If you want to ride RSR . . .

[ChrisSD]

On RSR they do. Other rides they do not enforce the end time... yet.

RSR has never enforced FP end times the 10 times I've used them. Only start.

 

[Fivers]

I don't see the harm in trying to do standby ( with my family who all want to ride) and then going for FP. If we get to the ride que and the ride is down I can just go to FP then. FP may run out quickly but it doesn't sound like they run out fast enough for me to miss out on them because I tried to ride once first. I may have to wait longer in FP line but DW and DD can go on other rides while I get the FPs so not a big deal to me. I think it's worth it trying to ride first thing and then get FPs for later. If that jeopardized my ability to get a FP I would change my strategy but it doesn't sound like that would be an issue unless I waited too long to go to the FP line.

If you're going during a non-busy time, I would definitely agree with you. My Mom and I went at the end of October, and rode RSR 6 times in one day. We went Tuesday so we didn't have to contend with EMH, got to the gates about 30 minutes before the park opened, and used the wide right technique and were on the very first car. We then went and grabbed fastpasses with a return time of 3:30. We went and did some other rides, then got into the standby line around 2, with a posted wait time around 45 minutes because we wanted to see all the theming in the line (and I will never do standby again! lol). After that we used our fastpasses, then hopped in the single rider line three more times as it wasn't very busy. We were definitely very lucky that trip! During our entire week there we only saw RSR down once!

I can understand though, if you're only there for a couple days, if you want to make sure you get on the ride then getting fastpasses right off would by far be a better guarantee. We were there all week though, so we were willing to risk it being down in the morning as we could always try again another day. But if you're there during a less busy time with a little bit of luck (ie. RSR doesn't break down), you should definitely be able to get your fill! Hope you have a fantastic trip

 

[mrswh]

We had EMH at DCA two of our days and were able to do standby and then single rider first thing and THEN get a FP for later. One day RSR was a 1/2 hour late in opening but we still got on it (we were near the front of the line at the gate and at rope drop) and were able to get our FP for later. (We also fit in Mater's and Luigi during EMH.)

We managed to ride RSR 5 times in the two days we had EMH at DCA by using EMH standby, FP and single rider and we didn't feel like we were trying that hard or always over in CL hovering for it to open.

However, we were also there in a relatively slower time, the beginning of Nov. - not on holiday weekends like OP was.

It seems like some either have a good experience with RSR or a really bad experience with it "always" breaking down during their entire trip.

Personally I wouldn't tell people NOT to be there early. It can make a big difference unless something dramatically interferes.

It's true - you can get lucky. My point was that if you want to be guaranteed to ride RSR at least once in any given day (especially on a busy day - but is there anything else when it comes to CL?), you must get a fastpass. Do nothing to jeopardize your opportunity to get a fastpass because a fastpass is the only way to guarantee riding it without a crazy long wait. Personally, I would not arrive an hour early because (a) you are FAR from guaranteed to ride RSR, no matter how close to the front of rope drop you are; and (b) you're waiting an hour, which defeats the purpose of not waiting an hour.

We were there two mornings this weekend. Saturday morning there was no EMH. We arrived about 5 minutes before opening. My DH got in line for FPs and I took the kids over to Racers. It did not open with the park. In fact, it did not open for several hours. Once it opened, we rode with our FPs (having learned the hard way on our last trip not to wait to ride, but always to ride whenever it's open). We waited 5 minutes max. Our ride was great. As we exited, we noticed there were no cars running, and sure enough, the dreaded announcement came. It was down. The standby line was 120 minutes, and who knows how long the people in line had already waited. It was down for another long period.

This morning, we arrived for EMH at 7:00. We were within the first few hundred people. Again, the ride did not open with the park. We rode a bunch of other rides (TSMM was walk on, which was awesome) and checked back at RSR. It was still down. At 7:57, they decided to allow people in the line so that the EMH people would have a shot at it before the hordes came in. DS and I were about 30th in line. CMs walked us through the entire maze at a snail's pace (it took about 15 minutes, no kidding), and just a few minutes after we arrived at the front, the ride started up. We got on, but we could tell our ride was a bit off. Pauses where there shouldn't be any, etc. We still managed to get through and had a great ride. When we came to the end, we were taken off on the side track where they take disabled riders off. And that was that. The ride was down again!! It was down for several hours again.

