Exactly how crowded is 7DMT?

[nilla]

Are you going to be in MK for more than one day?

We basically walked on the Mine Train last June during Wishes.

 

[dlavender]

Keep in mind that those posted wait times are often greatly exaggerated, especially during the evening hours. We've often found that the posted time can be up to 4 times the actual wait during the last hour or so of operation. This is designed to steer guests away from the attractions and towards the gift shops and exits. the good thing about 7D is that most of the queue is visible from outside and it's pretty easy to determine if the posted time is out of whack.

We were unlucky in trying this method, as at 11:40 PM posted time was 50 mins, with the line stretched almost to the entrance...

 

[shanethesaint88]

Keep in mind that those posted wait times are often greatly exaggerated, especially during the evening hours. We've often found that the posted time can be up to 4 times the actual wait during the last hour or so of operation. This is designed to steer guests away from the attractions and towards the gift shops and exits. the good thing about 7D is that most of the queue is visible from outside and it's pretty easy to determine if the posted time is out of whack.

I don't think I've ever been on a Disney attraction where the wait time was 100% accurate to the actual wait time lol and I've timed it. Even when there is 0 wait a lot of the time it will say 5 mins.

 

[thornton0511]

We usually get to MK between 8-8:15 for a 9am rope drop and wait by the right side tunnel. We have always ended up being at the front of the pack this way. We do not typically stay in the parks past Wishes and are early risers so this has always worked best for us. Either way it seems to be agreed on here that really early or really late are the best times to ride for standby with minimal waits.

 

[hurricane]

Are you going to be in MK for more than one day?

We are actually in a time-crunch. One day in MK, three day trip all around. If we don't do the 7D on that day, there is no other day we'd really be able to do it and it may have to wait until next time.

 

[hurricane]

We usually get to MK between 8-8:15 for a 9am rope drop and wait by the right side tunnel. We have always ended up being at the front of the pack this way. We do not typically stay in the parks past Wishes and are early risers so this has always worked best for us. Either way it seems to be agreed on here that really early or really late are the best times to ride for standby with minimal waits.

Thanks for the advice! I'm only an early rider in Walt Disney World.

 

[Aaryana]

I am at Magic Kingdom today and did rope drop this morning. I arrived 1 hour before park opening, and I was not at the front of the pack though I was fairly close to it. I had a FP+ so didn't go straight to it. I rode pan's flight first. At 9:15, the wait was about 60-70 minutes. If you plan to rope drop it, arrive at least an hour early to be at the front.

 

[Marlyn]

I wouldn't even bother trying without a fastpass. We went right at rope drop and by the time we got there it was already 45 min. We managed to score a late evening FP one night, no clue how. It was already dark out when we tried and it came on the kiosk screen and we grabbed it!

 

[hurricane]

I am so grateful for all of these responses! Can anyone tell me if I'm able to add or modify FP+ on the Disney app? Thanks!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I don't think I've ever been on a Disney attraction where the wait time was 100% accurate to the actual wait time lol and I've timed it. Even when there is 0 wait a lot of the time it will say 5 mins.

The difference can be pretty significant. For example, we went to Space Mtn at 11:25 pm one night last summer. The posted wait time was 50 minutes but we were able to ride 4 times before the park closed at midnight. It did take some running to make it back into the line the last time though.

The biggest offender has always been Toy Story. Quite often, we've arrived at 9 pm to find a 70 minute posted wait yet we've been able to ride up to 4 times before the park closed at 10.

7D is somewhere in between. On our most recent visit, the posted wait right after Wishes was 55 minutes but the actual wait was only 10.

