Should TSM still be the first ride we try to get on at Dca?

[NavyDad01]

So we usually go to wdw my wife daughter and me so we usually follow guides. This year were going to california and will be maneuvering 8 and a baby. I know when we went to DHS TSM was first here's my plan so far

1. Everyone but me and the baby head over to TSM ( we will be there at opening)

2. While there riding I'll head over to soaring to get fastpass
Then meet up with them (I'm Going to miss TSM which is my favriot ride but as long as they get it I'm fine there all first timers so I rather they experience it)


How does that look as a starting point

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Sounds like a good plan so far..

Here is your guide.. Hydroguys DL tips for WDW vets start there and then ask us anything we are happy to help! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Also I am not sure if they have rider swap on TSMM but maybe someone else can chime in with the answer...then maybe you could go get the soaring FPs and meet back up with your group at TSMM and do the rider switch thing?

 

[skiingfast]

So we usually go to wdw my wife daughter and me so we usually follow guides. This year were going to california and will be maneuvering 8 and a baby. I know when we went to DHS TSM was first here's my plan so far

1. Everyone but me and the baby head over to TSM ( we will be there at opening)

2. While there riding I'll head over to soaring to get fastpass
Then meet up with them (I'm Going to miss TSM which is my favriot ride but as long as they get it I'm fine there all first timers so I rather they experience it)


How does that look as a starting point

It would work fine, but let me suggest something better.

1.DCA opens at 9:30 and you can ride Soarin or get a Soarin FP or both if you hurry before the 10am rope drop.

2.After the 10am rope drop most people will be heading to TSMM, probably will change when little mermaid opens, so then either follow the pack to TSMM. Unless you are the first group there the lines builds quickly so expect a 15-30 minutes wait even though you are there at 10:05am.

3. Depending on your group makeup depending on how you do 1 and 2, going to TSMM you will pass Screemin, so you might want to grab FPs for that also or instead of Soarin if you rode that already. Or grab the screemin FPs after riding TSMM, usually your window will be open for Soarin if you got FPs there first and before riding Soarin.

 

[HydroGuy]

I might be misunderstanding your question, but are you asking that since TSMM is first for most people at DHS should it be first at DCA? If that is your question, the answer is definitely "no". For many reasons including that the lines for TSMM at DCA are much more reasonable than DHS and that DCA has more headliner attractions that DHS.

TSMM at DCA has a strange wait time behavior that no one really understands. It builds up to maximum wait time within 15-30 minutes of park opening to 40-60 minutes then - usually or maybe just often - declines throughout the day to 20-30 minutes - sometimes 40 minutes as the day progresses.

There are definitely two schools of thought on this forum about doing TSMM first. I subscribe to the school that TSMM should not be first. There are too many other valuable things you can do with that time - and even if you ride TSMM at say 6PM the line is often 20-40 minutes.

With Little Mermaid opening all of this will change, BTW, starting on June 3 and probably sooner when they start soft openings.

 

[NavyDad01]

I appreciate the input how does the baby swap work with rides ? Also how do I get in a 930? If they open at 10 or did I miss read something if it helps we plan on doing Dca on June 2nd and June 3rd Disneyland . June 2nd is grand nite at Disneyland

 

[HydroGuy]

I appreciate the input how does the baby swap work with rides ? Also how do I get in a 930? If they open at 10 or did I miss read something if it helps we plan on doing Dca on June 2nd and June 3rd Disneyland . June 2nd is grand nite at Disneyland

See "The Official Scoop on DCA's Unofficial Morning Opening Hours" - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2680309

 

[cloudconnected1039]

From my experience, they let people through the gates at 930, but your subject to a rope drop after that. They mostly do this for WOC FP distribution. A little deceiving, but not too much to handle

As for the TSMM first idea, I've always found that option to be a bit frustrating. Unless you're capable of running full speed to the queue, the wait is still going to be fairly lengthy for opening time. Since WOC started, I usually ride TSMM during one of the shows, as ALOT of people are watching the show. The line length isn't that much different than any other time of the day, but I like to think I'm smart in my planning

 

[NavyDad01]

Thanks guys I appreciate that help

I already told the party were going to keep to a tight plan and there ok with it.the only factor I think will be my new baby nephew how does the baby swap work?

