Park-Hopping

[bouncy54]

This will be the first time that we're going to try Park Hopping and make use of late Fast Passes. DCA had just opened when we were last there in 2001 and I didn't have a clue what Park-Hopping was except that our ticket allowed us to go to both parks. I didn't even know that you could go to both parks on the same day.

So please bear with me, then tell me if I am correct or not.

Example itinerary: Pass through security and turnstile into DL as soon as the gates open. Get Fast Pass for Space Mt., but save it for later in the day. Ride Buzz, Star Tours and/or the Matterhorn first. After approx. 45 minutes, the window for another Fast Pass should come up and we can go get another Fast Pass for Indiana Jones. We could either go on Indiana through the standby line, or we can hold our Fast Pass until later in the day. We could also get a Fast Pass for Roger Rabbit because it isn't connected to the system.

DCA should now be open. I can send my 2 teens over to DCA with all our tickets to get Fast Passes for Soarin' and Grizzly Rapids (because Grizzly is not connected to the rest of the rides in DCA) They would get their hands stamped as they leave DL, and this stamp is their entrance into DCA. (do they even have to have their hands stamped?) And even though the rest of us haven't stepped a foot in DCA, they can still get Fast Passes for us because our tickets have been activated at DL...is this right?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

wow im verry intrested in this to. i belive you are right but I will wait and see what others say I just learned about holding fast passes till later that day. and the dca ones.. so im still new

 

[Hound 109]

This will be the first time that we're going to try Park Hopping and make use of late Fast Passes. DCA had just opened when we were last there in 2001 and I didn't have a clue what Park-Hopping was except that our ticket allowed us to go to both parks. I didn't even know that you could go to both parks on the same day.

So please bear with me, then tell me if I am correct or not.

Example itinerary: Pass through security and turnstile into DL as soon as the gates open. Get Fast Pass for Space Mt., but save it for later in the day. Ride Buzz, Star Tours and/or the Matterhorn first. After approx. 45 minutes, the window for another Fast Pass should come up and we can go get another Fast Pass for Indiana Jones. We could either go on Indiana through the standby line, or we can hold our Fast Pass until later in the day. We could also get a Fast Pass for Roger Rabbit because it isn't connected to the system.

DCA should now be open. I can send my 2 teens over to DCA with all our tickets to get Fast Passes for Soarin' and Grizzly Rapids (because Grizzly is not connected to the rest of the rides in DCA) They would get their hands stamped as they leave DL, and this stamp is their entrance into DCA. (do they even have to have their hands stamped?) And even though the rest of us haven't stepped a foot in DCA, they can still get Fast Passes for us because our tickets have been activated at DL...is this right?

Yes.







A couple of comments given the the above itinerary.

- Have one person pick up the SM FPs while the rest of you go to Matterhorn. (he then joins you in the Matterhorn Line)
- Then ride Buzz. If no line ride it again (for a better score).
- Then ride Star Tours which seldom has much of a line early.

- Make sure the "two teens" hold onto those tickets like they are Hundred dollar bills & bring the tickets and FPs back.

- When they get back..... pick up another set up FS's from either Splash or BTMR (assuming the Indy FP "return time" has begun).

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I haven't tried it, but I'd be very surprised if it worked. Entering DL does not activate your ticket for DCA. I don't think your tickets will work at the FastPass machines inside DCA if they're not activated at the DCA gates first.

And yes, the first time you leave a park, you need to get your hand stamped to reenter either park on that same day. You also need to present your ticket for reentry, as well.

*Brian*

 

[tinkerbelt]

IMO, you'd be better off heading into DL and grabbing a FP for Space Mtn. right away and hitting a couple of rides. After 45 minutes, get a FP for either Indy or Splash Mtn., and then as soon as DCA opens, head over there. Get FP for Soarin, and then go get on Grizzly River Rapids, which rarely has a long line early in the day.

 

[tinkerbelt]

And I believe Brian is right - your ticket won't be activated for FP at DCA if you have not used it for entry into DCA.

 

[disneyscootergal]

And I believe Brian is right - your ticket won't be activated for FP at DCA if you have not used it for entry into DCA.

Yes, I've seen that info posted on this, and other, forums.

 

[Hound 109]

IMO, you'd be better off heading into DL and grabbing a FP for Space Mtn. right away and hitting a couple of rides. After 45 minutes, get a FP for either Indy or Splash Mtn.,

This is exactly what his "hypothetical itinerary" suggests.

and then as soon as DCA opens, head over there. Get FP for Soarin, and then go get on Grizzly River Rapids, which rarely has a long line early in the day

Perhaps he's sending the "teens" over to pick up FPs because he wants to do something in DL (Pirates Lair, Tiki Room, Hillbillys, Jedi Training, etc.) that the "teens" have no interest in & will meet up with them at lunch, but want to have Soarin & Griz Rapids "lined up".

