Here now-- MK Sat Dec 23

[kyanmama]

This is our first trip to Disney (well, I came as a child a few times). Me, DH, DS8, DS3. We are staying at AKL.

We caught the bus to MK at 6:30 and arrived at MK at 6:45ish. By the time we had lunch at BoG at 11:35, we had done the following rides (without FP), longest wait was 10 mins, did not feel like we were rushing (not necessarily in this order):
-Winnie the Pooh (wanted to do Peter Pan but it was temporarily closed for some reason)
-Space Mountain x2 (got RS but didn't need to use it when we went back bc no wait)
-Astro orbiter
-Buzz Lightyear
-People mover
-barnstormer
-Dumbo
-Small World
-Haunted Mansion
-Philharmagic
-Under the Sea
Plus sat down for a waffle at Sleepy Hollow mid morning.

Lunch at 11:35.
Then got a FP for Ariel's Grotto/meet and greet for 12:30-1:30 so did that.
DH and DS8 Rode Space again (3rd time) using RS FP on our way out.
Left MK at 1:45 and back at AKL by 2:05.

I was so worried that we would not get any rides in due to crowds and wait times, or that we would feel rushed and stressed, but not at all. I know it will get busier and busier the next few days, but this morning was WONDERFUL. What a great start to our vacation! Just thought I'd share!

 

[Carol unsworth]

We are here now too and I completely agree, but you hit the nail on the head, you HAVE to get there early, it is so worth it!

 

[LSUfan4444]

Arrive early, use standby till about 11 am then start using your FP+ has been and continues to be the most trusted strategy regardless of crowd levels.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Glad to hear your first day went well!

Interesting that we experienced the same disappointment with Peter Pan at our last visit.
Wishing you continued for the rest of your visit!

 

[kyanmama]

Arrive early, use standby till about 11 am then start using your FP+ has been and continues to be the most trusted strategy regardless of crowd levels.

That's what I've heard, but there have been some recent posts from some people who come every/most years at this time who have said crowds this year were terrible/worse and really affected their trip. So I was worried that if seasoned Disney-goers weren't getting a lot done and were stressed, I was doomed as a newbie But not the case!

 

[LSUfan4444]

That's what I've heard, but there have been some recent posts from some people who come every/most years at this time who have said crowds this year were terrible/worse and really affected their trip

Ive been reading those same reports for years. The reality is the crowds are more spread out throughout the year. Park attendance is down so the overall crowds are actually better but even on slower days two different groups can experience much different crowd levels based on what time they arrive, what park they are in and what attractions they see.

 

[Klayfish]

We are here now too and I completely agree, but you hit the nail on the head, you HAVE to get there early, it is so worth it!

Arrive early, use standby till about 11 am then start using your FP+ has been and continues to be the most trusted strategy regardless of crowd levels.

I would disagree on both of those counts. What you suggest isn't bad, it's just not necessary. You don't have to show up super early and you don't have to save your FP+. We're here now too and went to MK today. We tapped into MK right around 9:40am and left at 3:30pm. We did:

Splash and BTMRR at the same time (DW and I on SM, kids on BTMRR) via FP+
Space via FP+
PeopleMover
Stitch
Pirates via FP+
Watched the entire Christmas parade
Ate a casual lunch
CoP
Tomorrowland Speedway via FP+ picked up about an hour earlier
Laugh Floor
Sat and had a snack because we had some time to kill
7DMT and Pooh at the same time (DW and I on Pooh, kids on 7DMT...I picked both of these up as FP+ about 2 hours earlier, which did take some work on MDE)

We would have been done even earlier, probably around 2:30pm, but we had a gap between Laugh Floor and 7DMT. We didn't want to get in any lines, so we just chilled for a while. Yes, it was VERY busy the later the day got. It was pretty crowded when we walked out at 3:30pm, but FP+ were still available. We were very pleased with how much we got to do.

 

[mom22boys]

This is our first trip to Disney (well, I came as a child a few times). Me, DH, DS8, DS3. We are staying at AKL.

