Totally confused with trying to plan out our DCA morning!! Can anyone help??

[jacobsmommy]

I have a good grasp on planning our DL days, but I'm confused on how to plan out our DCA day(s). I just want to plan the morning/midday time up to our break back at our hotel. Here are the things we want to do: TSMM, carousel for dd, Screamin (me, dad, ds only), RSR, non-swinging fun wheel, little mermaid, get a WOC FP (hopefully blue section), Soarin, monsters inc, TOT (not dh and dd), Mater's Junkyard, Luigi's Tires, GRR

There are other things we want to do, but those are the things I think we need to accomplish earlier. Either my dh or I can be a fast pass runner.

Any advice on what order would be best? We were there the summer that Carsland opened, but we spent most of our time at DL because it was a ghost town.

 

[ColdNeverBotheredMe]

Here's the plan that's always worked really well for us:

If you get there at rope drop, go straight to RSR instead of getting a fast pass. We'd split up then, and have the people who wanted to ride TOT (the wait times is usually less than 20 min) and then have the others go and get RSR fast passes (if you want to ride it a second time), WoC fast passes (they're over by Grizzly River Run) and Soarin' passes since they're right there. RSR and WoC are disconnected from the system, so you can have other fast passes while you have them. Then we'd head to paradise pier to do TSMM and after that we kind of winged it, but it was a good way to start. Hope this helps! Also, I rarely see the other rides in CL more than 20 minutes at any given point in the day, so those are usually easy to ride.

 

[Happytotrip2]

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[jacobsmommy]

We will be there on July 21 (EE, but we don't have EE ) Won't the RSR line be pretty busy since a lot of people head there during EE? I've seen that some people say to do TSMM first and then go get the RSR and WOC FP. Does that sound ok to do?

 

[Girimama33]

Honestly, your plan is not going to matter much since you are talking about a day with EMH that you do not have access to. I would not do RSR first thing. I would still head over to TSMM, but there will be a wait...granted, it will likely be the shortest of the day. You can do the other Paradise Pier rides (CS, Carousel, Fun Wheel and TLM). Go to the RSR FP line within an hour of opening.
WOC FP's do not run out really these days. I suggest grabbing one when you ride GRR.

 

[Rubygoose]

I have a good grasp on planning our DL days, but I'm confused on how to plan out our DCA day(s). I just want to plan the morning/midday time up to our break back at our hotel. Here are the things we want to do: TSMM, carousel for dd, Screamin (me, dad, ds only), RSR, non-swinging fun wheel, little mermaid, get a WOC FP (hopefully blue section), Soarin, monsters inc, TOT (not dh and dd), Mater's Junkyard, Luigi's Tires, GRR

There are other things we want to do, but those are the things I think we need to accomplish earlier. Either my dh or I can be a fast pass runner.

Any advice on what order would be best? We were there the summer that DCA opened, but we spent most of our time at DL because it was a ghost town.

Since there will already be hotel guests in the park, do not go to RSR standby line first, as it will already be over 45 minutes. Here's the order I would do based on what you mentioned:

Start at TSMM since it doesn't offer FP and the line gets to 30-45 minutes and stays that way throughout the day.

While you're there grab a FP for screamin (Disconnected, so you can hold another FP at the same time.) Or, if the standby line is short, DS and one parent ride right away and get a rider swap card since DD won't be riding. She can ride the Carousel while the others ride screamin.

Next, head over to get your RSR FP, then grab FPs for Soarin and WOC.

After that, you could head back to paradise pier or cars land. When your window for Soarin opens up, grab FPs for TOT before going to ride Soarin.

Little Mermaid is rarely more than a 5 minute wait, and it's nice and cool in there, so we like to save this ride for later in the day to escape the heat. Also, the non swinging fun wheel line up is usually pretty short throughout the day.

 

[94bruin]

Just be aware of the RSR return time. You can ask the CM prior to pulling a FP what the return time is. If you're staying all day, it really isn't a huge deal. But if you want to take a midday break, make sure to pull one that is either before or after your break.

 

[jacobsmommy]

So, if my dh is willing to be the fp runner and he goes to get RSR FP while my dad, ds and I ride Screamin and mom takes dd on the carousel, how long do you think he will have to wait in the FP line? This would be after we ride TSMM.

