Can I ask some more CL questions?

[momtotwolittleones]

I've read through most of the CL and RSR threads, but still have a few questions.

We will be in the parks the T,W, and Th after Thanksgiving (Th we leave around 2pm). There are 4 of us -me, dh, and 11yo and 8yo. Last time at the parks was the same time last year, so never have seen CL. We will have 1 MM, but are staying offsite so no EMH.

I'm thinking it would be best to show up at the gates for California Land on Tuesday rather than Wed since we don't have EMH. I would like to send dh for RSR FP while we get in line for RSR. Is this possible - is the line such that he can easily meet us? Is it likely that we would still have a huge wait for standby? I've read up on the wide right technique, and will give it a try, but you never know.

Or, should we all head straight to standby, and then get FP? Or is it they'd all be gone by then?

My kids love TSMM, so maybe dh should get RSR FP while we head there first? Or should we head into CL, assess the RSR line, ride other CL rides, then TSMM?

Any help or recommendations would be much appreciated!

 

[cari12]

I would try the wide right technique on the Tuesday (if RSR is down, you still have Thursday to try again). We used it for EMH and were on the ride at the 15 minute mark. Key is to be at security at least 30 minutes prior to opening so you are near the front at the gates and then stick to the far right (as far right as the CM's let you). When we got off at about the :20 minute mark, the standby line was already 60 minutes.
If DH lines up for FP, it would be very difficult for him to get to you in the line. The queuing area is very long,windy and not very wide. They will not let you wait if you get to the front and it is your turn and he is not there. So, you could ride with the kids and then meet DH afterwards and then ride as a family with the FP's later.
We rode together as a family using wide right and didn't worry about FP's except for the day RSR was down. Then DH got in the FP line which was growing even faster than usual because they weren't even letting anyone into the standby queue. He waited about 45 minutes and then got FP's we used later that night.
If you are not going to ride standby right away, you could go ride TSMM with the kids while DH gets the FP's.

 

[momtotwolittleones]

If we rode standby first thing, is it likely the FPs would be all gone?

 

[LisaT91403]

If we rode standby first thing, is it likely the FPs would be all gone?

I think it depends on the day, as well as how long it takes for you to ride standby. We just visited this past Monday, and the fast passes were gone 40 minutes after park opening. So, you had to be in line for them really early - - within a half hour after park opening, and even that might not have done it.

 

[interstate70s]

If it were me in your situation without EMH, I would do the scenerio where you ride Luigis, Maters, DH gets FP while you and the kids head to TSMM. Or maybe skip Mater's for later, and head straight to TSMM from Luigi's since those are the two slowest lines. I wouldn't want to gamble on the standby line for RSR (who knows how long you'll wait, will it be running?) when you could use that morning time and get multiple rides without FP out of the way.

Edited to add- The wide right can work you are one of the first through the turnstyles, and your family can move fairly quickly. It worked for us several times when we had EMH. On regular opening I would think your timing would have to be near perfect, since there are so many more people. That's why I would say to forget standby and go with FP.

 

[ImNoPrince]

We did what Interstate70s suggested as I read the same advice several times when researching our trip. I stood in RSR fp line while DH took kids for Luigi's. Then we all headed to TSMM. Ride Mater later. Despite an early morning, Luigi's and TSMM were already pretty busy as RSR was down at opening. In fact, it was down until about 9:30am (1.5 hrs after regular park opening) and then down again for at least two hours at about 10:30am.

 

[jenksdj]

I also agree with Imnoprince and Interstate70. FP line for DH (poor guy) and Luigis and TSMM for the rest of you. Hopefully DH will get to do both of those on another occasion. Enjoy! We were there at the beginning of Oct and it was awesome!