Extra Magic Hour/Radiator Springs Racers Fastpass

[Blueliner]

Hello all. We will be checking into the Villas at the Grand Californian on Sunday night, March 17, and plan to hit DCA bright and early on Monday morning with the Extra Magic Hour.

Might anybody be able to tell me whether they think the line to pick up Radiator Springs Racers Fastpasses will be crazy even at 8:00 on Monday morning?

It's not a big deal either way, but I was just curious as to what we might expect crowd-wise on a Monday morning in mid-March.

With our only other Disneyland experience, we were staying at the HoJo and used our early park admission at Disneyland Park on an early December Saturday morning. We were able to ride the Matterhorn and virtually everything in Fantasyland during the Extra Magic Hour.

Here's to hoping we have the same kind of luck during our three days in the parks (March 18-20).

 

[Californian Elitist]

So far, there haven't been reports of short FP lines for RSR, even during these off season times. I don't think the lines will be majorly long, but they most likely won't be short.

 

[007mickey]

Hello all. We will be checking into the Villas at the Grand Californian on Sunday night, March 17, and plan to hit DCA bright and early on Monday morning with the Extra Magic Hour.

Might anybody be able to tell me whether they think the line to pick up Radiator Springs Racers Fastpasses will be crazy even at 8:00 on Monday morning?

It's not a big deal either way, but I was just curious as to what we might expect crowd-wise on a Monday morning in mid-March.

With our only other Disneyland experience, we were staying at the HoJo and used our early park admission at Disneyland Park on an early December Saturday morning. We were able to ride the Matterhorn and virtually everything in Fantasyland during the Extra Magic Hour.

Here's to hoping we have the same kind of luck during our three days in the parks (March 18-20).

So you can pick up fastpasses starting at 8:00 on EMH days for resort guests? We will be there in June, good to know you don't have to wait until 9:00 for them to start distributing them.

When you get back, I'd be curious to hear how the EMH line was. Good luck.

 

[Blueliner]

So far, there haven't been reports of short FP lines for RSR, even during these off season times. I don't think the lines will be majorly long, but they most likely won't be short.

Thanks.

 

[Blueliner]

So you can pick up fastpasses starting at 8:00 on EMH days for resort guests? We will be there in June, good to know you don't have to wait until 9:00 for them to start distributing them.

When you get back, I'd be curious to hear how the EMH line was. Good luck.

Actually, I guess I just assumed that we would be able to get fastpasses as soon as we entered. It seems like I have been able to do that with Toy Story Midway Mania at DHS in the past.

Maybe that really isn't the case. I guess we'll find out, and I'll report back. Thanks.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

Actually, I guess I just assumed that we would be able to get fastpasses as soon as we entered. It seems like I have been able to do that with Toy Story Midway Mania at DHS in the past.

Maybe that really isn't the case. I guess we'll find out, and I'll report back. Thanks.

It's been my impression doing research that FP distribution doesn't start until the park officially opens, giving people with EMH access an hour before they can get FP. I'm sure someone else around here can clarify.

 

[Blueliner]

It's been my impression doing research that FP distribution doesn't start until the park officially opens, giving people with EMH access an hour before they can get FP. I'm sure someone else around here can clarify.

I am finding conflicting information on this issue. I guess we'll find out for sure on March 18 at the latest!

 

[novawildcat18]

I'm curious about this as well. On my upcoming trip, my EMH plan consisted of (in this order) WoC FP, RSR FP, and then get on Toy Story Mania. Is this not a possibility?

 

[nybound]

Fastpasses for Radiator Springs Racers were not available before DCA's public opening when I was there last week (including Early Morning days). Non-resort guests were entering the gates about 30 minutes ahead of public opening, and the line for RSR fastpasses started almost immediately (and grew quickly).

Things do change frequently. It never hurts to ask while you are there to see what the latest procedure is.

I will also add that mid-March starts spring break season. Looking at the park hours for March 18 - 20, the 9 am openings isn't so bad. It won't be as busy as summer time. But, you won't have total free reign of the parks. The 8 am openings for the following week (25 - 29) is an indicator of when spring break is in full force.

