Help - RSR question for Oct 5

[GirlfromTN]

We're going to California Adventure on Friday - first time to visit Cars Land. We are staying offsite so will not have early entry. The park opens at 8am and we're going to try to get there as close to that time (or earlier) as possible. We'd like to try to ride RSR twice, and we are fine with using the single rider line. What is the best plan for us to ride RSR in the morning plus get a fastpass?
Should we
1) arrive at park, ride RSR (either single rider or regular line), then get fastpass? or
2) arrive at park, get fastpass first, then get in the single rider or regular line?

Thanks for any advice - it is a little confusing!

 

[wdwrich]

We were there on a Friday a few weeks ago. My choice would be to get someone on the RSR fastpass line as soon as they let you in the park. The fastpass line can quickly grow to a 45 minute wait and the passes are usually all gone by 9:30 or 10:00 AM.

 

[elaw]

Probably Choice 2 ... to be better safe than sorry.
2) arrive at park, get fastpass first, then get in the single rider or regular line.

We stayed at the CGH last weekend and Sunday morning the ride was down so our Early Entry was basically wasted by waiting in the RSR queue. After 25 minutes of waiting we gave up and ran over to TSMM ... went on it twice and then ran back to get in the fast pass line. At 8:10am when got our FP's the return time was alrready at 11:45am-12:45pm. You might be able to do single rider first and then go back for a fast pass but you just never know when it might break down and spoil your plans. If you get the fast pass first you generally breath a sigh of relief knowing that you are practically guaranteed to get on with a relatively short wait.

 

[plb626]

Get your fast pass 1st, then go to the ride. Early morning the wait might still be less than 1 hour. Plus if the ride does break down even when you have your FP you can come back later. The ride was down when we returned for our FP, so we went back to it later and walked right in and on.

 

[Girimama33]

I would just do SR and wouldn't bother with the FP...unless it is important that during one of the rides your party is together.

 

[GirlfromTN]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I think we'll try to get a fastpass first and then ride the single rider line.
If the park opens at 8, what time should we try to get to the parking garage if we want to be there for the rope drop? I've read something about the fact that you are let in the gates before the park opening time and can get in a fastpass line, then at the official opening time the line walks over to the fast pass machines. Is that correct??