Toy Story in the heat and crowds?

[soarinfan]

I'm going to Disney this weekend. I'm a bit nervous about the heat and I know it's a high crowd time. I can't really handle being in the heat for long. I really want to try toy story mania. Can you tell me if the queue is indoors or outdoors, air conditioned?

I'm wondering how long the waits are to get in right now? Has anyone been on it recently? Also, if we get there in the afternoon, will we have a good chance of getting a fastpass? Or do you have to grab it in the morning?

Also, has anyone tried the prince caspian? Is the queue still outdoors? How long is the wait on that?

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

I have not been there yet, but this thread has a lot of good information. There are pictures of the queue. I don't know, but am pretty sure that almost all the wait would be inside of the building, which would be airconditioned.

 

[Schmeck]

I noticed some queue ropes outside of TSM - I think your best bet to avoid being outside would be to get there earlier in the day and get fastpasses.

 

[soarinfan]

I'm sure going very early would be best, but it's just that I don't do well getting up early. I am dealing with chronic fatigue and I do so much better if I just sleep as long as I need to, and then get up and go.

Does anyone have a sense of the wait times right now, or if I can get a fastpass in the late morning/early afternoon? We're even thinking about going in the evening to avoid the heat, but I wonder if we'll end up having to wait forever.

Thanks!!!!

 

[dcns4]

Ques sometime are outside for awhile but then move indoors. Waits were up to 2 hours sometimes. We did get a Fastpass around 11:00 one morning but after 1:00 they are ususally gone. It's a fun ride-we did it three times!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

OK, this is probably going to be completely , but I just wanted to send some hugs your way . I've got Fibromyalgia, so know how debilitating chronic fatigue can be. I just thought I'd list a few things that can help with fatigue at WDW, though you most likely know most, if not all of them already. I know you're a pro at WDW, but something here may be of some help to you, or others reading this thread:

Keep cool - stick to the air con as much as possible, and maybe take a wash cloth in a zip-lock bag, so you can dowse down in restrooms. Mini battery powered fans can help too

Keep hydrated - OK, so you probably know this one, but it's especially important when your body isn't 100%

Consider using a wheelchair or ECV - no point in wasting the little energy you have getting to and from places

Try to keep your blood sugar balanced - eat regularly, carry a few savory snacks with you if possible, and try to avoid too many sweet things on an empty stomach

Take regular breaks - Again, you probably know this one, but a half hour break can sometimes make the difference of a few more hours of strength (for me, at least). If you need to lie down, you can use the beds in the first aid centres

plan carefully, so you don't zig-zag across the park too much


As I said, completely and probably telling you things you already know, but I wanted to get this written down in case it will help someone reading this thread.

By the sounds of it, it might be best to get a Fastpass as early as you can, as standing in line for 2 hours with fatigue would not be fun. If you're travelling with someone else, could you send them ahead of you to the park, to collect Fastpasses? That way you could get up gently, as and when your body permits, have a good breakfast, then head on to the park to meet the others in your group. You'd need to get them to meet you outside the gate, as they'll need the park tickets to get the Fastpasses. I don't know what Disney's policy is on this, but I can't see them having a problem with it.

Good luck!

 

[Schmeck]

If you're travelling with someone else, could you send them ahead of you to the park, to collect Fastpasses? That way you could get up gently, as and when your body permits, have a good breakfast, then head on to the park to meet the others in your group. You'd need to get them to meet you outside the gate, as they'll need the park tickets to get the Fastpasses. I don't know what Disney's policy is on this, but I can't see them having a problem with it.

Good luck!

The ticket has to be used for entry to that park before it can be used for a FP - if the finger scan is unique to that one ticket, no one but the OP could use it to get in.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I was at TSMM yesterday around 6:00. It actually took about 90 minutes, but only the first ten minutes was outside. And they did have two accessible cars running, so there was no extra delay in the special load zone.

 

[bushdianee]

I was there 2 weeks ago and the wait for Toy Story was 120 minutes. There was a long line outside. We decided to skip it since we had a 2.5 yo with us. We went across te street for the pictures with Buzz and Woody. That was a long line also but there are several sets along the way to take pictures at. We noticed that at one point the time for TS went up to 150 minutes. Too long for me!

