Should we be at DCA at opening in order to ride Toy Story Mania?

[twinspluscade]

I'm just starting to do a very rough itinerary for our trip in September. According to park schedules for last Sept, both parks opened at 10 during the week. I'm trying to decide if we should start at Disneyland all four weekdays (and then hop to DCA later in the day), OR if we should start at DCA one of the days in order to ride Toy Story Mania with little wait. Will Toy Story Mania be like Nemo ride, where if you want to ride it you darn well better be there as soon as the park opens?

Also--another question about DCA. I've heard it's not nearly as crowded as Disneyland. Based on that reason alone, we are planning on going there on our arrival day, which will be a Sunday (in the afternoon ). Is DCA signifigantly less packed on week-ends than Disneyland? Or are both the parks equally a mob scene?

 

[VegasMike21]

In September it may not be that bad as far as wait times for even the soon to be opened TSM. But it wouldn't hurt to go there at 10AM and hit that ride with a minimal wait then go on some of the other rides that have longer waits later on in the day like CS and GRR.

 

[Dobie]

Another thing you could do is start at DL, then hop over to DCA when it opens.

I haven't heard yet if TSM will have Fastpasses. Also, since people are often allowed in to DCA at 9:30 to ride Soarin', I'm wondering if the same will apply to TSM.

 

[bennyb98]

I know it will have fastpass at DHS but no idea if it will at DCA yet. I would imagine it would as well but you never know.

 

[DLR29]

Another thing you could do is start at DL, then hop over to DCA when it opens.

I haven't heard yet if TSM will have Fastpasses. Also, since people are often allowed in to DCA at 9:30 to ride Soarin', I'm wondering if the same will apply to TSM.

Except in September both parks open at the same time, 10AM. There is no indication that TSMM at DCA will have FP, so it would probably be a good idea for one day to hit TSMM early on. Just wait and see how the summer crowds go and then see how popular TSMM really is.

 

[VegasMike21]

Except in September both parks open at the same time, 10AM. There is no indication that TSMM at DCA will have FP, so it would probably be a good idea for one day to hit TSMM early on. Just wait and see how the summer crowds go and then see how popular TSMM really is.

i'm guessing it's gonna be very popular, every ride as soon as it comes out is popular. i'm guessing the lines will be 60-90 minutes long during the summer months, then it will go down a bit after summer.

 

[SweetSpot]

Also, since people are often allowed in to DCA at 9:30 to ride Soarin', I'm wondering if the same will apply to TSM.

Is everyone allowed in at 9:30 to ride Soarin' or is that only for guest staying in the resorts? Also, if it is everyone do you just show up earlier and they let you in?

 

[Dobie]

Is everyone allowed in at 9:30 to ride Soarin' or is that only for guest staying in the resorts? Also, if it is everyone do you just show up earlier and they let you in?

I think its everyone. Although I don't know this because I've only just stayed onsite.

 

[mmmears]

Is everyone allowed in at 9:30 to ride Soarin' or is that only for guest staying in the resorts? Also, if it is everyone do you just show up earlier and they let you in?

When we did that, it was only for guests at the Grand Californian -- and it wasn't announced, and they did make sure we had hotel keys before they let us in the park early.

 

[avalon451]

They let everyone in California Adventure at 9:30 at the main entrance. It's only the GCH entrance that only lets their own guests use the private entrance for early opening for Soarin'. Hmm... I'm pretty sure, anyway.

I'm wondering, even if the lines for the new ride are crazy, maybe it won't be as bad as Nemo. Because it's going to be designed like Buzz Lightyear, to be a "continuous loader," whereas Nemo is the slowest type of loader, with very limited capacity. Buzz lines move fairly continously and quickly even when it's busy, since it's always moving at a steady pace. So, hopefully, maybe it won't be so bad. I do hope they make it a fastpass attraction!

 

[jennilouwho]

We've never stayed onsite and we've always been able to get on Soarin' at 9:30.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

We've been there in September right after school starts - DCA was almost empty on a Monday! In fact DL was too, until about mid-afternoon! We were the only ones on the teacups! It was really funny!