morning plans for CA? RSR and Anna/Elsa?

[riostoker]

So... this is my first time going to DLR, and I think we'll likely just have one day at CA, so I feel like I need to plan the morning properly. There will be 5 of us - 2 adults, 3 kids. We will plan to arrive before rope drop.

How do I manage to do RSR and Anna/Elsa? Do we go get RSR FP first and then go grab Anna/Elsa FP? Or do I send my husband with all the tickets to get RSR FP while the girls and I stand in line to see Anna/Elsa (is there a line? Or is it all done by FP?)?

Also, how is the best way to get RSR FP for riding at night too? Just keep checking back at the return time?

I don't mind splitting up at all... we often did that at WDW - make my husband the FP runner... just trying to figure out how best to make it all work, not knowing how the park is laid out or where things are or what makes the most sense!

Thanks!
Ann

 

[dedwards]

You can send Husband to RSR for Fastpasses while you wait in the A&E Fastpass line if you get to the front before husband gets back you can just stand off to the side and not loose your place. Likely he will be back before you get to the front anyway.

To ride RSR at night either wait for the fast pass for about a hour, or single rider line is a good way to do it at night as well if kids are 7 and up.

 

[agamble]

What month are you going and how old are your kids?

I will tell you what we typically do at DCA. We go on a non EMH (Tuesday, Thursday are good). We get to the park about 30 minutes before it opens. We line up behind the rope near Soarin (much less crowded). We quickly walk through the beautiful Grizzly Peak area and head straight to Toy Story (one person could stop and get a FP for WOC at this time and then catch up). Toy Story has NO FP and gets crazy lines of 40-50 minutes within an hour or two of opening depending on time of year. After riding Toy Story once or twice (depending on queue length) one person will go get FP for RSR. It's always been a late morning to early afternoon return time.

Do not worry too much about the Anna and Elsa FP, you can get one any time that morning. Your FP runner could go get the FP for Anna and Elsa after grabbing the RSR ones, they're not connected. I would spend the morning around the pier getting as many of those rides done. TOT, GRR, Soarin, RSR Goofy's, Screamin', and the new Sing-A-Long are the only attractions at DCA with FP. Use your morning riding the non-FP rides then grab and use FP in the afternoon between seeing some of the shows. Mater's ride and the rides in Bugsland have reasonable waits most of the time, as does Monster's.

 

[riostoker]

What month are you going and how old are your kids?

I will tell you what we typically do at DCA. We go on a non EMH (Tuesday, Thursday are good). We get to the park about 30 minutes before it opens. We line up behind the rope near Soarin (much less crowded). We quickly walk through the beautiful Grizzly Peak area and head straight to Toy Story (one person could stop and get a FP for WOC at this time and then catch up). Toy Story has NO FP and gets crazy lines of 40-50 minutes within an hour or two of opening depending on time of year. After riding Toy Story once or twice (depending on queue length) one person will go get FP for RSR. It's always been a late morning to early afternoon return time.

Do not worry too much about the Anna and Elsa FP, you can get one any time that morning. Your FP runner could go get the FP for Anna and Elsa after grabbing the RSR ones, they're not connected. I would spend the morning around the pier getting as many of those rides done. TOT, GRR, Soarin, RSR Goofy's, Screamin', and the new Sing-A-Long are the only attractions at DCA with FP. Use your morning riding the non-FP rides then grab and use FP in the afternoon between seeing some of the shows. Mater's ride and the rides in Bugsland have reasonable waits most of the time, as does Monster's.

September, and kids will be 7, 11, and 14. Our full days will be a Wed, Thurs, and Fri. If the Halloween party ends up being on Friday, I was thinking about just getting a two day ticket for Wed/Thurs, and then getting a Halloween party ticket for Friday. I could do a 3 day pass as well though.

 

[agamble]

And try to schedule a viewing of Aladdin during your day at DCA. It's great. If your kids are Disney Jr. age, they would probably enjoy the Disney Jr. show.

 

[agamble]

Never mind the Disney Jr., your kids are probably too old to enjoy (7 year old, maybe). If you get a 3-day hopper you get a MM to DL, but it would be Thursday, meaning you would be at DL on Thursday morning instead of DCA. Typically parties are Tuesdays and Fridays, with the Fridays being more busy.