Estimated time in AK: FOP, EE and Dino

[Carrie in AZ]

We will be at DW for one day, October 18th, on a port excursion off the Magic. We plan to hit AK at rope drop. What is your best estimate of much time we should allocate for FOP, EE and Dino - all standby -- possibly EE with FP.

Our family has been to DW a few times so we have done and seen a lot on previous trips. We will pick off our top faves on this one day in the parks. It is difficult to plan, but I'd love to hear your best estimate on timing for AK. The earliest we will arrive on the bus for RD is 8:15am but we not arrive until 8:45am.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[sharonabe]

We will be at DW for one day, October 18th, on a port excursion off the Magic. We plan to hit AK at rope drop. What is your best estimate of much time we should allocate for FOP, EE and Dino - all standby -- possibly EE with FP.

Our family has been to DW a few times so we have done and seen a lot on previous trips. We will pick off our top faves on this one day in the parks. It is difficult to plan, but I'd love to hear your best estimate on timing for AK. The earliest we will arrive on the bus for RD is 8:15am but we not arrive until 8:45am.

Thanks in advance!!

You're going to want to use that FP for FoP. I doubt you'll be at the parks early enough to be in the front of the rope drop crowd, and that line will be at 1 hr or more within about 15 min of park opening. If I remember correctly, you have anytime FP, so you don't have to make a "reserved" time. If you hit EE when you first get there, then Dino, then use your FP for FoP, I'd say you'd be done in less than 2 hrs.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

You're going to want to use that FP for FoP. I doubt you'll be at the parks early enough to be in the front of the rope drop crowd, and that line will be at 1 hr or more within about 15 min of park opening. If I remember correctly, you have anytime FP, so you don't have to make a "reserved" time. If you hit EE when you first get there, then Dino, then use your FP for FoP, I'd say you'd be done in less than 2 hrs.

Thank you! They said we cannot use the anytime FP for FoP. This is why it is so hard to plan!

Our family will need to discuss if we are willing to wait for one hour or not. Probably, though.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would allocate 2 1/2 to 3 hours just to allow for a potential hour standby time for FOP. If you get done early, bonus! What are your plans for the rest of the day?

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I would allocate 2 1/2 to 3 hours just to allow for a potential hour standby time for FOP. If you get done early, bonus! What are your plans for the rest of the day?

Thanks! And thanks for asking about our plans. We are going to go to DHS after AK to ride RNR, TOT and TSMM and eat at SciFi. Then ride boat to EPCOT for TT then off to MK. I think the last bus departs about 10ish but am not 100% sure on that.

My favorite park at DW is actually Blizzard Beach!!! LOL! Sure wish we had time to head there also. It's a little kooky to try and do all parks in one day, and I would not attempt it if we had not already been there. We've been very blessed with Disney trips and never take it for granted. Our DDs are 13 and 17 now so we can totally park hop til we drop -- the following day is a sea day so we can rest up then.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks! And thanks for asking about our plans. We are going to go to DHS after AK to ride RNR, TOT and TSMM and eat at SciFi. Then ride boat to EPCOT for TT then off to MK. I think the last bus departs about 10ish but am not 100% sure on that.

My favorite park at DW is actually Blizzard Beach!!! LOL! Sure wish we had time to head there also. It's a little kooky to try and do all parks in one day, and I would not attempt it if we had not already been there. We've been very blessed with Disney trips and never take it for granted. Our DDs are 13 and 17 now so we can totally park hop til we drop -- the following day is a sea day so we can rest up then.

Wow! Sounds like an awesome day!

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks! And thanks for asking about our plans. We are going to go to DHS after AK to ride RNR, TOT and TSMM and eat at SciFi. Then ride boat to EPCOT for TT then off to MK. I think the last bus departs about 10ish but am not 100% sure on that.

My favorite park at DW is actually Blizzard Beach!!! LOL! Sure wish we had time to head there also. It's a little kooky to try and do all parks in one day, and I would not attempt it if we had not already been there. We've been very blessed with Disney trips and never take it for granted. Our DDs are 13 and 17 now so we can totally park hop til we drop -- the following day is a sea day so we can rest up then.