His itinerary above would do exactly that.

Good Job OP.

 

[tinkerbelt]

Yes, but sending the teens over to DCA wouldn't work because the tickets wouldn't be activated, which is what the OP was asking. So no, in this case, the "hypothetical itinerary" would not work.

 

[Hound 109]

Yes, I've seen that info posted on this, and other, forums.

I disagree. Once all members have had their entrance media initialized at EITHER PARK....one member can go to the other park with all of the family's media (tickets) to obtain FP's.

The key is that ALL members have to go to a park first. (no sleeping in for some).

Perhaps Hydroguy will stop by and provide confirmation as to what the correct answer is.

 

[WVMomof3]

Yes, once you use your ticket to get into either park you can get fast passes from both parks, does not matter if your ticket is used to get into the second park. My husband did this while me and the kids headed back to the hotel for break he went into DCA and got fast passes for all of us. Though while we were there last weekend, you really did not need a fast pass for almost anything at DCA. We went twice in the later evening and once around park opening and the lines were pretty dead. We did need them for Screamin (not open till 1:00), but Muholland Madness and Tower of Terror were hardly any lines. I did use them for Soarin, but the standby line was not that bad and I think we also used them for Grizzly, but standby was also not that long.

 

[SunDevilDaddy]

subscribing.

*I am curious to the ultimate answer to this question*

 

[DangerMouse]

I agree with Hound and have done this successfully myself. Once you are in one park, your hopper is activated for FP system in both.

For those of you who only believe the all-knowing Hydro. This quote is taken directly from Hydroguy's rule: Getting the Most out of Fastpass During High Season:

4. Currently, once the entrance media have been scanned at either DL or DCA, they are initialized for both parks. This allows a runner to get FPs for the group at the opposite park even though no one in the group (except the runner of course) has entered that park.

 

[disneyscootergal]

That's excellent! I wish we had known this when we were there on our last trip.

 

[HydroGuy]

I haven't tried it, but I'd be very surprised if it worked. Entering DL does not activate your ticket for DCA. I don't think your tickets will work at the FastPass machines inside DCA if they're not activated at the DCA gates first.

And yes, the first time you leave a park, you need to get your hand stamped to reenter either park on that same day. You also need to present your ticket for reentry, as well.

*Brian*

Yes it does. I have personally done this many times. If you enter DL your ticket is activated for DCA and vice versa. I have done it both ways (i.e., start at DL and then get FPs at DCA, and on other days start at DCA and then get FPs at DL).

FWIW, you can read all about it here:

Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

FWIW, hard core Disney visitor Amy who goes by Amy&Dan (they are at DLR right now so she is not around to respond) did not entirely believe me on this. She tried to send Dan over to DCA as a FP runner and he insisted it would not work. At her insistence he went and, lo and behold, it worked. Now they do it all the time.

 

[HydroGuy]

This will be the first time that we're going to try Park Hopping and make use of late Fast Passes. DCA had just opened when we were last there in 2001 and I didn't have a clue what Park-Hopping was except that our ticket allowed us to go to both parks. I didn't even know that you could go to both parks on the same day.

So please bear with me, then tell me if I am correct or not.

Example itinerary: Pass through security and turnstile into DL as soon as the gates open. Get Fast Pass for Space Mt., but save it for later in the day. Ride Buzz, Star Tours and/or the Matterhorn first. After approx. 45 minutes, the window for another Fast Pass should come up and we can go get another Fast Pass for Indiana Jones. We could either go on Indiana through the standby line, or we can hold our Fast Pass until later in the day. We could also get a Fast Pass for Roger Rabbit because it isn't connected to the system.

DCA should now be open. I can send my 2 teens over to DCA with all our tickets to get Fast Passes for Soarin' and Grizzly Rapids (because Grizzly is not connected to the rest of the rides in DCA) They would get their hands stamped as they leave DL, and this stamp is their entrance into DCA. (do they even have to have their hands stamped?) And even though the rest of us haven't stepped a foot in DCA, they can still get Fast Passes for us because our tickets have been activated at DL...is this right?

Yes, you are entirely correct. Hound's response and advice to keep tight control on your entrance tix with the teens etc is spot on.

 

[Hound 109]

Yes it does. I have personally done this many times. If you enter DL your ticket is activated for DCA and vice versa. I have done it both ways (i.e., start at DL and then get FPs at DCA, and on other days start at DCA and then get FPs at DL).

FWIW, you can read all about it here:

Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

I know there are alot of DLR newbies reading out there who are FP geeks (or would like to be).

Hydroguy's link above is the best (most informative / enlightening) piece of info that I read in preparation for our trip. Absolutely essential FP info to enjoy DLR during busy (or any) times.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

oh wow ya i loved what i have learned from it. i saw it befor but never read it all its grate so far