Early Entry & RSR Help!

[dadofnicholas]

I've been searching the forum for an answer to my question(s) and perhaps I'm making it more difficult that it really is? Help

My 4-year-old and I are staying at PPH. We are going to DCA this Sunday and posted hours state it opens at 10:00am so early entry starts at 9:00am. What is the best plan of attack for my son and I? The goal would be to ride RSR twice during the day or once in the morning and return in the evening for a second night ride.

1. When should we be at the front gate? 8am? Earlier?
2. Should we line up at the GCA entrance or will that take longer?
3. Do we head straight for the regular line at 9am? Line up at FP first?
4. Do we return to FP line right after our ride?
5. Are Fast Passes available at 9am?

Other questions:
5. Can we use the FP outside the hours stated (e.g., later in the evening) or is RSR unique?
6. Did I read that some people hire people to line up at FP lines for them? As a single parent with a preschooler, I can see how this might be useful.

Thanks for the help!

 

[plb626]

Since you are staying in a Disney owned resort and can use the early entrance time of 9, arrive around 8:30. The entrance to the right will be for early entrance the regular entrance times will be to the left. Go directly to RSR and ride. When you get off go to the FP line, it will be ahead of the rope drop. You will most likely get an early FP return time and Disney has been trying to enforce return times, BUT what we experienced is that RSR breaks down several times a day. Our return time was 1:30 and the ride was down at that point, so they told us to come back when it is running. We went back at 5 without any problems of getting on the FP line.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I'd also love to know if the GCA entrance is faster than that main one. I know the response said something about the main entrance one, but I wonder what the comparison is.

 

[KalamityJane]

Yes, the main entrance is faster.

 

[disneymayz]

THE GCA entrance is longer since it only has 2 ticket turnstiles. When we checked in to GC we were told if we wanted to use that entrance we would have to be there 1 hr early and at the 30 min mark the line would not be worth getting in. We tried this line once, towards the end of the trip and arrived at the 25 min till park opening and the line was long.
As for RSR - Fass Passes are not available until the park opens at 10AM. One day we got on, rode Luigi's tire, then went and got in the fast pass line about 5-10 mins before 10 and ended up with return time around 1:05PM. Number 1 thing you need to do is get in the fast pass line before the park opens because there will be a super looooonnnnnggggg line at 10PM. The one day we got in line for RSR, it did not work so we waited, and waited, then I left the line to go get fast passes. Return time 3:05PM. The line was longer because the ride was not working. Met back up with the family and now 1.5 hrs into the park time the ride still not working. We were within the first 20-30 people to ride. Decided to leave since the day was getting wasted and we had fast passes.
They seemed not to care about fast pass return times. To do it more than twice in one day you will have to wait a long time in lines. Twice is doable if you do it the way we did but other than that it will be hour + to ride it again.

 

[nicolispicoli]

Oh wow, good to know, thank you!

My Mom doesn't usually ride anything big, so I am hoping she'll go get in line for fastpasses while the rest of us head straight to RSR during our EMH. Poor Mom!

 

[disneymayz]

Oh wow, good to know, thank you!

My Mom doesn't usually ride anything big, so I am hoping she'll go get in line for fastpasses while the rest of us head straight to RSR during our EMH. Poor Mom!

I met some nice interesting people from other countries while I waited in the Fast Pass line. Make sure she gets a fast pass for her as well because it really is a fun ride especially if you have seen the movie.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I met some nice interesting people from other countries while I waited in the Fast Pass line. Make sure she gets a fast pass for her as well because it really is a fun ride especially if you have seen the movie.

Thanks! She is a chicken about bigger rides or enclosed rides, she loves the kiddie ones though, she uses my dd 18 months as an excuse to stick to those For some reason, she never realized BTMM was a roller coaster train, so my 4 year old nephew talked her into it last trip and she had tears from laughing so hard. I keep trying to push her towards everything now! There isn't anything at DLR too scary...although she gets frantic on little mermaid, too enclosed for her!

