UPDATE: FP Return Times being enforced at DLR! Trip Observations 3/31/12

[DLR29]

Hi everyone. I upgraded my Deluxe AP to a Premium the other day and I went to DLR yesterday with 4 other friends. It was pretty crowded, but we got a lot done. Didn't bring my camera so I didn't get any pics but I'll give you my recap:

-Rode 28 rides from 8AM-11:30PM, including ToT, Screamin, Space and Indy twice each. Used 9 sets of FP, not including WoC.

-It was the weirdest weather day ever. Cloudy, gloomy and chilly in the morning. Then around 2 it got really sunny and warm. By evening it was cold again, and while we were watching WoC it started to rain. And it rained for basically the rest of the evening. They cancelled the 2nd Fantasmic due to "inclement weather conditions"

-There was a sign outside of DLR saying that MM was being offered every day this upcoming week. Spring break crowds I guess. This can be confirmed on the park hours part of the DLR website.

-They were only running 2 elevators at ToT, which resulted in a lengthy line all day.

-Ate at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta for the first time last night. The spaghetti was really good. Yummy meatballs. And the atmosphere was great.

-Roger Rabbit FP is still disconnected...didn't check BTMRR.

-All of the new construction projects look really really good. The Matterhorn paint job is so legit. Buena Vista Street is really shaping up, and Carsland looks incredible! This summer is gonna be an awesome time to visit DLR.

Ok, and now what you're all probably wondering. Are they still allowing FPs to be used late? Well, my plan for the day was to grab a bunch of FPs and use them later in the afternoon like I usually do. Here's a pic one of my friends snagged of me in line for ToT. This was a little before 11:30AM (we had already done 9 rides too)

I had gotten a Splash FP for 9:20AM-10:20AM and I was gonna save it for when it got warmer. But when we got to the FP return line, the CM kindly explained to us that yesterday (3/31) was the last day that they would be allowing late FP returns. We didn't get this at every ride we tried this at, but most of them, including both times at Space. It seems as though, today, the beginning of the month, begins the FP enforcement here on the other coast.

When I asked one of the CMs about the suddenness of this policy enforcement he said that the DLR executives were just waiting a while to see how effective it was at WDW, trying to work out the little kinks. Hopefully someone going today or soon can report back to us about how they are actually enforcing this. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.


































APRIL FOOLS! Just kidding! Everything here is true EXCEPT the last 2 paragraphs (I really did go to DLR yesterday and used all of those FP). CMs at DLR have no plans on enforcing these FP return times. Actually I think I used all 9 FPs late and never had a CM say anything.

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

April fools I'm hoping....

 

[skiingfast]

-Rode 28 rides from 8AM-11:30PM, including ToT, Screamin, Space and Indy twice each. Used 9 sets of FP, not including WoC.

APRIL FOOLS! Just kidding! Everything here is true EXCEPT the last 2 paragraphs (I really did go to DLR yesterday and used all of those FP). CMs at DLR have no plans on enforcing these FP return times. Actually I think I used all 9 FPs late and never had a CM say anything.

April fools I'm hoping....

MM, just read the whole post.


DLR29, 28 rides is stellar for this time of year. Do you think the gloomy morning helped hold people off?

 

[Mugglemama]

I opened this thread thinking, "This MUST be an April Fool's joke"...but then your trip report was so legit, I started thinking, "Uh oh.". Sure was glad to see your disclaimer at the end, LOL!!

RE: the extra MM's...I'm trying to plan our May trip and have noticed that there's at least one "extra" MM on the days that we'll be there (sigh). We have AP's and don't stay on site.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Hahaha that was awesome!

Love the pic, too!

 

[skiingfast]

RE: the extra MM's...I'm trying to plan our May trip and have noticed that there's at least one "extra" MM on the days that we'll be there (sigh). We have AP's and don't stay on site.

That is an annomaly. You maybe are getting an "extra" MM if your dates happen to work out right. On May 6th when there would normally be an MM because it's a Sunday, the OC Aids Walk takes place. So they shift the MM to Monday May 7th.

