Need help with a one day plan

[Beth76]

DH and I are heading to DL for just one day after a cruise. Not sure what time we plan on getting to the parks, but they open at 10am that day. We should get there pretty close to that time though. DL closes at 10pm and CA closes at 6pm. This will be Monday Jan 7, so I'm hoping most if not all schools in the area will be back in session and crowds will be low.

So of course we want to hit all the big rides that we might not be able to do with kids. (We plan on bringing the kids next summer.) And we'll throw in a few of the smaller rides like Alice and Peter Pan simply because I really love those movies. We don't need to see most of the less thrilling rides because we can always do those later when we bring the kids back. We're also not really into any shows. We'd probably like Fantasmic, but I think they wouldn't have that during the week in off-season, correct?

Where should we go first? Should we start at CA and do everything there. From my prelim research it looks like we'd only do Soarin, CA Screamin, ToT, Maliboomer and Mulholland Madness. Should we do those first (and get fast passes when necessary) then head over to DL for the remainder of the day?

Or should we start at DL and get on the big rides in the morning? Then head to CA in the afternoon, then back to DL for the evening.

I also should note that we've never been to WDW either. So we're completely new to the whole Disney experience.

 

[Hound 109]

DH and I are heading to DL for just one day after a cruise. Not sure what time we plan on getting to the parks, but they open at 10am that day. We should get there pretty close to that time though. DL closes at 10pm and CA closes at 6pm. This will be Monday Jan 7, so I'm hoping most if not all schools in the area will be back in session and crowds will be low.

So of course we want to hit all the big rides that we might not be able to do with kids. (We plan on bringing the kids next summer.) And we'll throw in a few of the smaller rides like Alice and Peter Pan simply because I really love those movies. We don't need to see most of the less thrilling rides because we can always do those later when we bring the kids back. We're also not really into any shows. We'd probably like Fantasmic, but I think they wouldn't have that during the week in off-season, correct?

Where should we go first? Should we start at CA and do everything there. From my prelim research it looks like we'd only do Soarin, CA Screamin, ToT, Maliboomer and Mulholland Madness. Should we do those first (and get fast passes when necessary) then head over to DL for the remainder of the day?

Or should we start at DL and get on the big rides in the morning? Then head to CA in the afternoon, then back to DL for the evening.

I also should note that we've never been to WDW either. So we're completely new to the whole Disney experience.

Welcome Beth. A few thoughts:

- I believe there is no EE that morning.
(someone please confirm that the final Monday EE is this Monday & won't be in effect for Beth in '08).
- Rule of thumb is collect FPs as early as possible while touring DL. Hop to DCA in the afternoon & return to DL late afternoon or early evening with 3-5 FPs in pocket (that you picked up early).
- Unless you do Peter Pan at 10:01am I would do it later (late).

My opinion assuming you get there between 10:30 - 11:30 (is do left side of park - counter clockwise):

- Indy FP.
- Pirates.
- HM.
- Pooh. (It's 3 min. & has no line & Pooh corner bakery ride dump. )
- BTMRR (&/or FP)
- (if you didn't get BTMRR FP, then go get one at SM)
- Jungle Cruise.
- Walk thru Castle & eyeball PP line (i'm sure it will be too long).
- Pinocchio & SW (across from PP) if no line, ride. (2 min. each).
- Eyeball Toadie, Alice & Matterhorn line. (if no line for one or all, hop on - 3-5 min. rides.)
- On your way out of DL, Pick up a SM FP (if you haven't gotten one already) Or get a Buzz FP if you have.

Hop to DCA (It's Monday, so no Aladdin )

- Pick up Soarin' over California FP FIRST. (then reverse back over to ToT)
- ToT.
- Hungry? Eat at the Tratoria Rest. (split an entree), before or after riding ToT.
- (if you need a 20 min. sit down break, consider Bugs Life, Muppets or Crush) dark & a nice break from touring.
note - Crush is VERY cute, but you'll do with kids. Bugs is more hip (& cool). Muppets is old school & might be retired soon.
- Walk all the way back to Ca. Screamin'... if short line, ride. If 20+ min., ride "single" rider (ask the CM)
- Haven't done Maliboomer....
- Mullholland Madness I'd skip unless a short line. (imo)
- Walk into GCA (thru top secret entrance/exit) & contemplate how to afford it for next trip.
- Back into DCA
- Do Soarin' (with FP) Request Row 1 from CM. (even if you have to wait one cycle)

Hop Back to DL with Indy, BTMRR & (either) Buzz or SM FPs in pocket.

Early evening:

- Ride on Indy or SM with a FP.
- Walk by Alice & Matterhorn (look at lines...ride if short)
- Walk back to RR in tune town (tune town is worth a look). No line then ride, 15+min. line get FP.
- IASW
- (back to RR if you haven't ridden)

The rest of the evening:

Use up FPs, ride FL rides you didn't get to (Matterhorn, Alice, PP, Toadie, Storybookland, Carousel, etc.)

- Skip Nemo. (you can do 3-4 better rides & you don't have the hour to spare).
- I'll let others comment, but i don't think there are any fireworks etc.
- Know how FP works. Be mindful of the FP return times - not because of when you must return...but because you should know when you can pick up your next FP.(Read HydroGuy's excellent FP threads)

Have fun at Walt's Park.

 

[Beth76]

Thank you so much Hound. That really gives me something to work with. We won't be riding any of the water rides--not our thing. We'll have to save those for when the kids are with us. Actually, after thinking more, we'll likely skip Maliboomer too. We have one of those at Six Flags and DH doesn't like it. And I didn't really think about walking into GCH. We'll definitely be doing that. I'd really like to stay there, but doubt we will.

I have Hydroguy's fast pass thread bookmarked and will be reading up on how to do that.

 

[Hound 109]

Thank you so much Hound. That really gives me something to work with. We won't be riding any of the water rides--not our thing. We'll have to save those for when the kids are with us. Actually, after thinking more, we'll likely skip Maliboomer too. We have one of those at Six Flags and DH doesn't like it. And I didn't really think about walking into GCH. We'll definitely be doing that. I'd really like to stay there, but doubt we will.

I have Hydroguy's fast pass thread bookmarked and will be reading up on how to do that.

- I cleaned up my post & removed the water rides.
- Walking into GCH is a 5 min. diversion, very beautiful.
- Have a map handy when reviewing a "gameplan".
- Carousel, SW & Pinocchio often have no lines, so just hop on.

I welcome others to comment. (Especially on when best to fit Jungle Cruise, Matterhorn, IASW, Storybookland, RR, PP, Toadie & Alice into a one day plan.) I've got to think that late night might be best to do these semi popular (& slow loading) rides (assuming kids have school on Tues.). I normally do these during EE, which isn't an option for you.

hound -