Fastest way from AK entrance to EE

[cmm]

What is the fastest way to get to EE from the front gate at AK? Does anyone know if it is doable for me to get fastpasses for the ride while my DH and DD get in the standby line (assuming we get ourselves there when the park opens). Should we all just go the FP machines together? Would I really be able to catch up with them in the standby line?

 

[Robo]

What is the fastest way to get to EE from the front gate at AK? Does anyone know if it is doable for me to get fastpasses for the ride while my DH and DD get in the standby line (assuming we get ourselves there when the park opens). Should we all just go the FP machines together? Would I really be able to catch up with them in the standby line?

Some say that its via Dino-land but, the best route to EE queue and FP distribution is via the ASIA entrance.

Why?

A. Because it is a SHORTER ROUTE to the ENTRANCE to EE than going via Dinoland entrance.

B. Because if the crowds are building the lines, you will have to WALK PAST them to actually get IN the line, if you come in from the Dinoland direction.

Like many "routes" at WDW the one you come to "FIRST" is not necessarily the one to choose... because of the convoluted direction it may follow.


Despite how it may appear just LOOKING at it, the route through Dinoland is quite a bit LONGER in distance than the Asia route. Enough that if the crowds are pouring in, you'll end up much farther back in the line by the time you reach the queue.

And, if you are there in the morning for Rope Drop, a CM will walk you (and hundreds of your closest friends) back to EE anyway (via the Asia route).

Just get right into the Standby line as a group and get a FP after the first ride.
Many folks don't appreciate people attempting to "catch up" to others already in the queue.

 

[MassMom94]

Many folks don't appreciate people attempting to "catch up" to others already in the queue.

I noticed this the last time we were at Disney. I had never before been to a park where it was ok to leave your place in line to buy food, visit the restrooms, get FPs, etc. and then jump back in where you had been rather than at the end. I just chalked it up to a different culture here.

 

[barbie78]

Wow! Great tip! I had planned to head straight through Dino to get to Everest, but I will be dragging DH up to Asia and over now! Thanks!

 

[Robo]

Wow! Great tip! I had planned to head straight through Dino to get to Everest, but I will be dragging DH up to Asia and over now! Thanks!

Glad to help.

Enjoy!

 

[Leota]

DS & Friends went to WDW for their Grad trip in July. They went the Dino route at rope drop & were the first ones on the first train of ExEv.

A friend & I were down in April & went the Asia route at rope drop - we wound up waiting about 20 minutes.

Dinoland may be a longer route, but it is less congested, hence you can move faster. Going the Asia route you will be in a Massive sea of people so thick you will be tripping over each other. At least that was our experience on 2 days in April.

 

[Disneyhappy]

We just returned - Asia gets you to the entrance faster even with having to walk behind the rope. However, I am over 40 and if I were in my 20's or 30's, I would probably race through Dinoland and make sure I was there before the Aisa group. Otherwise, you will have to keep walking past the entrance to get in the huge line of people that are in line walking from Asia. I don't know who to explain it other than the mass of people walking through Asia become the line at the entrance of the attraction and extends out through the path taken by the Asia route.

 

[Robo]

A friend & I were down in April & went the Asia route at rope drop - we wound up waiting about 20 minutes.

We just returned - Asia gets you to the entrance faster even with having to walk behind the rope. However, I am over 40 and if I were in my 20's or 30's, I would probably race through Dinoland and make sure I was there before the Aisa group.

But what this does not take into account is that on many days, there is ANOTHER ROPE (and CMs') at the bridge from Dinoland over to EE (on front of the Tarzan>Nemo Theater).
Guests are held there until the hordes from the front rope-drop are in sight.
So "racing thru" will be stopped, and plans to arrive first can go bad.

Its up to guests who "feel lucky" whether they want to go this way.

 

[Disneyhappy]

But what this does not take into account is that on many days, there is ANOTHER ROPE (and CMs') at the bridge from Dinoland over to EE (on front of the Tarzan>Nemo Theater).
Guests are held there until the hordes from the front rope-drop are in sight.
So "racing thru" will be stopped, and plans to arrive first can go bad.

Its up to guests who "feel lucky" whether they want to go this way.

