So confused about RSR strategy. Help?

[branv]

Our first DCA day is 5/2 on a Tuesday (non-early entry day). Park opens at 9 am.

My goal is to minimize waiting bc I have a crazy 3.5yo. We also want to ride RSR before 1 pm bc we're leaving for naptime/break then.

I thought we might get to the gates 30-40 minutes before opening. Immediately head to get an RSR FP. Then head over to either TSMM for standby and pull a Soarin' FP when our window re-opens. Though apart from Carsland, we won't be too bummed if we miss any of the other rides that day as we have the option to return to DCA on Thursday.

This is theoretically a low'ish crowd day (ha, if you can say that anymore!).

So how long of a line is it to get an FP at RSR (without sprinting there) and about what return time are we likely to see?

Am I incorrect that it seems like even in less busy times the standby time for RSR jumps to an hour pretty quickly even if you're there at rope drop?

Most of my confusion is bc it seems the Touring Plans planning tools predicted wait times seem so off the mark from what I've been reading around the net and on reported times since January??

Thank you so much!

 

[scrapshappen]

There will be a short wait for RSR FPs. But even on our busiest day this week, I don't think it took more than 15 minutes to get one. I believe Touring Plans takes walking to your next destination into account. I would expect your return time to be around 10.

 

[branv]

There will be a short wait for RSR FPs. But even on our busiest day this week, I don't think it took more than 15 minutes to get one. I believe Touring Plans takes walking to your next destination into account. I would expect your return time to be around 10.

Thanks so much!

I should have clarified that they seemed to be drastically underestimating wait times. Like an hour after opening it was estimating a 40 minute wait in one plan I made.

 

[SMD]

They can't know the effects of TSMM FP and the parks being connected now on RSR FP. It's 9:15 right now, DCA opened at 8am, RSR is 25 min standby and FP is 11:20-12:20. And it's spring break.

 

[agamble]

If it's predicted to be a low crowd day then the parks won't open until 10AM. That is part of why the lines are still longish right at opening. People can make it to the parks by 10. It's getting there at 7 or 8 that is hard for many. I think your plan will work well. There isn't any reason it should take more than 5 minutes to get your RSR FP at opening, especially on a weekday in May when you're arriving 30-40 minutes before opening. Have a good trip.

 

[abuck75]

I assume that's a part of the earlier build at DL than WDW. It's a lot harder to get to the magic kingdom for a 9:00AM open than DL with the ferry/monorail and buses.

 

[Liam'sMimi]

The Disneyland calendar shows DCA opening at 9 rather than 10 on Tues, Thurs, and Saturday the first week of May. Is there reason to believe that is inaccurate or it could change?

 

[scrapshappen]

The Disneyland calendar shows DCA opening at 9 rather than 10 on Tues, Thurs, and Saturday the first week of May. Is there reason to believe that is inaccurate or it could change?

I assume it's because of EMH on M, W, F and Sunday. That happened this past week too. 8 AM opening on days without EMH and 9 on days that did.

 

[scrapshappen]

They can't know the effects of TSMM FP and the parks being connected now on RSR FP. It's 9:15 right now, DCA opened at 8am, RSR is 25 min standby and FP is 11:20-12:20. And it's spring break.

Most passes are blocked today so it would be a lower crowd day.

 

[SMD]

Most passes are blocked today so it would be a lower crowd day.

But a 40 minute wait an hour after opening isn't unheard of on a Tuesday in early May. Compared to the first day of Disney's peak spring break period, TP might not be wrong there.

 

[lcp9]

They can't know the effects of TSMM FP and the parks being connected now on RSR FP. It's 9:15 right now, DCA opened at 8am, RSR is 25 min standby and FP is 11:20-12:20. And it's spring break.

25 minute standby?? Geez.

 

[Kanga1]

Thank you for posting this! We're going that first week in May as well and plan on hitting DCA during EMH at 8:00am. FP machines aren't open for EMH, correct? So if we are in the front of the crowd, how feasible would it be to ride standby first thing and get a FP when the park officially opens at 9:00am?

 

[bouds]

Actually, when I was there last week, the RSR FP was open during EMH. First time I've seen that (admittedly with limited experience.) FPs were running out by 10:30. But this is spring break.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I've been hearing that fast passes for RSR have been available during EMH so you might check after you finish riding standby.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

In fact, I just looked at the Disneyland app and it appears that during today's EMH fastpasses for both RSR and TSMM are being distributed before regular park opening. Fastpasses for Soarin' are not yet available.

 

[BriannaRuth]

In fact, I just looked at the Disneyland app and it appears that during today's EMH fastpasses for both RSR and TSMM are being distributed before regular park opening. Fastpasses for Soarin' are not yet available.

I think I'm going to add this to my "list of changes" thread since it's been reported by a couple of people.

 

[Kanga1]

Actually, when I was there last week, the RSR FP was open during EMH. First time I've seen that (admittedly with limited experience.) FPs were running out by 10:30. But this is spring break.

I've been hearing that fast passes for RSR have been available during EMH so you might check after you finish riding standby.

In fact, I just looked at the Disneyland app and it appears that during today's EMH fastpasses for both RSR and TSMM are being distributed before regular park opening. Fastpasses for Soarin' are not yet available.

Thank you!! This is good information to know. So you think I should ride standby first and then pull a FP? Or should I try to grab the FP's first and then get in line for the ride? This is assuming we are close to the front of the pack.

 

[Disney_Alli]

You'll have a shorter wait to ride and to pull fastpasses if you ride first and then pull them.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

You'll have a shorter wait to ride and to pull fastpasses if you ride first and then pull them.

This is what I tend to think as well. For my June trip, I will probably ride GotG first and then pull a RSR fastpasses if are still distributing them early.

 

[Disney_Alli]

This is what I tend to think as well. For my June trip, I will probably ride GotG first and then pull a RSR fastpasses if are still distributing them early.

That's exactly what I have planned too for one day. Another day I'll try and pull one for an evening ride - I also want to ride it right at park close one night.