We caught the bus to MK at 6:30 and arrived at MK at 6:45ish. By the time we had lunch at BoG at 11:35, we had done the following rides (without FP), longest wait was 10 mins, did not feel like we were rushing (not necessarily in this order):
-Winnie the Pooh (wanted to do Peter Pan but it was temporarily closed for some reason)
-Space Mountain x2 (got RS but didn't need to use it when we went back bc no wait)
-Astro orbiter
-Buzz Lightyear
-People mover
-barnstormer
-Dumbo
-Small World
-Haunted Mansion
-Philharmagic
-Under the Sea
Plus sat down for a waffle at Sleepy Hollow mid morning.

Lunch at 11:35.
Then got a FP for Ariel's Grotto/meet and greet for 12:30-1:30 so did that.
DH and DS8 Rode Space again (3rd time) using RS FP on our way out.
Left MK at 1:45 and back at AKL by 2:05.

I was so worried that we would not get any rides in due to crowds and wait times, or that we would feel rushed and stressed, but not at all. I know it will get busier and busier the next few days, but this morning was WONDERFUL. What a great start to our vacation! Just thought I'd share!

That is the way we like to tour too! We LOVE getting to the parks early! For us, there is just something so special about the emptiness of the parks those first two hours. I am so happy for you that your vacation started out so well!

 

[kyanmama]

I would disagree on both of those counts. What you suggest isn't bad, it's just not necessary. You don't have to show up super early and you don't have to save your FP+. We're here now too and went to MK today. We tapped into MK right around 9:40am and left at 3:30pm. We did:

Splash and BTMRR at the same time (DW and I on SM, kids on BTMRR) via FP+
Space via FP+
PeopleMover
Stitch
Pirates via FP+
Watched the entire Christmas parade
Ate a casual lunch
CoP
Tomorrowland Speedway via FP+ picked up about an hour earlier
Laugh Floor
Sat and had a snack because we had some time to kill
7DMT and Pooh at the same time (DW and I on Pooh, kids on 7DMT...I picked both of these up as FP+ about 2 hours earlier, which did take some work on MDE)

We would have been done even earlier, probably around 2:30pm, but we had a gap between Laugh Floor and 7DMT. We didn't want to get in any lines, so we just chilled for a while. Yes, it was VERY busy the later the day got. It was pretty crowded when we walked out at 3:30pm, but FP+ were still available. We were very pleased with how much we got to do.

Oh there's definitely more than one way to do it! Our kids are up super early anyway, so being on the bus at 6:30 wasn't 'early' for us. We just really enjoyed how empty it felt for he first few hours, and our little one still naps in the afternoon so a break at the hotel was perfect for us.
Also, we didn't save our FPs-- we just didn't need to use any!
Glad you had a nice day too!!
And totally agree about the FP availability. We were back at the park at 7:00 and did 7 Dwarves (FP) and got a Peter Pan FP last-minute. Then headed to our dessert party and then a few more rides after with FPs.

 

[GoofEeyore26]

I would disagree on both of those counts. What you suggest isn't bad, it's just not necessary. You don't have to show up super early and you don't have to save your FP+. We're here now too and went to MK today. We tapped into MK right around 9:40am and left at 3:30pm. We did:

Splash and BTMRR at the same time (DW and I on SM, kids on BTMRR) via FP+
Space via FP+
PeopleMover
Stitch
Pirates via FP+
Watched the entire Christmas parade
Ate a casual lunch
CoP
Tomorrowland Speedway via FP+ picked up about an hour earlier
Laugh Floor
Sat and had a snack because we had some time to kill
7DMT and Pooh at the same time (DW and I on Pooh, kids on 7DMT...I picked both of these up as FP+ about 2 hours earlier, which did take some work on MDE)

We would have been done even earlier, probably around 2:30pm, but we had a gap between Laugh Floor and 7DMT. We didn't want to get in any lines, so we just chilled for a while. Yes, it was VERY busy the later the day got. It was pretty crowded when we walked out at 3:30pm, but FP+ were still available. We were very pleased with how much we got to do.

Its sounds like you had a nice day, but I will say that getting in earlier proved much more successful. The OP did 12 attractions in 4.5 hours, while you did 9 (plus parade) in 6 hours. Also the OP had only 2 typically low wait attractions (people mover and Phil) while you had 4 (people mover, CoP, stitch, laugh floor). So rope drop with mixed FP+ clearly still has significant advantages, just depends on how much you value sleep, haha.

