So how would you do EE, TTMM, and Finding Nemo in 4 days?

[CinderellaDreamer]

I've got two EEs w/ my tickets from getaway.com, 1 TTMM ticket for me and the two year old, and would like to ride FN.

We start on Thursday morning w/ EE available at 9 a.m., gen. park admission at 10.

Friday, parks open at 8 a.m. TTMM available (Xmas decorations,etc. up for first day - fyi for crowd levels)

Saturday, EE available, and parks open at 8 a.m. TTMM available

Sunday, no EE, parks open at 8 a.m.

And I want to do Jedi Training Academy.

So I was thinking I would have to sacrifice one of my EEs for the FN ride. I love FL best of any part of the park, so I hate doing this. But I don't see how you can ride FN if you don't run to the back first thing in the morning.

Since Thursday is our 1st day there, I would rather use my EE for FL rides. But is it my best bet to do FN that day, since it will be lowest crowd day, most likely?

Should I use that precious 1st hour that DL is open on Friday to do TTMM or should I go to early entry on Sat. and then do TTMM right afterwards? Dd and I are the only ones going. The guys could move on to rides that we can't do (Thunder Mountain, Matterhorn, etc.).

Trying to maximize our early morning times at DL. Love those short lines.

In the afternoons, go to DCA to avoid the crowds?

TIA!

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

I don't know the answer but I am interested to see what it will be because we will be there those same days. Not Thursday or Friday morning, but Friday late afternoon through Tuesday evening.

I hope we have warm weather! I've been checking the weather and it's supposed to be about 80 this week, that would be perfect, hope it stays that way!

 

[DangerMouse]

Have you considered hopping in the Nemo line right at closing time? I have heard the wait at that piont is usually under 60 minutes, and just think, you could sit there and watch the park just empty out as you are in line and then stroll out afterwards with minimal crowds.

That would take Nemo off your early morning list.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

Dangermouse - that is a great suggestion, but I am afraid that we won't make it to closing. We are from the east and will be dealing with time changes, and my kids all go to bed at 8 p.m. So I doubt we will even see fireworks unless we have a good view from our hotel.

Some day when they are a little older though... I can't wait to see those fireworks!!

 

[DLR29]

Here's what I'd do:

Thursday: EE for Fantasyland
Friday: Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness
Saturday: EE for Nemo
Sunday: Fantasyland at opening.

Therefore, you still get in 2 FL mornings and a morning for Nemo.

 

[DisQueen]

I don't know what day you are going, but I'm guessing DL doesn't expect it to be too busy with a 10 am opening on that Thursday. We went this past Thursday (also a 10 am opening day) and rode Nemo about 1:30 in the afternoon. The wait was only about 30 minutes and the line looked shorter than what we had seen in the morning. I think people with little kids were leaving for naps and most locals hadn't arrived after school/work yet. Worked great for us!

 

[Mrs. Bee]

What is EE and TTMM??

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

DisQueen, that would be awesome to do it that afternoon! I'm going a week from Thursday. The Xmas decorations go up the next day, so perhaps crowds will be light that Thursday.

We could try to do Nemo right after lunch and then have it over and be able to use our EE to do more rides! That's so cool. Thanks.

Mrs. Bee - EE = early entry, TTMM = Toontown Morning Madness.

There is a guide to all acronyms posted at the top of this forum and some great tips and info as well.

 

[Albort]

Varies on the days you go... Now and days, Nemo's lines are 45 min at the morning rush and 30 min throughout the day...

 

[Hound 109]

Here's what I'd do:

Thursday: EE for Fantasyland
Friday: Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness
Saturday: EE for Nemo
Sunday: Fantasyland at opening.

Therefore, you still get in 2 FL mornings and a morning for Nemo.

I agree with this. Only thing to add would be to see if there is a short(ish) line for Nemo Thurs. afternoon. (It would be good to have that behind you prior to the weekend.)

Also, I would do Jedi on Thurs or Fri.

Use DCA as your "crowd escaper" in the afternoons (& possibly much of Sat.)

I know you've already read this, but:

- DL as early as possible. Pick up 3-5 FPs in the morning.
- Hop to DCA when it's crowded.
- Take a rest each day.
- Enjoy your FPs at DL on crowded evenings.

