RSR Strategy from Grand Californian

[Doofenschmirz Evil]

We went to Disneyland 2 years ago and we are going back in a couple of weeks. This time we are lucky enough to be staying at the Grand Californian on a Wednesday Night and Thursday Night.

Between Thursday and Friday morning, I would like to try to get 4 total rides of Radiator Springs Racers while keeping my waits as short as I can.

On Friday May 20, the Extra Magic Hour is at 7am. I am thinking we will get down there about 6:45, and if there is a massive line at the special GC entrance, we will walk to the front gates. Hopefully we ride once between 7am and 8am. Then we will get in line for the Fastpass and get it after the park opens at 8am. That seems straightforward.

I'm less certain about Thursday May 19. I remember from the last trip that on a regular day the best strategy was to get the FP first, (because it might run out), then get in line for RSR in the regular line. The park doesn't open until 9am and there is no special magic hour, so I am thinking the crowds will be a lot bigger at 9am. I realize that GC entrance will likely be backed up, but if we walk to the front gate, that will likely be backed up too with lots of regular guests.

Do they let people in the parks before 9am to get in the FP line? Do they let the GC entrance in at the same time as the front entrance or does one gate have a disadvantage for getting in the FP line?

I guess I'm trying to figure out the best way to get there as late as possible and still get a FP and get in the RSR line without a massive wait.

I know some people's advice is to get there 1 hour early and be close to the front of the line at the main gates. But I would rather get there a little later and wait in a longer line while in Cars land. I like checking out the theming, and I'd rather sleep in as much as possible. If we are awake, we might also go into Disneyland for the extra magic hour at 8am on Thursday hit a ride or two, and then get in line for DCA. But I'm trying to figure out how long we would have before the FP line starts forming at DCA on Thursday.

Thanks!

 

[Nonsuch]

...I would like to try to get 4 total rides of Radiator Springs Racers while keeping my waits as short as I can...

On Friday May 20, the Extra Magic Hour is at 7am. I am thinking we will get down there about 6:45, and if there is a massive line at the special GC entrance, we will walk to the front gates. Hopefully we ride once between 7am and 8am. Then we will get in line for the Fastpass and get it after the park opens at 8am. That seems straightforward.

There seems to always be a long line at the GCH entrance to DCA, I have checked the line at 6:45 several times. At that time, there will be no wait at the main gate security screening and only a few minutes through the DCA entrance at 7:00.

You might consider Single Rider, I have rode RSR 4 times during one EMH using the single rider line (and this was when RSR was very new).

Don't miss the re-imagined Luigi's attraction: it's a walk on during EMH, but a 40 minute wait all day.

 

[cmph]

We rode RSR 3 times in one day (the Sunday before last). Also stayed at GCH. The kids couldn't deal with 7:00am EMH two days in a row, so we entered the park through the GCH entrance maybe 7:15, 7:20am. We threw caution to the wind and walked onto Soarin' (literally walked on), then headed to RSR. We waited about 20min, then I headed to the fp kiosk shortly after park open. There was virtually no line; I waited behind a couple people. I drew 10:15-11:15, and when we got there around 10:30, RSR was down so we ended up using them a few hours later. Then, we went back to the kiosk shortly after 10:45 and drew another set - for 7:30-8:30pm. Glad we did that evening one - such a neat experience to ride it after dark! So despite not going with any sort of ideal early morning plan, 3 times in one day with the only stand-by being during EMH is totally possible, and then you would only have to worry about getting a single fp the next day.

 

[kristabelle13]

Last Friday during EMH, they let us in to pull RSR FPs at least 15 mins before the parks opened. I had wandered over to see if I could hover before the crush of the people and to my shock, the FP machines were open. And a couple of ppl were pulling FPs. I got one for 8:55am (it was 7:45ish) so, they must have been open for a bit before that since, I assume the first fastpass release was for 8:40am.

