TSM Rope Drop,How Early?

[ps17]

OK, we'll play (the FP+ limitation game). How early do we have to be at the main gate before posted start time? And how long will the typical wait be by the time we get to the attraction. 10 minutes? 30? We will be going this coming Sat (peak Spring Break Time...)

 

[Maddie01]

Did it today. Got to the park around 8:15 and there was a big crowd waiting. They started letting us in at 8:50. We went to RR first but were done by 9:05 and TSM was on 15 minute wait according to app. By the time we walked over there it was 60 minutes. Good luck!

 

[DisneyHardin]

That early though, it does move faster than later in the day because there really aren't many people coming through the Fast Pass lane at that time.

 

[set1208]

I'm trying to figure out a good strategy for DHS too. We didn't do any of the great rides this past October because we stayed off site and by the time we went to get FP for TSM (at like 9-9:30 am) they were all gone. The cm said it was mostly due to the FP+ guests snatching them up so early.

So...my DS and I want to do the three big ones. I'm guessing it'd be best if we got FP+ for later in the day for ToT and RnRc and rush over first thing at rope drop to get in line for TSM. We don't need to do any one more than once.

He'd also like to see the Race Car show...I'd that still going on? If so, are their regularly scheduled times for that or does it vary by the day/season.

 

[bastos]

Did it today. Got to the park around 8:15 and there was a big crowd waiting. They started letting us in at 8:50. We went to RR first but were done by 9:05 and TSM was on 15 minute wait according to app. By the time we walked over there it was 60 minutes. Good luck!

You did it in the wrong order.

Flip them.

Especially because TSMM starts operating when the gates open. Normally RNR and TOT don't start until 9:00 am.

PLUS - the number of people that RNR and TOT can accommodate is MUCH higher.

Unless you have the fast pass, hit up the TSMM first. Always.

Arrival? I'd get there BY 30 minutes before. But most importantly, don't carry a bag.

 

[tlh]

Do toy story then rockin roller coaster then tower of terror. Be there an hour early to be in line at least. Go to the line in the far right facing the park. Normally the guests will just line up behind whoever first they see in the middle leaving the side open more. If you leave the resort with an hour before opening you will be close to the front. Take some breakfast snacks for kids to eat while you wait.

 

[ptisme]

We got to the park about 30 min before opening. Do get in far right side line, it moves way faster! (our first mistake was not doing this!) By the time we got back to TSM the wait time said 30 min but we only waited about 15 before we rode. We then went to ToT and rode. We had FP for RnR for later so chose to do Star Tours before the line got to long. Then because it was supposed to rain that day, we decided to do all the character meet and greets and photopass pics before the rain started. We got all that done before it rained but we had huge lines for all the rides after the rain stared! We did wait to ride RnR stand by as we waited for our FP time to come up. We did all our FPs then left the park as the rain was not letting up and the line were piling up!

 

[Davey Jones II]

With FP+ messing things up? If you show up two days in advance, you should be all right.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

That early though, it does move faster than later in the day because there really aren't many people coming through the Fast Pass lane at that time.

Based on other reports FP+ is now being used in that first hour. So if park opens at 9 there are folks in the FP+ line at 9. I think rope drop is still good advice for minimizing waits but not as awesome as it used to be. =(

 

[AshleeH]

Don't believe the posted times at the beginning and end of the day. The beginning they're just guesses (and more often than not, they inflate the times). At the end, they post the waits are longer than they are, in order to keep people from entering the line (and keeping the park open later).

 

[ciera321]

We always arrive at least an hour before posted opening time. We head straight to TSM, then RnR, followed by ToT. This is our normal routine, and we're usually having breakfast at Starring Roles by 10AM.

 

[ps17]

So we have heard 30 minutes and an hour. If you are 30 minutes does this mean that you are still going to be held up? An hour sounds awful early... So if it is EMH 8:00AM, we are talking 7:00AM?

 

[ps17]

Also, Sat is EMH 8:00AM opening. WE are at beach club. Will boats even be running at or before 7:00AM? Or do we need to walk?

