Itinerary question - backtrack to Buzz?

[ProfJenn]

Hi all! This is a first-timer question:
I'm looking at my DL map and planning our MM morning at the park. I thought we'd start at Nemo and FP Space Mountain along the way. Here's the question: Assuming we get through Nemo pretty fast, would you hop the RR to get over to NewOrleans and Critter Country (for splash or big thunder)? Or would you 'back track' alittle to hit Buzz and Astro Orbiter (then walk across to adventureland)?
It's so hard for me to judge the distances from the map!
We're planning at least 4 days in the park and going June1-7th
Thanks!

 

[DisneyJenn18]

with my experience Buzz is never really that long of a wait, and if your going in June...weather will be warmer so a lot of folks will probably head way to Splash mountain.

You could always send one person to run over and get FP's for Splash while the others wait in line at Buzz (sorry I didn't see how many people are going)...thats always an option, but I defintely wouldn't worry about the wait at Buzz that early.

 

[DLR29]

First of all, FPs for Space/Buzz don't start until normal park opening hours, so you can't grab a Space FP during MM.

Next, I'm not sure that you need to hit Splash and Big Thunder that early in the morning. If you decide to do Tomorrowland during your MM (which I don't recommend because doing Fantasyland is a much better use of your time), then stay in the general Tomorrowland/Fantasyland area for the early parts in the morning. The "left" side of the park doesn't get as crowded until later, plus it has more high-capacity rides with fast moving lines.

 

[DisneyJenn18]

good point...maybe check out Hydro guys tips (sticky at the top of page.) he usually has great tips..

 

[bumbershoot]

First...lol at DisneyJenn18's sig line about her March stay....



OP I've read of people getting FPs for Space during MM, and I really thought that we experienced it during our very first MM, but I can't remember if I proved myself right or wrong.

But IF you did Nemo and then IF you got a FP for Space and it was still MM time, I would then just swing around over towards Buzz, ride it, then the Astro Blasters if it's open (and I'm not sure it is during MM). Then I'd just walk over to Adventure or Frontierland (probably the latter b/c it's less troublesome with everyone trying to get to Indy at normal park opening) for your BTMM and Splash adventures.


PLus, I can never remember what order the train goes in, so I'm not entirely sure if you would be going straight over to the correct area, or if you'd go through Main Street station first.

OK, googled it, looked at wikipedia:

After leaving the Main Street station, the train travels ....and reaches New Orleans Square Station....goes through a tunnel....[travels] over Critter Country on a trestle. The track then follows the outer edge of Rivers of America.... and into Toontown Depot. .... Upon leaving the depot, the trains pass through It's a Small World's facade .... then pass Autopia before entering Tomorrowland Station....then pass into another berm tunnel, enter the Grand Canyon diorama building, followed by the Primeval World diorama. After a brief stretch along the berm, the train reenters Main Street Station.

So yeah, you'd walk all the way up past Autopia, onto the train, go through the diorama, then Main Street, then NOS.

Walking would very likely be faster! Perhaps not as fun, but faster, and that's important during those early morning hours. There's time for dinosaur dioramas later on.

 

[mechurchlady]

I would just do Buzz, Star Tours, Space Mountain, Nemo, Autopia then Bobsleds. You would then be able to get Small World and then take a 10 minute ride to New Orleans Square where you can send a runner to Indiana Jones then do Pirates, Mansion, Splash and Pooh. Check the line for Big Thunder and grab that if you can before Indy then do Jungle Cruise and then back to Fantasyland to finish up.

rides like Dumbo are slow loaders and they cannot add ride vehicles and cannot reduce the time of the ride. They have to unload then load guests and some guests may cause slow downs like dad taking a roll of pictures. Pirates can add extra boats when the line gets longer and remove boats as needed. If you really want to see Fantasyland with kids then do it early.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Hi all! This is a first-timer question:
I'm looking at my DL map and planning our MM morning at the park. I thought we'd start at Nemo and FP Space Mountain along the way. Here's the question: Assuming we get through Nemo pretty fast, would you hop the RR to get over to NewOrleans and Critter Country (for splash or big thunder)? Or would you 'back track' alittle to hit Buzz and Astro Orbiter (then walk across to adventureland)?
It's so hard for me to judge the distances from the map!
We're planning at least 4 days in the park and going June1-7th
Thanks!

ETA: Taking the train from Tomorrowland (TL) to New Orleans Square (NOS) takes approximately 10 minutes, and in the morning it could take a while for the first train to arrive at the TL station. I love the DLRR, but if you're trying to save time it would probably be quicker to walk to the left side of DL.

