DLP fastpass ‘strategy’

[Elodie]

Oh, and I know this was a question about mornings and FPs, but we also found the late summer evenings were a great time to take advantage of short queues, especially just before Illuminations.

[Smilesonfaces]

Also the Lineberty app for booking character meets in the studios. You have to be at the ready to book as soon as the meets come on. The first were on the app at 9.45 and they go in a few minutes. You can’t see characters in the studios without booking on the app.

[Gill H]

Originally Posted by Elodie

Also, make sure you’ve got the DLP app on your phone - and get ready to run across the park if you see a 5 min queue for POTC or Star Tours or Buzz (seems to break down fairly regularly, and we’ve often been walking by / checked the app and run for it just as it starts up again with a 5 min queue!)

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Good point - although we find POTC rarely has a queue of more than about 15 minutes, and the queue moves pretty fast.

[Elodie]

Originally Posted by Gill H

Good point - although we find POTC rarely has a queue of more than about 15 minutes, and the queue moves pretty fast.

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Ah, we must have been unlucky - it was often much longer when we were there in August and at Christmas, or perhaps you’ve visited at quieter times? It definitely is one that regularly drops to 5-10 minutes, even at busier times, so we’d never bother with a 30 min queue there.

Having said that, we love the entrance area / queue anyway, so we’re quite happy with a 10 min queue - and I agree that they sometimes overestimate the queue times, so a “10 minute wait” can often be 5 minutes anyway.

[dav220588]

Originally Posted by Elodie

Ah, we must have been unlucky - it was often much longer when we were there in August and at Christmas, or perhaps you’ve visited at quieter times? It definitely is one that regularly drops to 5-10 minutes, even at busier times, so we’d never bother with a 30 min queue there.

Having said that, we love the entrance area / queue anyway, so we’re quite happy with a 10 min queue - and I agree that they sometimes overestimate the queue times, so a “10 minute wait” can often be 5 minutes anyway.

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It is very dependent on when you visit. I've seen Pirates at 45 minutes to an hour many times with the whole extended queue full.

[877]

Ok so I have had a good look at the maps and this seems like a sensible approach, bear in mind we are staying on site (four full days at the two parks) and have EMH - I might be over thinking it

I have no idea when to grab any fastpasses (we do get one per day due to club room)...

Can fastpasses be picked up before the ride opens?

Walt Disney Studios
Be at park entrance 8:15am for EMH

Crush Coaster (maybe twice) > Ratatouille > Tower of Terror > Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

then park will have opened so :
RC Racer > Parachute Drop > any other business > Mickey Magician Show during midday heat > back to hotel to chill


Disneyland Park
Be at park entrance 8:15am for EMH

Day1:
Big Thunder (maybe twice) > Peter Pan > Meet Mickey Mouse > Indiana Jones > rest of Fantasyland / use fastpass

Day2:
Buzz Lightyear > Space Mountain > Orbitron > Star Tours > anywhere else > use fastpass

Welcome any suggestions, I'm trying not to overthink it as I would like plenty of time in the afternoon just to wander about and soak up the atmosphere.

Plus we have meals booked each evening around 6:30pm so we could catch the parade, eat then wander the parks until closing.

[dav220588]

I'd advise getting to the studios for 8am if you want to be one of the first people on Crush. Arriving at 8.15am may have you quite far back. You're not going to be able to walk on Crush twice, it's so low capacity that the queue will very likely have built to at least 30 mins by the time you get off the first ride.

Also I'd do Crush, Rat and then walk to Rock n Roller via Toy Story Land as I find they tend to open these rides up during EMT fairly often.

The Fastpass kiosks open at regular park opening, so you can start grabbing them at 10am. Keep in mind the hotel one can't be used between 1pm and 4pm.