Fast Passes while skipping the "big" rides

[msmama]

I can't believe how stressed I am about my Disneyland vacation. I can do WDW plans in my sleep at this point but DL is stressing me out!!

Anyway, 6 year old son and I. He is, essentially, afraid of everything (or claims to be anyway) so we skip a lot of the big rides - anything fast or rollercoaster-y. (I'd love to get him on Indiana Jones but am afraid he'd boycott rides all together after that. Also debating Space Mountain since it has double seats, unlike WDW).

So, what should my fast pass strategy be?

At WDW I don't really use them because we've never really had the need for them. (And if we do use them, I've never had a return time for more than an hour or two away).

I did manage to get him on Test Track and it's my understanding that RSR is basically the same ride (different theming). Since we won't be running first thing in the morning, what is a good strategy for getting FP's? If we stroll slowly to the FP machines while letting others run past us, would that work or do you think we'd have to wait in line for FP's? What's the latest one could get FP's for a return time before dinner?

(Oh, we're there the last week of April/beginning of May which seems to be after spring break crowds, though I've heard from some friends in CA that they are off that week, so it may be busier than I was anticipating).

 

[figment_jii]

I did manage to get him on Test Track and it's my understanding that RSR is basically the same ride (different theming). Since we won't be running first thing in the morning, what is a good strategy for getting FP's? If we stroll slowly to the FP machines while letting others run past us, would that work or do you think we'd have to wait in line for FP's? What's the latest one could get FP's for a return time before dinner?

As a general rule of thumb, RSR FP tend to run out about 90 minutes after the park opens. Guests are allowed to start lining up for FP as soon as the gates open, but they don't start distributing FP until the park official opens to the public. If you get there within the first 20 minutes or so of park opening, there will still be a line to get the FP. If you want to forgo the line, then you need to wait until probably closer to 30-45 minutes after park opening. It's going to be a balancing act between waiting for the line to dissipate and getting the FP return time you want.

In terms of timing the FP, that's a bit tougher. I would guess that you want to get a FP within the first 45 minutes of park opening if you want a return time for before 5:00 pm (assuming that's dinner time). At the start of March, I pulled a FP 23 minutes after park opening for about 4 hours after park opening (i.e., at 10:23 am I pulled a FP for 2:00 to 3:00 pm). The next day, I waited until later and pulled a FP 47 minutes after park opening and the return time was 7.5 hours after opening (i.e., at 10:47 am I pulled a FP for 5:35 pm to 6:35 pm). Back in December, I pulled a FP 53 minutes after opening (8:00 am) for around 6.5 hours after opening (2:30 pm). These are just examples and the times will be different when you go. My guess is the FP go faster on weekends.

In terms of the ride...RSR and TT use the same basic ride vehicles (cars), but they seem like different rides to me. Still, if you DS is okay with Test Track, he'll probably do okay with RSR. The end of both rides features a "high speed" car ride (TT goes faster), so the main differences are in the pre-end portions. RSR basically has you going through Radiator Springs...there are a few "surprises" and you might want to YouTube a ride video so you can prepare yourself (and perhaps your son) (I'm mainly thinking of Mack and the Tractors).

In terms of the crowds, there really is no "slow" season at DLR anymore. In general, weekends (Friday PM to Sunday) are busier than weekdays (Monday to Friday AM).

 

[gbp02]

How long is the wait to RSR with a fastpass?

 

[Aladora]

How long is the wait to RSR with a fastpass?

Depending on the day and time we went, we waited between 5 and 15 mins in the FP line, tops.

 

[figment_jii]

How long is the wait to RSR with a fastpass?

It varies depending on crowds. The wait when I've gone (March, October, December) is typically between 15 and 25 minutes. Getting through the FP portion of the line is typically quick (5 or so minutes), but after the merge point might take a bit longer (10 to 20 minutes).

Without a FP, the standby line tends to run between 60 and 120 minutes. I think the shortest I've seen it was around 45 minutes.

Alternatively, if you were a family that could get to DCA pre-rope drop, you could try the "wide right" technique to get on RSR first thing in the morning (this does not work on an EMH morning unless you have access to EMH).
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3244873
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2971596

 

[Apps]

As others have mentioned though, I would skip the FP for Racers until after you do TSMM. Since TSMM has no fast pass, the line is constantly long past the first hour at DCA.

We usually go TSMM, Screamin, RSR Fast Pass, Soaring/ToT. The only bad part of this plan is that by the time you get the FP, it will be schedule for late afternoon / early evening (4pm and beyond) so if you plan to do DCA only in the morning and head on over to DLR, you may want to get RSR FP first (or have a runner).

BTW, don't miss the Aladdin show...probably the best single even at Disneyland

 

[figment_jii]

BTW, don't miss the Aladdin show...probably the best single even at Disneyland

Just keep in mind that the Aladdin show has a run time of about 45 minutes. So it's on the longer side for a theme park show. For comparison, Mickey and Magical Map is only 23 minutes in length.