 

[interstate70s]

We did early entry twice on days that DCA opened at 10am and once when DCA opened at 8am. 8AM is not too early to be at security when park opens at 10am. We found EMH for 10am opening (9am EMH) was much more crowded than when the park opened earlier. The line built quickly while we were there. We were one of the first through security, and the front of the line at the gates on all 3 mornings we did it. Both 10am openings, RSR was open. We used "wide right" technique and walked on both mornings. Then rode Luigi's and Mater's. with no wait by about 9:40. At that point, my DH got in line for FP while I took kids and rode Toy Story twice. We met at 10:15 both of those mornings in front of Toy Story with a return time of around 11:30 both mornings. Our 3rd EMH at DCA, we were one of the first in line again for RSR but it was not running. We immediatly ditched the line. Why waste EMH? We rode Lugi's, Mater, and Toy Story 3Xs. We had already ridden RSR 4x during the trip so opted not to get a FP for RSR that day, but if we hadn't ridden it, I would have rode Luigi's, Mater's and Toy story 1 or 2 times before getting in line for RSR FP.

I think the key is not to waste EMH in a long line. If for some reason, either the ride breaks down, or your not one of the first through the turnstyles, don't waste your EMH on that 1 ride. Ride the others in Carsland and Toy Story, and get a FP. If you really want to ride it twice that day, you can always brave the line later for your second ride.

I also wouldn't wait to use your FP for later in the evening just to get the nighttime effect. RSR breaks down so often I wouldn't want to risk not being able to ride it at all.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

In our experience, we always saved our fastpasses for after dark and we enjoyed the ride more a night because it's so beautiful all lit up. Maybe we were lucky but it never broke down on us and they never enforced the return times.

 

[lurpee]

Thanks! She is a chicken about bigger rides or enclosed rides, she loves the kiddie ones though, she uses my dd 18 months as an excuse to stick to those For some reason, she never realized BTMM was a roller coaster train, so my 4 year old nephew talked her into it last trip and she had tears from laughing so hard. I keep trying to push her towards everything now! There isn't anything at DLR too scary...although she gets frantic on little mermaid, too enclosed for her!

Lol! When I was 17 I was afraid of roller coasters for some unknown reason. I went to DL for the first time with my Youth Group. After HM and POTC we got in line for Splash Mountain. I was so jazzed and overwhelmed to finally be at DL that it didn't occur to me I was waiting for a roller coaster--even though I was watching it plunge! It didn't occur to me until we were waiting with the buzzards for our turn that we were on a roller coaster! I started to freak out internally and then we went over the edge and I was hooked! It's forever my favorite! I hope she tries more things out but it is nice having an FP runner!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh wow, good to know, thank you!

My Mom doesn't usually ride anything big, so I am hoping she'll go get in line for fastpasses while the rest of us head straight to RSR during our EMH. Poor Mom!

Make sure she gets one for herself. It's not a "big" ride, and I don't think it's enclosed. Sure you go inside a building for parts of it, but you do that with Snow White and Alice as well. It's like taking a drive in a convertible. GREAT ride, but not "big".



OP, I would be getting into the line AT 8:30 if not before. And make SURE the line you are getting into has an Entrance sign and GREEN lights around that sign! The signs are past the turnstile gates, but I could see them even at a shrimpy 5'3", so I imagine you will be able to look past the heads of people in front of you to make sure you're getting into a line that's going to actually open. We had two negative experiences with people who had decided to get into a RED lit line, who then expected to get in front of us (even the ones we had seen arriving), and don't want you to be one of those people. GREEN light line.


We haven't had the issue b/c our son is old enough and willing to go with Single Rider, BUT if we had a younger child with us, honestly I'd just go straight for the ride and not bother with FP until later.

During our stay, FPs were not available until normal opening time, and they were telling people who were getting into the FP line, but people were actually taking their Early Entry time to stand in a line that wasn't even going to do anything for an hour. That is not MY definition of a good plan, but again, we're in an easy-breezy place with lines thanks to DS being old enough. So my views on FP might be bad, LOL. Take my FP advice with a grain of salt!

 

[dadofnicholas]

Thanks, everyone!

This helped a lot. I can now finish planning our time there. Although I am planning our time, we are taking a casual pace this second time around - I just want to make our time in Carsland as efficient as possible.

Unlike our first trip in May, we are not going to hit all the rides, just the ones we enjoyed last time plus the ones I (not my 45" tall 4-year-old) was too chicken to try out the first time around. We will still not do the big roller coasters but the question is, will I do the Tower of Terror???!?!

Thanks again - you all have been unbelievably helpful and an invaluable resource!

 

[kailuagirl]

Last week we were staying at GCH, this is our experience.

Monday we went to the main gates about 45 minutes before EE opening, the right side was for regular entrance and to the left was for EE. It was very very crowded. We got in, in about 15 minutes and rushed to Carsland. The wait time was already 1 1/2 hours, and the FP line was super super long, we said forget it and DH rode screaming 2x walk on, and we walked on Toy Story 2x and rode Goofy's 6x walk on. It was great. But no RSR.

