Ok, this is really starting to freak me out...

[DisneyMommy403]

The inconsistencies are driving me bananas. <-- like that, but not in a happy face way.

So, we leave in a matter of weeks, and I've been glued to these boards for months, acquiring tons of knowledge and suggestions from DISers who know their stuff. Could not emphasize that enough, you guys rock.

I understand I may be stressing out a little too much, but I feel a little out of the norm with this trip to Disneyland. My last trip was Oct 2008. With SO MANY changes since then, and now with a large family in tow, I can't bring myself to a great touring strategy it seems (where we can see and do as much as possible in the 4 days we're visiting) & ridemax seems to show me how much I suck at strategy planning.

Mostly my anxiety is based on - yup, you already know... CARSLAND. My friend is there right now, and was at DCA yesterday an hour before opening and said people were sprinting to get in line for FPs and the line was wrapped around the park by 9am. They closed Carsland off so people couldn't even check the lines. - is that normal? Even for a weekday? If it is that crazy in the morning... my DH will not be stoked. What are the lines like in the late evening? Are they still crazy around park closing?

My touring plans are something like this:
Thurs - MM at DL, character breakfast @ plaza inn, hotel break, BB dinner (of course rides are in between all that lol)
Fri - MTTM, BBB for DDx2, then DCA for AG lunch, Paradise Pier Rides, hotel break, DL rides, parade, fireworks show
Sat - DCA all day starting with Carsland, ending with WOC 2nd show -how do I get blue FPs specifically for the second show?
Sun - free schedule to catch missed shows/rides, ending with Fantasmic.

Anything you'd change? Any strategies for tackling Carsland first thing in the morning on a Saturday without EE, and with 2 strollers (1 double for my 2 young kids, 1 single for my son) and my MIL and 2 SIL's?! I know about wide right, and trust me I'll be using it... but if FPs are gone right away, and people are trampling each other, I'm terrified I'll look like a mad woman, be completely impatient with other visitors, and be frantic, stressed, and well... not very Disney

All helpful suggestions, or words to calm my anxieties are very much appreciated.

 

[rramstad]

Ummm.

You've done your homework, you know some options as to how to play things, and it's time to stop worrying.

I was there in July. I thought I had a good plan. It worked OK the first day, but I tweaked it, and the second day was better. We didn't try to hit CL on the third day at all. The fourth day was a disaster with the even Newer and More Improved Plan (yecch!) so basically, what I'm driving at, every single day at DLR is a unique animal. You can only prepare so much. The best thing you can do now is be prepared to MODIFY and zig when the crowd is zagging.

That's my two cents.

Now, as to specifics, I'd strongly suggest finding someone, anyone, who can pull FP for your whole group for RSR, and have them get in line early any (every?) day, while everyone else goes and enjoys the rest of DCA and/or rides the other rides in CarsLand. If RSR is super priority, you could even ride it once standby in the morning, while someone is in line getting FP, and that would get most of you two rides per day without too much effort.

That said, I liked RSR, but it wasn't worth spending too much time stressing about it. We rode it once per day using FP the first two days we were there, and rode it once per day using single rider the first two days we were there, and then frankly we decided we'd rather spent the time elsewhere in DLR where it was less crowded and less hassle.

Never did ride Luigi's or Mater's, figured we'd do those next trip when lines would presumably be shorter...

 

[lisachrystine]

I was also at DCA yesterday - for a one day trip. I arrived at 10am for a 9 am opening (yep, plans went wrong from the very beginning). I hit the RSR FP line at 10 am and FPs were gone by about 10:15 (I missed getting them by about 20 people). My family went right to the stand by line for RSR at 10 - I never saw the whole land close. Other than RSR, none of it struck me as being overly insane. I've seen worse. My family waited the full two hours in the RSR stand by line because we only had one day and experiecing that was at the top of the list. The ride went down once while they were in line (I had baby swap), but not for very long. We had lunch at Flo's and rode Luigis. They saw the neon light up while I was on RSR. Waits for the smaller rides were considerably shorter later in the day (I guess everyone hits Carsland first). My point is that my plan didn't work at all, but we still got to experience it and we only had one day. Don't stress too much about it and be ready to go with the flow. Each day is different. Make the best plan you can, but adjust as necessary. Don't forget to have fun!

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

My family and I spent 12 days at DLR Resort last September and spent a lot of time experiencing DCA. In short, stay on property and enjoy the early hour. For DCA, enjoy walking on the other rides (Toy Story Mania, Soarin, etc...) with NO lines during the early hour and have somebody get the RSR FP. Why?
Each time we visited DCA we went to CL and RSR with the mob. We executed the wide right option which worked very well. One day we were actually FIRST in line at RSR! However, RSR has a reliability problem and was down for 1 hour and 40 minutes! We waited in line from 7 AM to 8:40 AM! The park opened for the general public at 8 AM. I went to the FP line at 7:45 AM and rejoined my family still waiting at RSR! And when we tried to use the FPs that evening, RSR was down AGAIN! HA!
My biggest regret is the lack of walk-on visits to TSM. It's a great ride for all ages. And during the early hour you can do repeat walk-ons at TSM.
Lesson learn...enjoy the early hour walking on TSM and other rides, get a RSR FP and visit CL and RSR at night when it is most spectacular. Don't waste invaluable AM time waiting for RSR at the expense of not enjoying walk-ons for TSM, California Screamin, Soarin, etc...

 

[DisneyMommy403]

Ok, so the consensus so far is - get a FP, and go to other rides in the park rather than the standby line.

I feel like Saturday is the only morning I can devote to FP grabs for RSR. Fri is MTTM, and Thurs is MM at DL. I don't have the option of EE at DCA, and EE at DCA isn't offered on Sat - so it's equal opportunity to everyone to get into carsland. I think perhaps I'll be the one waiting in line for FPs that morning, and tell my family to jump into the Disney Junior show or something for the kids. and just experience Luigi's and Mater's later on when our RSR FP time is.

Worst case scenario... what if they're out of FP's? When should I ride... at opening? or is near closing a good time?

 

[RavenRequiem]

Ok, if you're planning on being there for FP's, my advice is to get there at 9 am as they will let you in to Buena Vista Street about then or shortly thereafter (usually an hour before opening?). We went to DCA early one morning and there were a lot of people lining up for FP's when we got there at 9:30 for 10am rope drop. It's worth the line to get the FP's to make the rest of the day go well. Just make sure you're whole party is through the gates and you have their tickets. Have a great time.

 

[ArchOwl]

Yeah, you are stressing yourself out, lol. I have done this multiple times over multiple days, staying both on site and off site. As long as you are there, tickets in hand, at least 20 minutes before opening, you will get RSR FPs. However, I do think it is probably a better idea to get there sooner than that, but I have done it that way a few times.

Do designate one person to get those FPs, because there is no need to drag your whole group through that line. The other people can go to Carsland and you can all meet up at a designated spot.

I have never heard of shutting down the whole land, and I was there in summer. I wonder if something else was going on, or your friend just misunderstood what was happening.

With the dynamics of the group the way you described it, I think FP is just better for you. First of all, RSR has a nasty habit of not running right at opening, but they still distribute FPs. Better to get the FP and have a much better shot of getting on, than to do standby and potentially wait for a long time and wasting the precious morning hours. Secondly, you are at a disadvantage with the strollers with wide right standby. I don't really see how you could do wide right and be the first wave of people with parking the strollers, etc. Instead of rushing through that whole business, just get the FPs and return to the ride at your leisure. Thirdly, you have a large group and it just harder to keep your party together when you have that many people.

I would forget standby RSR, send your runner to get RSR FPs, and just enjoy the opening of the park. Take the time to see BVS and Carsland and perhaps get the kids on Luigi's. The runner can either skip Luigi's, or meet you at the entrance to the line. Your choice. I think this will make everyone happier and you less stressed. Once you get there, you will see that Disney has a good system in place. The line for RSR FPs looks huge, but moves extremely fast. I would say if you are there 30 minutes before park opening, you should get RSR FPs in 15-20 minutes (that is the range I have gotten RSR FPs during my off-site visits).