 

[loriandmatt]

yes, the first small part of the wait is outdoors, but there is some overhead covering and fans. the rest of the Que is indoors and there is lots of cute stuff to look at.

Fastpass if you can. waits were 120 min and over when we visited two weeks ago. we snagged fastpasses at 10 or 11 am and our return time was 6:45pm. well worth it though. i would not have waited in the line for two hours.

We had my MIL with us who was using a ECV. We used our fastpasses and entered. she was able to take her ECV with her right up to the load area. a very unique handicaped load design. does not interupt play or loading for the rest of the patrons. this is good for the other patrons as well as good for those using the handicaped loading area. you don't feel rushed or as if you are holding up anyone if you need extra time.

An additional note. this ride is great for the little ones as the "gun" height is based on how low the seat bar comes down. their is one bar per passenger in the two seater car, so if the little one's bar comes down low, so does their gun. it fires easily as well. DD3 was able to fire and aim on her own and scored a respectable amount of points without my assistance.

better than Buzz at MK in both respects.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

The ticket has to be used for entry to that park before it can be used for a FP - if the finger scan is unique to that one ticket, no one but the OP could use it to get in.

Ahh, thank you Schmeck! I thought that there might be a restriction like this, but I didn't know for sure. I can see why they make you use the ticket for entry before you can use it for FP, but I didn't know if they had the system that integrated. From a purely technical point of view, I'm pretty impressed with that. I'm rambling, I'll shut up now!

 

[soarinfan]

Wow thank you all so much for the suggestions and information. OneLittleSpark, thanks for sharing! You know I'm starting to think that the best option is to get up early despite the chronic fatigue and get a fastpass as early as possible. 2 hours to wait is just toooooo long, and if I get to the park at 10 and get a fastpass for 6:45, that's too long a day for me anyway. Thanks to everyone for the help in figuring this out!

Does anyone know if the ECV users go through the same queue as everyone else?

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Yup, this ride has mainstream queuing, so you'll go through the regular entrance. They will pull you off part way through the line, at a gate marked with a wheelchair symbol, to get to the wheelchair loading bay, and avoid the steps. You can then park up and get on the ride with your family.

As for the getting up early, it should be doable without too rotten a day, if you plan ahead. Obviously I've never experienced anyone else's fatigue first hand, only my own, but I find that as long as I get to bed early, and take all my meds (including herbal sleeping tablets) I can deal with getting up early. Also, make sure you have a good protein meal the night before, and a good solid breakfast with plenty of carb and protein in the morning to fuel yourself up. If it doesn't flare the condition for you, a bit of caffeine can give you a little extra kick, but don't have too much, or you might come down hard from it.

Hmmm... maybe I ought to take my own advice once in a while, seeing as it's about twenty to midnight here, and I'm not in bed yet.

Hope you have a great trip!!

 

[Hemi-mom]

I was just about to post here about our experience on Toy Story Mania just one week ago. I'll post here and start a thread too.

The first time when went to see the line it was later in the day (3:30ish) and it said the wait time was 420 minutes!!!! Don't know how that is possible. SO we were staying at the Dolphin and it was a MAGIC HOURS night for resort guests. They opened the FASTPASS at 10:00 pm and at 9:30 people were lined up to get them. They went before we could get one and the regular line was 120 minutes. We didn't want to spend all of our magic hours waiting in line!
The next day we went early and we got fast passes early in the day. The fastpasses go VERY quickly. I'd say if you are not there by 12:00 (at the VERY latest) you may be too late to get one. We got to the handicapped ramp with one family ahead of us and the ride broke down. They gave us "anytime use" FPasses. We rode the ride later that evening and had a blast but the wait time in the wheelchair line was still 35 minutes. On our last day we wanted to go one more time so We got our FP at 9:00 and the return time was 12:25. OK so we got to the FP entrance RIGHT AT 12:25 and walked in and right into the wheelchair load ramp. We thought we were set to get on quickly and make our 1:20 reservations at Mama Melrose's. This is where things went downhill again. The wheelchair line had 4 families (two of them large familes) ahead of us. Because there are only two special cars (there are 2 cars on the ride where you have the choice to transfer or where the chair can go right on; these cars hold fewer people because if the one seat is not being used for a WC it stays empty) and these cars only come over to the handicapped loading zone every five or more minutes, the loading process was excruciatingly long. For example one family of four took the special car that is able to hold 6-8 and then it takes a good 10 minutes for that car to come back. It took us one hour (we got off the ride at 1:25) even with fastpass. That was discouraging even though my three boys said it was SO worth it because it is truly an awesome ride! But I felt badly that with FP we still had to wait an hour because our son needs a wheelchair and were late for our lunch reservations.

