Toy Story & the Rope Drop

[MaxPower]

I'm curious about riding Toy Story Mania first thing after rope drop in the morning.

Can someone tell me in detail what happens?

I know that a cast member must escort the hundreds of people all trying to ride Toy Story Mania first thing.

What walking path does the cast member take?

Do people really stay behind the cast member?

Also, are the TSM Fast Pass machines ready first thing in the morning?

The best obvious plan would be to go straight to the Toy Story Fast Pass machines, get your fast passes for a little later and then immediately get on the ride in the regular line. Then you can fast pass again later.

Would this theory work?

[Disney Diva 71]

Last summer when the rope dropped we all walked very briskly with the cast members to the Toy Story Mania ride. Everyone was very excited. We rode the ride the ride and then got fast passes to ride again later. Get your fast passes early because when they are gone for the day, they are gone. Also, CM's will honor your fast pass all day after the time that was stamped on it. We leave in 2 days from Texas!! We can't wait!

[Missy_Mouses_Dad]

I was at DW last week and they had us walk down "main street" and hang a right by the hat, then a left after going under the arch by Little Mermaid. WDW had people "stationed" along the route directing everybody towards TSM. It was a mad crazy frenzy of people. By the time dd and I got to the ride, the lines for fp's were stretched to Narnia ( last building prior to TSM), and there was about a 20 minute wait. DW went with the crowd, and by the time Dd and I got to the ride, she had fast passes and we got in line. WDW does do a good job of trying to maintain order, there is just so much they can do.

Question: Doesn't Disney give "Make A Wish" guests automatic "skips" to the front of the line? We saw quite a few of these guests waiting in the long lines, and it seemed odd.

[MOJoe]

When we were there in June, the crowds were let into the park and then held by a rope at the end of the street. At 9:00 the rope was dropped, but no one led us. We walked Fast and were directed right, under the arch and then back left to Midway Mania. For those who ran, a sharp "No running in the parks!" was issued.

Almost everyone went straight to the Fastpass machines. My son and i were not the first in the park, but we managed to be in the second group of cars that day. When we exited the ride the fastpass line was at least 100 feet deep. For us, getting on the ride first made sense. But we were definately in the minority.

Your system will surely work too. But i wouldn't get in a 30 minute line just to get an early fastpass return time.

[edhunter28]

when the rope dropped it was a mad rush to get to the ride.we got on & had planned to get fast passes when we got off but the line to get fastpasses was looooooong.

[jans2kids]

We were ther last week and headed straight to get FP and then get in standby line.

Disney could make this less congested as you have mobs of people in the FP line and mobs in the standby line outside the buidling. Then you find out that once you get inside the building they are not winding people through all the (for better terminology) cattle corrals. If they did this everyone waiting outside in the walkway could probably be inside the buidling.

I have to admit by putting a rope between the FP machines and the main walkway they are able to keep the FP line more organized.

Last year there was no such divider so people lined up at the FP machines 20 deep which clogged up the main walkway so that people could not get to the stand by line.

[AdventurerKim]

Everyone seems to be funnelled into one direction on one path to TSM when the rope drops. CM's block shortcuts. We get a FP for TSM first, and then get in line for the ride. We have gotten a second FP after our first ride for later that evening/night which gets us 3 rides in one day. Even though the standby line to get on the ride looks super long in the morning, it moves quickly bc no one with fast passes is being let on, and in June when we did this, all the mazes inside weren't open. One night, we walked from Epcot/Mexico to DHS to use a late FP and got to TSM just as it started pouring down rain. When we got off the ride, we ran around and got in the standby line because it was still storming. This was perfect because we were inside, very few people with fast passes came so the line moved, and we got a 4th ride that day! When we got off, the rain had slowed considerably so we could make it to the bus stop without getting very wet. We didn't bring ponchos that night.

[BluewaterBrad]

It is usually Insane!

[MaxPower]

So there is now a rope that separates the Fast Pass Machines from the regular entry area in Pixar Place?

[swampfox28]

OMG

I'm SO far out of the WDW loop that I've no idea what you guys are talking about.

Apparently not Buzz Lightyear's ride (the one that's like a ride-thru arcade game!?)

-Sarah
(Who's off to find out what you guys are talking about - AND who is very excited to hear the word PIXAR connected w/ "ride" and WDW - I ***LOVE*** Pixar!!!)

