Toy Story Mania crowds vs. WDW TSM

[Dr.Mickey]

Toy Story Mania is obviously an addictive, popular ride. The wait at Disney World in FL is often 2 plus hours, even on days with light crowds. Fast Passes are usally gone by noon. So I was wondering...

Is the TSM ride at California Adventure as crowded as the one at WDW? I think I read that it does not have a Fast Pass available, so I am also wondering how that may affect the wait times. Thanks

 

[ktlm]

My experience was that it is popular at DL, but not insane like at WDW. We were at DL for a few days last summer and the TSM line was always between 30 minutes and an hour, unlike at WDW where the line is rarely under an hour and usually more. Personally, I think the difference is directly related to the fact that at WDW, there are really no rides for little kids at DHS other than TSM-- at DL you have everything else right there too.

Others here that go to DL more frequently will be better able to confirm the average wait time.

 

[DLR29]

DLR's TSMM: Unless you ride first thing or right before park closing, the line will be a solid 30-45 min all day. No FP, which keeps the line moving at a good pace.

WDW's TSMM: Unless you ride first thing or get a FP, the line is 60 min minimum all day.

Basically, if you miss the morning rush at DCA, it really doesn't matter when you ride because the line will be very constant throughout the day.

 

[marlana323]

Does TSM have a height requirement? Thanks.

 

[the donut]

No height requirement - even a baby can go on. Child swap is available though, for those who think holding kids might hurt their score. Not that I'm competitive or anything.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I agree with DLR29 details on the lines at DCA & DHS

TSMM is one of the most popular attractions at the DLR and one of the rides that would have a long line but not that long like over one hour. I have rarely seen TSMM at DCA over one hour wait, mostly it is during the busy seasons. I have seen TSMM at DHS over an hour wait when the park opened the first hour. Got to get to the gate when it opens or get a FP or you will be in the line over one hour.

I also believe with the FP machine at WDW just makes the line more crowded.

 

[brergnat]

The lines at TSMM vary between 15 and 45 min. During the slow season (right now, weekdays), even midday, the line is only around 15-30 min.

The good thing is that there is a SINGLE RIDER line at TSM in DCA! Take advantage of it!

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree with DLR29 details on the lines at DCA & DHS

TSMM is one of the most popular attractions at the DLR and one of the rides that would have a long line but not that long like over one hour. I have rarely seen TSMM at DCA over one hour wait, mostly it is during the busy seasons. I have seen TSMM at DHS over an hour wait when the park opened the first hour. Got to get to the gate when it opens or get a FP or you will be in the line over one hour.

I agree with DLR29 and mvf on this. I was at DHS on the day TSM opened - June 1, 2008. And we road it 3-4 times that day - but never in a long line.

I have ridden TSMM at DCA several times. BTW, TSMM is the hardest ride at all of DLR to do with a short line. That will change, IMO, once LMAUA and CarsLand opens.

I also believe with the FP machine at WDW just makes the line more crowded.

I have always been skeptical of claims like this and so do not agree here. And not trying to start a big debate on the topic. Just my two cents...

 

[llqool]

The lines at TSMM vary between 15 and 45 min. During the slow season (right now, weekdays), even midday, the line is only around 15-30 min.

Wow!! We were just at DHS last week, supposedly the slow season, and even tho' we got there when the park opened on a Wednesday, and pulled a fast pass and then waited in line so we could ride twice, the wait time was about 45 minutes by half an hour after park opening. By afternoon, waits are up to an hour plus (and that's on slow days). You should have seen the mob scene getting from the front of the park to TSMM -- at rope drop they even block off side paths and basically guide you as a large mass of humanity back to the ride.

I know that the Fastpasses slow the process down, but it's disappointing to me that there are no fastpasses for this ride at DCA. It means that we will only be able to ride once when we go in late June, b/c no one, from my husband down to my 5 year old, will stand in a 45 minute line twice, even for a ride as good as this one.

Someone said that at DCA, the wait also goes down in the evening....is that during World of Color? About when does the wait start to drop again?

 

[kiwitravel]

No single rider at DCA, it wasn't there in August last year.... Yes the wait does reduce while WoC is on but still expect 30 minutes...

