Looking for advice

[RichardG]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I will be spending 1 day in Disneyland in October (14th) and we are looking for any advice that could help us enjoy both parks. We are WDW veterans but this will be my wife's first visit to Disneyland and my 2nd visit (1 day in 1991).

We will most likely try to do the attractions that you can't find in WDW and we are thinking of spending a 2-3 hours in DCA.

We plan on doing:
Space mountain, Buzz, Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Alice, Small World, Toad, Pinnochio, Roger Rabbit, Haunted mansion, Pirates, Splash, Big thunder and Maybe Finding Nemo

in DCA:
California Screamin, Monters Inc, Aladdin musical and maybe Grizzly river run and mullholland madness

Is it doable ?

Any advice is welcomed

Thank you
Richard

 

[HydroGuy]

Aladdin only shows Thursday-Sunday so you will not be able to see that on the 14th which is a Wednesday. Which is a bummer because it is so good.

If you get an early start (at the gates 30 minutes early) and you use FP and you do the rides in the right order you should have no problem.

You may want to get RideMax www.ridemax.com to help you create an itinerary or at least get an idea of traffic patterns.

If it was me trying to do what you want to do I would hop to DCA at around noon, grab a FP for GRR first thing, and then do your other DCA objectives. You should be able to get back to DL in a couple hours and continue with your day.

Have a magical day!

 

[RichardG]

Thank you for the advice HydroGuy,

Any idea on which attractions we should do first ?

Thanks
Richard

 

[HydroGuy]

Thank you for the advice HydroGuy,

Any idea on which attractions we should do first ?

Thanks
Richard

Ohhh, a challenge. I am feeling up to it. Usually when I go the parks are more crowded and open at 8AM. The crowds should be less this day so I personally would rely a little more on RideMax because this is not within my recent experience.

With that said, here is how I would do your ride list. As I said, RideMax can do this for you too and probably better than I can.

DL opens at 9AM. I would be at the security line at 8:30.

1. Get Space Mtn FP at 9:05AM
2. Alice
3. Matterhorn
4. Toad
5. Pinnocchio
6. Buzz
7. Get Indy FP at around 9:50AM
8. POTC
9. HM
10. Get Splash FP at around 10:45AM

Note, I would peek at Splash before riding HM. If the line is shorter I would ride Splash thru standby and get a FP for HM instead. In other words switch 9 and 10 above.

11. Use Indy FP
12. Get Roger Rabbit FP
13. IASW
14. Use Space FP
15. Get BTMRR FP around Noon
16. Use Splash FP (or HM FP if that is what you got)


Head to DCA at around 12:30

17. Get GRR FP at around 12:45
18. Get some lunch - Taste Pilots Grill
19. Mulholland Madness
20. California Screamin
21. Monsters Inc
22. Use GRR FP

It is now about 4PM. Time to head back to DL

23. Grab another FP for something - Buzz or BTMRR should still be available. Maybe HM?
24. use BTMRR FP
25. use Roger Rabbit FP
26. Ride Nemo - wait is probably 30-40 minutes

Done by 6:00. Time for dinner at Redd Rockett's Pizza Port.

Of course I am not suggesting you do this exactly but it at least gives you a starting point!

 

[RichardG]

Wow !

Great plan HydroGuy.

We will try this plan and I will let you know if you passed the challenge

Thanks for providing places to eat.

Question:

If the park closes at 9hpm, could there be a fireworks show ? I know that Fantasmic isn't showing that night but fireworks ?

Thanks again
Richard

 

[disneynerd420]

WOW Hydroguy... I have to say that is really impressive. I know you give awesome advice for park touring, but I did not realize that you are a living breathing ridemax. That is pretty cool...

Any way, in regards to the fireworks... YES! They are appearing nightly during the halloween season.

 

[HydroGuy]

WOW Hydroguy... I have to say that is really impressive. I know you give awesome advice for park touring, but I did not realize that you are a living breathing ridemax. That is pretty cool...

Any way, in regards to the fireworks... YES! They are appearing nightly during the halloween season.

I usually avoid threads where people ask for itinerary help. This time I felt in the mood.

For grins, after I wrote the post, I ran it through RideMax. There were a lot of similarities FWIW. RM also convinced me it could be done by about 6PM like I thought.

 

[RichardG]

Thank you all for your help.

HydroGuy, I appreciate you took some time for the itinerary. I'll let you know how it went.

Thank you
Richard

 

[Hound 109]

I like challenges too!!

Obviously HG is THE guru & ridemax provides excellent data (although i prefer HG's FP pickup strategy to anything that ridemax recommends). But I'll offer a couple of differing opinions to HG's plan (which pretty much resembles what i recommend )

Ohhh, a challenge. I am feeling up to it. Usually when I go the parks are more crowded and open at 8AM. The crowds should be less this day so I personally would rely a little more on RideMax because this is not within my recent experience.

With that said, here is how I would do your ride list. As I said, RideMax can do this for you too and probably better than I can.

DL opens at 9AM. I would be at the security line at 8:30.

