DCA Opening

[DarthVader92]

Ok, so here is a difficult question. If I headed over to Soarin when it opens at 9:30am, ride it, then grab a fastpass for GRR, then go to Midway Mania, what would the estimated wait time be? I would figure this would be 20-30 mins after park opening.

 

[bumbershoot]

The first thing I would say is...good luck with a GRR FP that early in the day! I've seen them giving out FPs twice...both in the absolute busiest times, and only when the wait times are already up at an hour. They seem to be *very* hesitant about opening up the FP machines for some reason.


But if you are among the first at the gates, among the first in the park, get on Soarin' (which would probably be a walkon), then get up the hill, you would probably hit it while they are still holding people back at the rope. So when the rope drops, if the FP machines for GRR are open, snag one and hoof it to TSMM, and I would possibly say a 20 minute wait, since you're slowing yourself down.

If for some reason you don't get up the hill before ropedrop, definitely 20, maybe longer.

That's in my experience at least!


The other wild card is when opening is! I've read that they are opening DCA earlier, or talking about it...and that's going to change up the early opening time, if they are going to have that anymore...

 

[DarthVader92]

Well I believe they have been opening it earlier to close it earlier for more World of Color testings once the sun goes down. So, since I'm going in July and WOC SHOULD be open, I would think it will still open at 10am.

 

[HydroGuy]

The first thing I would say is...good luck with a GRR FP that early in the day! I've seen them giving out FPs twice...both in the absolute busiest times, and only when the wait times are already up at an hour. They seem to be *very* hesitant about opening up the FP machines for some reason.

I was surprised to read about your experience. I have gotten GRR FPs many times soon after DCA opened. But it was always when the GRR FP was disconnected.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I don't know about grabbing a FP for GRR, but we have made it on to the first ride of Soarin' several times and made it easily to the rope drop at GRR before park opening, then were among the first few people on TSMM.

 

[vpalmer]

So is the consensus that DCA will not continue the early morning openings once WOC opens?

I thought I read the reason DCA was going to start opening early was to be the first park entered for the day? I thought I read the park would receive "credit" and/or more $$ if they were the first park entered as opposed to the second.

I am trying to map out my late June days and while I would love to enter DL first and still make opening at DCA one morning, I'm not sure that will be possible if they continue their new strategy of early DCA openings.

Anyone have any thoughts or know any somewhat definitive answers?

 

[vpalmer]

One more question about riding Soarin' at 9:30 when DCA opens at 10:00. Can you do this if you are staying at the DL Hotel? Do you have to be staying at the GC to use that entrance to enter DCA early or will the DLH also work?

 

[DLR29]

One more question about riding Soarin' at 9:30 when DCA opens at 10:00. Can you do this if you are staying at the DL Hotel? Do you have to be staying at the GC to use that entrance to enter DCA early or will the DLH also work?

Any guest, no matter what hotel they are staying at, can get into DCA at 9:30 to ride Soarin and line up for rope drop WHEN DCA opens at 10. Not quite sure about when DCA opens at 9, though because it is a relatively new change in policy. I do believe that a report by another poster said that when DCA opened at 9, everything opened at 9 and there was no extra 1/2 hour early opening for Soarin.

 

[vpalmer]

Any guest, no matter what hotel they are staying at, can get into DCA at 9:30 to ride Soarin and line up for rope drop WHEN DCA opens at 10. Not quite sure about when DCA opens at 9, though because it is a relatively new change in policy. I do believe that a report by another poster said that when DCA opened at 9, everything opened at 9 and there was no extra 1/2 hour early opening for Soarin.

Great info! Thanks!

One more question - Do you have to use the DCA entrance to ride Soarin' at 9:30?

 

[DangerMouse]

Great info! Thanks!

One more question - Do you have to use the DCA entrance to ride Soarin' at 9:30?

No. Front gates open at 9:30 am as well. I just did this on Monday morning. First in the front gates at DCA, grabbed FP for Soarin, first flight on Soarin, and then up to rope drop at GRR to be one of the first on TSMM.

 

[vpalmer]

No. Front gates open at 9:30 am as well. I just did this on Monday morning. First in the front gates at DCA, grabbed FP for Soarin, first flight on Soarin, and then up to rope drop at GRR to be one of the first on TSMM.

Perfect! Thanks.