Guardians Experience Recap

[Chaseme]

Just returned from Disneyland, there June 7,8 and 10th. We were pretty scared of the wait times for Guardians so thought I'd share my experience if it can help other people plan!

We started our day at Disneyland on the 8th, headed over to DCA about 20 minutes before it opened with the plan to either ride Guardians or FP it if the wait was too long. The set up is very confusing, the fast pass line starts no where near the fast pass station, in the confusion I sent my party on their way to check out the stand by line and I backtracked to figure out where the fast pass line started! A minute later I get a call from my people saying they were in line, it wasn't that long and I rushed over to join them We were on in less than 30 minutes.

Wanted to ride again on Saturday, lined up outside of DCA around 7:30, they open up early and let you get in the stand by line, dropped the rope and let us fill up the queue around 7:50, we were off the ride before 8:20.

If anyone who knows the DCA layout and is more computer savvy than myself, it would be super helpful to post a map showing where the Guardians Fast pass line starts

So get there early and no worries!

 

[Angrose]

I was also there yesterday. I pulled a FP at 8:17am for a 10:20 return, so not too bad! The FP distribution line started just across from the Hyperion Theater and wrapped behind some buildings. After getting my FP there was a CM offering people WOC FPs so that was nice.

I think the app was slow in updating wait times and return times. It said 30min wait when I got there just after 8am but a CM told me it was 55min once you get into the courtyard so I decided on FP instead.

 

[ashley0139]

I finally got to go on the ride last night. Didn't get to the parks until around 6:30pm so obviously there were no fastpasses left. The line said 90 minutes, but I was completely done and off the ride in 60, so not too bad. I think they're saying the line is longer than it is.

 

[agamble]

I finally got to go on the ride last night. Didn't get to the parks until around 6:30pm so obviously there were no fastpasses left. The line said 90 minutes, but I was completely done and off the ride in 60, so not too bad. I think they're saying the line is longer than it is.

They do that a lot. I think it doesn't take much to back up the line on these attractions and it's better to error on the side of caution. You were willing to wait 90, but were happy to be done in 60. People could get upset if they think it's 60 and end up waiting 90.

Did you enjoy it?

For OP: How long was the FP wait? I've seen some saying the FP wait is longer than the ride wait time first thing in the morning. I'm considering just riding GOG first thing on our Tuesday, but I also really want to go on it and would consider sending DH to hop over to DCA to pull us FP to ride on an earlier day of the week.

 

[ashley0139]

They do that a lot. I think it doesn't take much to back up the line on these attractions and it's better to error on the side of caution. You were willing to wait 90, but were happy to be done in 60. People could get upset if they think it's 60 and end up waiting 90.

Did you enjoy it?

For OP: How long was the FP wait? I've seen some saying the FP wait is longer than the ride wait time first thing in the morning. I'm considering just riding GOG first thing on our Tuesday, but I also really want to go on it and would consider sending DH to hop over to DCA to pull us FP to ride on an earlier day of the week.

Oh, absolutely. They'd rather have people pleasantly surprised about the wait time. I loved the ride! I haven't seen either of the movies, so a lot of it was probably lost on me, but it was a lot of fun. Loved the music (we got Hit Me With Your Best Shot).

 

[swooshbear]

I also was there Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was much better, we got there at 6:30am but didn't have Magic Morning so had to wait for normal park opening. We had four in our group so two people went to the Standby line and two went to the FP line. We were not too far from the front of the FP line and made the slow weave to the kiosks. We pulled the FP for a 8:45am - 9:45am return and met up with our friends who just made it to the front of the ride entrance (they were told if they went through the ride entrance gate, people could not join them inside). We rode it back to back and when we came out, there were still FPs and no line. We pulled another one for 12:15pm and were happy to ride it three times in one day.

Yesterday was much worse, all passes were valid and both parks were crowded. I rope dropped DCA and grabbed a FP first, my return time was 10:30 - 11:30. I then got into the Standby line and the wait was 105 minutes (completely accurate according to watch when I got on the ride). Wait times were consistently 150 in the morning and then 105 by the afternoon.

Overall, I rode it 5 times this weekend and saw 3 out of the 6 versions. I was huge ToT fan but they did a really good job with this ride.

 

[Winnowill]

The FP line first thing is NUTS. Wait half an hour and you'll be fine. Or, if you're right up near the gates at entry, ride it then get FP when you're done. I waited about a minute at 9:55 am (which was when my RSR FP window opened) this morning.

 

[agamble]

The FP line first thing is NUTS. Wait half an hour and you'll be fine. Or, if you're right up near the gates at entry, ride it then get FP when you're done. I waited about a minute at 9:55 am (which was when my RSR FP window opened) this morning.

Thank you! That is what we used to do with RSR. I think that will be our plan.

 

[arichau]

When I was there last week they had CMs in Hollywood Land (first left at the end of Buena Vista Street holding signs that said "Guardians Fastpass Line Starts Here" or "Guardians Stand By Line Starts Here" Super easy to spot the beginning of the lines that way.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I was there the past 3 days. On Sunday, I did GotG. I got in the FP line at 7:40am or so (whenever we were let through the front gate). The FP line starts early morning by Disney Jr., which is just nuts. We had to wind in one of the backstage areas. And...it started raining while waiting. Pulled a FP for 10:10 though, which wasn't bad. The line was still long to pull a FP an hour later, but not as bad. Standby line by 10:30 was all the way back to the Hyperion and a 90-95 minute wait. All 3 days, FP was gone fairly early, so don't expect to pull a FP after 10 or 11AM.

