My plan of attack during my days at DLR

[Sorata]

So, I think I have a pretty good plan for how to handle my days while at DLR.

the first day Wednesday 25th - We will start at DL from 9-10 and the at 10 be at DCA when they open. The Magic Morning is going to be at DCA that day so not sure how much that will affect the crowd level there, but I plan to go into DL and shoot over to Splash Mountain while heading over there I will get a FP for Space Mountain. Ride Splash, then hit Winnie the pooh since its right there. Depending on time maybe Haunted Mansion then use the FP at Space Mountain. I expect after that it would be getting closer to wrapping up and head over to DCA.

I plan to get FP for Radiator Springs Racers ride first there and then hit Guardians while waiting on that. If time needs to be spent before fast pass for the cars racer ride we will hit Bugs land for some easy going rides. Then we will spend the rest of the day at DCA.

I plan to use the Magic Morning on Thursday at DL as there are more things to do over there.

Friday its Rush to get my Fantasmic FP in the morning and then jump between the parks doing what everyone liked from the days before and catching anything that was missed.

I'm not really sure which Magic Morning is better used, but DL seems a better bet.

Should be an interesting trip 3 kids (12, 9 and 4) and I learned not to stop and ask you want to ride this? That just leaves it open for an easy No. Its basically lets go on this and not even say what it is a what it will be doing. Especially Guardians. They might like it and they might not, but they will at least rode it once. I feel pretty confident on all the other rides and they will be able to handle them.

Thoughts or Suggestions?

 

[Skyegirl1999]

It looks like you’ll have MaxPass based on your “book Space while walking to Splash” idea, yes?

 

[Sorata]

It looks like you’ll have MaxPass based on your “book Space while walking to Splash” idea, yes?

yes I will

 

[OneThree]

I'm not really sure which Magic Morning is better used, but DL seems a better bet.

Magic Morning is only available for Disneyland and not California Adventure if that is what you mean by trying to decide which Magic Morning is better. Early Entry to CA is available through EMH.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

yes I will

Honestly, I'd change up your Wednesday strategy quite a bit it if was me. With Maxpass, any FP ride will be very easy to hit, probably multiple times. I would not prioritize FP rides first thing Wednesday morning at Disneyland, which is generally the best time to be at Disneyland. I also wouldn't try to do Disneyland for an hour and then hit DCA after it's already been open for EMH. You'll waste valuable time in line trying to get into DCA when you could be hitting stuff at Disneyland, and you won't be hitting an empty park anyway. Rope drop is the best time to hit anything you're interested in riding in Fantasyland, as well as things like Pirates, Jungle Cruise, and Nemo (if you're interested in any of those). While you're riding those, you can be booking FPs - maybe things like Splash and BTMR if you're on that side of the park, or Matterhorn or Star Tours or whatever. By mid-morning, you should book RSR and then Guardians when that window opens, head over to DCA, and stick around over there. Thursday morning, you can use your MM at DL (your only option, as noted by PP), and hit the rest of the non-FP stuff that you missed, plus book Space Mountain right away... and then I'd do the same with switching over to DCA partway through the day.

Anyway, Wednesday morning at DL is serious prime time, and it's a bit of a shame to waste in on FP rides that you'll be able to hit so easily having Maxpass... also, Splash Mountain and Space Mountain are on complete opposite edges of the park, so trying to hit them both in an hour isn't what I would do.

Of course, you can certainly stick to your plan if those are the rides you really want to do first! As someone who's in the parks weekly, though, I don't think it's the most efficient way to do things.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I would be curious what rides you would like to experience overall in DL. That first day you can get a FP for RSR while you’re still in DL if you have MaxPass, so I wouldn’t see the value in leaving DL after just one hour. I would grab that FP from DL and then spend more prime time in DL that morning.

 

[Sorata]

Honestly, I'd change up your Wednesday strategy quite a bit it if was me. With Maxpass, any FP ride will be very easy to hit, probably multiple times. I would not prioritize FP rides first thing Wednesday morning at Disneyland, which is generally the best time to be at Disneyland. I also wouldn't try to do Disneyland for an hour and then hit DCA after it's already been open for EMH. You'll waste valuable time in line trying to get into DCA when you could be hitting stuff at Disneyland, and you won't be hitting an empty park anyway. Rope drop is the best time to hit anything you're interested in riding in Fantasyland, as well as things like Pirates, Jungle Cruise, and Nemo (if you're interested in any of those). While you're riding those, you can be booking FPs - maybe things like Splash and BTMR if you're on that side of the park, or Matterhorn or Star Tours or whatever. By mid-morning, you should book RSR and then Guardians when that window opens, head over to DCA, and stick around over there. Thursday morning, you can use your MM at DL (your only option, as noted by PP), and hit the rest of the non-FP stuff that you missed, plus book Space Mountain right away... and then I'd do the same with switching over to DCA partway through the day.

