Epcot without FP

[TeacherDL]

Is it possible to do Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, and Spaceship Earth at rope drop without using FP+ and without waiting in long lines? I am just checking because I'm considering saving our FP+ for MK that night.

 

[Robo]

Have a great trip!

 

[USCAnna]

Typically at Rope Drop crowds go one of two directions....the Test Track group and Soarin' group. At Epcot, those rides fill up so fast the standby line gets very long very quickly.

 

[kmarie99]

Depends on when you go and if you are willing to go in the Single Rider lane.

 

[TeacherDL]

Typically at Rope Drop crowds go one of two directions....the Test Track group and Soarin' group. At Epcot, those rides fill up so fast the standby line gets very long very quickly.

That's what I figured. Thanks for the help!

 

[tamhugh]

I think it is doable. Hit Soarin' immediately and then do Spaceship Earth and Mission Space. If you are willing to do single rider on Test Track, you shouldn't have a bad wait.

 

[wisblue]

Is it possible to do Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, and Spaceship Earth at rope drop without using FP+ and without waiting in long lines? I am just checking because I'm considering saving our FP+ for MK that night.

Do you have a specific date in mind?

On Saturday, November 8, (level 5 crowd), we were at the park for a 9 AM opening and did Soarin, TT (single rider), MS, and SE in that order and were done with all 4 before 10:30.

As a PP said, being willing and able to go single rider on TT is a key element of this. If you can't do that, you are obviously going to face a longer line at TT and at each of the other rides than we did. If TT is your second priority, I would recommend getting in the standby line anyway because at 9:20 or so the actual wait may be considerably shorter than the posted wait. Then you can decide for yourself when you get there if the lines at MS and/or SE are too long for your tastes.

 

[davkata]

On an 8 am EMH opening day during a pretty busy President's week we arrived for RD. Went on Soarin', TT, Mission Space in that order and were done easily before 9:30 with a restroom stop in there too. I would think if you are willing to wait in line at either Mission Space or Spaceship Earth for a bit, you can get all of them in easily in the morning before the much longer wait times. I also recommend single rider on TT.

 

[mikeyg1479]

The only hefty waits at Epcot are Soaring and Test Track.

I would beeline to Soaring at Rope Drop and get that done. Then dart over to the Test Track. If the standby is too much, (hopefully not if its still real early and you did Soaring quick),you can do single rider line, and get on pretty quickly- you wont be sitting with your party, so obviously no go if you have little kids, but so worth it otherwise, plus I don't think the ride is all that great anymore with the update).

Mission Space never seems to have much wait. Spaceship Earth can have a line early in the day (since its the first thing everyone see's and they hop in line), but by late afternoon/evening its a walk on- a great place to relax after a busy day (plus nice and cool because of the AC!)

 

[DisneyFive]

You'll get one or other other with a short wait (Soarin, or Test Track). The other will have a good wait. Pick your poison.

Mission Space and Spaceship Earth can be managed well without FP+. Just keep an eye on the wait times.

Dan

 

[JennyDrake]

The only hefty waits at Epcot are Soaring and Test Track.

I would beeline to Soaring at Rope Drop and get that done. Then dart over to the Test Track. If the standby is too much, (hopefully not if its still real early and you did Soaring quick),you can do single rider line, and get on pretty quickly- you wont be sitting with your party, so obviously no go if you have little kids, but so worth it otherwise, plus I don't think the ride is all that great anymore with the update).

Mission Space never seems to have much wait. Spaceship Earth can have a line early in the day (since its the first thing everyone see's and they hop in line), but by late afternoon/evening its a walk on- a great place to relax after a busy day (plus nice and cool because of the AC!)

DITTO!!!

I would NOT prioritize Mission Space nor Spaceship Earth.

 

[Laketravis]

On Saturday, November 8, (level 5 crowd), we were at the park for a 9 AM opening and did Soarin, TT (single rider), MS, and SE in that order and were done with all 4 before 10:30.

I should also add that, by taking advantage of AM EMH, not having advance FPs was no issue for us at DHS on Saturday the 8th. That was a resort level 8 day per easywdw with DHS as "Not Recommended" and a crowd level 6 day at DHS per Touring Plans.

We arrived at about 7:30 for an 8 AM opening and entered the park a couple of minutes before 8. We went right to TSMM, but the ride had a technical problem and wasn't opening right away, so we made a U Turn and headed to RNRC. We usually do single rider there, but that line wasn't open yet. The posted wait was 20 minutes, but we were into the preshow studio in less than 5 minutes. After RNRC we went to TOT and walked right into the library. We exited TOT about 8:30 and went back to TSMM. By then the ride was open and had a posted wait time of 40 minutes. But, we were on the ride in 25 minutes, before any FP returns.

I'm confused, Wis. Which day were you at Epcot?

 

[Hokie2000]

We just did Epcot AM w/o FPs this past Saturday. We were there at 9 AM, the kids chose Test Track, by the time we walked over there the standby line was posted at 20 but was more like 30 minutes. By the time we got out of the ride the standby was posted at 65 minutes. I wanted to go to France for breakfast so I honestly didn't even check the Soarin times after seeing the TT craziness. This was a holiday weekend, though, you might have more success at different times.

