TSMM Strategy Help

[allimaree]

We will be at DLR the week after Thanksgiving and we would like to start out at DCA on Monday. It opens at 10am but I know that the gates are usually open 30 min early for Soarin'. Is it possible to ride soarin and still be in a good spot in line for TSMM? Where do we go to get in line for TSMM? I think someone said something about lining up somewhere until the gates "offically opened" and then running to the line.

We are going to be in a group with some kids too young for Soarin' so I was thinking about sending most of the adults and older kids on Soarin' at 9:30 while my sister and I took the little ones and got in line for TSMM. Then after Soarin' they could catch up with us. Maybe have one person stay and get FP for Soaring for later and run to TSMM.

What is the line like before 10am? If it is like the rope drop on Main Street, I don't think it will be a big deal to have some of our group join us after soaring. But I don't want to make others in line angry because they are "cutting".

[DanT]

While SOC opens at 9:30, many times you don't get to actually ride it until almost 10am...
I would pull a FP for SOC as soon as you get thru the turnstiles, then go to either side of GMR and wait for the rope drop to TSMM. The line for TSMM gets long very quickly. When we were there in Mid October, the line went to 30+ minutes within about 10 min of rope drop.
We pulled FPs for SOC on Friday and Saturday at 9:30, went on TSMM, Screamin, and ToT, Mulholland Madness, Monsters inc, and then used the FP for SOC...
THis was all done and we were back in DL by about 11am...

[bumbershoot]

You don't actually line up at TSMM; you don't really line up at all, you sort of clump.

I'd get in line for DCA at 9 so you're right at the front of the line at the gates.

They'll open at 9:30, you can go grab FPs for Soarin' and ride it too (I've never not seen it open, but that doesn't mean it's always ready for riding). Then go on over or up to the rope...I don't know where they have the rope on the bug's land side, but on the Grizzly side it's right before the bear statue just as you crest the hill.

Once the rope drops and the park opens, you walk briskly. Most people are on their way to TSMM, so drop any strollers at the covered stroller parking and jump in line!

[allimaree]

Thanks DanT and Bumbershoot (always so helpful )!

Originally Posted by DanT

I would pull a FP for SOC as soon as you get thru the turnstiles, then go to either side of GMR and wait for the rope drop to TSMM.

So the FP machine for SOC is open at 9:30 as well? What is GMR?

Originally Posted by bumbershoot

You don't actually line up at TSMM; you don't really line up at all, you sort of clump.

Good to know!

Originally Posted by bumbershoot

I'd get in line for DCA at 9 so you're right at the front of the line at the gates.

They'll open at 9:30, you can go grab FPs for Soarin' and ride it too (I've never not seen it open, but that doesn't mean it's always ready for riding). Then go on over or up to the rope...I don't know where they have the rope on the bug's land side, but on the Grizzly side it's right before the bear statue just as you crest the hill.

So, is the Grizzly side closer to TSMM than the Bug's Land side?

Originally Posted by bumbershoot

Once the rope drops and the park opens, you walk briskly. Most people are on their way to TSMM, so drop any strollers at the covered stroller parking and jump in line!

Where is the covered parking? I guess we'll just follow the crowd to TSMM!

[Kayla's Mom]

Originally Posted by allimaree

Is it possible to ride soarin and still be in a good spot in line for TSMM?

Yes! We have done it 3 times now, most recently last Sunday. We rode Soarin' and were off at about 9:50. Waited at the rope drop near Grizzly River Rapids and walked fast to TSMM. Had about a 10 minute (at most) wait by the time we got through the line.

[ArvisoCa6]

Hey allimaree, I was just curious at to what your
"we were DREAMED at DLR" means?

[allimaree]

Originally Posted by ArvisoCa6

Hey allimaree, I was just curious at to what your
"we were DREAMED at DLR" means?

The last time we were at Disneyland, it was the "Year of a Million Dreams" (well, one of them ). At that time, there were Dream Cast Members passing out various "Dreams" (Fast Passes, Lanyards, Ears, etc.).

See my post about it here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1823029

[ArvisoCa6]

OHHHH Duh! I should have made the connection! My family got 'Dreamed' when we went on our trip in april of the same year. We only got 'Dreamed" once but it was AWESOME! We got the extra hour of magic dream. They had us meet in an area in frontier land with about 500- 1000 other people, before park closing. They they closed the park and ushered everyone out , giving out group free run of the entire park!!! It was awesome! No lines at ANY ride! What made it even better was that it was our first trip as a family, and the first trip EVER for my 4 DD and DW! Talk about memorable!