[Belster]

I never knew of such a thing...why have I never had this rope drop happen to me??? I have been hundreds of times....hmmmmm

[beksy]

How are the crowds during EMHs for this? I'm guessing crazy then too! Are there fastpasses during EMHs (for this ride or for any ride?)? Thanks!

106 days

[SpecJoe Magic]

I never knew of such a thing...why have I never had this rope drop happen to me??? I have been hundreds of times....hmmmmm

Have you ever been at a park just prior to opening? "Rope drop" is the term used to describe what happens when all of the guests are first let loose in a park to visit attractions. At Hollywood Studios, for example, guests are let onto Hollywood Boulevard just prior to park opening up to an area in front of the sorcerer Mickey hat. When park opening time rolls around, the Cast Members then "Rope Drop" to let guests through to all other areas of the park.

How are the crowds during EMHs for this? I'm guessing crazy then too! Are there fastpasses during EMHs (for this ride or for any ride?)? Thanks!

I've never tried to do Midway Mania during Extra Magic Hours, but I imagine that it is still a significant wait. Fastpasses are not typically distributed or allowed for use during EMH, but there may be exceptions of which I am unaware.

OMG

I'm SO far out of the WDW loop that I've no idea what you guys are talking about.

Apparently not Buzz Lightyear's ride (the one that's like a ride-thru arcade game!?)

-Sarah
(Who's off to find out what you guys are talking about - AND who is very excited to hear the word PIXAR connected w/ "ride" and WDW - I ***LOVE*** Pixar!!!)

Toy Story Midway Mania replaced Who Wants to be a Millionaire- Play it! with an official opening date of May 31, 2008. I refer to it as an upgraded Buzz Lightyear in much the same way I refer to Expedition: Everest as an upgraded Big Thunder Mountain. Basically, you play 3-D carnival games themed to various Toy Story characters. It's a lot of fun for all ages in my opinion.

[SBETigg]

I would skip getting FPs for this ride. Traditional logic doesn't hold when it comes to TSM. The Fastpass line is longer than the regular line in the early morning hours. I would go straight on the ride, then ride it again, and forget about FPs.

[BelleKP]

I would skip getting FPs for this ride. Traditional logic doesn't hold when it comes to TSM. The Fastpass line is longer than the regular line in the early morning hours. I would go straight on the ride, then ride it again, and forget about FPs.

I haven't had the pleasure of riding this yet . . . we'll be there in Dec. But by the sounds of it, I would agree with Sherri. If you are able to get there early, jump into the standby line . . . if you like it enough, get a fastpass on your way out for later!

[iheartdisney]

I would skip getting FPs for this ride. Traditional logic doesn't hold when it comes to TSM. The Fastpass line is longer than the regular line in the early morning hours. I would go straight on the ride, then ride it again, and forget about FPs.

I also agree. Skip the fast passes unless you plan on staying for the day. We were there late May and the line for fast passes was sometimes longer than the line for the attraction itself. We got there in the morning, as the park opened and never waited more than 30 minutes <---and I'm being generous. I think we waited more like 10-20 minutes each time. We're ones who like to get to the parks early and then go back to the resort later in the day. For a fastpass return of 3:05pm --- it didn't make much sense for us. But if you're planning on staying for the whole day, go for it!

[DisneyFr33k]

DW went with the crowd, and by the time Dd and I got to the ride, she had fast passes and we got in line.

Strange. We were told all 4 of us had to be in the fast pass line in order to get them. 1 person wasn't allowed to get them for the whole family. It made for a very crowded line!!

[Snow's Mom]

I was planning to get fastpasses for my DH and DD while they went ahead and rode TOT and RnRC. Is that a bad plan? I'm not fond of thrill rides, so I thought this was a good use of my time.

Maybe I could sneak on the TSM ride by myself and THEN pick up fastpasses??? Just a thought...

[DisneyFr33k]

I was planning to get fastpasses for my DH and DD while they went ahead and rode TOT and RnRC. Is that a bad plan? I'm not fond of thrill rides, so I thought this was a good use of my time.

Maybe I could sneak on the TSM ride by myself and THEN pick up fastpasses??? Just a thought...

See my post above. We we traveled there last October, all 4 of us were required to be in line to obtain the fast passes.

Maybe they don't do that anymore. Anyone recently go and try it without the whole party?

[Nascfan]

All people in the party have never been required to be in the FP line for fastpasses. In fact, quite the opposite. The person getting the FPs however DOES have to have everyone's ticket. And everyone DOES have to be admitted to the park for it to work. You were told incorrectly that all in the party had to be in line for FPs.