Suggested Plan of Action for DCA???

[PrincessIM]

Thanks to the DIS boards, I know what rides and the order we should do them for DL but I'm completely lost when it comes to DCA. We definately have to do TSMM, Soarin, California Screamin, TOT, Monster's Inc, Grizzly River, kiddie rides. I think pretty much all the rides in CA. We are travelling with 4 adults and 4 kids ages (12, 9, 6, 5). We are there from July 19-22 and will be staying at the GCH. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks to the DIS boards, I know what rides and the order we should do them for DL but I'm completely lost when it comes to DCA. We definately have to do TSMM, Soarin, California Screamin, TOT, Monster's Inc, Grizzly River, kiddie rides. I think pretty much all the rides in CA. We are travelling with 4 adults and 4 kids ages (12, 9, 6, 5). We are there from July 19-22 and will be staying at the GCH. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

With WoC coming to DCA (see my signature line) and GRR FPs being a big unknown, and ToT FPs down all summer, and with the possibility of Paradise Pier rides opening early and closing early because of WoC, even a DCA vet like me has no idea yet how we are going to tour DCA this summer. We will know a lot more in June once WoC actually opens and can read what is actually happening at the parks.

In general, DCA strategy involves getting Soarin FPs early, getting GRR FPs especially in the summer, riding Monsters Inc early (one of the first few rides), and either doing TSMM first thing or late afternoon/evening. California Screamin tends to be pretty easy to get on (lines 20-30 minutes) and we work it in when we are back doing TSMM. The Animation Studios are good any time of day and with kids you should spend some time there. If it is their first time I would suggest 90 minutes including seeing Turtle Talk w Crush. Also see Aladdin and realize it does not show every day - but there are rumors it may this summer.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

With WoC coming to DCA (see my signature line) and GRR FPs being a big unknown, and ToT FPs down all summer, and with the possibility of Paradise Pier rides opening early and closing early because of WoC, even a DCA vet like me has no idea yet how we are going to tour DCA this summer. We will know a lot more in June once WoC actually opens and can read what is actually happening at the parks.

In general, DCA strategy involves getting Soarin FPs early, getting GRR FPs especially in the summer, riding Monsters Inc early (one of the first few rides), and either doing TSMM first thing or late afternoon/evening. California Screamin tends to be pretty easy to get on (lines 20-30 minutes) and we work it in when we are back doing TSMM. The Animation Studios are good any time of day and with kids you should spend some time there. If it is their first time I would suggest 90 minutes including seeing Turtle Talk w Crush. Also see Aladdin and realize it does not show every day - but there are rumors it may this summer.

Good advice....with one exception....I don't think Monsters Inc needs to be one of the first few rides anymore. It's not as popular as it was when it first opened.

Also, you may as well get a FP for Screamin too, why wait the 20-30 minutes if you don't have to.

Have a great trip.

 

[HydroGuy]

Also, you may as well get a FP for Screamin too, why wait the 20-30 minutes if you don't have to.

Invariably we send someone all the way back to get Screamin FPs (at least a 5 minute walk each way) and when we get there to use them the standby wait is 20 minutes and FP wait is 10 minutes. If you are there already (for TSMM?) then I agree, get FPs for Screamin. Otherwise I have wasted far more time getting those FPs than I have saved in using them. At least in recent years.

 

[disneymom23]

We like to get in the line for Toy Story at 9:30. I will then run over and pick up FP's for Soarin and then get back in line. After Toy Story, we ride Screamin'. Then I will sit down and my kids will ride it again in the single rider line. At some point we pick up FP's for Screamin so we can ride again at night. Same thing- we ride and then the kids ride again. I get nauseas if I ride twice in a row.

We will do the rest of the park over a couple of days. With the exception of Toy Story, Screamin and Soarin, all other rides/shows we are fine doing just once. But the 3 mentioned, we do every day that we spend time in DCA.

 

[Raindown]

Mickey's fun wheel doesn't load fast and IMO wasn't worth the wait.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Good advice....with one exception....I don't think Monsters Inc needs to be one of the first few rides anymore. It's not as popular as it was when it first opened.

