Best morning for Cars Land?

[lvdis]

It's probably too soon to be concerned about this, but I'm already trying to figure out my days! We will be using our 3-day hopper passes Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (6/16-6/18/2013). My question is; should we give up our only MM day (Tuesday) to head into DCA that morning to make the most of Cars Land? We aren't staying onsite so won't have EMH. I'm worried that going into DCA first thing on Sunday or Monday and trying to get on RSR and/or get fastpasses won't work out well since it will have already been open to resort guests for an hour. What do you think? Any recent experiences with this? Thanks!

 

[asc72]

Based on our experience this week, we were able to get fastpass tickets on a EMH morning while staying offsite. For us the fastpass line was only slightly longer on the EMH day. To be safe, you might want to get to the gates early and you should have no problem. Although lots could change between now and the time you are going!

 

[sky13]

Was in the parks on Sunday two weeks ago, which I believe was a DCA EMH day for on-site guests. The park opened at 8.00, I went to the fastpass machine around 8.30, and got a fastpass with a return time of noon (so there must still have been a lot of fastpasses left then!).

 

[Eeee-va]

I would NOT skip a Magic Morning/Disneyland Early Entry to get into Cars Land. Recently I've seen several days (in person and per DCA Today's Facebook) indicating they are doing planned maintenance on Radiator Springs Racers...the maintenance seems like it may mostly fall on days when DCA isn't offering early entry. If that happens, obviously you couldn't ride RSR when you got in, and the other attractions of Cars Land may be quite busy as well (since people would rush to Cars Land, find RSR is closed, and then do the other attractions).

You can still get Fastpasses if RSR isn't open yet, but the return times would have to be no earlier than the time the ride is scheduled to reopen. So, your the return time would probably be just as late or even later than if you'd come in as an off-property guest on an Early Entry day.

I wouldn't worry so much about the rest of Cars Land. Reports are that Luigi's wait isn't too terrible anymore; you should be able to ride it in 30 minutes with any luck. Mater's seems to be shorter, maybe 15-20 minutes, but if you like Mater and/or hillbilly-style country music at all, the wait for that ride is actually enjoyable. Or at least, I enjoyed it and now regret only riding it twice because the line was "too long" at 20 minutes.

That said, since that day is at the END of your trip, you can make the decision on Tuesday. Have a great trip!

 

[cuteinnocent]

We're in a smiliar situation going next week. Out of the days we are there will only be one day (Tues) available for our MM. For the other days DCA will have EMH which we won't have. If we want to go on RSR at regular opening after EMH will the line already be ridiculous? Just wanting to know if we should even attempt it or just forget that and only get FP. Sounds like we shouldn't go at opening on the non-EMH (our only MM at DS) day to try to go on RSR first which I originally thought.

 

[lvdis]

Anymore thoughts or advice on this? Thanks!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I had my 10 and 12 year old nephews with me this past weekend. There was no way I could get to the parks before they opened, and so we decided to wait in the single rider line. It was 40 minutes. We got there around 6:30/7pm.

That was the best option for us since we couldn't get fast passes, and didn't want to wait 120 minutes in the stand-by line.

Unless a party HAS to ride together, I'd do the fast pass line and save all of that waiting in line for fast passes, etc.

Good luck.

 

[HydroGuy]

I would NOT skip a Magic Morning/Disneyland Early Entry to get into Cars Land. Recently I've seen several days (in person and per DCA Today's Facebook) indicating they are doing planned maintenance on Radiator Springs Racers...the maintenance seems like it may mostly fall on days when DCA isn't offering early entry. If that happens, obviously you couldn't ride RSR when you got in, and the other attractions of Cars Land may be quite busy as well (since people would rush to Cars Land, find RSR is closed, and then do the other attractions).

You can still get Fastpasses if RSR isn't open yet, but the return times would have to be no earlier than the time the ride is scheduled to reopen. So, your the return time would probably be just as late or even later than if you'd come in as an off-property guest on an Early Entry day.

I wouldn't worry so much about the rest of Cars Land. Reports are that Luigi's wait isn't too terrible anymore; you should be able to ride it in 30 minutes with any luck. Mater's seems to be shorter, maybe 15-20 minutes, but if you like Mater and/or hillbilly-style country music at all, the wait for that ride is actually enjoyable. Or at least, I enjoyed it and now regret only riding it twice because the line was "too long" at 20 minutes.

That said, since that day is at the END of your trip, you can make the decision on Tuesday. Have a great trip!

I agree with all of this. Don't skip MM at DL and be careful building too much into any RSR strategy. i would try to get to RSR earlier in the trip so if you miss it for whatever reason you have more chances.

 

[Harvestdj]

We were there for 3 days the last week in Oct. On the advise of a CM we arrived at rope drop and bypassed the fastpass line which was very long, and walked directly to RSR. We were able to get on the ride within 15 minutes on all three days. After the ride the fastpass line was pretty well gone and we were still able to get a pass for a later ride. This only works if you can arrive before rope drop.

