Is it truly worth it to move onsite for 1 night for the EMHs?

[jenjersnap]

I need some advice so I can stop dithering.

We will be at DLR for 6 nights. Original plan was three nights offsite and three nights onsite but, of course, as soon as I booked our flights, we were presented with a large home repair bill, so I think the best I can budget is one night onsite.

Here is the scenario: we are going in mid-March in the early spring break period so it will be pretty busy. DCA has EMH 4 of our 6 possible days and that is the big problem. Without an onsite stay, we would have to chance it by going on an EMH morning that we are not eligible for and, likely, sacrificing a significant amount of the early prime hour waiting to get a RSR FP. We would like to ride it at least twice while we are there.

On the other hand, packing up and moving for just one night seems like a major pain with three kids. Plus, the cost difference is significant, of course!

I was very gung-ho on staying onsite as many nights as possible but now I feel like maybe we should just make it work offsite. Any tips on making an EMH day work for those not eligible? Thank you.

 

[Astylla]

Honestly I never believe EMH alone is enough to book an onsite stay - especially for one night. It's a perk , not a reason to stay onsite imo.
We stay onsite only during longer trips ( 3-5 days or more) so we don't feel rushed every morning and enough time to take advantage of everything.

YMMV but I really would never do it JUST for that.

Getting there early at rope drop is still the best advice I would go with.

 

[Butterfly123]

Our last stay was four days during the summer (later June), and we had three grad nights. We stayed off site and had no trouble riding RSR three times...we could have ridden it more if we would have planned for it. We went one day on a non early entry day and went staight to RSR, rode it, then later that morning picked up a FP for later. On a different day we just went later in the morning and picked up a FP for that evening. Both FP times I had to actually had to stand aside and wait a little while to get an evening time slot, as we love RSR at night.

My point is, I wouldn't think it would be worth it to switch for one night just for early entry. I don't think you'll have trouble getting on the ride twice.

 

[Rebekkap]

You shouldn't have any problem riding RSR every day of your trip if you want to, even with no EMH. The last couple of times I've been, FP didn't run out til around an hour or more after park opening, so my plan if heading to DCA first is to ride TSMM and then get a FP - the queue is not normally as long by then. If going to DL first, ride Space (or one morning of a multi-day trip I'll probably ride Peter Pan first) then FP space, then head over to DCA to grab a RSR FP.

 

[jenjersnap]

Ok, feeling better. Thanks!

You shouldn't have any problem riding RSR every day of your trip if you want to, even with no EMH. The last couple of times I've been, FP didn't run out til around an hour or more after park opening, so my plan if heading to DCA first is to ride TSMM and then get a FP - the queue is not normally as long by then. If going to DL first, ride Space (or one morning of a multi-day trip I'll probably ride Peter Pan first) then FP space, then head over to DCA to grab a RSR FP.

Rebekkap, just curious...will you be trying to work in the WOC and Frozen FPs/return tickets into that mix and, if so, would you share your strategy?

 

[Angrose]

I agree that EMH alone is not worth staying onsite. We stayed at DLH over Thanksgiving and didn't use EMH one single time! We did, however, make it to the parks shortly after rope drop each day and crowds were wonderful first thing in the morning.

As PPs have said, you should have NO PROBLEM riding RSR multiple times during your trip or even in the same day. We rode it 3 times in one day on the Sat after Thanksgiving! It was not an EMH day, but we arrived at DCA about 10 minutes after an 8am rope drop, grabbed RSR fast pass for a 9:50 return time, then went and rode it standby because the CM said the wait would only be 30min wait (but it was really more like 40min) then pulled another fast pass at 9:50 when our return window opened up. Our return for the 2nd fast pass was around 5:30. Remember, you can pull another fast pass after your return window for your current FP opens or 2 hours after you pulled the previous FP, whichever is sooner. It should say on the bottom of your FP.

Regarding WOC and Frozen Fun, I don't think those are connected so you could pull those FP at any time.

Good luck!

 

[jenjersnap]

Regarding WOC and Frozen Fun, I don't think those are connected so you could pull those FP at any time.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience around Thanksgiving! We stayed at GCH last time, how I wish we were able to do that again.

Just to clarify, I know the WOC and Frozen stuff aren't connected, but it would be a lot of running around to gather them in the same morning, so that was the strategy I was hoping to figure out. I think we would do WOC one day and Frozen the second, probably the non-EMH day?

 

[deanimal]

We actually did exactly that and stayed onsite for one night on our trip a few years ago, a few months after Carsland opened and it worked quite well for us. We were there in October and I was able to book a room at the DLH at the Gay Days rate for the last day of our trip. We were staying at the Best Western across the street and we just walked across at about 7am with our luggage (security tables weren't set up then) and checked in. From there we went directly to the park gates for early entry at 8am. The next day we used our early entry in the morning and left the park to check out at about 1030am. We were leaving for San Diego that evening, so the hotel let us put our stuff in the luggage room and we went back to the park until it was time to pick up the rental car after supper.

It worked well for us and I felt we got our money's worth since the rate we paid was only about $100 more than the Best Western. We had two young kids, but we travel light so it wasn't a big deal to bring our bags across the plaza early in the morning. I just wanted to say that it is a viable option and can work very well, but it is a bit of a hassle and it may not be worth it for you.

 

[cmrdgrs]

I need some advice so I can stop dithering.

We will be at DLR for 6 nights. Original plan was three nights offsite and three nights onsite but, of course, as soon as I booked our flights, we were presented with a large home repair bill, so I think the best I can budget is one night onsite.

