What should we do between 8:00-9:00 in DL before CA park opening?

[chrisn]

Omitting FL, what should we/would you ride at DL's 8:00am opening in the first hour to get the most in before heading over to CA for their park opening? What would your suggestions be?

Also, should we show up as early before park opening at CA as we will at DL?

 

[Hound 109]

A few questions:

- Is 8am regular park opening or EE?
- Ages of those in your family?
- What type of rides do you usually ride?
- Do you want to blow the whole hour & 45 minutes on Nemo?

Answer these & you'll get alot of advice.

hound

 

[chrisn]

Sorry, this is a non-EE day (I think...Friday?).
We are 44, 38, 19, 10.
We love all the rides but leaning toward the "big" stuff.
No, HOPEFULLY we will have already experienced Nemo.

 

[HydroGuy]

Sorry, this is a non-EE day (I think...Friday?).
We are 44, 38, 19, 10.
We love all the rides but leaning toward the "big" stuff.
No, HOPEFULLY we will have already experienced Nemo.

And DCA opens at 9AM? Are you sure?

 

[blackjackdelta]

Every thing you can..I thought it opened at 0930 for Soarin" only.

Jack

 

[chrisn]

Ooops, bear with me guys. Sorry again, I didn't quite explain good enough. DL opens at 8:00. CA opens at 10:00 (according to October Calendar). I just thought we would have "about an hour" in DL before heading over to DCA to get in line for park opening. This is for Friday, October 5th.

Just looking for the best plan of action.

 

[MinnieMouse73]

TBH I can't think you'd need to be at CA for opening - I'd have thought you would be better speding longer 'prime time' in Disneyland then heading over to CA later. Unless the beginning of October is a really busy time for some reason I can't think of?! (maybe as I'm in UK, so if you have a public holiday then it might escape me).

We were there last week and the week before. We didn't get to CA before 11.30am on any of the days we went there (four in all), we did every ride (most several times over the few days) and didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything. There were longer queues than that, but only for Soarin' and GRR (up to about an hour) but we fastpassed both of them several times instead - easy to do since they're so close together and you can hold fastpasses for both at the same time. Actually it might have been longer (30-40 minutes?) for Screamin' but I can't remember as I did that as a single rider - you could FP it anyway.

Other examples - 15 minutes maximum wait for ToT (at 1pm, 4pm and 6.30pm on different days), Maliboomer was a walk-on both times I did it, 10 mins for Mulholland Madness, Monsters Inc a walk-on 4 times and waited 10 mins once.

In Disneyland, however, some of the bigger rides (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain come to mind) were getting queues of an hour or more.

Maybe someone who's been more often than me can tell us if it's typical for lines in CA to be so much shorter than DL?

 

[annieb727]

TBH I can't think you'd need to be at CA for opening - I'd have thought you would be better speding longer 'prime time' in Disneyland then heading over to CA later. Unless the beginning of October is a really busy time for some reason I can't think of?! (maybe as I'm in UK, so if you have a public holiday then it might escape me).

This is the beginning of the Gay Days weekend, and it is also the beginning of Columbus Day weekend (Columbus Day is October 8th), so it might be quite busy.

 

[Hound 109]

Sorry, this is a non-EE day (I think...Friday?).
We are 44, 38, 19, 10.
We love all the rides but leaning toward the "big" stuff.
No, HOPEFULLY we will have already experienced Nemo.

Now we're talking.

"Big Stuff", early morning Commando.

If you haven't already read Hydroguy's Getting the most out FP link, do so. Good background.

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

Also, I think MinnieMouse is on the right track. Commando DL till at least 10:30....then head over to DCA.

For example:

- Pick up Indy FP.
- BTMRR
- Pirates
- HM
- Splash
- Pick up Splash FP
- Pooh (or not....but check out the bakery in Pooh Corner - rarely anyone there early in the morning & cookies & pastries & tigger tails keep you going.)
- Indy (w/ FP) (or if small line hold onto the FP for later)
- Jungle Cruise
- Send a runner to SM for FP, while the rest of you enjoy a dole whip while waiting for
- Tiki Room (or not)
- or Buzz Lightyear.

