Quick trip report and comparison 6/17

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Just back from the parks and exhausted but I wanted to share a few thoughts and comparison between today’s visit and our visit 6/8 to DCA.

First, we had SO much fun both days! However, today without the masks made things so much more enjoyable in terms of being able to walk around and eat and drink, as well as staying cool in the heat.

Our last visit it was so difficult to obtain and consume food and drink, and we left the parks dehydrated and starving. Today, we snacked all day and stayed hydrated! My child could snack in lines! It’s was amazing!

Also, with distancing gone, the ride wait times were AWESOME! There were lots of people in the park but rides were loading more efficiently and faster.

Here were our posted/actual wait times in order (first ride at 9am, last ride at 9pm):

Snow White: 15 minutes (9am)
Carousel: Walk on
Teapcups: Walk on
Casey Junior Train: Walk on
RotR: 7 minutes to preshow (broke down and escorted off, issued Multiple Experience Passes)
Roger Rabbit: Posted 10, waited 10
Gadget’s Go Coaster: Posted 20, walk on
Gadget’s Go Coaster: Posted 20, actual 5 minutes
IASW: Posted 5, actual 5
Webslingers: 15 minutes to preshow
RSR: Posted 55 minutes, actual 30
RSR: Rider switch (used fast pass return/10 minutes)
Incredicoaster: Posted 10, actual 7
Monsters Inc: Posted 20, actual 25
Winnie the Pooh: Posted 5, walk on
BTMRR: Posted 20, actual 10
BTMRR: Rider swap (used fast pass return/5 minutes)
Pirates: Posted 10, walk on
Carousel: Posted 5, actual 5
Dumbo: Posted 25, actual 10

A few thoughts:

No masks means I could see so many smiles! People were overall in a very upbeat mood.

We entered the parks at 8:48. Either there was no rope drop or they dropped it early. Rides were open at this time.

A freak rainstorm shut down a bunch of outdoor rides for the first hour.

Mobile order worked well for us today but we ordered everything ahead of time in the morning except ice cream from Gibson Girl which we were able to get immediately when we wanted it.

We scored RotR at 7am (thanks to help from a DISer) but it broke down on us after the storm trooper room and it was down again when we retuned that evening to ride so we never got to ride it.

Scored Webslingers at noon outside Oga’s Cantina with pull down method. Everyone loved the ride.

Oga’s was more subdued than usual. The music volume was lower (maybe so we could hear the masked CMs?) and DJ REX wasn’t talking much. Blue Bantha (blue milk) not available.

Avenger’s Campus entrance was PACKED as we tried to enter to ride WS. This was due to the Spider-Man stunt show that happened as we were walking in. It was hard to enter the area but happy we caught the show! Slightly stressful as we had only minutes left in our BG.

It wasn’t as hot today as predicted. Still warm and sticky but totally manageable.

The potato skins at Lamplight Lounge are amazing and nothing like “potato skins.” They are fluffy inside like mashed potatoes and crispy on the outside like fries and have two delicious sauces and just where have these been all my life? Barbacoa nachos also fantastic!

Parks are back to “business as usual” as if covid never happened. No distancing, no signage, very few people in masks. It felt like a normal summer day in the parks but with low wait times and no entertainment. More food open and more stores. Pooh Corner is open! No trams from the parking structure.

Happy to answer any questions anyone might have!

 

[Piglet99645]

Wow. You covered everything I can think of. I really needed to read this. We go Monday.

edited to add: THANK YOU.

 

[HuskyGal]

Thank you! To get the boarding group, what time did you pull down/refresh?

 

[Linkura]

Just back from the parks and exhausted but I wanted to share a few thoughts and comparison between today’s visit and our visit 6/8 to DCA.

First, we had SO much fun both days! However, today without the masks made things so much more enjoyable in terms of being able to walk around and eat and drink, as well as staying cool in the heat.

Our last visit it was so difficult to obtain and consume food and drink, and we left the parks dehydrated and starving. Today, we snacked all day and stayed hydrated! My child could snack in lines! It’s was amazing!

Also, with distancing gone, the ride wait times were AWESOME! There were lots of people in the park but rides were loading more efficiently and faster.