I'd be at the security line at 8:20 so you can be first (or almost first) at the turnstile.

1. Get Space Mtn FP at 9:05AM
2. Alice
3. Matterhorn
4. Toad
5. Pinnocchio
6. Buzz

But if it's time to get your second FP, skip Buzz for now & go nab a FP at Indy.

7. Get Indy FP at around 9:50AM
8. POTC
9. HM
10. Get Splash FP at around 10:45AM

This is where i differ slightly from HG. When i visited last mid October (see my trip report linked in my signature)...on a Thursday....Holiday HM was packed from 10am on. I would do:

- pickup Indy FP at 9:50am
- HMH (if the line is 15 min. or less)
- Splash
- a cookie at Pooh Corner
- Pirates &/or BTMRR if BTMRR is less than 10 minutes.
- Then pick up HMH FP at 10:50am (if it was packed 9:55am & you weren't able to ride then...or even if you rode it then, maybe you want to ride it again, so pick up a FP now .

Note, I would peek at Splash before riding HM. If the line is shorter I would ride Splash thru standby and get a FP for HM instead. In other words switch 9 and 10 above.

11. Use Indy FP
12. Get Roger Rabbit FP

or ride it if under 10 min. which it might be.

13. IASW

HG is Storybookland still closed for refurb?

& if you want a quiet lunch/snack & like sausages...the sausage place at Princess Fantasy Fair is across from IASW

14. Use Space FP
15. Get BTMRR FP around Noon
16. Use Splash FP (or HM FP if that is what you got)


Head to DCA at around 12:30

17. Get GRR FP at around 12:45
18. Get some lunch - Taste Pilots Grill or the Wine Country Trat
19. Mulholland Madness
20. California Screamin

If there's a long line at Screamin'....definitely do single rider....it's not like you can talk on the ride anyway.

& when walking back from Screamin' to Monsters, slip into Flik's Bugs land for a look. It's cute & if there isn't a line for Heimlich's Chew Chew train, hop on....it's a hoot.


21. Monsters Inc
22. Use GRR FP

It is now about 4PM. Time to head back to DL

23. Grab another FP for something - Buzz or BTMRR should still be available. Maybe HM?
24. use BTMRR FP
25. use Roger Rabbit FP
26. Ride Nemo - wait is probably 30-40 minutes

Done by 6:00. Time for dinner at Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. Or Rancho del Zocollo

Of course I am not suggesting you do this exactly but it at least gives you a starting point!

Richard....thanks for posting this request.....many of us frequent readers like to see how the mind of the HG works.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[HydroGuy]

I like challenges too!!

Obviously HG is THE guru & ridemax provides excellent data (although i prefer HG's FP pickup strategy to anything that ridemax recommends). But I'll offer a couple of differing opinions to HG's plan (which pretty much resembles what i recommend )



Richard....thanks for posting this request.....many of us frequent readers like to see how the mind of the HG works.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

I would listen to Hound's advice here especially because he was there last October and knows his stuff.

 

[Hound 109]

I would listen to Hound's advice here especially because he was there last October and knows his stuff.

HG, after the FL attractions & picking up Indy (which of course we agree on), I would suspect you & I would be alike when venturing to the "left side" of the park....the Pirates / HMH / Splash / BTMRR quartet are so close together (& all are great attractions) & various factors could affect the lines at each.

Factors might include a delayed ride opening or a temp. closure (which could affect any of them)....cool weather (which would affect Splash)....or crowds (which would affect BTMRR & HMH).

We'd both have a plan.... but we would both change on the fly, knowing that any of those factors could alter "the plan".

Only reason i posted at all, was that when we visited in mid Oct. last year,... on that early morning, HMH started getting crowded more quickly than on any of our other visits....& Splash's line was short enough for us to go standby. Maybe it was a fluke....but i didn't want the OP to get to HMH & encounter a 60 min. wait w/o having a backup plan.

(but i don't have ridemax live anymore, so maybe my data isn't "up to date")


& does anyone know if Storybookland is closed for Richard's visit? If not, I'd definitely add it (maybe twice....once after IASW & once at night).

 

[S. S. Columbia]

... does anyone know if Storybookland is closed for Richard's visit? ...

Storybook Land Canal Boats will be down during Richard's visit.

SLCB (and Casey Jr. Circus Train) will be down until November 19.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/8982/Disneyland_Resort_Update#Rehabs

 

[HydroGuy]

HG, after the FL attractions & picking up Indy (which of course we agree on), I would suspect you & I would be alike when venturing to the "left side" of the park....the Pirates / HMH / Splash / BTMRR quartet are so close together (& all are great attractions) & various factors could affect the lines at each.

Factors might include a delayed ride opening or a temp. closure (which could affect any of them)....cool weather (which would affect Splash)....or crowds (which would affect BTMRR & HMH).

We'd both have a plan.... but we would both change on the fly, knowing that any of those factors could alter "the plan".

