Do we give up our DL early entry for CA?

[Keurigirl]

We go to Disney in less than two weeks and I'm trying to maximize our schedule.

We had planned to use our early entry at Disneyland on Saturday, however, that Saturday is also the ONE day we are there that CA does NOT have an early entry for hotel guests.

Since we're not hotel guests, we don't have access to those early hours. I'm wondering if it makes sense for us to skip the early entry at Disneyland in favor of the day at CA that everyone gets in at the same time. That way we'd have an easier time at RSR?

I'm thinking if hotel guests are getting into the parks at least an hour prior to all the rest of us the other days we are there, it will make getting a fast pass and/or riding RSR in the morning much more difficult. Thoughts?

 

[Girimama33]

If you are interested in riding the FL and TL rides first thing with lower crowds, you should use your MM. If that is not important to you, then MM is not necessary.
As far as RSR goes...Even on EMH days, it was easy to get a FP as long as you are there at opening (30 minutes prior to published time), and head right for the FP line. Don't let it fool you...it will move fast once it starts going.
If you choose to go there Saturday morning and want to ride standby...arrive early and stay on the far right side of the rope while they walk you down to Carsland.

 

[ArchOwl]

Personally, I wouldn't give up my early entry to DL for a non-EMH day at DCA. It is easy enough to get a RSR FP even when hotel guests are in the park first. Just be sure to arrive early, at least 30 minutes before regular park opening.

I was there over Veteran's Day weekend and on Sunday arrived late and got in the RSR FP line right about park opening. Waited 35 minutes and had FPs for 2:30. So even if you mess up and get there late like I did, you will most likely get your RSR FPs. And the early entry to DL is still worth it in my opinion, especially if it is a 7 am early entry.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think you're getting good advice from the posters above. I agree with them.

 

[Keurigirl]

We go often and are great park tourers, so I'm not super worried about the Disneyland early entry. I'm more worried about the line for Radiator Springs Racers, especially given that we'll have to do a baby swap for that ride, and that we only have one park morning for CA.

Are there just not that many hotel guests going to the early entry at CA? Or do they just not make up a big difference as far as the line goes?

 

[Girimama33]

The onsite hotel guests will have an impact on RSR Standby at opening, but not for the RSR FP. If I were you, I would just plan to get in the FP line first thing...The line will be long, but it will move fast. I have arrived a little later after opening as well, and was still able to get a retun time before noon.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

You could treat a non EE day at DL as your FL day, everyone will have an equal chance, get there early *30 minutes prior to opening - the earlier the opening the better, most people like to sleep in on vacation. We did not have a MM for our visit last month *Halloween party first day followed by a 2 day ticket ~ we started at DL on Wednesday *no one had an advantage, we knocked out FL quick.

Thur we started at DCA ~ got a FP for RSR, then a WOC show pass then rode lots of rides *my kids rode rides while I gathered the FP and show pass.

 

[Casey's Mommie]

Have you considered doing the single rider line? We did the Single Rider liine twice and it was about 20 minutes wait.

 

[lvdis]

We go to Disney in less than two weeks and I'm trying to maximize our schedule.

We had planned to use our early entry at Disneyland on Saturday, however, that Saturday is also the ONE day we are there that CA does NOT have an early entry for hotel guests.

Since we're not hotel guests, we don't have access to those early hours. I'm wondering if it makes sense for us to skip the early entry at Disneyland in favor of the day at CA that everyone gets in at the same time. That way we'd have an easier time at RSR?

I'm thinking if hotel guests are getting into the parks at least an hour prior to all the rest of us the other days we are there, it will make getting a fast pass and/or riding RSR in the morning much more difficult. Thoughts?

I'm so glad you asked! I've been trying to figure this same thing out and I don't even go until June! If you think about it, please report back what your experience is whichever method you decide on. Thanks and have a great trip!

 

[cats mom]

We go often and are great park tourers, so I'm not super worried about the Disneyland early entry. I'm more worried about the line for Radiator Springs Racers, especially given that we'll have to do a baby swap for that ride, and that we only have one park morning for CA.

