Riding TSM multiple times

[KrystalS]

My DS is a huge Toy Story fan. I know he will want to ride TSM more than once. Is the best strategy to ride it first thing and then get an afternoon FP? All the touring plans say even first thing we will have a 30 minute wait for TSM, is this accurate? My DD also wants to ride RnR so we need to do that right after TSM.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

you will have no wait if you are at the turnstiles early and walk swiftly to TSM - at that point it is a walk on - we've done it many times. Key things are - be among the first few families at the turnstiles; walk quickly and know where you are going! Then you'll get on quickly with no wait. By the time we're done riding the posted wait is usually 25 minutes - I don't know if that is accurate or not at that point. Also do remember that they do tend to open DHS early...

 

[KrystalS]

DHS is our first park day so I know the kids will be excited and want to get up early! Only thing I'm worried about is we have to exchange our ticket vouchers (military) for the actual tickets. Maybe I should do this the day before? Are the ticket booths open early before the park opens?

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

DHS is our first park day so I know the kids will be excited and want to get up early! Only thing I'm worried about is we have to exchange our ticket vouchers (military) for the actual tickets. Maybe I should do this the day before? Are the ticket booths open early before the park opens?

The ticket booths and Guest Relations are both open before the park opens. I'm not sure how early they open. Whenever we have gone - even early early - the Guest Relations window has always been open. If a guest relations location can help you - you could also visit the location at DownTown Disney the day before.

 

[AJ1983]

Depends on when you are going. Touring Plans was giving me a 28 minute wait if I arrived at TSM by 9:04 on April 21. We arrived at the lineup for bag check at about 8:50 am, and were in the park by 9 am. We then POWER WALKED directly to TSM in about 90 seconds, and the wait time said 20 minutes. In reality, we waited about 7-8 minutes tops. However, by the time we exited the ride, the wait time said 70 minutes. We then proceeded right to Rock n Roller Coaster an the SB line was about 20 minutes (I thin we waited maybe 10 minutes?). So I would definitely recommend getting a FP for TSM later in day and going straight there at RD to ride standby. If you are not in the park by 9:10 (or ten minutes after opening), and you do not proceed directly to TSM, then you will be looking at a 30-40 minute wait, and R n R will also be 40 minutes by the time you get there. If you plan on doing Tower of Terror, I would recommend doing it after R n RC, as the wait time will still probably be posted at 10-15 minutes, so you should be able to walk on a couple of times.

 

[CAS239]

Riding TSMM multiple times, RnR, and have to exchange out for tickets.

Book FP for TSMM anytime after say 10 or 11am. Get your tickets the day before at Downtown Disney guest relations.

-get to park about 45 min-1 hour ahead of opening.
-be among the first in the park and head directly to TSMM. Taking path to the right of the Chinese theater down the stairs.
-after that head to RnR. If you were among the first on TSMM, you should be looking at a light weight, if any at all, for RnR.
-do whatever you want until TSMM FP is ready.

Hitting the park early and straight to TSMM and then having a FP after is the only way anyone can ride it more than once without having to wait an hour.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Hitting the park early and straight to TSMM and then having a FP after is the only way anyone can ride it more than once without having to wait an hour.

This is not correct. During our latest visit, we hit Toy Story just as the early edition of Fantasmic was starting at 9 pm. The posted wait was 75 minutes but the actual wait was 15 or less. We were able to ride 4 times in about an hour and still had plenty of time to attend the next Fantasmic show at 10:30.
We felt that it was a pretty efficient use of an hour.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Can you not get an additional Fast Pass after you used the three you're already scheduled for at a Kiosk?

 

[CAS239]

Can you not get an additional Fast Pass after you used the three you're already scheduled for at a Kiosk?

You can get additional fast passes at the kiosk once the first 3 are gone. But there won't be any TSMM passes available by that time, unless the park is extremely empty.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Ok just making sure - throwing it out there as an option as well just INCASE.

 

[CAS239]

This is not correct. During our latest visit, we hit Toy Story just as the early edition of Fantasmic was starting at 9 pm. The posted wait was 75 minutes but the actual wait was 15 or less. We were able to ride 4 times in about an hour and still had plenty of time to attend the next Fantasmic show at 10:30.
We felt that it was a pretty efficient use of an hour.

Well any ride can be a walk on close to closing time throughout the parks. But it's not always guaranteed. That all factors in to how many people are in the park on that day.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Well any ride can be a walk on close to closing time throughout the parks. But it's not always guaranteed. That all factors in to how many people are in the park on that day.

We generally visit in early summer when crowds are in the 8/9 range. The key is to understand the inflated wait time tactic and use it to your advantage.

We've used the same strategy several times over the years and I don't believe that we've ever rode TSMM less than 3 times during the final hour of operation.

For us, this is a more efficient use of time than waiting outside the gate in the morning.

 

[jthornton94]

I assume you are not staying on property? If you are, there is no need to exchange the tickets.

 

[KrystalS]

Thanks for all the input, we plan to be there early. I will exchange tickets the day before, our flight comes in at 12:30 and we aren't planning a park that day so I'll have plenty of time to exchange them at downtown disney. We aren't stay on property, Wyndham Bonnet Creek.

 

[elaine amj]

I think you'll be able to do it at least 2x at opening if you get to the park 45 mins - 1 hour before opening (I'm usually there 1+ hours early since I always give extra time for transportation). Stay as close to the front as possible and fast walk at rope drop. You should walk right on. If you get there just 10-15 mins before opening, you'll be behind the initial crowd and looking at a slightly longer wait (like a PP reported). Get off and then get right back in the standby line - you should be in line at a similar time to those who got to the park 10-15 mins before opening...so maybe a 10-20 min wait.

Also, I understand DHS is still opening up to 15 mins early these days. So if you're there early, you could easily do up to 3 rides on TSM first thing in the morning

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I had a co-worker recently telling me about her trip to Disney World. They seemed to be pretty good planners and tried to maximize their time the best they could.

She was very excited to tell me about her experience riding Midway Mania without a Fast Pass. The got up really early, got to the gates about 45 minutes before they opened and waited in a pretty large crowd. Then they hurried as fast as they could to the ride and the wait was *only* 15 minutes. By the time they got off the line was almost an hour long. There were people all over the place.

I rode the same ride 4 times in about an hour late at night and didn't have to deal with the crowds.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

Never had a problem if I go right at rope drop. When I would audition for American Idol Experience, they would give us FPs so we could enjoy rides before our call back time.

 

[LaurenT]

This is not correct. During our latest visit, we hit Toy Story just as the early edition of Fantasmic was starting at 9 pm. The posted wait was 75 minutes but the actual wait was 15 or less. We were able to ride 4 times in about an hour and still had plenty of time to attend the next Fantasmic show at 10:30.
We felt that it was a pretty efficient use of an hour.

4 times in a row and you didn't need a heat wrap for your pulley arm?

 

[JD3ofthem]

Where is the rope drop located in the studios?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

4 times in a row and you didn't need a heat wrap for your pulley arm?

Maybe that's why my scores got worse each time.