Help me figure out my morning strategy for Ariel/WOC/Soarin/TSMM

[villanewbie]

Between the two free fastpasses for Disney hotel guests... the 30-minute early open Cailfornia Adventure for Grand Californian guests(yes?)...and the rush to get WOC fastpasses...and the rush to get on Soarin' and Toy Story, I confess I'm lost.

I'm gathering from previous threads it makes more sense to use the two fastpasses at other times. In the 30 minute block when Cailfornia Adventure opens early, is it possible to do the following: get the WOC fastpass, ride Ariel, ride Soarin (and get FPs) and get onto Toy Story without a long wait? Anyone have a suggestion of an order or strategy? We will be at Disneyland from Tuesday afternoon, August 23, to Friday morning, August 26.

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[HydroGuy]

Between the two free fastpasses for Disney hotel guests... the 30-minute early open Cailfornia Adventure for Grand Californian guests(yes?)...and the rush to get WOC fastpasses...and the rush to get on Soarin' and Toy Story, I confess I'm lost.

I'm gathering from previous threads it makes more sense to use the two fastpasses at other times. In the 30 minute block when Cailfornia Adventure opens early, is it possible to do the following: get the WOC fastpass, ride Ariel, ride Soarin (and get FPs) and get onto Toy Story without a long wait? Anyone have a suggestion of an order or strategy? We will be at Disneyland from Tuesday afternoon, August 23, to Friday morning, August 26.

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks so much!

There is no longer any "rush" to get WOC FPs. And there really is not a rush for Soarin. But there is for TSMM.

In answer to your question - no, that is not possible. Even if you get to Soarin when it opens at 9:30AM, you will probably not be off the ride until almost 10AM. A better bet would be to get your Soarin FPs at 9:30, get your WOC FPs, ride LM, then line up for TSMM.

 

[villanewbie]

This is exactly the information I was looking for! I know all these early opens/additional FPs are a bonus, but I almost get more confused by them. We haven't been to DL in three years so anything I knew about the parks is really out of date. Thank you Hydroguy!

 

[ahutton]

When we were there a couple weeks ago, it was easy to ride LM while waiting for rope drop to go over to TSMM. We walked past Soarin, but could have easily obtained FPs for it.

If you want to relive our adventure, we arrived at DL at 9:00, got Star Tours FPs for between 1 & 2, then went to California Adventure at 9:30, walked back, rode Little Mermaid, then TSMM, then Goofy's Sky School and were back at Little Mermaid before 11:00!! We had lunch, saw Muppet Vision and Monsters Inc before crossing back into DL to ride Star Tours at 1:00. That was on a Saturday!

 

[rramstad]

The special two FP cards are like GOLD. Use them for Star Tours.

We had no trouble at all getting everything, but we were staying in the GCH. We got in line there at around 9 AM, but made it into the park at about 9:15. Grabbed FP for WoC, and went to Soarin'. When the ride opened at 9:30 we were in the first group to ride, and then we walked back past GRR down to LM, and rode it. We were off the ride by 9:50 and ready for rope drop, then went straight to TSMM.

I think HydroGuy is right, if you are coming in from the main gate, it gets a bit tighter timingwise, I would advocate grabbing Soarin' FP, then WOC FP, then ride LM, and you should be fine for TSMM rope drop.

 

[Mickeybell]

So if you are staying on property you can get into DCA 30 minutes early? Does that include all three hotels or just the Grand? Is it on all days or just early entry days like Disneyland?

 

[Dobie]

Ok, here's what the Dobies did last week.

As a guest of any of the 3 onsite properties you get into DCA one hour early, at nine, every day. Line up at the GCH DCA entrance just before or at nine. There will be a bit of a line, but it moves quickly. Enter the park, step to your right, go to the GRR fastpass kiosk, and a CM will take your park tickets and get your WOC fastpasses for you. They will be for 9:00 pm, blue section.

