toy story mania

[momof3+twins]

Last time we went to Disney, we went to Toy Story Mania first thing. I mean we walked straight there, and very fast. So, we still waited 25 minutes. Is there a good or better way to get there and only wait maybe 15 minutes. We walked throught the tall gate thing that is by Playhouse Disney and Little Mermaid. Is there a better or faster way to get there? Is fast pass better?

[Christine]

It's a madhouse over there all the time unfortunately! You did just right- I've tried the "back way" coming from backlot tours area, it's like playing Red Rover to get thru the people to the fast pass/ entrance.

If you can get a fp, do.

Funny-once I overheard a man upon seeing the sea of humanity at the toy story area say "what's happening over here? They giving away money?"

I hope the hubbub dies down a little. The stampede at rope drop makes me sick. I just won't do it.

[momof3+twins]

Yeah, I was thinking about the back way because of the fast pass time. It is totally crazy. But, my kids are 3 and love Toy Story. What can you do????

[Darbylew]

We love Toy Story Mania. :thumbsup: As soon
as we get in the park we go right to Toy Story
and get a fast pass. Since it is so new everyone
wants to ride it so there is always a wait. It is
a great ride. :mickey:
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT AND GOING BACK IN
NOVEMBER........:D
CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK IN THE LAND OF
MICKEY AND THE MAGIC!!!!!!!;)

[Scott C]

you could save a little time by not going through the gate you used--instead, there are stairs going down to Pixar place just to the right of the great movie ride.

Thanks
Scott C

[Maleficent's Dad]

Just back today and TSM is just as busy as ever. At park opening, you can only go one way (they won't allow you on the stairs next to the GMR) and follow along in the parade-type mob... :(

[Gooftroop5]

We were there & waited for the park to open & we walked right on. we headed thru the large gate while everyone filed thru the side gate. We never stopped until we were at the top of the stairs to go down to load. We really didn't stop either it was slowed right down for loading purposes. I guess it is how close you are to the rope. Dh waited longer in the line to get the FP after we got off the ride then we did to get on the ride.

It is all a luck of the draw. Also how crowded the park was. We had a large number of teenagers that headed to TOT & RnRC. The majority of the rest of the crowd rushed to get FP. We got on the ride & got off the rides still got FP for 12:20.

[ransam]

what we did and it woked well is to get in line 3 minutes before the park closed. the lines are always relatively short. what's nice about that is as long as your in line at park closing you can stay in line... ride the ride. by the time you're finshed the mad rush to the gates has diminished. we had a very nice walk to the front gate, awesome breeze, no pushing, no crowds. did a little shopping on the way out, and got right on a bus.

[vws_and_disney]

:ditto:

[edhunter28]

go as early as possible and when the rope drops,RUN!!!!!!!!!:bolt:

[joanna71985]

Unfortunately there is only 1 way to get to TSM. The CMs form a human barricade and walk everyone to the ride (past the Hat, down Pixar Ave from the Animation side). So if you want to get there with no wait, you would have to be in the very front of the line.

[SBETigg]

We've gone over first thing, too, but we found that the line actually dropped down after the initial rush. Our first wait was for thirty minutes. When we came out, the Fastpass line was unreal so we opted not to get a FP and just ride again right away. The wait was only 20 minutes for the second time through. I prefer to skip Fastpass on this ride. We're never in DHS long enough to wait for the FP time to come along. Meanwhile, the initial morning standby queue is very reasonable on the wait time, especially if you time it to head over about ten minutes after opening instead of first charge there.

[Nascfan]

go as early as possible and when the rope drops,RUN!!!!!!!!!:bolt:

You can't. The CM's walk people to the appropriate attractions.

Best way to avoid as much wait as possible....be there very early, first at a turnstile. Immediately after swiping your ticket and entering, hustle to the rope and be right at the rope. Make conversation with the CM's who will come out to the rope a little before official opening and ask who you should follow to TSM. Stay right behind them, or next to them if they'll let you, you won't be able to pass them, but stay right in step with them. Walk right into the entrance, bypassing the FP machines.

[Snow's Mom]

I was there in July and followed the crowd and the CM's to the ride. No running allowed. I was supposed to get FP's for the family, but the FP line looked awful, so I decided to ride first.

Good advice about arriving before park opening. We were closer to the front of the crowd than the back.

Keep in mind---when I was there, the standby line had a 40 minute wait time. The line didn't stop outside, so I followed it in, hoping. It never stopped moving, so it was basically a walk-on, maybe 10 or 15 minutes, not 40.

I got FP's afterwards (the lines went faster than I thought!) and returned later. It took longer to get on the ride with the FP's than it had the first time without.

[gerald72]

you could save a little time by not going through the gate you used--instead, there are stairs going down to Pixar place just to the right of the great movie ride.

Thanks
Scott C

We were there last week. They don't let you use the stairs at opening. They point you towards the arches to the right.

Also, first thing at opening I went to Toy Story Mania to get fast passes while 2 of my kids rode Rock N Roller Coaster. It took me longer to wait in line for FP than it did for them to ride the rollercoaster. The fastpass line was shorter a few hours later.
I would recommend just riding Toy Story Mania right at the beginning of the day instead of getting FP. Get the FP later, but not too much later.

