Toy Story Mania - Unofficial Guide V Ridemax

[Andona]

Last year we rode TSMM at WDW and absolutely loved it. In WDW we were able to use FP so we never had a very long wait.

I've been trying to work out the best strategy to avoid a long wait when we go to DCA in October so I was reading the advice in the 2009 Unofficial Guide as well as the tips on Ridemax and they seem to totally contradict each other?

I need some help from the real experts - you guys!

IN the Unofficial Guide it says that long lines don't build until an hour to 90 mins after the park opens, so I thought I'd grab a Soarin FP at rope drop and then head straight across to TSMM.

However, the Ridemax tips say that unless you are right at the very front of the rope drop crowd you will find that the waits blow out incredibly fast. e.g. 45 mins only 15 mins after rope drop. They say that the waits for TSMM actually drop back to a more manageable level by about 2pm. So every Ridemax plan that I do puts TSMM in the afternoon.

I gather that DCA usually (?) opens at 9.30 and people come then and start lining up in a special area for TSMM? So that to be right at the front of the TSMM crowd you really need to be at the gates for DCA by 9.15. If that's right then we'll spend 45 minutes lining up before we even get into the proper TSMM line?
If that's really the case then I wonder if we'd be better going with the Ridemax advice and leaving it til the afternoon?

I would really appreciate some guidance from some of the regulars? We will be at DCA in mid-October ( on a Saturday) which I understand is expected to be pretty crowded. Were doing DL on the Friday as we don't qualify for EE.

TIA
Andona

 

[rstamm]

Last year we rode TSMM at WDW and absolutely loved it. In WDW we were able to use FP so we never had a very long wait.

I've been trying to work out the best strategy to avoid a long wait when we go to DCA in October so I was reading the advice in the 2009 Unofficial Guide as well as the tips on Ridemax and they seem to totally contradict each other?

I need some help from the real experts - you guys!

IN the Unofficial Guide it says that long lines don't build until an hour to 90 mins after the park opens, so I thought I'd grab a Soarin FP at rope drop and then head straight across to TSMM.

However, the Ridemax tips say that unless you are right at the very front of the rope drop crowd you will find that the waits blow out incredibly fast. e.g. 45 mins only 15 mins after rope drop. They say that the waits for TSMM actually drop back to a more manageable level by about 2pm. So every Ridemax plan that I do puts TSMM in the afternoon.

I gather that DCA usually (?) opens at 9.30 and people come then and start lining up in a special area for TSMM? So that to be right at the front of the TSMM crowd you really need to be at the gates for DCA by 9.15. If that's right then we'll spend 45 minutes lining up before we even get into the proper TSMM line?
If that's really the case then I wonder if we'd be better going with the Ridemax advice and leaving it til the afternoon?

I would really appreciate some guidance from some of the regulars? We will be at DCA in mid-October ( on a Saturday) which I understand is expected to be pretty crowded. Were doing DL on the Friday as we don't qualify for EE.

TIA
Andona

We will be going in August and I was thinking the same thing.
Why wait 45 min. before the park opens when you can just go later and wait 45 min. in line.

I hate waiting in line and would rather get a fast pass but since they don't have any I will have to go on at least one time during our trip.

I would rather wait inside cooling off and checking out Andy's room then waiting outside in the hot sun.

Anyone else gone lately and could tell us how long you waited and what time of day it was.

 

[funatdisney]

I wonder if you tried getting in line during the last hour of the day. Does anyone know what it is like at that time?

 

[gatorfreud]

Well we have had two trips of experience with TSM.

First was last weekend in Oct. last year. On the Saturday of this weekend there was a special line that started over by the GCH - we went in that entrance but you could have walked there from the main entrance I think. DH went to get Soarin' FP and then met me back in this line. About 9:45, a CM slowly walked this line all the way over to TSM and we were on the 2nd car.

That Sunday we thought we would try to ride Soarin' at 9:30 then join the special line (not sure if there was one that day though) - we didn't even get out of Soarin' until about 10am, so we missed the line (if there was one) and ended up at TSM just after RD with a long wait, maybe 45 min.