 

[Hound 109]

Hi everyone. I upgraded my Deluxe AP to a Premium the other day and I went to DLR yesterday with 4 other friends. It was pretty crowded, but we got a lot done. Didn't bring my camera so I didn't get any pics but I'll give you my recap:

-Rode 28 rides from 8AM-11:30PM, including ToT, Screamin, Space and Indy twice each. Used 9 sets of FP, not including WoC.

-It was the weirdest weather day ever. Cloudy, gloomy and chilly in the morning. Then around 2 it got really sunny and warm. By evening it was cold again, and while we were watching WoC it started to rain. And it rained for basically the rest of the evening. They cancelled the 2nd Fantasmic due to "inclement weather conditions"

-There was a sign outside of DLR saying that MM was being offered every day this upcoming week. Spring break crowds I guess. This can be confirmed on the park hours part of the DLR website.

-They were only running 2 elevators at ToT, which resulted in a lengthy line all day.

-Ate at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta for the first time last night. The spaghetti was really good. Yummy meatballs. And the atmosphere was great.

-Roger Rabbit FP is still disconnected...didn't check BTMRR.

-All of the new construction projects look really really good. The Matterhorn paint job is so legit. Buena Vista Street is really shaping up, and Carsland looks incredible! This summer is gonna be an awesome time to visit DLR.

Ok, and now what you're all probably wondering. Are they still allowing FPs to be used late? Well, my plan for the day was to grab a bunch of FPs and use them later in the afternoon like I usually do. Here's a pic one of my friends snagged of me in line for ToT. This was a little before 11:30AM (we had already done 9 rides too)

I had gotten a Splash FP for 9:20AM-10:20AM and I was gonna save it for when it got warmer. But when we got to the FP return line, the CM kindly explained to us that yesterday (3/31) was the last day that they would be allowing late FP returns. We didn't get this at every ride we tried this at, but most of them, including both times at Space. It seems as though, today, the beginning of the month, begins the FP enforcement here on the other coast.

When I asked one of the CMs about the suddenness of this policy enforcement he said that the DLR executives were just waiting a while to see how effective it was at WDW, trying to work out the little kinks. Hopefully someone going today or soon can report back to us about how they are actually enforcing this. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.



APRIL FOOLS! Just kidding! Everything here is true EXCEPT the last 2 paragraphs (I really did go to DLR yesterday and used all of those FP). CMs at DLR have no plans on enforcing these FP return times. Actually I think I used all 9 FPs late and never had a CM say anything.

Great report DLR 29. Thanks for posting. Sounds like an excellent time & solid touring as always. Can't wait to get your take on touring strategies after Carsland opens up.

Also good to hear about the pasta & meatball joint....I'm gonna have to try this place out.

 

[bumbershoot]

Evil! Just evil. Grr.

Also good to hear about the pasta & meatball joint....I'm gonna have to try this place out.

We didn't have meatballs, but the pastas DS and I had with no meat at that restaurant was really tasty. Made right there in front of you!

 

[cmwade77]

Bummer, this is one that I was hoping was real. Honestly, the not enforcing the end times causes longer waits for both stand-by and the FP lines, as well as those that need special assistance in many cases.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

just as I was about to yell across the room to my sweetie" oh my god the FP dont work anymore like they used too" I read April Fools ... LOL good one

 

[skiingfast]

the not enforcing the end times causes longer waits for both stand-by and the FP lines, as well as those that need special assistance in many cases.

Except that ride capacity is exactly the same and just as many people ride. It doesn't make the waits longer until night.

 

[DLR29]

MM, just read the whole post.


DLR29, 28 rides is stellar for this time of year. Do you think the gloomy morning helped hold people off?

The weather may have prevented some people from coming. Fantasyland (except Peter Pan) didn't really have lines in the morning even though it was MM, although Space had long lines even in the morning (50 min around 9:30am). If it had been sunny in the morning, it probably would have been more crowded, but overall it was a really crowded, normal Spring break Saturday.

