Best Strategy for Riding 7DMT WITHOUT a FP

[Disney Princess]

We can't seem to get a FP+ for 7DMT, so we're hoping to ride standby. When is the best time to go? We are rope droppers, but we weren't sure that running there with everyone else is the best idea. Is that the only time of day to try?

We won't stay super late as our 2 yo and 6 month old will be with us, but park hours aren't that late as it is when we're going. Is park closing best? Is there a single rider line? Is there an option I'm not considering? We'll both ride, but separately because of the kids.

Thanks for any tips!

 

[Angel Ariel]

With a 2 y/o and a 6 month old, I would do RD - get there 45 mins or so before RD, so you're at the front of the pack and head straight there. I think EasyWDW had a plan for how best to get to 7DMT at RD...I think it was by heading off to the right around the castle (as opposed to going through it) - on the path that leads from tomorrowland to NFL. If you head directly under the castle, you have to go to the left around the carrousel because of the A&E line. IIRC, EasyWDW said going around the castle to the right got you to 7DMT sooner.

 

[jesse8931]

Wait in line like everyone else

 

[Angel Ariel]

Also, when is your trip? Check the A&E/7DMT FP+ Cancellation threads on this board (you may have to go to page 2,3, etc). The cancellation thread for our trip month was the only reason we managed to get a FP+ for A&E on our trip, and I think that happened less than a month before our trip. Subscribe to the thread so you get e-mail updates when someone posts. You never know when someone else's plans will change and they'll come here to see if they can help someone else!

 

[nalajms]

Make sure you take advantage of the baby swap! The vouchers are usually good for the whole month. If your 2yo is not tall enough, I'd have each parent go up separately with one kid and get 2 vouchers Then someone can ride 2x.

 

[tink9702]

Rope Drop - arrive for 8:20 or so and see the opening ceremony @ 8:40ish. Stand to the RIGHT and go straight there. Do NOT go through the castle, take the right that goes to Fantasyland right before the castle.

And do Rider Swap as you get to the measuring stick right at the entrance they will give you a ticket for the second adult to come back later with the older kid again. Also drop off your stroller at that point, the cast members will take it for you and park it.

We walked right on to 7DMT on two separate days in November. no wait at all so probably 8 minutes to walk through the entire queue (it's HUGE!) By the time we got off the ride the queue was absolutely full and said it was 45 minutes. That was the shortest it was all day (at least until 6pm). I don't know what it's like in the late evening though.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I would not waste valuable RD time on 7DMT...it's a two minute ride not worth blowing an hour of prime touring time on, but the baby swap is also an issue for you...you can't really use the end of the night strategy because the first ride is going to involve a long wait. Honestly, I'd just keep an eye on wait times and hop in line when the wait is under 45 minutes (using easywdw.com's actual wait times, and not the inflated wait times Disney posts). It seems to me that there's a lull around 10:00/10:15 (when the RD rush is through, but the late arrivers aren't at the park yet), again around the parade, then at dinner, and then closer to close. If you have to wait until close, I'd probably get in line 90ish minutes before close, just to be safe.

 

[Disney Princess]

With a 2 y/o and a 6 month old, I would do RD - get there 45 mins or so before RD, so you're at the front of the pack and head straight there. I think EasyWDW had a plan for how best to get to 7DMT at RD...I think it was by heading off to the right around the castle (as opposed to going through it) - on the path that leads from tomorrowland to NFL. If you head directly under the castle, you have to go to the left around the carrousel because of the A&E line. IIRC, EasyWDW said going around the castle to the right got you to 7DMT sooner.

Thanks so much. I appreciate the info - especially about the path to the right. Is that path affected by the new walls around the hub? Off to do more research . . .

Wait in line like everyone else

That is what we are doing - waiting in line like everyone else. We aren't asking for special treatment, but we simply wondered when the best time of day to wait is.

Also, when is your trip? Check the A&E/7DMT FP+ Cancellation threads on this board (you may have to go to page 2,3, etc). The cancellation thread for our trip month was the only reason we managed to get a FP+ for A&E on our trip, and I think that happened less than a month before our trip. Subscribe to the thread so you get e-mail updates when someone posts. You never know when someone else's plans will change and they'll come here to see if they can help someone else!

We are leaving in 13 days . . . not that anyone is counting. I'll check it out.

Make sure you take advantage of the baby swap! The vouchers are usually good for the whole month. If your 2yo is not tall enough, I'd have each parent go up separately with one kid and get 2 vouchers Then someone can ride 2x.