Only reason i posted at all, was that when we visited in mid Oct. last year,... on that early morning, HMH started getting crowded more quickly than on any of our other visits....& Splash's line was short enough for us to go standby. Maybe it was a fluke....but i didn't want the OP to get to HMH & encounter a 60 min. wait w/o having a backup plan.

(but i don't have ridemax live anymore, so maybe my data isn't "up to date")


& does anyone know if Storybookland is closed for Richard's visit? If not, I'd definitely add it (maybe twice....once after IASW & once at night).

I do not have a good feel for HMH or HMH FP. The two times I have visited with HMH was Thanksgiving week and HMH was not that busy and FPs seemed plentiful - sort of like BTMRR. That is why I hedged on HMH in my first post here. Plus I do not really like HMH unlike IASWH which I do like. But that is for another thread.

So I agree a lot would depend on what is happening that day and I would play it by ear and peek at Splash before riding HM. If it is a colder day the Splash line will be shorter. And if HMH is popular that day its FPs may be in higher demand than Splash.

 

[RichardG]

Cool ! I like the interaction !

You both have great plans and I will use them during my visit. We will also go in with an open mind and open eyes...We will be "proactive" and make sure we don't loose too much time waiting, we only have that day to visit the parks. But the cool thing about your plans is that we should be able to finish everything around 6hpm and the park closes at 9hpm, so we have an extra 3 hours to get on rides like the monorail and maybe visit with Mickey (well 2.5h because we want to see the fireworks).

It's a bummer that the Storybook canal is closed during our trip, I remember riding it in 1991 and thought it was fun.

How's Nemo ? I see it as a mixture of 20000 leagues under the sea and the Living seas ride in WDW. Is it worth it ?

Hound 109, How were the crowds during that October trip ?

Thanks
Richard

 

[HydroGuy]

But the cool thing about your plans is that we should be able to finish everything around 6hpm and the park closes at 9hpm, so we have an extra 3 hours to get on rides like the monorail and maybe visit with Mickey (well 2.5h because we want to see the fireworks).

Since you can use your FASTPASSes any time of day after their window, then I would use your FP rides at DL as a hedge. What that means is that if a ride is down or you are running late in trying to get to DCA by mid-day then skip riding Indy, Space Mtn, or whatever, go to DCA, and then ride these FP rides after DCA rather than before. That gives you some flexbility.

How's Nemo ? I see it as a mixture of 20000 leagues under the sea and the Living seas ride in WDW. Is it worth it ?

After $150 million many of us were hoping for more from Nemo subs. It is nothing like Living Seas at WDW and really nothing like 20000 leagues anymore. It is a low capacity ride which is cool but not that cool. Most of us put it as a low priority and ride it if we have time. It is worth doing at least once. So do not skip it casually. But if you are running late and have to cut something out many of us would say that should be Nemo.

 

[RichardG]

Ok, so if I have to skip one ride, Nemo will be that ride.

Are there any other rides from either park, besides the ones I already mentionned, that I should absolutely add to our schedule ?

Thanks
Richard

 

[HydroGuy]

Ok, so if I have to skip one ride, Nemo will be that ride.

Are there any other rides from either park, besides the ones I already mentionned, that I should absolutely add to our schedule ?

Thanks
Richard

I think you have things covered pretty well and will have a full day. Here are some things to consider adding:

1. Tiki Room at DL - original and not under new management
2. Jungle Cruise - only if you have extra time
3. Matterhorn - if you have time, there are two tracks - one on the "Fantasyland side" and one on the "Tomorrowland side". So you can do the opposite track later in the day than you did in the morning.
4. Columbia Sailing Ship - closes at dusk

and

5. Storybookland Canal Boats are closed as noted earlier but if anyone else reads this thread I would strongly suggest this ride for a WDW vet if it is open

 

[disneymum58]

We will be there Oct. 14 as well. I understand the FP procedure fairly well but also aren't quite sure what order to get my FP. I think we will go get SM FP at park opening, then I wasn't sure if we should get the HMH or IJ FP next. If HMH has a return time of more than two hours when we get it, then I will have to wait 2 hours to get my IJ FP. Usually the times to get new FP would be shorter than two hours that early in the morning. So if that wasn't too confusing, which would you get after SM, HMH or IJ?

 

[HydroGuy]

We will be there Oct. 14 as well. I understand the FP procedure fairly well but also aren't quite sure what order to get my FP. I think we will go get SM FP at park opening, then I wasn't sure if we should get the HMH or IJ FP next. If HMH has a return time of more than two hours when we get it, then I will have to wait 2 hours to get my IJ FP. Usually the times to get new FP would be shorter than two hours that early in the morning. So if that wasn't too confusing, which would you get after SM, HMH or IJ?

Personally I would get IJA because I know that will be in demand and it is closer to park center and hence easier to get. The FP return times will be 45 minutes apart for the first 1-2 hours of the day so you should be able to get Space at 9AM, IJA at 9:45 and then HMH at 10:30 if you focus.

 

[kelmac284]

What about California Screamin?

Did he have that on his list? That is not at DW and it is a blast IMO! Just sayin!