strategies for DCA & FP ? - Magic Morning ? too

[WendyLovesPeter]

this is how I am thinking

The first 2 are favorites from WDW, so we may want to ride twice

start at Soarin - be @ park a bit before 9:30 because it may open early for Soarin only - get FP if we want to ride again later
go to Toy Story - ride it - get FP if we want to ride again later

other things we probably want to do include
Monsters Inc
Grizzly
Screamin
Aladdin show
TOT
Mulholland

is this realistic if we visit during spring break time - April

are they as liberal with FP at DL as they are at WDW - meaning will they accept a FP a little past the return window?

 

[DangerMouse]

I would forego riding Soarin first thing at 9:30 and just grab a FP for it. Then get in line for TSMM (the line forms right across from Soarin, near GRR). They will escort the line-up at park opening to TSMM. I would hit Screamin after TSMM and grab a FP for it right after you get off (you should hit your next FP window right around then). Then head around the pier to Mulholland (which really doesn't require a FP most days), but single rider is a great short-cut.

BTW, TSMM does NOT have FP at DLR. Single rider, again, is a great short cut.

Then I would head back to do Soarin and grab a FP for Grizzly (which is not networked so you can get a FP anytime).

DLR is even more liberal than WDW with regard to FP's after their expiration window. You can use the FP anytime after the first time on your FP, up until park closing.

 

[gatorfreud]

Do not ride Soarin and then go to TSM. You will be too late and have a long wait - we did that once. If they have the special TSM line (they don't always have it) that is the way to go. Get someone in that line at 9:30 and send someone for a Soarin' FP.

TSM is very crowded right at opening, and then not as bad as the day goes on. We rode many times after 3-4pm and the wait was only 30-40 min. - I didn't see it get over that and we were there last weekend in October and Thanksgiving weekend.

They had the special line for TSM the Oct. Saturday we went, and we were first on that, followed by Screamin', Maliboomer, Mullholland Madness - all by 10:45 (open was at 10).

I would think of DL and DCA as the same park - don't split them by days. We always arrived before opening at DL (either MM or not) - it stayed very manageable until about 11 it seemed. Usually we left DL about 9:15 to head to DCA, did that stuff and grabbed FP, and then back to DL to collect more FP and ride. We always had more FP than we could use - it just seems the folks at DL don't use FP like they do at WDW, don't know why.

Anyway, bounce easily between the two parks and collect FP at every window and you should have absolutely no trouble.

Kim

 

[HydroGuy]

We always had more FP than we could use - it just seems the folks at DL don't use FP like they do at WDW, don't know why.

I have yet to ride TSMM at DCA although we rode it about 10 times at DHS. So I cannot comment on the TSMM portion of the OP's question except to confirm that they do not have FP.

My impression about FP savvy is that DLR visitors are more savvy than WDW visitors - presumably because there are so many more local AP holders at DLR than WDW.

I would think of DL and DCA as the same park - don't split them by days. We always arrived before opening at DL (either MM or not) - it stayed very manageable until about 11 it seemed. Usually we left DL about 9:15 to head to DCA, did that stuff and grabbed FP, and then back to DL to collect more FP and ride. We always had more FP than we could use - it just seems the folks at DL don't use FP like they do at WDW, don't know why.

Anyway, bounce easily between the two parks and collect FP at every window and you should have absolutely no trouble.

I think gator's advice is great. I always tell WDW visitors that parkhopping at DLR is entirely different than WDW and that it is best to think of the two parks as one. It really changes how you do things after you have digested this.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

You are right. I am thinking of DL and DCA as two parks as we do with the WDW parks. I am so conditioned to the bus rides at WDW and how they can eat up a chunk of your day. And, the whole rope drop thing at WDW - you really gotta know your stuff on those busy days.

The TSM at DHS line is easily a 2 hour line on busy days. We bee-lined to get a FP at rope drop, and it wasn't good until after noon - that is how quick they go. Its the same crazy mess at Soarin at EPCOT.

