Which is better to avoid...AP or resort early entry?

[bfaber]

Ok, as it seems Disney is trying to make it as difficult as possible for the general public to get into Cars Land, which would you say is the better of two evils as far as avoiding crowds...going to CA on early opening day for AP holders (Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun) or Disney resort guests (Mon, Wed, Fri)??? I was thinking AP days, but I have no idea how many of those are out there.

 

[mmoon]

I have the same question myself. We'll have no early entries (off-site and AFS military hoppers) so wanted to pick a morning to attempt RSR Fastpasses.

-MM

 

[DarthMole]

This question has been on my mind as well. Until the SoCal AP block goes into effect it will be hard to tell which is worse for those with general admission entry. My gut is telling me the AP days will be better but I think the strategy will not change one bit. Get there early and go straight to RSR FP line.

 

[gokdog]

This question has been on my mind as well. Until the SoCal AP block goes into effect it will be hard to tell which is worse for those with general admission entry. My gut is telling me the AP days will be better but I think the strategy will not change one bit. Get there early and go straight to RSR FP line.

The FP machines run during Magic Morning/Early Morning hours at DCA?

We have not been since March, and I am just reading up on the new strategy for our upcoming trip next week.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[elaw]

The FP machines run during Magic Morning/Early Morning hours at DCA?

We have not been since March, and I am just reading up on the new strategy for our upcoming trip next week.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

We were just there on Saturday .... the line to get a FP was approx 50 minutes when we got there at 7:45 (they start letting the "regular" people into CA at 7:30) and the rope drop is now in front of the Carthay Circle. We skipped getting a FP (which doesnt start giving them out until 8:00 am anyway) and just followed the heard to RSR ... stand by was a 45 minute wait at rope drop with the EE folks already in there. all the FP were gone when we walked by the FP distribution area again just after 10am

 

[Jkpark]

the line to get a FP was approx 50 minutes when we got there at 7:45 (they start letting the "regular" people into CA at 7:30) and the rope drop is now in front of the Carthay Circle.

Can the "regular" people get in the FP line before 8:00 am rope drop? Or could you just see the absurdly long line from where you were (Carthay Circle)?

 

[elaw]

Can the "regular" people get in the FP line before 8:00 am rope drop? Or could you just see the absurdly long line from where you were (Carthay Circle)?

Yes ... us "regular" folks can get in the line for the fastpass at 7:30 when they start letting people in ... if we choose but, I would rather wait in the actual line for RSR for 45 minutes than a line for a fastpass to RSR for later in the afternoon. We were already in line for TSMM by 9:00am

 

[obias]

We were just there on Saturday .... the line to get a FP was approx 50 minutes when we got there at 7:45 (they start letting the "regular" people into CA at 7:30) and the rope drop is now in front of the Carthay Circle. We skipped getting a FP (which doesnt start giving them out until 8:00 am anyway) and just followed the heard to RSR ... stand by was a 45 minute wait at rope drop with the EE folks already in there. all the FP were gone when we walked by the FP distribution area again just after 10am

So they are letting people in cars land at 7:30 with out EE? I thought at 7:30 they were just letting people with out EE get in the FP line Also how long was the wait for TSMM after RSR?

 

[elaw]

So they are letting people in cars land at 7:30 with out EE? I thought at 7:30 they were just letting people with out EE get in the FP line Also how long was the wait for TSMM after RSR?

They are not letting the "regular" people into cars land until 8:00am. The line for the fast pass machines starts forming at 7:30am by the Carthay Circle theater ... you cant actually get the FP's until 8:00am at rope drop but they will allow you to line up for the FP machines at 7:30. At rope drop (8:00 am) the line starts moving to the FP machines along with rest of the crowd heading toward CL

TSMM wait time was about 30 minutes at 9:15am and stayed at 30mins for most of the morning and early afternoon.

 

[BeccaG]

I was at APEE at Disneyland today. It was so nice, went on 4 rides and saw a princess in 36 minutes! We were headed over the DCA at 7:40ish and the lines for rope drop were minimal. Another member of our group was in charge of fastpasses for RSR. She got in line after she entered DCA at 7:30, since today was not our early entry there and got return times for 11:45. The rest of our group minus me and the two kids to small to ride, went straight to the ride. The posted time was 120, they were out in an hour. The littles and I went straight to luigi's and fast pass gal joined us in a matter of 15 minutes. By the time we road luigi and got coffee those riding RSR were off. We then went back later with our fast passes and we walked on in 7 minutes! Maybe today they did not have any down time for RSR during EE like the past few days but the fastpass and wait time line seemed way better.

I am headed back to APEE for DCA tomorrow, so can report back then any other observations, but all those details to say my guess is APEE is going to be lighter than hotel EE. And either way, if you are in line and get in the gates at 7:30, you can go straight to RSR or wait and get a fastpass in a reasonable amount of time!