 

[hpfan100]

I would head to TSMM first, on the way see if the line for racer fastpasses is long. If not grab them on the way. When you get the pier grab your screaming fastpasses before you line up for toy story. Ride TSMM, screamin, carousel, fun wheel, little mermaid and anything else on the peir you want. Then head towards soarin passing grizzly river on the way- grab the WOC fastpass. When you get to condor flats grab a fastpass for soarin or ride in standby. After that enjoy the day and grab more fastpasses for any rides you want to hit up.


Other than TSMM and racers, the lines stay reasonable or fastpasses will be available most of the day.

 

[GeneralTso]

The line for RSR FP is loooooong--especially since all the EE folks will already be in the park. In July, the FP may already be gone by 9-9:30, if that.
That should be a priority for whoever is fastest in your group.

Lines for Toy Story tend to be shorter earlier in the day because everyone is at RSR. I'd go there first and try to see if it's reasonable. It's easier to get on Screamin' than Toy Story any day.

Good luck! Enjoy the time no matter what.

 

[MouseEXP]

RSR FP should run out around 945am
TSMM first, followed by Screamin, FunWheel, Sky School, Mermaid, get WOC FP, so you get the better Blue Section in my opinion.

Then get in line for RSR FP, it should be around 920-930a by then. You'll get a evening FP which you can use after you get back from the hotel.

Then grab FP immediately for Soarin, then head to Grizzly River or Bugsland. It should be around 945am by now. Once Soarin FP comes up you can get a Grizzly FP if you haven't ridden it yet then use FP for Soarin.

Have a nice lunch and use FP for Grizzly.

Head back to the hotel

When you get back to DCA, head to Hollywood land, grab a FP for Tower, and do the other attractions there.

You will have FP for RSR and Tower to use. Ride Cars Land stuff around dinner time. Then after dinner do the Paradise Pier attractions you missed or Maybe grab a FP for Screamin.

Show up 15-30 minutes before the return time posted on the WOC FP ticket.

 

[jacobsmommy]

If my dh and I were willing to skip TSMM and let my parents take the kids while we got the FP for RSR, WOC, Screamin and Soarin, would that be more optimal? We got to ride it when we went by ourselves in April, so we wouldn't mind missing it if we had to.

 

[Drusilla99]

The plus side about it being an early admission day, many people will switch to dl midday. I was over at dca this past Sunday & there was early admission. We went over around 2 & lines weren't bad. Screamin was a 5 min wait.

 

[Blue32]

RSR FP should run out around 945am
TSMM first, followed by Screamin, FunWheel, Sky School, Mermaid, get WOC FP, so you get the better Blue Section in my opinion.

Then get in line for RSR FP, it should be around 920-930a by then. You'll get a evening FP which you can use after you get back from the hotel.

Then grab FP immediately for Soarin, then head to Grizzly River or Bugsland. It should be around 945am by now. Once Soarin FP comes up you can get a Grizzly FP if you haven't ridden it yet then use FP for Soarin.

Have a nice lunch and use FP for Grizzly.

Head back to the hotel

When you get back to DCA, head to Hollywood land, grab a FP for Tower, and do the other attractions there.

You will have FP for RSR and Tower to use. Ride Cars Land stuff around dinner time. Then after dinner do the Paradise Pier attractions you missed or Maybe grab a FP for Screamin.

Show up 15-30 minutes before the return time posted on the WOC FP ticket.

I just pulled FP for RSR on Monday at about 10:00 for 5:30 to 6:30 pm return. I think they are lasting much longer in the morning now especially with the 8am opening. I'm trying for 2 FP sets tomorrow.

 

[jacobsmommy]

Here's what I have come up with based on all of your advice:

-head staring to TSMM (get Screamin FP on the way)
-take dd on carousel while dh gets in line for RSR FP
-ds, my dad and I use Screamin FP (ride twice if ds likes it)
-everyone but me rides non-swinging Funwheel while I go get WOC and Soarin FP
-we meet up at Little Mermaid to ride that
-go to Bug's Land to ride rides and see ITTBAB
-use our Soarin FP
-get a GRR FP
-kids can go in Redwood Challenge for a bit
-ride Monsters Inc
-see Muppetvision
-eat lunch somewhere
-use GRR FP
-get TOT FP (if the return time would be after we get back from break)
BREAK back at hotel

Does that sound ok?