When Should We Get in Line?

[dnamertz]

If we want to make the rope-drop to try to get on Toy Story Midway Mania, what time should we get in line outside of the DCA gates so that we're not way back in line when DCA opens their gates at 9:30?

 

[DLR29]

Depends on how quickly you walk. You can enter around 9:40-9:50 and still be in the middle of the pack at rope drop, and then you can make up some time if you are an expert people-weaver and speed walker. I try and be in DCA by 9:45 at the latest, and then I people-weave through the crowd and usually end up towards the front of the TSMM line. If you want to guarantee that you're at the front of the rope, you should enter between 9:30 and 9:40. No real need to line up at the DCA gates before that.

 

[ArchOwl]

I know that rope drop works for some on this board and they like doing it, but I am firmly in the camp of not doing rope drop for TSMM. I have attempted to rope drop for TSMM multiple times and it is too unpredictable for me to devote any time to it.

If you get their prior to opening, you are already carving out a good 15-30 minutes waiting on rope drop. If you are among the very first to get on TSMM you may have a minimal wait. But if you are in the middle of the pack, you will not save any time at all and may even wait longer. Wait times for TSMM are very predictable and during the time you want to go, I doubt would be longer than 30 minutes anyway.

Many times I have tried rope drop for TSMM only to find that the ride didn't open at 10am. That means that I essentially "wasted" that time waiting for rope drop. Of course, this is only my experience, but I would hate for you to carve out this time for TSMM when you could ride it later in the morning with basically the same wait time unless you are a very fast walker at rope drop.

 

[rentayenta]

Do guests of the GCV/H still get in early? I'd love to ride Soarin' first, grab a FP for Soarin', and then make TSMM at opening.

 

[ArchOwl]

Do guests of the GCV/H still get in early? I'd love to ride Soarin' first, grab a FP for Soarin', and then make TSMM at opening.

Yes, you do still get in early, but I personally think it is a little difficult to ride Soarin, get a FP for Soarin, and also be close to the front for rope drop for TSMM. It is really just a timing issue. While Soarin does open at 9:30am, that is not the time the first flight always departs. This means you could easily not exit Soarin until well after 9:45. Then you are at the middle/back of the rope drop and only if you are really fast/nimble will you be able to be among the first at TSMM.

 

[rentayenta]

Yes, you do still get in early, but I personally think it is a little difficult to ride Soarin, get a FP for Soarin, and also be close to the front for rope drop for TSMM. It is really just a timing issue. While Soarin does open at 9:30am, that is not the time the first flight always departs. This means you could easily not exit Soarin until well after 9:45. Then you are at the middle/back of the rope drop and only if you are really fast/nimble will you be able to be among the first at TSMM.

Smart.

I don't need to be the first I just don't want a 30+ min wait. Would you skip riding Soarin' or chance the TSMM line won't be too horrific? We'll be there on a Monday after Thanksgiving?

 

[BecomingObsessed]

When we were at the parks in March, we always went to the rope near the GC and there was a line formed that was walked over to TSMM by a cast member. It was FABULOUS and organized. Once we were in line at TSMM and practically boarding, we saw the masses running from the rope near Bug's Land. I've read multiple times that the rope near the GC always gets to the ride first. If you decide to go early to make the rope drop, remember to head to the GC rope!

 

[ArchOwl]

Smart.

I don't need to be the first I just don't want a 30+ min wait. Would you skip riding Soarin' or chance the TSMM line won't be too horrific? We'll be there on a Monday after Thanksgiving?

If I was really determined to try for TSMM, I would skip riding Soarin but get a FP for it. Just because there are so many variables. You don't know exactly when they will start the flight. One time we were there right at 9:30am and our flight didn't leave until 9:45am! I think there was a technical malfunction or something. Anyway, we weren't trying for rope drop so it wasn't a big deal, but if you were trying for rope drop, that would really put a kink in things!

The crazy thing is, unless you are among the first group onto TSMM, your wait will probably be close to 20+ minutes. Only the first bunch of people get on TSMM with little wait. That is why I don't really bother with it anymore. Because by the time I add up waiting 15-25 minutes for rope drop plus the 15-20 minutes I will end up waiting in line at TSMM unless I am really lucky, hey that's 30 minutes! Might as well come back about an hour after TSMM opens when it will be 30-45 minute wait anyway. By that time I will have ridden Soarin, got a FP for Soarin, plus been on Little Mermaid and probably gotten a FP for Screamin.

If you are very quick and all the stars align and TSMM opens on time and you are able to be fast and not get stuck behind anyone, then you will spend 20+ minutes waiting at rope drop and maybe 5-10 minutes at TSMM. This is only if everything goes to plan. If one thing goes wrong, then you will end up waiting over 20 minutes in the TSMM queue plus add in the time you were waiting for rope drop. That's why I personally don't do TSMM rope drop anymore.

I am guessing that the Monday after the holiday may be busier than some days, but most people go back to work/school that day, right? DCA in the morning shouldn't be that bad.

 

[ArchOwl]

When we were at the parks in March, we always went to the rope near the GC and there was a line formed that was walked over to TSMM by a cast member. It was FABULOUS and organized. Once we were in line at TSMM and practically boarding, we saw the masses running from the rope near Bug's Land. I've read multiple times that the rope near the GC always gets to the ride first. If you decide to go early to make the rope drop, remember to head to the GC rope!

I love it when they walk over the line. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen all the time. I am not sure why some days they walk the line and some days they don't, but they don't do it everyday. It would be great if they did. It would convince me to try again for TSMM rope drop.

