Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[Leigh L]

These are such great reports! For those of you who were just there—what rides are open during the early theme park entry period for resort guests? I have seen people mention that Splash wasn’t running but Big Thunder was, for example. Would love advice about all four parks. Thanks!

Our most recent visit for opening time was MK/DHS in February (didn't do AK and EP opening on this trip).

MK: 7DMT, Big Thunder, Space, Buzz (varies), Peter Pan (8:30ish), Splash (usually 9 but have seen lining up earlier and maybe a few minutes earlier, but mostly 9), Pirates (sometimes yes, sometimes no). This experience is based on several early arrivals for MK staying both on and off property. IaSW and HM have never opened before 9 in our experience.

DHS: ToT, RnR, MMRR, MFSR, and Slinky. Boarding Groups for Rise also have been starting to be called pre-opening at times. That's happened at least a couple of times I've seen, so if you have an early BG, that's something to consider.

Right now the early entry for resort guests hasn't started, but the parks have been opening early consistently. In February we stayed off-site for 3 park days and got in roughly around the same time we did when staying on-property in January and DD and I did one park day from Pop before moving off property in Feb. So crowds will be the same in that respect.

Have a great trip!! The mornings are the best and definitely the way to go

 

[Naomeri]

Second Park Day: Friday, March 12–Epcot (11am open) Part 1

Knowing that I wasn’t planning on any rides at Epcot, I didn’t need to rush to make rope drop, so I left my room at Pop at 10:22, and there was basically no wait for the Skyliner at Pop. There was a bit of a line at the CBR station when I arrived at 10:32, and I got on my way to Epcot at 10:45. 13 minutes later I was landing at the Epcot station and through the temp checks at 11 on the dot. I got pulled aside at Security for some unknown reason, since I had exactly the same stuff on me that I’d had at MK the day before.

Everyone going through the International Gateway seemed to be heading toward the UK, so I swung right and headed for France. World Showcase was sparsely populated and it was really easy to walk around and look at all the F&G decor. I tried to wander around and find things I hadn’t seen before. It was a very peaceful way to start the day. I saw the Princess cavalcade twice and Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy once. It’s really very cool to get birthday greetings from characters.

I stopped for lunch at the Refreshment Outpost (I am a very non-adventurous eater, so a hot dog and frozen lemonade was perfect) Things started getting crowded around China, and stayed more crowded until I got closer to Future World. Since I have a second Epcot day coming, I chose to save Future World for that day. I finished up the countries and hopped back on the Skyliner at 12:45 for some resort and pool time.

 

[Naomeri]

Second Park Day: Friday, March 12–Magic Kingdom (10pm close)

After my World Showcase morning, I hung out all afternoon before heading to MK to knock out all the rides I skipped on my first day. I mobile-ordered a closing time dinner at Cosmic Ray’s just to stay a little while longer. I got to the bus stop at 5:59, and boarded the waiting bus at 6:01. Arrived at MK at 6:18 and sailed through temps, security, and tapstiles.

I started in TomorrowLand with Buzz Lightyear at 6:29, with a posted wait of 30 minutes. I was on the ride at 6:43 (I scored 116,200). Next was the Teacups at 6:55, with a posted wait of 10. This was pretty close to right, I got on at 7:03. Voyage of the Little Mermaid at 7:12 was a walk-on, but posted 10. Pooh at 7:25 was posted at 25, and I was on at 7:41. Peter Pan was posted as 25 minutes at 7:49, and I hit a cleaning cycle so I got on at 8:18. Haunted Mansion was a walk-on at 8:24, but posted 10 minutes. Flying Carpets posted a 10 minute wait at 8:40, and I was on at 8:48. Jungle Cruise at 8:53 had a posted 25 minute wait, and I was on the Ganges Gertie with Skipper Amanda at 9:03. Back to TomorrowLand for AstroOrbiter at 9:20, with a posted wait of 20 minutes, but I was in the elevator at 9:28. Walked on to Buzz Lightyear after that and scored 114,900 (the blaster had a stiff button)

Sat down outside Ray’s and hit “Prepare Order” at 9:50 and it was hot and fresh at 9:55. I sat down in an almost empty restaurant and listened to Sonnie Eclipse’s corny jokes for a while before heading to the castle for a couple night shots. Hit the Pop bus stop at 10:22 and got on a bus at 10:40.

