Do I drop my late afternoon 7DMT FP?

[TheFloatingBear]

A question for the hive mind...

I am traveling with my DD11 on a group trip 1/25-29/18 (3 park days), but doing our FPs with one other family - mom, DD11 and DD7.

Our MK day is 1/26, which has AM EMH (we are on-site) and DAH so closes at 8pm. Touring Plans has it listed as a "4". Splash is down for refurb at that time, so may impact FP availability overall.

Between my zeal to get a FOP FP for 1/28, and Olaf constantly losing his head, I dropped the ball on the 7DMT FP, and couldn't get one until 4pm. Our other FPs are BTMR at 10am, and Space at 11:30. I know the other family will want to do 7D one way or another.

I usually travel during April, so I'm unfamiliar with the crowds/waits in late January, however my last couple of trips, I've been able to get a lot of additional FPs after my first three so I'm reluctant to tie us up until 4pm. In the interest of best utilizing our time, do I:

1.) Let it ride for a while and hope I can back it up to a little earlier in the day?

2.) Switch it out for something like Peter Pan now while I still can and just try to rope drop it?

3.) Keep it but try to rope drop it, knowing it may be slim pickings to modify at that point, but at least I have it if the wait is really bad in the morning?

I'm a little worried about trying to rope drop - the mom wants to do EMH, but my guess is based on past experiences, we won't be at the front of the pack...Any thoughts appreciated!



ETA: Her kids have never been to MK.

 

[cassie58]

I would not drop it. I would keep trying to modify, and then if not, try and make that and PP your first stops. January is a much slower time than April, so you should be able to get a lot done, especially if you get there for EMH. Maybe you can tell everyone to be ready earlier than needed to give extra cushion! You have the other two big rides covered, so if you can get it done first, then try to modify for HM, POC, etc, and then try for 4th for others. Congrats on getting FoP - it is great, but I would not want to wait 2 hours!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I would not drop it. I would keep trying to modify, and then if not, try and make that and PP your first stops. January is a much slower time than April, so you should be able to get a lot done, especially if you get there for EMH. Maybe you can tell everyone to be ready earlier than needed to give extra cushion! You have the other two big rides covered, so if you can get it done first, then try to modify for HM, POC, etc, and then try for 4th for others. Congrats on getting FoP - it is great, but I would not want to wait 2 hours!

If we didn't get the FP for FOP, I don't know that we would be doing it! Our other two days aren't full park days since the kids have group obligations, so I was excited to get it. Good idea to pad the time for her - my daughter and I are up and out the door, but my instinct is telling me that they may be a little slower to get moving! I'm starting to squirrel away some extra money for times when we might want a cab/uber, so if the buses are slow, we may make up time that way! That's probably the best plan to keep it - my hope is the line doesn't build quite as quickly at rope drop as it does during spring break time...Thanks!

 

[cassie58]

With EMH, it also means no PPO BOG customers getting in line early either which should help as well! Enjoy!

 

[Thing 1]

EMH in January should not be too busy. If you can be there by 7:30ish, I think you have a great shot at at least one ride without long lines. I agree that if it's important to you, don't change it yet. Keep trying to modify and then if not and you get an early morning ride it, modify then. I honestly would tell the others what time you plan to be at the park and if they choose not to join you at that time, you guys can meet up later. That is a good week crowd wise and we found that cooler morning temps can keep EMH crowds down even more.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

With EMH, it also means no PPO BOG customers getting in line early either which should help as well! Enjoy!

I hadn't thought of that! I also just remembered that the kids can sleep in Saturday - they have to meet the bus fairly early from the resort, so we won't have time for a park. But that can be more motivation to get up early and make the most of Friday!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

EMH in January should not be too busy. If you can be there by 7:30ish, I think you have a great shot at at least one ride without long lines. I agree that if it's important to you, don't change it yet. Keep trying to modify and then if not and you get an early morning ride it, modify then. I honestly would tell the others what time you plan to be at the park and if they choose not to join you at that time, you guys can meet up later. That is a good week crowd wise and we found that cooler morning temps can keep EMH crowds down even more.

