short hours touring tricks?

[disneedee]

so when we go in january they will probably have 10-8 hours at DL.

does anyone have any strategy for short hours.
can you make ps for breakfast anywhere in the park before they open?
what time do you arrive at the gate?
is main street open before the park?
what about on ee days?

 

[PoohBearFriends]

We hit early entry if available. Usually trying to get to the gate 1/2 hour before hand. We are often let into main street for rope drop.

We do the fantasyland rides while Peterpan 1st. One of us goes to get FP for Space Mt. You can usually get another FP with in 30 to 45 minutes. We walk through on buzz and head to BTMRR and pick up another FP and walk through. We head for HM and ride and pooh bear ride pick up FP for splash and see characters at Pooh corner if they are out. We then have 3 FP ready for later and head over to DCA.

We pick up FP for Midway or Screamin or Soarin. If we have enough energy one of us runs over earlier and gets FP if the parks open at the same time. We'll also pick u GRR because it is unlinked. At that point our group likes to do Redwood, jellyfish or monsters. We then hit the FP and get another as soon as we can.

If it starts getting busy we'll head back over to DLR. Pick up another FP for Space or BTMRR and ride on it while we are there. We ride on pirates and do splash and then work our way across the park to end with Nemo right before the park closes.

We are roller coaster fanatics so that is our focus.

 

[pixiewings71]

We just collected FPs as much as possible and rode whatever didn't have lines whenever possible. We didn't have much of a strategy or plan because it was just DBF and I so we just played it by ear. We didn't miss anything, even with the parks closing early, we actually enjoyed the hours. We also ate before going to the parks in the morning so we didn't have to eat once we got there and we ate after leaving at night, that helped a lot. We had a CS meal for lunch around 1 or 2 so we could eat later at night and not be overly hungry.

 

[Disney Dreams]

The shops on Main Street remain open later than Park closing. Shop on your way out instead of during the day when everything else is still open.

Remember, shorter hours generally means less crowded. There are many that believe you can do and enjoy more from 10-8 during January than from 8-mid during summer when you factor in the crowds.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I love those hours! No midday break needed, stay from open-close! And yes shorter hours typically mean smaller crowds - get there early, collect FPs ~ a lot of times Thunder Mtn. FPs aren't available when the crowds are low.

PS ~ Midway - Toy Story Midway Mania does not have FPs.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We were at DLR the beginning of this month and the hours were 10-8.

1. We ate breakfast before we left the hotel

2. We got to the gates about 1/2 hour early

3. We chose DCA on an MM day - since we have AP's and don't get MM. We rode Toy Story first after we picked up a FP for Soarin' and then rode Screamin'. The line for Screamin' was 5 minutes and the longest the line ever got while we were there was 10 minutes. That is how our DS 7 was able to ride it 15 times in 3 days and on one day ride 5 times in a row and then 2 other times with me. We rode whatever we wanted when we wanted and did use our Soarin FP which didn't do us any good since there was NO line.

4. We started at DLR on non-MM days and hit Fantasyland first for PP and then Dumbo and whatever else we wanted. One day we did PP and Dumbo and then rode both sides of the Matterhorn with only a 5 minute line. We did get Space FP's and didn't need them either. The lines for Space were regularly 10 minutes and the FP just makes it so you don't have to walk allllll the way around on the top "landing" zone. We would end up stopping when we were in the launch room - even w/out FP we never stood in line outside. BTMRR didn't even have FP turned on and we only waited 10 minutes, ever. Even Indy was a short wait.

I love 10-8 hours. DH and I went in July and did everything we wanted and if I had to I would go in July again, but if I didn't have to, I would go shorter hours every time. Just add in a weekend or weekend days to see any shows or parades or fireworks when you are there since they don't run every night like they do at more peak season times.

 

[LifeIsTinkIsLife]

WOO! This was a very helpful thread. Thanks everyone!

So I will pretty much only use FP's during the weekend when I go. I leave on thursday 1/28 and will go to the park on friday. I will most likely use my MM on the tuesday, 2/2, since during the weekend the hours should be longer. Pixie, great idea by the way. Eating only one time in the park is a good way to save some money and time! I was a little nervous because of the hours but now I am getting more and more excited!

 

[pixiewings71]

Remember that there are a lot of off site places to eat that are very good....and cheaper then eating inside DL/DCA. DTD has places to eat, Anaheim Garden Walk is very close and down Harbor across from Target is a Red Robin, Joe's Crab Shack, Outback and a pizza place.....and on Harbor across from DLR is Mimi's, Millie's & Denny's. Avoid the Captain Kidd's, it just gross food and avoid the IHOP, it's way overpriced.

 

[LifeIsTinkIsLife]

Remember that there are a lot of off site places to eat that are very good....and cheaper then eating inside DL/DCA. DTD has places to eat, Anaheim Garden Walk is very close and down Harbor across from Target is a Red Robin, Joe's Crab Shack, Outback and a pizza place.....and on Harbor across from DLR is Mimi's, Millie's & Denny's. Avoid the Captain Kidd's, it just gross food and avoid the IHOP, it's way overpriced.

Yeah I should look around the area, we usually don't go too far away. We do go to the Ralph's that is a ways down Ball road and we found an In-n-Out down that way! Red Robin and Joe's will be a great place to eat too!