Also, you may as well get a FP for Screamin too, why wait the 20-30 minutes if you don't have to.

Have a great trip.

I agree about Monsters Inc. It does build up once in a while to longer than we want to wait but we can usually just come back later and find a more reasonable line.

Waiting 20-30 minutes for Screamin' is perfectly reasonable if you're there anyway, especially if your fastpass is locked up for the next hour or two by Soarin' or Grizzly. Even if you can get a fastpass, you're not going to save all that much time by getting one, going all the way back to the front of the park to do something else, then trooping all the way back again once your fastpass opens up, and you'll be more tired from all that walking. If you do happen to have an open fastpass window and you are there, then I agree it never hurts to fastpass, especially before you hop in the Toy Story line. The timing for that works out pretty well since the Screamin' fastpass has often opened up by the time you're done with the 45-minute Toy Story wait and ride experience. Or you might want to ride Screamin' twice without having to come back later (get fastpass, ride, ride again with fastpass, you might have to kill a little time in there).

 

[chrissiecutie]

I'm going Memorial Weekend- and I'm clueless regarding DCA and our plan of action!

I will have a 5 year old and we MUST do Toy Story, Monster's Inc, Turtle Talk, Disney's playhouse, Soarin and GRR. However, my tentative plan was to skip over the kiddie rides in Bug's Land- he'll never notice! and skip pretty much everything in Paradise Pier and as we are not rollercoaster folks, we will not be doing Screamin.

My main issue has been that the only real reason to go all the way down to Paradise Pier is for Toy Story. How do I incorporate this into my day??

I was going to do Soarin first thing upon arrival, then GRR then head down to Toy Story. Does this sound like a good plan of action??

I have to admit that as a DL vet, I'm a little overwhelmed with exactly how to do DCA at this time of year. Any ideas would be much appreciated!

 

[PrincessIM]

It will definately be interesting to see what happens come June and WOC. I think TSMM will be our number 1 priority so I think I'd like to cross that off first thing and grab FP for Soarin and GRR (if they'll be available). Monsters Inc is a favourite of DS so we'll have to go on that. This will be our third visit (2007,2008) but our friends first so it will be like we are going for the first time. From what I've heard on this board, using the GCH private entrance probably gets you to TSMM ahead of the crowd coming through the main entrance. Has anyone had any experience with that? Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

 

[skiingfast]

ToT FPs down all summer, and

It was my understanding that the ToT fastpasses would open on the left of ToT, and soon at that. Have you heard otherwise?

 

[HydroGuy]

It was my understanding that the ToT fastpasses would open on the left of ToT, and soon at that. Have you heard otherwise?

Yah, it has been bouncing around for awhile. For example, see http://www.mouseplanet.com/9231/Disneyland_Resort_Update#Rehabs

Tower of Terror Fastpass – not offered through August 15 due to construction of the connector between Bug's Land and Tower of Terror.

 

[wiscmama]

Thanks for this thread...I have a related question. Is it worth fitting in Aladdin with 8 and 4 year olds, or would the time be better spent somewhere else?

TIA!
Michelle

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for this thread...I have a related question. Is it worth fitting in Aladdin with 8 and 4 year olds, or would the time be better spent somewhere else?

TIA!
Michelle

Totally worth it IMO. On a day trip? Probably not unless you know you need some down time in the afternoon to cool off. If you have 2+ days it will definitely be worth it.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Totally worth it IMO. On a day trip? Probably not unless you know you need some down time in the afternoon to cool off. If you have 2+ days it will definitely be worth it.

Aladdin is an excellent show, I would not miss it. Also ToT is one of my favorite rides, moreso than jerking on a sting to shoot something, but boy does it busy. With abit of planning you should be able to see and do the things you want.

Jack

 

[Lissame]

I read on the MouseWait message boards today that ToT is totally dead during the second WOC show. The person rode it twice in a row yesterday during the second WOC show with no wait. It might be worth checking that out if you can stay that late, since it doesn't have a FP right now.