 

[WIll C]

We're actually on ME heading home now...if it were me; I'd walk to CBR skyliner station and be there by 710 for a 9am dhs open if you want to be one of the first 10-15 families on there way to dhs.

The walk to the CBR station is pretty far from Riviera and unless there's a big backup at the station, taking the Skyliner from Riviera is a lot faster. Obviously, with more people coming in, there will be more people at CBR getting up early for HS so if may be worth the early walk. So long as you get ahead of them letting in the cars to the park, you're in business.

One problem I saw was that they back up the incoming traffic at HS at the Temp screening tents. If you are unlucky, you get backed up into the first set of tents on the left with the general bus traffic. I got lucky, got redirected to the right side as it opened up and got into the park with next to no one ahead of me. It's really a game of chance with where they put you.

 

[Justrose]

Need opinions - I have breakfast at Trattoria (7:30am) and Ale and Compass (7:05am) booked and plan on taking the boats to HS - will we make it in time to get in and make the most of RD for our HS days, or should I cancel those reservations?

ETA: our trip is 3/21-3/28.

 

[WIll C]

Need opinions - I have breakfast at Trattoria (7:30am) and Ale and Compass (7:05am) booked and plan on taking the boats to HS - will we make it in time to get in and make the most of RD for our HS days, or should I cancel those reservations?

ETA: our trip is 3/21-3/28.

I doubt you'd make it to HS with a 7:30 Trattoria reservation. That's an hour at least and they will open the gates shortly after 8am. SDD will be an hour quickly after they open as most people tend to hit up that first. Honestly, skip breakfast, other than to go items, if you want to rope drop anything.

HS seems the worst for rope drop as there just aren't enough rides. By 10am, even Saucers is over 30 minutes (and I've seen it an hour) and all the rest are an hour plus.

 

[Justrose]

@Naomeri , a few questions since I know you are at POP.

Is 6:45am a good time to line up for the MK and AK bus for an 8am opening?
What time do you suggest we get in line for the Skyliner for the 9am HS opening?

Thank you, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

[Jaina]

I can’t tell if you’ve already had your trip or not—how did this work out? We have a 7:45 ADR at the Wave tomorrow morning so we could get past the guard and walk to MK for RD, but it’s only for half our party. I’m thinking that instead of wasting it, we have half go in and order and get some to go for everyone else. We would plan to show up for 7:30 seating.

We got back Thursday, so last Tuesday was our MK day. We nearly killed our selves Saturday doing most of Hollywood Studios until like 6 pm and then hitting Universal from 8-10 that night then doing a partial day and a full at a very crowded Universal Sunday and Monday, so I told my husband we could chill a little on Tuesday morning (since I knew MK would be my favorite day and we’d be staying until after the 9 pm closing). So I canceled that reservation, and we just took a Lyft when parking opened. We were maybe 20 parties back waiting at that security gate at the TTC when it opened at 8:15, and by the time we rode the monorail over and got to Seven Dwarfs the wait was 20-ish minutes. So we rode Peter Pan twice and the Carousel first (because who wants to wait 45 minutes for the carousel?) and then did a bunch of other stuff before waiting in a 50 min line for 7DMT later in the day. My husband liked it, but didn’t love it after being on Hagrid’s (my new favorite ride!!) like five times the days before at Universal. So I rode it one more time at closing well he did pirates again. And by not doing the super early no-show reservation walk over, we got to sleep in 20 or 30 more minutes and had a lot less stress. I didn’t feel fantastic about making a reservation I knew it wasn’t going to use, even if I paid the $20 fee.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

