Yet Another Thread about Carsland Strategery

[Mackie Mouse]

I am visiting DLR during Spring Break. While I realize my approach will likely change between now and then, I'd love an update on people's thoughts about how to approach DCA and Carsland after the initial crowds (maybe? hopefully?) die down after this summer.

Some background:
-I am traveling with three other adults, so no kids on this trip - just people who act like kids.
-We are staying at HoJos, so we will not have access to EMH.
-I have confirmation from all parties involved that getting up at the crack of dawn (or before) is OK.

It seems to me like there are two approaches I could take.

Approach #1: Join the mad dash to Carsland in the morning at rope drop and get in the Fastpass line for RSR. Wait up to 30 minutes or more just to get a Fastpass for everyone in our party. Then ride Luigi's and Mater's, and proceed to enjoy the rest of DCA while waiting for our Fastpasses to kick in. If we're dying for a second ride on RSR, just get in the single-rider line if and when it looks reasonable.

Approach #2: Forget about Fastpasses and just utilize RSR's single-rider line.

Would you recommend one approach over the other, knowing that the crowds will be heavy again over spring break?

I will also point out that we will be at DLR for four days total - Monday through Thursday. Based on the EMH usage of resort guests this summer, is there a particular day that might be best for us? (We will have a Magic Morning that I'm planning on using at DL on Tuesday.) Any rumors of EMH being extended beyond September?

Like I said...just looking for general update on people's thoughts about how to approach this part of the park as summer draws to a close.

 

[Girimama33]

I would get a FP in the AM and do SR the rest of the time. Hopefully by then the FP's will not be gone by 10 AM.

 

[Meggysmum]

I would get a FP in the AM and do SR the rest of the time. Hopefully by then the FP's will not be gone by 10 AM.

At spring Break I would say there will be a good chance that there will be no FPs by 10 to be honest. They were gone by 9.30 last week and that was mainly to people who joined the FP during EMHs and waited until the FP machines opened.

I would go for the single rider queue really if it is not too long.

RS is a good ride but it seems to break down a fair bit (stopped a few times whilst we were there). If I had a choice I would still prefer the old Test track as it felt so much quicker.

However the theming in carsland is absolutely amazing!

 

[PigletSeeker]

I'd form a strategy closer to spring break. They may be doing the FP line differently then. Right now it's very fast moving and they have CM's actually work the machines for you. That could change in the next 6 months.

 

[bumbershoot]

Forget about Fastpasses and just utilize RSR's single-rider line.

That's my choice. Unless your group has a burning need to buy a group ride picture, of course. To me, waiting half an hour for a FP is wasting about 25 minutes. I'm too antsy for that!

 

[HydroGuy]

If you go to DCA on a non-EMH day it will not take 30 minutes to get a RSR FP. That info is based on this summer when there have been EMH guests in ahead of regular guests every day of the week. Starting Sept 30 that will change to only three days a week.

 

[hjgaus]

That's my choice. Unless your group has a burning need to buy a group ride picture, of course. To me, waiting half an hour for a FP is wasting about 25 minutes. I'm too antsy for that!

Some of us local Aper's don't mind the 25 - 40 min wait to get fast passes to use LATER in the evening for a 15 min. FP line! We've also waited 1 hour (broke down) DURING EARLY ENTRY to ride ONLY RSR then left the park to go home!
Although I WOULD NOT wait in a 2 or more HOUR line to GET a fast Pass! We just suck it up and wait til our next on property stay & use magic morning hours. No need to go commando through the parks! Yeah for DVC!!!

 

[Eeee-va]

I am guessing the FP distribution will be different by the time it's Spring Break...if nothing else, it shouldn't be QUITE as busy, and it might even occur in Cars Land itself. If it's not an EMH day, I'd go to Cars Land first thing and if RSR is open, just ride together then standby, to see the queue. Then you can do SR later.

If the FP lines were like they are today, though, and you have a limited amount of time, I think I'd go SR.

 

[foticam]

We just came back from a trip last week... three kids, myself and my husband. We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn, which was very cute, neat and clean...we had one of the bigger rooms.

Anyway, I was very concerned about doing everything right so that we wouldn't miss our opportunity at CarsLand.

