FP line for RSR = Wow.

[lulubelle]

I arrived at DCA at 9:15 this morning (Sat) and hightailed it to the RSR FP line. The return time was 8:10 to 9:10 pm. I was planning on leaving by 7 pm so did not get one. The line to get a FP was only about 5 minutes long. I rode the Red Trolley (short and not as cool as I thought it would be), got a snack and moseyed over to RSR. The SR line said 40 minutes, but I only waited 30. I got in line at just before 10 am. When I exited the line just after 10:30 the SR line was closed as it was over an hour. Stand by was 120 minutes both before and after I rode. I think my point is that the earlier you go, the better and that every day the lines and wait time decreases just a bit. Of course today was blocked for all pass holders other than Premium and I think that factored into it as well. This ride is so well done and will be a favorite for years. All the people I encountered in line were so excited and everyone was so nice. Try to experience it if you can, but I agree that it's too frustrating to wait more than an hour.

 

[cooniez]

We were there for Opening Day and the line to get the RSR FP was long, but it moved quickly considering. We didn't end up using our FP's that night because even the FP line was long.

The day after the Grand Opening (Saturday, June 16th) DH & I were surprised that the crowds had dropped considerably. The line to get a FP for RSR looked long, but I was in and out in less than 20 minutes. When we lined up around 8pm that night to use the RSR FP we probably waited about 20 minutes. I truly was surprised that the lines weren't horrific considering it was only the day after Grand Opening. The crowds inside CL and the crowds at DL were actually pretty light on the 16th.

 

[kjs1976]

Going in Mid-aug. Plan to hit DCA on 8/20...reported back to school day for Cali students...hope kinks are worked out and we can get on! Want to take my parents, bro, and DD4 on this ride after watching it on YouTube!!!!

 

[DLR29]

Going in Mid-aug. Plan to hit DCA on 8/20...reported back to school day for Cali students...hope kinks are worked out and we can get on! Want to take my parents, bro, and DD4 on this ride after watching it on YouTube!!!!

Just letting you know that the 20th could be a very very crowded day. It's the first day that the So Cal AP holders are unblocked from summer blockout days. Many of them will be rushing to the parks to see the new additions one last time before school starts. The 20th will be the first possible date that the lowest level of AP will be allowed to see Carsland and Buena Vista Street, and I'm pretty sure a lot will be itching to see them, since they will have been waiting all summer.

Just so you're not surprised. Not sure what your other dates are, but the 18th should be a good day to go, even though it's a Sat. I'll hopefully be there on 8/18. This is because only the top level of APs are allowed in that day...all 3 other types are blocked out.

 

[disneychrista]

Going in Mid-aug. Plan to hit DCA on 8/20...reported back to school day for Cali students...

There is no single "back to school" day for all of California. Schools go back anywhere between mid-August and the Tuesday after Labor Day.

 

[sheetz]

Yeah, 8/20 is probably one of the worst days to go to DCA unless you have early entry. Most schools in CA are still not in session yet and all AP blockouts have been lifted. Did you happen to consult Touringplans' very flawed crowd calendar? For some reason they choose not to take into consideration the large number of APers and how they affect crowd levels.

 

[RallyMonkey]

We live 15 miles from Disneyland and my kids go back to school September 4th.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Yeah, 8/20 is probably one of the worst days to go to DCA unless you have early entry. Most schools in CA are still not in session yet and all AP blockouts have been lifted. Did you happen to consult Touringplans' very flawed crowd calendar? For some reason they choose not to take into consideration the large number of APers and how they affect crowd levels.

I disagree.

The reason the lower level APs are not blocked is that Disney knows it will not be as crowded as it has been up to that point. Yes, there will be many with APs there, but there will be less of the non-APs there.

Many schools will still be out, so, yes, it will still be crowded, but no worse than any other summer day, imo.

- Dreams

 

[sheetz]

I disagree.

The reason the lower level APs are not blocked is that Disney knows it will not be as crowded as it has been up to that point. Yes, there will be many with APs there, but there will be less of the non-APs there.

Many schools will still be out, so, yes, it will still be crowded, but no worse than any other summer day, imo.

- Dreams

Of course it's anyone's guess at this point, but it's been discussed before in this thread and others agreed that 8/20 may not be the best day to visit.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=45057814

 

[AngelDisney]

Of course it's anyone's guess at this point, but it's been discussed before in this thread and others agreed that 8/20 may not be the best day to visit.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=45057814

I have no choice but to have my first full day at DLR on August 20 . Will make full use of EMH, FPs and SR. I hope 5 full days are enough to experience the major rides at least once (maybe some repeats for the favorites), eat at TS and take pics for Photopass +.

 

[disneychrista]

Five days should be plenty if you use your time wisely. I know it is a vacation but you get so much done in the first few hours that it is worth getting up early and going back to the hotel mid-day for a nap.

And my best advice go in with a good attitude. It will be hot & crowded but don't let either get to you. Stay hydrated water is free at any counter service and tastes best ICE COLD, IMO. And don't forget the sunscreen, hat & sun glasses.