(note - you might want to do SM first (before BTMRR) depending on your faves.)

At this point you can:

- Eat.
- Smell the roses.
- Head over to Toon Town (for Roger Rabbit & IASW &/or Storybookland Canal Ride)
- Head on over to DCA
- Go to Pirate's Lair (formerly Tom Sawyer's Island)

Most importantly, ride the big rides (above) first. Pick up FPs as you are in area & as they become available....so when you stroll over to DCA, you have 3-5 FPs in your pocket for later. If you skip a ride or two, no problem as long as you're knocking off the big guns early & collecting FP. Then the rest of the day takes care of itself.

Most importantly.....Have Fun.

hound -

.

 

[Hound 109]

This is the beginning of the Gay Days weekend, and it is also the beginning of Columbus Day weekend (Columbus Day is October 8th), so it might be quite busy.

If this is true, starting early & collecting FPs for later becomes even more important. When we were there over spring break, it was always empty in the morning & very crowded from 11am on. When we returned to DL at 6ish for the evening, we had 5-6 FP in our pocket. Instead of standing in 1 hour lines (standby) we would have a 5-10 min. wait with FP.

 

[annieb727]

If this is true, starting early & collecting FPs for later becomes even more important. When we were there over spring break, it was always empty in the morning & very crowded from 11am on. When we returned to DL at 6ish for the evening, we had 5-6 FP in our pocket. Instead of standing in 1 hour lines (standby) we would have a 5-10 min. wait with FP.

Yes! This will be very important as the crowds increase!
Sometimes, when we're at one park, dh will take all the tix and go get FP from the other park. Usually if I or one of the boys needs a little break or snack. Then we meet up a predtermined location. Then we have even more FP!!

 

[DisneyaHolic23]

I read everyone's advice, and I have a few questions:

1. I have wracked my brain. What does FL stand for, in the original poster's question?

2. MinnieMouse73 mentioned that one could hold fastpasses for GRR and Soarin' at the same time? How does that work (or is it just that Soarin' fastpasses are for so much later that they overlap with GRR?) I do understand that one can have more than one fp at one time; maybe I just read more into MM73's response than I should.

3. Soarin' opens at 9:30?? Can I get a fastpass at 9:30?

4. Is the line for Nemo really almost two hours?? I assume it isn't a fastpass ride?

5. Is it actually possible to have one individual run from one park from the other with everyone's park tickets to get fp's for the entire group? I thought the computer system at the entry had to scan a ticket in order to get a fp in that park...

Thanks for helping me understand!!

 

[RatBoy]

1. I have wracked my brain. What does FL stand for, in the original poster's question?

FANTASYLAND

2. MinnieMouse73 mentioned that one could hold fastpasses for GRR and Soarin' at the same time? How does that work (or is it just that Soarin' fastpasses are for so much later that they overlap with GRR?) I do understand that one can have more than one fp at one time; maybe I just read more into MM73's response than I should.

THE FP MACHINES FOR THESE RIDES ARE DIS-CONNECTED. FOR EXAMPLE YOU COULD GET FPs FOR SOARIN at 11:00am and GRR FPs at 11:05am

3. Soarin' opens at 9:30?? Can I get a fastpass at 9:30?

YOU CAN RIDE IT AT 9:30. CAN'T RECALL IF YOU CAN GET FPs AT 9:30 OR HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 10:00. I THINK YOU CAN GET THEM AT 9:30. NO OTHER FP RIDES ARE ACCESSIBLE UNTIL 10:00.

4. Is the line for Nemo really almost two hours?? I assume it isn't a fastpass ride?

YES APPROX. 2 HOURS MID-DAY. IT DOES NOT HAVE FP.

