Starting park for hoppers? (First timers)

[TikiRob]

Headed to DLR for the first time in July. We have a night at DLH and then 3 at GCH. With 5-day hoppers I’m struggling with where to start each day. Right now I have DL, DL, DCA, DL, DL .

I feel like the rope-drop mornings are better served at DL and one rope-drop of DCA is enough.

Am I missing any advantage to have another DCA starting day? What is your strategy?

 

[Geemo]

Headed to DLR for the first time in July. We have a night at DLH and then 3 at GCH. With 5-day hoppers I’m struggling with where to start each day. Right now I have DL, DL, DCA, DL, DL .

I feel like the rope-drop mornings are better served at DL and one rope-drop of DCA is enough.

Am I missing any advantage to have another DCA starting day? What is your strategy?

If the hotels are offering Early Entry (EE) as they did Pre-Covid. I would start at at least one day EE at DCA.

 

[mouschievous]

I think it depends on your priorities. What are your important rides at DCA? Are you getting Genie+? Are there popular rides you'll want to ride more than once? If you have G+ then rope dropping at DCA may not be as important. Without it, some of those rides ma have very long lines, so rope drop becomes more important.

We'll rope drop RSR, and then probably see what Spiderman is doing and maybe go there next. In days of yore we would have rope dropped Soarin' too but we rode it a ton at WDW, so the only way we'll feel the need is if it's Soarin' over California instead of World.

Overall I think there's more to do in DL than DCA, so we rope drop there most, but there are a couple rides in DCA where you'd be served by the early morning.

 

[Pluto468]

We have 5 day hoppers and we're doing DL-DCA-DL-DCA-DL.

I feel like there's more to do at DL, but DCA has a few big rides that I think it's good to rope drop. Also you have more opportunities for breakfast or lunch at DCA if you spend a couple of mornings there. If you don't want to rope drop you could use one of those DCA days as a low-pressure morning and sleep a little later and get to DCA around 9 or 10.

I seem to recall someone saying that they were able to switch their park day at the last minute because they were staying on-site. If this is still the case you could add a second DCA start day if you decide you want it once you're checked into GCH.. Maybe call Disneyland to double check on that, or maybe someone here knows for sure.

 

[TikiRob]

I think it depends on your priorities. What are your important rides at DCA? Are you getting Genie+? Are there popular rides you'll want to ride more than once? If you have G+ then rope dropping at DCA may not be as important. Without it, some of those rides ma have very long lines, so rope drop becomes more important.

We'll rope drop RSR, and then probably see what Spiderman is doing and maybe go there next. In days of yore we would have rope dropped Soarin' too but we rode it a ton at WDW, so the only way we'll feel the need is if it's Soarin' over California instead of World.

Overall I think there's more to do in DL than DCA, so we rope drop there most, but there are a couple rides in DCA where you'd be served by the early morning.

Our priorities are mostly in DL. We have G+ and are willing to buy ILL$. On our DL starts I was hoping to rope-drop what we want there and stack LL for DCA after mid-day breaks.

 

[mouschievous]

Our priorities are mostly in DL. We have G+ and are willing to buy ILL$. On our DL starts I was hoping to rope-drop what we want there and stack LL for DCA after mid-day breaks.

If you have G+ and are willing to buy ILL, then I think you're fine to start in DL all the mornings if you want to. We haven't been since Avengers opened, but for us DCA is not a full day park, and I know a lot of people say they rope drop it and then are done before 1, but can't hop yet because it's not 1 yet.

 

[shosh1530]

I'd probably do two DCA mornings personally just for variety. With 5 day hoppers and Genie+ you don't have to do rope drop every day. We love using the private entrance into DCA, so that alone would motivate me when staying at GCH. There are also some food options available at DCA that I like only in the mornings (breakfast shwarma). I'd love to try the Lamplight Brunch one of these days.

On our last trip, I really enjoyed the morning we spent in DCA. It felt less crowded overall than our DL mornings and we enjoyed hitting up several photopass spots with zero wait. I also feel like parts of DCA can feel really warm (especially Avenger's Campus) and I prefer the option to enjoy things thee in the morning when it is cooler.

 

[maleficent55]

We have a 4 day hoppers for August
I think we are doing: Sunday DL (it’s a need of mine to start with the castle ), Monday DCA, Tuesday DL, Wednesday DCA

We will have DAS and Genie+

My thoughts are if EMH is back we will do two at DCA on Monday and Wednesday
Unless we are beat

I also want to do the early morning power walk through the spa at the GCH, maybe Monday, Wednesday or Thursday

 

[Gypsybear]

We have a 4 day hoppers for August
I think we are doing: Sunday DL (it’s a need of mine to start with the castle ), Monday DCA, Tuesday DL, Wednesday DCA

We always start our trip with the castle, and finish our trip with the castle. It's just a must do for us.

 

[mouschievous]

We always start our trip with the castle, and finish our trip with the castle. It's just a must do for us.

Same.

 

[maleficent55]

We always start our trip with the castle, and finish our trip with the castle. It's just a must do for us.

Same!

 

[MegaraWink]

Headed to DLR for the first time in July. We have a night at DLH and then 3 at GCH. With 5-day hoppers I’m struggling with where to start each day. Right now I have DL, DL, DCA, DL, DL .

I feel like the rope-drop mornings are better served at DL and one rope-drop of DCA is enough.

Am I missing any advantage to have another DCA starting day? What is your strategy?

I think that's great. My first trip to DLR in 2019, I regretted every second I spent in DCA and not DL.

 

[Louis63]

I would 2 starts at DCA because I think you'll definetly want 2 rides on Radiator Springs Racers

 

[MegaraWink]

I would 2 starts at DCA because I think you'll definetly want 2 rides on Radiator Springs Racers

These go for $15 now, though.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

These go for $15 now, though.

I think they mean to rope drop and do standby instead of paying for ILL$. In which case you'll want 2 DCA start days to ride twice that way.

 

[TikiRob]

I would 2 starts at DCA because I think you'll definetly want 2 rides on Radiator Springs Racers

Good point, though I was thinking of rope dropping it one day and then getting in line at the end of the night to get the different experience (and as mentioned, I may just buy an ILL$ if needed).

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Good point, though I was thinking of rope dropping it one day and then getting in line at the end of the night to get the different experience (and as mentioned, I may just buy an ILL$ if needed).

Yeah, doing it once in day at rope drop and doing it once at night with ILL$ or standby should work out.

 

[mouschievous]

Good point, though I was thinking of rope dropping it one day and then getting in line at the end of the night to get the different experience (and as mentioned, I may just buy an ILL$ if needed).

I 100% agree with this plan (though I would ride it 10 times in a day if I could, I love it so much!)

 

[StarlitNight05]

I 100% agree with this plan (though I would ride it 10 times in a day if I could, I love it so much!)

Me too! I always get a bit misty eyed coming around the corner and seeing the waterfall (love the dramatic music)!

 

[Kit Jackson]

Good point, though I was thinking of rope dropping it one day and then getting in line at the end of the night to get the different experience (and as mentioned, I may just buy an ILL$ if needed).

If you are going to ride it twice, do it once with rope drop so you can see it in daylight and not have to pay for ILL$, then do it again at night, either by paying for ILL$ or single rider line. It is a totally different experience at night and one worth doing. (Also, CarsLand is magical at night.) It's worth riding once in daylight and once at night.