The only thing that really matters now is Fast Pass and rope drop. After the morning wears off, the park is packed and all the headliners have long lines until close to close.
Yep, 3 strategies for headliners with less waiting.
1. FP+
2. Rope Drop (with EMH preferred).
3. Closing time.
Use one, none, or all of them, your choice. But here's a few thoughts:
1. Everyone CAN get a FP and most will, even day of. Some will set an alarm & book 60 days or more out, others at 30 days out. Some will be too confused (I still stand in the park & overhear people discussing how they can't use FP+ because they didn't pay for it), not tech savvy, aren't planners, didn't book enough in advance to know, just plain don't know they exist and will not get full advantage. Some will not know you can, not know how, or not bother to get a 4th, 5th, 6th...FP+.
2. Read it here in the threads, talk with your friends & neighbors, but most people WILL NOT get up in time to make it to ANY rope drop while on vacation and even fewer will make it to an AM EMH. Even if gobs of people do show up for AM EMH just know its a small % to those who COULD, they simply won't. (This summer we will have 7am RD for us, we will have to start our day in the 5 o'clock hour, glad to trade for the heat & crowds later in the day-that crowd is welcomed to it.) Another benefit to EMH is no FP's during that hour, so no one will be cutting in front of you effecting your wait time. This will not be the case if you RD a non-EMH park, any FP ride you go to first thing will have interruptions to line traffic flow.
3. Again, there's an entire group of people that WILL NOT stay til closing, small kids, too tired, want to leave for dinner, etc. You are allowed to get in line up until official closing time, you don't have to be out of the park by closing time. A CM will let you know if you're too late, otherwise get in line. Again, after official closing time, no more FP interruptions and the lines move much more swiftly. Also, they tend to report higher wait times so you won't head over to it. I've waited 20 min. to ride TSMM at close, when the reported wait time was 90 min. The line is indoors so you don't know how inaccurate it is until you go inside. If you see 90 min. you'll think how tired you are & just leave.
Have a great trip & hope you're able to use all 3 above strategies.