Are there just not that many hotel guests going to the early entry at CA? Or do they just not make up a big difference as far as the line goes?

While I agree that it's not necessary, given this comment, maybe giving up your DL MM would work best for you.

I have to say I disagree about onsite guests not having an impact on RSR FP's. Unless things have changed recently, and I don't think they have, as long as onsite guests are in the RSR FP line prior to official park opening they will be in front of everyone who just has regular entry.

That doesn't mean you won't be able to get a FP without early entry, but you will likely wait longer and your return time will be later on days that onsite guests have early entry.

If RSR is a priority and there's really nothing at DL that's a huge draw for you during MM, then why not hit CA on the one day you don't need to deal with onsite guests having early entry? They do have an impact.

 

[Keurigirl]

Yes, I'm more concerned about RSR than I am about completing DL first thing.

We've got 8 people in our group: Four adults, two 5 year olds and two 2 year olds. We'll need to do baby swap and the 5 year olds won't want to go alone, which means we can't do single rider line.

I imagine the crowd level and queues will be very similar to the Toy Story ride at Disneyworld (which is crazy bonkers). There we've found that if we're there early and head straight to the ride vs. getting a fastpass that we have a much less wait than we would standing in the fastpass line just to come back again later. I was planning to use that strategy at CA for RSR as well. Get to the park 1 hour prior to opening, run straight to the attraction to ride it first, and then we are done.

I guess in order to make up my mind, I really need to know how much of an impact those hotel guests make on the RSR queue when they're able to get into the park an hour before we can. I'm not as much worried about the fastpass line.

 

[Girimama33]

The onsite guests can still line up for the FP first, but it will not effect your chance of getting one as long as you are there shortly after opening.
When I went in October, I got in the FP line for RSR first thing on 3 of the 4 mornings we were there. The lines were not bad at all on the EMH day, and we actually showed up a little later than official opening. The latest FP time we got was on a non-EMH day.
Please be advised that they do not drop the rope and let you "Run" to the ride. They will have a rope at the end of BVS. The CM's with the rope will walk the rope down to Carsland...it is very controlled.
Like I mentioned before, if you want to ride it first, you must stay on the right side of this rope the whole way down through Carsland. It will drop you off right at the entrance.
It is not guaranteed that RSR will be up and running at opening...this is one of the reasons I just went for FP's. I read too many posts about people trying standby, and by the time they bailed waiting for the ride to run again, the FP's were gone.

 

[Blue32]

Yes, I'm more concerned about RSR than I am about completing DL first thing.

We've got 8 people in our group: Four adults, two 5 year olds and two 2 year olds. We'll need to do baby swap and the 5 year olds won't want to go alone, which means we can't do single rider line.

I imagine the crowd level and queues will be very similar to the Toy Story ride at Disneyworld (which is crazy bonkers). There we've found that if we're there early and head straight to the ride vs. getting a fastpass that we have a much less wait than we would standing in the fastpass line just to come back again later. I was planning to use that strategy at CA for RSR as well. Get to the park 1 hour prior to opening, run straight to the attraction to ride it first, and then we are done.

I guess in order to make up my mind, I really need to know how much of an impact those hotel guests make on the RSR queue when they're able to get into the park an hour before we can. I'm not as much worried about the fastpass line.

How many days will you be in the parks? I think EE guests will surely impact the RSR standby que quite a bit.
If you go to the ride first there is always a chance that the ride won't be running when you get there. Sometimes it is down even when the park first opens. For this reason, some people prefer the FP route.

 

[ArchOwl]

Yes, I'm more concerned about RSR than I am about completing DL first thing.

We've got 8 people in our group: Four adults, two 5 year olds and two 2 year olds. We'll need to do baby swap and the 5 year olds won't want to go alone, which means we can't do single rider line.