I agree with DLR29, I also think that it's better to go to Fantasyland during a Magic Morning. Some of the longer lines in DLR are for Peter Pan, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Matterhorn, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and Mad Tea Party, and you could go on all of those during a MM. You could always go to Nemo first thing on a non-MM day.

The left side of DL will open when the MM hour is over.

Like DLR29 mentioned, the FP machines open at DL's regular opening time (as soon as the MM hour is over). [ETA: Molly (bumbershoot) mentioned that FPs could be available earlier. I've heard that sometimes the FP machines open a little bit earlier, but more often than not the FP machines open at DL's regular opening time.]

Just as MM is coming to an end, some people like to walk to Space Mtn to start collecting FPs; or you could line up at the "rope drop" to Adventureland, walk to Critter Country to get a FP for Splash and ride BTMRR, etc., etc., etc. Or get a FP for Indy and ride Indy in the standby line, etc., etc., etc. Or stay in Fantasyland for Storybook Land Canal Boats. Or walk to IASW, etc. etc. etc.

The following 2 threads are excellent:

"Magic Morning (Early Entry) Super Thread" by DLR29
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

"Critique of MM/EE" by Hound 109
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671

The following rides are usually open during MM:

In Fantasyland:
-Peter Pan's Flight
-Dumbo
-Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
-Alice in Wonderland
-Mad Tea Party
-Matterhorn Bobsleds
-King Arthur Carrousel
-Snow White's Scary Adventures
-Pinocchio's Daring Journey
-Sleeping Beauty's Castle Walkthrough

NOTE: Casey Jr. Circus Train and Storybookland Canal Boats are NOT open for MM and open at official park opening.

In Tomorrowland:
-Space Mountain
-Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters
-Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
-Astro Orbitor*
-Star Tours*

*Not as consistently open as others. They might be open if large crowds warrant it.

- From DLR29's Magic Morning Super Thread

HTH

 

[ProfJenn]

Wonderful info - thank you all. Really good info.
I didn't think about getting to Nemo on a nonMM morning. Good point. And I totally forgot that some rides aren't even open (duh!)
Thanks for your patience and good advice.
Here's one more question:
We get to CA pretty late on Sat nite. I know the next day is a MM, but I don't think we'l make it that early (little kids in tow) - So, can we show up at regular park opening without the threat of losing the MM on our tix? I guess I'm wondering if the tix entry machines are smart enough to know that I got there after MM?

 

[DLR29]

We get to CA pretty late on Sat nite. I know the next day is a MM, but I don't think we'l make it that early (little kids in tow) - So, can we show up at regular park opening without the threat of losing the MM on our tix? I guess I'm wondering if the tix entry machines are smart enough to know that I got there after MM?

Yes that is correct, however, coming from Michigan, you may be waking up pretty early on your first couple days if you aren't adjusted to the time zone change. Just a thought.

 

[Hound 109]

Wonderful info - thank you all. Really good info.
I didn't think about getting to Nemo on a nonMM morning. Good point. And I totally forgot that some rides aren't even open (duh!)
Thanks for your patience and good advice.
Here's one more question:
We get to CA pretty late on Sat nite. I know the next day is a MM, but I don't think we'l make it that early (little kids in tow) - So, can we show up at regular park opening without the threat of losing the MM on our tix? I guess I'm wondering if the tix entry machines are smart enough to know that I got there after MM?

DLR 29 is 100% correct. The time zone difference is your friend. Get them up early the first day. 6am will feel like 8am to you (& them). & they'll probably flake out on your plane flight out anyways .


Your signature indicates you might be a WDW vet. Here's the primer for you:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599


You'd also get alot out of HydroGuy's other tip threads:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


I also agree with everyone involved that Nemo (since it eats up 3/4ths of your MM) is NOT an efficient use of MM. Do it another day (or another time).

& if you don't enter DL until after Gen. Adm. opening (thru one of the dozen or so Gen. Adm. turnstiles), then you won't get dinged for a MM usage....you'd only get dinged if you arrived & strolled thru one of the MM turnstiles prior to Gen. Adm. opening.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[ProfJenn]

I figured the time change would be in our favor - I think the difference is 3 hours? But honestly, I don't think I can get all 7 of us down mainstreet (moving with 'PURPOSE') toward the rides when its our first time ever to DL. I know (trust me!) that the grandparents and little ones will be in serious "WHOO HO AWE" and the promise of the rides might not be enough to lure them down the street .
Rather than wasting our MM hour walking down mainstreet, I thought we'd go later, putter around mainstreet and see some shows, etc. Then, on the MM morning the castle won't be brand new to us and we'll be able to move to rides "quickly but safely!"
THoughts?