That's what I call a magic morning. Not only that, TSMM wasn't only a walk-on, it was a stay-on. So 4 rides on that, and then wandered to pull the FPs. Then rode Luigi's and Maters before the park opened.

 

[goooof1]

Fast passes for RSR are lasting longer.....no need to get in line right away. Ride it and then come back for fast passes (even at regular park opening). Single rider is also great.... a walk on multiple times at EMH and also at regular park opening.

 

[fantasia73]

If you can do single rider, do it. You could probably get in 8 rides!

 

[sweethannah]

I would stay clear of the GCH entrance first thing in the morning. Use the main entrance if possible. If you can do single rider you'll have a lot more success. We came back last week and even in the middle of the day single rider was about 20minutes.

 

[Doofenschmirz Evil]

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[MrJT]

I was watching a video on youtube, disussing the strategies to get on RSR. For that reason alone, I am hoping for FastPass+ to be implemented before we get there in July.

 

[Xenorye]

I was watching a video on youtube, disussing the strategies to get on RSR. For that reason alone, I am hoping for FastPass+ to be implemented before we get there in July.

There's a YouTube video for everything. You could be like "I was watching a video on YouTube for how to tie a shoe, discussing strategies. For that reason alone, I hope self-tying shoes are available before I need to go outside."

In all seriousness, though there are strategies to maximize ride time, it's not like you're going to waste your entire day just to ride it once.

 

[goooof1]

I was watching a video on youtube, disussing the strategies to get on RSR. For that reason alone, I am hoping for FastPass+ to be implemented before we get there in July.

It is not that hard....(as long as you don't stroll into the park around noon and expect no one else to be in line!) Fast passes are usually available in the mornings a few hours after park opening. Lines are shorter early morning and single rider is a walk on for a while.......no need for FP+ nonsense!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I was watching a video on youtube, disussing the strategies to get on RSR. For that reason alone, I am hoping for FastPass+ to be implemented before we get there in July.

It's really not that hard!

 

[MrJT]

There's a YouTube video for everything. You could be like "I was watching a video on YouTube for how to tie a shoe, discussing strategies. For that reason alone, I hope self-tying shoes are available before I need to go outside."

In all seriousness, though there are strategies to maximize ride time, it's not like you're going to waste your entire day just to ride it once.

It is not that hard....(as long as you don't stroll into the park around noon and expect no one else to be in line!) Fast passes are usually available in the mornings a few hours after park opening. Lines are shorter early morning and single rider is a walk on for a while.......no need for FP+ nonsense!

It's really not that hard!

Thank you for those words of support

 

[thenrichs]

We stayed at the grand last week and saw fairly short wait times mid week. We used the GCH entrance arrived about 20 mins early and found they were letting people in the park 10-15 minutes early. Walked right on RSR then waited 20 minutes for a second ride and went and got fast passes for early evening. We found the GCH entrance to be better since they opened earlier. I do wish DL would have an entrance for those of us who have already had our pic taken for our tickets so we don't get slowed in line with those entering for the first day

 

[BLKKROW]

Typically my wife and I can ride RSR 3 times in one day. We arrive before gate opening on a normal day, stay to the right at rope drop and usually walk onto the ride. Then on our way out of Car's land we get a Fastpass, later in the day we return with the Fastpass and around that same time we wait in line 20-40 min's in the single rider line and then step into the Fast Pass line.

So imagine what you can do with your extra hour in the morning

 

[bumbershoot]

.no need for FP+ nonsense!

If only they'd believe us.

I do wish DL would have an entrance for those of us who have already had our pic taken for our tickets so we don't get slowed in line with those entering for the first day

They could have it all they want, and they would still end up with 5000 people getting in that line because they have their picture (but their 14 family members don't have pictures, can't they come with?), or they don't know what a picture is, or they don't believe in having pictures taken so they are in the "no pictures" line, etc etc etc. And you would be held up even more.