I loved the ride. I was one of those major skeptics. I still don't like the exterior, but the ride itself is surprisingly good. It's more intense than ToT for sure. I like that there are different songs and variations. It makes it more fun. Definitely worth either getting a FP or riding at rope drop. I'm not sure I'd wait 180 minutes like some people have, but it is really fun.

 

[Winnowill]

We've done it three times, so far, and seen three different profiles. Hit Me with Your Best Shot has been the best we've had, yet.

 

[Winnowill]

Our hope today was to ride, grab FP, and then grab another FP as soon as our window opened. But it was not to be. The ride started a little late. We were in the 4th elevator to launch, and we didn't get our FP till 8:20, by which point the return time was 11:35. By 11:35, FPs for it had been gone for more than 30 minutes.

I wonder what the DCA rope drop experience is on a day when DCA has EMH and one isn't eligible for it. I guess we'll find out tomorrow!

 

[jolinda]

If you pulled your fastpass at 8:20, wouldn't you have been eligible to pull another at 10:20? edit -- nevermind, I forgot that was only for a fastpass to a DIFFERENT attraction.

 

[Winnowill]

If you pulled your fastpass at 8:20, wouldn't you have been eligible to pull another at 10:20? edit -- nevermind, I forgot that was only for a fastpass to a DIFFERENT attraction.

Which we did. We got FP for TSMM, making sure that its return window opened BEFORE our GotG return time (we got 11:00). And then at 11:04, FPs for GotG were gone, so I went ahead and got them for Soarin' (return at 11:55). So we had three different FPs with times opening between 11:00 and 11:55. It wound up a pretty good morning!

We've seen four of the six GotG profiles in our five rides so far. We're HOPING to get on twice tomorrow before we leave, and get the other two, but I know the odds are against us.

 

[fly girl]

We got on it 4 times yesterday taking advantage of extra morning hour. Waited once, pulled FP for the rest.

IF YOU HAVE EMH UTILIZE IT!! IT IS AWESOME!!!

First got on at opening with a 15-20 minute wait. Was cool to do that just to see the inside and look around.

Immediately pulled FP after riding, was still in extra morning hours so no line and got a return for 9:00am.

Rode RSR single rider 2 times, then went on Screamin' when dh could pull another FP for GOG at 9. He didnt have to wait in regular line since we were still utilizing extra hours when he went up at 8:58. (Lucky ... you betcha!) Pulled 9:40 FP.

After we rode back to back FP's, pulled one more set for late afternoon at 4:10.

We rode 4 different sequences - Free Ride, I Want You Back, Burning Love, and Hit Me With Your Best Shot. All 3 of us have different favorites.

Since no emh today, we went to DL and by the time we made it to CA around 11ish pulled a FP for 8:10pm. Hoping we will get to see a new version to end our stay.

I still miss TOT, and I still stand firm that the building is hideous, but I will happily admit the ride is good ... and even gets an edge to TOT.

 

[Winnowill]

Well, we saw five of the six profiles in our seven rides. They're all fun. The only one we didn't see was the Jackson one.

I'm amused that the ride photo number still leads with a "T." You'd think someone would have thought to change it to a "G."

 

[luulu1999]

You can get FPs during EMH??!!

 

[Rabb it]

Very cool, good info!

 

[Butterfly123]

I was there the past 3 days. On Sunday, I did GotG. I got in the FP line at 7:40am or so (whenever we were let through the front gate). The FP line starts early morning by Disney Jr., which is just nuts. We had to wind in one of the backstage areas. And...it started raining while waiting. Pulled a FP for 10:10 though, which wasn't bad. The line was still long to pull a FP an hour later, but not as bad. Standby line by 10:30 was all the way back to the Hyperion and a 90-95 minute wait. All 3 days, FP was gone fairly early, so don't expect to pull a FP after 10 or 11AM.

I loved the ride. I was one of those major skeptics. I still don't like the exterior, but the ride itself is surprisingly good. It's more intense than ToT for sure. I like that there are different songs and variations. It makes it more fun. Definitely worth either getting a FP or riding at rope drop. I'm not sure I'd wait 180 minutes like some people have, but it is really fun.

So what exactly makes it more intense? I'm trying not to read too many spoilers about the ride, but I have read that it's pretty intense in a few places. I finally got up the nerve to ride TOT on our last visit two years ago, and I'm so glad I did, or I would have missed the opportunity to ride it. I could handle TOT, and I want to try GotG, but I'm a little petrified with what I'm hearing!!

 

[fly girl]

You can get FPs during EMH??!!

Yes. Don't wait in FP line during EMH, get there early enough to ride with short wait, then pull a FP before park opens to all guests. If you pull your first one early enough to go back at 9am to get second, make sure to tell CM you're a hotel guest so you don't have to wait in the FP line with everyone else.

This is a great advantage for hotel guests.