WWYD: DCA at opening

[CaliTransplant]

I have 1 day..a very long day. Feb 29 to see and do everything I want at Disneyland and DCA. This will be my 2nd trip to Disneyland. (first was NYE 2010/2011)

I plan to maybe got to Disneyland for a few minutes in early morning to get a few early photos, but I will be at DCA for opening...not sure if they do a big show like all the WDW parks do.

I have 5 attractions on my list: California Screamin, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story Mania (I could skip this), Mickey's Fun Wheel, and Monsters Inc. I'm also going to get lunch at DCA.

Do I: Go to Screamin and grab a FP so I can ride in the front row then back to Little Mermaid,
Or: do I go to Little Mermaid first and just single rider California Screamin?

I'm hoping to be done at DCA by 1pm to go to Disneyland until 6am before I head to the airport for my trip home.

Thanks for all the opinions and thoughts.

 

[myxdvz]

You know we were just there and all these rides: Screamin' (3 min), Little Mermaid (walk on), Mickey's Fun Wheel (5 min for non-swing, 10 for swinging) and Monster Inc (walk on) had very little wait times. Feb 29 might be another issue though because of the 24 hour thingy, but DCA seems very light compared to DL crowds. TSMM is probably the only ride that we had to wait a looong time for (~20 mins) - I wondered why that one didn't have FPs.

 

[skiingfast]

DCA will open at 9:30. However this is for RD and you will only be able ride Soarin, which is not on your list and probably LM which is usually opening close to 10am. There is a rope drop to the pier then. You can also get a WoC FP then, if you haven't ever seen this show I strongly suggest you should.

For Screamin grab a FP and then make a choice, TSMM or MFW. Both of those get long lines.

LM and MI are usually walk on attractions or at least 10-15 minute waits on busy days.

Ther is a small opening show on the train station at DL but nothing at DCA.

 

[OKW Lover]

Can't help you on traffic patterns, but wanted to put a plug in for Tower of Terror. We found the DCA version to be better than the one in FL, which we ride regularly. I understand this attraction isn't for everybody, but wanted to mention it incase you had overlooked it.

 

[gardener14]

Ther is a small opening show on the train station at DL but nothing at DCA.

I've seen this at Magic Kingdom, but I wasn't aware that DL did this. Is it by the Mickey floral picture just before official opening? Could you explain more. I thought rope drop at DL uisually occurred well into Main St.

 

[CaliTransplant]

Can't help you on traffic patterns, but wanted to put a plug in for Tower of Terror. We found the DCA version to be better than the one in FL, which we ride regularly. I understand this attraction isn't for everybody, but wanted to mention it incase you had overlooked it.

If I wasn't going to be trying to spend the next 20+ hours awake. I would totally ride ToT, but the one at WDW messes with me, but I love it. I'm going to put it on my list for next time. Since we'll be Cali residents soon I'm sure we'll be back before too long.


Thanks everyone. I guess I'll try to knock out Paradise Pier and hit Monsters and LM on my way out. If I'm there before 10 and Soarin is open I'd ride it, but my DH loves it so much I've ridden the Epcot version more times then I care too (it only feels cool to see this attraction the first 50 times I think) and the DL version a couple of times as well.

 

[kevdo]

Well, the WDW parks don't do big opening shows anymore, except for the MK. And they definitely don't do this in CA.

Anyway, the most sensible behavior at opening for DCA (at least until Carsland opens) is to come in, get Soarin fastpasses and then head to Paradise Pier. Ride Toy Story, then Screamin (the ride will still be short) and then ride other PP attractions in order, ending with Mermaid. Then head to ToT (again, short wait) and Monsters, and leave riding Soarin on the way out.

At park open you could probably ride Screamin a couple times with not that long of a wait.

 

[skiingfast]

I've seen this at Magic Kingdom, but I wasn't aware that DL did this. Is it by the Mickey floral picture just before official opening? Could you explain more. I thought rope drop at DL uisually occurred well into Main St.

There is hardly one. On the few normal days when there is no ropedrop, I've seen a family chosen to go into the park behind the gates or on the train station and lead the countdown. This can be really hard to see because the gates are in the way for a lot of the people in line. On Rope Drop days, there is a message that is hard to hear when in the middle of the excited crowd, and it welcomes you into the rest of the park.

It's not like the little shows at WDW parks.