Question about Radiator Springs Timing in the earlier morning

[torchlight]

Hello all-

I really appreciate all the information available here! I have a quick question that I haven't been able to find an answer for. Trying to set up a loose framework for our first day, which will be at DCA.

We are going to utilize the Extra Magic Hour on a Friday in mid-September to get into the park at 7 AM. While I have seen some advice that says to go straight for Radiator Springs Racers, I really don't want to spend our whole extra hour waiting for one ride. I've seen some other advice that says if you pass on RSR at first, you can get on a bunch of the other popular rides (like Toy Story, Tower of Terror, and Soarin) with almost no wait.

I think this is what we would like to do. Go on a number of the other rides available during the extra hour and then do one of two things at around 7:45 or so:

1) Get in line for RSR Fastpass
2) Get in the regular line for RSR

And so, a couple questions:

1) What would the regular line for RSR be like at this time, typically?

2) The Fastpass option sounds pretty good, but I'm worried about the time of the ticket. We have a breakfast scheduled at Ariel's Grotto at 9:30, so I would hate to spend time waiting for an RSR Fastpass, only to pull one with a return time during our breakfast.

Essentially just trying to figure out how best to fit this awesome attraction into our busy morning. Any thoughts, ideas, advice, or suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated - thank you!

 

[NorthernCalMom]

My advice would be to get an RSR Fastpass around 9am for an afternoon return time (I would probably check in for return times using the OTTO phone line between opening and then to make sure that this isn't a day on which they've been going particularly fast). This way you get your breakfast done and then have a great ride lined up for later, when things get busy in the rest of the park.

 

[ADLFAN]

I like to pull our FP'S a little later, to guarantee a ride in the dark, when the dramatic lighting makes Radiator Springs glow! I actually plan to avoid the whole Carsland area until just before the lighting of the neon and introduce my group to the land then.

 

[figment_jii]

RSR FPs have been lasting for at least a few hours after park opening to regular guests at this point (the re-opening of Soarin' seems to have taken the pressure off of RSR FPs). Assuming the park opens at 8:00 am to everyone (based on the 7:00 am EMH), I would also aim to grab the RSR FPs as you head to your breakfast at Ariel's. I wouldn't get in line right at opening, unless you wanted a FP for as close to opening as possible. Otherwise, wait until closer to 9:00/9:30 am and get a FP for the mid-afternoon/evening.

As a PP said, you can also try calling Ask Otto to find out the current FP distribution time for RSR. Otto only provides information once the park opens to the public, but it can be useful if you're trying to keep tabs on an attraction wait time or FP distribution time.

 

[millie0312]

Hello all-

I really appreciate all the information available here! I have a quick question that I haven't been able to find an answer for. Trying to set up a loose framework for our first day, which will be at DCA.

We are going to utilize the Extra Magic Hour on a Friday in mid-September to get into the park at 7 AM. While I have seen some advice that says to go straight for Radiator Springs Racers, I really don't want to spend our whole extra hour waiting for one ride. I've seen some other advice that says if you pass on RSR at first, you can get on a bunch of the other popular rides (like Toy Story, Tower of Terror, and Soarin) with almost no wait.

I think this is what we would like to do. Go on a number of the other rides available during the extra hour and then do one of two things at around 7:45 or so:

1) Get in line for RSR Fastpass
2) Get in the regular line for RSR

And so, a couple questions:

1) What would the regular line for RSR be like at this time, typically?

2) The Fastpass option sounds pretty good, but I'm worried about the time of the ticket. We have a breakfast scheduled at Ariel's Grotto at 9:30, so I would hate to spend time waiting for an RSR Fastpass, only to pull one with a return time during our breakfast.

Essentially just trying to figure out how best to fit this awesome attraction into our busy morning. Any thoughts, ideas, advice, or suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated - thank you!

Here's what we found last year for EE and RSR... I would NOT do it immediately unless you plan on "speed walking" and being the first in line. Even though it's only on-site guests for EE, there are still quite a few people and most go to RSR first. Last year we went there fast and thought it was the shortest the line would be... Nope!! I was waiting with our infant while my family waited 45 minutes to ride!! When they finally came out there was almost no line (compared to how it was as soon as EE started). I would suggest you start with TSMM and do it a couple times- the line is always long for it and there is no fast pass. After a couple of rounds there you can hit others like soarin, screamin, tot, and then before EE ends hit RSR when the initial rush has ended. If it seems like RSR has a huge line don't waste your EE like we did (well them lol I got pp photos with all the characters with zero lines while we waited haha). I agree with pp not to worry about getting in line for a fp for RSR- they won't run out immediately. If you want to ride a few times ride during EE, grab a fp after the line dies down (the sign will tell you when the return time is or use Otto or even touring plans lines app), then before they runout grab a last fp for a night ride. Have a great trip!!

 

[Girimama33]

I would head to TSMM first thing...go on whatever other rides you can fit in. I would try and get in the RSR queue about 15-20 minutes before the park opens. The line usually isn't longer than 30 minutes. Before your breakfast time, I would grab a FP for a ride later on.

 

[Jkpark]

I agree with what others posted here - except I won't do Soarin' during EE again. Our plan used to be ride TSMM once or twice, maybe Screamin - and then head back towards Carsland. This last time - we went to Soarin' and they miscounted guests in line so we had to wait an entire ride cycle - and that takes a while on that ride. They did give us an anytime FP for anything (except for RSR) but it killed our EE. It was just one of those days. The line we chose for early entry had one family not staying at a hotel but arguing over wanting in anyway, and after that was finally resolved, the guy in front of us spilled two coffees at the turnstile and the CM just held us there while he tried to get someone to clean things up, even after another CM said let us in the stroller entrance. Anyway - the day only get better from there - well after the Soarin' mis-count anyway.