So on Wed. we changed plans and decided to enter via GCH. DH got down again about 40-45 minutes early, we were right in front of the Spa Entrance. The line ended up wrapping around and going back down the hall. The CM's over there were awesome They wanted everyone to get in as fast as possible. It was amazing. They started letting us in early, sorry don't know the exact time, and there was a rope drop I think it was by Grizzly, I wasn't paying attention, too excited. They opened it right on time and our whole group ran and I mean ran to Carsland, it was funny. There was another dis'er in line running with us, sorry can't remember her name. We get to Carsland, line is long, we freak out, then realize they are only now letting people in, and it was a straight walk thru and we got up really close. People are riding, we are 2nd in line to get on and it breaks down. What do we do?? So confused. But we decided to hang out as it was already our 5th day and this was the closest we got so far. It finally came back on, and we got to ride it. It was our only time in 7 days in the park. FP's were always gone and the line was always 1 1/2.

So from my experience, I'd do the GCH entrance. They seemed more willing to get you in the park as fast as possible. We didn't get to use EE on Friday that was day 7 and 6:00 was just too early for us at that point.

Have fun. Good luck and let us know what works for you.

 

[Geemo]

You have lots to figure out before you go. Or you could go and just wing-it.

Either way, I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Remember to breathe....

Enjoy
Geemo

 

[Rhonna]

Last week we were staying at GCH, this is our experience.

Monday we went to the main gates about 45 minutes before MM opening, the right side was for regular entrance and to the left was for MM. It was very very crowded. We got in, in about 15 minutes and rushed to Carsland. The wait time was already 1 1/2 hours, and the FP line was super super long, we said forget it and DH rode screaming 2x walk on, and we walked on Toy Story 2x and rode Goofy's 6x walk on. It was great. But no RSR.

So on Wed. we changed plans and decided to enter via GCH. DH got down again about 40-45 minutes early, we were right in front of the Spa Entrance. The line ended up wrapping around and going back down the hall. The CM's over there were awesome They wanted everyone to get in as fast as possible. It was amazing. They started letting us in early, sorry don't know the exact time, and there was a rope drop I think it was by Grizzly, I wasn't paying attention, too excited. They opened it right on time and our whole group ran and I mean ran to Carsland, it was funny. There was another dis'er in line running with us, sorry can't remember her name. We get to Carsland, line is long, we freak out, then realize they are only now letting people in, and it was a straight walk thru and we got up really close. People are riding, we are 2nd in line to get on and it breaks down. What do we do?? So confused. But we decided to hang out as it was already our 5th day and this was the closest we got so far. It finally came back on, and we got to ride it. It was our only time in 7 days in the park. FP's were always gone and the line was always 1 1/2.

So from my experience, I'd do the GCH entrance. They seemed more willing to get you in the park as fast as possible. We didn't get to use MM on Friday that was day 7 and 6:00 was just too early for us at that point.

Have fun. Good luck and let us know what works for you.

Hi - There is another question about MM vs. EE on the boards right now. So just to make it clear for newbies - there is no MM at DCA park at all. Only at DL park with the proper tickets. You meant EE (early entry) at DCA which is only available to those staying onsite. (Most of us know you meant EE.)

 

[kailuagirl]

Rhonna, thanks, that is what I meant. I corrected my reply so not to confuse anyone

 

[Rhonna]

Rhonna, thanks, that is what I meant. I corrected my reply so not to confuse anyone

Mahalo. Is there an emoticon for the shaka (hang loose) sign?

 

[dadofnicholas]

We have arrived safe and sound. Didn't do the park thing this evening - just Rainforest Cafe and some shopping in Downtown Disney, mainly for my son

We shall see what tomorrow brings. In reality, if lines are super-long, we will just hit the other cool rides at DCA - we enjoyed ourselves a lot the last time around. It would be nice to hit RSR at least once and hopefully with three EEs during our stay, we can do so for one of the days! LOL! But there's no way I will ask my son to wait 1.5 hours in line Plus, I know we'll come back again in the future.

Thanks again! PS - Will try GCH entrance tomorrow and see how it goes.

 

[dadofnicholas]

First in line and first to get into a racer today!

My son had a blast - this time in the front seat. We also went through Luigi's tire store this time; last time we went through Ramone's body paint shop.

The far-right rope drop is so true!

It was our second RSR ride of this trip so it was good enough.

Thanks again to this board and its great suggestions!