Fantasyland rides - FP? RD? Both?

[picklethings]

We are heading to our first-ever WDW visit soon! Our fastpasses are all set, but in the meantime, I keep playing around with the touring plans. We currently have a FP for PP, but I am now wondering if we should plan to do it at RD instead, at least partially because of the queue. I was originally thinking we'd do SDMT at RD (to get more than 1 ride, counting our FP) but I don't know if that would be the best use of our time, and the thought of dragging 3 young-ish kids along while fighting the crowd for that one isn't overly appealing, either. Currently, our FP are PP, SDMT, and Pooh.

Background info: with it being our first trip, we want to see/do as much as possible, but with 3 kids (ages 11,8,4), we don't want to make ourselves miserable. So we definitely want the highlights, but re-riding probably isn't necessary, unless it's something amazing. I am hoping to make good use of MDE for additional FPs. We have 2 days planned for MK, but we have park hoppers, so we could do another evening if we want. We plan to spend one day in Adventureland/Frontierland, and the other in Fantasyland, as well as Tomorrowland to some extent.

Should we: A) keep all FP as-is, and RD something else;
B) keep all FP as-is, RD PP or Pooh (or SDMT), then modify FP on MDE to other attractions;
C) change 1 of the FP to something else now, and hit the one we drop at RD?

I hope this makes sense. Basically, I'm wondering if it would be crazy to keep the fastpasses we have (in order to assure we get to ride them), then plan to go to one of them at RD and modify the FP after we ride it, in order to have some flexibility at RD. I have visions of horrible crowds heading to Fantasyland at RD, and my husband saying "no way" to a particularly bad line (like SDMT), and having to improvise on the spot. I also "fear" giving up PP FP with the idea of going there at RD, then have something happen (crazy long line, missing RD, ride is down) where we can't do it first thing and wishing we'd kept the FP.

 

[dzaharchuk]

My 2 cents are to keep your fp as is, they are good! Maybe do Space mt at rope drop or Speedway.. As long as you have sdmt you're good. If you think you'll really want two rides on it, try at rd and if line is too bad, just move on.

Keep the passes, they are some of the most valuable in terms of time saved in line.

 

[g-dad66]

I hope this makes sense. Basically, I'm wondering if it would be crazy to keep the fastpasses we have (in order to assure we get to ride them), then plan to go to one of them at RD and modify the FP after we ride it, in order to have some flexibility at RD. I have visions of horrible crowds heading to Fantasyland at RD, and my husband saying "no way" to a particularly bad line (like SDMT), and having to improvise on the spot. I also "fear" giving up PP FP with the idea of going there at RD, then have something happen (crazy long line, missing RD, ride is down) where we can't do it first thing and wishing we'd kept the FP.

I think this is a very real possibility. The line for SDMT builds very fast, and you will be rushing along in a huge stampede of people. I don't think this is the best way to start a MK day on your very first WDW trip.

I think doing Peter Pan at Rope Drop your first MK day is a far better way to go. You can take your time going down Main Street and through the castle, and you still won't face much of a line at PP. You may want to ease a 4-year-old into the rides, and PP should be great starter. (7DMT could potentially be a little scarier.)

I think it makes sense not to plan to do rides more than once (so you can sample as many rides as possible, and anyway it's hard to predict just which ride a kid may say, "Let's Do it Again!"), so if it were me, I would just plan to do 7DMT once (with FP+).

And if you do Peter Pan right at rope drop, Winnie the Pooh would be a good choice for the next ride. For second and third FP+ on your Fantasyland/Tomorrowland day then, you could go with Belle, Buzz, even It's a Small Word (can get busy by the early afternoon), or Space Mountain (for sure, this one, IF you plan to do it).

 

[picklethings]

Thanks for the feedback. We won't be riding Space Mountain - DS4 is too short, and DH will probably end up with a sore neck.

 

[ArielSRL]

Here's my two cents.

We just went in June but did not do RD due to my dad dragging his butt, but I had hoped we would. We'll be back next June...no parents but with DH this time and will do RD. We'll be at MK three full days.

I did not schedule a Fantasyland RD for this past June bc I read that most people head that way, however next June I will do one RD at Fantasyland for the PP queue (plus my kids really loved it). One day I'm definitely doing Frontierland and Adventureland at RD because I've heard it's usually the least crowded. Not sure if the third day will be Tomorrowland or another Fantasyland RD for other attractions.

Hope that helps in some way.

 

[Ndusmama]

Thanks for the feedback. We won't be riding Space Mountain - DS4 is too short, and DH will probably end up with a sore neck.

I've only been to WDW once but I can tell you Peter Pan gets an insane line! Dl is the same way but Peter Pan there doesn't have fastpass sadly. I am not sure what RD stands for, but if some of you want to do space mountain and don't care about inline games have you thought about the baby swap? I just made my fastpasses today for my second trip. I made one reservation for two people with sdmt and then the third person got space mountain. My oldest won't do space and the baby can't. But the swaps allow for (@dl up to 6 people) I think 3-4 people. So if two get fp for sdmt and the other two get space you can rider swap for the four year old that isn't old enough. I'm splitting my next trip into two days also. One day is one half the next day is the other half.

My other recommendation is to AVOID sticth's great escape. It's basically a room that has shoulder rests that come down to the persons level and then stitch goes around room spitting at you, making the room smell nasty, and the shoulder rests go up and down and HURT. Plus it's all pitch black! I doubt the four year old will like it, and it will hurt everyone else. But the that's my opinion.

 

[ArielSRL]

@Ndusmama RD is rope drop

 

[Ndusmama]

@Ndusmama RD is rope drop

Thank you.