Advice: How to be the first person in at Hollywood Studios

[DisneyandBeerLover]

I need (a want really but you know) to be the first person in line at Mickey & Minnies Runaway Railway. I want to be the first guest on March 4. Who has advice on what to do? What kind of advice does anyone have for being the first in the park and the first on a ride?
FWIW I worked all day I was late to seeing the FP for MMRR so I don’t have one.

ETA: I’m not above getting there when the park closes March 3 and waiting outside security.

 

[Alesia]

ETA: I’m not above getting there when the park closes March 3 and waiting outside security.

Even if you do that, you'll still be at the mercy of whatever tapstyle you pick. If you truly want to be the absolute first, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed.

 

[DisLiss]

There are so many variables in getting into the park and then getting to the ride that I think even trying to set a goal of being on the first ride would be a very lofty one, never mind a goal of being the absolute first person to board the ride. We've seen many, many reports over the years of people who camped out for this or that, and still wound up behind 100 people for one reason or another.

 

[Robo]

I need (a want really but you know) to be the first person in line at Mickey & Minnies Runaway Railway...

ETA: I’m not above getting there when the park closes March 3 and waiting outside security.

I doubt that you truly can imagine just how outstandingly and terrifyingly BUSY the DHS morning entry is these days.
It is nearly unfathomable just how many guests will consistently arrive EARLY to DHS and overwhelm the security bag check lines and tapstyles.
(And, yes, there have been some guests on certain nights who have waited overnight to be "first" in the park.)

But, SOMEONE will be "first" inside DHS that morning.
It just seems your chance of actually being that someone will be kind of low.

 

[Darcy03231]

If you want to try it, I would not bring any kind of a bag with me. When DH and I were there we put everything in our pockets and were able to get through quickly by being able to skip bag check.

 

[yulilin3]

chances of being first on MMRR will be about 7k people to 1 (at least)

 

[havoc315]

No control in being the absolute first. We were first into DHS about 7 years ago..... ah, such a different time. Showed up about 45 minutes early, and that got us first to the tapstyle.

Nowadays.. if you want to be in the first hundred people, I'd plan on arriving a minimum of 2 hours before park open.
Right now, it's a scheduled 9am open... likely will change to 8am, maybe even 7am.
To be in the first bunch of people.... As previously mentioned, don't bring a bag.
For 7am open, arrive by 5:45.
For 8am open, I'd say arrive by 6:15
For 9 am open (which is unlikely), I'd still arrive by 7am at the latest, if you really want to be in that first hundred people.

To be generally towards the front of the rush, but not "first"....
Seems like..
7am open -- arrive by 6:10
8am open -- arrive by 7
9am open -- guess arrive by 7:30am

 

[AngiTN]

I think I'd temper my expectations and try to be on the first ride. That is a lofty enough goal but at least the odds are better than being the first one to walk in the queue. ESPECIALLY since there will be some with a FP for that first hour. They'll more likely be the first loaded.

 

[GoingSince1990]

The problem is, they will say no running, but people will run. And even if you break the rules yourself and run, almost certainly some people will run faster than you. And the people who run the fastest will not be punished for breaking the rules; in fact they will be rewarded by being first in line for MMRR.

 

[AngiTN]

The problem is, they will say no running, but people will run. And even if you break the rules yourself and run, almost certainly some people will run faster than you. And the people who run the fastest will not be punished for breaking the rules; in fact they will be rewarded by being first in line for MMRR.

Exactly. There are always folks who think the rules don't apply to them.

 

[MarkS2112]

You do know the you actually won’t be the first on it since the have cast member previews before it opens. Chances of being first is unreasonable due to huge crowds these days plus the fact someone else has same mindset. Good luck.

 

[yulilin3]

You do know the you actually won’t be the first on it since the have cast member previews before it opens. Chances of being first is unreasonable due to huge crowds these days plus the fact someone else has same mindset. Good luck.

It doesn't look like there will be cm previews for this one, but obviously the cm that work the attraction would have gone on it already

 

[agamble]

I think I'd temper my expectations and try to be on the first ride. That is a lofty enough goal but at least the odds are better than being the first one to walk in the queue. ESPECIALLY since there will be some with a FP for that first hour. They'll more likely be the first loaded.

According to people who got FP for this ride during the first few weeks there were no FP available before 10AM for any day. So although it is still unlikley he'll be the first on, he shouldn't have to combat with FP riders.

Also, I wouldn't put it passed Disney to choose a family to go on first. They tend to do those things. Or they may have other plans for the ride opening.

 

[AngiTN]

According to people who got FP for this ride during the first few weeks there were no FP available before 10AM for any day. So although it is still unlikley he'll be the first on, he shouldn't have to combat with FP riders.

Also, I wouldn't put it passed Disney to choose a family to go on first. They tend to do those things. Or they may have other plans for the ride opening.

I'm there opening day and have a FP before 10:00 AM.
The first release was not before 10:30 but the 2nd release had earlier ones.
I was checking FP and got lucky to move mine up from 12:30

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

You do know the you actually won’t be the first on it since the have cast member previews before it opens. Chances of being first is unreasonable due to huge crowds these days plus the fact someone else has same mindset. Good luck.

Yes, I know I wouldn't be the first person on the ride. I want to be the first guest on the official opening day.

 

[cgattis]

As others have said, you can be first to a tap style, but that one could seize up or the CM could get distracted by a question and you can’t pass until they are watching, or whatever. We’ve had those things happen. We were first (way first thanks to some bad info on the website) at BB one day and they still picked a boy taller and older than my DD to open Summit Plummet. And we were first at a tapstyle to rope drop FOP (not opening day) and had about six preteen boys run across in front of us to the next rope/stop point. And like others said, they weren’t punished for running by Disney or their parents, who then pushed through folks (including my kids who did not run) to catch up to their boys (“oh haha, boys”) instead of tanking their butts back with them. The mad stampede that followed was unbelievably dangerous and I frankly found it hard to believe Disney doesn’t try harder to police it. I’m stunned if nobody has been seriously injured during some of these ridiculous openings.

So, while I wish you luck, I’m afraid unless you’re willing to run, you likely won’t be THE first. I’d like to think Disney would make examples of those folks....but they won’t. But it’ll still be really cool to be among the first few riders!!

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

I'm willing to run. If Disney isn't punishing anyone for running, I'm not above getting on their level and running. I'm short, I can't walk as fast as taller people, but I'll start running if other people do.

 

[Tink9721]

I'm willing to run. If Disney isn't punishing anyone for running, I'm not above getting on their level and running. I'm short, I can't walk as fast as taller people, but I'll start running if other people do.

And what if other people get in front of you? Are you just planning on pushing your way to the front of the line? Sorry, it's a completely unrealistic goal to be the very first person on a ride, out of the thousands of other people in the park, no matter how early you get there.

 

[gharter]

As others have said, I think you will be greatly disappointed.
Too many variables from which tapstile you pick.
No matter what time you get there, there will be many others with the same idea.
Assuming you get there several hours before park opening, you will be held somewhere before you can get to the park. Including walking from Boardwalk to HS.
Once you are in the park, it will be you and several thousand others headed to SWGE, TSL or MMRR.
Others are not worried about running over you.
can you ride it opening day? Probably. Be the first in line, not likely.

 

[Allison]

I would expect that they will likely pick someone to be the first guest on the ride.