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Single rider at DCA TSMM has been gone for quite a while now.

 

[Funball]

Toy Story Mania is obviously an addictive, popular ride. The wait at Disney World in FL is often 2 plus hours, even on days with light crowds. Fast Passes are usally gone by noon. So I was wondering...

Is the TSM ride at California Adventure as crowded as the one at WDW? I think I read that it does not have a Fast Pass available, so I am also wondering how that may affect the wait times. Thanks

there is no fast pass for TSM at DCA, no single rider also and it's a good 40 min wait depending on the day.. I have seen the wait even longer..

 

[kiwitravel]

I am no expert on WDW but what I hear from others the FPs make the WDW normal line quite slow moving so it tends to be a longer wait. We found the line at DCA moved quite quickly but even so we waited 35 minutes the first time and 45 minutes the second before we ended up with a GAC (my daughter got sick) which meant no waits...

 

[mvf-m11c]

I have always been skeptical of claims like this and so do not agree here. And not trying to start a big debate on the topic. Just my two cents...

I understand for what you are saying. Even with the FPs at DHS, it does help the people who want to go on TSMM without being in that long line.

 

[brenda1966]

We don't like waiting in long lines either, but the line at DCA seems to move along quite nicely. So, 45 minutes doesn't seem too bad if you grab some snacks (a slushie and a popcorn) to eat in line!

 

[joelybelly]

Does TSM have a height requirement? Thanks.

Kids have to be able to sit up on their own. I could not take my 9 month old 2 yrs ago.

 

[DisDreamz]

The line for TSMM at DCA varies alot according to the time of year you go. If you're able to go on the off season and arrive at park opening you can easily hit the ride with a 10-15 minute wait and probably be able to ride it again immediately with not much longer than that (except the die hards I find that people take awhile to get back to Toy Story).

However we have never experienced the waits that we've found at DHS. We went straight from rope drop (skipped the fast pass line which was longer than the standby line and it still took a good 30-45 minutes to get through) and that was in mid-January.

Also the single rider usually isn't open unless the wait is really long so maybe it just hasn't been "busy" enough to be open? I didn't see it open when I went on Tuesday, but it didn't bother me I still went on the ride two separate times during the day (once when I first got there at noon and then again at 5:30) and never waited longer than 20 minutes.

 

[Armadillo4]

It means that we will only be able to ride once when we go in late June, b/c no one, from my husband down to my 5 year old, will stand in a 45 minute line twice, even for a ride as good as this one.

Hydroguy made an interesting comment above. Sometime in May, The Little Mermaid ride will open and it will be THE e-ticket attraction in DCA this Summer. I'm purely speculating here, but The Little Mermaid should draw some guests away from TSMM and possibly reduce the wait times just a bit for your trip in June. I don't think it would be drastic, but maybe we'd see 30-35 minute averages for TSMM this summer instead of 45+.

Or maybe not. I really don't know, but it will be interesting to see. I can't wait for The Little Mermaid!!

(edited to add)
One of my friends suggested the opposite might happen. The Little Mermaid (plus Star Tours 2.0 and the new parade in DL) could bring so many additional guests into the parks that they might increase the wait time for TSMM. And that logic seems to be very plausible too. It could be a very, very busy summer at DLR.

 

[PHXscuba]

I will say the one advantage to the WDW version vs. the DCA version is the queue. The line is much more interesting at DHS. The DCA version has a few posters up, but other than that it's pretty much a metal corral of switchbacks. And Mr. Potatohead is outside. Unless the line is ginormous, you won't even have him to entertain you in line (but you can see him even if you're not riding, a bonus.)

I'm certain it's just my bad luck, but both times I have been to DCA since TSM opened, it had technical issues. We raced all the way over there at rope drop in Oct '09 only to find it closed. It didn't open until much later and we actually got in line 5 minutes before park closing (waited about 25 minutes on that not-busy day). In Dec '10 we parkhopped to DCA about 11:30 and headed for Paradise Pier only to find they were only running half of the cars and weren't letting anyone new into the line. They did have it running by mid-afternoon but we weren't willing to brave the 45 minute line.

PHXscuba