Here were our posted/actual wait times in order (first ride at 9am, last ride at 9pm):

Snow White: 15 minutes (9am)
Carousel: Walk on
Teapcups: Walk on
Casey Junior Train: Walk on
RotR: 7 minutes to preshow (broke down and escorted off, issued Multiple Experience Passes)
Roger Rabbit: Posted 10, waited 10
Gadget’s Go Coaster: Posted 20, walk on
Gadget’s Go Coaster: Posted 20, actual 5 minutes
IASW: Posted 5, actual 5
Webslingers: 15 minutes to preshow
RSR: Posted 55 minutes, actual 30
RSR: Rider switch (used fast pass return/10 minutes)
Incredicoaster: Posted 10, actual 7
Monsters Inc: Posted 20, actual 25
Winnie the Pooh: Posted 5, walk on
BTMRR: Posted 20, actual 10
BTMRR: Rider swap (used fast pass return/5 minutes)
Pirates: Posted 10, walk on
Carousel: Posted 5, actual 5
Dumbo: Posted 25, actual 10

A few thoughts:

No masks means I could see so many smiles! People were overall in a very upbeat mood.

We entered the parks at 8:48. Either there was no rope drop or they dropped it early. Rides were open at this time.

A freak rainstorm shut down a bunch of outdoor rides for the first hour.

Mobile order worked well for us today but we ordered everything ahead of time in the morning except ice cream from Gibson Girl which we were able to get immediately when we wanted it.

We scored RotR at 7am (thanks to help from a DISer) but it broke down on us after the storm trooper room and it was down again when we retuned that evening to ride so we never got to ride it.

Scored Webslingers at noon outside Oga’s Cantina with pull down method. Everyone loved the ride.

Oga’s was more subdued than usual. The music volume was lower (maybe so we could hear the masked CMs?) and DJ REX wasn’t talking much. Blue Bantha (blue milk) not available.

Avenger’s Campus entrance was PACKED as we tried to enter to ride WS. This was due to the Spider-Man stunt show that happened as we were walking in. It was hard to enter the area but happy we caught the show! Slightly stressful as we had only minutes left in our BG.

It wasn’t as hot today as predicted. Still warm and sticky but totally manageable.

The potato skins at Lamplight Lounge are amazing and nothing like “potato skins.” They are fluffy inside like mashed potatoes and crispy on the outside like fries and have two delicious sauces and just where have these been all my life? Barbacoa nachos also fantastic!

Parks are back to “business as usual” as if covid never happened. No distancing, no signage, very few people in masks. It felt like a normal summer day in the parks but with low wait times and no entertainment. More food open and more stores. Pooh Corner is open! No trams from the parking structure.

Happy to answer any questions anyone might have!

Awesome report! I was wondering how entry was, where you entered the parks and how long it took.

 

[dreynolds1982]

Great report, thanks for sharing. My fiancé and I are going as part of our Honeymoon in late August. I've been test-pulling boarding groups and seems like as long as you're on there with the pull/refresh method starting about 1 min before the drop, I get availability each time, so that's comforting to know.

Also glad to hear about wait times. I think people didn't realize how massive of an impact the distancing measures had on wait times.

 

[Matrixleos]

The potato skins at Lamplight Lounge are amazing and nothing like “potato skins.” They are fluffy inside like mashed potatoes and crispy on the outside like fries and have two delicious sauces and just where have these been all my life? Barbacoa nachos also fantastic!

We got Lamplight Lounge reservations and I was eyeing those Potato Skins as an appetizer. Good to hear positive reviews about them. Looking forward to that and also their cheddar burger, which I've heard from several sources, might be the best burger from all the different Disneyland Resort properties.

Question I have, did you have an option to select where you wanted to sit (Inside/Outside) or did they just sit you where ever was open?

 

[edhmom]

I agree with the yummy potato skins. Nothing like what I was expecting (looks like a crab cake) but really good.

 

[wishing4PA]

Mobile order worked well for us today but we ordered everything ahead of time in the morning except ice cream from Gibson Girl which we were able to get immediately when we wanted it.

The potato skins at Lamplight Lounge are amazing and nothing like “potato skins.” They are fluffy inside like mashed potatoes and crispy on the outside like fries and have two delicious sauces and just where have these been all my life? Barbacoa nachos also fantastic!

First of all, thank you so much for your detailed records on the wait times! I know that situation may change considerably by the time we arrive in August, but it was interesting to read. It looks like you got a lot done!

about the Blue Bantha -- but there are plenty of other things I want to try at Oga's so I'll survive if it doesn't come back.