Deep breaths! You will be fine. Disney doesn't allow trampling or running or crazy antics. The crowds have been well-behaved when I was there and the lines are well marked and enforced by a billion CMs in the morning.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Agree with the other posters -- breathe! You are taking your family to DLR to have fun and to create good memories. The greater your stress and tension, the less likely those good memories will happen. (As the saying goes, "When Momma ain't happy...") Like the others have said, you've done your research (good for you!), now it's time to calm down and let the magic happen on its own. All the planning in the world won't help you control everything about your trip, so just use what you already know, and have a great trip!

 

[Rhonna]

Disney doesn't allow trampling or running or crazy antics. The crowds have been well-behaved when I was there and the lines are well marked and enforced by a billion CMs in the morning.

Most posts here have said this but at least one poster (or a second one) said there was absolutely running to RSR the morning they went. I believe they said it was as bad as the rope drop run to TSM in WDW. I certainly hope that isn't the case. I wonder if disney has a policy enforced every day for the CM's to walk people to RSR?

 

[ArchOwl]

Most posts here have said this but at least one poster (or a second one) said there was absolutely running to RSR the morning they went. I believe they said it was as bad as the rope drop run to TSM in WDW. I certainly hope that isn't the case. I wonder if disney has a policy enforced every day for the CM's to walk people to RSR?

Interesting. On the days I have been there (July, August, and September), each morning they walked people to Carsland behind a giant rope (well it was hose, but same difference) and then had Red the Fire Engine parked halfway up the street of Carsland. There was no place to run really. They also had CMs every few feet either holding rope or directing traffic.

I don't know how anyone could run since it was literally a wall of people from the rope to the back of the crowd. Maybe people could run down BVS to get to the wall of people, but no people could run if they were in the crowd.

Maybe people were running to the RSR FPs? I have seen a little of that, but the CMs have been good about telling people to stop running. Walking fast is fine, but running will get you a reprimand.

 

[Rhonna]

Interesting. On the days I have been there (July, August, and September), each morning they walked people to Carsland behind a giant rope (well it was hose, but same difference) and then had Red the Fire Engine parked halfway up the street of Carsland. There was no place to run really. They also had CMs every few feet either holding rope or directing traffic.

I don't know how anyone could run since it was literally a wall of people from the rope to the back of the crowd. Maybe people could run down BVS to get to the wall of people, but no people could run if they were in the crowd.

Maybe people were running to the RSR FPs? I have seen a little of that, but the CMs have been good about telling people to stop running. Walking fast is fine, but running will get you a reprimand.

Maybe they did mean the FP line. I'm not sure. More people have said what you did so I am going to hope that is true. We can't handle the rope drop runs like we used to.

 

[DisneyMommy403]

Ok, I will breathe now. Thank you all for your suggestions and encouragement! I knew I was turning into a total stressball, and I needed peace. I believe she did mean people were running for FP's.
The FP plan was what felt right for us to do in the beginning, but I got so confused with all the different strategies! FP morning it is then. Man I feel so much better. Thank You all so much!

and ArchOwl, your response was very informative and you brought up such a great point about the group and strollers. That was a worry of mine, and you made it quite clear that I should stick to what my intuition says! I had friend telling me "Nah, you'll be fiiiine..." Thanks again!

 

[Mary09]

Watch a Youtube video of RSR and decide if it's really worth an hour at the gate before opening then a FP line then a return line, or 2 hours in stand-by. If it's not, forget about it. We skipped most of CL entirely because of the crowds last week and while it was a little disappointing we chose to spend our time in moving lines for rides we knew we loved. We've done Test Track and could take it or leave it. Next time we're at DL, the lines will be 30 minutes for RSR, I'm sure. Relax, DL was fun before CL and will be fun after, even if you don't ride RSR.

