EMM Strategy

[mcm574]

My family of 4 (incl. two sons, 4 and 9) will be doing EMM on Tuesday, 4/10, and have FP+ for BTMRR 9:15-10:15, then Splash 10:15-11:15 (and Space later in the day).

I'm leaning towards hustling over to HM a little before 9 to ride as soon as it opens, then back to try to do one or two more non-EMM FL rides before stopping for breakfast ~9:45, aiming to get to BTMRR at the very end of the FP+ window.

Alternatively, we could do HM immediately after open, then BTMRR, then stop for breakfast after that.

Last option I've thought of would be to do breakfast on the earlier side (8:45-9:00?), then do HM a little later after park opening but hopefully before lines get too long, and then head straight to BTMRR after HM.

Would welcome thoughts from those who have done EMM before! This will be our very first day in the parks, so the kids should still have a fair amount of energy, but I also don't want to exhaust them on Day 1!

 

[MIAMouseketeer]

We did EMM this past Sunday. We were held by Peter Pan until 9am and then headed to HM. We did IASW after that and then ate breakfast at 9:40am. Depending on what you want to do after HM, you should have time.

BTW, the teacups did open earlier on our morning. No one knew and we rode it twice with no one else. The last time we did EMM, IASW opened early, but that didn't happen this time. In fact, this time there seemed to be ropes on the outer areas to prevent people from leaving the Fantasyland area.

 

[chris benton]

My family of 4 (incl. two sons, 4 and 9) will be doing EMM on Tuesday, 4/10, and have FP+ for BTMRR 9:15-10:15, then Splash 10:15-11:15 (and Space later in the day).

I'm leaning towards hustling over to HM a little before 9 to ride as soon as it opens, then back to try to do one or two more non-EMM FL rides before stopping for breakfast ~9:45, aiming to get to BTMRR at the very end of the FP+ window.

Alternatively, we could do HM immediately after open, then BTMRR, then stop for breakfast after that.

Last option I've thought of would be to do breakfast on the earlier side (8:45-9:00?), then do HM a little later after park opening but hopefully before lines get too long, and then head straight to BTMRR after HM.

Would welcome thoughts from those who have done EMM before! This will be our very first day in the parks, so the kids should still have a fair amount of energy, but I also don't want to exhaust them on Day 1!

Suggestion:
Think about moving FP #1 a little bit later. You'll have time after 10 to chillax a little more. They generally let you linger a bit. if you plan on HEADING to breakfast at 9:40, and you have the end of your fp window at 10:15 - seems a bit rushed, unless you are taking the grace period in for consideration. ENJOY what you are paying for. Stuff yourselves silly, and regroup leisurely. No need to rush to FP1 - You should be able to rock out 2-3 (at LEAST) rides of your choice starting at 9am. I'd think BTMR AND HM should be doable if you walk with a purpose, although it might just depend on the crowd for the day. I might be prone to try to knock out a space mountain twice, and then a buzz (but if it were up to me we'd skip buzz..yawn,) just because they are so close to each other (possibly sneaking in a speedway) and then setting up fp's for BTMR/SPLASH/HM (not in that order) after breakfast because they are situated kinda near each other, but that's me.

Suggestion: Do NOT waste any of your PPO time at breakfast since you can go to breakfast later when the crowds are filtering in. Rides and pictures like CHAMPS until breakfast break. Remember how much you are paying do be in an empty park. I'd only go to the breakfast to grab a cup of coffee on the fly before 9:30, but I probably wouldn't even waste (that's a strong word - it's just an opinion) time doing that.

Have a blast, EMM is easily worth every penny (unless 7d is down.)

 

[Mark & Donna]

Excuse my ignorance but can someone please translate what the following stands for ? EMM...BTMRR...HM...
IASW. There are some here who don't speak "Disney" Thanks.

 

[Mark & Donna]

Can someone please translate what the following means? EMM...BTMRR...HM...IASW. Not everyone here speaks "Disney" Thanks.

 

[TIME4DIZ]

Can someone please translate what the following means? EMM...BTMRR...HM...IASW. Not everyone here speaks "Disney" Thanks.

