Touring Tips

[jad82]

Hello And welcome to my first post here!

I am a big wdw fan making my very first trip to DL! The trip came up suddenly and sadly, it will be brief, but its still a trip to DL!

I will be able to visit for 3 days- Sunday April 11th, Monday April 12th and Tuesday April 13th. I am not expecting to do much on Sunday, as I know weekends tend to be busier than weekdays, but I will hopefully be able to accomplish everything I want to over those 3 days. My parents will also be there but may only join me on Monday and Tuesday.

I am a huge planner and I've been doing loads of research. I would really like to plan my days out just so I'm not wasting time looking at a map deciding what to do next. My main question right now is a broad one- what touring tips can you DL experts offer me? Which rides should I definitely hit up first thing in the morning? Which would be ok to save until later in the afternoon? Also, any Nemo touring tips would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Nala83]

In no particular order:

1) You will have plenty of time to see and do everything on your list. Make use of FP, take advantage of MM, and be at the parks BEFORE they open.

2) Because you are a huge planner, I'd suggest getting Ridemax. This software let's you input the attractions you want to experience and it spits out a touring plan that minimizes wait time. You can add and subtract things to your hearts content. For us planners, it is just great fun- even if we don't follow the plans to the letter once we hit the parks.

3) Park hopping is easy. Many of us like to start in DL, doing rides and collecting fastpasses until the crowds start to build. Then hop to DCA, which tends to be less crowded. Once the evening rolls around, head back to DL to use all of the FPs that you collected in the am.

4) If you have MM, head directly to Peter Pan, followed by Dumbo and then the rest of Fantasyland. If you don't have MM, do Fantasyland first thing on Monday (the only non-MM day you'll be in the park).

5) I like doing Nemo at the very end of the day- hopping into line 5 minutes before the park closes. The lines aren't nearly as bad as the used to be, but I still don't think it's worth wasting precious early am time on that ride. Others will have different opinions.

That's a start...I'll let others chime in.

 

[HydroGuy]

I second the RideMax recommendation. www.ridemax.com

Here are some more:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

"Magic Morning (Early Entry) Super Thread" by DLR29 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

And be sure to park hop. It is different at DLR than WDW. I am a non-hopper at WDW but an every day hopper at DLR. See "Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

Have a magical trip!

 

[jad82]

Thank you for the tips!
HydroGuy- I saw your post when I first found this site and have been happily browsing the links ever since

Nala- my initial thoughts for Nemo were to also save it until right before close so I'm glad you feel the same!

As far as the FL rides, other than Peter Pan and Dumbo, are there any others that are must dos early in the morning? Can the rest be saved until mid afternoon or will the waits be too long?

When my parents join me on Monday, my mom and I will have no problem hitting the FL rides first thing, my dad on the other hand probably won't be as thrilled. I was thinking we'd do a few 'must dos' in FL and then maybe head to Pirates, Jungle Cruise, or something else that is dad-friendly. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for the Ridemax link, I will definately check it out!!

 

[Nala83]

In my mind, the only time to do the rides in Fantasyland is first thing in the morning. They are all slow-loading, low capacity rides. The lines build over the first 30 minutes and then they just stay busy. (You may have luck with crowds disappearing late at night too, assuming the parks are open late during your visit.) I'd definitely steer clear in the afternoon.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I agree. Do all the FL rides in the morning. You will go from one to other without much wait. Afternoon is probably the worst time to do FL.

We always go over to DCA for the afternoons. Sometimes we will hop back and forth several times, always getting FPs before we leave each park if we can.

 

[jad82]

Great, thank you guys! I guess dad will just have suck it up! Who knows, maybe he'll just join my mom and I in the park an hour or two after opening.

My parents do not like the big thrill rides and I do. So I was thinking of focusing on those on Sunday since that will be my solo day. Would you suggest fastpass or single rider lines? Or a combination of both? Does one tend to move faster than the other?

Also, it boggles my mind that park hours for April aren't out yet. I'm guess I'm used to wdw where they come out 6 months in advance. But I was looking at the ones available for March right now and it looks like the fireworks are not always offered on Monday and Tuesday. Is this normally the case? It also looks like the Aladdin show at DCA is also not offered everyday. Is that true also?

thanks again!

sorry, I had to use this little banana guy! so funny!

 

[HydroGuy]

My parents do not like the big thrill rides and I do. So I was thinking of focusing on those on Sunday since that will be my solo day. Would you suggest fastpass or single rider lines? Or a combination of both? Does one tend to move faster than the other?

SR whenever possible. Some SR lines do not move as fast as others. I have never used SR on Soarin but have heard it does move fast because they do not need singles as much. It works great on Splash and Screamin. Apparently IJA has it now too.

Also, it boggles my mind that park hours for April aren't out yet. I'm guess I'm used to wdw where they come out 6 months in advance.

Since DLR does not take dining reservations 6 months out there is a much lesser need for posting hours that far in advance. Plus DLR is more of a locals resort than WDW and so is not catering as much to the out-of-towners.

The best guide for future park hours and entertainment is what happened in previous years as DLR does not change that much year-to-year.

"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

But I was looking at the ones available for March right now and it looks like the fireworks are not always offered on Monday and Tuesday. Is this normally the case?

Depends on the season. See:

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

It also looks like the Aladdin show at DCA is also not offered everyday. Is that true also?

Year round Aladdin shows Th/Fr/Sat/Sun. It is a great show and many of us will be sad to see it close got good later this year to make way for the new Toy Story show.

 

[jad82]

Thank you again for all your help! Looks like I will be checking out the Aladdin show on Sunday- that is a must see for me!!

One last question- do both DL and DCA have opening ceremonies in the morning like the parks in wdw? Is there a better place to queue up to see these?

thanks!

 

[PinkBudgie]

No, the gate just opens. Somedays you go in early and they rope drop. Other days they don't.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

One last question- do both DL and DCA have opening ceremonies in the morning like the parks in wdw? Is there a better place to queue up to see these?

thanks!

They do not do an opening ceremony like WDW. On some days they will pick a family to "open the park". The family will be let inside and do a countdown to opening. We were chosen a few years back when we were one of the first people in line.

 

[Belle Ella]

SR whenever possible. Some SR lines do not move as fast as others. I have never used SR on Soarin but have heard it does move fast because they do not need singles as much. It works great on Splash and Screamin. Apparently IJA has it now too.

IJA does have a SR now. I was able to get in and out in as little as 8 minutes when I used it back in September. Worked wonders.

 

[jad82]

Thanks everyone! I was really hoping DL did an opening show similar to MK- that's my favorite!