1 day with hopper

[Pbeh]

we purchased hopper passes from a school auction. We have never used a hopper before, but we get the general idea.

We are only going one day this time, during the last full week in March. We definitely want to see the magic kingdom, and probably also animal kingdom and Epcot if possible. We don't expect to ride everything, but are looking for input about what order to visit and which park should we get fast passes for.

I figure if we hit one park for opening to take advantage of shorter morning lines, then switch parks around lunch and use early afternoon fast passes at a second park, then go eat dinner and then hit up a third park in the evening till close.

Any thoughts on which order would probably allow us to do most?

MK: splash, thunder, space mtn.
Epcot: Frozen, test track, soarin
Ak: Everest, safari

Those would be the top rides we'd want to hit, anything else we'd do as lines permit.

I know everyone's tastes are different, and that's why I'm asking how you would do it to get ideas. We are staying offsite, so can't take advantage of emh.

Thanks!

 

[elaine amj]

Hmm...MK usually stays opens the latest. And I think Frozen will be the hardest to get. I would suggest:

Epcot at open - Frozen at RD and then TT FP and Soarin standby. After TT FP, try to get Everest and Safari FPs (I think they are often available as SDFPs? Don't know though...nor have I used the app to get SDFPs yet)

Late afternoon in AK - often standby for those 2 are not horrendous. Or try for SDFP. Not sure what the situation will be at end of March but when I was there last March, we easily did Safari on standby at about 5pm. I'd imagine with ROL, ride lines might possibly be shorter because ppl will be focused on ROL?

Evening in MK. Splash is usually easy late at night. Last March, we did Thunder easily in the last hour. We rode it 2-3 times in a row. At the end, we actually had 4 mins to spare and raced across the park and got into the 7DMT standby line just at close (first row of the last train of the night!). So that would probably be an easy way to handle Space.

Anyway, that's basically what my family did last March. Only did a one day hopper so started at Epcot (no Frozen then though so we did it with no FPs), used FPs at AK in the afternoon, then had a leisurely dinner in WCC before hitting MK until late. The ferry pulled up at MK during Wishes and we got to watch from the boat. We stayed until the park closed (can't remember what time but it was about 12am I think).

 

[sharonabe]

Are you staying onsite and able to use EMH?

Your biggest obstacle is going to be EP. All three of your must dos are in Group A, so you can only FP+ one of those. Can you take advantage of the single rider line for TT? If so, I might start at EP and do Frozen first, Soarin' and then single-rider at TT. Have an early lunch at EP or head over to AK for lunch and FP+ Everest and safari. If you can get these close to 1:00/2:00, then you should be able to get additional FP for MK for later in the evening.

 

[Robo]

Hmm...MK usually opens the latest.

????

 

[sharonabe]

????

Hmm...MK usually opens the latest.

I assume they meant, "stays open the latest."

 

[Robo]

I assume they meant, "stays open the latest."

Now, THAT makes sense.

 

[elaine amj]

I assume they meant, "stays open the latest."

LOL - that's definitely what I meant

 

[Pbeh]

So if you do frozen at rope drop, how long is that line first thing? Does world showcase open later then the other part?

 

[Pbeh]

Is the new magic kingdom opening worth seeing? I guess I mean is it amazing or just kind of same old show?

 

[Robo]

1. So if you do frozen at rope drop, how long is that line first thing?
2. Does world showcase open later then the other part?

1. Depends on how early you get there.
Figure 20-45 min.

2. Other than Norway/Frozen and a bakery in France, the attractions and restaurants of WS open at 11am.

 

[Robo]

Is the new magic kingdom opening worth seeing? I guess I mean is it amazing or just kind of same old show?

Guests can have a wide range of that is considered "amazing."

I'll say that the new MK Welcome stops somewhere short of "amazing."

(It is not the same show that they presented up on the Main St. RR station.)

 

[adisneyaunt]

U got great advise so nothing to add in that regard.
Just wanted to wish u a great park hopping, Pixie Dusted, magical trip! Sounds like fun to me! Enjoy

 

[thepicklebee]

I would start at Epcot and Rope Drop Frozen, stand in line for Soarin, and Single Rider TT. I would have my FP's for Everest and Safari in the afternoon. Finish at MK - I feel I have had the best luck getting SDFP's at MK because there are more attractions and they stay open the latest.

I would also consider buying the express transportation option for the day. I think it will end up saving you a LOT of time and hassle.