I won't go into all the details, but on Labor Day weekend, one morning the ride did not open with the park, and the other two, the ride stayed open through EMH (once we got to ride three times in a row), but went down just a few minutes before the hordes arrived. I have never seen a closure that was less than an hour, and they usually seem to be more like 2 or more hours. And, IME, they occur very frequently in the early morning.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling post . . . I'm just saying, I don't want people to be disappointed when they wake up at the crack of dawn, wait an hour to get in, get first in line and are then denied. The worst case, which I am sure happens plenty, is if the ride is running, you wait for however long, you are close to the front, and it is down. Do you then leave the line to get a FP (hoping there are still some left), or do you stay and hope you get on soon? What if you've waited for 60 minutes already? What if you've waitd 120 and you're first in line?? It just sounds awful. That's why I say, forget the standby line and get a fastpass!

We were there 2 days (2 half days and one whole day) this weekend and were only able to ride three times. Two of those times were FPs and the other was just plain luck that we happened to check back right as they opened the line, and that we got our ride in just before it went down. So basically, we were able to ride those three times because my DH waited for FPs, we stayed onsite and had and used EMH, AND we got super lucky!!

 

[cmwade77]

I would recommend single rider; however, the lines are becoming more manageable, usually down to about 75 minutes when I have gone by lately.

 

[Rhonna]

That's why I say, forget the standby line and get a fastpass!

Sorry I didn't know which part of your post to copy but wanted to reference it.

I'm not 100% sure what they are doing each and every EMH day but we personally did not have to deal with regular guests getting into the RSR FP line during our EMH. So we had the first hour to do whatever we wanted (ride RSR if running or do Mater's or whatever else, TSMM, etc.) and we still were able to get into the RSR FP line before the regular guests were allowed into it.

To me that's not a waste of the EMH hour. We were in the park before everyone else, we could enjoy the EMH hour and we were still able to get our FP's with no problem.

I am SO not an early morning person but we were very glad we got up for EMH on our trip.

In your scenario of RSR having issues, if someone chooses to wait the entire EMH in RSR stand by and it isn't running, they should be prepared to make a decision as to whether to abandon the line for getting a FP or not.

But I don't think the answer is coming into the park at regular opening and fighting with crowds when you have the advantage of EMH.

 

[mrswh]

But I don't think the answer is coming into the park at regular opening and fighting with crowds when you have the advantage of EMH.

Ohhhh, no no no, that was NOT what I was suggesting at all! I say use EMH any chance you get! I LOVE EMH.

What I was saying is, if there is no EMH, or if you don't have EMH, don't stand outside the gates for an hour waiting for rope drop assuming you're going to ride RSR with no wait. (Also, don't start waiting at the gates an hour before EMH if you have EMH.)

 

[Rhonna]

Ohhhh, no no no, that was NOT what I was suggesting at all! I say use EMH any chance you get! I LOVE EMH.

What I was saying is, if there is no EMH, or if you don't have EMH, don't stand outside the gates for an hour waiting for rope drop assuming you're going to ride RSR with no wait. (Also, don't start waiting at the gates an hour before EMH if you have EMH.)

Lost in translation, lol.

I would probably still want to get to the gates a bit early. Especially since the further back in line you are at the gate, the longer it will take to get processed into the park. Depending on the crowds that could make a difference between getting a FP or not.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

A tempermental ride it is, but worth the speed bumps.

We were there last week, rode it maybe 8 times, and there were some minor stoppages of 10-30 minutes at least 3 times. Saturday morning was the only day it didnt open on time as far as I recall. I was worried all of the fog may have played issues with the system like the rain does during the mornings, but that didnt seem to be the case.

 

[julydeya]

 

[elaw]

It's true - you can get lucky. My point was that if you want to be guaranteed to ride RSR at least once in any given day (especially on a busy day - but is there anything else when it comes to CL?), you must get a fastpass. Do nothing to jeopardize your opportunity to get a fastpass because a fastpass is the only way to guarantee riding it without a crazy long wait.

Very true ... We've burned away most of our Early Entry hour a couple of times because of "break downs" by waiting in the standby queue. We always make sure we get a FP first thing on non EE mornings (Rope Drop) and also make sure to get in the FP line at least 5 min before rope drop on our Early Entry mornings. So far, the longest we've waited in line was 25 min for a fast pass and another 25 in the FP line.

 

[JennyN]

Just clarifying, if we go to get fastpasses for RSR as soon as we enter CA, does this mean we can't get fastpasses for WOC for that evening?

 

[Nonsuch]

Just clarifying, if we go to get fastpasses for RSR as soon as we enter CA, does this mean we can't get fastpasses for WOC for that evening?

Getting RSR passes will not block you from immediately getting WOC passes. You will easily be able to get both.

