Soarin'/Toy Story Mania at Rope Drop with ECV

[mikipe2]

Hi All,

I'm going to WDW for the first time in January, and I'm trying to work out how to approach the most popular rides in an ECV.

We're planning on making rope drops whenever possible, and heading towards the most popular rides first (usually following the Unofficial Guides touring plans).

I've read that many times you can waste alot of time lining up to get a fastpass first thing at rope drop, and the lines for the fastpass machines may end up being similar to the line for the actual ride at that time anyway. I'm just wondering if this still applies with an ECV.

Has anyone actually braved the rope drop rush (mad dash?) in an ECV, especially to Soarin or Toy Story Mania? Is it something that is worth doing, or should it just be avoided? We're going in off-season, so I'm expecting the crowds to low-ish and the fastpasses to not run out too quickly.

I think we're looking at avoiding the Toy Story Mania mad dash and spending some quality crowd free time at the Tower of Terror, and Soarin' has that elevator issue that will slow us down, but I'm hoping we could still try and get on first thing without too much of a wait...

Any advice and/or experiences are much appreciated.

Thanks!
Mike.

 

[SueM in MN]

It would be the same with an ECV. If you don't have a Fastpass (or if it's too early for the Fastpass line to be open), you go in the regular line with everyone else to the point where a CM is collecting Fastpasses. At that point, the regular line continues up a set of steps and then back down the steps (this is to go over the track).
Guests using ECVs or wheelchairs at that point are directed to bypass the stairs in the regular line and board at an area where the CMs can pull a ride car out of the line for them to board. When we have been there during the day, that line has been long. You can't really count on that line being busy or not - it wll all depend on how many people with ECVs of wheelchairs have decided to ride right away.

 

[dmccarty]

We get to every park at rope drop. Hopefully a EMH rope drop.

At EPCOT I join the thundering herd to get FP's for Soarin while the wife and kids got to Test Track. Disney tries it's best to control the mob going to Soarin but it is a scary trip. People walk very fast and if someone falls it is going to be ugly. Soarin is in a building where you walk up a long steep ramp that takes you to the second floor. The ride is on the first floor. Going down the stairs or escalators to get to Soarin is scary.

And I am 6 feet tall and 200 pounds.

A wheel chair or ECV at Soarin has to use the elevator. The thundering heard goes up the ramp into the right side of the building. ECVs/wheel chairs go left to the elevator.

Even during Spring Break it the wait is not long to get on Soarin at RP. We get the FPs and get on other rides instead. That way we maximize the early morning times when the parks are emptier. The FP lines at Soarin can be long after RP.

Last trip we rode Test Track three times after I got the Soarin FPs. We might have been able to go a fourth time but the ride broke for a while and by the time they got it fixed the crowd started to gather. At that point we just went back and rode Soarin.

We follow the same pattern at HS regarding Toy Story Mania. I deal with the thundering herd while the family takes there time to go to Star Tours. The Fast Pass lines at Toy Story are busy at RP and the ride fills up fast. But I get the FPs and we can ride Star Tours a couple of times without being in line. Get on the ride, get off, and then get back on. Eventually we mosey back to TSM.

The thundering herd at RD at any of the parks is a bit scary. AK is not any better as people head over to EE. I go get FP for EE while the family takes there time getting to the Safari ride. At MK I get FP for Thunder Mountain or Space Mountain depending on which is open.

We have young kids and people with mobility issues in our family. Having them deal with the mob/thundering heard is just not worth it. It is not safe. On an ECV it might be safer though since my big concern is someone tripping and falling or getting separated in the crowd. If your ECV and other party members can keep up with the crowd you could likely get on on Soarin or TSM with not much wait time.

We think it is a better use of time to get the Fast Passes and enjoy other rides while people are hitting the more popular rides. On our last two trips Test Track would have 45-60 minute wait times shortly after regular park opening. So getting on TT while waiting for the Soarin FP time was worth it.

Later,
Dan

 

[Cheshire Figment]

For TSM if you are using a non-Disney ECV you shoulkd have no problem in keeping up with or even beating the crowd, since most of the off-site rentals can do about 4½mph. As far as Soarin' is concerned, you can again easily stay up with or ahead of the pack but then you will have the delay at the elevator.

 

[mikipe2]

Thanks for all of your detailed responses!

Does anyone else have any ECV/wheelchair rope drop experiences? Or advice on whether to avoid it or not?