A&E strategy without a FP+

[Pinkzeppe]

Any suggestions on how to wait the least amount of time for the A&E M&G without a FP+? Get there at rope drop? EMH day or not? Thanks in advance!

 

[999DoomBuggies]

I am interested in this info too, we are coming down on Saturday and did not get fast passes in time.

 

[ziravan]

It was reported here a few days ago that somebody watched fireworks from the carousel near PFH and went into the meet and greet right after it was over and had great luck that way.

I hear so many people say go at rope drop, but the reports you hear from the blogs are that that tends to be the worst time of day to go.

First, I'd try after the morning rush but before crowds get huge, say 10AM. If it's still too busy, I'd try afternoon when all the late arrival crowd are getting food and all the commandos are in the middle of park hopping, say 4-5. Then, if still too busy, I'd try right after fireworks. I wouldn't depend on the late strategy, and I'd ask the CM at PFH when they plan on closing down the line.

One game changer. They recently tested something similar to legacy fastpasses for the standby line where they gave out return passes for the standby line (referred to here as SB+). Keep reading here. IF they go to return passes for standby, then the best strategy will be going at rope drop and securing a return pass.

 

[Pinkzeppe]

It was reported here a few days ago that somebody watched fireworks from the carousel near PFH and went into the meet and greet right after it was over and had great luck that way.

I hear so many people say go at rope drop, but the reports you hear from the blogs are that that tends to be the worst time of day to go.

First, I'd try after the morning rush but before crowds get huge, say 10AM. If it's still too busy, I'd try afternoon when all the late arrival crowd are getting food and all the commandos are in the middle of park hopping, say 4-5. Then, if still too busy, I'd try right after fireworks. I wouldn't depend on the late strategy, and I'd ask the CM at PFH when they plan on closing down the line.

One game changer. They recently tested something similar to legacy fastpasses for the standby line where they gave out return passes for the standby line (referred to here as SB+). Keep reading here. IF they go to return passes for standby, then the best strategy will be going at rope drop and securing a return pass.

Thanks!!!

 

[jimandami]

We have friends that went a couple weeks ago who went at opening and waited 2 hours. They said that around 9:00 PM, the posted wait time was only 20 minutes and wished they had done it differently. HTH.

 

[candfam]

Anyone else have any ideas? What's the status of the paper standby passes?

 

[danielangie]

Anyone else have any ideas? What's the status of the paper standby passes?

I am almost 100% sure the paper fast passes are done. They did that for a few days to test how it worked for standby but have since stopped

 

[Mel2421]

Get there about an hour before the park opens and stay on the Right when they let people in. There are cast members that hold up a rope and you follow them down. They tell people where to go for Mine Train and for A & E. We also saw them at 9:40pm on Aug. 9th with a fast pass. Rope drop is the way to go without Fastpass. Get there early. Most of the people were wanting to ride the mine train.

 

[RachaelA]

Get there about an hour before the park opens and stay on the Right when they let people in. There are cast members that hold up a rope and you follow them down. They tell people where to go for Mine Train and for A & E. We also saw them at 9:40pm on Aug. 9th with a fast pass. Rope drop is the way to go without Fastpass. Get there early. Most of the people were wanting to ride the mine train.

So do they line people up at all before the park opens or do you just kind of hang out in a big group (like normal rope drop) and then follow in the group down behind the CM?

 

[Mel2421]

In front before park opening. They start letting people in before the park opens. You can go to the tunnel right under the train. When they count down to opening they walk with a rope so people don't start running. They asked where the people at the very front were heading. At one point they let the people going to mine train to break off and head there. They take the rest of the people for A & E behind a rope all the way to the entrance of fairy tale hall.

 

[candfam]

Wow thanks. So how long is the wait for those coming in the front of the line? It would defeat the purpose to get 1 hr early, then wait another 30-60 mins in the line

 

[Mel2421]

Being one of the first ones there is fun! Sometimes you get pick to open the park. We got a private Safari twice for being the first ones there at Animal Kingdom.