When to ride Nemo

[GatorPrincess]

DH and I will be at DLR for three nights in the middle of August. We are going to the parks two days (I tried to talk him into adding the third day just to knock a couple of things out, but he doesn't want to, instead he wants to do some stuff at the hotel and DTD. ). We will get to go to the parks Friday and Saturday. We plan on spending the whole day at DL on Friday, the hitting MM at DL on Saturday and then heading over to DCA.

So which day should we do Nemo? I'm leaning toward Friday and then hitting the rest of FL on Saturday during MM. Personally, I could skip Nemo. I imagine it's not that different than the attraction at Epcot, but again DH is insisting. Men!!!!

Oh and we are only worried about hitting the rides that are different than their WDW counterparts or don't exist at WDW. We are local to WDW.

 

[munchkinsmom]

If you can get into DL as soon as it opens, the shorter the wait time will be for Nemo. When we rode it back in May, we headed to Nemo as soon as the park opened and only had to wait five minutes for the ride. We didn't have MM access. I would guess that the wait would be even shorter if you arrive at the park with MM access, but I don't know for sure.

 

[sbakersub]

We did Nemo first thing on a MM day last month, and we still waited about 15 minutes before our sub loaded. The advantage of doing it on a MM is that there are fewer people to head straight to Nemo than on a non-MM day. However, if you're trying to do FL rides, queing for and riding Nemo will eat into the MM time you have for those.

If the FL rides are your priority, then I think your strategy is a good one. Just be there before opening on Friday and head straight to Nemo first thing. If the wait is already excessive relative to your interest level, then skip it (if DH will let you ).

 

[Pinkstarblm]

i've rode it in the morning and at night.
morning had a 15 min wait
night like 45 but the colors under water are so pretty at night! and i think they still keep the park open until everyone in line has ridden(or up to 2 hours) at night.

 

[jernysgirl]

Personally, I could skip Nemo. I imagine it's not that different than the attraction at Epcot, but again DH is insisting. Men!!!!

Oh and we are only worried about hitting the rides that are different than their WDW counterparts or don't exist at WDW. We are local to WDW.

Nemo in DL is different than WDW. For one, you experience the ride in a sub (not a moving ride vehicle). I do not know about the actual content of the ride as I have no experience with WDW, but Nemo in DL is neat for the experience. I went on it when we were there in March, and although it definitely was not something that I probably would have waited a hour in line for, it was fun.

My boys love Nemo, and I love the subs from way back when it was the original rub ride. So that being said, I knew we had to ride it at least once. I am glad that we did, because I would have wondered what we had missed if we had not gone.

We lined up at the gates about 20 minutes before opening and then walked "swiftly" to Nemo. CM's controlled traffic because EVERYONE else was heading that direction too. We had 4 adults and 2 strollers. We made it there, and after parking the strollers we walked right and were on the second sub out of the dock. They had just opened the second line so we got lucky. Had we been kept in the first line we would have gotten the third sub and only waited 10 minutes or so. Really not that bad. I would definitely go first thing on a non-MM morning. Get there early and walk swiftly!

 

[Cali_Sparrow]

We lined up at the gates about 20 minutes before opening and then walked "swiftly" to Nemo. CM's controlled traffic because EVERYONE else was heading that direction too. We had 4 adults and 2 strollers. We made it there, and after parking the strollers we walked right and were on the second sub out of the dock. They had just opened the second line so we got lucky. Had we been kept in the first line we would have gotten the third sub and only waited 10 minutes or so. Really not that bad. I would definitely go first thing on a non-MM morning. Get there early and walk swiftly!

I agree! That's been my experience as well.
Everyone stampedes around the Matterhorn to Finding Nemo when the park opens, but the line isn't that bad! Just make sure you go the right way so you don't have to walk around again. CM's are around to show you where to go and you can usually just follow the crowd to the line.

Finding Nemo Subs are very different from the version at Epcot. It's definitely worth doing while you are at Disneyland.

 

[RudemanRB]

Don't even stop for coffee, head straight to Nemo. having the MM only means you can get into the park, and stand at the rope right before the Castle (just down main street)

Other than that I've yet to see the benefits of MM.


Rudy

 

[Disney Dreams]

...and i think they still keep the park open until everyone in line has ridden(or up to 2 hours) at night.

This is correct. If you are in line before they cut it off, you WILL ride. There is no FastPass for Nemo so if you don't do 1st thing in the AM, last thing at night is best if you are staying until the park closes. Enjoy!