 

[cuteinnocent]

We were there for 3 days the last week in Oct. On the advise of a CM we arrived at rope drop and bypassed the fastpass line which was very long, and walked directly to RSR. We were able to get on the ride within 15 minutes on all three days. After the ride the fastpass line was pretty well gone and we were still able to get a pass for a later ride. This only works if you can arrive before rope drop.

Was this for EMH or regular opening?

 

[wiigirl]

Was this for EMH or regular opening?

Curious also...

 

[HydroGuy]

We were there for 3 days the last week in Oct. On the advise of a CM we arrived at rope drop and bypassed the fastpass line which was very long, and walked directly to RSR. We were able to get on the ride within 15 minutes on all three days. After the ride the fastpass line was pretty well gone and we were still able to get a pass for a later ride. This only works if you can arrive before rope drop.

It also only works if the ride is operating at park opening.

I have come to the conclusion that with the inconsistent operation of RSR that FP is generally the best choice at park opening. It offers these advantages:

1. If RSR has a delayed opening or breaks down while you are in line, you do not have to make the hard choice of whether to stay in line and possibly sacrifice your morning or give up your spot and move on

2. For those who choose the Single Rider option or gut it out in the standby line during mid-day or evening hours, the same issues apply as #1. What to do if the ride breaks down after you have committed significant time already. Wait and hope or give up your spot?

With FP you have the maximum chance to come back and go on the ride later in the day even with the uncertain operation. The disadvantage is the time committed waiting for FP in the morning and diverted time during precious early morning minutes.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

I would NOT skip a Magic Morning/Disneyland Early Entry to get into Cars Land. Recently I've seen several days (in person and per DCA Today's Facebook) indicating they are doing planned maintenance on Radiator Springs Racers...the maintenance seems like it may mostly fall on days when DCA isn't offering early entry. If that happens, obviously you couldn't ride RSR when you got in, and the other attractions of Cars Land may be quite busy as well (since people would rush to Cars Land, find RSR is closed, and then do the other attractions).

Really? I had planned on giving up the MM for DL? We are going for four days the first weekend in Dec and I had planned on going to Carsland on the two days when there was no EMH so we would have the best chance of getting on RSR early. THe plan was for DH to take my older DS to RSR and get in the stand by line first thing and I would take our younger DS to get FP.

Are these lines going to be significantly longer in Carsland on days when there is EMH? My sons are 2 and 4 and will not tolerate waiting in line for more than 20 min. Do we still have a chance of getting a FP on an EMH morning?

THanks.

 

[HydroGuy]

Really? I had planned on giving up the MM for DL? We are going for four days the first weekend in Dec and I had planned on going to Carsland on the two days when there was no EMH so we would have the best chance of getting on RSR early. THe plan was for DH to take my older DS to RSR and get in the stand by line first thing and I would take our younger DS to get FP.

Are these lines going to be significantly longer in Carsland on days when there is EMH? My sons are 2 and 4 and will not tolerate waiting in line for more than 20 min. Do we still have a chance of getting a FP on an EMH morning?

THanks.

Yes really. Use your DL MM for sure. How you use your days depends on when you are going. When is your trip?

 

[Girimama33]

Really? I had planned on giving up the MM for DL? We are going for four days the first weekend in Dec and I had planned on going to Carsland on the two days when there was no EMH so we would have the best chance of getting on RSR early. THe plan was for DH to take my older DS to RSR and get in the stand by line first thing and I would take our younger DS to get FP.

Are these lines going to be significantly longer in Carsland on days when there is EMH? My sons are 2 and 4 and will not tolerate waiting in line for more than 20 min. Do we still have a chance of getting a FP on an EMH morning?

THanks.

When we were there 10/22-25, we started at DCA on 23-25 and went right for the FP line. It worked well for us. On T and W we got FP times before noon. On TH (and we were there at opening), our FP time was 4:50...and this was a non-EMH day.
You will have no problem getting a FP on a day with EMH as long as you are there when the park opens. The standby line on a EMH day will be long by the time they officially open.

 

[Eeee-va]

Meech Loves Mickey, I'm not sure how long you'd have to wait in line before DCA opens to get to RSR at opening (if it's even running when the park opens). Though there's more open space, so maybe your kids would tolerate it better?

I know when we went to DCA on an Early Entry day, we arrived a few minutes before park opening and didn't seem to be terribly far back in line. We tried Wide Right but we were too late and it was too crowded for 3 fairly agile folks in their late 20s/early 30s to manage it. By the time we arrived at RSR, the line was already 60 minutes (the CM confirmed the sign was right). So we just skipped it and used a FP.

I would imagine trying on a non-Early Entry day might require you to get to the gates even earlier.