 

[HydroGuy]

Ok, as it seems Disney is trying to make it as difficult as possible for the general public to get into Cars Land, which would you say is the better of two evils as far as avoiding crowds...going to CA on early opening day for AP holders (Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun) or Disney resort guests (Mon, Wed, Fri)??? I was thinking AP days, but I have no idea how many of those are out there.

I think your statement is based on frustration but is a little too cynical.

In general I think Disney is trying to spread people out a little more for a very popular new area and reward AP holders who never get any kind of EE unless they stay at a Disney hotel. They are not trying to make anything hard. They are trying to ration.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

ok so even tho park wont open till 8am in oct when im there we can get in park at 730 for the fp line? Even tho i dont have ee for dca?

Like when it was opend at 10am but let ppl in at 930am before cars land?

 

[HydroGuy]

They are not letting the "regular" people into cars land until 8:00am. The line for the fast pass machines starts forming at 7:30am by the Carthay Circle theater ... you cant actually get the FP's until 8:00am at rope drop but they will allow you to line up for the FP machines at 7:30. At rope drop (8:00 am) the line starts moving to the FP machines along with rest of the crowd heading toward CL

TSMM wait time was about 30 minutes at 9:15am and stayed at 30mins for most of the morning and early afternoon.

When they let the non-EE guests in at 7:30, are they allowed to get in the same FP line as the EE guests?

What I want to know is that if I want an RSR FP and am in CL for EE, do I need to be in the FP line by 7:30AM or can I wait until 8AM in order to be ahead of the non-EE guests?

 

[Malcon10t]

When they let the non-EE guests in at 7:30, are they allowed to get in the same FP line as the EE guests?

What I want to know is that if I want an RSR FP and am in CL for EE, do I need to be in the FP line by 7:30AM or can I wait until 8AM in order to be ahead of the non-EE guests?

OK, here is my understanding... The EE groups can access the FP lines earlier than the regular line. They, EE, can be at the machines, whereas the regular group lines up for FP at Carthay, and are walked to the FP machines, where they get behind those from EE. I think they move them to the FP machines about 755a, so I would be there no later than 745am.

 

[BeccaG]

OK, here is my understanding... The EE groups can access the FP lines earlier than the regular line. They, EE, can be at the machines, whereas the regular group lines up for FP at Carthay, and are walked to the FP machines, where they get behind those from EE. I think they move them to the FP machines about 755a, so I would be there no later than 745am.

That would make sense...I will see if I observe this tomorrow!

 

[rtfelt]

Becca, we'll be there tomorrow at rope drop but without EE, can you get our FP's too

 

[BeccaG]

Becca, we'll be there tomorrow at rope drop but without EE, can you get our FP's too

LOL, I wish I could! Good luck getting to the rope! I was trying to grab a kid and a stroller today to get it out of poeple's way before rope drop and got some rude remarks...oh well!

 

[obias]

They are not letting the "regular" people into cars land until 8:00am. The line for the fast pass machines starts forming at 7:30am by the Carthay Circle theater ... you cant actually get the FP's until 8:00am at rope drop but they will allow you to line up for the FP machines at 7:30. At rope drop (8:00 am) the line starts moving to the FP machines along with rest of the crowd heading toward CL

TSMM wait time was about 30 minutes at 9:15am and stayed at 30mins for most of the morning and early afternoon.

Thanks for all the great info elaw and everyone else on this thread!!

 

[LVTiffy]

i am an ap holder and would most likely take advantage of the early day at DCA. I am bringing my brother along in which he will just have a regular parkhopper ticket that will already be used from the previous day (we are going for 2 days). Once the FP lines open up, Am I able to use his ticket to get a FP for him? I'm sure he has to have his ticket scanned by a CM at the main gate before he is able to be issued any FPs. From my understandings, is that they let the early birds in at 7 and they can line up at the FP but they will not issue any FP til 8am. And that they let "regular" ticket customers inside the park at 730. Can he find me in line and give me his ticket so I am able to get him a FP, or is that frown upon from everyone else?

 

[BeccaG]

i am an ap holder and would most likely take advantage of the early day at DCA. I am bringing my brother along in which he will just have a regular parkhopper ticket that will already be used from the previous day (we are going for 2 days). Once the FP lines open up, Am I able to use his ticket to get a FP for him? I'm sure he has to have his ticket scanned by a CM at the main gate before he is able to be issued any FPs. From my understandings, is that they let the early birds in at 7 and they can line up at the FP but they will not issue any FP til 8am. And that they let "regular" ticket customers inside the park at 730. Can he find me in line and give me his ticket so I am able to get him a FP, or is that frown upon from everyone else?

The challenge will be him getting his ticket to you before you reach the machines. Not impossible just challenging.