Here is the scenario: we are going in mid-March in the early spring break period so it will be pretty busy. DCA has EMH 4 of our 6 possible days and that is the big problem. Without an onsite stay, we would have to chance it by going on an EMH morning that we are not eligible for and, likely, sacrificing a significant amount of the early prime hour waiting to get a RSR FP. We would like to ride it at least twice while we are there.

On the other hand, packing up and moving for just one night seems like a major pain with three kids. Plus, the cost difference is significant, of course!

I was very gung-ho on staying onsite as many nights as possible but now I feel like maybe we should just make it work offsite. Any tips on making an EMH day work for those not eligible? Thank you.

I was at Disneyland for NYE. What we experienced for the FP line at RSR was totally changed from our past visits. They used to allow people to line up for FP during EMH. Now they don't. CMs no longer will allow a queue to form and if you try to get on line, they will ask you to come back when the park opens to all guests. So, DH did not wait on line, he spent the hour with us on TSMM and when the park opened he walked back and was done with the FP for RSR in about 5 minutes. They have cast members on hand to help with the distribution of the FP and it all went very quickly. He said he was amazed. So, if they are continuing what they were doing over NYE with FP for RSR, you should be good. They won't let you line up anyway.

The least expensive authorized reseller of Disneyland tickets I have found is Park Savers (dot com). But, you must buy your tickets a minimum of 2 days in advance. I waited too long for our NYE trip and paid a couple dollars more through aResTravel (dot com) - a recommended option from MouseSavers, but did find Park Savers less expensive by a few dollars. These come with a EMH entry.

Only you can decide if the night on property will be worth it to you. The EMH is very nice and a great benefit of staying onsite (if you use it). My only other suggestion is to consider renting DVC points for future trips. It would be too late now, but if you can plan between 11 and 7 months out from your check-in date, renting points is the least expensive way to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel in a DVC Villa.

Have a great trip!

Edited to add: You can try getting in during Magic Hours if you are not staying on property, but I don't think that will be successful. I have noticed over the years that they check this carefully and don't seem to let people in without their room key as proof of their stay. But, I guess it is worth a shot.

 

[travelbug08]

I was at Disneyland for NYE. What we experienced for the FP line at RSR was totally changed from our past visits. They used to allow people to line up for FP during EMH. Now they don't. CMs no longer will allow a queue to form and if you try to get on line, they will ask you to come back when the park opens to all guests. So, DH did not wait on line, he spent the hour with us on TSMM and when the park opened he walked back and was done with the FP for RSR in about 5 minutes. They have cast members on hand to help with the distribution of the FP and it all went very quickly. He said he was amazed. So, if they are continuing what they were doing over NYE with FP for RSR, you should be good. They won't let you line up anyway.

This wasn't the case when we were there earlier this month. There were people lining up for FP during EMH. We didn't get in line until after regular opening though (maybe 45 minutes after) and got FP for 3:00 return.

 

[julesann]

I think it would be worth it if you go both days for EMH for your 1 night. However, I gotta say that I am starting to follow the advice of Hydroguy: We stayed off site in December and just went to the park that didn't have EMH and got there 30 to 45 minutes early and this worked really well to do all the rides we wanted before it got crowded. We're staying at the GCH in a couple of weeks and we are probably not going to use EMH except maybe for 1 of our 3 days.

 

[cmrdgrs]

This wasn't the case when we were there earlier this month. There were people lining up for FP during EMH. We didn't get in line until after regular opening though (maybe 45 minutes after) and got FP for 3:00 return.

Well that stinks DH and I were rather happy about the "new" apparently short lived change to the FP line for RSR. DH could not believe that he had the FP in about 5 minutes flat. Too bad. It was the week of NYE, very busy obviously, and it worked great.

 

[jenjersnap]

This wasn't the case when we were there earlier this month. There were people lining up for FP during EMH. We didn't get in line until after regular opening though (maybe 45 minutes after) and got FP for 3:00 return.

I would be ok with a later return, I just don't want to waste our time in a long FP line. Thanks for posting this!

I think it would be worth it if you go both days for EMH for your 1 night. However, I gotta say that I am starting to follow the advice of Hydroguy: We stayed off site in December and just went to the park that didn't have EMH and got there 30 to 45 minutes early and this worked really well to do all the rides we wanted before it got crowded. We're staying at the GCH in a couple of weeks and we are probably not going to use EMH except maybe for 1 of our 3 days.

I wish I could follow that EMH avoidance strategy, but, as I mentioned, DCA has EMH 4 of our 6 days. We will use one MM at DL so it is necessary that we will go to DCA on a EMH morning if we spend the whole trip off-site. I doubt we will return for a few years so I feel some stress trying to pack it all in!

 

[jenjersnap]

Thank you for the advice, cmrdgrs! I would have loved to plan a stay at GCV (we have stayed at GCH in the past and loved it) but we just decided to go a week ago. Darn last-minute decision, I am regretting it a bit...everything is being refurbed and it will, of course, be super crowded.

 

[Rebekkap]

Ok, feeling better. Thanks!



Rebekkap, just curious...will you be trying to work in the WOC and Frozen FPs/return tickets into that mix and, if so, would you share your strategy?

I won't be trying to work in Frozen, but WOC is easy enough as it's not connected to the rest of the FP - I'll definitely want to see it at least once while I'm there, and typically I'd grab a FP after getting one for RSR.

Edited to add: if I was doing frozen, I'd try to fastpass that first thing on a morning when you are not planning to do RSR - I suspect given the popularity of both, fastpasses for one will be out by the time your two hour wait for another fastpass is up.