How to start early but avoid RD chaos?

[Gentry2004]

I would still arrive 15 minutes before park open. Avoid the stampedes (Slinky, mine train, FOP) and be on your way! You will get so much done while people are elsewhere! Get FP for Peter Pan, FEA, Alien Saucers or TSMM, etc.

 

[rstevens333]

I like to rope drop the Magic Kingdom because there's so much to do that there's actually some quiet things in the morning.

Never had bad luck waiting on the Adventureland bridge and moseying on over to Frontierland while everyone else rushes to the other side of the park. (As folks have said, this method also works in AK.)

I would say it's a ghost town, but the Haunted Mansion is in Liberty Square.

 

[gharter]

i would arrive about 30 minutes before official park opening. Get through security. Once past the turnstiles, head toward the "tier 2' rides". You should be able to ride the "tier 2 " rides several times before the crowds catch up.

 

[SL6827]

I am doing EMM at the MK and a 8:00 Garden Grill breakfast on my Epcot day.

 

[orangecuse]

Just a little update to this. Just over 60 days out and we were able to nab PPO at Garden Grill, Tusker, and Crystal Palace. No stress on if we make it out of those places before the rush at the gate comes in, but gives us a calmer way to get in. The other MK day and Epcot day we have different dining plans and plan to have those be our slower days anyway so I’m pretty happy!

We had EMM booked but cancelled once I realized I could add another night at Dolphin for similar $$ (not exact same cost, but a boring story as to why this worked for us haha). Definitely seems like an awesome event!

 

[Jayne Hench]

Great post...answered a question I had and assured me we can have a relaxing experience. Thanks!

 

[DarthGallifrey]

I RD Adventureland at MK all the time and it has never been that bad. Now, Im sure the rush to 7 Dwarves or PP is hectic. Last week I did Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Big Thunder, and Haunted at rope drop. They were all pretty much walk ons.