Looking for DCA experts

[Whistlebee]

Hi everyone! I'm trying to help a friend make a touring plan for next Saturday June 22 (also a grad night). They are going to DCA only and will likely be entering DCA at 10am. They'll be leaving around 3am driving down from NorCal. They'll park at their hotel (Desert Palms) and then head into DCA. I think this is crazy but due to their work schedules this is what they are doing. It's a family trip of 6 people. They did this same trip last year but went to Disneyland only. With no knowledge of the parks and a 10am arrival time they (of course) were only able to go on a few rides. I consider myself a Disneyland/DCA expert BUT we always rope drop or at least have multiple days to cover everything. Also, I've never been on a grad night. I was looking for help with the order they should go on rides with a 10am arrival. I think they want to take an afternoon break back at their hotel too to check-in and get their luggage settled and rest a little. Here are the attractions they'd like to do:

Incredicoaster
RSR
Grizzly River Run
Silly Symphony Swings
Pixar Pal a Round
The Little Mermaid
GOTG
Soarin'

Mariachi Divas
Tale of a Lion King
WOC

My thoughts are to have them generally plan for this order (knowing rides go down, etc)

-Fastpass Soarin' on arrival
-Pull WOC FP
-Ride Incredicoaster stand-by
-Pixar Pal-a-Round
-The Little Mermaid
-Pull RSR fastpass
-Ride Soarin' with Fastpass
-Grizzly River Run Stand-by
-Silly Symphony Swings
-Pull GOTG fastpass when window opens
-Ride RSR with Fastpass
-Ride GOTG with Fastpass

The main problems I see with my plan is it will likely be evening by the time they can ride GOTG and RSR with Fastpasses. That will make it hard for them to ride either of these twice if they end up wanting too. With it being a Grad Nite I assume both of these rides will be pretty busy by evening time too. Any and all opinions welcome. I will tell them about Single Rider but I think they'd be more interested in using that as an option to get a 2nd ride in. Do you think Maxpass is worth it with their short day? I personally love Maxpass but I know they are on a budget. They've never even used Fastpass before because they thought you had to pay for it! I'm hoping with a little help they'll have a much better trip this time.

Tale of a Lion King and Mariachi Divas are both listed as being at Paradise Gardens Park. Is that the cement seating area for WOC or is that the little band area by Paradise Garden Grill?

Thank You!

 

[pharmama]

The last grad night of 2019 was this past Friday, June 14. No grad night on June 22nd.

Your schedule looks pretty good with the caveat to watch FP return times in the app so they don't miss their chance on RSR. I think they'll be OK but they should keep an eye on it. I also think they'll be OK without MP if the budget is tight. I love MP and it does provide a LOT more flexibility but it does add up fast for a party of 6.

The new Lion King show is on a stage in the viewing area for WoC. It lists the same location name for Mariachi Divas but I thought they were usually at the Paradise Garden Bandstand (by the Grill). Even though it says "Park" for them it does show the pin on the map as being the bandstand (and shows it in the WoC viewing area for Lion King). The times for the Mariachi Divas also match the times it says there will be entertainment at the bandstand so I'm pretty sure they're at the bandstand. Their 2pm show also seems like it would be too close timewise to the 2:50pm Lion King show for it to be in the same place.

 

[Whistlebee]

Thanks for the reply! So happy to hear that it won’t be a Grad Nite! I looked it up but obviously I was wrong. Yay!

Thank you for the clarification on the locations for Lion King show and the Mariachi Divas too. I appreciate it!

If anyone else has any other ideas or has a plan of getting on RSR and GOTG more towards the beginning of their day please let me know. I based my plan on them using paper FASTPASS. Maybe if they get Maxpass, it’d be easier to get those rides in earlier.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I’d look at Disneyland daily’s dca only suggested schedule.

 

[Whistlebee]

I’d look at Disneyland daily’s dca only suggested schedule.

I love her website, especially for people who aren’t as familiar with DL/DCA. I sent my friend to her website to study up, lol. I know her plans recommend getting to DCA prior to opening but my friends won’t make it until a couple of hours after park opening. That’s why I’m double checking with the experts on here too

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I love her website, especially for people who aren’t as familiar with DL/DCA. I sent my friend to her website to study up, lol. I know her plans recommend getting to DCA prior to opening but my friends won’t make it until a couple of hours after park opening. That’s why I’m double checking with the experts on here too

If they don’t mind splitting up they can do RSR single rider. If they arrive at 10 am the fast pass return time will be later in the day unless it’s exceptionally slow. On busy days I’ve seen fast passes run out entirely by 11am. I often arrive around 9am and get a return sometime between 2 and 4ish.

The problem too is if they show up at 10 and get their first fast pass for RSR, they can’t get another FP for two hours (using paper fast passes: 90 minute for MaxPass). So they won’t be able to collect or use other fast passes until noon, which really slows things down.

Toy Story Midway Mania fast passes go quickly too, and Grizzly River Rapids can go fast on hot days.

With them arriving at that time of day I think MaxPass would be their friend, especially if the parks are busy.

 

[Lesley Wake]

I think Maxpass will be especially helpful because they won’t need to take the time to get more familiar with the park layout just to pull a FP. Ie-they won’t need to know to walk to Location A to get a FP, then go to Location B for a ride, eventually to Location C for another FP, and then back to Location A to ride (etc).

 

[Whistlebee]

If they don’t mind splitting up they can do RSR single rider. If they arrive at 10 am the fast pass return time will be later in the day unless it’s exceptionally slow. On busy days I’ve seen fast passes run out entirely by 11am. I often arrive around 9am and get a return sometime between 2 and 4ish.

