Touring plans just alluding me

[tmfranlk]

After several years of near weekly visits in the past, I suddenly feel like a complete newbie trying to plan our DL days this time. Maybe it's just because I'm trying to cram too much into it. Or maybe I'm just off my game. Anyway, I can't seem to formulate answers to my questions this time around.

We are going Mon and Fri of next week. I'm not sure we care which park we do on each day so it there a better option for each?

We are a party of 3 - Me, DD9 and DD(almost)2. There's a chance we may have a friend to rider switch with on one or two things, but I won't know until that day.

So I guess I have a few questions coming to mind.

1. What should we FP and what should she single rider at DCA? Technically we could FP two rides at a time mostly because I'll have to stay off with DD2 so DD9 is the only one needing a FP. She wants to ride RSR, Soarin, GRR and Goofy's that I can't.

2. What should we FP at DL? She wants Star Tours and Indy that I can't. Plus we'll do most-all of the rest.

3. Is it faster to do RSR FP or single rider first thing in the morning right now?

4. Any idea when the best time to try to get WOC FP for the 2nd show is? I'm thinking I don't need to start checking until closer to lunch time. Is that good theory?

5. After Carsland, should we go ahead and do Paradise Pier stuff or move back up to the front of the park?

6. I've tried a few RideMax last night and today and it's just not jiving with me. Not sure what my problem is with it. Maybe because first up it has a 70 min wait for Luigi and DD1 just won't make that easily. Maybe because I'm putting too much in. I'm not sure. I really want to like it. Maybe I should just take the scenario I like the best and just try it?

7. Random opinion requested, but what's the likelihood of doing all DL stuff except for the mountains in the course of one 8am-11pm day? We won't push to do it and we're practiced at in-park breaks and rests so that's not a big deal. I'm just using this answer to this question to help me adjust my frame of mind about how I want this to work.

8. Is the behind the big speaker location still good for the 2nd Fantasmic?

Thanks all!!
In the end, I know we'll be back and I know we'll have fun. So whatever happens happens. No worries once we hit the front gates.

 

[Steamboat Philly]

I have 2 DD's as well, 8 and 12 now but we've made yearly trips to DLR for 5 years now so I know how you feel!

1. RSR is the first thing you need to FP, we got in the park this year appx. 5 mins after opening and waited almost 45 mins in the FP alone, so try to plan accordingly. Soarin never reached more than a 40 min while we were there but it was Father's Day week, probably more crowded now than it was then. Toy Story Mania saves a lot of time with single rider but having a DD9, it's a world of fun watching them experience that attraction so that is a tough choice. Expect 1-hour lines or more on that one, unless you do it early. And for the adults, single rider on Screamin' is a good idea, cuz my DD12 wasn't able to ride it until she was 10, and she barely made the height requirement. Biggest at the resort I'm fairly certain. 52" I believe.

2. FP for Star Tours isn't as big of a deal as it was last year. A good start to your day would be to FP Star Tours, hit up the Matterhorn before the 1+ hour lines hit. May even have enough time to do the subs or something before your FP comes up!

3. Faster to do Single rider at any time of the day, but that is still usually a 45+ min line. Definitely do as I recommended and FP it first, cuz that is a fun experience as a family. It has story based parts like the rides in Fantasyland before the actual thrill part of the ride begins.

4. yea that would be a fine time. Another option is to do the WOC picnic. $15 per person, won't tie up your FP, and you need to eat anyways!

5. Paradise Pier would be a better choice. Aside from Cars Land, that's where the lines will be the majority of the day.

6. It's VERY difficult to avoid 1-hour lines or more at Cars Land. If you really want to ride them all, then I'm afraid you may have to tough out the lines. No quick fix to this unfortunately. Especially this time of the year.

7. If you get a start at park opening this can be do-able, even incoporating the mountains. You can do Matterhorn and Space in the first hour easily, and FP for Thunder is usually available till late at night. Or if you do the alternative and hit up the opposite side of the park first, everything is walk on for the first hour or so. It's fun to see how desolate that side of the park is @ opening. It's almost like you're one of 10 families invited for a sneak peek!

8. I'm a fan of getting a table at the rail of River Belle Terrace myself but that usually requires getting to those tables AT LEAST 2 hours before show time.

Hope this helps!

 

[DLR29]

Just a couple clarifications:

1. At DCA I would have her do SR for GRR and Goofy's Sky School. The SR line for Soarin can be just as long as the FP or even stand-by line. The SR line for RSR will be about 45-60 min all day. Keep in mind, there's also a SR line for Screamin if she's up for that. The height requirement is 48" for Screamin. There is NO SR line for Toy Story.

2. There are SR line at DL for Splash Mountain, Indiana Jones, and Matterhorn. All of them significantly cut down on wait times. For rides that all of you can use FP for: Roger Rabbit and Autopia. Star Tours, Space and Indy will have the FPs that run out the quickest, although you should still be able to get these FPs into the mid afternoon. Also Splash's FP goes quickly when it gets warm. You can pretty much get a FP for the other rides anytime during the day.

3. I would recommend the FP. Yes, you have to wait a little bit in the morning to get a FP, but when you return later in the day the wait is usually about 15-20 min. Like I said before, the SR line is a consistent 45-60 min all day.

4. The second WoC show should be available most of the afternoon.

5. Paradise Pier for sure! The lines for Toy Story, Screamin, and Mickey's Fun Wheel will get long the rest of the day but in the morning are pretty much walk-ons since Cars Land opened.

6. If you go straight to Luigi's on at least one of your days, you shouldn't have to wait more than 30 min. Keep in mind, there is a height requirement of 32" for Luigi's.

7. I would never try it with kids that young, but I'm sure you can try. Fortunately with everyone being pulled into Cars Land in the morning, DL has been a ghost town for the first 2 hours of its opening. I would HIGHLY recommend hitting up the Fantasyland rides first and the Adventureland/New Orleans Square stuff in the afternoon, as those rides have faster moving lines.

8. You will never wait for more than 45 min for a good spot for the second show of Fantasmic. They allow people from the first show to stay in their spot to watch the fireworks at 9:30 and then they clear it out, sweep it up a bit, and then let the next show's crowd come in around 9:50/9:55. Then the show starts at 10:30. If you are over by the Rivers of America around 9:45 and can brave the wall to wall crowds, you should be able to get a ground spot.

 

[bakerudall]

One more clarification (you're slipping, DLR29 ): The WOC pastpass machine will not tie up your FP. It is disconnected--meaning you can immediately get another FP after using it.

4. yea that would be a fine time. Another option is to do the WOC picnic. $15 per person, won't tie up your FP, and you need to eat anyways!

 

[DLR29]

One more clarification (you're slipping, DLR29 ): The WOC pastpass machine will not tie up your FP. It is disconnected--meaning you can immediately get another FP after using it.

Truth. Good catch, Doug.

 

[Echo queen]

Gathering tips.