 

[skiingfast]

Thanks guys I appreciate that help

I already told the party were going to keep to a tight plan and there ok with it.the only factor I think will be my new baby nephew how does the baby swap work?

Just ask a CM when you get in line for a rider swap card, they can give you one or direct you to where you will get it. It works with one person waiting with the "too short to ride kids" while the other go on the ride, getting a card that allows the person who waited with the kids to go bypass the standby line. This way both parts of the group both don't have to wait.

Here the list of attraction that have Rider Swap in this link. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/list/#/rider-switch

BTW you can do this in WDW too.

 

[NavyDad01]

Has anybody taken a baby all day ? My brother and his wife seem like the baby will be fine all day. I think it's too much thoughts? Baby will be 8 months and were talking from opening to closing

 

[starshine514]

As for the TSMM first idea, I've always found that option to be a bit frustrating. Unless you're capable of running full speed to the queue, the wait is still going to be fairly lengthy for opening time. Since WOC started, I usually ride TSMM during one of the shows, as ALOT of people are watching the show. The line length isn't that much different than any other time of the day, but I like to think I'm smart in my planning

I haven't been yet, but my understanding was the the PP attractions are closed during WOC. For some reason, I thought TSMM was in that area.

 

[pigby]

Has anybody taken a baby all day ? My brother and his wife seem like the baby will be fine all day. I think it's too much thoughts? Baby will be 8 months and were talking from opening to closing

Some of the line on TSMM is in the sun and this summer saw a mom take her baby out of line and wait in the shade whilst dad waited then mom and baby jumped back in when in the shade again - seemed like a good plan.

Also in summer except very first thing in the morning the line was always 45 minutes long - never understood why there would be exactly the same amount of people in line all day

 

[Hound 109]

....As for the TSMM first idea, I've always found that option to be a bit frustrating. Unless you're capable of running full speed to the queue, the wait is still going to be fairly lengthy for opening time.....

I'm going to agree with cloudconnected & HG & suggest there are better things to do during the 10-11am hour than wait for (& ride) TSMM.

Twice I've ridden it in the afternoon with 30-35 min. waits.

Me....? I'd rather:

- Stay in DL an extra hour touring & collect 2 more FPs & then hop to DCA at 11-11:30am....or

- Enter DCA at 9:30 & pick up a WOC FP, Ride Soarin' (& pick up a FP before getting in line)....& then at 10am, go ride Screamin single rider (or walk on Monsters or walk on all the Flik rides), then pick up a FP at ToT at 10:50am....during the time others are waiting in line & riding at TSMM between 10am - 11am.

 

[abouley]

If baby will sleep in the stroller, baby will be fine all day. It'll just require one person sitting out with the sleeping baby (or I sometimes had my baby sleep in a sling/carrier and took them into shows/rides that way). I actually found it easier to go open to close with younger kids. Now that my son is 7 and doesn't have a stroller, it's harder to do opening to close! There are a lot of things the baby will enjoy too as long as he isn't too sensitive to noise. My kids went on pirates, HM, etc with no problems at that age.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I appreciate the input how does the baby swap work with rides ? Also how do I get in a 930? If they open at 10 or did I miss read something if it helps we plan on doing Dca on June 2nd and June 3rd Disneyland . June 2nd is grand nite at Disneyland

From my experience, they let people through the gates at 930, but your subject to a rope drop after that. They mostly do this for WOC FP distribution. A little deceiving, but not too much to handle

As for the TSMM first idea, I've always found that option to be a bit frustrating. Unless you're capable of running full speed to the queue, the wait is still going to be fairly lengthy for opening time. Since WOC started, I usually ride TSMM during one of the shows, as ALOT of people are watching the show. The line length isn't that much different than any other time of the day, but I like to think I'm smart in my planning