[AmandaChan]

Going through by The Little Mermaid is the only way I can think of without having to around the whole park. I think you did right. Eventually it should calm down. I think what we'll do next time is go straight there and get a FP.

[BluewaterBrad]

Its always a madhouse. I am actually over the hastle for it. It is a great ride but people are too crazy being crammed in that small area.:mickey:

[sisterdisco]

We were there last week and it was INSANE at DHS. At 9:15AM, the stand by line was 40" and the FP line was 30 people deep.

A neighbor went last July, and she had character breakfast that ended right before the park opened, and said that they were able to get to a different part of the park before rope drop.

Wonder if that is how people are getting there so early.

[my2whirlies]

We are trying to find out if there are any special celebrations planned at Disney World on the day Toy Story 3 opens. My cousin want schedule vacation so that we are there for the movie release so we can be part of special celebrations. I want to go two weeks earlier so I can be there on my birthday. I would be willing to forgo the birthday timeline IF there are good things planned for June 18, when TS 3 hits theaters. Does anyone know???? Thanks!:mickey:

[Darin M]

I haven't been on TSM yet, but thanks to all of the info here, I can plan my action. This thread is extremely helpful. I am planning a vacation for next year.

[mouseketeer mom]

We were there just two weeks ago. We had breakfast at Kona's and got to DHS around 10:15am. I told the kids before our trip I would not do the rope drop stampede again as we have done on a prior trip, and I would not wait in line for an hour for this ride. Well, we walked to TSM fast pass machines about 10:30 am. The return time was 2:30pm. We got our fastpasses and enjoyed the rest of the park. This was not a problem, and we bypassed the stamede.

[andreallybadeggs]

We did this but it was not a huge help because they still had us roped off when we came out from the breakfast. We were ahead of people who arrived right at park opening but several who got there early were allowed up to the rope while we were having bkfst so it was still a 30 minute standby for us. Not bad though since we kind of wanted to see the queue anyway and we got fast passes so we could do it twice. BTW, we enjoyed the Play and Dine bkfst and it was REALLY cool to be able to take photos w/out anyone in front of the Sorcerer's Hat.:smickey:

We were there last week and it was INSANE at DHS. At 9:15AM, the stand by line was 40" and the FP line was 30 people deep.

A neighbor went last July, and she had character breakfast that ended right before the park opened, and said that they were able to get to a different part of the park before rope drop.

Wonder if that is how people are getting there so early.

[MNNHFLTX]

We went to Toy Story Mania on a EMH last week and the fast pass lines were as bad as they say!! We went directly into the standby line instead, waited about 15-20 minutes to ride, then got our fast passes on the way out (at that point the FP line was only about 4 people deep at each machine). I do have to say, however, that the fast pass return line later in the day was still surprisingly long--it took us about 20 minutes to get on the ride that time too.

[AuntLaura]

We try to get into park early to be at front of crowd, send one person (fastest walker) to get in fast pass line and the rest get in line for attraction. We find that in spite of the crowd, we can usually get 2 rides in before the fastpasses returns start, usually an hour after opening. Then, if we have a fastpass, we can get 3 rides in that morning. The fastpass line IS crazy. Overheard CM say the fastpasses are usually gone by noon this time of year.

My question is: will the guns on TSM "fatigue"? My niece had difficulty with her gun not working recently. The CMs treated her like she didn't know what she was doing, saying they test the guns every morning. I ask because at MK, I don't even want to do Buzz Lightyear anymore. It seems the lasers on the ray guns aren't as strong anymore and it's difficult for me to get any significant points

[blondeinbrandon]

We are a family of four. The last time we went to DHS rope drop DH took the boys straight to TSM ride and I went to the Fast Pass Que. I finished getting the fast passes only slightly before they walked out of the ride. Then in the afternoon we rode it all together. This worked very well for us, so if you have one family (or group) member that doesn't mind riding it only once it might work for you too.

[MNNHFLTX]

We are a family of four. The last time we went to DHS rope drop DH took the boys straight to TSM ride and I went to the Fast Pass Que. I finished getting the fast passes only slightly before they walked out of the ride. Then in the afternoon we rode it all together. This worked very well for us, so if you have one family (or group) member that doesn't mind riding it only once it might work for you too.Your post brings up a good point--that if a person gets in line to get FP's at opening while the rest of his group goes immediately into the standby line, he most likely will not be able to meet up with them in time to actually ride the attraction. We witnessed one man talking heatedly on the phone with his family, who obviously had gone ahead on the ride without him while he got FP's. He was quite upset. :shrug:

[#1donaldfan]

Just back today and TSM is just as busy as ever. At park opening, you can only go one way (they won't allow you on the stairs next to the GMR) and follow along in the parade-type mob... :(

......we just got back (June) and at rope drop, or just minutes prior, they announce to the masses that they are going to escort us to the ride and in no way, shape, or form, are we to pass them !!! The person escorting is the one who actually opens the ride and FP machines.....no short-cuts, you just have to be at the front of the mass of people waiting for the rope to drop...:mickey: