In WDW current state, where do you go first in each park?

[momto2]

Based on crowds, no FP, early entry, loading speed of rides and of course rope drop, where do you head first in each park?

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

We have always taken the approach of zigging when everyone else zags. It's worked well for us in the past and continued to work well in October. We'll be there in a few weeks and I'll report back how things go this time.

MK - We head straight to Adventureland. Ride JC and PotC with minimal waits while everyone heads to Fantasyland to get in line for 7DMT.

AK - Safari and then the rest of the park while the masses are all headed to Pandora.

EP - Soarin' - This used to be a conventional wisdom move, but now most people are headed to Frozen and TT first, making Soarin' at RD that much less crowded.

DHS - Galaxy's Edge - Rode MF twice with minimal waits while everyone rushed to MMRR and SDD.

Our method does result in waiting 45-60 minutes for some of those other popular rides, but we found that you wait that long anyway unless you're at the very front of the pack. Heading in a different direction allows us to start our day of by riding a lot more things in the morning and then after lunch when those lines get long from everyone heading there next, we're hitting those few headliners that they were waiting for all morning.

As always, YMMV. If you are at the very front of the pack, heading to MMRR, SDD, FoP, 7DMT, etc. may end up working better for you.

 

[Gehrig1B]

This depends on when you arrive...

If at the tapstiles prior to park opening:

MK - Seven Dwarfs
DHS - SDD
AK - Flight of Passage
EPCOT - Test Track

If arriving after park opening:

MK - Big Thunder/Splash (whichever has shortest wait)
DHS - Tower of Terror/Rock N Rollercoaster
AK - Safari
EPCOT - Soarin’

 

[momto2]

Thanks!

 

[Jaina]

I feel like the ToT has had consistently long lines lately. I'm thinking about going there first to try to get two rides in (we're west coast and my DH misses our ToT). Is it usually running before the park opens, or is it just specific rides at HS?

 

[Gehrig1B]

Is it usually running before the park opens, or is it just specific rides at HS

Operative word is usually. I have been recently when it has and when it has not. Best bet is yes...

 

[Helvetica]

My plan for May...

AK: Flight of Passage. It’s a long line no matter what, so when they open I can get it done first and go about my day. Then I’ll either go to Navi River Journey or the Safari depending on when I get out and what I want to do.

Epcot: Test Track, then Frozen, then Regal Eagle for lunch.

DHS: Tower of Terror, then Rock n Roller Coaster.

MK: Mine Train, then either Peter Pan or Space Mountain.

 

[Kerr84]

AK - Based on recent wait times, I would head to Na'vi River Journey before Flight of Passage.

HS - We tried to go to MMRR, but they closed the line due to spacing. The park opened, but that ride hadn't which created a long line. I don't know that it is like this every day, but we had to leave the area and headed to MFSR.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

AK - Based on recent wait times, I would head to Na'vi River Journey before Flight of Passage.

I've noticed that trend reported recently (and also saw it myself a few times on MDE). Perhaps everyone is assuming they will beat the "conventional" wisdom that the line for FoP will be really long first thing in the morning, so they're all overcompensating and making NRJ longer and FoP shorter.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

AK - Based on recent wait times, I would head to Na'vi River Journey before Flight of Passage.

HS - We tried to go to MMRR, but they closed the line due to spacing. The park opened, but that ride hadn't which created a long line. I don't know that it is like this every day, but we had to leave the area and headed to MFSR.

I believe you’re right about Navi but Ill have to keep convincing myself to fight the urge to go straight to FOP!!