5. Is it actually possible to have one individual run from one park from the other with everyone's park tickets to get fp's for the entire group? I thought the computer system at the entry had to scan a ticket in order to get a fp in that park...

YES ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN GO TO THE OTHER PARK TO GET FPs FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

Thanks for helping me understand!!

 

[DLR29]

For example:

- Pick up Indy FP.
- BTMRR
- Pirates
- HM
- Splash
- Pick up Splash FP
- Pooh (or not....but check out the bakery in Pooh Corner - rarely anyone there early in the morning & cookies & pastries & tigger tails keep you going.)
- Indy (w/ FP) (or if small line hold onto the FP for later)
- Jungle Cruise
- Send a runner to SM for FP, while the rest of you enjoy a dole whip while waiting for
- Tiki Room (or not)
- or Buzz Lightyear.
.

I'm going to have to disagree with you completely. I say start on the other side of the park because Space, BLAB, Star Tours, Matterhorn, Autopia, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Mad Tea Party all get longer lines earlier than say Indy, Splash, PotC, HM, or BTMRR. This is what I'd do:

-Grab Space FP
-Ride Matterhorn
-Ride Autopia
-Ride Star Tours
-Ride BLAB repeatedly
-Use your Space FP
-Then go over to the other side of the park, get FPs and do as much as you can. Be sure to grab a FP before leaving DL and heading off to DCA to use later in the day.

Also if I were doing FL (Fantasyland) that day, I'd ride Peter Pan, Dumbo (if you want), Mr. Toad, Alice, Mad Tea Party all before the Matterhorn. (in that order)

 

[Master Mason]

my plan of attack would be

1. Grab a Space FP and ride it Make note of when it is availible it will be less than 2 hours.
2. ride Indy
3. Ride Pirates
4. Grab a Splash fastpass and ride it
5. Ride HM
6. Ride BTMRR
7. Go back and get another fastpass and ride Splash again
8. Grab something to drink or eat and hit Jungle cruise
9. Grab a BTMRR fast pass
10 Ride Materhorn
11.Grab a Space FP
12 Ride buzz
13 go to DCA

You walk out of DL with 2 space FPs, 2 SM fast passes, and a BTMRR fast pass to be used in the afternoon evening

BTMRR must be riden at night to get the most out of it.

 

[Miss Eeyore]

We were in Disneyworld when the fastpass system first came out. I understand how that worked. Now at DL I am reading that if you get a FP you do not have to use it during the timespan it is stamped for? You can use it later in the day? At DL do the FP machines run out of tickets soon after the park opens? How many FP's can you hold at the two parks at any one time? Our experience in Florida was that the FP's were all grabbed up very early in the day, with none left for later arrivals. Is this true with DL?

Is there a DL FAQ available?

 

[Master Mason]

We were in Disneyworld when the fastpass system first came out. I understand how that worked. Now at DL I am reading that if you get a FP you do not have to use it during the timespan it is stamped for? You can use it later in the day? At DL do the FP machines run out of tickets soon after the park opens? How many FP's can you hold at the two parks at any one time? Our experience in Florida was that the FP's were all grabbed up very early in the day, with none left for later arrivals. Is this true with DL?

Is there a DL FAQ available?

You can use a fastpass at DL anytime after the window starts. So if you have a FP for 11AM you can use it anytime after 11am that day.

I was there for 4 days in Aug which was pretty busy. Space ran out ususally sometime mid afternoon, as did Splash, pretty much everything else still had fast passes availible after dinner time. They give out so many for each time slot, then move to the next time slot, and then when they run out of time slots it shuts down.

 

[daannzzz]

We use this opportunity to do the Fantasyland rides...even when it is all adults.
The park opens and we go directly to....

Peter Pan
then
Mr. Toad
Alice in Wonderland
Matterhorn

then we enjoy strolling back toward Main st. (Maybe fit in Buzz Lightyear) and meander over to DCA.