So please keep talking guys!! you are making me feel better! Can you enter one park from the other or do you have to go out on the street and walk down the street to enter the other park? I am trying to grasp all this

 

[PinkBudgie]

There is a big courtyard between the parks. You walk out of one gate, straight across the other gate in about a minute. No streets, no trams, no buses.

 

[Hound 109]

Do not ride Soarin and then go to TSM. You will be too late and have a long wait - we did that once. If they have the special TSM line (they don't always have it) that is the way to go. Get someone in that line at 9:30 and send someone for a Soarin' FP.

TSM is very crowded right at opening, and then not as bad as the day goes on. We rode many times after 3-4pm and the wait was only 30-40 min. - I didn't see it get over that and we were there last weekend in October and Thanksgiving weekend.

They had the special line for TSM the Oct. Saturday we went, and we were first on that, followed by Screamin', Maliboomer, Mullholland Madness - all by 10:45 (open was at 10).

I would think of DL and DCA as the same park - don't split them by days. We always arrived before opening at DL (either MM or not) - it stayed very manageable until about 11 it seemed. Usually we left DL about 9:15 to head to DCA, did that stuff and grabbed FP, and then back to DL to collect more FP and ride. We always had more FP than we could use - it just seems the folks at DL don't use FP like they do at WDW, don't know why.

Anyway, bounce easily between the two parks and collect FP at every window and you should have absolutely no trouble.

Kim

I also agree with gatorfreud. (& view DLR as one park)

- We always go to DL first (for equal parts early morning touring & FP collecting).
- Hop to DCA at 11ish.
- Afternoon rest.
- Back to DL (or DCA) with a pocketful of FPs for evening touring & entertainment.

Here's a thread with additional comments & opinions on park hopping at DLR & how it contrasts (drastically) with WDW.

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


And you should read ALL of Hydroguy's tip threads (a wealth of info for all DLR visitors):

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

OMG - thank you SO much for the insight. I never thought of it this way!!

another concern I have is that we are thinking to stay offsite to save some $$. The thing I like most about the DL hotels is the magic morning benefit.

Staying "off site" we will only get ONE magic morning (Easter time) This really concerns me - your thoughts and any experience you've had?

Or is there a way to get two that I'm not thinking of

 

[DisneyMomma81]

How about staying @ 2 hotels? We don't get MM's, we're AP holders ~ last month we stayed @ HoJo our 1st 2 nites and at PP our last nite, mostly to get a MM on our last day. I very much preferred HoJo's over PP. So perhaps you could start your stay off site and use your 1 MM from your tickets and end on site and use a MM that way. It wasn't hard at all ~ I had a taxi van take us & our luggage from HoJo's to PP ~ I spent $10.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

How about staying @ 2 hotels? It wasn't hard at all ~ I had a taxi van take us & our luggage from HoJo's to PP ~ I spent $10.

really? never thought of this........
We are coming in Thurs late and leaving Tuesday.

I suppose we could stay "offsite" Thurs, Fri, Sat
We want to either go to the Angels game or go to Hollywood tour on Sunday, so may be that would be the day to move - won't lose a park morning.
We could stay at PP Sunday, Monday.

The angels game is noonish - do you think we would have time to move out, move in (or will they store our bags like at WDW) then get to the game on time?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

When we hotel swapped our MM was the next day (the day we checked out), I had the taxi pick us up early enough that we were in DL @ opening, we were able to check in early but they'd store your bags for you if your room wasn't available. If you check in early enough on Sun you'd get that MM (perhaps you could leave for the game after an hour or 2 in the park) and if you stay Mon. night you'd get Tues. MM. Since you get one with your ticket do you need 2 more? I think I'd be fine with just 2 MM's ~ out of Sun or Tues I'd pick Tues for a MM. So I guess I'm saying if your staying through Tues. I'd swap hotels on Mon. If you do switch hotels Sun. I'm sure you'd make it to the game just fine.