Expedition Everest Soft Opening Ride Strategies???

[Eander3]

We will be at WDW 2/25-3/4. From the posts, I understand that EE will most likely be in a soft opening. What does this mean from a touring plan standpoint??? Is it worth racing there first thing at opening or will they periodically open and close throughout the day???

 

[lentesta]

Yes, I think it should be the first thing you do at the AK, followed by the rest of Asia. (Bring some plastic bags along to protect yourself from getting drenched at Kali River Rapids.) Also fit in Flights of Wonder, if there's a show around 10-ish.

After that, you have two choices: either a counter-clockwise, or clockwise tour of the rest of the park. Right now I think a counter-clockwise tour, putting you in Africa around lunchtime, then Camp Minnie-Mickey, then ITTBAB/Dinoland, might work out slightly better than a counter-clockwise tour of Dinoland, ITTBAB, Camp Minnie-Mickey, and Africa. We're going to run tests of both routes next week to see which works better.

Good luck with your trip!

Len

 

[cg1200]

Yes, I think it should be the first thing you do at the AK, followed by the rest of Asia. (Bring some plastic bags along to protect yourself from getting drenched at Kali River Rapids.) Also fit in Flights of Wonder, if there's a show around 10-ish.

After that, you have two choices: either a counter-clockwise, or clockwise tour of the rest of the park. Right now I think a counter-clockwise tour, putting you in Africa around lunchtime, then Camp Minnie-Mickey, then ITTBAB/Dinoland, might work out slightly better than a counter-clockwise tour of Dinoland, ITTBAB, Camp Minnie-Mickey, and Africa. We're going to run tests of both routes next week to see which works better.

Good luck with your trip!

Len

I was just there last week and if you want to ride EE you'd better get there before 10 and get a fast pass. Better yet get there at 9 or use EMH if available, and head right over there. While we were there, the line was enormous past 9:30. It is a great ride so plan on getting there early. It is worth it. Also, the other attractions were very much lighter than usual because everyone was waiting for EE.

 

[crazyj4488]

Okay, here is my tried and true strategy for this one. I find that this E-Ticket attraction works in the exact opposite manner of all others on property given the nature of DAK. DAK is a morning and early afternoon park to almost every guest that visits WDW. Not many people start at another park and hop on over to DAK in the afternoon because the park simply closes too early. I attended the EE AP preview and it was, definitely, one of the heaviest crowds I've ever witnessed at DAK. I still was able to ride the thing 24 times over the course of four days without waiting more than ten minutes. I think I only fastpass'ed or single rider line'd it about 3 or 4 times.

My suggestion....until this attraction's newness and popularity wears off...give it a Summer and a Holiday season, your touring plan should consist of a specific strategy for dealing with EE. Tour another park on one of its better crowd days during the morning and then hop over to DAK an hour and a half before closing. You will find that almost all guests are making a mad dash out of the park for a break before evening entertainment at the other parks or to grab dinner. You will be able, practically, walk onto EE almost every time during the last hour DAK is open. This worked every single day during the AP preview.

Hey Len, I'm gonna post this over at WDW today. You'd be my hero if you read this comment on your show and plugged my podcast

 

[Drcell01]

We will be visiting this week and our plan is to be at rope drop at AK on Monday morning. If EE isn't open we will jump on the Safari and take advantage of a short line.

 

[DutchsMommy]

One word of caution - we had a soft opening last week and we decided to FP it. Got the FPs around 9:30am with a rtn window of 10:35-11:35 ish. We returned around 11:20am to find that the soft opening was over, and no CMs knew if it would open again that day. Although we were told our FPs would be honoured all day I was a little disappointed that they didn't hold off closing until the FP window was over. But........maybe the thing broke so they had no control over the closing?? Not sure, but I would suggest if you are determined to ride, brave the stand-by line.

PS - We got a message on our phone the next afternoon that WDW guests could experience a soft opening of EE the next day until 2pm. This was a WL concierge level - not sure it that makes any difference, but we did get a message letting us know it would be available (which we didn't take advantage of BTW )

 

[nancyshack]

Hi all!
THis is my first post, but I have used much of the advice here for one thing or another, thanks. We just got back from WL last night. We were not staying concierge but got a call about the soft opening for EE. We had a breakfast with Donald at 9:30 and foolishly neither my husband or I thought to go and get a FP for this. Well, when we were done and thought we would walk over and get a FP, FP was shut down and the line was already over a two hour wait. Since it was my b-day, I took advantage of my b-day pin and asked the nice man working the FP if there was anything I could do as it is not only my b-day, but my 40th b-day. He said he could give us single rider tickets to use through the FP line! BINGO! Only problem is my DS 8, and my DD 6, could they take it alone? Well my DS pulled through and said he wanted to go and was willing to sit alone as long as Dad was on same train. My DD was not so thrilled, plus we also have a DD 4, so the nice man gave me a rider switch ticket and sent my DH and DS through the single rider line first and as luck would have it a woman changed seats with my DH and he got to ride with my son, when they came out (grinning mouse ear to mouse ear I might add), my DD and I went through with the child switch ticket (through FP) and were able to ride together. LOVED IT!!!! And so did my DD6, she is a thrill seeker and was bouncing like TIGGER when we got off it!! Unfortunately the last two days we were there it was not to be opened but at least we got our EE thrill!! till next time.....
Sorry this is so long, in summery, go to EE as soon as the AK opens and get a FP and if the standby is not so long get on it so you can ride it twice!!! Also don't wait as one CM told me if they have a soft opening it will close by 2PM almost always!! DOn't miss this one....if there are no FP to be had and the standby line is too long, ask the FP cm for a single rider ticket, you will be sent through the FP line and if you don't mind riding alone is better than waiting for 2+ hours!!! Have fun and fear the Yeti !
Bye for now,
Nancy

 

[magsmom]

Thanks nancy, and welcome to the DIS.
Great advice. The single rider is how DD has been doing test track and soarin' in the past. To hear that this strategy can work for EE is just great.