RANDOM DL Questions!

[perlster]

I saw the show last on a Friday before the Presidents Day weekend. My thinking is that, like the Disneyland Band performances, it happens five days a week. So, you'd be very likely to be able to see the show on a Friday in June.

Also, and this is very rare, Mary & Bert were also in the 10AM entrance show that day.

Princess Tiana's Mardi Gras Celebration is listed in the guide, and (several weeks ago) was put on at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 3:00, and 5:00

 

[mom2rtk]

I saw the show last on a Friday before the Presidents Day weekend. My thinking is that, like the Disneyland Band performances, it happens five days a week. So, you'd be very likely to be able to see the show on a Friday in June.

I sure hope so and will plan on being in front of the castle prior to 2:00. I can't believe we're such Mary Poppins fans and have never seen this!

 

[mom2rtk]

I saw the show last on a Friday before the Presidents Day weekend. My thinking is that, like the Disneyland Band performances, it happens five days a week. So, you'd be very likely to be able to see the show on a Friday in June.

Also, and this is very rare, Mary & Bert were also in the 10AM entrance show that day.

Princess Tiana's Mardi Gras Celebration is listed in the guide, and (several weeks ago) was put on at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 3:00, and 5:00

THANK YOU!

Can you tell me what the entrance show is? Is it the little "parade" of characters I saw come through the castle one morning in 07?

 

[perlster]

You (apparently) are describing the other castle show, which is listed in the guide as occurring at 11AM.

It features Alice, Mad Hatter, the Disneyland Band, and fuzzies.

The entrance (behind the Main Street RR station) show is at 10AM, also with Alice, Hatter, the Band, and perhaps some other characters.

 

[mom2rtk]

You (apparently) are describing the other castle show, which is listed in the guide as occurring at 11AM.

It features Alice, Mad Hatter, the Disneyland Band, and fuzzies.

The entrance (behind the Main Street RR station) show is at 10AM, also with Alice, Hatter, the Band, and perhaps some other characters.

Cool! I never knew there were SO many little shows! I might not be able to hit all of them, but I'm going to try and catch as many as possible!

Thanks for the info!

 

[mrswh]

We are at DLR now and I am sad to report that PFF has turned into a meet & greet/shopping only. Massive lines to meet princesses, but no show or arts and crafts or storytime! Maybe someone knows whether those will be coming back, but for now at least, the whole stage/seating area is blocked off entirely.

Based on trip last August and this trip, Nemo subs are a good "first thing in the morning" ride. However, later in the day I have not seen the lines over 60 minutes, as opposed to the 2-3 hours(!) back when they first opened.

My DH and DS rode the Matterhorn the other day (when the park was very crowded) around 11:00 a.m. and the standby line was 45 minutes. So not too bad!

This week (spring break) and last August when we were here, DCA opens two hours later than DLR. DLR at 8, DCA at 10. However, you can walk into DCA at 9:30. Soarin' is the only ride I know of that is open before 10, but that's a great time to walk on with no wait, then zip down to TSMM when the rope drops in Sunshine Plaza at 10. If you are among the initial mob headed to TSMM at 10, you can get on with about a 10 minute wait . . . but once you get off, it will be up to 45 minutes and I haven't seen it any shorter throughout the day. Maybe late night during the electrical parade would be a better time? Unlike DHS, there is no FP for TSMM at DCA.

Riverboats are closed for refurb right now - I don't know if they will be open again by June. Tiana is doing her show on the steps in NOS. It's kind of a mini show which is nice because you can get up close!

Thanks for mentioning the Beast's Library - I have never heard of it but will now try to find it at DCA - my DD will love that!!

 

[mom2rtk]

We are at DLR now and I am sad to report that PFF has turned into a meet & greet/shopping only. Massive lines to meet princesses, but no show or arts and crafts or storytime! Maybe someone knows whether those will be coming back, but for now at least, the whole stage/seating area is blocked off entirely.

Based on trip last August and this trip, Nemo subs are a good "first thing in the morning" ride. However, later in the day I have not seen the lines over 60 minutes, as opposed to the 2-3 hours(!) back when they first opened.

My DH and DS rode the Matterhorn the other day (when the park was very crowded) around 11:00 a.m. and the standby line was 45 minutes. So not too bad!