 

[AngelDisney]

Five days should be plenty if you use your time wisely. I know it is a vacation but you get so much done in the first few hours that it is worth getting up early and going back to the hotel mid-day for a nap.

And my best advice go in with a good attitude. It will be hot & crowded but don't let either get to you. Stay hydrated water is free at any counter service and tastes best ICE COLD, IMO. And don't forget the sunscreen, hat & sun glasses.

Thanks for the great tips!

 

[hurleysweety]

Confused about the FP distribution during APEE or EE mornings. We were there last Weds-Fri. All three days, FPs were being distributed before 8AM. I cannot confirm if they started right at 7AM since I was not in the park at the time since we were not AP or DLR resort guests. But on Friday at 9AM, the FPs were already gone. And on Wednesday, I was the second person in line as a regular park guest and my FP was for 11:15 AM. So many EE people had gotten FPs before me.

Just trying to clear things up since many friends keep asking me about my trip!

 

[fctiger]

Was there opening day! It took about 40 mins just to get the FP! It doesnt FEEL like it since you are always moving and of course the excitment of opening day but that was officially the longest it took for me just to GET the FP! Hell, thats longer than an average wait of an actual standby line of an E ticket on a week day lol.

And I got a ticket for around 8:45 that night, about 11 hours after I got the FP. Got there after the time, around a quarter to 11 that night and it took 90 mins WITH the FP! It was insane! So basically waited over 2 hours total with an 11 hour wait time. But it still beat the 5-6 hour line for most of that day!

And yes, they DO close off the SR line at times as I was turned away a few days later. I did do the SR line the next day with a friend and was 'only' 50 mins.

All I can say is A. This ride is really a hit on all levels with the kind of wait people are doing on it and B. Now people know whats it like when popular rides opens in Tokyo after all of this time!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Wow!! My friends do not know this yet

 

[brenda1966]

Confused about the FP distribution during APEE or EE mornings. We were there last Weds-Fri. All three days, FPs were being distributed before 8AM. I cannot confirm if they started right at 7AM since I was not in the park at the time since we were not AP or DLR resort guests. But on Friday at 9AM, the FPs were already gone.

Okay, if you weren't in the park, how can you state with certainty that they were distributing FP's prior to 8am??

We know they let the AP and Resort guests who are already *in* the park line up at the FP's machines. They did this for Star Tours last summer. FP's were gone early then too. Doesn't mean the machines are turned on early. Not that it really matters since those people are already lined up before we even get through the gates. They get first crack at the rides and at the FP's.

We also don't know how many FP's they are distributing. Since the ride is going up and down, maybe they are limiting the # of FP's. So running out in an hour shouldn't be that surprising when you have hundreds of people in line and each may be grabbing multiple FP's for their entire family.

 

[milan15]

And this is the line to get a FP?



I mean I knew it was would be long, but wow.

Like I told my mom: getting in the park right at 8, is getting there late if you want to ride RSR.

But actually 30 minutes to get to the front of that line doesn't seem bad IMO. It's the fact that it's for a FP and not the ride.

I really wonder what the FP return line looks like and how long that wait is.

is this much different than WOC when it first came out and had it's fast pass distribution?

I remember waiting in line for roughly 45 minutes to get a FP to WOC...
Worth it, but still. I waited that long just to get a piece of paper that got me into another huge crowd/line later that night.

 

[brenda1966]

is this much different than WOC when it first came out and had it's fast pass distribution?

I remember waiting in line for roughly 45 minutes to get a FP to WOC...
Worth it, but still. I waited that long just to get a piece of paper that got me into another huge crowd/line later that night.

Unfortunately for WOC you *HAD* to have a FP, so that first year you either bought a gross picnic lunch, paid for an overpriced dinner, or stood in an hour FP line. I opted for the picnic.

For Cars -- I think the verdict is still out. Is the FP going to save you much time if you have to stand in line an hour and then people don't use their FP until later in the day and the FP line is an hour + by the time you can get in it. At least you can ride without a FP. It just make take a long, long while.

 

[DLR29]

Okay, if you weren't in the park, how can you state with certainty that they were distributing FP's prior to 8am??

We know they let the AP and Resort guests who are already *in* the park line up at the FP's machines. They did this for Star Tours last summer. FP's were gone early then too. Doesn't mean the machines are turned on early. Not that it really matters since those people are already lined up before we even get through the gates. They get first crack at the rides and at the FP's.

We also don't know how many FP's they are distributing. Since the ride is going up and down, maybe they are limiting the # of FP's. So running out in an hour shouldn't be that surprising when you have hundreds of people in line and each may be grabbing multiple FP's for their entire family.

She was in the park before 8 and saw them distributing FPs before 8. She was not there at 7. They've been letting regular guests into BVS around 7:30 and letting them have free reign of the park a little before 8, if I'm interpreting reports correctly.

 

[AquaDame]

How well have EEs been working for people? Has the line already been crazy long for everything...? I have an AP entry but my husband does not - he is fine with me going ahead of him but I don't know if it would be worth it, will I be able to ride anything really before I should book my butt over to the FP line? Will it be long enough for me to wait for him to catch up or is it more likely Id make it to the machines before he reached me after he can get in at 8?