 

[ArchOwl]

Watch a Youtube video of RSR and decide if it's really worth an hour at the gate before opening then a FP line then a return line, or 2 hours in stand-by. If it's not, forget about it. We skipped most of CL entirely because of the crowds last week and while it was a little disappointing we chose to spend our time in moving lines for rides we knew we loved. We've done Test Track and could take it or leave it. Next time we're at DL, the lines will be 30 minutes for RSR, I'm sure. Relax, DL was fun before CL and will be fun after, even if you don't ride RSR.

I don't think you need to show up an hour before opening. A good 30 minutes is fine and I have shown up later than that and gotten RSR FPs without issue. And regardless of whether or not you want to ride RSR, you should be at the gates 30 to 20 minutes early anyway. I do that for DL or DCA. The FP line for RSR looks bad, but it moves very quickly. If OP is at the gates 30 minutes before opening, one person will have to wait 15-20 minutes in the RSR FP line. That isn't bad at all. Add in 10 minutes for FP return, and most people in their group will be waiting a minimal amount of time. In my opinion, RSR is definitely worth that amount of time. Of course, others may disagree.

OP, I am glad you feel better. I know when you arrive, you will be feeling the magic. And yes, always listen to your gut! You have read so much and prepared, now all you have to do is have fun!

 

[MCBWHITE]

The inconsistencies are driving me bananas. <-- like that, but not in a happy face way.

So, we leave in a matter of weeks, and I've been glued to these boards for months, acquiring tons of knowledge and suggestions from DISers who know their stuff. Could not emphasize that enough, you guys rock.

I understand I may be stressing out a little too much, but I feel a little out of the norm with this trip to Disneyland. My last trip was Oct 2008. With SO MANY changes since then, and now with a large family in tow, I can't bring myself to a great touring strategy it seems (where we can see and do as much as possible in the 4 days we're visiting) & ridemax seems to show me how much I suck at strategy planning.

Mostly my anxiety is based on - yup, you already know... CARSLAND. My friend is there right now, and was at DCA yesterday an hour before opening and said people were sprinting to get in line for FPs and the line was wrapped around the park by 9am. They closed Carsland off so people couldn't even check the lines. - is that normal? Even for a weekday? If it is that crazy in the morning... my DH will not be stoked. What are the lines like in the late evening? Are they still crazy around park closing?

My touring plans are something like this:
Thurs - MM at DL, character breakfast @ plaza inn, hotel break, BB dinner (of course rides are in between all that lol)
Fri - MTTM, BBB for DDx2, then DCA for AG lunch, Paradise Pier Rides, hotel break, DL rides, parade, fireworks show
Sat - DCA all day starting with Carsland, ending with WOC 2nd show -how do I get blue FPs specifically for the second show?
Sun - free schedule to catch missed shows/rides, ending with Fantasmic.

Anything you'd change? Any strategies for tackling Carsland first thing in the morning on a Saturday without EE, and with 2 strollers (1 double for my 2 young kids, 1 single for my son) and my MIL and 2 SIL's?! I know about wide right, and trust me I'll be using it... but if FPs are gone right away, and people are trampling each other, I'm terrified I'll look like a mad woman, be completely impatient with other visitors, and be frantic, stressed, and well... not very Disney

All helpful suggestions, or words to calm my anxieties are very much appreciated.

No suggestions, but your post made me smile! Exactly our position...last trip, Oct. 07, large family in tow (me, DH, MIL, FIL, 4YO, 3YO, 1YO), one double stroller and one single, and I, too, have been trying to read up on every aspect of our trip in hopes that all the planning will make it go smoothly. Our trip is next week.

Just wishing you a great trip! And I do agree with the PP who said that at some point, we just need to step away from the planning and realize that we can't map out every single detail....as difficult as that may be! Good luck and have fun!

