Where should we start?

[Figment632]

So I am almost a month away from my first DL trip and want to know where to begin? In WDW we usually get a FP for SM and do TL.

Should I FP Indy, the Matterhorn how should I attack the park?

 

[Master Yoda]

I am by no means a DL expert but start with the Nemo subs. It has an incredibly slow load time so a line builds quickly.

 

[swimmom]

I'm also no expert, but we went for our first time last May. On our first full day in DL we started out at Indy then got FP for Space Moutain. The Matterhorn was never more than a 30 minute wait while we were there. We did Nemo at the very end of our first day, which was just a half day. We got in line about 5 minutes before closing. The wait was about 30 minutes and then we walked out of the park after closing with hardly anyone around.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Nemo in the morning, is usually where everyone rushes to first. The line gets pretty long, pretty quickly.

Typically, we would either grab a fast pass for Indy or Space Mountain and head over to which ever ride we didn't grab FP for. If you hit Indy first, you can work your way through Pirates, Jungle cruise, HM, and the rides in Critter County before heading back to Space.

Just my opinion though, take it for what it is worth!!

 

[CaesarBoxFan]

Nemo in the morning, is usually where everyone rushes to first. The line gets pretty long, pretty quickly.

Typically, we would either grab a fast pass for Indy or Space Mountain and head over to which ever ride we didn't grab FP for. If you hit Indy first, you can work your way through Pirates, Jungle cruise, HM, and the rides in Critter County before heading back to Space.

Just my opinion though, take it for what it is worth!!

Bingo.

In my opinion the #1 strategy to attacking the park.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Nemo in the morning, is usually where everyone rushes to first. The line gets pretty long, pretty quickly.

Typically, we would either grab a fast pass for Indy or Space Mountain and head over to which ever ride we didn't grab FP for. If you hit Indy first, you can work your way through Pirates, Jungle cruise, HM, and the rides in Critter County before heading back to Space.

Just my opinion though, take it for what it is worth!!

I agree that this is the best way to go. The key is to get to the park early and be ready to go at the rope drop.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I wouldn't even do Nemo. Don't we have the better version over in EPCOT?

 

[sponono88]

I wouldn't even do Nemo. Don't we have the better version over in EPCOT?

it depends on who you ask. although they pretty much tell the same story, the ride experience is completely different. there's no substitute for riding underwater in a submarine :shrug:

 

[TP2000]

Florida Nemo vs. California Nemo? They are similar in that they use the same characters and some of the same technology, and even some of the same lines of dialogue are used in both rides. Florida Nemo is a 4 minute Omnimover ride and California Nemo is a 12 minute ride underwater in a submarine, so even though they are sometimes similar the overall experiences are very different.

Why not ride both and then decide?

As for rushing to Nemo to get in line first thing in the morning, that is sooooo 2007! You can spend your first hour in the park far more productively than riding Nemo. I love Finding Nemo at night, and in the evening the line begins to die off rapidly. You can head over there during the last hour of the park operation and usually find a 15 minute or shorter line. I like the ride better after sundown because the outdoor lagoon scene looks better all lit up at night, but that's just me.

As for other tips....

Fasptass Indiana Jones, Space Mountain and if it's a weekend and/or busy Fastpass Roger Rabbitt and Autopia. If it's warmer than 75 degrees, Fastpass Splash Mountain as well. Otherwise, you don't generally need Fastpass for Thunder Mountain and Star Tours.

Matterhorn Bobsleds, Peter Pan and Pirates don't have Fastpass at Disneyland. Matterhorn and Pirates you don't need to worry about as the lines always move very fast, but Peter Pan is definitely one you'll want to do first thing in the morning. (It's closing for a month of rehab in May though).

At DCA you'll want to Fastpass Soarin' and Screamin', and maybe Grizzly River Run if it's very warm. You generally don't need Fastpass for Tower of Terror or Mulholland Madness. Midway Mania doesn't have Fastpass at DCA.