I imagine the crowd level and queues will be very similar to the Toy Story ride at Disneyworld (which is crazy bonkers). There we've found that if we're there early and head straight to the ride vs. getting a fastpass that we have a much less wait than we would standing in the fastpass line just to come back again later. I was planning to use that strategy at CA for RSR as well. Get to the park 1 hour prior to opening, run straight to the attraction to ride it first, and then we are done.

I guess in order to make up my mind, I really need to know how much of an impact those hotel guests make on the RSR queue when they're able to get into the park an hour before we can. I'm not as much worried about the fastpass line.

Here is the thing about RSR, it is frequently not up and running first thing. And it does go down a lot. You can search these boards and find lots of folks who lined up early and did everything right, only to find out the ride wasn't operating. This happened to me over the summer and I could have wasted a lot of time if I hadn't ditched the standby queue and raced over to the FP line. Now I just avoid that scenario and plan on getting FPs for RSR.

The hotel guests have much more of an impact on the RSR standby queue than the FP line in my experience. It is not unusual for the RSR standby to be an hour already once it opens to everyone. Of course, much depends on the day you are visiting and the operating hours. In contrast, the hotel guests seem to have less of an impact on the FP line. I would estimate they add somewhere between 10 to 15 minutes to the FP line. Not bad, really. The RSR FP line looks ugly, but it moves very quickly. So don't be discouraged. You can have one person wait in the FP line and meet up in Carsland.

As long as you are at the gates early and get right in line for RSR FPs, I don't foresee any problems for your group. And you can keep your DL early entry and enjoy Fantasyland with the little ones!

 

[cats mom]

ITA that you don't want to base your entire plan on RSR being up and running at opening, unfortunately that's just not a safe bet.

I also think that even on a non EE day being close enough to the front of the line to ensure a short wait could be a challenge, especially with the makeup of your group, and particularly if you plan on dragging the 2 yr olds along so you can get child swap passes. You won't be the only ones with the ride RSR first plan.

Oh, and I have seen at least one report of CM's dropping the left side of the rope first, so wide right isn't a sure thing either. In fact as that little trick becomes more well known I wouldn't be surprised to see CM's change things up just to keep people guessing. JMHO

If you've got 4 adults in your group designating 1 FP runner for RSR shouldn't be a problem. Everyone else can be off enjoying other things while that runner waits in line. Personally I'd go that route. Whether you choose to do it on an EE or non EE day is up to you.

 

[Keurigirl]

Ok. We'll do the fastpass run instead then, in which case, do I still need to switch parks for the day?

Refresher: I'd be dropping the early entry at Disneyland to do a non-early entry at CA so I can get an even shot at fastpasses with the rest of the crowd.

I guess I still need a bit more verification of how much hotel guests matter to the fastpass queue. I'll still be at the parks an hour or so in advance.

 

[coaches24]

We are going in Jan and have one MM as well with no EMH. Lucky for us we we have two days to choose from for our MM ( Th or Sat). Our park days will be a Wed-Sat so our plan right now ( could change as I get more info on how things work) is to hit DL at rope drop on Wed since CL is an EMH. Might run over and grab FP but not sure yet. Thur I plan to do DCA at opening and try and ride RSR and then get FP. If the ride is down at opening then I will run over for FP right then but otherwise we want to ride and get FP if possible.

We will wait till Sat for our MM which is our last park day so we will be tired but we plan to suck it up this time so we can see CL early. Usually we use our MM first chance we get.

Now if we only had one chance for MM and thus one chance to hit CL on a non EMH day then I think I would still use my MM because it is always one of our best days of our trip with all we get to ride in such a short time. Will be our first CL trip so it is a priority and I would hit the standby line if I have to to ride RSR. Usually I never get in standby for any ride that has a long wait. But since I know I can ride RSR and the other CL rides with FP or stand in the long line I don't think I would give up my MM for it. I would just reserve myself for a longer wait than I usually like. Only 3 rides in CL while there are several rides that are favorites in FL and TL that I can get done in one hour. If I give up my MM then I end up standing in line for all those rides (most w/o FP) or I choose to skip them that trip. So 3 rides I might have to stand in line for or several? Thats how I look at it.