Best plan for A&E without a fastpass

[mernin]

We are in MK for two days (12/08, 12/12) and weren't able to get any fastpasses either day (we are staying offsite). I'm still checking but don't expect that we'll get one.

What is the best plan to see them with the shortest wait? Is it at rope drop? We have DD7 and DD2 so I don't expect we'll be at the park until closing either night.

Thanks!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

You'll be going during party season and you'll be in the MK on the 8th, which is a party day. I'd get in line for them on the 8th around 6:15 p.m. Your wait should be 20 minutes or less.

 

[journies_end]

My family and I tried to do A&E at rope drop (Aug. 2014, it was a non-EMH day, we arrived an hour early to try to hit both A&E and 7DMT). A&E was already +2 hours when got back there (my dad is in a wheelchair and that factored in a bit) and 7DMT was already 70 mins. We just did Space Mountain instead (15 min wait).

My boyfriend and I did stick around to the end of the day and 10 minutes before closing the wait time for A&E said 40 mins and we decided to do it (and it was really just a 20 min wait).

If you DD are real troopers and can make it til closing (it looks like 12/08 is MVMCP, and 12/12 it park closes at 10pm) your only other option is to HIGHTAIL it to Fantasyland at rope drop.

 

[hammie59]

I think the best bet is to do it towards closing. The wait times aren't always as long as posted near the end. Going in the am you'll find a lot of people already in line, probably many from breakfast ADRs that got in before park opening. That's always been a strategy ppl have used to see them without a fp (at least when they were at EPCOT). I've even heard of some scrapping the ADR once in the park and taking the $ penalty

 

[DVCcurious]

We did A&E last Spring Break (with 10 level crowds) without FP+ and had a short wait at RD. BUT......the first day we were 3rd in line and the second day we were 1st in line. Had we been towards the back of the RD pack it would've been over an hour wait. Here's how you can do it:

Get to MK at least 45 minutes before opening. Since you're offsite you can get to the MK parking lot at 7:30 for a 9AM opening and be on the first boat/monorail of the day. I believe the Resort Monorail runs before the boats or the express monorail so that's the one you'll take. Get in front of an empty / short line Mickey reader. Go through the Mickey Readers and get as close to the front of the pack underneath either tunnel below Main Street Station. As soon as the CMs start walking with the rope you want to walk rapidly and maneuver your way to the front of the pack right near the rope (the Cast Members literally are carrying a rope). Be on the left side of Main Street. Follow the rope through the castle and be on the left side of the pack walking through castle tunnel. When you exit the castle the CM's will walk everyone around the carousel, this is why you want to be to the left of the pack so you don't get stuck with everyone moving from the right towards the left to go around the carousel. Follow the rope and you'll hear a CM say "follow me to A&E" and he/she will walk directly into the A&E line. Follow this person into the line.

If you are not at the front of the pack you will be looking at a huge line. If you watch the welcome show in the middle of the courtyard and then begin walking with the masses of people towards the tunnels under the train station you will be looking at an hour

 

[mernin]

Thanks for the tip at rope drop. We have MVMCP tickets on the 8th so the morning was just for a few hours at rope drop before we go nap in the afternoon. Maybe DD2 will be able to make it. We have an 8:30 adr at CRT on the 12th but doubt we'll be out before the rope drop group gets in line.

Fingers crossed it works out. Not the end of the world if it doesn't

 

[DavidNYC]

Just back from Disney this week. I frequently saw A&E at 45-60 minutes which really isn't so bad compared to how it had been last year. Other than trying to go right at rope drop or end of evening would be to just keep an eye on the waits. You're going a good week - won't be so crowded. Although if it's a party day, they start getting in at 4pm so you might want to try right before then. Lightest crowds at MK are party days before 4.

Unless you're really at the front of the pack at rope drop - I think you'll be better off in afternoon - a lot of people try this. The longest wait I saw for A&E was at about 9:30 when we walked into Cindy/Rapunzel with no wait without a FP.

 

[mernin]

@DavidNYC thanks! Good to know about shorter in the afternoon!

 

[pmaurer74]

we were there last weekend and the wait time was only 25 minutes in the first hour.

 

[baler31]

You'll be going during party season and you'll be in the MK on the 8th, which is a party day. I'd get in line for them on the 8th around 6:15 p.m. Your wait should be 20 minutes or less.

We waited around 15 minutes on a MNSSHP night. Agree this will work the best with a 7pm close to those without tickets.

 

[jessicadisneygirl]

On the MVMCP threads, people are reporting that non-party guests are being sent through the FP line right before 7 in order to speed them through before the party starts. We are actually attending the party on the same day you are going and are trying A&E right around that time. Keep in mind the wait times are sometimes artificially inflated on the board at the end of the day and I'm sure that might apply right before parties too. Ask the CM what the wait really is!