We kindly told the CM's there our frustrations and they said they were doing their best and we acknowledged that they were doing their best with what they had to work with. What we didn't understand was that every person in the wheelchair line ahead of us was able to transfer into the car, including us. With the wheelchair line backed up, they could've taken regular cars in the wheelchair track and gotten us through quicker.

Oh and I forgot to say that having FP you mostly wait in the cool! That is a great thing!

 

[Schmeck]

We kindly told the CM's there our frustrations and they said they were doing their best and we acknowledged that they were doing their best with what they had to work with. What we didn't understand was that every person in the wheelchair line ahead of us was able to transfer into the car, including us. With the wheelchair line backed up, they could've taken regular cars in the wheelchair track and gotten us through quicker.

So, even if you can transfer, you need to wait in the wheelchair line to get on? You can't do a transfer in the other line? Is that because of the stairs?

Well, I guess this should be used as an example for those that believe guests with a GAC and/or wheelchair get on rides faster than those without!

 

[SueM in MN]

So, even if you can transfer, you need to wait in the wheelchair line to get on? You can't do a transfer in the other line? Is that because of the stairs?

Well, I guess this should be used as an example for those that believe guests with a GAC and/or wheelchair get on rides faster than those without!

I have not been there yet, but from the reports of people who have been, anyone who needs to avoid the stairs has to use the accessible 'bypass' and loading area.

 

[Hemi-mom]

So, even if you can transfer, you need to wait in the wheelchair line to get on? You can't do a transfer in the other line? Is that because of the stairs?

Well, I guess this should be used as an example for those that believe guests with a GAC and/or wheelchair get on rides faster than those without!

Yes, the stairs go one way and the ramp goes another. That way the chair is waiting at the same place you leave it when you get on.

I was thinking the same thing about people who look at the WC and GAC as an easy on! On Toy Story, from the ramp, you can see the people in the regular line through a glass wall going up and down the steps to the regular loading point. We watched people who were in the FP line right behind us get on in five minutes. Once you're on the stairs it's pretty quick. On the WC ramp it really depends on how many people are ahead of you and because it takes so long for the only two cars to get around, it takes a lot longer. In many attractions, when a WC lines diverts you it can be just as long if not longer than going the regular way. There are only a handful where it seemed we got through a little quicker. All in all it still comes down to the fact that being handicapped is never easier!

I think they easily could have sent the large family ahead of us in two cars that went together instead of them having to wait for the next special car. WC members of the family could have taken the special car and the others could've taken a car from where people exit...that would've made more sense, they would've have finished the ride almost at the same time and moved our line faster.

 

[Schmeck]

Well, this puts a glitch in our plans - my mom can not do stairs, but does not need an accessible vehicle. So, we'd have to use the accessible line, and use up a valuable accessible vehicle just because she can't do stairs? And if there are five of us together, we'd take up more than one vehicle, and we'd have to wait for another accessible one? That's crazy! We only need to avoid stairs, not use an accessible vehicle!

I'm wondering how much damage (to my hubby and me and my mom) would occur if we hauled her butt up the stairs, LOL! Actually, getting one of those support slings (firefighters use them) to carry her might be our best bet! She can walk, even outwalk me sometimes, just can't do stairs!

Now, why didn't they make the bridge over the tracks a ramp instead of stairs?

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Schmeck, you wouldn't need to use separate vehicles for 5 of you, just separate cars. Each of the vehicles has two cars tied together, with seats on either side. I think the accessible car only has two guns on it (one for the wheelchair user, one for the person next to them), but the back one is the same as any of the other cars, with two seats facing in each direction, a gun on each.

I really wouldn't recommend carrying her up the stairs, as you could end up hurting yourselves badly, and we don't want that! Also, if a CM saw, they might try to stop you, for safety reasons (I know you're probably not seriously considering this, but I can imagine someone resorting to this, with some of the stories I've heard !). Hopefully they will have sorted these problems all out by the time you go