 

[wisblue]

I'm confused, Wis. Which day were you at Epcot?

The Epcot day was actually Friday, November 7, also a level 5 crowd day at Epcot.

If you want more details about what we were able to do at the other parks without having FPs in advance, here is my brief report on that trip, which I know you have seen before:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3359156

I am always happy to provide details about our experiences, including specifics about dates, because I think they are more helpful to people planning their trips than broad, general statements.

 

[Laketravis]

The Epcot day was actually Friday, November 7, also a level 5 crowd day at Epcot.

Oh, okay. I know how you feel about accuracy, that's why I was a little confused as to how you were able to be at rope drop at two different parks on the same day.

 

[Laketravis]

We just did Epcot AM w/o FPs this past Saturday. We were there at 9 AM, the kids chose Test Track, by the time we walked over there the standby line was posted at 20 but was more like 30 minutes. By the time we got out of the ride the standby was posted at 65 minutes. I wanted to go to France for breakfast so I honestly didn't even check the Soarin times after seeing the TT craziness. This was a holiday weekend, though, you might have more success at different times.

I think it's certainly handy to use sites like this one while planning a trip:

disneywaittimes.com

For instance, this morning I watched wait times build rather quickly at MK and HS but EP seemed reasonable for a while - Touring Plans had predicted it to be a "5" day with a morning EMH of 8am.

Tomorrow they have Epcot at a "3" so it would be interesting to use the above website and watch to see what the wait times do starting at 9am eastern.

 

[Hokie2000]

I think it's certainly handy to use sites like this one while planning a trip: disneywaittimes.com For instance, this morning I watched wait times build rather quickly at MK and HS but EP seemed reasonable for a while - Touring Plans had predicted it to be a "5" day with a morning EMH of 8am. Tomorrow they have Epcot at a "3" so it would be interesting to use the above website and watch to see what the wait times do starting at 9am eastern.

I used disneywaittimes.com several times during our trip, I really liked the interface.

Saturday was our last day in the parks so after getting to Epcot right at 9 AM (we were hoping to get there earlier, didn't work out) and spending some time in the Test Track line we needed to move on to breakfast and wanted to be in World Showcase when it opened, then go back to the resort for a swim, then hit MK for our evening FPs. The weather was awesome and it turned out to be a great day regardless of the crowds. I should have checked the Soarin wait time just for info's sake but I didn't feel like getting out my phone, lol.

 

[Laketravis]

I used disneywaittimes.com several times during our trip, I really liked the interface.

Saturday was our last day in the parks so after getting to Epcot right at 9 AM (we were hoping to get there earlier, didn't work out) and spending some time in the Test Track line we needed to move on to breakfast and wanted to be in World Showcase when it opened, then go back to the resort for a swim, then hit MK for our evening FPs. The weather was awesome and it turned out to be a great day regardless of the crowds. I should have checked the Soarin wait time just for info's sake but I didn't feel like getting out my phone, lol.

It's great that information is now readily available on a real-time basis. I'm curious to see how wait times really do look right at rope drop on light, moderate, and heavy crowd days - and I don't even have to be in the parks or rely on someone's memory of what it was like a couple of months ago to do that.

For instance, I'm going again in March when most of the days are "7" according to EasyWDW. There are no "7" days between now and then, but there is an "8" day on 2/19 that I can check wait times for in the morning and various times of the day to see how each park is looking. I think that will help me better than someone's recollection of wait times for a couple of attractions in one park at one time of the day.

 

[Hokie2000]

It's great that information is now readily available on a real-time basis. I'm curious to see how wait times really do look right at rope drop on light, moderate, and heavy crowd days - and I don't even have to be in the parks or rely on someone's memory of what it was like a couple of months ago to do that. For instance, I'm going again in March when most of the days are "7" according to EasyWDW. There are no "7" days between now and then, but there is an "8" day on 2/19 that I can check wait times for in the morning and various times of the day to see how each park is looking. I think that will help me better than someone's recollection of wait times for a couple of attractions in one park at one time of the day.

That can be very helpful. At one point before our trip I checked the wait times for what I thought might be similar crowd days - I wanted to get a general idea of the rise and fall of wait times in the morning/evening. It was mainly just to feed my planning obsession, though; once we get in the parks and there are four other people to consider most of my plans go out the window

 

[DisneyKidds]

On an 8 am EMH opening day during a pretty busy President's week we arrived for RD. Went on Soarin', TT, Mission Space in that order and were done easily before 9:30 with a restroom stop in there too. I would think if you are willing to wait in line at either Mission Space or Spaceship Earth for a bit, you can get all of them in easily in the morning before the much longer wait times. I also recommend single rider on TT.

Do you mind me asking when your trip was? Yes, President's day, but was it 2014 (FP+) or prior (FP-). I'd assume given the nature of the thread that it was during the FP+ era, but you know what happens when you assume........

Ps....am I the only one that finds it the least bit 'interesting' that someone can not just recall, but pull up and quote, details on another poster's trip report info from another thread? These are 'serious issues' though! Hey, it does display an uncanny ability to recall dates and specifics, which some people are skeptical can be done!