 

[skiingfast]

Smart.

I don't need to be the first I just don't want a 30+ min wait. Would you skip riding Soarin' or chance the TSMM line won't be too horrific? We'll be there on a Monday after Thanksgiving?

IME I have a mixed preference. Sometime I FP Soaring and go to the TSMM rope drop. Sometimes I FP Soarin and ride it and don't rush to the rope drop.

Plus unless you are at the Rope Drop quickly you aren't likely to save a lot of time waiting for TSMM. Once the RD people get there the wait builds from 0 to 30 minutes super fast because it doesn't load quick. Another way to think of this is why wait in the RD line for 30 minutes and then the TSMM line for 10, when you could come back later after doing Soaring and LM and find TSMM with a 40 minute line later in the day?

Also FWIW you will be there during a quiet time so the TSMM line will probably be between 30-45 minutes so I would just get in line when it's closer to 30.

 

[rentayenta]

If I was really determined to try for TSMM, I would skip riding Soarin but get a FP for it. Just because there are so many variables. You don't know exactly when they will start the flight. One time we were there right at 9:30am and our flight didn't leave until 9:45am! I think there was a technical malfunction or something. Anyway, we weren't trying for rope drop so it wasn't a big deal, but if you were trying for rope drop, that would really put a kink in things!

The crazy thing is, unless you are among the first group onto TSMM, your wait will probably be close to 20+ minutes. Only the first bunch of people get on TSMM with little wait. That is why I don't really bother with it anymore. Because by the time I add up waiting 15-25 minutes for rope drop plus the 15-20 minutes I will end up waiting in line at TSMM unless I am really lucky, hey that's 30 minutes! Might as well come back about an hour after TSMM opens when it will be 30-45 minute wait anyway. By that time I will have ridden Soarin, got a FP for Soarin, plus been on Little Mermaid and probably gotten a FP for Screamin.

If you are very quick and all the stars align and TSMM opens on time and you are able to be fast and not get stuck behind anyone, then you will spend 20+ minutes waiting at rope drop and maybe 5-10 minutes at TSMM. This is only if everything goes to plan. If one thing goes wrong, then you will end up waiting over 20 minutes in the TSMM queue plus add in the time you were waiting for rope drop. That's why I personally don't do TSMM rope drop anymore.

I am guessing that the Monday after the holiday may be busier than some days, but most people go back to work/school that day, right? DCA in the morning shouldn't be that bad.

They do return to work that Monday so you're right, it shouldn't be too bad. That is always the seemingly slowest line.

IME I have a mixed preference. Sometime I FP Soaring and go to the TSMM rope drop. Sometimes I FP Soarin and ride it and don't rush to the rope drop.

Plus unless you are at the Rope Drop quickly you aren't likely to save a lot of time waiting for TSMM. Once the RD people get there the wait builds from 0 to 30 minutes super fast because it doesn't load quick. Another way to think of this is why wait in the RD line for 30 minutes and then the TSMM line for 10, when you could come back later after doing Soaring and LM and find TSMM with a 40 minute line later in the day?

Also FWIW you will be there during a quiet time so the TSMM line will probably be between 30-45 minutes so I would just get in line when it's closer to 30.

True. I'll be waiting either way. There is just something so cool about walking through DCA when it's all quiet and riding Soarin' first thing.

 

[dnamertz]

Depends on how quickly you walk. You can enter around 9:40-9:50 and still be in the middle of the pack at rope drop, and then you can make up some time if you are an expert people-weaver and speed walker. I try and be in DCA by 9:45 at the latest, and then I people-weave through the crowd and usually end up towards the front of the TSMM line. If you want to guarantee that you're at the front of the rope, you should enter between 9:30 and 9:40. No real need to line up at the DCA gates before that.

We will not be quick walkers, with two 68 year olds and a 4 year old...probably moderate speed at best.

If I want to enter DCA around 9:30 or 9:40, isn't there also a wait time I have to factor in to get through the front gates? I don't know that I've ever entered DCA right when they open, but every time I've entered DL a long line has formed by the time the gates actually open.

 

[skiingfast]

We will not be quick walkers, with two 68 year olds and a 4 year old...probably moderate speed at best.

If I want to enter DCA around 9:30 or 9:40, isn't there also a wait time I have to factor in to get through the front gates? I don't know that I've ever entered DCA right when they open, but every time I've entered DL a long line has formed by the time the gates actually open.

Of course it will take time to ge through the gates. Depends if you are in the front of the line or 5 minutes back.

 

[HydroGuy]

I know that rope drop works for some on this board and they like doing it, but I am firmly in the camp of not doing rope drop for TSMM. I have attempted to rope drop for TSMM multiple times and it is too unpredictable for me to devote any time to it.

If you get their prior to opening, you are already carving out a good 15-30 minutes waiting on rope drop. If you are among the very first to get on TSMM you may have a minimal wait. But if you are in the middle of the pack, you will not save any time at all and may even wait longer. Wait times for TSMM are very predictable and during the time you want to go, I doubt would be longer than 30 minutes anyway.

Many times I have tried rope drop for TSMM only to find that the ride didn't open at 10am. That means that I essentially "wasted" that time waiting for rope drop. Of course, this is only my experience, but I would hate for you to carve out this time for TSMM when you could ride it later in the morning with basically the same wait time unless you are a very fast walker at rope drop.

My experience is the same as Arch's. Really not worth it to rope drop TSMM.