 

[Hound 109]

1. I have wracked my brain. What does FL stand for, in the original poster's question?

FANTASYLAND

2. MinnieMouse73 mentioned that one could hold fastpasses for GRR and Soarin' at the same time? How does that work (or is it just that Soarin' fastpasses are for so much later that they overlap with GRR?) I do understand that one can have more than one fp at one time; maybe I just read more into MM73's response than I should.

THE FP MACHINES FOR THESE RIDES ARE DIS-CONNECTED. FOR EXAMPLE YOU COULD GET FPs FOR SOARIN at 11:00am and GRR FPs at 11:05am

3. Soarin' opens at 9:30?? Can I get a fastpass at 9:30?

YOU CAN RIDE IT AT 9:30. CAN'T RECALL IF YOU CAN GET FPs AT 9:30 OR HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 10:00. I THINK YOU CAN GET THEM AT 9:30. NO OTHER FP RIDES ARE ACCESSIBLE UNTIL 10:00.

4. Is the line for Nemo really almost two hours?? I assume it isn't a fastpass ride?

YES APPROX. 2 HOURS MID-DAY. IT DOES NOT HAVE FP.

5. Is it actually possible to have one individual run from one park from the other with everyone's park tickets to get fp's for the entire group? I thought the computer system at the entry had to scan a ticket in order to get a fp in that park...

YES ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN GO TO THE OTHER PARK TO GET FPs FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

I agree with all of Rat Boy's answers. A couple of other items:

- Although you can start riding Soarin' at 9:30, I don't think you can get a FP from Soarin until 10am (when the park officially opens).

- In addition to Griz Rapids FP being disconnected in DCA, (which Ratboy gave a great example of picking up Soarin FP at 10:00 & the Griz Rapid FP at 10:05), but the Roger Rabbit FP is disconnected in DL (allowing one to pick up a SM FP at 10:00 & a RR FP at 10:05 - for example).

AND TO ALL WHO ARE A LITTLE CONFUSED WITH ABREVIATIONS OR FP (or anything else) relating to DLR, I highly recommend you look at the HydroGuy sticky (found near the top of the first page) & here:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Print his abbreviation page, & read all of his threads (& then read them again ; or print them). It is essential reading for DLR planners.

 

[Hound 109]

I'm going to have to disagree with you completely. I say start on the other side of the park because Space, BLAB, Star Tours, Matterhorn, Autopia, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Mad Tea Party all get longer lines earlier than say Indy, Splash, PotC, HM, or BTMRR. This is what I'd do:

-Grab Space FP
-Ride Matterhorn
-Ride Autopia
-Ride Star Tours
-Ride BLAB repeatedly
-Use your Space FP
-Then go over to the other side of the park, get FPs and do as much as you can. Be sure to grab a FP before leaving DL and heading off to DCA to use later in the day.

Also if I were doing FL (Fantasyland) that day, I'd ride Peter Pan, Dumbo (if you want), Mr. Toad, Alice, Mad Tea Party all before the Matterhorn. (in that order)

DLR, you and i normally work the park similarly (from what i observed). From reading the OP's other posts (& from his answers to the questions above), he indicated that:

- They will be at DLR 3 (or 3+) days.
- They will do NEMO on "another day".
- They will do FL (FantasyLand) on their EE day.
- They have older kids & want to do the major rides.

Because of this I would recommend they do Matterhorn (& possibly BLAB) on EE day. (along with PP, Alice, Toadie, Pinocchio, Snow White). I'm guessing they'll skip Dumbo, Carousel & Teacups because of ages. (but if not, they can & should do these during EE).

I agree that on SM they might want to ride first (or get a FP first). But since they'll tour FL on EE day & Nemo (first) on another day, I think attacking the "left side" of the park is a good strategy on "the other day" at 8am. (it's wonderful to tour the left side w/o crowds).

This might be even more important if it is a Friday before a semi-holiday weekend (imo)

hound