Am I crazy? (Friday 6/22 evening trip to Cars Land)

[MenchieMan87]

I used to go to Disneyland (and post here) a lot more, but things have been crazy with work and wedding planning lately so I haven't been in a while, but I am getting VERY antsy about Cars Land being open to the public and not having seen it yet. Am I crazy for considering a Friday after-work trip the first non-grand-opening weekend?

I should be able to get to the gate by 5:30pm (6:00 at the latest) and then my ideal plan is a leasurly stroll down Buena Vista Street to take everything in for the first time, then the same for Cars Land right up until I get to the single rider line for Radiator Springs Racers. I'll ride that, check out the Flying Tiers (though I'll probably just look, not ride) and then maybe ride the Junkyard Jamboree before getting a Chicken Verde for dinner at Cozy Cones. Then one more single-rider ride on RSR before heading to Ghirdelli's for desert. A stroll through the Mad T Party (maybe a little dancing) and then I'll head home. (Maybe a third RSR before dancing depending on how the single rider line looks)

My question for the folks who have been to DCA in the last few days is, does this seem feasible? Or is it going to be far too crowded to really enjoy anything on the first 'normal' Friday night? Also, how has the single rider line been for RSR? (Obviously getting there at 6pm Fastpasses are out of the question...)

 

[cmwade77]

It could be up to a 60 minute wait for Single rider, but this seems reasonable to me.

The one change I would consider is instead of eating at the Cozy Cone, eat at Flo's V8 Cafe.

If you want to ride the flying tires, I think you should be able to do so as well.

Now mind you this is all an educated guess at this point, as we haven't had a normal Friday yet.

 

[MenchieMan87]

60 minutes seems reasonable to me too!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

yep i think you can do it...only thing is im not sure if you will be able to go on it a second time though...just have to try and do the best you can

 

[cmwade77]

yep i think you can do it...only thing is im not sure if you will be able to go on it a second time though...just have to try and do the best you can

Well, let's figure it out:
Arrive at the gate at 6:00
Spend 30 minutes walking down Buena Vista Street and getting to Carsland
6:30 - Single Rider Line for RSR (Assume a 60 Minute Wait)
7:45 - Eat, take about 30 minutes
8:15 - Get in line for Luigi's (About a 45 Minute wait) (Alternative is to get in Single Rider line for RSR)
9:00 - Get Dessert
9:30 - Get in line for Mater's (Assume a 30 minute wait)
10:15 - Mad T Party for about 30 minutes
10:59 - Get in Single Rider line for RSR, if it is not open, get in Stand-By line, as long as you are in line by park closing, you are good to go.

You may be able to do more if you are a faster walker, but I built in enough travel time for the slower walkers out there.

So, I think it would be possible to do RSR 3 times by utilizing Single Rider and the get in line before park closing rule.

Also, I do not know for sure, but I would guess that the shops on Buena Vista street stay open for another hour after park closing, so depending on line length at RSR at closing, you may be able to spend a little more time on Buena Vista Street then as well.

Alternatively you might be able to modify this and go to Mad T Party before Carsland and squeeze out a little more time for everything.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Well, let's figure it out:
Arrive at the gate at 6:00
Spend 30 minutes walking down Buena Vista Street and getting to Carsland
6:30 - Single Rider Line for RSR (Assume a 60 Minute Wait)
7:45 - Eat, take about 30 minutes
8:15 - Get in line for Luigi's (About a 45 Minute wait) (Alternative is to get in Single Rider line for RSR)
9:00 - Get Dessert
9:30 - Get in line for Mater's (Assume a 30 minute wait)
10:15 - Mad T Party for about 30 minutes
10:59 - Get in Single Rider line for RSR, if it is not open, get in Stand-By line, as long as you are in line by park closing, you are good to go.

i guess i wasnt taking into consideration the fact that not only do they have to eat....they have to wait in lines to get food....i spend way too long waiting in lines for food...sometimes i feel its the same as waiting on a good day for rides...i kind of figured it would end up being longer than half hour because of that

OP go for it and lets see how it goes...let us know what ended up happening

 

[cmwade77]

i guess i wasnt taking into consideration the fact that not only do they have to eat....they have to wait in lines to get food....i spend way too long waiting in lines for food...sometimes i feel its the same as waiting on a good day for rides...i kind of figured it would end up being longer than half hour because of that

OP go for it and lets see how it goes...let us know what ended up happening

Actually my times were based on where they said they were going to eat and the average wait times so far there. Giradelli seems to have a wait time from entering the line to recovering your dessert of about 3 minutes, even when the line is outside the door.

The Cozy Cone and/or Flo's at that time of night will be a 5-10 minute wait. Again based on what we have seen so far.

On opening day, at 5:00, we only waited in line at Flo's for about 10 minutes.

All of these locations seem to be far more efficient than other dining options have been at moving people through.

