Two rope drop strategy questions...

[indimom]

We'll be going at the beginning of the summer when it's pretty busy and staying off site, so I want to take advantage of rope drop on non-EMH days.
I have two questions about our morning strategy...

1. At DHS, we are definitely heading to TSMM first thing. From there, we want to go to RNRC and TOT. Is there a short cut from the pixar place area to Sunset Blvd through a building or anything? Or do I have to backtrack to the arch and around to Sunset? I can't tell from the maps.

2. At AK, should we do the Safari before EE, or the other way around?? I was thinking safari since it probably loads slower and so the line gets long faster?? Also, our third and fourth choice rides are Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl, so if we do the safari first, this makes a smoother sort of circle with less time wasted backtracking? Any thoughts?? Corrections???

And, yes, we will use FP. We're just hoping to hit these each once AND get a FP for TSMM and EE before the crowds arrive.

TIA!

[vicki_c]

There is no shortcut at DHS - you have to leave the Animation area.

Other question - I would go to EE first, but I'm sure you might get different opinions on that.

[whereindisney]

1) for DHS you have to go back through the arch and then down Sunset. What i would recommend, first thing get FP for TSM, then ride it. The stand by line shouldn't be too long. That way you get 2 rides on it for sure, and then head to RNRC.

2) For AK, our strategy is to send 1 person to EE to get FP for the group while everyone else take a leisurely walk to Safari. If the person who goes for the FP is a decently fast walker, we usually meet them by the drums in Africa, if not we let the kids play around there until they get there. The best part about riding Safari early, is that it is cooler and the animals are more active.

hope this helps

[Robo]

Originally Posted by indimom

We'll be going at the beginning of the summer when it's pretty busy and staying off site, so I want to take advantage of rope drop on non-EMH days.
I have two questions about our morning strategy...

1. At DHS, we are definitely heading to TSMM first thing. From there, we want to go to RNRC and TOT. Is there a short cut from the pixar place area to Sunset Blvd through a building or anything? Or do I have to backtrack to the arch and around to Sunset? I can't tell from the maps.

If you are there at Rope Drop, you must go through the arch.
Any other time of day, you may go towards the Mickey Hat (off to the right) and down the stairs. It is a bit of a shorter route.

[

[figmentgirl]

Robo these maps are so wonderful! You should publish a tour guide book. I'm sure I'm the 500th DISer to tell you this but maybe it'll be the tipping point

whereindisney I agree with your idea to have one person get the EE fastpass and meet at safari. Wasn't there a rumor about fastpasses being distributed by the tree of life for all the major rides? Is that going to happen at all and if so will it happen in mid March?

[whereindisney]

i think they tried the, centralized FP at ITTBAB for a while this summer, not sure if it is still running. we are headed down a week from today so i will check it out and let you know.

[whereindisney]

Robo, i also want to tell you what a great job you did on the maps. Keep up the good work and thanks for being a part of this community.

[Zippa D Doodah]

OP, on your question about AK strategy...

Unless it's a really busy day I would recommend starting with EE because FPs get distributed for it more quickly than do KS FPs. I woud get FPs and then ride EE, thereby assuring two rides. Then consider going over to Dinoland for PW and D!. After that head back over toward KS. It has been our experience that except at the busiest of times you will still be able to get FP for KS with return times within an hour or so.

Use that hour to tour PFT, visit Camp MinnieMickey, explore Discovery Island, or just hang out in Africa. We were seriously hunting hidden Mickeys on our last trip and used that time to find lots of HMs (and a really cool hidden Baloo!) in Africa. Alternatively you may wish to backtrack and use your EE FPs while wating for the KS FPs to mature.

That's always a pretty effective and relaxed AK strategy for us. In fact, we usualy wind things up for the day at AK about then unless we have an itch to see FotLK, ITTBAB, or Nemo. It'll be late morning by then and you can make the call about whether to press on at AK and see some of those otehr attractions or move along to another park/resort/venue.

[g-dad66]

Originally Posted by indimom

2. At AK, should we do the Safari before EE, or the other way around?? I was thinking safari since it probably loads slower and so the line gets long faster?? Also, our third and fourth choice rides are Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl, so if we do the safari first, this makes a smoother sort of circle with less time wasted backtracking? Any thoughts?? Corrections???

We've done it both ways.

It was slick when we did the Safari first, then headed for Everest and got Fast Passes for later use.

But another time, our priority was to ride Everest as many times as possible. So...went to Everest and got Fast Passes (15 minute line to get the FPs), then rode Everest standby (about 25 minute wait), then went to Safari (not eligible for FPs yet, and had about a 40-minute wait. Ugh.)

[Robo]

Originally Posted by figmentgirl

Robo these maps are so wonderful! You should publish a tour guide book. I'm sure I'm the 500th DISer to tell you this but maybe it'll be the tipping point

Originally Posted by whereindisney

Robo, i also want to tell you what a great job you did on the maps. Keep up the good work and thanks for being a part of this community.

Thank you!

I'm glad you like the maps, and appreciate you letting me know.

[indimom]

This will help alot. I'm worrying about staying off site, we really enjoyed the early morning hours last time. So, I'm hoping that having a little more info and a good morning plan will make all the difference this time around! Thanks again for the maps and advice.