Great report DLR 29. Thanks for posting. Sounds like an excellent time & solid touring as always. Can't wait to get your take on touring strategies after Carsland opens up.

Also good to hear about the pasta & meatball joint....I'm gonna have to try this place out.

I'm hoping to go on opening day and camp out! But yes, my touring strategies will be all jumbled up once Carsland opens and also due to DCA's new operating hours and possible MM! Lots of changes!

Evil! Just evil. Grr.

We didn't have meatballs, but the pastas DS and I had with no meat at that restaurant was really tasty. Made right there in front of you!

Ha! Gotcha! The other pastas looked really good too. I almost got the cheese ravioli. Also one of my friends got the sun dried tomato pasta. I'm not a big sun dried tomato fan so I didn't try it, but other people said it was tasty too.

Bummer, this is one that I was hoping was real. Honestly, the not enforcing the end times causes longer waits for both stand-by and the FP lines, as well as those that need special assistance in many cases.

Don't really want this to turn into ANOTHER debate on this matter because it's been extensively discussed on these boards. I was just poking fun at how much this topic has been talked about recently.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I am an advocate of using FastPass in the parks, and we often get one and use it later in the day, past the return time on the ticket. It makes the day so much more flexible. Rides at WDW like Test Track, Soarin', and TS Midway Mania run out of FP quickly, and distribute FPs very far out. On a summer day, you might pick up a FP at 10 am for 5pm. (and by 11-12 there will be none left). Few guests can tolerate the FL heat from 10-5 in the summer; but coming back in the evening is possible..... just one example.

But to have so many FPs as shown in that photo seems a little, well, greedy or something. I can't imagine all the running around to even GET all those FPs. I usually go to WDW, where the rides are linked and you cannot have so many at once. I know that is another difference between DL and WDW. And if I rode 28 rides by 11:30 am (AMAZING!) I don't think i would have even bothered with picking up FPs?

Maybe I am missing something. But glad to hear they are not enforcing FP return times at DL!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We often have alot of FPs like this too. I don't think it's greedy and we aren't running around with the sole purpose of collecting FPs. We collect them as we walk around. DLR is in a much smaller space than WDW so it is not that hard. And when you park hop you can hold FPs from each park at the same time. One of them is for Roger Rabbit which is not connected, and I susupect another is WOC (also not connected because it's a show) but I can't quit tell from the pic. And because he has several each, I'm assuming he also is holding his friends' FPs as well. So really it isn't as many as it might look at first.


DLR29- No fair tricking! I was reading this on April 2nd so I wasn't expecting tricks today! Yesterday, I didn't believe anything I read online!

 

[marciemi]

-There was a sign outside of DLR saying that MM was being offered every day this upcoming week. Spring break crowds I guess. This can be confirmed on the park hours part of the DLR website.

Okay, I'll say first of all that you got me as well! I was like "I'm going to have to redo everything for next week now!"

More seriously though, this is the second time I've seen this mentioned (MM every day this week) and I can't find it anywhere on the DLR website. This is where I'm looking:

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendar/#/default/2012/04/02

And it shows no Morning Magic hours today (or Wed, or Fri). We're arriving next Tuesday night but will be staying by the airport that night. I'd planned to use our MM on Thursday, but would prefer Wednesday since we have a full day (we only have a half day on Thu), plus I'd think it would be less crowded since most people won't know about this if they do have it. Could you please share where you found it so I can use it for next week just in case? Thanks so much!

 

[HydroGuy]

OK, so I was sure you were trying to throw another April 1 thing out there and just went straight to the bottom of your post.

You are a FP master!

 

[narsel]

Brilliant! Scared me, but brilliant!

 

[DLR29]

I am an advocate of using FastPass in the parks, and we often get one and use it later in the day, past the return time on the ticket. It makes the day so much more flexible. Rides at WDW like Test Track, Soarin', and TS Midway Mania run out of FP quickly, and distribute FPs very far out. On a summer day, you might pick up a FP at 10 am for 5pm. (and by 11-12 there will be none left). Few guests can tolerate the FL heat from 10-5 in the summer; but coming back in the evening is possible..... just one example.

