It IS possible to ride TT and Soarin' in the same day w/o RD

[KrazeeK120]

I was at Epcot on Thursday (1/23).

I rode Soarin' with a FP+.

Later in the afternoon, around 5 or so, the line for TT was 25 minutes. So I got in line and rode.

The line for Soarin' was 40 minutes (50 minutes posted, but I could tell it wasn't that long) at 7:30, so I got in line and rode it again. When I came out, the wait was 15 minutes (20 minutes posted), so I rode it for a 3rd time. When I came out that time, the wait was down to 5 minutes. I didn't get back in line but very easily could have.

That's 3 times on Soarin' and 1 time on TT in a day and the longest wait was 40 minutes (which breaks some people's 30 minute threshold, but not by much).

But for everyone saying that you can't ride both rides without Rope Drop...not true. I did it and threw in 2 extra rides on Soarin' just for fun.

 

[mesaboy2]

Of course it is possible, and especially with those rather unusual wait times.

 

[Angel Ariel]

It is also a pretty slow time of year. I would not expect to be able to repeat what you did during spring break or summer seasons, which is where many (if not most) of the concerns lie. FTR, I wouldn't expect it without the tiers either, or with legacy fp.

It isn't just rd that is increasingly important if headliners are a must for you - It's when you can go that will make a huge difference.

 

[farmincorn]

This gives me hope for my trip this coming Sunday...we are staying offsite and were simply ticked to hear we couldnt choose FP until we arrived at the park. Why on EARTH would I stand in 2 lines for 1 ride?!?!?! Its so illogical!

We ARE planning on RD at every park but hoping to get some of the headliners behind us before hitting a FP iPad. We are using touring plans to keep us organized and accessing the plans on our phones with our FP # once we obtain some.

We always come during Jan or Feb so we dont know what its like during busy times but as you all know, its never "dead" at WDW.

We will report back to everyone with our offsite, non FP, experience!

 

[Laketravis]

Seriously? A Thursday in late January?

I'm surprised you weren't able to ride both a dozen times each.

 

[supergoofy]

Glad to hear this.

Looked at easywdw and that day was a 4 with Epcot being a park to go to.

When we go most of our days will also be 4's


Hoping we have the same kind of waits

 

[kennythepirate]

In a busy season, just use FP+ for one attraction and ride the other late at night.

 

[jj1403]

In a busy season, just use FP+ for one attraction and ride the other late at night.

Do crowds thin out in the evening during spring break as well? Or just during slower months? We are going for the first time in late march.

 

[momH2the4th]

I was at Epcot on Thursday (1/23).

I rode Soarin' with a FP+.

Later in the afternoon, around 5 or so, the line for TT was 25 minutes. So I got in line and rode.

The line for Soarin' was 40 minutes (50 minutes posted, but I could tell it wasn't that long) at 7:30, so I got in line and rode it again. When I came out, the wait was 15 minutes (20 minutes posted), so I rode it for a 3rd time. When I came out that time, the wait was down to 5 minutes. I didn't get back in line but very easily could have.

That's 3 times on Soarin' and 1 time on TT in a day and the longest wait was 40 minutes (which breaks some people's 30 minute threshold, but not by much).

But for everyone saying that you can't ride both rides without Rope Drop...not true. I did it and threw in 2 extra rides on Soarin' just for fun.

Try this in the summer months and then report back how that worked for you...

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Of course it's possible. Just start with Soarin'. Test Track has single rider. You can ride it all day long if you want to.

 

[LucyBC80]

I don't understand the sarcastic responses. This is possible even in high crowds times, if you time it just right you can even get more than one ride at TT, just use the single rider. The late it gets, the low crowds are, specially at Future World since everyone is at WS watching Illuminations. I've ridden TT with a 5 minute wait during Mardi Gras around 8:45pm.

Posted from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[AlixaLock]

But for everyone saying that you can't ride both rides without Rope Drop...not true. I did it and threw in 2 extra rides on Soarin' just for fun.

I just want to say thank you for sharing your experience!!! I've always found it tough to get both rides in (both pre and post FP+) so I am always looking for some great hint!

As for all the comments about "January." Prior to last year we always travelled in January, but with a school-age child we are now experimenting with more crowded times in June, August etc ...

Not all will agree with me, but I actually found it easier in the high season to do things like this at all the parks because of greater access to late night hours, early openings, fewer ride closures etc ... Lines were always massive during the day, but I absolutely found times at night or in the morning where you were able to slip in with waits of 30 minutes or less...

 

[magicbob]

I don't understand the sarcastic responses. This is possible even in high crowds times, if you time it just right you can even get more than one ride at TT, just use the single rider. The late it gets, the low crowds are, specially at Future World since everyone is at WS watching Illuminations. I've ridden TT with a 5 minute wait during Mardi Gras around 8:45pm.

Posted from my iPhone using DISBoards

Not sarcastic... just being realistic. Of course this was true on a Thursday in late January. You cannot extrapolate from the OP's account that this is the norm.

I agree that it CAN be done, possibly even during peak times. As you point out, IF you choose not to see Illuminations and IF you choose to utilize the single rider line, you can cut the wait time significantly. Families who want to ride together and see Illuminations are just out of luck I guess.

To be fair, though... it is their choice to decide if a shorter wait in line is worth those sacrifices. Kind of like how it used to be, when people had to decide if choosing to arrive later in the day was worth getting fewer FPs.