Thanks, Robo. I had no idea there was another rope drop at Dinoland path. The day we were there, guests were allowed to run through Dinoland. In that case, I would definitely say to play it safe and go the Asia route because the only Dinoland people who made it in line faster than the Asia group were the ones who ran. DH also confirmed this as he was the FP volunteer and briskly walked the Dinoland path and was in a position to observe. If just going for fastpasses, Dinoland gives you faster access to the fast pass machines. That was a great piece of advise I found on these boards before we left!

 

[eeyoreiscool]

I remember someone saying that they split their group into two to see who would make if first. Basically both groups arrived close enough to the same time that they figured it didn't make any difference as to which path was used.

 

[2tinksmom]

Wow! Thanks for the info. We were planning to go thru Dinoland, but, after reading this thread and since we will have grandparents with us, we'll follow the rope drop thru Asia!
Michele

 

[sweetpea29488]

We'll be there for the morning EMH. Can someone tell me if we'll have the rope drop to follow or do they just let you in on those mornings?

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Wow, didn't even think about Dinoland....We have a group of 12 so it may be safe just to go through Asia so we don't get split up!!! I was wondering about EMH early mornings as well.

 

[Simba22]

run!

 

[followme2disney]

When I was there in may we went through Asia. On EMH and regular entry time. We Walked past the line got fastpasses and then came back and got in line. The line was about 15 minutes long. We rode two times consecutively. Also it seems to me that if you don't rush to be the first one in the line it allows all of those that did, to get throughthe line before you get there. It seems like when i rush I get caught in a hoard of people where if I take my time the crowd has thinned out a bit.

 

[cmm]

Thanks for the tips. I think we will go the Asia route. We are going to AK the morning after an evening EMH, so I hope the crowds will be slightly smaller.

 

[Robo]

Wow, didn't even think about Dinoland....We have a group of 12 so it may be safe just to go through Asia so we don't get split up!!! I was wondering about EMH early mornings as well.

EMH normally does have the Rope Drop Ceremony ("The Adventure Begins"), and everything previously-stated still appies.

There ARE some days (you won't know in advance) when there is no formal Rope Drop Ceremony, but just a simple rope-drop, but there ARE CM's who lead you to K. Safari and/or EE... and everything previously-stated still appies.

There ARE some days (you won't know in advance) when there is no formal Rope Drop Ceremony, but just a simple rope-drop, and there are NO CM's who lead you to K. Safari and/or EE... then its up to you to decide which way to run. All things being equal, ASIA is still closer to the entrance and FP distrib. for EE... it is PHYSICALLY CLOSER that way.

 

[Poohbear123]

Asia, ride EE twice, and than exit the Dino side, past the old Tarzan Rocks. This is when NO CM's are walking you thru the park, I have never witnessed this at any of the AK openings I have been at.

 

[kidsgobears]

Somewhat related... We have ressies at Donald's Breakfastasaurus at 8 a.m. The park opens at 9 a.m. Will we be finished by 9 a.m.? If finished before 9, can we start walking toward the rides? Are we beyond the rope drops? We'd like to do EE first as well. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Robo]

Somewhat related... We have ressies at Donald's Breakfastasaurus at 8 a.m. The park opens at 9 a.m. Will we be finished by 9 a.m.? If finished before 9, can we start walking toward the rides? Are we beyond the rope drops? We'd like to do EE first as well. Any info would be appreciated.

Friday, May 19, 2006: this was our experience:

DAK non-EMH (9am open)
Donald's Breakfastosaurus: 8am Ressie.
Enter for breakfast at 7:55am
Breakfast finished at 8:40am
CM "held" everyone at Bone-yard area (nobody allowed to go back into DAK)
At 8:55am, we were "released" to walk on past the Tarzan Rocks/Nemo Theater (still just I-beams, under construction) to the bridge where two CM's were holding a rope.

They watched across the water until they saw the hordes of folks (being led by CM's) heading towards Asia.

They speed-walked us back to EE, but the "hordes" from the front gate beat us to the standby entrance (Asia is the shorter route to EE than Dinoland).

But, one of our CM's walked OUR group directly thru the FASTPASS entrance (she told the FP CM that we were "coming through"!)

We were on the FIRST ride, in the second car of EE that day!

COOL!

Now, I don't know if this is STANDARD PROCEDURE (so don't COUNT on it to happen) but it was a PERFECT way to start our DAK day, that morning.