If you enjoy the parks early, zig when others are zagging, read up on HydroGuy's tips, & collect FPs, you'll have plenty of time to do everything you want to the first 3 days.

Then the last day can be enjoyed doing anything else you want to do.

Have fun.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

Thanks guys for your help and advice!

I'm really hoping to zig rather than zag!

Hound - any thoughts on the Jedi Training Academy? Is it best to go straight there after having done FL during EE on Thursday?

Thanks!

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks guys for your help and advice!

I'm really hoping to zig rather than zag!

Hound - any thoughts on the Jedi Training Academy? Is it best to go straight there after having done FL during EE on Thursday?

Thanks!

If it was me, I'd head over to the left side of the park (after EE) for a couple of hours your first day. (you're fresh, pumped up & need to ride rides & pick up FPs for later). Nothing better than blowing through Pirates, HM & Pooh (& if small lines Splash & Indy) with no lines (while you are picking up a couple of FPs from Splash, Indy, BTMRR or Buzz). Also grab some bakery items mid morning at pooh corner.

I'd do Jedi either Thurs afternoon (just prior your mid day break.....or just after the break) or on Friday late morning (after touring for a couple of hours & FP collecting). DL opens so much earlier on Fri, which really will help out on your Friday touring (imo)

CindyDreamer....do you have my jedi tip sheet?

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

If it was me, I'd head over to the left side of the park (after EE) for a couple of hours your first day. (you're fresh, pumped up & need to ride rides & pick up FPs for later). Nothing better than blowing through Pirates, HM & Pooh (& if small lines Splash & Indy) with no lines (while you are picking up a couple of FPs from Splash, Indy, BTMRR or Buzz). Also grab some bakery items mid morning at pooh corner.

I'd do Jedi either Thurs afternoon (just prior your mid day break.....or just after the break) or on Friday late morning (after touring for a couple of hours & FP collecting). DL opens so much earlier on Fri, which really will help out on your Friday touring (imo)

CindyDreamer....do you have my jedi tip sheet?

Hound, I have read it, but it has been over a month now, and I just searched with no luck. If you have it readily available, I would love to refresh! Thanks! And thanks for your great tips on how you would fit it all in. I *have* to go in with a plan, especially throwing TTMM in there.

Thanks again!

 

[Hound 109]

Hound, I have read it, but it has been over a month now, and I just searched with no luck. If you have it readily available, I would love to refresh! Thanks! And thanks for your great tips on how you would fit it all in. I *have* to go in with a plan, especially throwing TTMM in there.

Thanks again!

You're like me. I like to have a plan. Even if we don't follow it exactly, it's easier for me to enjoy myself if there's an order to the day. I know some prefer to just "go with the flow", but if i don't do a plan, then I'd be "flowing" into FL at 11am (with hour lines for PP) or flowing over to Aladdin 5 min. after the last showing, or standing behind 4 people at the parade (instead of staking out a spot on the stone bench with no one in front or behind me).

& don't even get me started on how cool it is to have 4-5 FPs in your pocket on a crowded evening. I remember planning my first trip....kinda had a plan...but was still not quite getting it. Then I read HydroGuy's How to use FP on a Busy Day thread & it was like the waters parted in front of me. Someone who likes to work a park like i do, but had already figured it out.

We got SO much done the first 2-3 hours of each day & still rested each day. & then we would leisurely enjoy our late afternoon & evenings (& stroll past 75 min. lines of sneering people) with our golden FPs collected hours earlier. My sister in law who had been to DL a dozen times (but had never really understood FP & had never heard of the Dis) was flabbergasted at how much we did (the day she was with us). Not rushing...just methodically working the park (probably 16 rides & 2 events at DL & another 5 rides & 1 event at DCA). She said she hadn't done as much as we did (in one day) the previous 3 times she had been.

Jedi link:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699

Why i ParkHop at DLR link:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

Critique of EE link:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671

& no worries CindyDreamer....with the info you have & the planning you've done, you are ahead of 95% of those who visit. 3 efficeint days would be plenty for you....4 days ensures a great time & allows you to smell the roses as well.

Have fun.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

You're like me. I like to have a plan. Even if we don't follow it exactly, it's easier for me to enjoy myself if there's an order to the day. I know some prefer to just "go with the flow", but if i don't do a plan, then I'd be "flowing" into FL at 11am (with hour lines for PP) or flowing over to Aladdin 5 min. after the last showing, or standing behind 4 people at the parade (instead of staking out a spot on the stone bench with no one in front or behind me).