Aside from RSR just sometimes being down for a little while at opening (and getting massive lines whether it's down or not), another problem is that lately, it appears RSR is sometimes scheduled to open at noon. I'm not sure but it APPEARS those days might tend to be non-Early Entry days. So if you rush to DCA on a day when hotel guests can't get in early, at least in off-season, you may not be able to rush to RSR and ride anyway.

If Single Rider isn't an option and you don't have Early Entry, then I'd say the best chance of being able to ride is probably getting a FP. That should almost always allow you to ride once a day, so long as you plan to be at DCA within the first 30 minutes of park opening or so.

On TH (and we were there at opening), our FP time was 4:50...and this was a non-EMH day.

Sounds like that may have been a day when RSR was scheduled to open at noon (or later). We got a similar return time on a day the ride opened at noon, though we did arrive closer to 10:20 or 10:30 on a day when DCA opens at 10.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Yes really. use your DL MM for sure. How you use your days depends on when you are going. When is your trip?

We arrive in Anaheim on Nov. 30th. We are planning on getting a 4 day non park hopper pass. Our first park day will be the Dec 1st, and the plan is to go to Carsland on that day. According to the DL website that is a non EMH day for DCA.

We are WDW veterans and the main reason for this trip is to take my two Cars obsessed boys to Carsland. We will be spending a significant amount of time in Carsland and I want my older DS to ride RSR as many times as possible with minimal wait.

We will be at the gates early and as I said previously, my DH and older DS will head straight for RSR (using the wide right technique of course!). And my younger DS and I will head straight for the FP line to get 3 FP for RSR.

I understand that this ride might not be open right away, so that is why we are going to get the FP. If the ride is closed until noon, but you have a FP for 10 am will they still let you go in the FP line? Or will the FP machines be shut down if the ride is shut down?

 

[dtnrhi]

We arrive in Anaheim on Nov. 30th. We are planning on getting a 4 day non park hopper pass. Our first park day will be the Dec 1st, and the plan is to go to Carsland on that day. According to the DL website that is a non EMH day for DCA.

We are WDW veterans and the main reason for this trip is to take my two Cars obsessed boys to Carsland. We will be spending a significant amount of time in Carsland and I want my older DS to ride RSR as many times as possible with minimal wait.

We will be at the gates early and as I said previously, my DH and older DS will head straight for RSR (using the wide right technique of course!). And my younger DS and I will head straight for the FP line to get 3 FP for RSR.

I understand that this ride might not be open right away, so that is why we are going to get the FP. If the ride is closed until noon, but you have a FP for 10 am will they still let you go in the FP line? Or will the FP machines be shut down if the ride is shut down?

Why not do the Costco four day park hopper?

 

[HydroGuy]

We arrive in Anaheim on Nov. 30th. We are planning on getting a 4 day non park hopper pass. Our first park day will be the Dec 1st, and the plan is to go to Carsland on that day. According to the DL website that is a non EMH day for DCA.

We are WDW veterans and the main reason for this trip is to take my two Cars obsessed boys to Carsland. We will be spending a significant amount of time in Carsland and I want my older DS to ride RSR as many times as possible with minimal wait.

We will be at the gates early and as I said previously, my DH and older DS will head straight for RSR (using the wide right technique of course!). And my younger DS and I will head straight for the FP line to get 3 FP for RSR.

I understand that this ride might not be open right away, so that is why we are going to get the FP. If the ride is closed until noon, but you have a FP for 10 am will they still let you go in the FP line? Or will the FP machines be shut down if the ride is shut down?

At DLR usually when a ride is down they stop distributing FPs. But I understand with RSR they distribute them regardless.

OK, if Cars Land is # priority here is what I would do - just food for thought - take it FWIW.

Dec 1. Saturday - Skip the MM at DL and get to the DCA gates early - at least 20 minutes early. 30 is better. Follow your plan for FP and standby and enjoy DCA.

Dec 2. Sunday - Go to DL and arrive 20 minutes early. Do Fantasyland rides during the first hour. Experience DL on Sunday. If somehow you managed to not ride RSR on Saturday then consider hitting RSR at regular park opening behind the EMH crowds and getting RSR FPs before going into DL.

Dec 3. Monday - Bite the bullet and arrive at DCA 20-30 minutes early behind the EMH crowds. Get RSR FPs. And go from there. DCA should be a lot less crowded than Saturday and even though you are behind EMH crowds you should still do fine if you get to the gates before regular park opening.

Dec 4. Tuesday - if somehow through the previous three days you did not fulfill all all your Cars Land and RSR dreams then go to DCA at park opening with no EMH crowds. Otherwise, use your MM at DL. Maybe hop into DCA later in the day to say goodbye to CL and do anything you missed.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Why not do the Costco four day park hopper?

I'm on the East Coast and our Coscto does not have Disneyland Tickets.... believe me I keep checking!!! They are not offering them online either.