Tame rides with longest lines

[KatieCharlotte]

We will be at DL/DCA for four to five days during a busy time of the year. DS will have a disability access card (DAS), but that just means he doesn't have to stand in the line -- he still has to wait the same amount of time for a ride. DD and I are going to use fastpasses and single rider for the rides that he won't be going on because of motion sensitivity. I'd like to have some idea which of those rides that he WILL be going on we should expect to have long lines, other than the most obvious Peter Pan. I'm used to being a planning expert at WDW.

He doesn't do spins, drops, or heights. He loves creepy things and shooting games, like any teen boy. My kids have ZERO interest in non-Star Wars character meet and greets.

At Disneyland, he will want to do Jungle Cruise, treehouse, Pooh, everything in Fantasyland (except Matterhorn and Tea Party), Haunted Mansion (huge favorite), Autopia, Buzz (multiple times), Nemo, plus the Railroad and anything in River Country if open by then. Maybe POC. Possibly Star Wars interactions and watching Jedi Training (not participating).

At California Adventure, I expect him to do: TSMM (multiple times), Little Mermaid, Monsters Inc, Chew Chew Train (as a joke), It's Tough to be Bug show, Drive 'Em Buggies, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree (if it's like a typical whip carnival ride w/ no full spins), carousel, trolley, Redwood Creek Challenge, Sorcerer's workshop, bakery tour, Turtle Talk, and possibly Grizzly River Run and Jellyfish.

Thank you for any advice, either on which attractions will have long lines or which will have relatively short lines all day.

 

[DLgal]

Nemo usually has a long line. Buzz Lightyear has moderate lines most of the time as well. Everything else you listed tends to have low waits. Autopia can be hit or miss.

At DCA, Toy Story holds steady around 40 min most of the time. Everything else you mentioned in DCA usually has shirt lines. Note that the Bugs Life theater doesn't show Tough to be a Bug anymore. It is used to show upcoming movie previews.

 

[figment_jii]

It depends on when you're going...and what time(s) during the day you plan/want to do the listed attractions. If you're going when an attraction has a holiday overlay in place, the lines can get pretty length, especially on weekends and during the peak hours of the day. HMH has an overlay in place from the start of HalloweenTime through early January. IaSW and Jungle Cruise have overlays from the start of the holiday season through early January. As mentioned, Nemo can have a pretty lengthy line because it's such a slow loader. In Fantasyland, Alice can also have a pretty lengthy line (>30 minutes is not uncommon). Storybook Canal and Casey Jr also can have pretty long, slow moving lines. Over in DCA, TSMM usually has a pretty decent line (I agree that 40 minutes is about average, but I've waited longer than that at times).

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Nemo usually has a long line. Buzz Lightyear has moderate lines most of the time as well. Everything else you listed tends to have low waits. Autopia can be hit or miss.

At DCA, Toy Story holds steady around 40 min most of the time. Everything else you mentioned in DCA usually has shirt lines. Note that the Bugs Life theater doesn't show Tough to be a Bug anymore. It is used to show upcoming movie previews.

My DD will be thrilled about Tough to be a Bug, but DS and I were looking forward to it after chickening out at Animal Kingdom.

We're not going during the holidays. It will be spring break or summer. I just like dreaming about DL as summer ends and cold weather moves in here.

I'm making a list of long line/slow load attractions.

 

[Imdboss]

I'd definitely take advantage of Buzz FP, it's not connected to the rest of the park and the return time is usually not very far off. We grabbed one every time we were in TL, think we rode it 11 times on our last trip lol.

 

[figment_jii]

They often use ITtbaB's theater for movie previews, but in between the previews, I do think the show is back on. So, whether ITtbaB that is running when you're there or not, depends on whether there is a new movie coming out that they want to preview. They also use the Sunset Showcase Theater (which is now pretty much a dedicated movie preview theater since they ended the Frozen Sing Along). So, you might still have a chance to see it at DCA.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Sorry silly question are there only paper FP at DLC you can't book online like WDW?

 

[figment_jii]

Correct, DLR still uses the paper/legacy FP system. You cannot book your FPs online (or via the app) (yet). You can use the app to find out the current return times, but you'll still have to go to the FP machines and get the physical FP.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I'd definitely take advantage of Buzz FP, it's not connected to the rest of the park and the return time is usually not very far off. We grabbed one every time we were in TL, think we rode it 11 times on our last trip lol.

Thanks for that info. That sounds like a great way to keep DS feeling relaxed and having fun, especially when we're waiting for a ride time. We're a very competitive family. I think our Buzz record at WDW is three times in one day, but we didn't have the endless FP option.

I'm excited to use the old paper FP system, but I'm biased against the online FP booking system because I spent a 14-hour day at MK during the transition period when only three FP total per day were allowed.

 

[SMD]

I was just rode TSMM this weekend, and surprisingly it was a 25 minute posted wait time but we only waited about 20 minutes, and it probably would have been less but there was an issue loading a vehicle while we were next to load. We talked about riding again because the line was so short. By the time we were off the ride the posted time was back up to 40 and all the switchbacks had been opened. Only maybe 30 minutes had passed. We don't know why we got lucky, but it stayed above 40 minutes for the rest of the day.

By the way, I remembered the other thread, and we did 6 full 360 spins before the first shooting game.

 

[cruisehopeful]

TSMM (multiple times)

I know motion sickness varies from person to person, but my daughter and I have had issues with motion sickness for a few years. I haven't been on TSMM, but she went on it once and said she was super ill from it. She said it was different than Buzz Lightyear because it had quick spins and wearing th 3D glasses seemed to bother her. Maybe she couldn't focus, idk.