 

[Ensusieasm]

So if you do frozen at rope drop, how long is that line first thing? Does world showcase open later then the other part?

In January we were second in line at the tap stile, power walked to the Frozen ride, and were able to ride twice walking on both times with no wait at all.

 

[elaine amj]

So if you do frozen at rope drop, how long is that line first thing? Does world showcase open later then the other part?

This was what I posted after doing Frozen at RD in Sept 2016.

Visited on Monday, Sept 26 (a lower crowd day I believe?). Was late leaving the hotel and got to Epcot about 8:25. Insane lines at the entrance (the whole front area was packed solid). I waited patiently in the line on the right edge, chatting with a sweet older couple who were a wee bit confused about opening. Felt so bad when I abruptly stopped midsentence, taking off full speed when I noticed the PPO breakfast lines on the far right opened up to the public. I ended up about 5th from the front. By 8:35 or so, they opened the park and we all took off!! It wasn't quite the running of the bulls though as it is a looong walk and the crowds separated quickly with people running too. I kept up a brisk walk and it was still a walk on when I got there. When I got off, the line had built to a 15 min wait. It was soooo awesome I hopped back into line! So worth the effort! Plus, I had a FP for Soarin later and really had no need to rush anywhere at 9am.

I have done many mad dash Rope Drops...Toy Story back in its crazy days, 7 Dwarves during Christmas Week, MK RD a couple of days ago (hard to be ahead of the pack with the PPO guests already wandering around - was headed to 7DMT then heard a CM say it was down so changed course for Peter Pan)....this had the least jostling for position.

That said, it is a VERY long walk all the way back to Frozen. The CMs did not control us at all and some were running. If u walk slower or are further back in line at the entrance tapstiles, a 15-30 min line is likely (which is not bad IMO). If u want to do all 3 headliners (Soarin, Test Track, and Frozen) with only one FP and u cannot get the prized Frozen one, I would suggest RD Frozen, then walk back to do either Soarin or Test Track before lines get too intense (Soarin was about 20 mins or so when I got there closer to 9:30am).

 

[texasgingerbread]

Use the Express Bus option if still there - it picks you up in park and drops you in park so you don't have to go thru security. It's $15 and there is a thread here (I'll find it) that has the schedule. Here's the infohttps://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/express-transportation-options/

 

[texasgingerbread]

Here it is https://www.disboards.com/threads/n...on-add-on-schedule-page-57-post-1135.3563694/
post #1135

 

[sharonabe]

Here it is https://www.disboards.com/threads/n...on-add-on-schedule-page-57-post-1135.3563694/
post #1135

Just want to give a warning here. The above schedule is the one Disney has used for several weeks now, but since this isn't even a permanent addition yet, please be sure you check with the service your day of to be sure this is STILL the schedule.

 

[loves to dive]

Keep in mind F&G will be happening at Epcot while you are there so you might want to visit WS for a few hours just to sample booths. The only hard to get FP you are looking at is FEA, all the others can be same day or even stand by. I'd do AK at open and knock out those rides, you can easily do it in 2 hours or so, hop over to MK and knock out a couple of rides, FP FEA at Epcot, hop over there and take in F&G, ride your rides and heck, you might still have some time left over to hop back over to MK. I agree with the express bus, when we hop we don't bother with it but with only one day, I'd probably go for it.

 

[HopperFan]

we purchased hopper passes from a school auction. We have never used a hopper before, but we get the general idea.

We are only going one day this time, during the last full week in March. We definitely want to see the magic kingdom, and probably also animal kingdom and Epcot if possible. We don't expect to ride everything, but are looking for input about what order to visit and which park should we get fast passes for.

I figure if we hit one park for opening to take advantage of shorter morning lines, then switch parks around lunch and use early afternoon fast passes at a second park, then go eat dinner and then hit up a third park in the evening till close.

Any thoughts on which order would probably allow us to do most?

MK: splash, thunder, space mtn.
Epcot: Frozen, test track, soarin
Ak: Everest, safari

Those would be the top rides we'd want to hit, anything else we'd do as lines permit.

I know everyone's tastes are different, and that's why I'm asking how you would do it to get ideas. We are staying offsite, so can't take advantage of emh.

Thanks!

Just asking in case ....

Are these a bunch of one day hopper tickets that you are only planning to use some?
OR
Are these multi-day hopper passes and you would like to use one day?

If they are multi - are they non-expire passes? I ask because they don't sell them anymore.
And if they are not, and you use them one day ... the remaining days will expire.