slow-loading rides

[abminer]

I'm struggling to make a plan for DL EMH (both parks, really). I'm wondering which rides are notoriously slow loading/low capacity. At WDW Peter Pan surely is and I'm assuming the same is true at DL. What about less popular rides that we really want to ride - ex. Pinocchio. If we don't do it during EMH are we missing an opportunity? Matterhorn? Would riding Nemo during EMH save us much time? I should say that as WDW vets and east coasters headed to our first (and only?) DLR trip we're really prioritizing rides that are only at DLR or significantly different than the same at WDW.

 

[tasha99]

We just returned from a 5 day stay at Disneyland. I found EMH to be a mixed bag. DCA was great, and we discovered how fun the Toy Story ride is. DL's EMH was very crowded, maybe because it's available to more than hotel guests and only selected rides in fantasy and tomorrow lands were open. The wait for Peter Pan was 45 minutes before the park even officially opened to all. On a September weekday. It was 20 min in the afternoon.

One thing--if you're staying at Grand Californian, don't use their private entrance for EMH or park opening as they have only 2 turnstiles and it gets very backed up.

 

[figment_jii]

I'm struggling to make a plan for DL EMH (both parks, really). I'm wondering which rides are notoriously slow loading/low capacity. At WDW Peter Pan surely is and I'm assuming the same is true at DL. What about less popular rides that we really want to ride - ex. Pinocchio. If we don't do it during EMH are we missing an opportunity? Matterhorn? Would riding Nemo during EMH save us much time? I should say that as WDW vets and east coasters headed to our first (and only?) DLR trip we're really prioritizing rides that are only at DLR or significantly different than the same at WDW.

As a WDW Vet I highly recommend taking a look at HydroGuy's DLR Guide for WDW Vets.

To me, slow loading rides are pretty much anything in Fantasyland (e.g., Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Snow White, Alice, Mr. Toad, Storybook Canal, etc.), Nemo Subs, Pooh, Gadget's Go Coaster, and Astro Orbitor. Over in DCA, some of the rides in Paradise Pier seem kind of slow, the rides in Bug's Life Land, and Monster's Inc. There are others, but those are the ones I can think of at the moment.

I don't have much advice about EMH/MM, but I would probably start with Peter Pan (that is what I did). That line always seem long, so it's best to get it done as early as possible.

 

[grnflash]

Hi. Concentrate your rides in FL (PP, Toad, Alice), make your way to the Matterhorn late in the hour. Here's my typical experience with these rides at rope drop incl. several EMH's each year.

Peter Pan - yes, slow and the first ride in the park to build a line. Which is why so many people go straight there. If it's already long, skip and move onto Alice and Toad during EMH.

Pinnochio - amongst the shortest wait time in the park throughout the day (Snow and Pooh also, often Buzz.) Don't use EMH time here.

Matterhorn - not a super slow loader but the line can get long. Good choice for EMH riding but can put towards the end of the hour.

Nemo - slow everything and long. My advice - never use EMH on this ride. While you'll avoid a line later on, you'll have used a good 1/2 hour on this one ride which is also further into the interior of the park. Get in several FL rides instead and wait this one out later.

Have fun!

 

[Midnightred]

Dumbo is also a very slow-loader, as is PP, Alice, Casey, Canal Boats, Subs especially so. The Rockets in Tomorrowland are also slow-loading. Monsters Inc. is not slow-loading, but Luigi's is.

Midnightred

 

[abminer]

Great advice! Keep the tips coming, please.

I think we'll start with some of the dark rides (but I'm not going to bother with PP, even though I love it, if we have time later and the lines are manageable we'll do it then). We'll def. put matterhorn at the end if the hour and maybe try Nemo just after the park actually opens. I really want to ride Nemo and Storybook, but I fear we'll just have to endure long waits. My childhood love of 20,000 leagues haunts me.

 

[grnflash]

Hi again. If you don't make PP an EMH priority, that makes things much easier. In this case, make Alice your first ride, followed by Toad, then even Snow and Pinnochio since unique dark rides are your priority. You'll probably get all these done in the hour, possibly even Matterhorn - depends what day you'll be there.

After Matterhorn though, I'd stay in the area since you want to do the Canal Boats. They're right there when you exit Matterhorn. This ride isn't open during EMH and also a slow loader. Same with Casey Jr. Short lines at these rides can be deceptive, especially Casey if they're only running one train. Then head over to Nemo. If you're doing Space (not unique but certainly worth a comparison ride since it has differences), get that FP first and then go ride Nemo as you wait out your return window.

Another thing to consider if you've only got 1 day at DL, head across the hub to Adventure/Frontier/NOS. Mornings are awesome on this side of the park and lines take longer to build. And just about everything is unique or so different you'll want to ride. Especially if you want to ride HM Holiday. I know you really want to do Nemo and any first time visitor should. But again, if your park visit is limited to one (??), you'll do a lot more bumping Nemo till the afternoon thereby getting in other unique/very different rides while those lines are still shorter.

 

[Congo Queen]

I agree with all the slow loaders already identified. One that was a surprising new slow loader during our July trip was the Monorail. It was ridiculous. They only filled it 2/3 full in Tomorrowland and so the line in the afternoon snaked all the way down to the entrance to Nemo. They are no longer loading the nose or tail. The usefulness of it as a tool to save a walk back to DLH was greatly reduced.

 

[abminer]

I agree with all the slow loaders already identified. One that was a surprising new slow loader during our July trip was the Monorail. It was ridiculous. They only filled it 2/3 full in Tomorrowland and so the line in the afternoon snaked all the way down to the entrance to Nemo. They are no longer loading the nose or tail. The usefulness of it as a tool to save a walk back to DLH was greatly reduced.

I'm very sorry to hear this. We're staying at DLH and we're looking forward to using it in the afternoon and at the end of the day. DBF is a train geek and sees the mono in WDW as an attraction in itself so I'm sure we'll try it at DLR, just sad that it isn't also practical.

Is Roger Rabbit a slow loader? FPs definitely needed?

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I'm very sorry to hear this. We're staying at DLH and we're looking forward to using it in the afternoon and at the end of the day. DBF is a train geek and sees the mono in WDW as an attraction in itself so I'm sure we'll try it at DLR, just sad that it isn't also practical.

Is Roger Rabbit a slow loader? FPs definitely needed?

The monorail DEFINITELY still loads the front. Occasionally due to crowding and weather, they may halt loading the front, but it is very much still available. We rode up front several times last month. It also is a practical option for hopping out of and into the park (i.e. to DLH, DTD). It just depends on time of day/vagaries of crowds.