We avoided Radiator Springs for a long time because we were both worried we'd feel sick. We finally went on it last month and didn't feel sick and didn't think the ride was particularly fast, either. It's probably going to be our favorite ride at DCA. So, you may want to try it out and see if you think your son could handle it.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree (if it's like a typical whip carnival ride w/ no full spins)

That was our experience. It was similar to typical carnival rides. We rode it several times and laughed our heads off. Never felt bothered by it.

My DD will be thrilled about Tough to be a Bug, but DS and I were looking forward to it after chickening out at Animal Kingdom.

It has varied. It may be back to It's Tough to be a Bug when you are there. It was the last time we were there. The time prior, it was a preview.

 

[Bigrob37]

A quick note about NEMO, there is a separate room called the outpost. It has a flat screen TV and simulates everything you see on the subs. The nice thing is there are seats, no waiting, and no claustrophobia. All you have to do is go to the cast members, at the front of the line, and ask to do the outpost. They will direct you to were you need to go.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I know motion sickness varies from person to person, but my daughter and I have had issues with motion sickness for a few years. I haven't been on TSMM, but she went on it once and said she was super ill from it. She said it was different than Buzz Lightyear because it had quick spins and wearing th 3D glasses seemed to bother her. Maybe she couldn't focus, idk.

We avoided Radiator Springs for a long time because we were both worried we'd feel sick. We finally went on it last month and didn't feel sick and didn't think the ride was particularly fast, either. It's probably going to be our favorite ride at DCA. So, you may want to try it out and see if you think your son could handle it.

That was our experience. It was similar to typical carnival rides. We rode it several times and laughed our heads off. Never felt bothered by it.

It has varied. It may be back to It's Tough to be a Bug when you are there. It was the last time we were there. The time prior, it was a preview.

For my DS, it's not typical motion sickness as much as feeling sick from specific sensations/motions and anxiety over new experiences. He can take a boat ride on rough seas and be the only person not sick, but the unexpected drop in Pirates bothered him. He has been on DHS's TSMM many times, starting when he was seven. Similarly, he has enjoyed whip carnival rides. I'm wary of Radiator Springs because he has always avoided Test Track.

 

[agamble]

Jungle Cruise: our last visit this one had a long line every time we tried to go on it. We finally rode it our last day earlier in the morning and the line wasn’t too bad.

Tarzan’s treehouse: No line for this

Pooh: Usually a 5 minute wait, if it’s longer than 10 minutes I’d check another time unless you just don’t want to walk back there.

Fantasyland: Peter Pan as you know is the worst line, Dumbo, Toadt and Alice also get pretty long lines. Casey Jr. train and the Canal boats are medium waits. Pinochio, the Carousel, Castle walkthrough, Small World (except at Christmas), and Snow White are usually short waits. The best time of day to visit Fantasyland is right after opening. If the line for Peter Pan is already longer than about 10 minutes, save it for another time and walk on all the other attractions.

Haunted Mansion: This is busiest from Halloween to Christmas time. It has been using FP for the last year or so even during non holiday seasons. The wait isn’t horrible though.

Autopia: We don’t really ride this one much as I think it’s boring and we always seem to have a kid who isn’t tall enough to ride, the line can get long and FP has been discontinued.

Buzz: Wait is fairly short, though I haven’t been since they added back the FP. You can currently get a FP for this and another ride at the same time.

Nemo: This is a long ride and the line gets long after the first hour. It’s best to head to this ride shortly after opening if possible.

Railroad/River: Expected to open end of May beginning of June next year. These rides typically don’t have long lines, though I expect an uptick in ridership for the railroad and river boats after they first reopen as people will be curious about the changes.

POC: Disneyland version has two drops at the beginning of the ride. They do allow babies to ride this ride, but the drops are not tiny.


TSMM: Head here at park opening to ride this two or three times before a line builds. This ride has a 50 minute wait most of the day, no FP available.

Little Mermaid: Very short wait

Monsters Inc: Usually a short wait, if it’s long check back later

Chew Chew Train: This ride is short but cute, it’s probably the most popular of the little Bugsland rides. Even still I don’t think any of the Bugsland rides have waits longer than 10-15 minutes most of the time. They’re all slow loading and low capacity though, so when a line builds it can take a while to get through as the rider per hour is pretty low.

It's Tough to be Bug show: You’ll just be waiting for the next show

Drive 'Em Buggies: Is he okay with being bumped into? The line is probably the longest in Bugsland around 20-30 minutes in the middle of the day.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree: Definitely watch this before riding. If he won’t do the Teacups this is probably out. It uses a similar track style as the Teacups and the cars also fling you about.

Carousel: Just waiting for the next start

Trolley: Just waiting for the next train

Redwood Creek Challenge: The area doesn’t have a wait to get into. The Zipline has a queue, and also a height/age requirement, which he may exceed (I think it’s up to 12)

Sorcerer's workshop: No wait. There’s also the drawing exhibit

Bakery tour: Walkthrough, no wait

Turtle Talk: Just waiting for the next show. This is great fun and worth seeing again as the scenes do change slightly.

Grizzly River Run: This has 2 drops, one bigger than the other and the boats spin around a bit as they go down the river. Has FP and the line is longest when it’s hot. Also has single rider.

Jellyfish: Very gentle ride, drops are completely vertical. Lines are shortest early, but it’s not that popular of a ride so they don’t get that long. The Zephyr is right next door and if he can ride Dumbo he could probably do the Zephyr, it doesn’t really have a line either.