Originally Posted By Dabob2 "Like I said, Cynthia Harriss and her executives simply didn't know how to run a theme park. " Well, I know she wasn't at WDW, but if she had been, and make that decision for fp at ITTBAB there, it would have made sense. The whole Disney team, quite apart from Harris, didn't understand that they couldn't build along the MGM model, and have that go over in SoCal. Anyway, it might not have needed fp, but Ferret is quite right about the queue. It's very nice, and still one of the best in the park.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I think that part of the reason the queue is so big is that they wanted to try and replicate the feeling of the DAK queue>> Every queue length is determined by projected park attendance and in-park capacity. DCA's projections were so high that Bug needed a long line to cope. There definitely wasn't any attempt to mimic any other queue. The presence of Sunshine Plaza made that particular pad a nightmare to purpose.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes Does anyone really think that Cynthia Harris had any input as to what attractions got FastPass and which ones diddn't? AW C'MON !!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>The presence of Sunshine Plaza made that particular pad a nightmare to purpose.<< I can only imagine! They did a good job of concealing the building from the Sunshine Plaza side, hiding it behind the greenery (at least in the later years; my first DCA visit was in 2005, so it may have been more visible before everything grew in), and still making it feel normal from the Bountiful Valley side. The footprint of the queue is sort of an odd shape, and the whole site was squeezed on all sides by the parade route. It's amazing that they were able to fit a structure that large in there, without making it feel like it was way too big for the space (which is probably part of the reason the floor level is underground)
Originally Posted By gardenrooms Another RSR and FastPass question - we are staying at GCH - can we get to the FP machine from there as well? This is our 1st trip to CarsLand and we only have 2 days (and 13 hours of driving round trip) so want to maximize our chances of riding. Thanks.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Your best bet staying onsite would probably be to ride the attraction first thing in the morning, before the line has a chance to get long (either through the early entry, or just being in the park right when it opens). The FP line is often quite long early in the morning, and can take longer than getting on the attraction itself.
Originally Posted By gardenrooms Thanks - I was thinking we might we might be able to do both, but sounds like the person waiting for FPs might not be able to catch up with us in line if their line could be longer!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I haven't ever tried to get FPs for it, so I don't know how quickly they run out, but you might even want to consider letting everybody ride, and then head back to get in line for FPs. I suspect it takes at least a couple hours (maybe literaly just 2 hours), but that's plenty of time to get that first ride in. That will give you some more time between your two rides, so that they don't run together as much. You might even be able to grab FPs for after it gets dark, which would give the outdoor portion a very different atmosphere than during daylight hours
Originally Posted By karlg If you have early entry, I would definitely recommend going on it first. These don't start the FP machines until the park opens. ONE trick is that if you get on the ride and off before the park officially opens, there is a SHORTER F.P. line inside the ropes for those with early entry. That line moves fast (at least the day I did it) and you can be in and out in less than 5 minutes Once the rope drops the other line joins this line. So you may have time for one or two rides and then get a fast pass for relatively early in the day. If you come back say after rope drop and after the long FP line has gone down, but still within the first two hours, you will likely get a F.P. for sometime in the afternoon or evening (depending on attendance that day). One more "tip". The main queue will move faster in the first hour because F.P. return times don't start for the first 45 minutes.
Originally Posted By gardenrooms Wow. Great advice. We will have early entry on Sunday so that will be our plan for that day. And I guess wed won't try Magic Morning at DL the other day so we can take advantage of that 1st hour. CA all the way, this trip (never thought I'd say that, and of course, we will go to DL, just not 1st thing in the AM)!
