BunnieGene
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2005
Thanks for all of the info HydroGuy...we cannot wait to ride LMAUA!!!
Has any of this changed since Little Mermaid opened? We are staying at GCH and hope to use the perk from staying onsite to see it.
Also, can you get a World of Color Fastpass first, entering through the GCH (as a hotel guest) and then make it to Little Mermaid? Wondering how bad the lines will be early using the hotel guest Fastpass line. Is this a regular Fastpass line or is it only for DLR hotel guests?
Has any of this changed since Little Mermaid opened? We are staying at GCH and hope to use the perk from staying onsite to see it.
Also, can you get a World of Color Fastpass first, entering through the GCH (as a hotel guest) and then make it to Little Mermaid? Wondering how bad the lines will be early using the hotel guest Fastpass line. Is this a regular Fastpass line or is it only for DLR hotel guests?
June 8, 2011 Update...: Since the Little Mermaid ride opened last Friday it appears Disney is letting DL hotel guests ride it at 9AM and everyone else at starting at 9:30AM.
Soarin open at 9:30 has been the case for the last 7 years ta least. Still the case. Good luck.Is Soarin' still open at 9:30, too? We were planning to swing over to DCA from DL at 9:15 to run in, go through Soarin' single rider and then head back to TSMM. I was figuring we would be in line for the rope drop and walk with purpose back there as I figured many would be going to LM. Beginning to think I'm wrong with that thinking... Also beginning to think there's no way for me to truly "plan" this time around with LM and ST crowds. Oh well... We'll have a blast, no matter what!
Wish I could combine these and get on LM earlier than 9:30am with a receipt from a GCH breakfast. Anyone try this?For guests staying at the DLR hotels DCA allows entry at 9AM to get WOC FPs. This is available through the special entrance to DCA through the GCH. Each guest must show proof of being a DLR hotel guest - namely a room key. This perk is also available to those who eat breakfast at one of the GCH restaurants but are not DLR hotel guests. They must show a receipt for their meal. See World of Color Superthread.
Since the Little Mermaid ride opened last Friday it appears Disney is letting DL hotel guests ride it at 9AM and everyone else at starting at 9:30AM.
What is complicated?
Well, this thread is not official anything - I just thought it made for a catchy title. But it does relate some solid and confirmed information about DCA's opening time. Which is confusing because DCA always opens earlier than its posted time. Don't ask me why. It is just how Disney does things.
The question of DCA opening pops up a lot in conjunction with World of Color and the Soarin' Over California ride and FPs. Here is what you need to know:
o Year round DCA opens officially at 10AM.
o For many years DCA has opened every day unofficially at 9:30AM. Never has Disney published this, but it is a well known fact and it is available to all guests - offsite, onsite or day trippers. During the first 30 minutes only one ride is open - Soarin' Over California. And the Soarin' FP machines are open. Since WOC opened in June 2010 DCA has also offered WOC FPs during this first 30 minutes.
Some people use this time to line up for "rope drop" for popular rides like TSMM which do not start until 10AM. And I expect this will also happen for LMAUA starting this summer. Guests are inside DCA but are held back in two places: near the BugsLand entrance and on the GRR route into Paradise Pier. Usually the GRR route is better for rope drop.
There is also a rope drop to the entrance of Hollywood Backlot/HollywoodLand on the way to ToT and MI rides.
o For guests staying at the DLR hotels DCA allows entry at 9AM to get WOC FPs. This is available through the special entrance to DCA through the GCH. Each guest must show proof of being a DLR hotel guest - namely a room key. This perk is also available to those who eat breakfast at one of the GCH restaurants but are not DLR hotel guests. They must show a receipt for their meal. See World of Color Superthread.
The 9AM opening through GCH was used regularly starting with the World of Color debut in June 2010, but there are reports that recently on low crowd days this is not available at 9AM. Which means it would then be available at 9:30AM at the latest.
These guests can also get best position for rope drop if they are so inclined.
June 8, 2011 Update...: Since the Little Mermaid ride opened last Friday it appears Disney is letting DL hotel guests ride it at 9AM and everyone else at starting at 9:30AM.
July 2, 2011 Update...: We rode LM last week at 9:35AM and they checked our GCH room key cards to make sure we were Disney hotel guests. It appears that LM is reserved for hotel guests 9-10AM each day, and sometimes they do not check room key cards after 9:30AM and anyone can ride it.
RideMax would be your best bet to put together an itinerary. Your basic approach I think is the way to go.HydroGuy, can you come up with a Super Ultimate plan that cover both DCA's Unofficial Morning Opening Hours and DL Magic Morning for us? We are not local and we don't know all the details about the parks. We are staying at GC I want to get in the park early and do all the most popular rides before the locals show up, and maybe go back to the hotel to swim/ rest during the hottest/ most crowded period of the day, and go back in the parks in the evening to enjoy the shows. Please help.
Sorry if this is a stupid question. Do we need to make sure everyone has a room key? If we have three adults in the room, do we need to make sure we have three room keys to show to get into DCA early? (I'm assuming the 5 yo can get in without a room key).
Thank you HydroGuy!
Yes.Do you always get the earliest show FP for WOC if you enter in through the GCH entrance at 9am? (Yes I will be staying at a resort).
I am trying to plan our trip and figuring out best night for WOC. I would like the earlier one but didn't know if it was automatic. Our choices are Thurs-Sat. MM a must at 8 am Thurs, 7am Sat and Sun.