help with dl plan day 1

wongck

WDW here we come!!
Joined
Oct 22, 2016
Hi ya,
1st post here.
Will be going to DLR 1st week Dec for 5 days - 3 DL + 2 DCA. :banana:
We are from Asia and so don't frequent the parks as much as I would like to. Last time I was at DLR was Dec 1999, and there was no DCA then and no kids as well.
Been to WDW twice in 2010 & 2013, with the kids - DS9 & DS12. Had FP+ in 2013 so it was easier to plan. We be staying off site - to keep within budget.

I am here to ask about this ambitious plan - Sunday non EMH:
Doable ?
  1. Arrive ~ 7.30am
  2. Rope drop ~ 8am
  3. Peter Pan
  4. Alice in Wonderland
  5. Pinocchio
  6. Dumbo
  7. Matterhorn ~ 9am
  8. Storybook canals
  9. Mr Toads
  10. Snow white
  11. Casey Jr (may skip this) ~ 10am
  12. it's a small world
  13. Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
  14. Gadget's Go Coaster
  15. Mickey, Donald, Goofy playhouse
  16. Lunch @ Rancho del Zocalo QS ~ 12.30pm
  17. Hotel (break) 2.00p - 4pm
  18. Christmas tree light up @ Main St square ~ 5pm
  19. Get FP for Star Tour and Buzz lightyears
  20. Dinner @ Plaza Inn QS ~ 6pm
  21. Autopia
  22. Buzz lightyears (FP)
  23. Star Tours (FP)
  24. Wintertime Enchantment Holiday Lighting ~ 9p
  25. Believe... In Holiday Magic
Thank
 
I think it is doable with possibly the following adjustments:

Get FP for Star Tour and Buzz lightyears
The FP for Star Tours may already have run out by the time you get to it. Check earlier in the day to get your FP. You may need to get it closer to lunch time.
Buzz Lightyear may not have a FP. If it doesn't, the line isn't very long and you can still ride it without the FP.
Dinner @ Plaza Inn QS ~ 6pm
It will be very busy. I believe they will take a reservation online. If they do, make a reservation so that you don't need to wait in the long line at dinnertime.
 
I would do PP, Dumbo, Matterhorn, then go to TL and return FL later. Pull a Roger Rabbit FP before Gadgets. You may wait a little longer for Gadgets by not being at TT right when it opens, but you'll be waiting out your FP too.
 
The FP for Star Tours may already have run out by the time you get to it. Check earlier in the day to get your FP. You may need to get it closer to lunch time.
Buzz Lightyear may not have a FP. If it doesn't, the line isn't very long and you can still ride it without the FP.
Thanks for this hint on FP.
It will be very busy. I believe they will take a reservation online. If they do, make a reservation so that you don't need to wait in the long line at dinnertime.

Thanks I will check if they do reservations.
 


I would do PP, Dumbo, Matterhorn, then go to TL and return FL later. Pull a Roger Rabbit FP before Gadgets. You may wait a little longer for Gadgets by not being at TT right when it opens, but you'll be waiting out your FP too.
I will reorder Dumbo, matterhorn. I didn't know of RR FP... LOL.
I have another day for TL and the plan for it as well and another day for Frontier/Adventure. But I would like to settle FL & TT first.
PP seems to be very busy.
 
If you're anticipating it being very busy, I'd make it 7:15 a.m., giving yourself time to get through security. Stand in line at gate 20 or 13, and don't be shy to go ahead and stand in front of a gate/turnstile that doesn't have a line yet. There's tree planters in front of those gates, and people often don't stand in front of the turnstiles there... in which case, if the line is already long, the lines from gate 20 and 13 feed into the gates next to them.

For your FL order: I'd do PP, Alice, Dumbo, Matterhorn, storybook boats (Casey Jr sees the same sights) and then Toad, Snow and Pinocchio. IaSW has fairly short lines all day. Maybe go pull a Star Tours FP before you go on IaSW? Hit Buzz Lightyear (probably a short wait) and then your Star Tours FP might be ready.

Toontown, grab a RR FP, it should have a pretty fast return time-- then hit Gadget's, then Mickey's house (assuming you are going to go through and meet him for pictures? Can take 20-30 minutes). When you get done, your RR FPs might be ready. Or if not you could go see the other houses or take a break.