We got back Thursday, so last Tuesday was our MK day. We nearly killed our selves Saturday doing most of Hollywood Studios until like 6 pm and then hitting Universal from 8-10 that night then doing a partial day and a full at a very crowded Universal Sunday and Monday, so I told my husband we could chill a little on Tuesday morning (since I knew MK would be my favorite day and we’d be staying until after the 9 pm closing). So I canceled that reservation, and we just took a Lyft when parking opened. We were maybe 20 parties back waiting at that security gate at the TTC when it opened at 8:15, and by the time we rode the monorail over and got to Seven Dwarfs the wait was 20-ish minutes. So we rode Peter Pan twice and the Carousel first (because who wants to wait 45 minutes for the carousel?) and then did a bunch of other stuff before waiting in a 50 min line for 7DMT later in the day. My husband liked it, but didn’t love it after being on Hagrid’s (my new favorite ride!!) like five times the days before at Universal. So I rode it one more time at closing well he did pirates again. And by not doing the super early no-show reservation walk over, we got to sleep in 20 or 30 more minutes and had a lot less stress. I didn’t feel fantastic about making a reservation I knew it wasn’t going to use, even if I paid the $20 fee.

Hagrid's is the BEST ride.

 

[brockash]

The walk to the CBR station is pretty far from Riviera and unless there's a big backup at the station, taking the Skyliner from Riviera is a lot faster. Obviously, with more people coming in, there will be more people at CBR getting up early for HS so if may be worth the early walk. So long as you get ahead of them letting in the cars to the park, you're in business.

One problem I saw was that they back up the incoming traffic at HS at the Temp screening tents. If you are unlucky, you get backed up into the first set of tents on the left with the general bus traffic. I got lucky, got redirected to the right side as it opened up and got into the park with next to no one ahead of me. It's really a game of chance with where they put you.

That's very true about the temp check lines. I think if you're not concerned about being one of the first 15 or so from the skyliner than yeah I'd say not worth the walk. I just know when we went we saw pop/art ppl. and they lined them up with us, but we never saw Riviera ppl. come through and we ended up being around the 14th family on the skyliner.

 

[brockash]

Need opinions - I have breakfast at Trattoria (7:30am) and Ale and Compass (7:05am) booked and plan on taking the boats to HS - will we make it in time to get in and make the most of RD for our HS days, or should I cancel those reservations?

ETA: our trip is 3/21-3/28.

I don't think so. You really want to be over there or on Disney transportation by 750 for a 9am dhs park open and I don't think you'll be able to make that with either of those.

 

[scrappinginontario]

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[Naomeri]

@Naomeri , a few questions since I know you are at POP.

Is 6:45am a good time to line up for the MK and AK bus for an 8am opening?
What time do you suggest we get in line for the Skyliner for the 9am HS opening?

Thank you, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The lines might be a little long if you leave it that late, but the buses will probably start arriving shortly after you get in line, so at least you’ll be moving.

Not sure on the Skyliner since I chose not to rope drop HS this trip because I got a later BG (75, which was called at 1:08 pm)

 

[wilkydelts]

I was watching the TP lines app all day and with all park passes gone in every category for every park I could not believe how reasonable dare I say good the wait times were today. Makes me really wonder if they are increasing “ride throughputs” and the number of CMs working these next few weeks.

 

[Tasmen]

I was watching the TP lines app all day and with all park passes gone in every category for every park I could not believe how reasonable dare I say good the wait times were today. Makes me really wonder if they are increasing “ride throughputs” and the number of CMs working these next few weeks.

I was noticing that too! Let's hope so. It's calming some of the anxiety I have about that first week in April.

 

[yaya74]

I was watching the TP lines app all day and with all park passes gone in every category for every park I could not believe how reasonable dare I say good the wait times were today. Makes me really wonder if they are increasing “ride throughputs” and the number of CMs working these next few weeks.

I check LINE at 2:30pm and was surprised to see the very manageable wait time too!

 

[scrappinginontario]

I called the park hopper line at 4:15 (just out of curiosity since I’m in my hone in Canada) and park hopping was available to all parks.

 

[duder92]

How often do they restrict park hopping?

 

[scrappinginontario]

How often do they restrict park hopping?

To date, park hopping has never been restricted, even on days like today when all 4 parks are at capacity. It could happen, it just hasn’t yet.

 

[DMLAINI]

Are you currently allowed to mobile order a qs meal close to the parks closing? We're at CBR & the menu at the qs looks not too great so I was hoping to end our days eating a qs meal at the parks instead of waiting in long lines for transportation.