Carsland Plan on Non- EMH Days

[Girimama33]

We are going to the parks October 22-25...attending the HP on the 23rd.
The plan for Tuesday (23rd) is to arrive at DCA for rope drop and stay there until about 11am-noon. After that, will head to the hotel for a nap before the party.
It will be myself, DH and DD (4).
Does anyone have suggestions for the best approach to ride the CL rides during this time?
Should we bother with the FP line?
What order should we go on the CL rides and TSMM?

Thank you in advance!

 

[KateDrake]

I am in the same boat! We will be there Oct. 9-14, but have no early entry because we got the Gay Days tickets. Here's my idea, but of course critiques are totally welcome! I have no idea if it will work, but figured it is worth a try.

Arrive at DCA at least half an hour prior to park opening on non-EMH morning (Thursday in this case).
Everyone except for DH will line up for rope drop and follow the "wide right" technique to get on RSR first thing.
DH will join FP line, and get FPs for everyone. This way we can hopefully ride twice, though it will assure we can ride at least once if for some reason RSR isn't open at park opening.
DH will hop in the single rider line at RSR, hopefully making it through quite quickly.
The whole family then meets up at Luigi's, rides that, followed by Mater's, and then heads to TSMM.

I have no idea if this "divide and conquer" strategy will work, but I figure it's worth a try! We really want to ride RSR a few times, particularly at night. I would just do single rider, but we'll have DD3, so that isn't really an option for us.

 

[Girimama33]

Thanks KateDrake ~ Could you enlighten me a little more about the wide right theory? I have heard a little bit about it, but not the full method of what to do and where to be.

 

[MaloCS]

We just got back from Disneyland this past Friday, September 21, 2012. I have to say that I truly agree with the folks that say there is NOT an off season any more. Both parks were more crowded then I expected but with FastPasses the wait times were manageable.

Instead of trying to figure out the best way to get everything done we just followed the path of least resistance. If a certain ride was being mobbed then we went elsewhere. If we happened past a ride with little to no wait times we promptly rode it. We didn't set a plan and kill ourselves trying to follow it. I must say, this approach really helped our stress levels and made the trip a whole lot more enjoyable.

I honestly wouldn't PLAN on riding Radiator Springs Races multiple times. Unless of course you don't mind spending a ton of time waiting in line. On this past trip we only had the opportunity to ride Radiator Springs Racers once following our plan to follow the path of least resistance. In hindsight, I enjoyed not spending all of our time fighting the crowds and standing in line. Additionally, we found that Tow Mater's Junkyard Jamboree consistently had little to no wait times the entire week we were there. Can you guess which ride we chose to frequent?

Was it somewhat of a bummer to not get the chance to ride Radiator Springs Racers multiple times? Yes it was. Was riding it only once worth not having to deal with the crowds and stress? Yes. Absolutely! We decided early on to let everyone else fight over the shiny new toy while we quietly enjoyed everything else the mobs were overlooking.

Another thing we noticed was the ebb and flow between Space Mountain and Star Tours. When one ride was mobbed the other was vacant. We assumed this was from the crowds mobbing Space Mountain first thing and then going to Star Tours. It was funny just seeing the swarm of people all following each other to either Space Mountain or Star Tours. Resist the urge to hit Space Mountain first thing, go to Star Tours instead. Then by the time you're done with Star Tours the initial wave of people will be done with Space Mountain.

Let everyone else fight each other while you go the other way.

 

[KateDrake]

Thanks KateDrake ~ Could you enlighten me a little more about the wide right theory? I have heard a little bit about it, but not the full method of what to do and where to be.

There is a really great thread explaining it, but it basically sounds like you go to rope drop, and stay as far to the right as possible, and then keep staying to the right until you turn off to RSR. It's of course more complex than that, but I haven't mastered the details, since I have a couple of weeks Here's the thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2971596

Malo, I also like to follow the path of least resistance, which is why we're coming up with all these crazy techniques. We have 4 and 1/2 days in the parks, so I'm thinking we can hit up RSR at least a few times, hopefully with very little wait. I'll have to report back on how it works.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We just got back from Disneyland this past Friday, September 21, 2012. I have to say that I truly agree with the folks that say there is NOT an off season any more. Both parks were more crowded then I expected but with FastPasses the wait times were manageable.

Instead of trying to figure out the best way to get everything done we just followed the path of least resistance. If a certain ride was being mobbed then we went elsewhere. If we happened past a ride with little to no wait times we promptly rode it. We didn't set a plan and kill ourselves trying to follow it. I must say, this approach really helped our stress levels and made the trip a whole lot more enjoyable.

I honestly wouldn't PLAN on riding Radiator Springs Races multiple times. Unless of course you don't mind spending a ton of time waiting in line. On this past trip we only had the opportunity to ride Radiator Springs Racers once following our plan to follow the path of least resistance. In hindsight, I enjoyed not spending all of our time fighting the crowds and standing in line. Additionally, we found that Tow Mater's Junkyard Jamboree consistently had little to no wait times the entire week we were there. Can you guess which ride we chose to frequent?