But to have so many FPs as shown in that photo seems a little, well, greedy or something. I can't imagine all the running around to even GET all those FPs. I usually go to WDW, where the rides are linked and you cannot have so many at once. I know that is another difference between DL and WDW. And if I rode 28 rides by 11:30 am (AMAZING!) I don't think i would have even bothered with picking up FPs?

Maybe I am missing something. But glad to hear they are not enforcing FP return times at DL!

The rides are linked at DLR too (except Roger Rabbit), but not linked between 2 parks. I use a very efficient timing strategy to get all of those. Nothing that I did to get those is any inside knowledge except for Roger Rabbit. Yes, I ran around to get those FPs, but we still rode 9 rides during that time too, so it's not like I was solely getting FPs. Also I rode 28 rides by 11:30PM. It was a really crowded day...of course I was gonna use FP! I wouldn't have gotten on 28 rides without FP.

We often have alot of FPs like this too. I don't think it's greedy and we aren't running around with the sole purpose of collecting FPs. We collect them as we walk around. DLR is in a much smaller space than WDW so it is not that hard. And when you park hop you can hold FPs from each park at the same time. One of them is for Roger Rabbit which is not connected, and I susupect another is WOC (also not connected because it's a show) but I can't quit tell from the pic. And because he has several each, I'm assuming he also is holding his friends' FPs as well. So really it isn't as many as it might look at first.


DLR29- No fair tricking! I was reading this on April 2nd so I wasn't expecting tricks today! Yesterday, I didn't believe anything I read online!

In the pic I'm holding:
-Star Tours
-Splash
-Roger Rabbit
-Space
-Soarin
-Screamin
-World of Color
for 5 people.

Also, success on the tricking!

Okay, I'll say first of all that you got me as well! I was like "I'm going to have to redo everything for next week now!"

More seriously though, this is the second time I've seen this mentioned (MM every day this week) and I can't find it anywhere on the DLR website. This is where I'm looking:

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendar/#/default/2012/04/02

And it shows no Morning Magic hours today (or Wed, or Fri). We're arriving next Tuesday night but will be staying by the airport that night. I'd planned to use our MM on Thursday, but would prefer Wednesday since we have a full day (we only have a half day on Thu), plus I'd think it would be less crowded since most people won't know about this if they do have it. Could you please share where you found it so I can use it for next week just in case? Thanks so much!

Interesting. When I posted this, I definitely checked their website and saw that they had MM on every day...and now it's not there. There was a sign outside of DL's gates with this info. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera. Hopefully someone there right now can confirm this because this was not intended to be part of the April Fools' joke!

OK, so I was sure you were trying to throw another April 1 thing out there and just went straight to the bottom of your post.

You are a FP master!

Cheater... Granted, I knew that yours was an April Fools thing too so...

 

[bumbershoot]

But to have so many FPs as shown in that photo seems a little, well, greedy or something. I can't imagine all the running around to even GET all those FPs. I usually go to WDW, where the rides are linked and you cannot have so many at once.

Remember (or know) that the OP is a youthful college student in the prime of his *ability-to-walk-with-purpose-around-Disneyland-for-FPs* life without blisters or pain. He's also been going to Disneyland (and, I believe, planning the trips) with his family for years now so he's got it down. And he's holding Fps for his friends; if he just held the one each for himself it wouldn't look anywhere near so impressive.

And when WDW was being like DLR, it was possible to get multiple Fps like that. Promise. The only difference was that it is harder to hop and get Fps from multiple parks than it is at DLR.


If I'd done 28 rides that early, at this point in my life, I wouldn't WANT to do anything more! But that's why I'm doing WeightWatchers now, to allow my knees the ability to follow my young son around, because 28 rides for him would be just the beginning!

 

[Jennifer2983]

LOL all these april fools jokes r getting me cause I am not reading them till today!!!