 

[Marbel]

How many in your group? It will be harder to stay together and stay ahead of the pack if you're a big group. That said, I did get on mine train at rope drop on Sunday, Feb 7 (Superbowl Sunday) with a predicted crowd level of 7. I was there with my sister at rope drop, so just two of us. We got to the courtyard around 8:15, stood in the vicinity of the left tunnel but not belly up to the rope. We watched the welcome show and then entered the park. We decided to try for mine train and see what happened. We were able to stay somewhat ahead of the pack but not right up front. We were able to get on mine train with a minimal wait. I want to say 15 mins or so? It was not long at all. If you are just one or two ppl, pay attention to the CM when you get close to boarding. Sometimes if there are larger groups ahead of you who want to stay together, she will call out for smaller groups to fill the train. I've slipped ahead of others several times on rides by throwing up one or two fingers when the CM called out for smaller groups.

 

[hurricane]

How many in your group? ... If you are just one or two ppl, pay attention to the CM when you get close to boarding. Sometimes if there are larger groups ahead of you who want to stay together, she will call out for smaller groups to fill the train. I've slipped ahead of others several times on rides by throwing up one or two fingers when the CM called out for smaller groups.

This is why I love DISboards, I would I have thought of any of these. Two people in our group. I think we're going to do just that. Get there around 8am and head straight to the ride. Thanks!

 

[shanethesaint88]

This is why I love DISboards, I would I have thought of any of these. Two people in our group. I think we're going to do just that. Get there around 8am and head straight to the ride. Thanks!

Thats actually happens more often than not because Disney is typically a family place. Space mountain is a place where it happens often. There are 6 seats in a "space ship" so your typical family of 4 can't fill all of it and the next family of 4 wants to all sit in the same one

 

[nilla]

I don't think I've ever been on a Disney attraction where the wait time was 100% accurate to the actual wait time lol and I've timed it. Even when there is 0 wait a lot of the time it will say 5 mins.

My theory is that Disney inflates wait times because customers will be happy when a posted wait time is 40 minutes, but they only end up waiting 20. Compare that to a posted wait time of 15 minutes, but the guest ends up waiting 20.

But I could be wrong.

 

[smiths02]

Same. Last summer I went to MK about 2-3 times per week and ive never seen it below 60. And that's if your lucky lol

We were there Feb 3-6...very good days to be in the parks crowd wise. Both of our MK days, we arrived right around park opening (15-20 minutes after the park opened). We did not see it under 60 minutes either.
So I would say, yes, even on a not crowded day you need to be there well before park opening so you can be in the front of the pack (or do it close to closing)...you will still have to wait

 

[shanethesaint88]

My theory is that Disney inflates wait times because customers will be happy when a posted wait time is 40 minutes, but they only end up waiting 20. Compare that to a posted wait time of 15 minutes, but the guest ends up waiting 20.

But I could be wrong.

That certainly could be true. I also don't think they update as often as they should. Or you could possibly be behind the person with the red lanyard and so you won't see the updated time until you get off the ride

 

[epcotty]

I'm not sure when your trip is (ETA: I see March 2016, but not sure what dates), but I'd want to be through the turnstiles between 8-8:15 for a 9:00 opening.

Do they actually let you thru the turnstiles well before opening time? If so how do they hold the crowd back? We've always gotten there after opening time so don't know

 

[nycdisneygal]

My theory is that Disney inflates wait times because customers will be happy when a posted wait time is 40 minutes, but they only end up waiting 20. Compare that to a posted wait time of 15 minutes, but the guest ends up waiting 20.

But I could be wrong.

This. I actually read a business article about this practice at disney. Makes the customer happier.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Do they actually let you thru the turnstiles well before opening time? If so how do they hold the crowd back? We've always gotten there after opening time so don't know

Yes, they'll let you through the tapstiles at least 60 minutes before official park opening. CMs hold guests at the archway leading under the train station.

Once they reach capacity in that area between the tapstiles and the train station, they'll hold guests at the tapstiles until they allow guests into the park.

 

[jim o'reilly]

was on SDMT on thursday 1/28/2016 at 2pm, the standby line wait was "60 minutes".

timed it from the time i got in line to the time i got off the ride....22 minutes.