One day at DL/DCA critique my plan

[DLtorgo]

The players- me, my MIL and DDs 2 and 6.
Goals- ST, LM, Soundsational and WOC not interested in any of the "mountains" for this trip
Day- Monday July 11, not a MM day

Arrive at park gates by 7:30 for rope drop
Line up for Star Tours.
Rider Swap for Star Tours MIL and DD6 ride while I get fastpasses for ST
DD6 and I ride ST
Go ride other rides in Fantasyland- Nemo if not crowded, Alice, Teacups, Toad, Small World, etc... hopefully use our ST fastpass
Take Train to Main Street
Park hop to DCA around 11am
Get Soarin' fastpasses
Get our WOC picnic lunches
Ride LM
ride other rides in DCA during afternoon
Return to DL by 2:30
Queue up for parade on Main Street at 3:00?
Soundsational at 4pm
Go over to do Pirates and Tiki Room- whatever else fits in until 6:30pm
Return to DCA eat food at warf area
7:30 start lining up for WOC
9pm WOC, leave exhausted

Questions- Where to park? When does Mickey and Friends open or is Toy Story better? coming from Carlsbad

What time to line up for parade?

Anything else you can think of?

Thanks all!!!

 

[SarafinaPink]

If you line up an hour before the parade you should be good. I did that and lined up on the shady side of the street, but in a section that was sunny still. It was perfect because no one wanted to sit in the sun, and about 20 minutes later the sun was low enough to cast us in the shade for the parade.

Parking wise, I have always preferred Toy Story because it seems less crowded to me and I have always gotten in and out faster than M&F, especially when I've gone for rope drop.

 

[DLtorgo]

Thanks so much- those are two great tips. I usually do a three day hopper and stay onsite or good neighbor so driving in for a day and parking was throwing me for a loop!

 

[Eeee-va]

It looks good to me! You have a lot in there but the way you've structured it, there's a lot of flexibility. Have a great trip!

 

[skiingfast]

It look alright except for ST FP.

IME if you ride first and then get FPs, you will have a return time of mid afternoon. Not really a problem but doesn't mesh with your plan.

Tiki Room I prefer late because I like the preshow at night. But this won't be an option for you unless you can hang on after WoC.

Parade at 3pm should work fine if you want shade, but even on a busy day I sat down in a sunny spot at 4 pm when the parade was starting at the other end of the park.

Toy Story lot is preferable. My parking experience is that it take less time to drive in and park, walk to the shuttle pick up and take the shuttle to drop off near security than is spent sitting on the tram from the garage.

When you come up I-5 the HOV lane will have a exit directly to Disneyland way and signs will direct you to parking. So if for some odd reason TS lot is closed it will say go right to Ball Road, but that would be a rare exception.

 

[ssuriano]

Looks good! Hopefully it works great and you all have a blast!

 

[DLtorgo]

Thanks everyone!

Skiingfast- I agree it is a risk that I might not be able to fit the ST fastpass return time into my schedule but it is worth a try. I think I might have some luck since our ride first thing in the morning will be a rider swap and I can go get a fastpass while my MIL and DD6 are riding. If I can't use them I can just give them to another party.

I will have to post a followup showing how much I was able to get done.

 

[NVDisMom]

The only thing I would do different is to get another fast pass, if your ST FP return time allows, before leaving DL and going to CA. You could utilize it during your DL time before 6:30. Maybe Indy or BTMRR? I know you said you weren't interested in the mountains, but BTMRR is such a great ride for 6yo's and your 2yo might be big enough too...