We had two and half days at the parks....first full day, we got to the parks by 7:30 and they opened at 8 am. My husband went to the FP line which was already what seemed to be a mile deep and I went to the rope drop with my 11,9, and almost 6 year old. We calmly walked with the rest of the "crazy's" to CL. Once there we immediately got online for RSR. The wait was about 45 minutes total. In that time my husband got FP for later in the day (around 5pm) and was able to get up to us on the line so that he could ride with us (we both expected he would miss the first ride, so this was a bonus). It was incredible. And, lucky for us, the second time we went we had the other experience...one time they jazz up your tires--all chrome, etc., the other you go thru a paint spray for the car. I didn't know there were two options so I was glad we got to experience both.

Then we proceeded to Mater's (about a 15-20 min wait) and then we were going to do Luigi's but the wait was 60 min. We decided to come back to that when we did RSR later with our FP. The wait wasn't much better later in the day, about 10 min. faster. Either way, it was worth it. All the rides were great and my kids (even the oldest) loved them all. They are different and are more wild then they appear. Mater's really whips you around and I think the kids thought it would just spin a little. It was fun!

The next day we did the same thing, but got to the park by 8:15 or so...we just couldn't get there faster b/c we stayed so late the night before. I was concerned about not getting the FP. This time my husband just waited for the FP and I took the kids to Mater's and Luigi's. He waited quite a while for the FP--We rode them both and then when we did the FP later in the day, we rode Mater's and Luigi's again. The RSR broke down for about 20 minutes the second day and even though we had the FP, the wait was still over 30 minutes...which was still better than the 120 posted.

I will say this to repeat what someone else very nicely said on another thread. Don't drive yourself crazy! Enjoy it, you will get to do it, and don't rush...the details in the area are beautiful. Get up early and get there for the park opening. Once you have done it you will feel more relaxed, but also have a sense of relief Then enjoy it again and again.

Also, you need to remember that there aren't as many FP options to DL and DCA as there are in the Orlando parks. We are used to constantly running to get them. However, we the addition of CL, many of the other rides are not as crowded...or at least didn't feel as crowded, except the Matterhorn that we waited almost an hour b/c one side broke down and we were so far vested we couldn't get off the line! We waited longer for WOC show then anything else....don't forget to get that FP (which is really like a tix to the show) early in the day...like after getting RSR. It is a beautiful show, but it is CROWDED and you are on top of other people. We got on line super early for the show and were already about 100 people back. The second show seemed just as crowded. I would probably approach it a different way now...maybe go up to the second set of steps to be in the front dead on center. We were off to the left, front row, but my kids couldn't see so well because towards the right the landing jetted out quite a bit and people were obviously there too. Rookie mistake...oh well. It was beautiful though!

Enjoy it and try not to stress. I am a planner and probably lost sleep over getting it right until someone posted to others that you need to take a step back and relax. As long as you get to the park early you will be fine!!!!

 

[Mackie Mouse]

I will say this to repeat what someone else very nicely said on another thread. Don't drive yourself crazy! Enjoy it, you will get to do it, and don't rush...the details in the area are beautiful. Get up early and get there for the park opening. Once you have done it you will feel more relaxed, but also have a sense of relief Then enjoy it again and again.

WELL SAID! Thanks I am just envisioning the mad rush for FP at Toy Story Mania in DHS...times 20. Our plan is to do the new "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour on our last day there, so I'm banking on having some time post-tour on our last day to re-do some favorite rides, and give things a go that we weren't able to earlier in the trip (like getting in one last ride on RSR single-rider or the like). I'm pretty sure that building in that extra time during the trip will also assuage my over-planner-ness.

We waited longer for WOC show then anything else....don't forget to get that FP (which is really like a tix to the show) early in the day...like after getting RSR. It is a beautiful show, but it is CROWDED and you are on top of other people. We got on line super early for the show and were already about 100 people back. The second show seemed just as crowded. I would probably approach it a different way now...maybe go up to the second set of steps to be in the front dead on center. We were off to the left, front row, but my kids couldn't see so well because towards the right the landing jetted out quite a bit and people were obviously there too. Rookie mistake...oh well. It was beautiful though!

We're planning to go to Carthay Circle Restaurant during our trip - mostly because it sounds awesome, but partially because it affords us fastpasses/priority seating/whatever you want to call it to WOC so we'll be able to stress about that a little less. But I hear you! At the very least, overplanner that I am I tend to be pretty go-with-the flow once I get where I'm going. If all my best-laid plans work out perfectly...awesome! If not...I tried, and I still got to be at (insert lovely vacation location here). Just keeping an ear out for what strategies are working for people so I can hedge my bets when we get there!