 

[CaesarBoxFan]

Also, there's a hidden FastPass trick that just might be great for your trip.

Grizzly River Run and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin are NOT connected to the other FastPass machines. Meaning that you don't have to wait for either your return time on another Fastpass to come or the 2 hour mark to hit before you can get a Roger Rabbit or Grizzly River Run Fastpass.

 

[Figment632]

I wouldn't even do Nemo. Don't we have the better version over in EPCOT?

I will because I plan on riding everything so I can compare it to rides in WDW.

Also, there's a hidden FastPass trick that just might be great for your trip.

Grizzly River Run and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin are NOT connected to the other FastPass machines. Meaning that you don't have to wait for either your return time on another Fastpass to come or the 2 hour mark to hit before you can get a Roger Rabbit or Grizzly River Run Fastpass.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I wouldn't even do Nemo. Don't we have the better version over in EPCOT?

I really like the Disneyland version more so than the WDW version. It's not that i dislike the Epcot rendition but I think the submarine voyage adds a little something extra, even if it the wait time is longer.

 

[sleepybear]

Just got back a few days ago. We rushed to Space Mountain, grabbed a Fastpass, and then rode Nemo just to get it out of the way. The wait was about twenty minutes.

It was my first time in DL and I would have liked to linger on Main Street and take in the place, but the Unofficial Guide stressed just how crazy the lines got for the subs, so I knew we had to do those first.

As for Indy, we rode that in the evening. The posted wait time was 50 minutes. We got on in about twenty. So definitely hit those submarines as soon as you can.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

I'd like to expand a little on my advice about getting an early start. I was at the park yesterday to meet up with friends who were bringing young children along. They were unable to arrive until noon. So, given that situation, I knew that I would have to start earlier if I wanted to see my favorite attractions. I was there early enough to pass the turnstiles just after 8:30. After browsing a few of the shops on Main St, I was ready for the rope drop at 9. I walked briskly through Adventureland and secured a fast pass at Indy. I then proceeded to POTC, HM and Splash. Not only were these attractions walk ons, there were very few people in that corner of the park. After Splash, I backtracked to use my Indy FP, but after seeing that the Jungle Cruise was also a walk on I climbed aboard the Congo Queen for a ride through the world's most dangerous rivers. Then it was off to Indy to redeem my FP.

After Indy, I proceeded across to BTMRR were I waited in line for only 10 min. After BTMRR I looked at my watch and it was still a little before 11. So, six of the most popular attractions done in less than 2 hrs. I was left with enough time to ride Space Mt. and enjoy a bite to eat at Pizza Port before meeting my friends at 12. I can't stress enough; Arrive early and use Fast Pass.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

No question, arriving early is the way to go in my books as well. My last three trips to Disney Parks (DL or WDW), I cannot recall a time when I didn't arrive before 9am. It's great to get to the park early, watch the opening show and basically walk on any attraction you want.

Our last day in WDW in March, we arrived as the park opened and walked on to all the rides we wanted to get out of the way before we had to meet up with other family members at the Animal Kingdom around noon.

 

[Snapper Bean]

Stupid question - Do the DLR resorts provide early extra magic hour entry to the parks?

 

[Matt and Kelly]

They do into Disneyland. The last few trips we have taken there, we have been able to get into the park an hour early. We usually take advantage of it on our first day at the park.

I'm not certain if they stay open later like WDW does though.

 

[TP2000]

I'm not certain if they stay open later like WDW does though.

They don't. But Disneyland routinely stays open until Midnight on weekends year round, and daily during the summer months or vacation weeks like Christmas, Easter, etc. Main Street USA stays open until 1:00AM when Disneyland closes at Midnight.

If you are going to Disneyland from mid June to the end of August, Disneyland will be open 8:00AM until Midnight seven days per week. The Magic Morning begins at 7:00AM for Disneyland Hotel guests, or some visitors on special packages from Japan Travel Bureau, etc.