Have a great time.

 

[Blueliner]

Fastpasses for Radiator Springs Racers were not available before DCA's public opening when I was there last week (including Early Morning days). Non-resort guests were entering the gates about 30 minutes ahead of public opening, and the line for RSR fastpasses started almost immediately (and grew quickly).

Things do change frequently. It never hurts to ask while you are there to see what the latest procedure is.

I will also add that mid-March starts spring break season. Looking at the park hours for March 18 - 20, the 9 am openings isn't so bad. It won't be as busy as summer time. But, you won't have total free reign of the parks. The 8 am openings for the following week (25 - 29) is an indicator of when spring break is in full force.

Have a great time.

Great stuff! Thanks!

 

[fractal]

Food for thought if you want to ride more than once - Last July we used single rider line and it took 30 minutes while the stand by line was over 2 hours.

 

[Blueliner]

Food for thought if you want to ride more than once - Last July we used single rider line and it took 30 minutes while the stand by line was over 2 hours.

Thanks

 

[Californian Elitist]

Single rider is definitely the way to go. The standby line can be miserable.

 

[Blueliner]

Single rider is definitely the way to go. The standby line can be miserable.

We have a 5 1/2 year old and a 7 year old in our family, so I'll have to try to figure that out. Maybe if we "sandwich" these two young ones between my wife and I in the line it would work, as we'll have somebody to make sure they get on okay and somebody to gather them up at the end. It still makes me kind of nervous.

 

[Californian Elitist]

We have a 5 1/2 year old and a 7 year old in our family, so I'll have to try to figure that out. Maybe if we "sandwich" these two young ones between my wife and I in the line it would work, as we'll have somebody to make sure they get on okay and somebody to gather them up at the end. It still makes me kind of nervous.

Ohhhh, okay. That definitely changes things. Since you have little ones with you, maybe single rider isn't for you. I'm with friends usually, so single rider works for me, but if I were to have my little nephews with me, I would definitely stand in the standby line. I wouldn't be comfortable with them riding with strangers.

 

[gsrjedi]

It's been my experience that if you can get there early enough before the EMH, you can get in the standy-by line and not have too long of a wait. If you're there really early, you may get to ride it with a minimal wait and then go wait for fastpasses as well.

In January, EMH started at 7 and we got there about 7:15 and already had an hour wait in stand-by. It seems that as soon as they let people in the park, some of them will start to line up for fastpasses.

 

[Blueliner]

It's been my experience that if you can get there early enough before the EMH, you can get in the standy-by line and not have too long of a wait. If you're there really early, you may get to ride it with a minimal wait and then go wait for fastpasses as well.

In January, EMH started at 7 and we got there about 7:15 and already had an hour wait in stand-by. It seems that as soon as they let people in the park, some of them will start to line up for fastpasses.

I think that is going to be our plan, just be ready to enter the park as soon as EMH starts, ride in the stand-by line, and then I'll go back and get in line for fastpasses while the rest of the family hits another ride or two. Thanks.

 

[shipley731]

On EMH mornings, is the single rider line open or does it not open until offical park opening like the fast pass line?

We are going to DL for the first time at the beginning of May & will be staying in Disneyland hotel to be able to take advantage of EMH.

 

[novawildcat18]

It's been my experience that if you can get there early enough before the EMH, you can get in the standy-by line and not have too long of a wait. If you're there really early, you may get to ride it with a minimal wait and then go wait for fastpasses as well.

In January, EMH started at 7 and we got there about 7:15 and already had an hour wait in stand-by. It seems that as soon as they let people in the park, some of them will start to line up for fastpasses.

We were one of the first people in EMH today. We only had about a 10 minute wait but when we got off the ride at 9:20, there was already a 60 minute wait. So if you plan on getting on RSR right away with a short line, you have to be there for the opening gates.

 

[Californian Elitist]

We were one of the first people in EMH today. We only had about a 10 minute wait but when we got off the ride at 9:20, there was already a 60 minute wait. So if you plan on getting on RSR right away with a short line, you have to be there for the opening gates.

How did you like, or dislike the ride?