Here now..successful morning with Guardians, RSR, Soarin twice, TSMM..our strategy

[imjen]

We got in line at DCA at about 7:20 am. There was already a line about 15 people deep at each gate entrance. They opened the gates at about 7:35 and hubby took the tickets to get fast passes for Guardians. The line was on the right side of the road in Hollywood, just before the Disney Jr building. He got fps for 9-10am. The rest of us headed straight to the roped off area heading toward Cars Land. We walked straight to RSR and it took about 15 min to get on the ride. Dh timed it perfectly to walk up the single rider line and join us in line where we were waiting, right where the two lines meet.

Then we headed straight to Soarin and waited maybe 5-10 min. Then we used our Guardians fp and went straight to the outside of the first room with the movie. The ride was awesome. We loved it. After that, went to TSMM, where the standby line was already 45 min but the fast pass line was non existent. The fp return time was only 5 min later so we grabbed fps and had a snack break. After a quick wait, we tried to get fp again for it but the machines would not give us another fp for it. We were told we had to wait an hour after our start time.

Youngest did the merry go round with dad while I went to get fp for WOC and GRR. Screamin was sadly down all morning. Got to Grizzly about 10:35 and fp were for 10 min later. By the time we put our stuff in the lockers and had a water break, we could get in line with fps. Stand by was 55 min already but we practically got right on. After that we got Soarin fp and had about a 35 min wait so we had an ice cream break. Right when the window for that opened, I grabbed fps for Guardians again before we rode Soarin. No line for fps anymore. Return was 7:20-8:20pm. I got them at about 11:50pm. Rode Soarin, had lunch, Monsters Inc (25 min wait), watched Avengers show and got back to the hotel at about 3pm for a break and cheaper dinner outside the park. Could not have had a better first day! The key is definitely to start early!

Interesting tidbits:

I noticed the fp return times for TSMM and GRR went up to 2 hours later by early afternoon.

The second time we got Guardians fps, it messed up and gave us a 6:05pm and 6:10 fp in the middle of the 7:20 fps. Not sure what they will do when we get back with different times tonight.

 

[chickapin parterre]

are you doing single park or parkhopper

 

[ricardol]

We got in line at DCA at about 7:20 am. There was already a line about 15 people deep at each gate entrance. They opened the gates at about 7:35 and hubby took the tickets to get fast passes for Guardians. The line was on the right side of the road in Hollywood, just before the Disney Jr building. He got fps for 9-10am. The rest of us headed straight to the roped off area heading toward Cars Land. We walked straight to RSR and it took about 15 min to get on the ride. Dh timed it perfectly to walk up the single rider line and join us in line where we were waiting, right where the two lines meet.

Then we headed straight to Soarin and waited maybe 5-10 min. Then we used our Guardians fp and went straight to the outside of the first room with the movie. The ride was awesome. We loved it. After that, went to TSMM, where the standby line was already 45 min but the fast pass line was non existent. The fp return time was only 5 min later so we grabbed fps and had a snack break. After a quick wait, we tried to get fp again for it but the machines would not give us another fp for it. We were told we had to wait an hour after our start time.

Youngest did the merry go round with dad while I went to get fp for WOC and GRR. Screamin was sadly down all morning. Got to Grizzly about 10:35 and fp were for 10 min later. By the time we put our stuff in the lockers and had a water break, we could get in line with fps. Stand by was 55 min already but we practically got right on. After that we got Soarin fp and had about a 35 min wait so we had an ice cream break. Right when the window for that opened, I grabbed fps for Guardians again before we rode Soarin. No line for fps anymore. Return was 7:20-8:20pm. I got them at about 11:50pm. Rode Soarin, had lunch, Monsters Inc (25 min wait), watched Avengers show and got back to the hotel at about 3pm for a break and cheaper dinner outside the park. Could not have had a better first day! The key is definitely to start early!

Interesting tidbits:

I noticed the fp return times for TSMM and GRR went up to 2 hours later by early afternoon.

The second time we got Guardians fps, it messed up and gave us a 6:05pm and 6:10 fp in the middle of the 7:20 fps. Not sure what they will do when we get back with different times tonight.

Thank you for your report. this is very encouraging. For my upcoming trip I will need to maximize my FP strategy in DCA. GOTG is a must for me, but that doesn't mean RSR is not important...

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We had a morning very similar to yours today. I'm sure our paths crossed more than once

 

[imjen]

are you doing single park or parkhopper

We have park hoppers but the majority of our family only did DCA yesterday since we got evening fps for GoG. Two from our group went over to DL for awhile after the rest of us went back to the hotel for bed.