In order: Early Morning Magic, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, It’s A Small World.

You’ll see plenty more abbreviations along the way. This will help:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

 

[disneyvoice]

I just posted on another thread about this. We have done EMM twice now and we have found the best strategy is to actually eat around 8:40-8:45. BY that time we are honestly tired of riding the same things over and over again. Eating before rope drop allows you to head to Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and Jungle and basically walk right on because everyone else is still focusing on 7DMT, Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. As long as you get FPs for any of the popular rides for late morning/early afternoon we find this to be the best strategy. Eating any time after 9:00 ends up wasting valuable time when you are able to walk right onto some of the secondary rides. By 9:45 the lines are starting to form at those rides as well.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

We did EMM in August (my brother and I), and probably rode Dwarf's 10+ times. We didn't care much about the other two but did ride each one once. We were held by Small World, and rushed over to Haunted Mansion then Pirates once the park opened, and rode each one with less than a five minute wait, then went back and had breakfast. They serve the buffet breakfast until 10 as long as you still have your wristband on.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I love hearing what everyone did! I'm already thinking of our strategy, as my kid won't ride the mountains. We think we may hang around FL the whole time before heading to Tomorrowland. I'd hate to waste time taking turns on the mountains and making my daughter wait.

 

[Helene_C]

Our priority after EMM is BTM. I had been thinking we'd leave the EMM area at 8:45 to walk over to BTM, so we could get in 2, maybe 3 rides (have a 9:25FP+ we can use) at rope-drop, and then rush back for EMM breakfast, but it sounds like we will be held in the EMM area until 9? If that's the case I should probably reconsider. It's only 2 of us, no stroller, so we can hustle through the 0.5 km walk to BTM, but if we can't leave until 9 that compresses the schedule too much... if we're going to be held I might stay in Fantasyland.

 

[mcm574]

BTW, the teacups did open earlier on our morning. No one knew and we rode it twice with no one else. The last time we did EMM, IASW opened early, but that didn't happen this time. In fact, this time there seemed to be ropes on the outer areas to prevent people from leaving the Fantasyland area.

Good to know - sounds like we should keep an ear/eye out for the possibility of something else opening during EMM (I've heard Carousel frequently does, and that IASW is definitely a possibility, but this is the first I've heard of Teacups!). Thanks for the tip!

Suggestion: Do NOT waste any of your PPO time at breakfast since you can go to breakfast later when the crowds are filtering in. Rides and pictures like CHAMPS until breakfast break. Remember how much you are paying do be in an empty park. I'd only go to the breakfast to grab a cup of coffee on the fly before 9:30, but I probably wouldn't even waste (that's a strong word - it's just an opinion) time doing that.

Have a blast, EMM is easily worth every penny (unless 7d is down.)

You know, that's a very good point, thank you for the perspective! While I've kept the FP+s we originally had, I've pushed them back to 10-11 and 11-12.

I've heard about the fall-out when 7DMT is down - but at least I've read enough about it to have a plan of attack if that does happen (which will be to go straight to GS and request a partial refund).

I just posted on another thread about this. We have done EMM twice now and we have found the best strategy is to actually eat around 8:40-8:45. BY that time we are honestly tired of riding the same things over and over again. Eating before rope drop allows you to head to Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and Jungle and basically walk right on because everyone else is still focusing on 7DMT, Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. As long as you get FPs for any of the popular rides for late morning/early afternoon we find this to be the best strategy. Eating any time after 9:00 ends up wasting valuable time when you are able to walk right onto some of the secondary rides. By 9:45 the lines are starting to form at those rides as well.

Very interesting point - that said, while I'm sure I will be ready to be done with 7DMT after, say, 6-7 rides, I imagine there's a possibility that my kids won't be. I think I might play it by ear depending on where their attitudes seem to be around 8:30 - if I can convince them to break for breakfast then, we'll go with your itinerary and knock out a lot of rides starting at 9; if not, I'll drag them away at 8:55 to go hit up HM (and maybe Pirates?) and then circle back for breakfast.