I've been prepping my daughter for the bolded part! She's going to want to get there early so hoping she'll be on board. But I think you guys are right - that way we can make a game time decision - get in the standby line if we get there early enough, then modify, or head to PP or something and hold on to it for 4. I'm hoping for lower crowds, I hadn't considered the cooler temps might keep people away. We've always traveled in warmer months and have rope dropped to avoid the heat of the day! We're from New England so hopefully we can manage January in Florida - lots of layers! Thanks!

 

[Shanti]

A question for the hive mind...

I am traveling with my DD11 on a group trip 1/25-29/18 (3 park days), but doing our FPs with one other family - mom, DD11 and DD7.

Our MK day is 1/26, which has AM EMH (we are on-site) and DAH so closes at 8pm. Touring Plans has it listed as a "4". Splash is down for refurb at that time, so may impact FP availability overall.

Between my zeal to get a FOP FP for 1/28, and Olaf constantly losing his head, I dropped the ball on the 7DMT FP, and couldn't get one until 4pm. Our other FPs are BTMR at 10am, and Space at 11:30. I know the other family will want to do 7D one way or another.

I usually travel during April, so I'm unfamiliar with the crowds/waits in late January, however my last couple of trips, I've been able to get a lot of additional FPs after my first three so I'm reluctant to tie us up until 4pm. In the interest of best utilizing our time, do I:

1.) Let it ride for a while and hope I can back it up to a little earlier in the day?

2.) Switch it out for something like Peter Pan now while I still can and just try to rope drop it?

3.) Keep it but try to rope drop it, knowing it may be slim pickings to modify at that point, but at least I have it if the wait is really bad in the morning?

I'm a little worried about trying to rope drop - the mom wants to do EMH, but my guess is based on past experiences, we won't be at the front of the pack...Any thoughts appreciated!



ETA: Her kids have never been to MK.

I don't recommend trying to rope drop 7DMT with 3 kids and an older woman in the group. You'll end up at the back of a long line. It's still the ride the rope drop horde goes straight for. Also, if you go straight through the castle to get there, you'll typically end up behind the group that went via the Teacups instead. So route makes a difference, too.

Option 1 is your best bet imo. Or option 3 if you're super-determined. But keep the FP. January isn't as low-crowd as it used to be.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would keep it.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

With EMH, it also means no PPO BOG customers getting in line early either which should help as well! Enjoy!

I hadn't thought of that! I also just remembered that the kids can sleep in Saturday - they have to meet the bus fairly early from the resort, so we won't have time for a park. But that can be more motivation to get up early and make the most of Friday!

Plus no FPs during EMH, which in theory makes the line move quicker.

OP, I'm not a fan of rope dropping 7DMT (just too crazy, "hordes" of people all trying to do the same thing, to steal @Shanti 's word). But given that particular time of year and EMH, that's one time I might be willing to make an exception.

But I'd still probably try to modify before doing anything else.

Good luck!

 

[Haley R]

I would keep it and try modifying it for an earlier time. You still have awhile between now and your trip so you might be able to move it earlier. We did RD in March for 7DMT and were the second people on, but it was just DH and I. I'm not sure how different it would be with 3 kids and another adult. They tell you not to run through the park, but we lightly jogged and another couple still beat us so they were full on running. I'm kind of small so I'm able to squeeze in between strollers and other groups pretty easily and then DH catches up.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I don't recommend trying to rope drop 7DMT with 3 kids and an older woman in the group. You'll end up at the back of a long line. It's still the ride the rope drop horde goes straight for. Also, if you go straight through the castle to get there, you'll typically end up behind the group that went via the Teacups instead. So route makes a difference, too.

Option 1 is your best bet imo. Or option 3 if you're super-determined. But keep the FP. January isn't as low-crowd as it used to be.

Ugh...I've only done rope drop for it once, on a 7am EMH. We did okay but it wasn't the most pleasant way to start the day!

I'm actually the "older woman" in the group, lol! I'm not as worried about her and the kids keeping up at the park as much as I am about them getting out of their room in the morning! But either way, it's definitely possible that we'll end up at the back of the line, so you're right, best to keep the FP...

