What to do at California Adventure during MM hour (8am to 9am)?

[kly]

First time ever to this park traveling with 3 kids (8,8,3). Using the MM hour on Wed April 20th and Fri April 22nd.
What ride to do first? What fast passes to get?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! We are staying next door at GCH and have park hoppers. Thanks!

 

[sherilaine]

Just to clarify, as you are on onsite you will be using your EMH to get into DCA for an hour earlier on Wed and Friday. The MM is for offsite guests who purchase a 3day or longer ticket - and is only at DL.

Also, you are not able to pull Fast Passes until the park officially opens to all guests - so if your EMH is at 8AM and park opens at 9, then that is when the FP machines will begin working.

I'd suggest TSMM if you enjoy that ride as with only onsite guests in the park you should be able to ride it multiple times with minimal wait. It's a very popular ride with long waits all day long and it has no fast pass so it's a popular early morning ride. Another popular ride for early morning is RSR provided your 3 year old is tall enough. Enjoy!!

 

[Camshell]

First time ever to this park traveling with 3 kids (8,8,3). Using the MM hour on Wed April 20th and Fri April 22nd.
What ride to do first? What fast passes to get?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! We are staying next door at GCH and have park hoppers. Thanks!

You will find a lot of things still closed during that hour. It seemed as only a handful of the rides were open. My kids love Goofy's Sky School so they ride that about 5-6 times with no wait (sometimes they even let them stay on it without getting off first). Then we go to Little Mermaid, then Toy Story Mania. After we get a quick hot drink and snack and then at 8am head over to the Radiator Springs Racers Fast Pass machines to grab a Fast Pass for later.

You can't get Fast Passes until 8am. We also grab a set of Fast Passes for World of Color after the RSR Fast Passes.

 

[kly]

Thank you both!
Question about the WOC fast passes. How important are these to be able to see the show with little ones? Once I have the WOC fast passes, can I get others?

 

[sherilaine]

Thank you both!
Question about the WOC fast passes. How important are these to be able to see the show with little ones? Once I have the WOC fast passes, can I get others?

WOC fast passes are disconnected!

 

[Camshell]

Thank you both!
Question about the WOC fast passes. How important are these to be able to see the show with little ones? Once I have the WOC fast passes, can I get others?

Fast Passes are good so you can get into a good section. We normally get there about 50 min. before the show starts and get a spot in front of shrubs. That way no one will stand directly in front of you. We are usually near the back of the section standing with the shrubs and fence in front of us. We like the back section better as we can get a more global view of the show. Some people like really close up, but we prefer further back.

 

[Eosphotog]

The vast majority of the mob goes straight into cars land and RSR. We've had great luck going to ride Toy Story Mania instead. Walk on, walk on, walk on, repeat. We rode 3 times and then actually got tired of it! I wouldn't spend that hour on things that don't usually have long lines (like Little Mermaid).

So TSM, then loop back hit Soarin, then pick up FP for RSR once park officially opens. Knock out the headliners and then hit all of the smaller rides.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Is there a list of attractions that are opened during EMH for both parks? We will be staying onsite during our trip and we are planning on taking advantage of EMH too.

 

[MikeRx]

The vast majority of the mob goes straight into cars land and RSR. We've had great luck going to ride Toy Story Mania instead. Walk on, walk on, walk on, repeat. We rode 3 times and then actually got tired of it! I wouldn't spend that hour on things that don't usually have long lines (like Little Mermaid).

So TSM, then loop back hit Soarin, then pick up FP for RSR once park officially opens. Knock out the headliners and then hit all of the smaller rides.

I second this approach as this is our ideal plan as well! We do TSMM 2-3 times depending how our wrists feel..., we add a ride on Scream'n as it our son's favorite in DCA before heading over to Soarin and FP for RSR. We aren't ToT fans so we don't have to loop back to catch it before the crowds build. I do want to warn you that the crowd does look menacing when you go towards Soarin and the FP machine for RSR...

 

[chrisaman]

We

I second this approach as this is our ideal plan as well! We do TSMM 2-3 times depending how our wrists feel..., we add a ride on Scream'n as it our son's favorite in DCA before heading over to Soarin and FP for RSR. We aren't ToT fans so we don't have to loop back to catch it before the crowds build. I do want to warn you that the crowd does look menacing when you go towards Soarin and the FP machine for RSR...

always do TSMM first due to the lack of fast passes. Screamin is right there so that's a good one to do as well. Then we do soarin or tower of terror and that usually fills the hour. If you are going to Toy Story use the DCA entrance. It will get you closer and u will beat the main entrance mob

 

[Nevada Jen]

I would add, just be prepared, the Grand Californian Entrance to DCA is really slow and packed in the morning. SO if you are not going to be there in line at least 15 minutes before opening, use the main entrance to the park. If you get to the GC entrance and there more than a few families in front of you, you are still probably better off going to the main entrance. DCA extra magic hours are not terribly packed because you have to be an onsite hotel guest to get them. You really do not have to rush and push to get good short line time riding in. Just remember to get RSR fast passes right when the park opens to the public if you want to ride in the day time. But honestly, I think it is super cool to ride at night, then hit grizzly river and then go right home to your hotel through the GC entrance.

 

[kly]

Such great advice! Thanks all.

 

[jfk4]

I don't think that this will help you, but I generally hit Toy Story first and then head back to RSR and get in the single rider line. During EMH single rider often has a five minute wait time, so it is possible to ride both Toy Story and RSR multiple times in one hour. From there I generally head over to Tower of Terror to finish up and then check the wait times for Soarin'.

 

[realrellim]

Along those lines: is Anna & Elsa's Royal Welcome open during EMH? Also, I think I read that there was a Fast Pass for it and that it was the only FP one could get during EMH, but now there isn't one?

 

[sherilaine]

Along those lines: is Anna & Elsa's Royal Welcome open during EMH? Also, I think I read that there was a Fast Pass for it and that it was the only FP one could get during EMH, but now there isn't one?

We were there last week and my kids decided to meet them - waiting like 5 minutes middle of the day. They no longer require fast passes for this Character meet - that might change during busier times though.

 

[Kkb0517]

How early do you recommend lining up for 8-9 EMH at DCA? (We will be there April 18th a Monday if that matters) Thanks!