HS EMH to Epcot Rope Drop Strategy

[PlutoIsHerFav]

On Friday, 11/29 (so, the day after Thanksgiving ), we have FP at MK but not until the afternoon. Our plan is to rope drop Epcot for FEA and then to meet Anna & Elsa. We have a lunch ADR at noon. The park opens at 9:00. HS has EMH from 7-8, park opens at 8. We have a FP for SDD later in the weekend, but it's my girls' favorite and they also want to ride TSM. Soooo...I am thinking of trying to do them during EMH.

Is it possible to do EMH at HS riding SDD, TSM and (if time) ToT? Then, get to Epcot (IG entrance) in enough time to rope drop FEA? My girls are 3 & 7, so I'll have a stroller and have to be mindful that they won't necessarily move at my pace. However, we were just at the parks this summer and they know how to navigate the crowds and move with us, lol.

If it is possible, what time do we need to be at HS? Then, what time do we need to leave HS for Epcot? And, finally, what mode of transportation should we take from HS to Epcot? I was thinking the Skyliner, but not sure if that's our best bet or not?

 

[SaintsManiac]

I do not think this is possible.

 

[PlutoIsHerFav]

I do not think this is possible.

Meaning, you don't think it's possible for us to do HS and then rope drop Epcot? I was hoping that we could get in at least the two TSL rides between 7-8, and then give ourselves and hour to get to Epcot for a 9:00 opening. But, probably not realistic?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Meaning, you don't think it's possible for us to do HS and then rope drop Epcot? I was hoping that we could get in at least the two TSL rides between 7-8, and then give ourselves and hour to get to Epcot for a 9:00 opening. But, probably not realistic?

Right that's what I meant. You need to consider not only the transport between the 2, but also security.

 

[tstein12]

Being a holiday weekend and heavy crowds (plus 2 kids and a stroller), it would be tough to do, but not totally out of the question. If you really want to try it, I would suggest getting to HS by 6:00-6:15 am to be safe. As for transportation to Epcot, I would say either bus or walking would be your bet bet. Skyliner would not be the quickest because you have to go through CBR and change gondolas to get to Epcot. Also, there is always the chance of the Skyliner not working.

If you're up for the challenge, try it! Worse case, you only get 1 or 2 rides in at HS before you need to leave for Epcot...

 

[PlutoIsHerFav]

Being a holiday weekend and heavy crowds (plus 2 kids and a stroller), it would be tough to do, but not totally out of the question. If you really want to try it, I would suggest getting to HS by 6:00-6:15 am to be safe. As for transportation to Epcot, I would say either bus or walking would be your bet bet. Skyliner would not be the quickest because you have to go through CBR and change gondolas to get to Epcot. Also, there is always the chance of the Skyliner not working.

If you're up for the challenge, try it! Worse case, you only get 1 or 2 rides in at HS before you need to leave for Epcot...

Thank you! Thanksgiving Day is our first day so I think I'll see how we're feeling and if we're up for an early morning and a race! ;-) My girls have already said they are - anything for multiple SDD rides in this house. Ha! However, I want to have reasonable expectations. I don't want to be up at out so super early and then it be a bust. It's a long day as we plan to close out the night at MK for HEA!

The other option is going Thanksgiving night toward park closing. We are spending the morning in MK, leaving after FoF parade, heading to Epcot. We have a 5:40 ADR at GG. We're hoping to get in Soarin or, if we're lucky, FEA (then that lessens our rope drop rush on Fri). After our ADR, we could head to HS instead of staying in Epcot.

 

[tstein12]

Thank you! Thanksgiving Day is our first day so I think I'll see how we're feeling and if we're up for an early morning and a race! ;-) My girls have already said they are - anything for multiple SDD rides in this house. Ha! However, I want to have reasonable expectations. I don't want to be up at out so super early and then it be a bust. It's a long day as we plan to close out the night at MK for HEA!

The other option is going Thanksgiving night toward park closing. We are spending the morning in MK, leaving after FoF parade, heading to Epcot. We have a 5:40 ADR at GG. We're hoping to get in Soarin or, if we're lucky, FEA (then that lessens our rope drop rush on Fri). After our ADR, we could head to HS instead of staying in Epcot.

Good luck! Don't forget to try for same day FPs. I've been very lucky in the past getting last minute FEA FPs.

Me and my 8 year daughter will be there Thanksgiving weekend as well, doing MK in afternoon on Thanksgiving day. We are also rope dropping HS on the 29th since my daughter loves the rock n roll roller coaster and ToT. We got a FP for the RR roller coaster but she wants to ride it several times, if possible. I've told her it's going to be really crowded so we may not be able to ride that many times. She knows I typically do not wait more than 30 minutes in any line - 45 minutes tops depending on the ride!

 

[DGsAtBLT]

The biggest issue I see in the plan is getting to DHS early enough with little ones. You want to be there a good hour before it opens. As long as you start with SDD I think you can definitely do SDD and TSM before you have to leave. ToT maybe not. I think that one will probably have to be sacrificed to make sure you make it to Epcot.

I would also say to be prepared for not being at the front of the rope drop pack at Epcot, but I don’t think that’s too awful with FEA, as long as you’re prepared to wait a short amount.

When the skyliner is working it is definitely the fastest between the two. We did it there and back twice I believe, and it took us about 17 minutes end to end, but we had minimal waits at the stations. I would definitely not walk unless both kids are in a stroller, and would only consider the boat if it was already sitting at the dock (but only if you’re against the skyliner).

 

[gharter]

I think your initial idea of RD SDD and TSMM, if you are at the tapstiles at least 45 minutes before opening is doable. Depending on crowds, adding ToT is feasible.
However, with a 3 year old, this becomes much more difficult.
Without kids and if the crowds are not too bad, getting to the IG before 9 would be easy. With kids the age you have, I think it will be very difficult.

 

[PlutoIsHerFav]

Thank you all! I think we're going to play it by ear and see how everyone is feeling with the early morning and how Thurs/Thanksgiving night goes. If we can ride FEA or end up hopping over to HS after dinner in Epcot to catch a SDD end of night ride, that'll help us determine our plans. I appreciate all of the input and am glad to know it's probably possible, albeit a bit crazy!!

If we decide not to do the Skyliner from HS to EP and take private transport, is the Minnie Van our best/only bet needing carseat(s)?