Thanks for this. We'll definitely do the rider switch - I didn't know the pass was good all month. That will give us flexibility in using it.

Rope Drop - arrive for 8:20 or so and see the opening ceremony @ 8:40ish. Stand to the RIGHT and go straight there. Do NOT go through the castle, take the right that goes to Fantasyland right before the castle.

And do Rider Swap as you get to the measuring stick right at the entrance they will give you a ticket for the second adult to come back later with the older kid again. Also drop off your stroller at that point, the cast members will take it for you and park it.

We walked right on to 7DMT on two separate days in November. no wait at all so probably 8 minutes to walk through the entire queue (it's HUGE!) By the time we got off the ride the queue was absolutely full and said it was 45 minutes. That was the shortest it was all day (at least until 6pm). I don't know what it's like in the late evening though.

Thanks for sharing your actual experience. We know January is low crowds, but they just extended park hours, so I wonder if they're expecting bigger crowds than I am. I don't think I'm willing to wait for 45 minutes, but using rider switch with walk-on would work well.

I would not waste valuable RD time on 7DMT...it's a two minute ride not worth blowing an hour of prime touring time on, but the baby swap is also an issue for you...you can't really use the end of the night strategy because the first ride is going to involve a long wait. Honestly, I'd just keep an eye on wait times and hop in line when the wait is under 45 minutes (using easywdw.com's actual wait times, and not the inflated wait times Disney posts). It seems to me that there's a lull around 10:00/10:15 (when the RD rush is through, but the late arrivers aren't at the park yet), again around the parade, then at dinner, and then closer to close. If you have to wait until close, I'd probably get in line 90ish minutes before close, just to be safe.

We wondered about losing out on RD time. We'll have plenty of mornings there, so we COULD give up one morning, but we don't WANT to unless it is our best chance of riding. We went with our son when he was 5 months and just skipped the "adult" rides - we've been there, done that, and will be back. However, we've never experience 7DMT and want to try it if we can. We may keep an eye on times and jump in when we are satisfied with waiting, maybe during a nap time.


I appreciate everyone's feedback. We'll continue to watch FP+ as well!

 

[Jrits]

You can't run at rope drop, so you don't have to worry about that. They walk you to the castle & then I agree with earlier poster, go to right around castle instead of through. You will either walk on or have shortest wait of the day

 

[brennicksmom]

When we were there in June, EVERYTIME we went at RD it was closed for some reason or another. We were there 2 weeks, and probably tried it for RD 4+ different days. We had FP+ a few times, but wanted to go through the queue to experience it. Finally we gave up and just waited one day. The queue was NOT worth the wait. Plus, it was storming so badly that the ride shut down for over an hour, but at least we were under cover while waiting in line.

 

[Laketravis]

I would not waste valuable RD time on 7DMT...it's a two minute ride not worth blowing an hour of prime touring time on, but the baby swap is also an issue for you...you can't really use the end of the night strategy because the first ride is going to involve a long wait. Honestly, I'd just keep an eye on wait times and hop in line when the wait is under 45 minutes (using easywdw.com's actual wait times, and not the inflated wait times Disney posts). It seems to me that there's a lull around 10:00/10:15 (when the RD rush is through, but the late arrivers aren't at the park yet), again around the parade, then at dinner, and then closer to close. If you have to wait until close, I'd probably get in line 90ish minutes before close, just to be safe.

Best advice I've read so far.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Park closing can be best if you can stay that late. Posted waits at often greatly exaggerated, which can be used to your advantage.

In early summer, we got in line about a half hour before park close. The posted wait was 80 minutes but the actual wait was 20 for our first ride then 10 for the 2nd trip. This seemed to be a pretty efficient use of a half hour.

Remember that you will be allowed to ride if you get in line even one minute before closing time.

 

[dobirdsmommy]

We did it during the fireworks. We could still see the fireworks in the line which made for an easier wait time. It said 45 minutes but it was only 20.

IMO what holds the line up are the kids who want to play with all the little gadgets and the parents allow them to hold up the line.

 

[Disney Princess]

Thanks everyone for the tips! We finally got some fastpasses scheduled! By looking for one person at a time, we got two slots within 20 minutes of each other. We can't ride together anyway, so it works perfectly. I appreciate everyone's thoughts and tips.

You can't run at rope drop, so you don't have to worry about that. They walk you to the castle & then I agree with earlier poster, go to right around castle instead of through. You will either walk on or have shortest wait of the day

So sorry - I know we can't/shouldn't run. I know I used that word, but I certainly did not mean that literally. It was more figurative, like, I'm going to run to the store - you won't see me doing that EVER.