RSR EMH plan

[CapnJacksGirl]

Somewhere along the line in my I'm-a-WDW-vet-so-I-overplan-DLR planning, I read a suggestion to NOT go directly to RSR on our DCA EMH day, but rather go do the other available attractions and return to RSR toward the end of EMH. The theory is that since nearly everyone heads to RSR, the queue and wait time are huge right off the bat and that if you return toward the end of EMH, most of those people will have cycled through and the wait will be shorter.

Does this theory hold water? Or do people just ride and return to the line? Or do enough people utilize this plan that it really makes no difference?

We'd like to ride RSR as much as possible but not at the expense of everything else in the parks. I'm leaning toward going to RSR first thing during EMH only if we are at the front of the stampede. Otherwise, we'll do everything else and return to RSR in time for the start of FP distribution.

BTW, our RSR EMH day is our second full day at the parks. We plan to do DL EMH the previous day and have someone run to DCA for RSR FPs mid to late morning, or whenever it looks like we'd get an evening one, so our DCA EMH day will hopefully not be our first ride on RSR.

Thanks in advance for the help!!

 

[agamble]

I think I see the logic in doing other things for 45 minutes and then heading to RSR before the general opening. Besides a rush of people going to RSR creating an immediate line, you have the fact that no one is rushing to the other rides. So you could ride any other open ride with no wait. Toy Story would be a great one to get a ride or two on since it does not have FP and the line is usually 50 minutes later in the day. Tower of Terror is another good choice as it seems to have been running at a reduced capacity for a while. Though I just read something about new effects, so maybe they're done doing whatever was being done. One other thing to realize is that sometimes RSR does not open on time. So you have this throng of people running to RSR and Carsland and then the ride is closed so they go off to do something else. If you are already running somewhere else you'll be ahead of the crowd.

I would choose something else to do first, then head to Carsland to ride RSR in a "short" standby, and then get FP for the ride after you're off and the park has officially opened.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Thanks, agamble! I think that will be our plan!

 

[MouseEXP]

I would say get to the main entrance 15 minutes before EMH starts. Ride RSR first, followed by Toy Story Mania a few times as the park starts to officially open for guests.

When the park opens you can do the remaining things in Paradise Pier (Screamin, Fun Wheel, Symphony, Goofy, and Mermaid) quite easily. Then as you finish Paradise Pier you can get a FP for your second ride on RSR, then Soarin without FP, then Grizzly without FP. Could get that all done before lunch.

Hollywood area after Lunch

If you do RSR at the end you will still be waiting as the park opens and then miss out on the low lines in Paradise Pier, Soarin, and Grizzly. You will be playing catch up.