This week (spring break) and last August when we were here, DCA opens two hours later than DLR. DLR at 8, DCA at 10. However, you can walk into DCA at 9:30. Soarin' is the only ride I know of that is open before 10, but that's a great time to walk on with no wait, then zip down to TSMM when the rope drops in Sunshine Plaza at 10. If you are among the initial mob headed to TSMM at 10, you can get on with about a 10 minute wait . . . but once you get off, it will be up to 45 minutes and I haven't seen it any shorter throughout the day. Maybe late night during the electrical parade would be a better time? Unlike DHS, there is no FP for TSMM at DCA.

Riverboats are closed for refurb right now - I don't know if they will be open again by June. Tiana is doing her show on the steps in NOS. It's kind of a mini show which is nice because you can get up close!

Thanks for mentioning the Beast's Library - I have never heard of it but will now try to find it at DCA - my DD will love that!!

Many thanks for the reconnaissance from the field!!

I actually knew PFF was just a Meet & Greet now. I read that they discontinued the little coronation show last year. I also read recently that it's coming back, but not until later in the year, after we go. Too bad since we skipped that show when we were there before too! (After waiting in line for so long, the rest of the family was WAY ready to move on....)

That whole PFF thing just irritates me really.... We're really big princess fans, and it seems so crazy to hide them away back there. I loved it when they met guests out in the open around the castle. It made for some beautiful photos! Mostly it irritates me that you stand in line for an hour plus but never know who you are going to see. For example, if my daughter is wearing her Sleeping Beauty costume, I'd kind of like to find Sleeping Beauty, but you won't know until AFTER you wait in line for an hour who will be back there. You COULD get in line a while before opening, but then you give up all that time to have short lines on the rides. They really just need a better system....

Let me know if you find the beast's library! I'd love to see some photos!

 

[bnbheartdisney]

Speaking by experience...

1) What's the scoop on the Nemo subs?
I've found that it's best to go early in the morning. All the times that I've gone to Disneyland, this ride always has a long line. If you haven't gone on it before, I suggest trying it. I did and didn't particularly care for it - the speakers were loud, but maybe it was just where I was seated. I will ride it again with my little one since she is big enough now.

11) What's the scoop of Toy Story Mania?
I also feel that this ride is an early morning ride. I love this ride, it is so much fun!

 

[Aust]

For the musical chairs - where is Coke Corner?? We missed this on our trip a couple of years ago and I'd love to see it in January when I'm going to DL with my sister and neice.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

For the musical chairs - where is Coke Corner?? We missed this on our trip a couple of years ago and I'd love to see it in January when I'm going to DL with my sister and neice.

Coke Corner is at the end of Main Street on the left side, as you are walking towards the castle.

 

[mrswh]

We tried to see Mary & Bert's show in front of the castle yesterday (Weds.), but it didn't happen. According to the CM at the info booth, there is no set schedule - he just knew it wasn't happening that day. So I guess that's one that you just have to ask about when you arrive! They did have musical chairs when & where PPs have described. Also, Tiana does her show & meet & greets 4 or 5 times a day, but only Friday-Tuesday - for now, anyway!

Found the Beast's Library - it is cute! Not super exciting but a neat themed area and glad to have found it!

 

[HydroGuy]

For the musical chairs - where is Coke Corner?? We missed this on our trip a couple of years ago and I'd love to see it in January when I'm going to DL with my sister and neice.

Coke Corner is at the end of Main Street on the left side, as you are walking towards the castle.

Here is a map. Put your mouse over Coke Corner and it will show highlight:

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8112494&lon=-117.9191592&z=19&l=0&m=b

 

[HydroGuy]

Speaking by experience...

1) What's the scoop on the Nemo subs?
I've found that it's best to go early in the morning. All the times that I've gone to Disneyland, this ride always has a long line. If you haven't gone on it before, I suggest trying it. I did and didn't particularly care for it - the speakers were loud, but maybe it was just where I was seated. I will ride it again with my little one since she is big enough now.

11) What's the scoop of Toy Story Mania?
I also feel that this ride is an early morning ride. I love this ride, it is so much fun!