Those are just a couple of thoughts that occur... hope you have a great time!
 
be at the gates at 7;15, rope drop will be on Main street, hence a thicker pack of people, you will be farther back behind the rope for each bathroom break, photo op, snack on Main street once thru the gates. If you take breaks once on main street and arrive any later then 7:15, scratch Peter Pan. Also because of the security photos, gate entry in now cumbersome.
 


entering thru the castle at 8:10, I would do dumbo, Alice and then Pinocchio and snow white. Be in line at 9:40 for matterhorn.

board dumbo at 8:35

board alice at 9:05,

board Pinocchio at 9;20, snow white at 9:25

Use restroom around the corner of Pinocchio, head over to matterhorn for a beginning wait time at 9:40 around the mountain
 
I wish I can be earlier for RD but the transport leave the hotel only leaves at 7.15am.
And that's the 1st transport.....
Breakfast opens at 6.30am and I want a full breakfast so that we can go further without a break in the morning.
 
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be at the gates at 7;15, rope drop will be on Main street, hence a thicker pack of people, you will be farther back behind the rope for each bathroom break, photo op, snack on Main street once thru the gates. If you take breaks once on main street and arrive any later then 7:15, scratch Peter Pan. Also because of the security photos, gate entry in now cumbersome.
Sorry for trivial question - How far in Main St will RD be at ?
We will have free breakfast at the hotel, so no snack breaks nor Sbucks.
I see your new plan above.
So PP is similar to the one at WDW ?? I am not sure if the kids will want to remove that.
 
If you're anticipating it being very busy, I'd make it 7:15 a.m., giving yourself time to get through security. Stand in line at gate 20 or 13, and don't be shy to go ahead and stand in front of a gate/turnstile that doesn't have a line yet. There's tree planters in front of those gates, and people often don't stand in front of the turnstiles there... in which case, if the line is already long, the lines from gate 20 and 13 feed into the gates next to them.

I am there 1st week of Dec, so hopefully crowds are not too large... finger crossed.
Wow :thumbsup2 the gate 20/13 hint.

Thanks for the Fl & TT orders.. .

This is what I need from the DIS gang !!
 
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I would strongly consider getting park hopper tickets. This would allow flexibility, especially if it gets too crowded at DL it lets you hop over to DCA where it is usually not as crowded. Or you can be flexible at meal times, etc. Lots of advantages with park hoppers!
 
so, with your lodging plan, you will never be able to ride Peter Pan in the morning, the best strategy is use TL fast-pass and pass the time waiting for Peter Pan. Peter Pan is the worst place to wait in line at Disneyland in terms of aesthetics , so that makes the wait more unbearable.

rope drop for main street is where street pours into castle hub, but you could finds some pixie w dust and have rope drop at each land

the plus of your trip is that Thanksgiving is early this year and will be for the next two years. so that takes pressure off the crowds.

With the ROA and train closures, that also hinders visitors so 2016 is looking good
 
Yes, I do hope that it will be less crowded during 1st week of Dec which supposingly the 2nd lull season.
I making several changes to the plan as PTN is back at 10.45p rather late due to candlelight, which will pull in more crowd :(
 
Looks like some major change in night events - i am removing my night Autopia, Star Tours and Buzz to make way for the Candle light processional.

Any ideas when will the timing be out on the Disney website?
 
So I did this plan on my 3rd day rather than 1st day but with major changes.

It was almost an disaster that day but luckily for me we did Dumbo, Snow white, Toad, Pinocchio and all of toontown the day before.
( not sure how we managed to do so much on the other day but toontown was really nothing except for Mickey).

The disaster was that the 1st 2 rides - PP and Alice were down when we stood in line.
We got to the line at PP, was queuing at around the 1st bend ( the window with the coins). Nothing moved for 15 mins and by 25min CM told all of us to get out.
When I got to Alice, it was still moving. But after few minutes, it stopped. By that time it was well over 9.30 and we ran to Matterhorn then IaSW.
When we came back, Alice was just coming back on so wait was like 10-15 mins.
However, PP was terrible, wait was like 50 mins. So we just did that... wait as most of the other rides were already done yesterday.

Overall, the family feeling of Fantasyland was a waste of time. Sure those are the original, classical rides. No wonder WDW has a New fantasyLand, so Disney already knows.
The area is small, cramp and boring lines ( as noted by all here). Sure the evil witch peeks out of the window, but after few times, it's get boring.
DS keeps reminding us that back in 1955 these rides would be awesome and state of the art.
 
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.....so i take it that your son was not impressed with the less than a year old remodel and refurbs.......but at least you have battle scars from Peter Pan, welcome to the club.... thank you for returning the info
 

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