jhaig
Not The First To Pass This Way
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2007
In anticipation of our first-ever visit to DL/DCA on 8/3, I thought it would be a good idea to play with the app for a while and get used to checking out wait times and MP return times. So I purchased tickets with the hopper option, ordered Max Pass, and started to play. We have been to WDW many times so we are familiar with the way FP's work, but after observing Max Pass for the last week I've come to a few conclusions (and please correct me if I get something wrong. These nuggets of info may be obvious to a DL vet, but to me it's all new).
- Your Max Pass system COMPLETELY blows away the FP system at WDW. There is so much flexibility and I love not having to make reservations 60 days in advance. I mean really, who can know what ride they want to do two months from now? I don't even know what's for dinner tonight...
- We are doing DL in the morning since there is early hours at DCA. Looks like we will need to get RSR before noon or wait in standby. Typical?
- Normally we wouldn't use a FP at WDW until after the first 2 or 3 hours after the park is open, but it looks like it would be to our advantage at DL to start getting MP's early and often. I know that sounds obvious, but if I can get Space Mtn with a return time of 930-1030am, and then get to make another MP right after that one, why wouldn't I?
- Seems like Buzz Lightyear, Small World, Haunted Mansion, and sometimes Big Thunder almost always have MP return times of an hour or less. No reason to ride them right away?
- DCA is a total Max Pass wasteland in terms of availability for any time later in the day for most of the headliners.
- I am the only one in our group that will tackle Indy and Incredicoaster so it looks like single rider is the best option there.
It's also clear that I have grossly underestimated the value of getting Max Pass. To me it looks like we should have no problem getting to do most of what we want to do in one day. As long as we hit things that don't have FP early (pretty much all of Fantasyland, except Peter Pan - skipping that one since we have it at WDW, Nemo subs, Pirates, etc.).
- Your Max Pass system COMPLETELY blows away the FP system at WDW. There is so much flexibility and I love not having to make reservations 60 days in advance. I mean really, who can know what ride they want to do two months from now? I don't even know what's for dinner tonight...
- We are doing DL in the morning since there is early hours at DCA. Looks like we will need to get RSR before noon or wait in standby. Typical?
- Normally we wouldn't use a FP at WDW until after the first 2 or 3 hours after the park is open, but it looks like it would be to our advantage at DL to start getting MP's early and often. I know that sounds obvious, but if I can get Space Mtn with a return time of 930-1030am, and then get to make another MP right after that one, why wouldn't I?
- Seems like Buzz Lightyear, Small World, Haunted Mansion, and sometimes Big Thunder almost always have MP return times of an hour or less. No reason to ride them right away?
- DCA is a total Max Pass wasteland in terms of availability for any time later in the day for most of the headliners.
- I am the only one in our group that will tackle Indy and Incredicoaster so it looks like single rider is the best option there.
It's also clear that I have grossly underestimated the value of getting Max Pass. To me it looks like we should have no problem getting to do most of what we want to do in one day. As long as we hit things that don't have FP early (pretty much all of Fantasyland, except Peter Pan - skipping that one since we have it at WDW, Nemo subs, Pirates, etc.).