One Day for DL & DCA

[LuvIt]

9 year old DS, DH and I are heading over to spend DH's birthday at DL in October. We've done DL but never DCA so will get a one day park hopper (part of which is free for DH due to birthday) so it will be a challenge to pack as much as possible into one day .

The plan is to start at DL bright and early in the morning to get some rides in and then head over to DCA when it opens. It'll close early that day (Fri.) for the Trick or Treat event so we'll head back to DL and go till midnight. Decided not to do Trick or Treat but will be calling and hope to get reservations for either Fantasmic Desert Seating or Haunted Tour as a birthday treat.

Any suggestions you guys have on how to make the most of our "one day extravaganza" would be most appreciated. I've already found lots of helpful tips on these boards .

 

[DLR29]

Get there early! As early as possible! Definitely pick up a Space FP first because with the new "Ghost Galaxy" halloween overlay it will be even more popular. If Fantasyland is important, hit that first thing, including the Matterhorn. Before you hop to DCA, make sure to grab an Indy, Splash, or Haunted Mansion Holiday FP so you will have two or three by 10AM.

At DCA, grab a Soarin FP between 9:30 and 10, and get ready to dash to Toy Story Midway Mania. After that, keep collecting FPs around DCA.

When you return to DL you will have 2/3 FPs already, try to get at least 1-2 more for HMH (maybe), Big Thunder, and/or Splash. However, those lines usually die down towards the evening.

 

[bumbershoot]

Get there ridiculously early. Not only will you be in line to get the tickets, but then you'll be upgraded DH's one-day-one-park to a hopper (from the wording you used I know you know this), and it's going to take time.


To really take advantage of being at DCA's opening, you want to actually be in line *there* by about 9, IF you want to get onto Soarin' a time or two (and grab a fastpass). If Toy Story Midway Mania is calling you, you'll then want to get to the rope drop for the rest of the park, which happens at 9:30...there's generally a rope right near Grizzly River Run across from the Grand Californian, and also one over near Pacific Wharf...I'm telling you these things, not because I expect you know where they are (since you haven't been there), but as things to watch for when you are there. TSMM, since you're on a one day trip, if it's important, get there early-early.


But before all that (sorry I got sidetracked), write up a list of things you want to do! Think about the things you truly LOVE at DL, and get those on the list. Think of things you can totally do without, and get those shared ones on the list. Your time is limited so you need to pare it down to the LOVE list. Then from what you know about DCA, pick the things you want to ride! The list is very important for those one-day trips. Everything else follows from it.

But you're going to absolutely NEED to get there early. You might even send hubby over to the ticket booths, while you park the car (if you're coming in the night before and staying at a hotel and walking in, ignore this), so he can get in line at the ticket booths, since it's HIS birthday ticket...and he can get your tickets while he's doing that. Then he can go get in line at the gates, or if you're there before he's done with tickets you can get in line at the gates.

Trust me...I've been there with unprepared, late-arriving people (for one-day one-park trips!), and the ticket line gets LONG. We never spend more than a minute while buying tickets, but others seem to spend half an hour each, it's just mind-numbing.

Have fun!

 

[LuvIt]

Thanks for all this great info.
We will be arriving Thursday evening so was planning to head over to the ticket booth and buy the 1 day hoppers (& upgrading DH's birthday freebie) then so we would not have to deal with getting tickets Friday morning - we'll head straight for rope drop!