What would you recommend?

[KimWDW]

I'm experienced with WDW but a DL first timer. Our trip this time is no kids, two adults. We will definitely be there at park opening because we're coming from the East Coast so our bodies will feel like it's 3 hours earlier. At park opening, what do you recommend we fastpass first at each park?

DL - I was thinking Space Mt or Indiana Jones? Or maybe go right to Space at opening, ride it quickly, and then head to Adventureland and fastpass something?

CA - Get a FP for Soarin, then head to Radiator Springs Racers and ride that? Or CA Screamin'?

I feel so out of my element. I have my WDW plans memorized. I could tour those parks in my sleep.

 

[BARBARAL26]

Can't really respond to your plan, but when we go without kids we have a blast. I think DL should advertise that also it's not just for kids

 

[whoever]

Are you staying onsite and thusly getting EMH?

 

[KimWDW]

Not staying onsite but our tickets come with one "magic morning" admission. And we have park hoppers. Our first day, though, will be a busy one and we will not have early admission available to us. So that's why I'm trying to come up with a good plan.

 

[mom2rtk]

Do Indy as early (and often!) in your trip as you can. Not sure if it will be any better after its refurb, but it was down most of the times we walked by there on our trip last December.

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I would go with Indy in DL and Radiator Springs Racers in DCA. And yes, Indy has been known to break down. It was down the first time I went by last Sunday and then an hour later after we did get on it broke down mid-ride. On the bright side we got "evacuated" from the ride and had to walk out which was actually kind of fun.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Here is a great srticle from Touring Plans on how to strategize your FP's for DLR.

The article includes general tips and then a link to tips/planning for DL and then one for DCA as well:

http://touringplans.com/disneyland-resort/fastpass#

Its super helpful with some great info.

 

[SultanPprShkr]

I personally would do Indy first, get a FP, and then go to space. their proximity to each other is quite a trek, and Indy is known to break down often, so get that out of the way (plus a FP IF it does break down that early LOL).

As PPs have said, also do Radiator Springs Racers in DCA first thing in the morning. Get the FP first, then ride it. It's referred to as the Indy of DCA = breaks a lot.

If you've done Soarin in WDW/Epcot, it's the same thing. Except in WDW it's called Soarin' and here it's called Soarin' Over California.. but the destinations are the same FYI. LOL. I mean, California is so diverse that it feels like you're going through many states and lands, but yep, all of those scenes are from our lovely Golden State! So do that when you can or get a FP if you must.

Screamin moves fast as for their line, so if you see it at 20 min, it's probably more like 15. The Mermaid attraction is most likely 10-15 min at most 20 min.. it's not like MK's Mermaid for their absurd 30-45+min wait, LOL.. ours moves fast and goes smoothly. plus it's been recently reopened so you'll might notice some key differences over MK's.

 

[KimWDW]

You guys are awesome! Thank you so much!

 

[apicozzi]

I think you'll enjoy Disneyland and hope you plan on posting a trip report! I'm a WDW vet who just visited Disneyland for the first time in 2012 and second time in 2013. It's quite different from WDW, but I love it for different reasons. Have fun!

 

[SMD]

I would get an FP for Space, then ride it standby. Check Star Tours and either get an FP or ride it. Then use the Space FP. If I had a Star Tours FP use it, or if I already rode it I'd go to Indy and either get an FP or single rider, depending on the timing. If it's an FP, go to HM and/or POTC while waiting for the Indy FP. After that I'd hit BTMRR. I usually skip Splash, and I haven't been at opening since BTMRR reopened, so maybe I'd do BTMRR ahead of Indy, since Indy has single rider. I'm not sure how popular it is in the mornings. I guess if I was going to do Splash I'd save HM for later when I went to get the that FP.

 

[hyperminimalism]

Quite honestly, since RSR is still a popular attraction and since I had some difficulties with it myself the first year it opened as well as the next year, I'd say go get FP tickets for that first since--from what I'm hearing--they still go out within an hour to an hour and a half after opening. Single ride the line if you don't mind breaking up from your party and THEN head over to Soarin' since you'll already be in DCA. I'm not so fond of the ride myself, though. It was rather lackluster and a pointless wait. That's just me!

As for DL, I'd get a Space Mountain past first, then head over to Indy to see what the line is like. You could probably choose between the two or wait to get a FP for it later. Indy tends to get super busy near the afternoon hours, and it doesn't let up much unless it goes down and you're first in line when it comes back up. Then again, I think a 35-40 minutes. wait is ridiculous. xD At that point, we tend to do the smaller rides like Pirates and Haunted Mansion, which are usually no more than 5-15 minutes. If you're going to want to go on the water rides, I'd highly suggest getting into those lines quickly as well since they stay packed throughout the day until it starts to cool down.

I'm so excited to head out to DL/DCA myself in August, and I'll be following this routine!

 

[SMD]

The distance you have to walk in the Indy queue and the safety video and loading preceding mean your minimum wait is going to be 15-20 minutes, so really, 30-45 on that ride is what I'd expect on a light-medium crowd day.

If you have more than one day in each park, there is something to be said for walking down Main St and through the castle or stop by the partners statue on your first day. Instead of rushing off for the first FP.

 

[thundersparkle]

Indiana Jones has been a long wait lately - that or Splash Mountain or Space Mountain I would recommend for FP for DL. Also think about Big Thunder - which is close to Splash Mountain as it's recently reopened after a very, very long refurb (it's great!) and the waits have been quite long.

For DCA, definitely get to Racers first or FP it.(Or use the single rider line. Or both. Worth doing more than once!) Soarin' is not the wait that WDW has, so that's good. Screamin' not too bad of a wait either - I would just check times on your app.