Nevertheless, seems like you had fun which is all that matters.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would disagree on both of those counts. What you suggest isn't bad, it's just not necessary. You don't have to show up super early and you don't have to save your FP+. We're here now too and went to MK today. We tapped into MK right around 9:40am and left at 3:30pm. We did:

Splash and BTMRR at the same time (DW and I on SM, kids on BTMRR) via FP+
Space via FP+
PeopleMover
Stitch
Pirates via FP+
Watched the entire Christmas parade
Ate a casual lunch
CoP
Tomorrowland Speedway via FP+ picked up about an hour earlier
Laugh Floor
Sat and had a snack because we had some time to kill
7DMT and Pooh at the same time (DW and I on Pooh, kids on 7DMT...I picked both of these up as FP+ about 2 hours earlier, which did take some work on MDE)

We would have been done even earlier, probably around 2:30pm, but we had a gap between Laugh Floor and 7DMT. We didn't want to get in any lines, so we just chilled for a while. Yes, it was VERY busy the later the day got. It was pretty crowded when we walked out at 3:30pm, but FP+ were still available. We were very pleased with how much we got to do.

I too love to tour like you over Christmas week, but for a first time family going this time of year like the OP is, I'd definitely say rope drop is the best recommendation to get the most done.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I would disagree on both of those counts. What you suggest isn't bad, it's just not necessary. You don't have to show up super early and you don't have to save your FP+. We're here now too and went to MK today. We tapped into MK right around 9:40am and left at 3:30pm. We did:

I didnt say you had to, I said its been a proven strategy that works since day 1 of FP+. While you may have had luck, others haven't so your experience could be anecdotal. It's not really an opinion though...if you pick a recommended park and arrive early standby times will be some of the lowest you will see all day.

 

[Klayfish]

Its sounds like you had a nice day, but I will say that getting in earlier proved much more successful. The OP did 12 attractions in 4.5 hours, while you did 9 (plus parade) in 6 hours. Also the OP had only 2 typically low wait attractions (people mover and Phil) while you had 4 (people mover, CoP, stitch, laugh floor). So rope drop with mixed FP+ clearly still has significant advantages, just depends on how much you value sleep, haha.

Nevertheless, seems like you had fun which is all that matters.

We don't necessarily measure success in rides per hour. Frankly, we did the low wait attractions because we wanted to...the kids love Peoplemover, I like CoP, and DS10 is obsessed with Stitch. If we wanted, and if we hurried, we could have gotten more done, including more headliners (as I mentioned, I got 7DMT just two hours in advance...I could get SM 20 minutes in advance). The only one I'd say was a "filler" was Laugh Floor, though we do like it.

Like I said, I'm not saying rope drop is wrong. I used to buy into the concept that you needed to be there super early, and in the old paper FP+ days, I think that was true. It's still true with the water parks. But in the age of our current FP+, I simply don't agree that the early bird gets the worm, necessarily. It may have a slight advantage, but nowhere near as big as I feel like people make it out to be. Yes, there is no doubt that lines are typically shortest right at park open...though some parks are ghost towns at closing too. However, FP+ makes standing outside the gates at sun up kind of unnecessary, with limited exception (FoP)

 

[LSUfan4444]

I simply don't agree that the early bird gets the worm, necessarily. It may have a slight advantage, but nowhere near as big as I feel like people make it out to be. Yes, there is no doubt that lines are typically shortest right at park open...though some parks are ghost towns at closing too. However, FP+ makes standing outside the gates at sun up kind of unnecessary, with limited exception (FoP)

I think your mistaking the sentiment that arriving early as being a trusted and proven strategy that works 365 days a year to mean that we are saying you HAVE to arrive early (which we're not). Obviously the attractions on your to-do list play a big part as well and as always so does your FP+ selections but arriving early and using your FP+ when standby times are longer (lunch through the night time entertainment) can't be dubbed as a bad approach. There is not an approach more consistent regardless of crowd levels, time of year or park of choice.