Your LL comments are making me regret booking brunch rather than lunch. The only appealing things to me on the lunch menu were the potato skins, the barbacoa nachos and the lobster nachos, but I was a bit ambivalent on all 3. (I do have a bit of time to swap things around, availability permitting, though. But that requires me making more decisions. )

In general, how early did you put in your mobile orders? All at the start of the day, or just a bit before you wanted things?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Thank you! To get the boarding group, what time did you pull down/refresh?

7:59:59 and 11:59:59

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Awesome report! I was wondering how entry was, where you entered the parks and how long it took.

Parked at Mickey & Friends. Pulled up at 7:50 (they began letting people through at 7:45 .. my friend was ahead of us). Security was easy, no real wait there. Walked to the esplanade and waited about 10 minutes to enter.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

We got Lamplight Lounge reservations and I was eyeing those Potato Skins as an appetizer. Good to hear positive reviews about them. Looking forward to that and also their cheddar burger, which I've heard from several sources, might be the best burger from all the different Disneyland Resort properties.

Question I have, did you have an option to select where you wanted to sit (Inside/Outside) or did they just sit you where ever was open?

We did not have a choice. We loved where we sat! Downstairs outside near the little fire pit. Ate there 10 days ago as well and sat inside and loved that too!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

First of all, thank you so much for your detailed records on the wait times! I know that situation may change considerably by the time we arrive in August, but it was interesting to read. It looks like you got a lot done!

about the Blue Bantha -- but there are plenty of other things I want to try at Oga's so I'll survive if it doesn't come back.

Your LL comments are making me regret booking brunch rather than lunch. The only appealing things to me on the lunch menu were the potato skins, the barbacoa nachos and the lobster nachos, but I was a bit ambivalent on all 3. (I do have a bit of time to swap things around, availability permitting, though. But that requires me making more decisions. )

In general, how early did you put in your mobile orders? All at the start of the day, or just a bit before you wanted things?

The barbacoa nachos are amazing! So so good! They are a bit spicy FYI. I don’t know if I’d want to do brunch just because the morning hours are so great for rides with lower crowds.

We placed our mobile orders for Mint Julip and lunch (Red Rose Tavern and Ronto Roasters) in line while waiting to enter the park. We were able to order ice cream from Gibson Girl with an immediate return at 2pm and coffee at the cart by the DCA pier with immediate return around 3pm.

Also, CM at Oga’s said the Blue Bantha will be back when they “find more banthas.” It sounds like a supply issue.

 

[disneycat321]

This is so helpful! Thank you for posting. I’m going for 3 days starting next Sunday for the first time since fall 2019! Definitely going to get those potato skins from Lamplight. You’re making me feel a lot better about wait times/crowds than some other things I’ve read. Also, I’d read those barbacoa nachos weren’t that great, so I’m excited to read something to the contrary, since I don’t like lobster. I’ll stick with my original plan to try them.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

This is so helpful! Thank you for posting. I’m going for 3 days starting next Sunday for the first time since fall 2019! Definitely going to get those potato skins from Lamplight. You’re making me feel a lot better about wait times/crowds than some other things I’ve read. Also, I’d read those barbacoa nachos weren’t that great, so I’m excited to read something to the contrary, since I don’t like lobster. I’ll stick with my original plan to try them.

I read similar things but I love nachos so I decided to try them myself. I’ve had them twice and they were fantastic both times! I would call them “fancy nachos” ha ha. If you don’t like a lot of flavor/spice/more adventurous ingredients you might not like them.
Also, a random server (not ours) stopped by and asked if we needed anything, then shared that those nachos are now they only thing on the menu she orders because she loves them so much and that she dreamed of them while the parks were closed during covid.

 

[FLCA026]

So they have fast pass?

 

[wishing4PA]

The barbacoa nachos are amazing! So so good! They are a bit spicy FYI. I don’t know if I’d want to do brunch just because the morning hours are so great for rides with lower crowds.

You convinced me. I'm going to cancel my Friday August 13 10:10 brunch.
(I reserved a lunch a couple days prior -- now I'll just have to decide between the nachos of either variety vs. those potato skins!)

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

So they have fast pass?

No. But they are utilizing the FP queues for DAS and rider switch returns.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

You convinced me. I'm going to cancel my Friday August 13 10:10 brunch.
(I reserved a lunch a couple days prior -- now I'll just have to decide between the nachos of either variety vs. those potato skins!)

My friend and I split both and couldn’t finish either! Tons of foods!

 

[FLCA026]

No. But they are utilizing the FP queues for DAS and rider switch returns.

What is DAS?

 

[Matrixleos]

What is DAS?

It's Disability Access Service, abbreviated to just DAS.