The problem too is if they show up at 10 and get their first fast pass for RSR, they can’t get another FP for two hours (using paper fast passes: 90 minute for MaxPass). So they won’t be able to collect or use other fast passes until noon, which really slows things down.

Toy Story Midway Mania fast passes go quickly too, and Grizzly River Rapids can go fast on hot days.

With them arriving at that time of day I think MaxPass would be their friend, especially if the parks are busy.

I know everything depends on that particular park day but looking at FP times yesterday and today RSR lasted until around 1. I know I can’t count on that for next week but I’m guessing this weekend and next weekend could have similar crowd patterns. It seems like RSR FP’s have been lasting a little longer since GE opened. I’m so happy my friends are going while the reservation system is still in place!

I’m really hoping they can arrive closer to 9:30, I think even that extra 30 minutes will help a lot. My friend says she’s trying to make her family leave at 1 or 2am but I just don’t think that’s a good idea either! Who can get up at 1 am drive for 5.5 hours and then do 10 hours at DCA?!?!?

 

[Whistlebee]

I think Maxpass will be especially helpful because they won’t need to take the time to get more familiar with the park layout just to pull a FP. Ie-they won’t need to know to walk to Location A to get a FP, then go to Location B for a ride, eventually to Location C for another FP, and then back to Location A to ride (etc).

Excellent point. She has no idea where anything even is. They are completely new to DCA. She wasn’t familiar with any of the rides or anything. She made it sound like Maxpass might be a possibility. I know it will make their day so much more relaxing if they can swing it! They got a great deal on their hotel room so maybe they could put the savings towards Maxpass.

 

[Whistlebee]

If they don’t mind splitting up they can do RSR single rider. If they arrive at 10 am the fast pass return time will be later in the day unless it’s exceptionally slow. On busy days I’ve seen fast passes run out entirely by 11am. I often arrive around 9am and get a return sometime between 2 and 4ish.

I’ll talk to her about single rider. She is going with her husband’s parents and his 2 teenage siblings. It’d be fun for them to all ride as a family but I know RSR and a 10am arrival is difficult to manage.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

My friend says she’s trying to make her family leave at 1 or 2am but I just don’t think that’s a good idea either! Who can get up at 1 am drive for 5.5 hours and then do 10 hours at DCA?!?!?

It sounds horrible honestly! I hope they are not turning around and driving home after their day at DCA, that sounds downright dangerous.

 

[Whistlebee]

It sounds horrible honestly! I hope they are not turning around and driving home after their day at DCA, that sounds downright dangerous.

Right?!?? Thankfully, they are staying at a hotel after their DCA day.

 

[twodogs]

Remember that if they get MP, they can pick up cancelled FPs. So even when the system is "out for the day", they still have a chance to pick up a RSR or whatever FP. Just keep refreshing the app. A lot pops up that way. So I don't think a mid day arrival is a reason NOT to get MP, in fact, I think it is a reason TO get MP. It is more valuable because of picking up cancellations.

 

[sjmac42]

The problem too is if they show up at 10 and get their first fast pass for RSR, they can’t get another FP for two hours (using paper fast passes: 90 minute for MaxPass). So they won’t be able to collect or use other fast passes until noon, which really slows things down.

That was my thought too. I’d tell them to keep an eye of the FP availability for RSR on their way down in the car and when they arrive and only get one when the return times start showing a couple of hours before closing. This way you don’t block the whole morning with 1 fastpass and can stack other fastpasses throughout the morning or ride standby for the shorter lines.
All the best.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Tell them that if they see any FP cancellations that they want, to grab them PRONTO or else someone else will! No time to bother debating about whether they want them or not -- just grab them! They can always throw them back in the pool if they decide later that they don't want them.

 

[NorthernCalMom]

Remember that if they get MP, they can pick up cancelled FPs. So even when the system is "out for the day", they still have a chance to pick up a RSR or whatever FP. Just keep refreshing the app. A lot pops up that way. So I don't think a mid day arrival is a reason NOT to get MP, in fact, I think it is a reason TO get MP. It is more valuable because of picking up cancellations.

Also, keep in mind that Maxpass gives them shorter turnaround times until getting the next FP (90 mins instead of 2hrs). That plus less running around to pull FPs could really add up time wise.

 

[Rich M]

I am doing the exact same thing as your friends. Leaving at 3 AM on Saturday and driving down from Northern California also. We are a family of 7. I am hoping they all sleep while I drive. I make one stop in Lost Hills. I think your plan is great but I know I am planning a nap after my Star Wars reservation at 11 AM.

 

[Jack & Monica]

I just returned from a week's stay at Disneyland Resort. We went to the parks Monday through Friday. The park attendance was veeeeeery low for Monday thru Thursday with the first grad night being Friday. That Friday the crowd seemed heavier in DL than at CA. One can never be completely sure but I think the 22nd may be still be a very good crowd day because the reservation system for Star Wars GE is still in effect. This is keeping the crowds away. LOL, it will be loony toons time a short while after (the 23rd) when they open up GE with no reservations. If you can use max pass, do so. Your plan sounds good --- know that you will get wet on the grizzly river rapids ride.

 

[Indiana Scott]

We left the Seattle area one time at 1:00 AM and arived in the resort area about 7:00 PM the next evening.
So I say more power to them!!!
(Just do it while you still young. At 50 something, I was wiped)

 

[Whistlebee]

I am doing the exact same thing as your friends. Leaving at 3 AM on Saturday and driving down from Northern California also. We are a family of 7. I am hoping they all sleep while I drive. I make one stop in Lost Hills. I think your plan is great but I know I am planning a nap after my Star Wars reservation at 11 AM.

She told me they all sleep except for her father-in-law. I’m sure he’ll need a nap too!