 

[rentayenta]

Thank you for posting OP. I have been wondering how we would maneuver rope drop at DCA.

 

[4forWDW]

We got in line at DCA at about 7:20 am. There was already a line about 15 people deep at each gate entrance. They opened the gates at about 7:35 and hubby took the tickets to get fast passes for Guardians. The line was on the right side of the road in Hollywood, just before the Disney Jr building. He got fps for 9-10am. The rest of us headed straight to the roped off area heading toward Cars Land. We walked straight to RSR and it took about 15 min to get on the ride. Dh timed it perfectly to walk up the single rider line and join us in line where we were waiting, right where the two lines meet.

Then we headed straight to Soarin and waited maybe 5-10 min. Then we used our Guardians fp and went straight to the outside of the first room with the movie. The ride was awesome. We loved it. After that, went to TSMM, where the standby line was already 45 min but the fast pass line was non existent. The fp return time was only 5 min later so we grabbed fps and had a snack break. After a quick wait, we tried to get fp again for it but the machines would not give us another fp for it. We were told we had to wait an hour after our start time.

Youngest did the merry go round with dad while I went to get fp for WOC and GRR. Screamin was sadly down all morning. Got to Grizzly about 10:35 and fp were for 10 min later. By the time we put our stuff in the lockers and had a water break, we could get in line with fps. Stand by was 55 min already but we practically got right on. After that we got Soarin fp and had about a 35 min wait so we had an ice cream break. Right when the window for that opened, I grabbed fps for Guardians again before we rode Soarin. No line for fps anymore. Return was 7:20-8:20pm. I got them at about 11:50pm. Rode Soarin, had lunch, Monsters Inc (25 min wait), watched Avengers show and got back to the hotel at about 3pm for a break and cheaper dinner outside the park. Could not have had a better first day! The key is definitely to start early!

Interesting tidbits:

I noticed the fp return times for TSMM and GRR went up to 2 hours later by early afternoon.

The second time we got Guardians fps, it messed up and gave us a 6:05pm and 6:10 fp in the middle of the 7:20 fps. Not sure what they will do when we get back with different times tonight.

Thank you so much! We will be there mid July and I was wondering how to plan DCA in the morning since GOTG, RSR and TSMM are must rides!!

 

[rootbeer]

You did good! Thanks. We'll be there this Sunday for a three days! Woo Hoo!!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Sounds like fun! It is awesome what you can accomplish if you just wake up early!

I have noticed that in the morning, so many people come in and immediately get FPs for RSR and now GotG (that applies to people at Rope Drop, as well as people who arrive in the first few hours while those rides still have FPs). Usually they will be a late return time, so they have to wait 2 hours to get another FP. So they will be blocked out from getting FPs for TSMM, Soarin, etc. And it usually ends up being more than 2 hours because they may not time it that they will be near a FP machine when their window is open. You were able to get such an early FP for GotG that you could still take advantage of that down time!

 

[GaryDis]

Is there any credence to the theory that you should just go on a ride first, because the faster, more agile folks in front of you will create a line at the GotG or Racers FP kiosk? So your time might be better used going standby on Soarin', and then hitting the FP half an hour after opening?

 

[auteur55]

Thanks for sharing but I'm confused. Wouldn't the park have opened at 7 for MM? Next Wed while we are there it's at 7:00. You can get a fast pass for Guardians before the park officially opens?

I wouldn't be comfortable walking all the way through single rider then jumping a fence to join my family. I just feel guilty cutting past so many people and it builds a bit of resentment in others.

 

[Winnowill]

Thanks for sharing but I'm confused. Wouldn't the park have opened at 7 for MM? Next Wed while we are there it's at 7:00. You can get a fast pass for Guardians before the park officially opens?

I wouldn't be comfortable walking all the way through single rider then jumping a fence to join my family. I just feel guilty cutting past so many people and it builds a bit of resentment in others.

Usual non-peak EMH for DCA is 8:00, with the park opening at 9:00 to all - that's how it was for us last week. Next week, it seems, starts summer hours.

 

[nutshell]

I had a very similar experience! With lots of planning and keeping track of time, we were able to do Guardians three times with minimal wait. Was also able to hit RSR with two fast passes and road Cal Screamin twice. Did Soarin' and Grizzly with fast passes. Kids got to ride Guardians a fourth time because a couple pixies gave them their fast passes. Such a fun day!