DCA's official opening time is 10 AM. They actually open the gates and start letting people in at 9:30 AM. Once people get through the gates at 9:30, they have a few options. Soarin' is usually running at that time, so you can actually get on and off that ride before 10 AM. The fastpass machines for Soarin' are also usually turned on and distributing fastpasses starting at 9:30. You can also use that 9:30-10:00 time to get a WoC fastpass. Last summer, they even opened Grizzly River Run up at 9:30 so people could start riding. That's not currently the case, but it sure would be nice if that resumed again this summer. And, yes, the only other thing to do before 10 AM is to wait at rope drop or go into one of the food places or shops near the entrance gates. I agree that Toy Story rope drop is a frustrating experience that often does not seem worth the trouble, but we have done it on a few occasions, usually when we know the parks are going to be extremely busy and we don't want a long, hot wait later in the day or when we just have to get one last ride in on our going home day.

I haven't been yet, but my understanding was the the PP attractions are closed during WOC. For some reason, I thought TSMM was in that area.

Most of the PP attractions are closed during WoC, but Toy Story remains open.

 

[the donut]

My daughter loves the baby swap feature when we use it, as she gets to ride TSMM twice in a row, once with me and once with with her dad. Though now my "baby" is almost 2, and he can ride and enjoy it along with us, so I doubt we'll using it on future trips. You go to the exit ramp for the 2nd ride so it completely bypasses the line.

Btw, if you do want to ride with the baby, he's totally allowed to ride with you at any age on this ride. We used the baby swap because holding on to the little one completely handicaps your score (us, no we're not a competitive couple at all ). And if the others in your party race ahead, and you want to join them with the baby, you can go to the far end of the ride to join them in line and join them pretty easily. Some people roll their eyes and give line joiners dirty looks, but it would take a hard heart to do that do someone with a baby I think. Plus it takes time to park the stroller, so it's natural for a party to get separated with a baby.

I'm with cloudconnected though. If your party can't worm their way to the front of rope drop and power walk at/close to the front of the crowd all the way to TSMM, then first thing in the morning may not be the best time to ride as the line can be at its longest of the day by 15 minutes past opening. This definitely means being in DCA at the rope on the little mermaid side by 9:45. Which does give you time to pick up soaring FP's on the way.

 

[NavyDad01]

Serious question , can all the rides and woc be done in 1 day if we are there from 9:30 to close.

 

[kikiq]

Has anybody taken a baby all day ? My brother and his wife seem like the baby will be fine all day. I think it's too much thoughts? Baby will be 8 months and were talking from opening to closing

I think the baby will be fine. There are baby stations in both Disneyland and DCA. Disneyland and DCA have places to sit in the shade as well as places to just sit and people watch while the rest of your party are in attractions. The Animation building in DCA is a great place to wait when it's really hot outside. Carpeted, with limited seating but standing in the AC and watching Disney movie clips beats standing out in the sun. And if you really need to take the baby to nap somewhere quieter, go to the outside fireplace at the GCH or there are benches right at the end of the hallway going to GCH from the GRR entrance. In Disneyland, the baby station is located by the First Aid station. There are trees and benches in that area.

 

[HydroGuy]

Serious question , can all the rides and woc be done in 1 day if we are there from 9:30 to close.

Yes, but you have to do it right. For example, many of the Paradise Pier rides close at night because of WOC. So you have to do them during the day. And you will be busy as there are about 25 rides at DCA. So not much time for breaks or meals.

 

[skiingfast]

Serious question , can all the rides and woc be done in 1 day if we are there from 9:30 to close.

Yes, but you have to do it right. For example, many of the Paradise Pier rides close at night because of WOC. So you have to do them during the day. And you will be busy as there are about 25 rides at DCA. So not much time for breaks or meals.

TSMM, probably GSS if you are there when it reopens and LMAUA if you are there for that, all operate at night in Paradise Pier according to past data and announcements from Disney.

As far as riding everything. Truly try to FP Soarin, Screemin and ToT, and GRR. Ride other attractions early or late using FPs during the middle of the day.

But if it's possible it depends a little on when you go though crowdwise. Also WoC takes some time so if including that see the last show of the night which actually starts after closing, so you only loose a little ride time waiting for it to start.