Trip Observation 7/14/12. A very successful day. UPDATE: FP collection order pg. 2

[DLR29]

Good morning everyone! As some of you know, I went to DLR yesterday with a friend who wanted me to plan out a super intense Disneyland day for him. My brother also tagged along, and here's some of the highlights of the day:

-We rode 33 rides, saw World of Color from the green fire hydrant, saw some of Magical, and saw the 10:30 Fantasmic. We entered DCA at 7:45 in the morning and left DL's gates at exactly 12:00 midnight. Those 33 rides included...
3x: Matterhorn (using the Single Rider line, twice on TL side, once on FL side)
2x: Space, Indy, BTMRR, Star Tours, Screamin, ToT, Grizzly River Run
Once: JC, PotC, HM, Splash, Roger Rabbit, Snow White, Alice, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, Buzz, TSMM, Soarin, Ariel's Undersea Adventure, RSR, and Mater's

-Used 12 sets of FP, not including WoC. Screamin IS STILL DISCONNECTED, as is Roger Rabbit. This also didn't include the 2 "Surprise FPs" for GRR that we got from the RSR FP machines.

-Toy Story's line does not get to its normal 40 min length until an hour after park opening.

-The rolling ball effect on Indy still isn't working properly.

-The rope drop at DCA is interesting. I saw 3 1/2 ropes.

• At the Carthay and that had the most people because everyone wanted to go to Carsland.
• The transition between ToT and A Bug's Land. Yes, as a regular guest, I could walk all the way to A Bug's Land. Not sure when they dropped that rope, but it seems like it would be a faster way into Carsland.
• The entrance to Condor Flats. This is where I was...more on that in a bit.

And also after they dropped the rope at Condor Flats at 8, there was another rope just past the WoC FP machines that was dropped at 8:05. I don't know why.

-Interesting crowd observations: People seemed to start in DCA in the morning and then hop over to DL in the afternoon/evening. Lines for DCA rides were high in the morning, but died in the later afternoon (ToT, Screamin, and Soarin all had 25 min lines around dinner time). The opposite was with the DL rides. Space and Indy had 10 min lines when we hopped there around 9/9:30AM and didn't develop lines longer than 45 min most of the day with the longest lines being in the late afternoon.



And now for my morning plan that I promised. I tested the waters with a new plan that was suggested here a couple weeks ago. Here's exactly how my morning at DCA went:

1. Enter DCA at 7:45AM. They were already letting regular guests AND APEE guests get in line for RSR FP. The line was all the way back to the Disney Junior building with a few switchbacks being used in there.
2. I lined up at the rope by Condor Flats
3. At 8AM they dropped the rope and I ran and got Soarin (8:40-9:40AM) and WoC FP.
4. I met up with my friend and brother all the way down at Toy Story where we walked on
5. Got Screamin FP (disconnected!)
6. Went all the way back to Disney Junior
7. I got in line for RSR FP at exactly 8:25AM, while my friend and brother walked onto ToT
8. I got my RSR FP at 8:50 on the dot with a return time for 3:00-4:00PM
9. Also got 2 "Surprise FPs" for Grizzly River Run and 1 for Ariel

So by 8:50, I had Soarin, Screamin, WoC, and Racers FP along with 3 Surprise FP....and I had already ridden TSMM and the other 2 had ridden ToT

I wouldn't recommend this plan to anyone trying to have a casual vacation. I was hustling through this, and it's a lot of walking. However, even if you just walk at a relatively quick pace, I think you could do this. Considering I got a much earlier RSR FP return time than I expected, if you can get in line for RSR FP before 8:45 you should still be fine. Granted, it wasn't a very crowded day in general so, yes, the earlier the better, but if you're willing to do a little early morning walking to save some waiting time later on in the day, it's doable!

We'll finish with a few pics of course:

Beautiful Buena Vista Street

Cloudy morning but it definitely warmed up in the middle of the day

See before 8AM, I had access to this part of the park!

