having trouble with my MK strategy...please help!

[firecracker]

We're Disney veterans (a trip a year usually) and we're surprising our kids with an April trip this year. We're using up old days and plusses before buying new 10 day MYW passes. Anyway, we're doing water parks, DQ, Wet n Wild, and ONE DAY only at the MK. That day is Thursday, April 7 (after a late EMH at MK on Weds and before an early EMH on Friday). ANYWAY...

Where should we head first? Our girls are 7 and 9 and like SOME things in Fantasyland, but not Dumbo or Pooh much anymore. They LOVE Splash Mtn. and Big Thunder. Space Mtn is also a favorite. If I had to rank the rides in order, I'd say...

1. Splash
2. Thunder
3. Peter Pan/Snow White/IASW/Tea Cups
4. Space
5. Buzz

But I'm afraid that we'll never get on #s 3-5 if we don't get there right away. We've never waited in line for anything b/c of FP and having multiple days to revisit attractions we miss. With one day only, I'm afraid we'll miss some of our faves.

What would you do?

 

[f16]

What time are you planning to arrive?

 

[firecracker]

we have an 8:05 PS at Crystal Palace. Park is currently scheduled to open at 9.

Thanks for asking such a good question!

 

[MOQ3424]

Youe line-up looks pretty good to me. But I'm here reading my trusty little BirnBaum's guide book and it says for Big Thunder Mountain and Peter Pan that it is the least crowded right when the park opens, right before it closes, or during a parade. So decide what your girls would rather do when the park opens and head right towards that attraction!

Also during a parade the rides don't have too long of waits, so try to hit up Space Mountain and Buzz during a parade therefore there will be a better chance that the lines will be shorter.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

It does depend on what your girls what to do first, but if it were me, I'd do your fantasyland attractions first no matter what, Peter Pan first right after breakfast. Then I'd do Space and Buzz (you may need to FP one of them) and then head over to Frontierland for Splash and Big Thunder. I'd get a fast pass for one and get in line for the other.

 

[f16]

I agree with doing the FL rides first, but you may want to send someone over to grab a FP for Space while the others are on one of the FL rides. You could also grab a FP for Splash when you get over to that side of the park, then ride Big Thunder, and use the Splash FP after that.

 

[crzy4mk]

Some people might disagree with this strategy because you would actually backtrack some, but here's what I would do:

You'll be pretty close to Fantasyland after your breakfast, so go under the castle and get in line for when they drop the rope. Jump in line for Peter Pan (you should be through the line and the ride in under 10 minutes).

Head to Frontierland and get fastpasses for Splash Mountain (if they are available yet). Once those are in hand, get in line for BTMRR. Ride it, and then use your fastpass for Splash Mountain.

If you want to ensure getting on Space Mt. and Buzz, head back to Tomorrowland and get fastpasses for Space Mt. I would do this first and wait in line for Buzz because the line moves more quickly than Space Mt. After you ride Buzz, use your fastpass for Space Mt. (if it's time). You should be able to do all this by noon.

Then take your time and enjoy the rest of the day doing your "non-must sees".

 

[Joan S.]

HI, If Peter Pan is REALLY a must do, I would head to that FIRST! This is a SLOW loading ride and the line can get long very quickly. After that I would do Splash (or get a FP for Splash) and do Big Thunder. Even when the line is outside for Big Thunder in the am it moves quite quickly.You may also consider getting a FP for Space Mountain right after breakfast because this is when you will be closest to it.If the park opens at 9 this fast pass should be for 10-11am. Buzz is also a ride to do either at 9am or get a FP for.We usually do Crystal Palace at about 10:15 and then skip or have a late lunch. This ensures that we are at the rides as soon as they open.WE get a FP for Buzz and ride Space, then we do Big Thunder and at 10:00 get on Buzz and then head to CP. Just a thought! Joan

 

[AtlantaSue]

I just got back with my DDs, 5 and 7, and they liked similar things. Here's what we did - also on a Thursday: We went straight to Splash at opening and rode it twice w/ no wait; we rode BTMRR next (no wait); then we did Adventureland/HM; then we got a fast pass for Peter Pan, and did Philharmagic and the Carousel. After PP, we went on the teacups, had lunch in Tomorrowland, got a fastpass for Buzz, did Stitch and Space Mountain, then Buzz. We also went back for another trip on Splash Mountain - with a MUCH longer wait this time. It was a great day! I hope you get to do all the ones you want, too.

 

[tjmw2727]

If it were me I would move the breakfast at CP to a late lunch and hit the must do rides when you arrive. Our family always needs a good refreshing break and lunch does it for us, IIRC the prices and characters are very similar.

I would head straight to peter pan as that is your longest fantasyland potential wait, then ride Snow White, and IASW if it has reopened, if time allows hit philharmagic and or the haunted mansion on the way to Splash and BTMR. We usually FP Splash and wait the standby line for BTMR, usually by the time we are done with BTMR its time for our Splash FP.

Now you can head over to Tomorrowland and depending on the waits grab a FP for Space and then ride Buzz via the standby line, then fill in the rest of the time with TTA, teacups and maybe Stitch depending on standby lines before riding Space.

If it were us we would be heading to lunch about 2ish at CP for a much needed lunch and R&R before doing some of the less crowded rides like pirates and the shows.

That's what I would do - wish I could and have a great day.

TJ

 

[snappy]

I agree with Joan S.-I have a policy never to ride Peter Pan unless I have a Fast pass unless it is right at opening. Another thing my husband and I will do is split up, and one of us will go get fast passes elsewhere. I am usually the fastpass queen, there are a number of rides I no longer feel inclined to ride, like space mountain, star tours, body wars, and now mission space-I just don't do spinning.

We also split up when our DD9 wants to ride something our teens are not interested in. When we split up we stay in touch via cell phone, just to let each other know how long the lines are or if we should switch over to another land or ride and to coordinate where to meet up. Works for us. On our trip last week our DD14 also now has a cell phone. We were really connected. I even let her go off by herself and shop on Main Streeet for a gift for Grandma who took care of our dog Snappy. I felt OK since she had the cell.