I’m late to this discussion, but I agree with Jeff that you should skip the Hopper on this trip. If you were planning to start at DCA, I’d say go for it, but since you’ll be starting at DL and DCA close early (and gets crowded at 3 p.m. when the After Dark guests start mixing in), I’d just stick with DL. There’s plenty to see and do there. Catch DCA on your next trip out. And there will be a next trip, once you experience Disneyland. Like Dark Mite says, it quickly grows on long time WDW people. It’s like the old Lays Potato Chip commercials used to say: You can never eat just one.
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Thanks for the reassurance all! I’m totally OK with missing the very cool stuff at DCA knowing I’ll be back. It’s just better for my family to KISS (keep it simple stupid) this time.
Unofficial guide to DLR 2026 is on hold at the library and I know that will help me gauge which attractions will be OK for my mom. We’re going to be walking slow and taking breaks. She uses an EVC at WDW but for one leisurely morning it would be more stress for her navigating a foreign park than is worth it I think
Thoughts on this: start Fantasyland for Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toad, Pinocchio, Snow White, Circus Train, and Storybook Boats. Could interrupt for IJ, or optimally grab a LL for when we’re done with Fantasyland (Mom won’t ride). Jungle Cruise is important to my parents, and I’d like them to see the DL version of Pirates which seems superior. If we can get that done by lunch that will be enough for my parents. From a nerdy-ish standpoint my Dad would enjoy the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough and I think we would fill that in whenever.
I’d love any feedback on that plan plus lunch recs. Mobile order is fine but my parents would love to do TS.
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Right?!? They generally trust me a lot but they’re footing the bill for our airfare…whatever works!
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One of my favorite things at DL was the Storytelling at Royal Theatre. It’s a covered outdoor theater, and you can bring snacks or drinks in. They tell the story of Beauty and the Beast, and Tangled (one in the morning shows, the other in the afternoon) - and are hilarious! We’re 70, and I still do wild rides but this was an unexpected favorite. Plus it’s a good place to sit and take a break while doing something fun.
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Oh that sounds great! My dad and I would definitely like Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (for reference, we did a trip to WDW just the two of us somewhat primarily for the MK backstage tour)
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If it’s an OBB date, I’d skip DCA in your situation. Your parents won’t be able to do all that walking.
If I knew 100% that my parents would go to DCA for the majority of the day and then rest all night, I’d buy an OBB ticket and go there late afternoon and all night. (But I’m an enabler! 
)
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Good news. OBB is sold out for that day so I can put it out of my head 
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What’s the consensus on use of a touring plan in DL vs watching wait times and utilizing LL and the LL drops? Since G+/LL started I found the touring plan utility to be less. At the same time I was getting really good at WDW, so it’s hard to say.
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For a single day I would definitely make a touring plan so you know what you generally want to get done and in what order. Then modify on the fly as LLs come up.
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Ok, working on plans via website (not super easy to do within the DLR lines app vs WDW).
Based on what I’m seeing on thrill data, I think my best use of LL in the morning is to try and get IJA first thing, and Space after that. In a perfect world I could get IJA for sometime around 10-11 am, and might have to watch it to get that time (seems like the return times might be too soon if I book first thing upon entering the park ~8:15 am). HM has the holiday overlay which my sis and I are very excited about, so that would be the next LL I’d grab I think? After that our use of LL would be for BTMR, Matterhorn (doesn’t seem like you need it, or for RRCTS), and SM. We’d ride MMRR and/or Buzz, but not high priority at all. Purposely skipping Tiana, MFSR, ROTR.
My main confusion is nighttime entertainment. This is a Sunday with OOB happening at DCA. Seems like our DL menu is Halloween Screams (w/ projections and fireworks pending weather/wind) and Fantasmic. TP and the Disney website is saying no Paint the Night when I’m making a plan, so it looks like:
9:05 Fantasmic
9:30 Halloween Screams
10:30 Fantasmic
I could be wrong with the times. Since that DL exclusive dragon is gone, is F! different and/or better enough to warrant our time? We could use the Rivers of American viewing location for 9:30 Halloween Screams and stay in the same spot for F! Otherwise we’d take advantage of the 9:45-11pm window to ride anything we missed and/or repeat a ride.
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Personally I think Disneyland Fantasmic is superior, but harder to watch because there is no dedicated seating. So it all comes down to what you’re willing to sacrifice to see it.
With only one day, I would recommend skipping F! unless you are just tired and want to stay put after fireworks.
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Often IJ dispenses times later than you’d think in the morning because of maintenance issues that they are getting ahead of. It is not uncommon that the ride has a delayed opening. Knowing that, they will not release LL inventory for a bit.
My parents want to drive the rental car because they’ll be leaving midday and don’t understand rideshares. Not worth the argument.
If I want to be at taps around 8:15, what time should we leave the hotel?
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Remind me which parking lot you would park in? Mickey & Friends can get backed up so entry time is highly variable depending on conditions. Toy Story is less fun but quicker overall.
I would leave at least 30 min before, better 45 min and best 60 min. You could leave 90 before if you’re really serious about being first.
Not serious at all about being first. I actually like timing it just after the rope drop crowd when possible, when the taps have cleared a bit. We may pay for preferred parking to minimize walking for my mom, so that’s in the Mickey & Friends or Pixar Pals garage.
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Going to Mickey & Friends I would leave at least 45 minutes before but maybe someone else has more recent experience parking there, particularly preferred, and could give you a more precise recommendation.
Hopefully I’ll hear back from someone who has used parking somewhat recently…I’ll try the lines app too.
The main goal here is to 1. Minimize walking for my mom and 2. Arrive after the rope drop crowd has already gone in. At WDW I really know how to hit that sweet spot - tapping 10-15 minutes into early entry - but this is unknown territory! I might be expecting too much from myself as a first time visitor.
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From Reddit:
I drive in from Pasadena and I go for M&F parking structure, I try to be at the parking structure by 7:15ish. That usually puts me inside the park by like, 7:45ish, maybe a little later. I can arrive to the garage a little later than that and still make it inside by 8AM (my goal is not to be at the ropes, I’m just trying to be inside the park by the time they do the morning announcement).
Note that the park typically opens at 8am these days with no early entry.
I think if you arrive at the parking structure between 7:15-7:30am you will hit that sweet spot. Even if you are earlier than rope drop, it won’t feel too crowded on Main Street before the rope.
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Just be aware that getting from the parking lot to the gates takes a lot of walking, even if you take the tram. Depending on where in the garage you end up parking, it’s a walk to the security area, where you’ll stand in long lines before getting on the tram, and then there’s a walk from the tram to the gates. They’ll then have to do that in reverse to go back to the hotel. Maybe consider going with them and using Uber, returning after dropping them off, if limited walking is a priority.
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