 

[BeccaG]

Not to rain on your parade but I am uncertain if your plan will work. Last night we were at Carsland. One Cast member indicated it was not as busy as opening weekend but busier than Saturday. In addition I have been watching Carsland wait times from my phone pretty religiously. I would be pretty surprised if single rider was at 60 minutes (and would think about driving from my home join you!!!) The shortest I have seen was 45, but that was very infrequent. Also Mater's and Luigi's have been posted much higher. Last night in the time frame you were discussing, Mater's seemed to average 45 and Luigi's was up to 110!! I hope it all works out for you though!!! Good Luck!

 

[MenchieMan87]

Well, let's figure it out:
Arrive at the gate at 6:00
Spend 30 minutes walking down Buena Vista Street and getting to Carsland
6:30 - Single Rider Line for RSR (Assume a 60 Minute Wait)
7:45 - Eat, take about 30 minutes
8:15 - Get in line for Luigi's (About a 45 Minute wait) (Alternative is to get in Single Rider line for RSR)
9:00 - Get Dessert
9:30 - Get in line for Mater's (Assume a 30 minute wait)
10:15 - Mad T Party for about 30 minutes
10:59 - Get in Single Rider line for RSR, if it is not open, get in Stand-By line, as long as you are in line by park closing, you are good to go.

You may be able to do more if you are a faster walker, but I built in enough travel time for the slower walkers out there.

So, I think it would be possible to do RSR 3 times by utilizing Single Rider and the get in line before park closing rule.

Also, I do not know for sure, but I would guess that the shops on Buena Vista street stay open for another hour after park closing, so depending on line length at RSR at closing, you may be able to spend a little more time on Buena Vista Street then as well.

Alternatively you might be able to modify this and go to Mad T Party before Carsland and squeeze out a little more time for everything.

I love this!!! I might be too tired to get in the RSR line just before closing though. I would be very happy with one or two rides though, so all is good. I will be sure to report how it goes!!

 

[minniecarousel]

Another word of caution: they have occasionally closed the single-rider line. Plus, RSR has broken down a few times each day - not sure how long the closures have been.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Giradelli seems to have a wait time from entering the line to recovering your dessert of about 3 minutes, even when the line is outside the door.

ah well they must be really on the ball then...i went the day after the soft opening and it took us a good 20 minutes from the line outside all the way till we got our ice cream...

 

[MenchieMan87]

Another word of caution: they have occasionally closed the single-rider line. Plus, RSR has broken down a few times each day - not sure how long the closures have been.

Why do they close the single rider line? If it gets too full? Does it usually re-open soon after?

 

[BeccaG]

BTW, I neglected to mention the first time around, congrats on your pending nuptials!

 

[been2marceline]

Last night, single rider was closed and the standby wait time at 9:30 was 180 minutes....and they were still letting people get inline....

 

[disneyfaninaz]

At 10:15 PM last night, when we had our fastpasses, the single rider line was 45 minutes. The single rider line is used very well and can be a big advantage over waiting 2-3 hours with your entire party. Each race car holds 6 people. You never saw a car go out with empty seats.

 

[lilient]

I was in Carsland on Monday. We tried for the single rider line twice, but we were turned away both times. A castmember said it was already about and hour long and to check back later. We did get a fastpass first thing and were able to ride it once with a 30 minute wait.

 

[MenchieMan87]

I was in Carsland on Monday. We tried for the single rider line twice, but we were turned away both times. A castmember said it was already about and hour long and to check back later. We did get a fastpass first thing and were able to ride it once with a 30 minute wait.

So they turn you away at single rider if the line is too long? That's disheartening. I don't know if I could handle the stand-by line by myself. The longest line I've ever waited in for a ride was Soarin' at Epcot, it was just over 2 hours but I had my lady with me!

 

[MenchieMan87]

BTW, I neglected to mention the first time around, congrats on your pending nuptials!

Thanks Becca!!

 

[DisneytheKid]

RSR has broken down a few times each day - not sure how long the closures have been.

 

[MenchieMan87]

I did it!! Long story short: I abandoned my plan because Cars Land didn't impress me to the point that I wanted to stay all night. I rode RSR once (great ride, but not worth waiting 45 minutes for single rider again), ate dinner at Paradise Garden Grill, walked on to Little Mermaid, then upgraded my ticket to a park hopper and spent the rest of the night at the original Magic Kingdom. Sorry DCA, even with all these new bells and whistles, you are still no Disneyland. Bonus: I was the rebel spy for the first time!

Also, I was wrong to be so nervous about the RSR single rider line sometimes being closed. It's a 45 minute queue and when it fills up they close it for 20 minutes. They ask (shout at) you to leave and come back, but I sat on a bench right there and waited. After five minutes or so of waiting a line started to form (a line to get in the line, hehe) and after 10 minutes of being in that line they opened it up. My final wait time was 47 minutes, including waiting for them to open the queue.