What to do first

[Tgl2011]

Can anyone tell me a good order to do Disneyland/DCA? What rides should we do first? We just want a leisurely visit, but I am sure there are some rides we should do before others. Thanks!

 

[coaches24]

Can anyone tell me a good order to do Disneyland/DCA? What rides should we do first? We just want a leisurely visit, but I am sure there are some rides we should do before others. Thanks!

Use fast pass whenever possible would be my first tip. The rides that get busiest quick are SM, Indian jones, and the fantasyland rides (which don't have FP).

In DCA toy story Soarin, and GRR are first on our list. I'm the only one in my family who likes TOT and none of us like CS but you can hit those as well if you like those rides.

 

[skiingfast]

If you have kids MM day or not.
Peter Pan, Mr. Toad Tea Cups, Dumbo

If not or big kids.
On MM days.
FP ST or Space, then Indy if it's open. POTC, HM, Maybe ride Splash and or FP Splash, BTMRR, Indy(because it often opens 30-60 minutes late) or FP Indy depending if the line is built up or not. Go to DCA.

On non MM days.
FP ST and ride Space, ride buzz, FP Space.

In DCA, ride and or FP Soarin. If you are in the rope drop TSMM, if notTSMM when lines looks reasonable. FP Screaming, ride MFW, ride Screaming without FP, FP GSS, ToT.

 

[Tgl2011]

Sorry, should have said there will be 4 adults, a d 2 kids (4 and 7) and the last time is was there was probably 25 years ago!

 

[skiingfast]

Sorry, should have said there will be 4 adults, a d 2 kids (4 and 7) and the last time is was there was probably 25 years ago!

No problem, you can still do the above, it just depends on your priorities.

If 4yo is not tall enough for some attractions, you can use rider switch.

Are you aware of how FP works?

 

[Tgl2011]

The 4year old is tall enough, he is 45", and I think I know how fp work.

 

[skiingfast]

The 4year old is tall enough, he is 45", and I think I know how fp work.

At 45" he won't be able to ride Indy or California Screemin. You may want to do rider swap for those.


The basic FP things to know, is it has a return window on the FP you get. You can get you next FP when that window opens or two hour later, whichever happens first. You can return to use your FP when the return window opens or later in the day, ignoring the closing time of the return window.

Here are two thread, that may help you.

Using FP in high season if you are going in Summer
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

Using FP in both parks taking advantage of the staggered opening, this may not happen after this Spring.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1553197

 

[summerw]

How many days will you be there? Just one? If so, with kids that small and so long since your last visit, you will probably want to focus on DL mostly and catch the parade and fireworks. If you're staying longer, be sure to grab a fast pass for World of Color early one morning. I would not miss Soarin' though.

Depends on your kids... I'd start with Peter Pan, Dumbo, Buzz or even the Nemo submarine if they are into any or those movies. All of them get pretty crowded and have lines in the sun and are good first rides, IMHO. You could send a FP runner too.

I'd avoid Snow White, Pinocchio and Mr Toad if you think the dark or witch/demon/giant whale might freak them out, at least for first rides for kids who got up early. I once took my 3yo nephew on Snow White first and he was scared of what might be lurking in the restrooms even the rest of the day. Bad auntie. On the same token, it's one of my 2yo son's favorite rides, but I didn't take him on it first.

I don't know if your kids have ridden coasters before, but there's kiddie one in Toontown to try them out on that's pretty easy or even Big Thunder if you have more adventurous kids.

And will you be going when Cars Land is open? That will definitely affect crowd levels in DCA, as in completely jammed up, but might be a can't miss for your kids. I would definitely go there first if it's a must for you.

 

[CamoMama]

Without knowing how long and when you'll be going it's tough to give advice.

I don't do FPs back and forth across the parks because I'm not fond of crisscrossing. We try to go for 5 days and dedicate one day for each land and one day for DCA. We start at Fantasyland the first day, then Adventureland/Frontierland/Tomorrowland. We get FPs for later on in whatever land we're in.

 

[Tgl2011]

We are getting there on Saturday, will be going to the park mon, tues and thurs for sure, with the possibility of either wednesday or Friday also, but we want to do sea world also so not sure if that will be too much! My kids have been on rides before, and love them, so I don't think they will be scared on them, although I will probably stay away from the TOT though!

 

[Bungle]

What we did was go to DCA, grab WOC fast passes, head to soarin, then toy story. On the days we didn't see WOC we just went for whatever had the shortest line, eventually we got to everything.