At Thanksgiving, we rode TSM that Fri-Mon every day (I think - might have skipped one) at RD and we always used the GCH side - no special line, the CM told me they only do it when it is really busy (?). But we rode at RD with minimal wait after walking back there briskly - many people run but we do not. Now as you pointed out, we did spend about 45 minutes waiting for RD, so kind of pointless. I just like it. And when we get out, the line is already like 30-40 minutes - I know because it stretches out all the way to the entrance. That seems to be about 40 min. In October when we came out the line was across the walkway and stretching down the water's edge. So I guess the CM was right that the Oct. weekend was more crowded.

Both trips we also rode many times in the afternoon/evening (both trips) and the wait was always 30-40 minutes every time we did it from about 2-close.

The best was at RD the Monday after Thanksgiving - we rode 4x in the first hour - only a 10 min. wait each time or so. But not so on the weekends (and I would guess not summer weekdays). We are trying Friday 9/25 this trip to try to get that weekday TSM experience, but we'll see.

This trip I think we will try one day of RD at DCA - we can't use the GCH entrance, but we will probably walk over there and check it out - maybe the special line will be there. And maybe one day of just winging it for later. We haven't been in the summer before (going Aug 15-16) so I'm guessing for it to be more crowded.

Either way I think you are fine. You are sort of stuck waiting 30-45 minutes any way you slice it.

Hopefully someone who has been more recently can comment on the lines... I am interested to know this as well.

Kim

 

[gatorfreud]

I wonder if you tried getting in line during the last hour of the day. Does anyone know what it is like at that time?

The one time we did it (Oct. saturday) we ran there just before closing (at 8) from our Napa Rose dinner - still about 30 min.

Kim

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

We are doing the one commando trip on Aug 15th prior to a cruise and have seen the same from Ridemax. I agree that if it is a 45 minute wait later in the day it is probably better to get a bunch done elsewhere early while everyone is running to TSMM. My only question is are the lines truly in the 45 minute range in the late afternoon? You have to weigh the longer wait time later in the day combined with the shorter wait times elsewhere early against the shorter early wait time but potentially longer wait times at other attractions later.

 

[funatdisney]

The best was at RD the Monday after Thanksgiving - we rode 4x in the first hour - only a 10 min. wait each time or so.
Kim

I bet your playing arm was sore! I have rode TSM 4 times in a row (AP preview) and my right arm was a little sore after that.

Now that line near the GCH is news to me. Good to know.

 

[Rosie]

Great thread - thanks everyone who has posted here
There is a ride called Crush's Coaster at Disneyland Paris that poses similar difficulties and my DD and I decided that taking a book/DS/snack into line is the only thing to do. At least in lines in the US we won't get other guests smoking constantly right next to us.
My vote on this is with RM - waiting in the afternoon is less frustrating and I agree with WSF that waiting all that time at rope drop might be counterproductive to a well planned day.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I'm the camp that would rather do other shorter lines in the morning rather than wait for rope drop at DCA. Before Socal AP black out, the line was always at least 45 min. It even went across the path and along the lagoon fence at some points in the morning. The afternoon was better at 45 min.

After the summer block out for Socal it was much better and we did find afternoons after 2pm to be the best. Usually 25-30 min. We were there for a week and afteroons were best.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

In January we got to DCA at the 9:30 opening, we rode Soarin' (first ones on), then went over to the rope drop near GRR. There was no special line for TSMM on this day. At the rope drop, we "walked with purpose" to TSMM, we were among some of the first people on (we also beat the crowd of people coming from the opposite direction that went around GRR the other way). I am sure in October it will be busier though, so not sure how that would compare.

 

[Sherry E]

Like Gatorfreud, in October we also did the 'enter through the GCH entrance into DCA and wait in the line by GRR before DCA officially opened' method. We entered DCA through the GCH entrance, which led right to the line in question. A CM started to walk us over to TSMM at about 9:50 or 9:55 a.m., and we got into the TSMM queue before the masses of people who entered the front gates did, and when we got out of the ride we saw how many people were waiting IN the TSMM the line and we were very relieved we did it this way. Waiting for a short bit of time in the morning is much better to me than waiting 40 minutes or longer in the HEAT later in the day, which is unbearable to me. We have done it both ways, though, where we have also gone on TSMM in the 2:00 p.m. hour, and I would do the morning thing again in a heartbeat, whereas the 2:00 p.m. thing was too much for me.