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Plus no FPs during EMH, which in theory makes the line move quicker.

OP, I'm not a fan of rope dropping 7DMT (just too crazy, "hordes" of people all trying to do the same thing, to steal @Shanti 's word). But given that particular time of year and EMH, that's one time I might be willing to make an exception.

But I'd still probably try to modify before doing anything else.

Good luck!

I would keep it and try modifying it for an earlier time. You still have awhile between now and your trip so you might be able to move it earlier. We did RD in March for 7DMT and were the second people on, but it was just DH and I. I'm not sure how different it would be with 3 kids and another adult. They tell you not to run through the park, but we lightly jogged and another couple still beat us so they were full on running. I'm kind of small so I'm able to squeeze in between strollers and other groups pretty easily and then DH catches up.

Like I posted above, I've only tried it once. It was a 7am EMH the day after Easter. I was traveling with my sister, and even though it was early, it was still a bit of a crush. Not really my thing! We're fast walkers and we did okay, probably got on in 5-10 minutes, but we were ready at rope drop by 6:30am and that made a big difference going in! Some people passed us but we were on the front end of things.

I forgot about the fact that there won't be any FPs at that point. It will at least make it easier to gauge when we get to the line whether it's worth it. I think it makes sense to hold on to it, do our best that morning but still have a "bird in the hand" for later if it turns out poorly. Hopefully I'll get lucky and be able to move it up a bit in the afternoon. Thanks again!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Like I posted above, I've only tried it once. It was a 7am EMH the day after Easter. I was traveling with my sister, and even though it was early, it was still a bit of a crush. Not really my thing! We're fast walkers and we did okay, probably got on in 5-10 minutes, but we were ready at rope drop by 6:30am and that made a big difference going in! Some people passed us but we were on the front end of things.

I forgot about the fact that there won't be any FPs at that point. It will at least make it easier to gauge when we get to the line whether it's worth it. I think it makes sense to hold on to it, do our best that morning but still have a "bird in the hand" for later if it turns out poorly. Hopefully I'll get lucky and be able to move it up a bit in the afternoon. Thanks again!

Well, on the plus side, I suspect there is a material difference between a late Jan AM EMH vs a day after Easter EMH, so at least you have that going for you!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Well, on the plus side, I suspect there is a material difference between a late Jan AM EMH vs a day after Easter EMH, so at least you have that going for you!

I'm hoping so, although we got a lot done on that 7am EMH - my sister was all business, lol! But I haven't traveled then, so that's why I was curious to hear from others - I hear what @Shanti is saying about "low" crowd times being a bit more crowded these days, so who knows! I'll hope for the best and hang on to the FP!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm hoping so, although we got a lot done on that 7am EMH - my sister was all business, lol! But I haven't traveled then, so that's why I was curious to hear from others - I hear what @Shanti is saying about "low" crowd times being a bit more crowded these days, so who knows! I'll hope for the best and hang on to the FP!

Yeah, good point. I'm obviously speculating, which isn't that helpful I know.

 

[Piglet77]

I wouldn't drop it. You can always modify the fast pass if you get on mine train at rope drop. Magic Kingdom has lots of options. Especially if you do it early in the morning.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Yeah, good point. I'm obviously speculating, which isn't that helpful I know.

No, speculation is fine - helpful in fact from a seasoned WDW traveler such as yourself! You'll recall I forgot the no FPs during EMH thing...

 

[GADisneyDad14]

No, speculation is fine - helpful in fact from a seasoned WDW traveler such as yourself! You'll recall I forgot the no FPs during EMH thing...

Well I should probably come clean on my own personal habits.... I avoid EMH all together, which probably makes me totally unqualified to even be here!

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Well I should probably come clean on my own personal habits.... I avoid EMH all together, which probably makes me totally unqualified to even be here!

Ha! Yet you still had the no FP during EMH answer! I definitely understand the avoiding EMH strategy, but if you ever get the chance to do a 7am - it's awesome! On this trip, Friday is our only fully free day of the weekend - on Saturday and Sunday the girls have obligations with the dance studio, so they decided they wanted to do MK on the full day - and I agree!