense than the front. The only exception is Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, where some of the effects seemed timed to the front of the car so the back car doesn't see as much (in terms of the ride, the back is still more intense).

 

[travispete]

On soarin you can just ask the CM if you can wait for row 1, always works for us.

Jack

I always did ask for Row 1, but then I usually end up starting the line in row 1 for the next flight and hence, the end of the row. Still fun though. I really wish they would have alternating films for that ride, like Star Tours. Oh well!

 

[travispete]

I would echo your comments on MaxPass. I would never go to DLR without it. We had some time to kill before our next FP so we hopped into a stand-by line with a short wait but while in the queue, I found out we could get another FP and there was one available for the ride we were waiting for so we got out of line and basically got right onto the ride with the FP. We also did Buzz 6 times in a row with MaxPass with no wait in-between each ride. The fact that PhotoPass is included makes it a bargain.

We got absolutely soaked on River Run as we got hit by the geyser. It was a blast. It is definitely somewhere in my top 5 rides.

Last row is the most fun for Big Thunder. This ride seems better at DLR than WDW.

I would add one: Go for the Fantasmic Dining Package. Getting a front row seat and actually being able to sit for the whole show is priceless. We did River Belle one day and Blue Bayou another. Go for the latter as the food is better and the seating pad they give you is much better than sitting on cement. The only con is you have to carry the pads around so if you are not staying close to the park, it can be a bit of a nuisance.

Missed Fantasmic...bummer. Oh well, there is a next time I am sure. Thanks for that tip.

 

[deedubb]

Just a caveat on this one, there have been reports that only registered guests at the GCH can use their entrance into DCA in the morning (I don't know when that restriction ends).

Definitely true for EMH, but most of the people that are there for EMH are on-site guests anyway. They ask to see your hotel key before letting you use that entrance. Not sure if you can use that entrance if you are staying at one of the other on-site hotels as we were staying at the Grand.

Missed Fantasmic...bummer. Oh well, there is a next time I am sure. Thanks for that tip.

The other thing about Fantasmic is you can watch the fireworks from the same location right after the show. They do the same castle projections on the water. It's actually quite a good view of the fireworks without having to camp out and fight for a spot on Main St.

 

[chickapin parterre]

r Run is our new favorite ride, but can get a little wet so dont sit near the openings on the boats

.....and this is how Disneyland myths become legend....there are no safe seats on GRR....you will get wet....unless you are lucky and rotate that one seat to miss all the water....but hey....who wants to be a rotisserie chicken on a fantastic ride that has signs....YOU WILL BE BASTED!!!! This why they have lockers when you enter and a store that sells socks when you leave. So expensive where the socks for my 8 year old son.....13 years later I still have them in my treasure chest.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Those lemon ice cream pixar parfaits that everyone waits in line for are yucky!

yeah....back in the old days it was the same way with the Bengal BBQ asparagus skewers.....that was a long line for something yucky

 

[midnight star]

We got absolutely soaked on River Run as we got hit by the geyser. It was a blast. It is definitely somewhere in my top 5 rides.

When I did Grizzly a few years back I was sitting next to the opening and we got hit by the geyser..needless to say, I was so drenched that I had to go to the bathroom to ring out my clothes lol It's really fun but you really have to want to get wet with that ride.

 

[Winnowill]

yeah....back in the old days it was the same way with the Bengal BBQ asparagus skewers.....that was a long line for something yucky

I LOVE the asparagus skewers!

 

[LizzyS]

We did GRR on a day that it was raining hard a few years back, thinking "we're already pretty wet, why not?". Well, we got a WHOLE LOT more wet, so. Watch out with that one, haha.

 

[maltdizzy]

. Front row on Big Thunder actually was not as good as middle or back because it creeps over the drops to "wait" for other cars behind.

That can be said about just the about every non-launch coasters. The front car is always part way down the drop before momentum kicks in.

 

[WingedMuffin]

Great tips. Is a Max Pass needed for slower days? I’m going week after thanksgiving and is it packed who’s it as a great time to go

 

[Malcon10t]

Great tips!


Just a caveat on this one, there have been reports that only registered guests at the GCH can use their entrance into DCA in the morning (I don't know when that restriction ends).

Last trip (beginning of Aug) we saw at least 5 cars being turned away (uber) and not allowed to drop off at the Grand because they weren't on the room list or reservations list.

And several in our group like the lemon/blueberry drink at the Adorable Snowman, but I won't wait in the line. We wait til we have a tour and have the guide do pick up for us.

 

[kirstie101]

1.
3. Grizzly River Run is our new favorite ride, but can get a little wet so dont sit near the openings on the boats.

4. Those lemon ice cream pixar parfaits that everyone waits in line for are yucky!

Have fun!

oooh I love the lemon parfait on the pier! But lemon anything is usually my favorite!

Yes I usually try to avoid the opening on the raft on GRR but you can add us to the list who got hit by a gyser and ended up soaked no matter where we were sitting!

 

[lindyv321]

7. Maybe I am paranoid, but I used an external photopass to link my pics each time to maxpass because on 2 occasions, the maxpass scan didn't show up

Can you explain what you mean by this?? I have had the same issue with pictures not showing up.

 

[lalasmama]

I always did ask for Row 1, but then I usually end up starting the line in row 1 for the next flight and hence, the end of the row. Still fun though. I really wish they would have alternating films for that ride, like Star Tours. Oh well!

"Can I please have B1, and in the middle? I'm totally willing to wait a ride cycle!" Easy peasy, and have yet to ever be denied.

 

[rentayenta]

We are local and MaxPass is the best thing ever!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

You can use the grand entrance to DCA in the AM ONLY if you are staying at the grand. One time we were at DCA and I went to white water to get a coffee or something, then tried to come back and and they refused. I was an AP holder staying at PPH.