We all have our different experiences and ideas, but I would approach Nemo and TSMM differently. FWIW, these are two of the more difficult rides at all DLR to work into your day because they do not have FP or single rider and are still relatively new and more popular.

Nemo is difficult because it has such low capacity. Plus it is a long ride time-wise. And no FP or single rider or anything. From my observations the line seems to surge in the morning and then usually drop off during the day. I see it near 30 minutes a lot of time by late afternoon or early evening.

One of the reasons I do not like to do Nemo first thing in the morning is because it takes so long. If you hit it first during MM or first thing on a non-MM day, by the time you are off it will already be 30 minutes into park hours. By that time you could have ridden 4-5 rides in Fantasyland. Instead you spent all that time on one ride - which is not that good BTW.

So I prefer to do Nemo later in the day after the line has decreased. However, if the reports in this thread are correct, during Spring Break this year the line has not gone down to 30 minutes later in the day. If not then I would be tempted to ride it first thing like BNB suggests.

TSMM is another tough ride to work in. It has strange pattern where the line surges immediately in the morning and then also drops during the late afternoon and evening. It used to have single rider but they have dropped that. So rather than get in the morning surge we have waited to ride it at like 4PM and the line has dropped down to 30 minutes and sometimes 20 minutes.

When World of Color opens apparently they are going to shut down the PP rides after 8PM which means TSMM will stop running. I suspect that may affect wait patterns by people who know they cannot TSMM later after 8PM (they will have to stop allowing people in line by 7 or 7:30PM if they want to stop the ride by 8).

 

[mom2rtk]

We all have our different experiences and ideas, but I would approach Nemo and TSMM differently. FWIW, these are two of the more difficult rides at all DLR to work into your day because they do not have FP or single rider and are still relatively new and more popular.

Nemo is difficult because it has such low capacity. Plus it is a long ride time-wise. And no FP or single rider or anything. From my observations the line seems to surge in the morning and then usually drop off during the day. I see it near 30 minutes a lot of time by late afternoon or early evening.

One of the reasons I do not like to do Nemo first thing in the morning is because it takes so long. If you hit it first during MM or first thing on a non-MM day, by the time you are off it will already be 30 minutes into park hours. By that time you could have ridden 4-5 rides in Fantasyland. Instead you spent all that time on one ride - which is not that good BTW.

So I prefer to do Nemo later in the day after the line has decreased. However, if the reports in this thread are correct, during Spring Break this year the line has not gone down to 30 minutes later in the day. If not then I would be tempted to ride it first thing like BNB suggests.

TSMM is another tough ride to work in. It has strange pattern where the line surges immediately in the morning and then also drops during the late afternoon and evening. It used to have single rider but they have dropped that. So rather than get in the morning surge we have waited to ride it at like 4PM and the line has dropped down to 30 minutes and sometimes 20 minutes.

When World of Color opens apparently they are going to shut down the PP rides after 8PM which means TSMM will stop running. I suspect that may affect wait patterns by people who know they cannot TSMM later after 8PM (they will have to stop allowing people in line by 7 or 7:30PM if they want to stop the ride by 8).

Thanks HydroGuy! That's great insight.

I think I had the same concern about the Nemo subs. Since we want to do all of Fantasyland, I can't reconcile giving up opening time to do one ride when I could have done 5 or 6 of the others. We're likely to stay all day, so maybe late in the day? I'm thinking on our one day we get to hit DL at opening, maybe Matterhorn, Peter Pan, Alice, Dumbo, and on from there. Then back later in the day for the Nemo subs....... ???

And I hadn't even considered that WOC would have them closing some other rides early. I guess I'll need to watch the Boards closely. Have there been any more updates on opening day? Or is it still rumored to be the 10th or 11th? Is it wrong of me to hope it's delayed??????? We got to DHS too late last fall to do TSMM, so I really want to catch it this summer at DL.

On the bright side, if they DO premiere WOC while we're there, maybe that would be my target time to do Nemo!

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks HydroGuy! That's great insight.

