EMH RD Epcot Strategy

[kwdw]

We haven't been to WDW since FEA opened at Epcot - and I need a strategy for getting in the most at RD on an EMH morning.

We are going in early March, and Epcot has morning EMH (8-9 am) and we can arrive by bus a tad bit before 8 am. We'd like to try to ride FEA and TT.

1) Do they open the tapstiles before 8am? If so, about when?
2) Can we ride TT FIRST - and then head to FEA and not have more than a 20 minute wait? Or do we need to go to FEA first?
3) What time does the single rider line start at TT?

Note - Soarin is NOT in the plan for the morning. One party member sometimes gets sick on that - so we are using a FP for that late in the day.

 

[Robo]

We haven't been to WDW since FEA opened at Epcot - and I need a strategy for getting in the most at RD on an EMH morning.

We are going in early March, and Epcot has morning EMH (8-9 am) and we can arrive by bus a tad bit before 8 am. We'd like to try to ride FEA and TT.

1) Do they open the tapstiles before 8am? If so, about when?
2) Can we ride TT FIRST - and then head to FEA and not have more than a 20 minute wait? Or do we need to go to FEA first?
3) What time does the single rider line start at TT?

Note - Soarin is NOT in the plan for the morning. One party member sometimes gets sick on that - so we are using a FP for that late in the day.

1) Not very much earlier.
However, since there is no way to actually KNOW when you will arrive at the gate.
you should err on the side of getting there earlier rather than later.
It is always better to arrive far too early, tun to arrive one minute too late.
2) Unlikely.
3) It can vary.

 

[kwdw]

So -- sounds like we need to head to FEA first? If we hit FEA first - and then back track to TT - will the wait at TT be terribly long? 20-30 minutes is okay......

 

[Eastern]

I usually recommend the FP for FEA (my choice) or TT (or use the single rider line). Now that there is another screen for Soarin, the line moves quicker, so don't waste the FP. So I would FP FEA for 11am or after, go to Soarin at rope drop (the non-rider can get something in the cafe while they wait) and then head over to TT. btw TT is notorious for breaking down so I wouldn't risk doing it first. Last time we were there my family wasted an hour waiting on line after rope drop, only to be told that the ride would be down for awhile. Precious early minutes wasted.

To answer your questions:

1) I find this is variable. If they do let people in early, they will hold you somewhere further into the park until the park actually opens. I think they hold you back around Innoventions (if you enter at the main gate). Maybe 10-15 minutes early? So you will still wait, just not at the turnstile.
2) I would go to FEA first. TT takes so long to get through, and often breaks down.
3)Don't know.

 

[Robo]

So -- sounds like we need to head to FEA first? If we hit FEA first - and then back track to TT - will the wait at TT be terribly long? 20-30 minutes is okay......

If anybody tells you how long a line will be on some future date, they are just guessing.

With TT, especially, with its unpredictable problematic breakdowns... nobody knows.

 

[gap2368]

If you get a FP for FEA go to TT then soarin

If you get a FP for TT go to FEA then soarin

if you get a FP for soarin go to FEA then TT

if you do not get any FP
go to FEA then TT then soarin

 

[Mousetopia]

even if they dont let in much earlier than 8 there is a MASS of people that builds and builds at bag check. Great to get there early for that! We will uber to get there 30 mins before

 

[capegirl]

If possible, I highly recommend getting a FP for FEA. We did the 8am princess breakfast at Akershaus, and I was totally shocked when I saw the ginormous mass of humanity descending upon Norway for FEA. The sad part was FEA was down all morning, and only those with a FP were able to return later to ride later that day. If there is one lesson I've learned at Disney, always have a plan B.

 

[Tinker B]

I'm at Epcot on their EMH day.

My FP for FEA is not till 3pm (earliest I could get). I'm debating if I should I still head there first thing then TT/Soarin'?

I'm hoping to be able to select my 4th FP earlier... (right now I have FP for Mission Space at 10-11 and Spaceship Earth for 11-12).

 

[jwolfpack]

I'm at Epcot on their EMH day.

My FP for FEA is not till 3pm (earliest I could get). I'm debating if I should I still head there first thing then TT/Soarin'?

I'm hoping to be able to select my 4th FP earlier... (right now I have FP for Mission Space at 10-11 and Spaceship Earth for 11-12).

We did EMH at Epcot last week. We had an afternoon FP for FEA, so we rope dropped Test Track, then went to Soarin'. We were one of the first families through Test Track and by the time we got over to Soarin', the wait was 40 minutes. It ended up being pretty accurate -- 40 minutes from when we entered the line until we exited the ride. Those 2 rides consumed our entire EMH. We were able to ride Nemo / view aquarium, Spaceship Earth, & Mission Space on standby with very little wait between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM.

 

[Robo]

I'm at Epcot on their EMH day.

My FP for FEA is not till 3pm (earliest I could get).
1. I'm debating if I should I still head there first thing
2. then TT/Soarin'?

1. That's what we did.
It was our first time to see FEA.
So glad we did. We really enjoyed it. Rode it multiple times this trip.

2. Soarin' is much easier to ride now that they've added the third theater.
We are so ho-hum over the current stripped-down-to-flashing-lights Test Track (what a misleading name.)

 

[Bri036]

Going to add on to this question. On an EMH hour with a FEA FP+.

After knocking out Test Track do you recommend Soarin or getting in line for Joy and Sadness?

 

[Robo]

Going to add on to this question. On an EMH hour with a FEA FP+.

After knocking out Test Track do you recommend Soarin or getting in line for Joy and Sadness?

Either.