We are not the commando types at DLR. We go with the flow that feels the most sensible at that time, on that day. Soarin' has a FP and TSMM does not, and that is how we organize our priorites. Somehow people are assuming you have to wait 45 minutes or even 30 minutes standing in a line by GRR - the amount of time of the wait keeps getting extended! I am not sure where that came from. If you get into Disneyland on a day when it opens at 8:00 a.m., you can spend a good 90 minutes there, then at 9:30 or just before it, walk across the esplanade, into DCA and over to the line formed by GRR (which is not terribly long because many people do not know a line forms over there). By the time you actually get there, you will only have to wait a short time before the CM begins to walk you to TSMM. Sometimes, as in Gatorfreud's case, they begin the walk you over to TSMM at 9:45 a.m., and other days you may get a CM who doesn't walk you over until 9:50 or 9:55 a.m. It worked beautfully for us. When we saw all the people standing in the TSMM line right when we got off the ride, we understood why it made sense to do it that way, and there was not a lot of time wasted, as people seem to think it is. One DIS-er said that their CM didn't walk them over until 10:00 a.m. on the dot, and in that case, you would run into the people coming in from the other, main gates, but that is not the common thing that happens. It is more common than not for the CM to start walking you over to TSMM before 10:00 a.m., and sometimes up to 15 minutes before 10:00 a.m.

If you really feel like you are wasting a lot of time trying it this way, then if you get into the line by GRR at 9:30 a.m. send someone else to get the FPs for Soarin' while you wait, just to kill two birds with one stone. To me, it's a no brainer - 1) enter DCA at 9:30 and get immediately into the Soarin' line and ride Soarin', only to come out and find the TSMM line hideously long by the time we reach it, OR 2) wait in a short line before 10:00 a.m. in the cool morning air, get onto the TSMM ride before the masses get to it, and then get on Soarin after that or get a FP for it and do something else in DCA while we wait for the FP time window. For us, Option #2 is the best! That worked the best for us in a non-Commando, non-Ridemax style.

 

[ballarinamom]

It didn't seem like that long of a wait. We got our Soarin FPs and hit TSM right at rope drop. The lines at DCA are never really long. We did they entire Paradise Pier area including TSM twice in less than an hour and were in line for Soarin

 

[HydroGuy]

I understand the reason for this question but want to point out that RideMax is a paid subscription service. Subscribers should be careful about repeating RideMax advice here in a public forum in detail.

Along those lines, RM seems to be most concerned about their wait time data as opposed to their general park advice so they have not seemed very concerned about posts like this. Also, RM does not have an outlet for questions like this. In other words, they do not have their own forums where people can ask this kind of question. So the only recourse is a forum like this.

Bottom line is RM subscribers should think twice before posting this kind of information. I am not saying it is wrong. Just be careful.

With all of that said, this question has been posted here before in a thread a month or two ago. And there was a split opinion which is good. I tend to side with RM on this one. Something I did not see mentioned in this thread is that TSMM at DCA has a single rider line which we used in May. While no FP, it is an option especially for smaller groups.

 

[PinkBudgie]

One time my sister and I decided we would give TSMM a try at opening. So we got over there quick and the ride was shut down.

 

[Hound 109]

.....In the Unofficial Guide it says that long lines don't build until an hour to 90 mins after the park opens, so I thought I'd grab a Soarin FP at rope drop and then head straight across to TSMM.

However, the Ridemax tips say that unless you are right at the very front of the rope drop crowd you will find that the waits blow out incredibly fast. e.g. 45 mins only 15 mins after rope drop. They say that the waits for TSMM actually drop back to a more manageable level by about 2pm. So every Ridemax plan that I do puts TSMM in the afternoon.

I gather that DCA usually (?) opens at 9.30 and people come then and start lining up in a special area for TSMM? So that to be right at the front of the TSMM crowd you really need to be at the gates for DCA by 9.15. If that's right then we'll spend 45 minutes lining up before we even get into the proper TSMM line?

