Obsessive planner would like your opinion

[eargal]

I am looking for help from some of you disneyland veterans. I have a plan for touring both DCA and Disneyland on Friday May 5th. The group will include:
Me-33 year old theme park freak
DH-33 year old thrill ride guy...not interested in anything Fantasyland related
DBF(best friend)-36 year old gal intimidated by most thrill rides
DS-4 year old who we took to WDW in Sept and learned that he likes some thrill rides but not if they are too dark or loud. Tall enough for most/all height requirements (49 inches, we grow them big up here).

I am considering a split approach since we only have the one full day (we will probably have from 5 to close on Sat. the 6th too but I'm only planning the full day aggressively)

Here we go....Please feel free to suggest alterations.

Start at DL before opening
Have DH get SpaceMountain fastpasses
Head to Fantasy land w/o DH and quickly do
Peter Pan
Mr. Toad
Pinocchio
Snow White
Alice
Meet back up with DH and do
Big Thunder
Matterhorn
Have me or DH get Fast passes for Indiana
Go on Splash
Have DH or Me head to DCA and pick up fastpasses for Soarin and Grizley River
Meet back up with DH and do
Buzz
Possibly Pooh
Eat lunch (any suggestions?)
pick up fast passes (if available) for splash for later
Head to DCA
Pick up 4 fastpasses for tower of terror or two for TT and two for Cal. Screamin? and 4 for grizley river run again
Have DBF and DS head off to do kid stuff (bugs land)
DH and I hit the big rides as many times as possible
Meet up and do Monsters Inc. together
Do Soarin together
Do Grizley together twice with FPs
Do Turtle Talk together
Split up again and DH and I use the fast passes for the big rides
Head as a group back to DL around 5pm
Pick up fast passes for Indiana and Roger Rabbit
Go on Space Mtn with fast passes(probably just DH and I)
DBF and DS hit Buzz
Everyone go on StarTours
Eat
Do Big Thunder, Matterhorn, Indi etc. as time allows until close

 

[azgal81]

I would personally do matterhorn right after the fantasyland rides instead of doing big thunder matterhorn is a ride without fast pass and the line gets long throughout the day since it is right by alice it makes more sense to ride it instead of heading over to the opposite side of the park to ride big thunder and back to ride matterhorn. You can hit big thunder when you head over there for the other rides.

You also might want to do monsters inc as soon as you get to DCA the line for that gets pretty long since it's new as well.

Don't forget about the shows although you might be pressed for time! Fireworks, the electrical parade, fantasmic, and Aladdin. Although if you want to watch both the electrical parade and fireworks it's going to be tough.

Also I suggest looking at a map and knowing where things/the general layout are ahead of time that will save you a lot of time knowing were everything is then wondering around clueless!

 

[eargal]

Thanks! I will move the Matterhorn to directly follow fantasyland.

My son gets very nervous around characters. He would rather not have to see any parades or fireworks. We are going to skip them for this quick trip and do more of that next time when we have more time in the parks.

Thanks again. This is just the kind of input I was hoping for.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I think its a pretty aggressive schedule. I honestly dont know that you can get that much done in one day, especially with a 4 year old in tow. You have about 9 rides planned before lunch. The park doesn't open until 9. So, that is 2-3 rides per hour, depending on when you stop for a break. Include in that time to walk from area to area, wait in line, and the actual ride time. Not to mention potty breaks.

In addition to your plan, I would make a list of what everyone really wants to do, and what is optional. It will give you a place to start cutting if you need to.

I'll be there that weekend as well. I hope that your able to get that much done, because then it means we arent seeing any crowds!

edit: I just went back and counted all of the rides. You have 20+ for a 15 hour day. I'm not sure that can be done.

 

[shellyfive]

Don't forget that you can get fastpasses for roger rabbit and grizzly(CA) at the same time you hold ones for the other rides because those two rides aren't linked to the system------that is what i found from extensive searching----we'll be there may 1, 3, 4 and 5 hope the crowds aren't bad for you!!! have a great trip!!

 

[Texasfan]

I am not sure if you can get as much done as you want, but here is how I would reschedule your day up until lunch:
1. Peter Pan
2. Alice
3. Matterhorn
4. Mr. Toad
5. Snow White
6. Pinocchio
7. Big Thunder
Get fast pass for those that want to ride Indianan Jones and Splash Mountain Depending on if everyone wants to do both. I would probably get Splash Mountain first and then get Indiana after the 2 hours if possible.
8. Pooh
I would eat at the Hungry Bear over by Pooh and Splash Mountain
I can not really help past this point, because I do not know your ride or eating habits, so the next step is going depend on how long it take to ride pooh, eat and how many people were going to go on Indiana and Splash Mountain.

At this point you can either go and get the fast passes for Indiana if you have not already, ride Splash Mountain if it is time, or go and ride buzz until the correct time.

I believe that everyone that is wanting fast passes at DCA must enter that park and I am not sure if the rides are connected or not?

I hope this helps at least a little bit