Walk back past the GCH hotel entrance to Condor Flats and ride Soarin'. When you are done, get a FP. Walk toward Paradise Pier and ride LM. There will be no line. Leave LM and walk to rope drop. At 10, they will drop the rope and the crowd will stampede like cattle to TSMM.

You might want to practice your mooing.

 

[HydroGuy]

So if you are staying on property you can get into DCA 30 minutes early? Does that include all three hotels or just the Grand? Is it on all days or just early entry days like Disneyland?

See "The Official Scoop on DCA's Unofficial Morning Opening Hours" - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2680309

 

[HydroGuy]

The special two FP cards are like GOLD. Use them for Star Tours.

We had no trouble at all getting everything, but we were staying in the GCH. We got in line there at around 9 AM, but made it into the park at about 9:15. Grabbed FP for WoC, and went to Soarin'. When the ride opened at 9:30 we were in the first group to ride, and then we walked back past GRR down to LM, and rode it. We were off the ride by 9:50 and ready for rope drop, then went straight to TSMM.

I think HydroGuy is right, if you are coming in from the main gate, it gets a bit tighter timingwise, I would advocate grabbing Soarin' FP, then WOC FP, then ride LM, and you should be fine for TSMM rope drop.

RR is right about the 2 hotel FPs. I should have mentioned that already. Use them for ST. If you do not want to ride ST then TSMM would also be a good use.

 

[Mickeybell]

See "The Official Scoop on DCA's Unofficial Morning Opening Hours" - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2680309

Thank you!

 

[nancy drew]

RR is right about the 2 hotel FPs. I should have mentioned that already. Use them for ST. If you do not want to ride ST then TSMM would also be a good use.

Does TSMM have FP machines? I thought it didn't. You can only use the hotel FP for rides that have FP machines.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Does TSMM have FP machines? I thought it didn't. You can only use the hotel FP for rides that have FP machines.

That was my understanding as well. The only exception was the Little Mermaid ride. They were allowing guests to use the special fastpasses for that since it is new.

 

[HydroGuy]

Does TSMM have FP machines? I thought it didn't. You can only use the hotel FP for rides that have FP machines.

I do not know for sure since we used our hotel FPs for ST. When we checked into the GCH in June the CM who gave us the FPs clearly and unambiguously told us that we could use them for any ride at DLR - but not for WOC.

 

[villanewbie]

Thanks to everyone. We are staying at the GCH and will follow some of the prescribed paths. Want to get on Grizzly also, but I guess no FPs for that until later. Definitely using one of the "bonus" FPs for Star Tours and maybe the other for Splash.

 

[nancy drew]

I do not know for sure since we used our hotel FPs for ST. When we checked into the GCH in June the CM who gave us the FPs clearly and unambiguously told us that we could use them for any ride at DLR - but not for WOC.

I think that CM was misinformed, then, and unfortunately passed along incorrect information to you.

From the Disney website:

Offer includes two (2) Disney's FASTPASS tickets for each registered guest (ages 3 and older) per Disneyland Resort hotel reservation for arrivals from June 3, 2011 through September 5, 2011. Separate theme park admission is required. Each of these Disney's FASTPASS tickets will allow a guest one (1) entrance to the Disney's FASTPASS return line of any Disney's FASTPASS attraction at the Disneyland Resort Theme Parks or one (1) entrance to a specially created, limited-time Disney's FASTPASS return line for The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction. ITickets are valid June 3, 2011 through September 11, 2011. Disney's FASTPASS attractions and return lines may not operate daily and Disney's FASTPASS tickets are subject to attraction changes, closures and capacity. No cash value; no substitutions. Tickets may not be sold, copied or transferred for commercial purposes and will not be replaced if lost or stolen. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Also, in the other thread about hotel FPs, blackjackdelta said they asked about using them and were told they could only be used on FP rides.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think that CM was misinformed, then, and unfortunately passed along incorrect information to you.

