Priority @ DCA EMH?

[Nicole786]

Disney world veteran first time Disneyland go-er! We are staying at the Disneyland Hotel and our first day is EMH at California Adventure! This is next week (May 27th) so the 60th anniversary crowds and memorial day crowds (if thats a thing) will be in full swing!

First, we're wondering what our priority is for FP during that first hour. Is our priority to get over to RSR ASAP or get WOC fast passes first?

And then secondly, should we utilize the Grand Californian entrance or just use the regular entrance?

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[gerilyne]

I reccommend using the main entrance and not the GC one unless you get there super early. We usually stay at the GC and avoid it for EMH simply because it gets really backed up there.

As for priority, I have done RSR first and been lucky that it has always been up and running, but we've also headed over to Toy Story Midway Mania since that one doesn't have fast passes, and then get WOC fast pass and RSR fast passes after the park opens.

 

[ImDMous]

The Fast Pass machines don't open until the park's regular hours, so I would follow PP's suggestion and go do Midway Mania a few times and then head back to the RSR fast pass machines a few minutes before park opening.

 

[figment_jii]

First, we're wondering what our priority is for FP during that first hour. Is our priority to get over to RSR ASAP or get WOC fast passes first?

As the PPs have said, they do not distribute any FPs during EMH. I would do as suggested, head straight to TSMM (do that a few times if possible), then once the park opens, head over to get the WoC and RSR FPs. If you're not interested in TSMM, then RSR is a good choice during EMH (and you can still get a RSR and WoC FP once the park opens). While I do think WoC will be more popular with the new show, I don't think it's going to run out of FPs super fast. My guess is you have 90 minutes to 2 hours after park opening to get both a RSR FP and a WoC FP.

And then secondly, should we utilize the Grand Californian entrance or just use the regular entrance?

Most reports I've seen indicate that it's better to use the regular entrance. The GCH entrance is small (only two turntiles, I think), so it can move very slowly compared to the regular entrance.

 

[Nicole786]

Thanks so much guys! I had no idea the FP weren't distributed during EMH! That saved us a lot of time and disappointment.
Since we have TSMM here, i don't know if I would consider it a priority, but it might help with timing. Again, thank you guys!

 

[mamabellefortwo]

I needed this info also- thanks everyone!

 

[gortman65]

Will Soarin' be busier since it just recently opened after that long rehab and thus be a target for EMH? Or is it not open for EMH?

 

[tink2dw]

We there on Mother's Day and the Disney Run!!! It was beyond crowded!!?!! And now you have to have fast passes for every ride. They cast members standing outside with hand device that gives you a time come back to go on the ride. You have to get a fast pass for Fantazmic now but pays off! Get first thing. We had the Best seats ever! As for, WOC ask your hotel front desk about those fast pass !

Check out the NEW TOMORROWLAND MOVIE Sneak Peek!! It's Awesome!!!!! And starts every 20 min. It is by enterance to Space Mountain!!

We had awesome time the 3 days we there!! This time last week I was in Disneyland!!
I miss so much.

And was our last trip to Disneyland, ever. We move to KY in March 2016! And we need save money for the move.

 

[jina]

Each time we've had EE while staying at GCH we use the main entrance (agreed, the hotel one is all backed up), then head to Soarin' first, then TSMM (for one or more times depending on lines), then I do CA Screamin' (single rider - walk on) while DD5 does the Carousel w/ DH. By then it's usually :45 min in and DH goes to wait for a RSR FP - they usually allow the EE people to line up a few minutes before regular open so he does not line up with the rope drop folks. Once they drop the rope the RSR FP line can get long pretty fast so in terms of priority I'd make sure if you want a RSR FP to get there a little before rope drop for regular open.

 

[Nicole786]

Thanks for keeping this thread alive! maybe well do soarin first! i forgot they were making enhancements to it!
any newbie advice-keep it coming!

 

[ktlm]

Definitely the regular entrance.

A lot of people will say not RSR as sometimes it starts running right away, but sometimes it takes them a while to get it up and running (like maybe even 20 or 30 minutes). We are WDW vets, and for us we still go for RSR. It is one of those that is worth multiple rides. I would rather have to wait 20 minutes first thing in the morning, than only ride it once with a FP or have to wait in line an hour or more for another ride in the standby line later (the single rider line is great though if everyone in your party is old enough for single rider). If you pick RSR, search for the wide right technique on these boards, to get you to the front of the line once the gates open.

The second choice is typically TSM. Being a WDW vet, one thing for you to realize is TSM is not like it is at WDW. TSM does not have an hour to an hour and a half lines for most of the day like you fine at WDW. There is no FP for TSM, but even when we were there in mid-July the line was typically 20 to 30 minutes- hitting 45 mid-day. So, while it is still a long line and priority- it is nothing like it is at WDW. We do miss the FP for TSM at CA, but we also can ride it more than once in a day if we feel like it at CA if the lines are only around 20 minutes which is something that we never get to do at WDW!

It is the same with Soarin. While at WDW, Soarin typically has a 60 minute line, in July at DL we have ridden it mid-afternoon with a 20 minute line. Also, most times the FPs don't run out in the morning like they do at WDW. We have walked up in the afternoon in the summer, seen a 30 minute line, pulled a FP that kicked in 40 minutes later, ran around for a little bit doing other things and then come back and walked on with our fast pass. Since it has been closed for refurbishment, it may be more crowded, but by WDW crowd standards we LOVE Soarin and TSM at CA!

PP Jina's plan sounds like a really good one too though. She is right that the lines get huge for RSR FP, immediately after park opening. Last summer the day we were there for EMH, they let the EMH people line up really early and the line was already big by the time we checked it. I think maybe that was about 20 minutes before regular opening, but I'm not sure on that.

 

[Nicole786]

Thanks for the heads up and comparison. EMH is sooo early (7am) so I feel like we have a really good amount of time throughout the day, but RSR is clearly our priority. As a matter of fact, beyond that, we are more interested in the ambience and experience of both parks then racing (no pun intended) from attraction to attraction. Especially since TSM is identical. Since I'm really interested in the soarin enhancements, I'll make that one a priority! And skip the FP line! Jeez wasting 30mins of the EMH waiting for a FP doesn't seem worth it. You're right, maybe we'll head to RSR immediately at the start. Or after Soarin, I'll have to get a group consensus