I'll add this positive observation, though. Despite the FP+ tiers at EPCOT, guests who dp arrive early (at or near RD, or better yet... for morning EMH), should be able to ride both with minimal waits any time of year. For example, reserve FP+ for Soarin'. Arrive early and ride TT first thing before the lines get long. I've faced the most crowded "10" days at Christmas and this strategy should work even on the busiest day of the year.

As OP points out, it is possible to do without RD, but during peak times of the year, it is improbably to accomplish this without a long wait for one or the other. I'm confident that utiilizing RD will ALWAYS be the most effective strategy for reducing wait times at popular attractions.

 

[DisneyDetective]

I don't understand the sarcastic responses. This is possible even in high crowds times, if you time it just right you can even get more than one ride at TT, just use the single rider. The late it gets, the low crowds are, specially at Future World since everyone is at WS watching Illuminations. I've ridden TT with a 5 minute wait during Mardi Gras around 8:45pm.

Posted from my iPhone using DISBoards

I agree, we've went in the summer and found Mission Space empty; Test Track wait time manageable and Sourin the same. Is EPCOT really quiet this time of year?

 

[magicbob]

I agree, we've went in the summer and found Mission Space empty; Test Track wait time manageable and Sourin the same. Is EPCOT really quiet this time of year?

Best. Typo. Ever.

 

[LucyBC80]

Not sarcastic... just being realistic. Of course this was true on a Thursday in late January. You cannot extrapolate from the OP's account that this is the norm.

I agree that it CAN be done, possibly even during peak times. As you point out, IF you choose not to see Illuminations and IF you choose to utilize the single rider line, you can cut the wait time significantly. Families who want to ride together and see Illuminations are just out of luck I guess.

To be fair, though... it is their choice to decide if a shorter wait in line is worth those sacrifices. Kind of like how it used to be, when people had to decide if choosing to arrive later in the day was worth getting fewer FPs.

Life is always about choices! Even with legacy FP the best times to tour Future World were always right after rope drop or during Illuminations, if rides and maximizing your time in the parks were a priority. That did not change with FP+, in fact I believe it's now more important than ever to actually decide what you want to accomplish during the day. I agree this kinda sucks to families visiting for a short amount of time that can't say "let's ride TT and Soarin' at night and see Illuminations the day after tomorrow when we are coming to EPCOT again".

I'll add this positive observation, though. Despite the FP+ tiers at EPCOT, guests who dp arrive early (at or near RD, or better yet... for morning EMH), should be able to ride both with minimal waits any time of year. For example, reserve FP+ for Soarin'. Arrive early and ride TT first thing before the lines get long. I've faced the most crowded "10" days at Christmas and this strategy should work even on the busiest day of the year.

As OP points out, it is possible to do without RD, but during peak times of the year, it is improbably to accomplish this without a long wait for one or the other. I'm confident that utiilizing RD will ALWAYS be the most effective strategy for reducing wait times at popular attractions.

What you describe is our strategy for our next visit, we'll be at EPCOT 3 times total and we'll alternate FP+ between Soarin' and TT, riding the other one at RD. And while we're not doing AM EMH at EPCOT, we'll do PM EMH and try to ride TT as many times as we can.

And RD has always been the best plan at any parks. I understand the "I'm on vacation" or "we're not morning people" families and I'll never call them lazy like I've seen some posters doing at another thread but I believe that at WDW people who RD will always have a better vacation than those who decide not to.

 

[magicbob]

Life is always about choices! Even with legacy FP the best times to tour Future World were always right after rope drop or during Illuminations, if rides and maximizing your time in the parks were a priority. That did not change with FP+, in fact I believe it's now more important than ever to actually decide what you want to accomplish during the day. I agree this kinda sucks to families visiting for a short amount of time that can't say "let's ride TT and Soarin' at night and see Illuminations the day after tomorrow when we are coming to EPCOT again".

What you describe is our strategy for our next visit, we'll be at EPCOT 3 times total and we'll alternate FP+ between Soarin' and TT, riding the other one at RD. And while we're not doing AM EMH at EPCOT, we'll do PM EMH and try to ride TT as many times as we can.

And RD has always been the best plan at any parks. I understand the "I'm on vacation" or "we're not morning people" families and I'll never call them lazy like I've seen some posters doing at another thread but I believe that at WDW people who RD will always have a better vacation than those who decide not to.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Of course it is!

We are not huge FP'ers in the 1st place and we have always ridden TT and Soarin' on the same day, often more than once. (This includes visits on a Thanksgiving week, July, April, and February Presidents' Day week)

Yes, you are going to have to wait for it, but we've rarely waited longer than 45 minutes (which to us is not long). I am honestly not trying to be snarky, but I didn't realize how many people "didn't ever wait in line, and refuse to do so". For me, since I was a child, Disney has meant waiting in line

I believe that Disney has played a part in making myself and now my children very patient people.

 

[Angel Ariel]

In a busy season, just use FP+ for one attraction and ride the other late at night.

If we have grandparents with us, that is doable. If it is just us with DD, late night riding isn't an option

 

[KrazeeK120]

Seriously? A Thursday in late January?

I'm surprised you weren't able to ride both a dozen times each.

Well...I'm sure I could have. But there are other things I wanted to do than ride these 2 rides.

I just wanted to point out that it IS possible to do both without spending your entire day in line as some on this board would lead you to believe.