& no worries CindyDreamer....with the info you have & the planning you've done, you are ahead of 95% of those who visit. 3 efficeint days would be plenty for you....4 days ensures a great time & allows you to smell the roses as well.

Have fun.

Hound, thank you so much for your post. It was really encouraging to me as I was worrying a little about getting everything in that I wanted to. You helped put my mind as ease, and I really appreciate it! And thank you for the great links! I had read them in the past, but needed refreshing. I cut and pasted some important info from them to my Word document where I am collecting important info to take into the parks with me. (yes, I am THAT type).

You summed it all up perfectly (and much more eloquently than I could)! I need to have a plan, so that I can relax knowing that we will not miss out on anything special or important. I need to have a plan so that I will spend as little time as possible in line with three little kids (6, 6 and 2). I need to have a plan because, well, I like plans.

ONE WEEK TO GO! I can't wait to see Walt's park for the first time. And to park hop for the first time! And to ride all those wonderful FL rides that they don't have at WDW for the first time. Its just going to be incredible.

And we are staying across the street! That will never happen for us at WDW. DL rocks!!

Thanks again!

 

[Hound 109]

Ages 6, 6 & 2. Man, you guys are gonna have a blast!!

If on your second EE day, you have 15-20 minutes left during EE, head over to Buzz.

DS 8 & I did this our second EE morning, after riding Materhorn, Alice, Toady & Pinocchio again (our favorite FL rides) & rode Buzz 3 times in a row (walk on). Buzz is better at DLR than WDW.... & kids of all ages (as I'm sure you know) enjoy it.

Report back (with a trip report or not) & let us know how it all went. (& good luck against the "Darths" )

Have a great time at Walt's park.

 

[HydroGuy]

Jedi link:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699

Why i ParkHop at DLR link:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

Critique of EE link:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671

Hey cool. We are going to have to start calling you HydroHound with your tips you are creating. Great work.

 

[garate55]

We are going the same days except we are staying for Monday. I think we will do Thursday for our only early entry(cause of the late opening 10am ) but we have a character breakfast and I think we are going to do the Grand Californian breakfast on Saturday.

But on to your question-- I would use one EE for the first day cause the park opens late that day it will get you an extra hour.......but see we went in Dec '06 and my kids were asleep on the way back to the hotel cause we were there from opening to 1am(kids were 12,8 and 1). Like you said though your kids go to sleep @8pm (I wish) so you really don't need the "extra time" but would like an uncrowded park.
But if you only have TTMM for you and the 2YO it will only get you in @8 instead of the normal 9am opening (not first day though TT opens an hour after the Main park opens @10)so you can get in the same time Disneyland opens for TTMM. I would use it on Friday(locals in school).....these are just suggestions though. Weekends get busy cause of the local people, but usually don't do the EE or TTMM.

As for the other EE I would use it Saturday while your kids are still kind of coherent.

Jedi training we were going to do that too my 9YO will love it (he doesn't know we are going yet) we will try Friday and Saturday @3:30 while the "Christmas Fantasy" parade is going on @ the same time.

As for Nemo try to catch it during a parade or fireworks (thought I read that somewhere).

 

[Hound 109]

Hey cool. We are going to have to start calling you HydroHound with your tips you are creating. Great work.

Nope, there's only one HydroDude & his rules are the DLR touring bible. The rest of us just toss a thought in when your off to DL Paris or DL Hong Kong or sumthin.

(& the links i saved on Jedi, EE & Park Hopping have great opinions & info from you, DangerMouse, CanNotWaitForDisney, & others. All offer (imo) good info to the newbie....and also to the WDW Vet who (incorrectly) thinks that DLR should be toured (or enjoyed) like WDW. Both destinations are great, but they need to be planned out differently for maximum enjoyment, imo.)

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

You know, Hound, you are a super nice guy - and humble too!

You really are great for advice and so nice to help people. I know *I* really appreciate it.

And I think your posts are hilarious.

My favorite line:

"We carefully avoided knocking down small children & grandmothers with walkers. "

Loved that one!

So, accept your new found title and glory!

Cinderelladreamer - former Texan herself! (Go Aggies!)