DCA Strategy Test – February 2024

Welcome!

Disney Parks are not easy to navigate right now. Don’t worry. I can help you.

Having a good strategy will absolutely give you your best shot at a successful day.

My strategies are built for families and do not include single rider lines or other options that are not available to all guests. I have plans for guests who want to use Genie+ and for those who don’t.

I’ve got what you need!

Let’s go.

Basic Scoop

I create and test strategies that aim to keep your wait time to 20 minutes or less for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks. It’s entirely possible to do this for almost every attraction.

I test my strategies in the park monthly and occasionally share the results.

Why is a strategy important? To give you an edge over other park guests, to avoid standing around checking the app for wait times and discussing what’s next, and to ensure you see and do all you want during your visit.

Take a look at how my visit played out so you can see how to adjust yours as the day develops.

Resources

I used this plan on this day.

All of my strategies can be found linked in this one complete index. This includes plans for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Need help with Genie? This post explains everything.

I used a Multiple Experiences Pass on this day. Here is what that means.

New to planning and overwhelmed? This post will guide you through what you need to know.

Quick Notes About this Day

• This was a Saturday in late February.
• Genie+ was $30.
• There was no Early Entry at DCA on this day because it was a Saturday and Disneyland hosts on Saturdays. More on Early Entry here.

Strategy Results

5:30am – depart Oceanside

6:38am – arrive at the parking structure (4th car from the front in my line)

7:00am – parking structure officially opens

7:01am – paid for parking

7:06am – parked and walking to security

7:19am – through security and on the tram

7:27am – at the DCA gate

7:42am – allowed into the park

7:43am – buy Genie+

7:45am – grab a Genie+ for Toy Story Midway Mania (TSMM)

7:46am – line up at Grizzly Peak rope drop (the actual Soarin’ line on this day)

8:12am – ride Soarin’ Around the World

8:25am – notified TSMM was down and was issued a Multiple Experiences Pass

8:26am – grab a Genie+ for WEB SLINGERS

8:29am – ride Incredicoaster

8:46am – ride TSMM (it reopened!)

9:10am – ride WEB SLINGERS with Genie+

9:11am – grab a Genie+ for TSMM for a second ride

9:27am – ride Guardians of the Galaxy with multiple experiences pass

(At this point, most of the big rides in the park are complete. Let’s head back to toward Pixar Pier and enjoy some low wait times.)

10:02am – ride Ariel’s Undersea Adventure

10:26am – ride Golden Zephyr

10:45am – ride Jumpin’ Jellyfish

11:14am – grab a Genie+ for Goofy’s Sky School

11:18am – ride Silly Symphony Swings

11:34am – ride Jessie’s Critter Carousel

11:52am – ride TSMM a second time with Genie+

12:20pm – ride Pixar Pal-A-Round

12:49pm – ride Emotional Whirlwind

1:10pm – ride Goofy’s Sky School with Genie+

1:11pm – grab a Genie+ for Monsters Inc

Lunch and rest break

3:10pm – ride Monsters Inc with Genie+

How to Finish the Day

There are three rides left, all in Cars Land.

• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters – ride standby
• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree – ride standby
• Radiator Springs Racers – purchase the Lightning Lane to minimize your wait or use the single rider line if that works for your group (info here on both options)

If the cost of the Lightning Lane is too much or if your group doesn’t work with the single rider line, wait for this ride around sunset. I don’t like waiting 60+ minutes for anything, but if you must, always do so when it’s not sunny and when it’s not early. The early hours of the day should be used on other rides when their wait times are at the lowest, which is why I recommend NOT starting your day at Radiator Springs Racers. If you insist, here is that strategy.

After Monsters Inc, I would see characters, wander, shop, etc during the afternoon when the wait times are at their highest. Then focus on Cars Land when guests start thinking about dinner.

And remember, you can still use Genie+ for the following for a second ride since we used the standby line (or multiple experiences pass) for them earlier on:

• Soarin’ Around the World
• Incredicoaster
• Guardians of the Galaxy – MISSION: Breakout!
• Ariel’s Undersea Adventure

Notes

I don’t love how this day included the zigzag from Pixar Pier to Avengers Campus and then back to the pier. (My strategies keep you focused on rides with the appropriate wait times with the logistics of the park in mind.)

However, the next best Genie+ to select was WEB SLINGERS and it brought me closer to Guardians, which I used my multiple experiences pass for, so I chose it. The short wait times made it worth it, but you won’t find this in my usual plans.

Every day at the parks is different! Glad you joined me for this one.