1st hour in the park

[Diamond_Girls]

Can someone tell me or point me to an existing thread about how to get through the big stuff first (upon arrival) quickly? Then we can mosey on through the parks the rest of the days...
thanks!!

 

[2tinksmom]

When we want to get thru the biggies first, you just have to move like your pants were on fire!!
Michele

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Well, your best bet would be to get there when the park opens. I mean be at the gate when they open up so you can be amongst the first in. I usually head straight for one long line attraction (ie. Splash Mountain, Space mountain etc.) and grab a fast pass, then wait in standby (should not be too bad) for a nearby long line attraction (ie. Thunder Mountain, Buzz).

A strategy that worked well for us in Feb at Epcot was get there at opening, head straight for Test Track. If there is a line (there almost always is) Get a FP and then go on Ellen's Energy Adventure. After that, it should be time for your return on TT. But before you get on, you should be able to get another FP. So we would go and get ours for Mission Space. When you get off TT it should almost be time for your M:S FP.

We did this a few days in a row. Of course this was in late Feb, when crowds are moderate.

 

[sarahsmom73]

We did all of the rides in Fantasy land with DD including 2 times on dumbo etc in the first hour... We walked right on everything!!!!

 

[JFS]

In MK, we always take train to frontierland and work from the back of the park(Splash Mountain) to Tommorrowland then to adventure land.

 

[Geoff_M]

With MK, our first taget is also usually Fantasyland. You can often blitz the whole thing in about an hour. Most of the rides don't offer FPs and their stand-by wait times usually really jam up 90-120 minutes after the park opens. We usually leave the other opening rush "magnets" to FP usage or e-Night.

With Epcot, I'd recommend grabbing a FP for Test Track and then hopping in stand-by for Mission Space. I was surprised that the majority of the opening crowd opted for TT over MS when we were there in June. We got into Ecpot around 9:15 AM due to a longer than expected wait a the gate and by the time we got to TT for our FPs the stand-by line was already backed up so that it filled the plaza area in front of the attraction. By contrast the MS stand-by queue was only accurately showing "20 minutes". It must be that MS has a lot of people spooked about the "barf-factor".

 

[Eeyore2003]

I agree with EsmeraldaX, you're best bet of getting done what you want is to be at the FRONT of the EMH line or on a non EMH day the entry line. Especially with security, it takes a longer for people to go in and being one of the first on the busiest ride is such a plus, I think. I'm not sure what it's like now and I'm really nervous about our upcoming trip. I usually try to get there on the average of 45 minutes before opening.

Hit the headliners first, at MK, EMH really helps I think, because the Splash Mountain side of the park is not open until 9:00, so you can get several of the headliner Fantasyland/Tomorrowland rides done from 8-9 (Space, Buzz, Pooh, Peter Pan) and then be in line for Frontierland to open to do Splash, Big Thunder, HM and Pirates.

It all depends on what rides you want to do. The worst (I think) is when you have someone that wants to do Dumbo and others that want to do coasters. The only answer to that one is FP's for the super headliners.

 

[courage]

ARe you staying on site? - do early entry and research what is open and what is not...example Space mountain is early entry...Splash mountain is not.

Are you staying off site? - find out what days are early entry for disney guests and don't go to that park on that day - you will be wasting your time. The park will have been going for an hour with lots of guests arriving before you.

This board has the information you need. Magic Kingdom is the best if you can get early entry by staying on site but even then it takes a little strategy.