DCA opening - ride Soarin or rope drop for TSMM?

[WendyWhy]

This is for the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We will be checking in to GCH that morning -hoping to get there before 9 (we will be driving in from my in-laws about 30 min away) and have 2 little ones with us. We won't be getting WOC fps. If all goes well and we are able to get into DCA before 9:30, should we try riding Soarin first, then run to try to line up for rope drop to get into TSMM. OR - just get Soarin fps, and head over to TSMM? Thanks in advance!

 

[jkpatrick]

I believe you are able to get Soarin' Fast Passes 30 minutes to 1 hr before the park officially opens. So you can get the FP, then head on over to TSMM for rope drop.

 

[DLR29]

Get Soarin FPs and then go ride TSMM!

 

[skiingfast]

You have to be in the first 50 to the Rope Drop to TSMM for it to really pay off sacrificing Soaring and FPs. The TSMM lines builds up so quickly that it goes from walk on to 30 or 45 minute wait in minutes since a few hundred people at the Rope Drop line, follow eachother around the pier and into that line.

Unless you are at the very front of the line to get into DCA, don't bother with TSMM. If you are really quick in, you can get a Soarin FP and still get toward the front of the TSMM rope drop. But then you stand at the rope drop for 20-25 minutes. You will also be waiting at the DCA gates for 10-15 minutes. It is basically a trade off, wait in one spot or another.

I have done the race to RD to get right into TSMM. It is fun and exciting to be one of the first of the day.

But I prefer to get to DCA right at 9:30 so the entry lines starts moving when I'm there. Get in and get a Soaring FP, maybe a WoC Show Ticket, and then ride Soarin saving those FPs for later in the day. Then in short order the ropes drop so I check the TSMM line if it's around 30 get in, if not get on MFW(which has an often as big or bigger line, or ride Screamin which usually has the second longest line in the park after Soari). Then it's time for my second FP of the day, Screemin.

 

[WendyWhy]

Ok - I think I will use DH as a runner to get our Soarin FPs and try to get to the front of rope drop...thanks for the heads up!

One last question - where would you put LM on the lineup if we are going for Soarin FPs, followed by rope drop to TSMM - hit LM next? Or save for later? Thanks!

 

[GenGen22]

I agree with skiing about TSM. LM is on your way down to TSMM from soarin. Here is a map of CA Adventure. It will help you plan better. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/maps/#/m=disneys-california-adventure/e=toy-story-mania

 

[SplashMo]

Do GCH guests get into the TSMM before folks at the rope drop?

 

[skiingfast]

Do GCH guests get into the TSMM before folks at the rope drop?

No, all onsite resort guests get in behind the rope drop, currently 15 minutes earlier. They can ride Soarin, Little Mermaid and get WoC Show Tickets. They can also go upto the ropes.

 

[dnamertz]

But I prefer to get to DCA right at 9:30 so the entry lines starts moving when I'm there. Get in and get a Soaring FP, maybe a WoC Show Ticket, and then ride Soarin saving those FPs for later in the day. Then in short order the ropes drop so I check the TSMM line if it's around 30 get in, if not get on MFW(which has an often as big or bigger line, or ride Screamin which usually has the second longest line in the park after Soari). Then it's time for my second FP of the day, Screemin.

Does the MFW line really get that long? I've never gone on it before, but my 4 year old daughter keeps seeing it in the pictures and saying she wants to ride it, so I might take her on it...but I didn't realize the wait could get that long.

 

[skiingfast]

Does the MFW line really get that long? I've never gone on it before, but my 4 year old daughter keeps seeing it in the pictures and saying she wants to ride it, so I might take her on it...but I didn't realize the wait could get that long.

MFW commonly has a 30-45 minutes wait for the non swinging cabins. The Swinging ones, that give it the MFWoD name are less 10-20 minutes. But swinging is not a reasonable alternative to many people who have an easily queasy in thier group.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Originally Posted by dnamertz View Post
Does the MFW line really get that long? I've never gone on it before, but my 4 year old daughter keeps seeing it in the pictures and saying she wants to ride it, so I might take her on it...but I didn't realize the wait could get that long.

The waits can be deceptively long given the length of the line.