If that's really the case then I wonder if we'd be better going with the Ridemax advice and leaving it til the afternoon?

I would really appreciate some guidance from some of the regulars? We will be at DCA in mid-October ( on a Saturday) which I understand is expected to be pretty crowded. Were doing DL on the Friday as we don't qualify for EE.

TIA
Andona

I think you're missing a big picture strategy of Park Hopping each day. (& with only two days at DLR, you should definitely Park Hop).

Note: Even on a MM day (Saturday) it's better to go to DL at 8am & hit the left side of the park (& pick up FPs) than to wait in a line for DCA (which doesn't open till 9:30 for Soarin' & 10 for all other rides).

Because of this, I definitely recommend RideMax's recommendation & I would use RideMax with the following:

Friday:

DL - 8am - noon
DCA - noon - 3pm
Take a rest
DL - 6pm till whenever.

Sat:

DL - 8am - 10:45am
DCA - 10:50 - 2or3pm
take a rest
DL - 5 (or 6pm) till whenever

So you can ride TSMM each day around noon. (after picking up a FP at Soarin/Griz/ToT or Screamin)


I recommend any first time DLR visitor (& especially the WDW vet) to review all of Hydroguy's Tip Threads...especially this one:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132


& this one:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599


& my park hop thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961


& here's a post that has ALL of his tip threads (all worth a read)...& his FP threads & advice are better & more applicable than UG or Ridemax:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


Also, you might find the first page (a recap) of my "one day" trip report linked below to be helpful....to see how knowledgable disers (with an understanding of ridemax.....which is great btw) can tour & zig when others are zagging.


Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

hound -

 

[LavenderPeach]

One time my sister and I decided we would give TSMM a try at opening. So we got over there quick and the ride was shut down.

Oh yeah! I forgot all about that. I guess that didn't really work out so well did it.

I was just wondering the other day if afternoons were still a good strategy for going on TSMM so I'm glad the subject came up.

 

[pixiewings71]

We don't do this ride at RD, too many other people waiting, we go in the late afternoon or right at closing and the line is usually much better. On our July trip a couple weeks ago we had 15 min. waits for TSMM.

 

[Tink 0720]

I agree with PP. We were in DCA this past weekend and the waits for TSMM were no longer than 30 minutes in the late pm. We were there during the Pixar parade and the posted wait was 20 min

 

[Andona]

I understand the reason for this question but want to point out that RideMax is a paid subscription service. Subscribers should be careful about repeating RideMax advice here in a public forum in detail. ...

Bottom line is RM subscribers should think twice before posting this kind of information. I am not saying it is wrong. Just be careful.

Thanks for the heads up Hydro Guy - I did check all the documents that were sent to me when I purchased Ridemax as well as the terms and Conditions on the website. Unlike the Tour Guide Mike service there was nothing in them requesting you to keep the information from Ridemax confidential, so I just assumed it was OK to post the info.

I'm a rule follower from wayback so I won't do it again (I was VERY careful not to divulge any of my Tour Guide Mike information from last year )
I was just wondering if this restriction also extends to books - e.g. is it also a mistake to refer to advice that appears in the Unofficial Guide?

Thanks also for your advice re the rides

Andona

 

[Andona]

I think you're missing a big picture strategy of Park Hopping each day. (& with only two days at DLR, you should definitely Park Hop).

Note: Even on a MM day (Saturday) it's better to go to DL at 8am & hit the left side of the park (& pick up FPs) than to wait in a line for DCA (which doesn't open till 9:30 for Soarin' & 10 for all other rides).

Because of this, I definitely recommend RideMax's recommendation & I would use RideMax with the following:

Friday:

DL - 8am - noon
DCA - noon - 3pm
Take a rest
DL - 6pm till whenever.

Sat:

DL - 8am - 10:45am
DCA - 10:50 - 2or3pm
take a rest
DL - 5 (or 6pm) till whenever

So you can ride TSMM each day around noon. (after picking up a FP at Soarin/Griz/ToT or Screamin)

Thanks Hound,
This is great advice! I'd forgotten how close the parks were at DL as it's 4 years since our last trip there and WDW is still fresh in my mind. I'll definitely be reading all those links you sent too.
Andona