I think I had the same concern about the Nemo subs. Since we want to do all of Fantasyland, I can't reconcile giving up opening time to do one ride when I could have done 5 or 6 of the others. We're likely to stay all day, so maybe late in the day? I'm thinking on our one day we get to hit DL at opening, maybe Matterhorn, Peter Pan, Alice, Dumbo, and on from there. Then back later in the day for the Nemo subs....... ???

And I hadn't even considered that WOC would have them closing some other rides early. I guess I'll need to watch the Boards closely. Have there been any more updates on opening day? Or is it still rumored to be the 10th or 11th? Is it wrong of me to hope it's delayed??????? We got to DHS too late last fall to do TSMM, so I really want to catch it this summer at DL.

On the bright side, if they DO premiere WOC while we're there, maybe that would be my target time to do Nemo!

I have not seen anything news since Tuesday's Al Lutz article - New Al Lutz: Lots of World of Color News (debuting June 10), Bye-Bye Maliboomer. And at this point I doubt WOC will be delayed past June 11. That is when Nightastic starts and Disney wants it going...

 

[mom2rtk]

I have not seen anything news since Tuesday's Al Lutz article - New Al Lutz: Lots of World of Color News (debuting June 10), Bye-Bye Maliboomer. And at this point I doubt WOC will be delayed past June 11. That is when Nightastic starts and Disney wants it going...

So am I off base by being REALLY concerned about how busy the parks will be the 10th and 11th???????????? Even with the AP blackout?

 

[HydroGuy]

So am I off base by being REALLY concerned about how busy the parks will be the 10th and 11th???????????? Even with the AP blackout?

June 10 is a grad night. So parks will probably be not crowded according to previous reports of grad nights. June 11 will be WOC opening. Even with AP blockouts I expect it will be crowded. But not as bad as when the APs are unblocked the following few weeks.

 

[mom2rtk]

June 10 is a grad night. So parks will probably be not crowded according to previous reports of grad nights. June 11 will be WOC opening. Even with AP blockouts I expect it will be crowded. But not as bad as when the APs are unblocked the following few weeks.

Oops........I messed up my dates. We'll be there the 11th and 12th, so we'll miss the Grad Night......

 

[HydroGuy]

Oops........I messed up my dates. We'll be there the 11th and 12th, so we'll miss the Grad Night......

June 11 is the start of summer Nightastic and WOC. So I guess from there on crowds will bump up as Disney is promoting this as the start of the summer season. But it is still better than the unblocked days. I doubt your days will be significantly more crowded than the weekends that follow in June. There are other AP holders (PAP and DAP) unblocked and those folks might be tempted to come out on June 11.

 

[Hound 109]

My daughter and I are HUGE Princess and Fantasyland fans. We plan to hit Fantasyland first thing on Friday, since I believe it is not a MM day. (We will not have MM access). I want to do all of FL at some point, but will have boys with us too, so need to do the other lands too.

Here are my random questions, the answers to which will help make our trip even MORE magical!

1) What's the scoop on the Nemo subs? We purposely scheduled our last trip to leave on the day before it opened. I really don't like HUGE crowds. What is the wait likely to be at park opening vs. later in the day? Are there other times that are good for shorter waits?

2) Same question on the Matterhorn. This is probably my boys' favorite attraction (right ahead of Indy....). So we'll need to ride this a couple of times. Is this a "do it at opening or wait forever" deal?

I'm going to agree with Hydroguy & say that you should treat your Friday morning exactly like many of us treat our MM day. Why waste 30-40 min. at the beginning of the day on Nemo when you could ride 4-6 rides (including both sides of Matterhorn....your son's favorite ride) during that time?

(Especially since Peter Pan, Alice & Matterhorn also develop big lines later in the day.)

Would Nemo see a dip in lines during the parade (or the fireworks)? Is that an option? No matter, on your Friday I'd do:

- Peter Pan first (always first) but be first at the turnstile.
- Dumbo (first or second cycle)
- then Alice (or Matterhorn.....both sides )
- then Matterhorn....both sides. (or Alice)
- then Toadie, Tea Cups or Storybookland (any order)
- Carousel & Casey Jones.

If starting both days in DL, you can split these up a little, but do the rides open for MM on Friday (since you don't have MM) & do the non-MM rides on Sat. (so you'll be on an even keel with others).

Nemo....during a parade or during the fireworks (or skip altogether ).