It's an extra expense, but you might want to check out the newish Express Bus. They take you from INSIDE each park to INSIDE the other parks. The trip is quicker, there is a schedule, and you don't have to go through security again. It's $19 pp, though. There's a thread somewhere here on the Theme Park Strategy board.

 

[Skippyboo]

Is even feasible to do all those rides with only one fast past? October is a super heavy crowd time at WDW. At HS, RNR, ToT and TSMM are going to have long standby waits especially with half the park under construction.

 

[sharonabe]

Is even feasible to do all those rides with only one fast past? October is a super heavy crowd time at WDW. At HS, RNR, ToT and TSMM are going to have long standby waits especially with half the park under construction.

I believe they have 3 anytime FPs...they're coming from the cruise ship for a one day.

@Carrie in AZ Just in case you hadn't seen this tip elsewhere, once you have your tickets, you can upload them to your MDE and make 3 FP+ for your day as well, and then make more FP+ after your 3 are finished. However, I don't know how you keep them from using the anytime FP instead of the FP+ you have made. I know people have done it, but I don't know how.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

It's an extra expense, but you might want to check out the newish Express Bus. They take you from INSIDE each park to INSIDE the other parks. The trip is quicker, there is a schedule, and you don't have to go through security again. It's $19 pp, though. There's a thread somewhere here on the Theme Park Strategy board.

Thanks! Yes, I just learned about this yesterday and read more about it today -- but still haven't seen how to actually buy it, LOL!! We are definitely going to purchase this transport once I figure it out. Thank you!

Thank you for everything!

 

[DisMommyTX]

I'm not sure on all the technicalities of those tickets, but assuming the 3 FP+ are for a single park as usual, I would plan to get to FOP asap. It really is an amazing ride, I'd say worth 100 minutes in stand-by, but not much more. I'd say the Navi river journey is not worth more than about 35 min stand-by. I would stand-by FOP and use your anytime FP for EE (unless the wait happens to be short), then book the regular FP for RnR and TT. TSMM has had much shorter waits since they opened the 3rd track (often around 30-45 min during our July trip). As soon as you swipe the second FP at DHS, see what you can get for Epcot. Even during peak July times, Soarin has been available as a 4th FP during the afternoons. Single-rider TT, then do whatever you could get for Epcot or just head to MK. Great choice keeping MK for last because there is usually extra FP, even late in the day. October is looking busy, but at least you won't be there on a weekend. Unfortunately, you are on an EMH evening (Wed 9-11) at MK, sandwiched between two Halloween parties (Tues and Thurs). Relax and enjoy the decorations, expect crowds to slow you down.

The Express Transportation will be a life-saver for you. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/express-transportation-options/ The best part is not having to walk in and out through the front of every park. It picks up/drops off in the back of each park, so you bypass security, bag check, and the indefinite wait for the next bus. They run on a standard schedule every 30 min, so you'll know exactly when you need to be back to avoid barely missing a bus. Currently $19pp for single day, unlimited-use tickets.

 

[rstevens333]

Adding to the Express Bus convenience- you can hop on in HS next to Tower of Terror and it'll pop you into EPCOT near Spaceship Earth on the Test Track side.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Can you use your anytime FPs for Navi River Journey? You won't need it for Dinosaur or EE.

 

[LaurenT]

I'm heading in to do FoP at RD this morning. I'll let you know how long it takes .... but I'm going alone and im going to leave Kidani at 7:15 - I'd rather wait at the rope before the park opens than wait in line after ...

 

[stace1214]

Sounds like such an awesome day! The express bus will make it so much easier for you. Have fun!

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks! Yes, I just learned about this yesterday and read more about it today -- but still haven't seen how to actually buy it, LOL!! We are definitely going to purchase this transport once I figure it out. Thank you!

Thank you for everything!

Buying it is easy peasy. You find the pick-up point in whatever park you're in (there are maps somewhere) and you buy it right there. I think the first page on the thread about it gives most of that information. Here it is:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/n...ay-or-29-week-schedule-page-1-post-1.3563694/

 

[LaurenT]

I'm heading in to do FoP at RD this morning. I'll let you know how long it takes .... but I'm going alone and im going to leave Kidani at 7:15 - I'd rather wait at the rope before the park opens than wait in line after ...

The bus came at 7:20. I was at the rope - then about 8 people back at the Pandora rope. I was in the generic matching room at 8:45 and back outside by 9:05