[Question] Long term DL visitor tips?

[rreading]

As one who's been to WDW many a time over many years, I've come to get a feel for how to hit the parks (Fantasyland early in the am and maybe late; POTC and HM and BTM never have lines later in the evening); so I would imagine that there are some visitors who've noticed trends like this? Or at DL are some rides just busy all the time and you just have to get there early, use FP or wait?

Hoping to make DL a routine trip for us, and just looking to make it as great as possible!

[Sambo]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

Some basic rules of thumb from my experiences:

• Get to DL early in the morning - at the rope drop if possible
• Head to Space Mountain for a pastpass then go to Nemo or Star Tours
• Fantasyland for the low capacity rides - Dumbo, Storybookland - then Peter Pan
• By now it should be past time for Space Mountain - Ride then go get fastpass for Splash
• Mansion, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Indy, Big Thunder
• If it is time for Splash - ride - if not go out to TSI, it will be by the time you are done
• If you are a fan - get fastpass for Roger Rabbit
• Toontown - including getting your photo taken with Mickey at his House
• Check RR Fastpass time, if not ready, Matterhorn.

You should be in the park long enough to be ready for a late lunch or early dinner. Eat, enjoy, ride what is left.

[Chesire]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

Go to the back of the park as soon as you get there, walk on Pirates, Haunted, and Splash.

[Slappypunk]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

some basic rules of thumb from my experiences:

• get to dl early in the morning - at the rope drop if possible
• head to space mountain for a pastpass then go to nemo or star tours
• fantasyland for the low capacity rides - dumbo, storybookland - then peter pan
• by now it should be past time for space mountain - ride then go get fastpass for splash
• mansion, pirates, jungle cruise, indy, big thunder
• if it is time for splash - ride - if not go out to tsi, it will be by the time you are done
• if you are a fan - get fastpass for roger rabbit
• toontown - including getting your photo taken with mickey at his house
• check rr fastpass time, if not ready, matterhorn.

you should be in the park long enough to be ready for a late lunch or early dinner. Eat, enjoy, ride what is left.

this!!

[ohmyjustin]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

My usual schedule for Disneyland: FP for Space, ride Star Tours and Astro Blasters while you're there. Matterhorn, maybe on both sides depending on the lines. Followed by a trip to Adventureland to get on Indiana Jones, eventually making your way to Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder.

Rides in New Orleans, Critter Country, and Frontierland (ie, Big Thunder) don't really have lines once the nighttime shows begin. You'll definitely want to see these shows once in a while and will have to adjust accordingly, but it's easy to grab a FP for Splash or Indy, depending on what the day calls for.

[rreading]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

Sounds great!

[dictionary]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

If you like Fantasyland then I would hit early or at dinner time. It's the hub for most people with small kids so it gets packed with long lines.

I tend to hit either Frontierland for Indy or Tomorrowland for Space Mountain FP or a ride first thing and either follow that up with a ride down Pirates or the Matterhorn.

[rreading]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

Does Mickey's Toontown get crowded? Would think that it might be nice to visit in the middle of the day or is that insane - that that'd be the busiest time?

And is Roger Rabbit worth thinking about? The kids don't know the movie...is it essentially just a dark ride?

[CupcakeTerror]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

I find that I have never had a schedule for visiting Disneyland and DCA. I always wander wherever my feet take me, or wherever my stomach takes me if I'm hungry. If you are able to visit Disneyland for an extended amount of time, why would you want to have tons of structure? Seems like there would be more than enough time to do whatever you please as well as enjoy a little people watching from the side lines.

Small admission: I've never been to Disneyland for the rope drop as I always close down The Park.

[Sorcerer's Apprentice]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

Some basic rules of thumb from my experiences:

• Get to DL early in the morning - at the rope drop if possible
• Head to Space Mountain for a pastpass then go to Nemo or Star Tours
• Fantasyland for the low capacity rides - Dumbo, Storybookland - then Peter Pan
• By now it should be past time for Space Mountain - Ride then go get fastpass for Splash
• Mansion, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Indy, Big Thunder
• If it is time for Splash - ride - if not go out to TSI, it will be by the time you are done
• If you are a fan - get fastpass for Roger Rabbit
• Toontown - including getting your photo taken with Mickey at his House
• Check RR Fastpass time, if not ready, Matterhorn.

You should be in the park long enough to be ready for a late lunch or early dinner. Eat, enjoy, ride what is left.

Uhm... yeah... well...... this!

[14 MPH]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

For Indy Jone and Radiator Springs Racers.....get a fast pass.

Reason being, these rides break down....A LOT.

fast pass is almost like insurance.

If you're in line and one of these goes down for a long period of time, you don't have to worry about waiting and/or giving up your place in line.

[swampymarsh]

Re: Long term DL visitor tips?

Or at DL are some rides just busy all the time and you just have to get there early, use FP or wait?

In DL rides to do first.
With kids Peter Pan, it quickly builds a line that can be the biggest in the park for the rest of the day.
Without kids, Space or ST FP first, then ride the other one.
Matterhorn is a good one to so after PP or Space and ST. with or ride later at night.
Since you are from WDW it may be of interest to go left. Start with Indy, but it often opens late so there is risk to do this. So FP it when you have a chance later.
Nemo is tricky. It's a slow loading ride and the voyage lasts a little. While you can get on early when the wait is short, when you get off other lines in the park can all be big. It does slow down a tiny bit during the parades and late at night.

Then there is DCA.
Radiator Springs Racers is the longest wait in the resort, a title it will be keeping for a while. It often has a delayed opening so going there first risks putting you in a 45 minute wait even when your the 3rd person in line. It's FPs have been running out in 90 minutes so getting a FP early is very important.
Luigi's Flying Tires also gets a long line quickly.
Mickey Fun Wheel and TSM(M) get long lines neither have FP they are good to do right away.