Was it somewhat of a bummer to not get the chance to ride Radiator Springs Racers multiple times? Yes it was. Was riding it only once worth not having to deal with the crowds and stress? Yes. Absolutely! We decided early on to let everyone else fight over the shiny new toy while we quietly enjoyed everything else the mobs were overlooking.

Let everyone else fight each other while you go the other way.

I snipped a bit out....

Any reason you didn't use the SR rider line for RSR? I hope we ride it all together the first time but after that if we want to go again and again we'll go the SR route.

OP ~ our DCA 1st day *we'll hop* will be Thu the 25th, so maybe our 1st ride on RSR will be the SR route *on Wed the 24th.

 

[Girimama33]

There is a really great thread explaining it, but it basically sounds like you go to rope drop, and stay as far to the right as possible, and then keep staying to the right until you turn off to RSR. It's of course more complex than that, but I haven't mastered the details, since I have a couple of weeks Here's the thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2971596

Malo, I also like to follow the path of least resistance, which is why we're coming up with all these crazy techniques. We have 4 and 1/2 days in the parks, so I'm thinking we can hit up RSR at least a few times, hopefully with very little wait. I'll have to report back on how it works.

Thanks for the info. Now I hope they have an actual rope drop

Malo, we pretty much go with the flow too, but feel this morning would be best dedicated to Carsland since the park is opening at 8 (vs. 9 on Thursday). The rest of our trip is unplanned...which is usually how I roll.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we plan to ride it in the morrning right off the bat once, get fp for it and ride it in the evening. Might try that both days we are there

 

[MaloCS]

Any reason you didn't use the SR rider line for RSR? I hope we ride it all together the first time but after that if we want to go again and again we'll go the SR route.

Yes. There were a few reasons why we didn't seek out the 'Single Rider' option on 'Radiator Springs Racers':

1. We were visiting the parks with a 5 year old that couldn't ride it without one of us present.
2. Both my wife and I don't like riding the rides solo. Most of our magic is being able to enjoy the experience with each other as it's happening, especially with my 5 year old son whooping and hollering. To me, seeing him experience the ride is much more enjoyable then the ride itself.
3. For me, I just don't have as much fun if my family isn't with me. I'd rather forego the ride and do something else with my kin.

Regardless, the one time we rode it was a great experience. My son absolutely loved the ride and his reactions have given me some intense memories which I will cherish until the day I die. Only getting to ride it once was worth it given the memories it produced.

 

[IFlossU]

Yes. There were a few reasons why we didn't seek out the 'Single Rider' option on 'Radiator Springs Racers':


[*]We were visiting the parks with a 5 year old that couldn't ride it without one of us present.
[*]Both my wife and I don't like riding the rides solo. Most of our magic is being able to enjoy the experience with each other as it's happening, especially with my 5 year old son whooping and hollering. To me, seeing him experience the ride is much more enjoyable then the ride itself.
[*]For me, I just don't have as much fun if my family isn't with me. I'd rather forego the ride and do something else with my kin.


Regardless, the one time we rode it was a great experience. My son absolutely loved the ride and his reactions have given me some intense memories which I will cherish until the day I die. Only getting to ride it once was worth it given the memories it produced.

WOW! Well said! I couldn't agree more!

 

[ArchOwl]

At the parks now and we have been getting a FP for RSR and then riding Luigi's and then Mater's. But it is all about priorities. The kids in my group enjoy Luigi's, but I don't want to wait an hour for it. So I am ok with doing RSR later to decrease my wait on Luigi's. if I was by myself I would probably try to be one of the first in the wave on RSR and get a RSR FP and skip Luigi's. I have done this before, but it only works if you are able to avoid a long wait on RSR the first time.

 

[Blue32]

At the parks now and we have been getting a FP for RSR and then riding Luigi's and then Mater's. But it is all about priorities. The kids in my group enjoy Luigi's, but I don't want to wait an hour for it. So I am ok with doing RSR later to decrease my wait on Luigi's. if I was by myself I would probably try to be one of the first in the wave on RSR and get a RSR FP and skip Luigi's. I have done this before, but it only works if you are able to avoid a long wait on RSR the first time.

If you were to be in the first to ride RSR and then got to Luigi's, would you be facing a long wait? I am thinking about hitting RSR standby first thing, letting the DW take the kids on Luigis while I get RSR FP's.

 

[BryANDJessMom]

We just got back...the fast pass line went quickly and was very manageable. Yesterday, we only had a few hours before heading home...so instead of getting fass passes, we got there early and did the wide right....our wait at RSR was an hour (it broke down for about 10 mins or so, so it should have been about 45-50 mins.) I would not do that again. Just the mass of people pushed in before the rope drop while you waited for 30 mins..then as you walked down to RSR was just not pleasant. And, I was afraid I would get separated from my kids.

Love RSR, but loved riding it with fast passes so much more!