Got front row on Screamin for my friend's first time

Best I can do for a Haunted Mansion pic

 

[BriannaRuth]

Thanks for posting!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Thanks for posting this! That is exactly the sort of detailed information I like. I had never thought of going on TSMM before getting a RSR FP. Since we are there for 5 mornings we may give that a try and see how it goes. I suppose some of that depends on how crowded it is going to be that day.

 

[tallpkb]

Did I miss something? I thought you couldn't have more that one (or was it two?) FPs at a time.

 

[ArchOwl]

Thanks so much for your report, sounds like a great plan to maximize FP usage! Great to hear that Screamin' is disconnected, such a nice perk to have over summer.

Not sure I completely understand the rope drop thing. Three different rope drops and then a secondary rope for the WOC FP distribution area? Confusing!

Did I miss something? I thought you couldn't have more that one (or was it two?) FPs at a time.

You can hold as many FPs as you are eligible for. You are restricted in how quickly you can obtain the FPs. You can get another FP as soon as the window on your first FP opens, or two hours, whichever is sooner. Since OP obtained the first FP for Soarin at 8am and the window opened at 8:40am, he could obtain another FP at 8:40am (RSR). The Screamin' FP machine is disconnected, so that was a freebie. The WOC FP machines are also disconnected. HTH!

 

[Eeee-va]

This is amazing! I want to copy your itinerary (not so sure about California Screamin' and ToT, but everything else for sure!).

 

[The Mad Planner]

Thanks for the great post DLR 29! I have been waiting to hear how this was going to work since you posted a few weeks back that you were going to try this.

Do you mind to share your FP collection plan once you hopped over to Disneyland? Order and collection times if you remember?

I am also interested to know when you had to claim your spot behind the fire hydrant for world of colour?

Thanks in advance

 

[disneydreamer74]

Thanks for reporting back..I think I may use some of your strategy on my trip!! I like the HM pic..very cool! Glad you had a good time!

 

[DharmaLou]

sounds like a super successful day!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Wow, the energy of youth!

On the extra rope after WoC fastpasses...my theory is that that's a way to slow people down around that direction and deter anyone from going around the side and getting ahead of the main Carsland rope drop.

 

[DisneytheKid]

Thanks for the great review and pics!

 

[billdob62]

Thanks for the posts. Nice to see a well executed plan that worked.

 

[Girimama33]

Sounds like you ot a lot accomplished. Great report.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Do you mind to share your FP collection plan once you hopped over to Disneyland? Order and collection times if you remember?

I am also interested to know when you had to claim your spot behind the fire hydrant for world of colour?

I would like to vehemently second these two questions.

Thanks for the TR and some good thinking on how to maximize your time.

 

[MrsMears]

great info, thanks so much!

 

[skiingfast]

I am also interested to know when you had to claim your spot behind the fire hydrant for world of colour?

Because he got his WoC tickets right away he was able to get them for the Blue viewing zone where the green fire hydrant is located.

This spot is at the very top, near what is called the Light Tower. From the light tower the group going into the Blue Zone is divided. Some go to the bridge toward Ariel's Grotto, some down into Paradise Park. People will pass this spot because it's in the very top and they want to get close. Because this spot is overlooked you can often find it open 30 minutes before the show. It's best to find the hydrant during the day so you can get back to it with crowds around.

The spots is far back but provides a pretty good view. It looks over the back of the VIP viewing which sometimes means a few heads are in your view.

 

[Karenann*]

What a great and detailed report from your day!!! Thanks! We are going to have a couple intense days in Aug and several more leisurely. I love your plan.

 

[HydroGuy]

Did I miss something? I thought you couldn't have more that one (or was it two?) FPs at a time.

You missed something. No limit on how many FPs you can hold.

This might help:

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

 

[Jazzheffa]

Awesome plan of action. Way to go!

 

[Amy&Dan]

We were there yesterday too, who knows we might have walked right by you!

Sounds like one heck of a day, glad it worked out and you got so much done with your friend.