DLR itinerary advice?

[shepp]

OK, Anaheim experts...

 

I'll be at DLR on the first Tuesday in June with a one-day hopper. (Planning on big but not ginormous crowds.) Never been on Indy (a top priority), never been to DCA. Disneyland opens at 9, DCA an hour later. As of now, I'm planning to get to DLR about an hour before gate, riding Indy, heading to SM for a Fastpass, riding the Matterhorn if the timing looks good, then hustling over to DCA before it opens, riding Soarin', off to the TOT for a FP and maybe a ride, then to Monsters, Inc., over to Screamin', then gratefully slowing down, heading out of DCA mid-to-late-afternoon and spending the rest of the day and night at DL.

 

Does this all sound reasonable? I have no idea, for instance, how long it would take to get from SM to DCA's gate. And maybe I should head to SM first and pick up an Indy pass on my way out? Or what? I know this is micromanaging, but...

[coaster1]

Great tip is to use single rider on certain rides:

 

Grizzly River

Soarin'

Screamin'

Mulholland Madness

 

I'm not sure of all the rides that use single rider, but they work really well except on Soarin' where you may have to wait a few minutes due to the groupings and size of each ride cycle.

[cfc]

Hmm--if the timing's right, you could hop on the DL Railroad at Tomorrowland Station and be at the main gate in just a few minutes; if not, probably best to just hoof it.

[shepp]

Great tip is to use single rider on certain rides:

 

Grizzly River

Soarin'

Screamin'

Mulholland Madness

 

I'm not sure of all the rides that use single rider, but they work really well except on Soarin' where you may have to wait a few minutes due to the groupings and size of each ride cycle.

 

Yeah, I know about the single-rider lines, thanks...Unfortunately, Indy no longer has one - Splash is apprently the only single-rider at DLR. And Grizzly River will be a lot more fun if I can watch my partner getting soaked. It's really the Disneyland situation - more to do, bigger crowds - that concerns me.

[B.Toast]

At DL, Splash and Space Mountain have the longest lines, so try to FP one and do the other if you can.

[Jeezus Juice]

Hey Shepp, I come down from San Francisco all the time to the DLR and your plan sounds just like the one I always use.

 

You can hit Indy, walk on the matterhorn and grab a space mountain fastpass in an hour easy.

 

By then DCA should just be opening. Usually the hub, Condor Flats, and Soarin' open about a half hour before the park does. If you're in the park before 10 you can grab a Soarin' fastpass and then wait for the rope to drop into Hollywood.

 

Then you can walk on to Tower, have a modest wait for Monster's Inc, and then go hit the rest of the rides in the park (Coaster, Sun Wheel, Grizzly) and then use your FP for Soarin' before you leave the park.

 

Usually I'm done with DCA by noon and on my way over to Disneyland (or I leave to get lunch, go to Knotts, whatever ).

 

Now since you've never been to DCA you might want to hang out and see the 3-D films, farm displays, winery crap. Just make sure you stop and get a tortilla. Maseca!!!

 

Oh, Block Party Bash can probably be skipped. I'm a big DLR fan boy and even I haven't seen it. If you're there on a day that the Aladdin show is playing I'd recommened seeing it between rides on TOT. The cast is really good, lots of quick changes and ad libs!

 

Single rider on splash can be a bit confusing. There's not always a sign or any indication that they are actually doing it. Just walk up the exit like you know what you're doing and ask a CM and they'll show you where to go. Sure beats waiting 180 minutes in stand-by!

 

What other tidbits can I think of...?

 

Oh, Roger Rabbit's dark ride in toontown is not hooked up to the main DLR fastpass matrix so you can hold one for that ride in addition to any others you may have.

 

Also, as a favor to yourself, try and watch the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show at the golden horseshoe, even if you hate theme park shows. This one comes highly recommended!

 

When does POTC reopen? We'll I'm sure you wouldn't miss that anyway! Have fun man!

 

-Don

recovering Diznoid

[B.Toast]

Just make sure you stop and get a tortilla. Maseca!!!

That's probably the hidden secret of the park! I ask people if they got Tortiallas and they look at me like I'm crazy.

[shepp]

If you're there on a day that the Aladdin show is playing I'd recommened seeing it between rides on TOT. The cast is really good, lots of quick changes and ad libs!

 

When does POTC reopen? We'll I'm sure you wouldn't miss that anyway! Have fun man!

 

Thanks for all the good advice, Don.

 

Unfortunately, the Aladdin show will be dark on Tuesday. And unless there's a very, very early soft opening, POTC will still be down. Going Wednesday might be better - no EE, Aladdin playing - but that would mean pulling into Santa Clarita after midnight, then getting up early the next morning to ride Tatsu...a forced march, indeed.