Anyway, Wednesday morning at DL is serious prime time, and it's a bit of a shame to waste in on FP rides that you'll be able to hit so easily having Maxpass... also, Splash Mountain and Space Mountain are on complete opposite edges of the park, so trying to hit them both in an hour isn't what I would do.

Of course, you can certainly stick to your plan if those are the rides you really want to do first! As someone who's in the parks weekly, though, I don't think it's the most efficient way to do things.

I will for sure consider it, Its been ages and I'm sure the crowds won't be too massive on the days I will be there. I could hit the Fantasy Land rides such as Peter Pan, then shoot over to Splash and do things over there.

I have a question, before max pass and it was just the traditional tickets I could get the FP and even when the window time passed they would still honor the tickets. Does that still work like that for Max pass? Like Can I just be on one side of the park and start building up the FPs with my MP and then once done head over there and use them? Or will the actually expire if not used in the time window given?

 

[WillowRain]

Also I would not go to DL for an hour and then try to park hop for opening at DCA, I would just wait in line for that time if you really want to get in at opening.

 

[sherilaine]

I will for sure consider it, Its been ages and I'm sure the crowds won't be too massive on the days I will be there. I could hit the Fantasy Land rides such as Peter Pan, then shoot over to Splash and do things over there.

I have a question, before max pass and it was just the traditional tickets I could get the FP and even when the window time passed they would still honor the tickets. Does that still work like that for Max pass? Like Can I just be on one side of the park and start building up the FPs with my MP and then once done head over there and use them? Or will the actually expire if not used in the time window given?

Actually this changed sometime before MP was introduced where CMs would not allow you to use FP from earlier in the day which had now expired - I saw people turned away several times due to this and now that it's electronic you will not be able to use them - the fast pass will disappear from your app once it's expired. The great thing about MP is that after you have left the park and say gone back to your hotel for a break you can still book FPs as the window opens and have plenty ready to use once you return. I just set a timer on my phone to remind me when I can book my next fast pass.

I also agree with the others above - I would not try one hour in DL and then switch over to DCA. When we are there we pick a morning for each park and get as much done as we can during the first few park hours, then we book some rides at the other park and head over in early afternoon before things get too crazy and long after there are any lines to get in to the actual park, and then we take our mid day break.

As well I would use Magic Morning to hit rides where you cannot book Fast Passes. Also consider that a Magic Morning on a Thursday is not going to be as empty as you might think - it will have long lines of people waiting to get in and it will have plenty of people in the small area of the park that is open during that hour - so I'd make sure to get there in plenty of time to be close to the gates when it opens right at 9.

 

[WillowRain]

Ohhh nice you can still book them from the hotel? I thought you had to be in the park for that? Good to know. I'm trying it out this next trip because FP+ is the best thing ever, and I LOVE the idea of not having to walk to the next location, that's so huge for my family!

 

[NannyBeBe]

The only suggestion I would give is to let your children have some input. I have been going to DLR with kids for over 30 years and have never had a plan because it all goes out the window once you enter. Disneyland is a world unto itself and I always let the children just enjoy themselves doing what they want. And I have never felt like we did not do all that we wanted to do.

 

[Sorata]

The only suggestion I would give is to let your children have some input. I have been going to DLR with kids for over 30 years and have never had a plan because it all goes out the window once you enter. Disneyland is a world unto itself and I always let the children just enjoy themselves doing what they want. And I have never felt like we did not do all that we wanted to do.

Yes, I have already asked for their input and he was saying splash mountain then Guardians... haha, I wasn't going to be doing that plan, but I made suggestions for them and they agreed. I think I may just hit a few easy rides first and book splash as the FP after some of the fantasy land rides do BTMR and do splash, Winnie the pooh, and Haunted Mansion and book FP space mountain when I can then go to tomorrow land and do those rides. Like you said, I have a generally idea of what will happen, but once inside the park that could all change depending on crowd levels but I'm going pretty much during a slower time which they rate the park would be a 4/10 for Wednesday and Thursday and 5/10 for Friday. We for sure have enough time to goof around and totally be unorganized and still get everything done.