 

[Steve's Girl]

Thank you for all the great info. in this thread! I have been SO STRESSED about this same issue. I am taking my 9yo DD by myself in mid-Nov. Since it is just the two of us, we don't have a FP runner. This will likely by our only trip to DL and Carsland is all my DD has been talking about. I was so worried about disappointing her by not being able to ride RSR. But, I think we can pull it off. Hopefully more than once. I plan to get FPs first thing and then maybe try the standby line right at park closing to experience it at night. We will be at DL for 3 days, so I am feeling better about our plans.

 

[ArchOwl]

Thank you for all the great info. in this thread! I have been SO STRESSED about this same issue. I am taking my 9yo DD by myself in mid-Nov. Since it is just the two of us, we don't have a FP runner. This will likely by our only trip to DL and Carsland is all my DD has been talking about. I was so worried about disappointing her by not being able to ride RSR. But, I think we can pull it off. Hopefully more than once. I plan to get FPs first thing and then maybe try the standby line right at park closing to experience it at night. We will be at DL for 3 days, so I am feeling better about our plans.

Sounds great! Just wanted to remind you that DL doesn't enforce FP return times as of now, so you could save your RSR FP for nighttime if you would like. Have fun!

 

[Steve's Girl]

Sounds great! Just wanted to remind you that DL doesn't enforce FP return times as of now, so you could save your RSR FP for nighttime if you would like. Have fun!

Good to know. Thanks! We are WDW vets, but I am trying to get up to speed on the many differences at DLR.

 

[Mary09]

I don't think you need to show up an hour before opening. A good 30 minutes is fine and I have shown up later than that and gotten RSR FPs without issue. And regardless of whether or not you want to ride RSR, you should be at the gates 30 to 20 minutes early anyway. I do that for DL or DCA. The FP line for RSR looks bad, but it moves very quickly. If OP is at the gates 30 minutes before opening, one person will have to wait 15-20 minutes in the RSR FP line. That isn't bad at all. Add in 10 minutes for FP return, and most people in their group will be waiting a minimal amount of time. In my opinion, RSR is definitely worth that amount of time. Of course, others may disagree.

OP, I am glad you feel better. I know when you arrive, you will be feeling the magic. And yes, always listen to your gut! You have read so much and prepared, now all you have to do is have fun!

You're probably right. We only tried it one day, last Wed. We got to the gate about 15 mins. after opening and waited about 15 in the FP line and didn't get anywhere near the front, I don't think. 45 minutes earlier probably would've gotten it done.

But I figure if our three tweens can't their butts out of bed for a 9am opening even one of 4 days there, they must be more interested in sleeping than riding RSR. And that's ok with me. It's their vacation, too.

 

[bumbershoot]

They closed Carsland off so people couldn't even check the lines.

That doesn't even make sense. I think she misunderstood what was happening.

I think perhaps I'll be the one waiting in line for FPs that morning, and tell my family to jump into the Disney Junior show or something for the kids. and just experience Luigi's and Mater's later

Why not send them in for Luigi's and Maters while you wait for the FP? My family has the option of the single rider line, so we can wait for RSR, and one morning we were the FIRST for Luigi's. They welcomed us with a big hurrah and walked us through the line and we were almost the only people on the ride! Very fun.

Mater's tends to be around 20 minutes typically, and it's a relatively fast moving line since there are two sides to it.

If you don't mind missing out on their first time on it, they could easily get those in while you head to FPs.

But in my uneducated mind (b/c we do single rider I haven't yet done standby or FP for RSR) I don't know why people head to wait in the FP line when they coudl just go to the standby line at rope drop. But what do I know?

Interesting. On the days I have been there (July, August, and September), each morning they walked people to Carsland behind a giant rope (well it was hose, but same difference) and then had Red the Fire Engine parked halfway up the street of Carsland. There was no place to run really. They also had CMs every few feet either holding rope or directing traffic.

I don't know how anyone could run since it was literally a wall of people from the rope to the back of the crowd. Maybe people could run down BVS to get to the wall of people, but no people could run if they were in the crowd.

That's the only way I've seen it, too. I saw the "back side of rope drop", too, when we were heading out after the early hour just as proper opening time was happening. Scads of people walking slowly, held back by a big rope being walked forward by CMs.