 

[frozengurl]

OK, we'll play (the FP+ limitation game). How early do we have to be at the main gate before posted start time? And how long will the typical wait be by the time we get to the attraction. 10 minutes? 30? We will be going this coming Sat (peak Spring Break Time...)

Last October before everyone had FP+, on a day that was suppose to be low crowds, when we got to TSMM it was already a 30 min. Wait!
All we did was walk in instead of sprinting/running in... We strolled in and went straight there! I was shocked it was already 30 min.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I'm trying to figure out a good strategy for DHS too. We didn't do any of the great rides this past October because we stayed off site and by the time we went to get FP for TSM (at like 9-9:30 am) they were all gone. The cm said it was mostly due to the FP+ guests snatching them up so early.

So...my DS and I want to do the three big ones. I'm guessing it'd be best if we got FP+ for later in the day for ToT and RnRc and rush over first thing at rope drop to get in line for TSM. We don't need to do any one more than once.

He'd also like to see the Race Car show...I'd that still going on? If so, are their regularly scheduled times for that or does it vary by the day/season.

I wonder if you would be better of getting a FP+ for TSMM and then hitting RnRC and ToT at rope drop instead.

They normally schedule 2 shows for LMA that are usually the same time and add extra shows during busier times. I think you can usually find them on wdwent.com.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

We did this last week. Arrived about 20 minutes before opening on an EMH morning. There was a huge crowd lined up in front of us to get in the gates, we were lined up behind the ticket booths. They let the crowd in 8:00 on the nose. We power walked to TSM, was probably 8:10 or 8:15 by the time we got in the gates and back there. By the time we got there the Standby Line said 20 minutes. It took us about 20 minutes to get on the ride and they were already opening up all the queues inside. Standby was posted at 50 minutes by the time we got off the ride.

Spring break week, EMH morning.

 

[iheartpeterpan]

Sorry double post!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I wonder if you would be better of getting a FP+ for TSMM and then hitting RnRC and ToT at rope drop instead.

It depends on how many times you wish to ride TSMM. It is our favorite ride in DHS, so we always ride it twice via SB line first thing in the morning as the lines will only get longer as the day progresses. We use the FP+ later in the evening, giving us 3 TSMM rides for the day. (before FP+, we rode it 4 times/day).

We ride RnRC via the single rider line, which always moves quickly and can ride 3 or 4 times/day with no problems. It is ToT that is hit or miss. If you are there at the right times, SB can be short. Time it wrong and the wait seems to take forever, and I hate that queue.

To answer the OP's question - we arrive at DHS 45 minutes before the advertised park opening time. They usually start letting folks in about 15 minutes before the advertised time on days without morning EMH.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

It depends on how many times you wish to ride TSMM. It is our favorite ride in DHS, so we always ride it twice via SB line first thing in the morning as the lines will only get longer as the day progresses. We use the FP+ later in the evening, giving us 3 TSMM rides for the day. (before FP+, we rode it 4 times/day).

We ride RnRC via the single rider line, which always moves quickly and can ride 3 or 4 times/day with no problems. It is ToT that is hit or miss. If you are there at the right times, SB can be short. Time it wrong and the wait seems to take forever, and I hate that queue.

To answer the OP's question - we arrive at DHS 45 minutes before the advertised park opening time. They usually start letting folks in about 15 minutes before the advertised time on days without morning EMH.

How long was your standby wait? Just trying to get out plan plan figured out too and would love to ride TSMM more than once if possible, but my DD and DH will want to ride RnRC as well and DD and too young to do single rider.

 

[phewms]

We have an 800a ADR for H&V on a non-EMH day.
Because my son only has interest in TSMM and no other rides, we decided to use our FP+ for another park in the afternoon.

I'm hoping we will finish breakfast around 850. Can we head there and get in line? Would you anticipate the SB line to be longer than 20 minutes, since many will use FP+ as a guarantee to ride?