From the Disney website:



Also, in the other thread about hotel FPs, blackjackdelta said they asked about using them and were told they could only be used on FP rides.

It would not be the first time. And I was skeptical. On the other hand, the policies at the parks are sometimes different from what the website says. So it would not be the first time for that either.

Guess we will not know for sure unless a hotel guest tries it at TSMM or some other non-FP ride and reports back. And in another month it will be a moot point anyways!

 

[mrswh]

I asked specifically about TSMM when I called to add tickets to my hotel reservation, and was told that the hotel FPs may NOT be used for it. Such a bummer - they have FP for TSMM at WDW, wonder why not at DL? I have never seen the line less than 45 minutes (except for stampeding with the cattle at rope drop).

What time does Soarin' open these days? Last summer I think it opened around 9:40. We went into the park at 9:30, got WOC FPs, picked up Soarin' FPs and rode Soarin', and came out with 5 minutes to spare before rope drop. If Soarin' opens any earlier, maybe it would be time to squeeze in a go round on the LM? How long does it take at that hour to stand in line and ride LM? I feel like Soarin' is one of the slowest loaders, so even if you are the first one in line when it opens it takes a while . . . but LM is continuous, right? So theoretically one could ride LM and hop back in line for rope drop.

How does the hotel guest line for LM work? If I recall, they open the main gates at 9:30, so can't anyone be over in that area between 9:30 and 10? If I want to ride as a hotel guest before everyone else, do i need to be there before 9:30?

 

[HydroGuy]

I asked specifically about TSMM when I called to add tickets to my hotel reservation, and was told that the hotel FPs may NOT be used for it. Such a bummer - they have FP for TSMM at WDW, wonder why not at DL? I have never seen the line less than 45 minutes (except for stampeding with the cattle at rope drop).

I will take TSMM at DCA with no FP and lines typically 30-45 minutes than the disaster that is WDW. They call TSMM at WDW "running with the bulls" for a reason. And it is much more intense than at DCA. I just did it in March.

What time does Soarin' open these days? Last summer I think it opened around 9:40. We went into the park at 9:30, got WOC FPs, picked up Soarin' FPs and rode Soarin', and came out with 5 minutes to spare before rope drop. If Soarin' opens any earlier, maybe it would be time to squeeze in a go round on the LM? How long does it take at that hour to stand in line and ride LM? I feel like Soarin' is one of the slowest loaders, so even if you are the first one in line when it opens it takes a while . . . but LM is continuous, right? So theoretically one could ride LM and hop back in line for rope drop.

Same as always. Soarin opens at 9:30AM for everyone. See post #8 in this thread. LMAUA opens at 9AM for DLR hotel guests. Between 9:30-10AM it is supposed to be open only for hotel guests too but it is not always enforced. LMAUA is pretty fast. We rode it at 9:35AM then got in line for TSMM rope drop with a spot near the front.

How does the hotel guest line for LM work? If I recall, they open the main gates at 9:30, so can't anyone be over in that area between 9:30 and 10? If I want to ride as a hotel guest before everyone else, do i need to be there before 9:30?

They check room keys between 9:30 and 10AM.

 

[mrswh]

I will take TSMM at DCA with no FP and lines typically 30-45 minutes than the disaster that is WDW. They call TSMM at WDW "running with the bulls" for a reason. And it is much more intense than at DCA. I just did it in March.

Oh, I didn't say WDW was better - I just said they had FP there. (Never mind that all the FPs are gone within 30 minutes of opening.) FP doesn't make WDW worse - it just is. Since DCA is not bad to begin with, imagine how pleasant it would be if they added FP.

 

[HydroGuy]

Oh, I didn't say WDW was better - I just said they had FP there. (Never mind that all the FPs are gone within 30 minutes of opening.) FP doesn't make WDW worse - it just is. Since DCA is not bad to begin with, imagine how pleasant it would be if they added FP.

I was just sayin' that DCA's TSMM does not need it the way DHS needs it.