 

[d1gitman]

does the entrance to CA at Grand Californian open for early entry hours?

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

does the entrance to CA at Grand Californian open for early entry hours?

Yes, it does, and literally HUNDREDS, if not thousands, of hotel guests from GC and PPH are there to utilize the measly two gates they have for scanning tickets. after your bags have been checked. I would avoid it. Seeing a line that wrapped around and around the hotel's halls, my son and I left GC, hoofed it through DTD to the main gates and found ourselves in a line 7 people deep, letting us arrive at the line at 7:50am and enter the gate at 8am, the very start of EMH.

 

[d1gitman]

Yes, it does, and literally HUNDREDS, if not thousands, of hotel guests from GC and PPH are there to utilize the measly two gates they have for scanning tickets. after your bags have been checked. I would avoid it. Seeing a line that wrapped around and around the hotel's halls, my son and I left GC, hoofed it through DTD to the main gates and found ourselves in a line 7 people deep, letting us arrive at the line at 7:50am and enter the gate at 8am, the very start of EMH.

good to know...thanks...i wondered if hte GC gates would be backed up during busy times.

 

[adorelc]

Just wanted to add my expereince from yesterday since I could not have been so successful without all of you! We had EMH that started at 9 so we were at security at the main gates at 8:30, they let us to CA gates about 8:45 and we were third family at one of the gates. The awsome gate attendant scanned all of our tickets before park opening, so we were right at the ropes on the right. I did see the guests coming from the Grand CA and we were way ahead of them. When we started walking with the rope we were quickly pushed aside and people got in front of us, but we were still on about the tenth car of the day. We were off by 9:15 and were able to do all the other big rides in CA. My kids really wanted to ride RSR again, so I got in the FP line about 9:50. I was one of the last EMH people in line, but still ahead of the regular guests. I was able to get a FP for 11:35. I thought this was great considering the park had short hours that day. We were thrilled to do everything we wanted to do in CA in the EMH with no wait and then get to ride RSR again. It was all worth the extra cost of the Disney resort!

 

[Zbugz]

RSR has never enforced FP end times the 10 times I've used them. Only start.

Good to know. I took what I had been told for face value and never tried to use it later.

 

[nblake05]

So.... Is the CA/rope drop/ RSR fastpass-getting experience in any way as intense or frightening or life threatening as the HS rope drop for TSM? Because last time we did the HS rope drop I was shaking for an hour...DH vowed to never do that again! I thought people here on the DIS HAD to be exaggerating about that experience so I wanted to see for myself......I was SO wrong. So I'd feel horrible making DH go through that for a FP for RSR. How bad is it???? TIA!

 

[lizdotcom99]

So.... Is the CA/rope drop/ RSR fastpass-getting experience in any way as intense or frightening or life threatening as the HS rope drop for TSM? Because last time we did the HS rope drop I was shaking for an hour...DH vowed to never do that again! I thought people here on the DIS HAD to be exaggerating about that experience so I wanted to see for myself......I was SO wrong. So I'd feel horrible making DH go through that for a FP for RSR. How bad is it???? TIA!

Yeah...there really should be a better way!!!! That RD is quite skeery!!!

I am interested to hear too!! We will be trying this in exactly a week!!

 

[mrswh]

So.... Is the CA/rope drop/ RSR fastpass-getting experience in any way as intense or frightening or life threatening as the HS rope drop for TSM? Because last time we did the HS rope drop I was shaking for an hour...DH vowed to never do that again! I thought people here on the DIS HAD to be exaggerating about that experience so I wanted to see for myself......I was SO wrong. So I'd feel horrible making DH go through that for a FP for RSR. How bad is it???? TIA!

Nooooo! Thank goodness. The only way to handle HS rope drop, IMO, is to have a very large stroller and use it as a weapon.

There is NO racing (pun intended) to RSR . . . from rope drop to Carsland people walk quickly and runners are scolded by CMs. It's a pretty thick crowd and a relatively short distance so there isn't really the opportunity to run people over. You might lose a little ground if you are not among the fastest (like me with two little kids), but no big deal. When you get to Carsland, they hold everyone up and you walk in S-L-O-W-L-Y behind Mater or McQueen. Even when you get to the RSR queue, sometimes they have a CM walking people slowly to the front.

ETA: oops, I see you were asking about RSR FP, not the standby line! Still, no big deal. Most of the hordes are going down to the actual ride . . . getting in the FP line isn't a big deal.

People, for the most part, are very well behaved. It is nothing like HS!!