PS the threads were great!

 

[MichaelColey]

DLR 29 is 100% correct. The time zone difference is your friend. Get them up early the first day. 6am will feel like 8am to you (& them). & they'll probably flake out on your plane flight out anyways .

My kids (DS5 and DD3, who are normally up around 7am) were up around 5am every day of our 12 day trip to San Diego / Anaheim in about a month ago. Except the last day, when we actually had to get up early to catch a flight, of course.

 

[Hound 109]

Michigan is Eastern? Wow a 3 hour time difference means it's really going to be easy to get up the first day.

Our experience is similar to Michael's.....the first couple of days we're up before 6am.

But you know your family....if you decide to do MM on another day (Tuesday?)......get them to the security gates 40 min. prior to MM opening. & if there are stragglers....leave them.

(note - twice Mrs. Hound preferred to sip coffee in the room over doing MM....didn't stop Padewan Alec & I from doing our 8/9 rides during MM & nabbing our first FP at :01. ....then she'd join us for a left side of the park tour.)

 

[ProfJenn]

Trust me - I've already given them the "Don't MAKE me leave you in the dust" speech 100x (Or a million, if you ask DS8yr!).

 

[bumbershoot]

I figured the time change would be in our favor - I think the difference is 3 hours? But honestly, I don't think I can get all 7 of us down mainstreet (moving with 'PURPOSE') toward the rides when its our first time ever to DL. I know (trust me!) that the grandparents and little ones will be in serious "WHOO HO AWE" and the promise of the rides might not be enough to lure them down the street .
Rather than wasting our MM hour walking down mainstreet, I thought we'd go later, putter around mainstreet and see some shows, etc. Then, on the MM morning the castle won't be brand new to us and we'll be able to move to rides "quickly but safely!"
THoughts?

PS the threads were great!

You know your family best!

But I know that the charms of Main Street are entirely lost on my guy, as it's all just ice cream that DS can't have (ingredient issues) and shopping (he does like presents, but knows that that doesn't happen early on in the trip). So he's pulling down towards the castle.

And since the castle isn't anything like the one at WDW, since there's really nothing going on inside of it (other than the new Sleeping Beauty walkthrough upstairs), it's mainly just an entrance into Fantasyland. And since the first ride you come to is Peter Pan...they might get there faster than you think. Plus they might wonder what everyone else is rushing to.

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Playing Devil's Advocate here...

I, for one, was glad we decided not to do our MM on our first day in the park. Sorry, OP, I don't recall if this is your first trip to DL or not...but for me, those first few days to orient myself and figure things out made for a smooth and seamless MM for all of us. I knew by then how long it would take us to get from A to B, where the bathrooms were (not just where they were on the map, but where they were in the PARK - the map always looks so different to me!), etc... I was also done my "dawdling" by that time, so I could easily "walk with purpose" towards Nemo without stopping to snap 100 pictures of "every brick in the sidewalk" as dh likes to say!

ps - the above statement about walking with purpose to Nemo was not intended as advice - on the contrary, we felt that for our family and our trip, Nemo was very important, so we spent over half our MM there. Having btdt, we will fit Nemo in some other time on our next trip, and use our MM to do all the FL rides instead. As Hound already mentioned, Nemo is not the most efficient use of valuable MM time, but it is still a cute ride and worth doing, IMHO

 

[Hound 109]

.....without stopping to snap 100 pictures of "every brick in the sidewalk" as dh likes to say!

I like pot stirrers & devil's advocates, mommyof2boys1girl.

& agree that Nemo with little ones borders on a "must do". The only reason i am "anti Nemo" during MM is that for some, it's the only time to ride Peter Pan, Alice & the Matterhorn (which are other "must do's") & possibly Toady & Dumbo w/o standing in long lines.

 

[MichaelColey]

Maybe I'm the only one, but to me it seemed like everyone went to Fantasyland during MM when we were there. The lines seemed long to me. They may be slightly longer later in the day, but I wonder if you could get more benefit out of MM elsewhere in the park?

I don't remember what ride it was, but the first one to the right (I think) after you go through the castle... That line was really long. Maybe Fantasyland during MM isn't so bad if you go left or skip the first ride, or if you target one that normally has longer lines (like Nemo).

Perhaps our MM exerience in Fantasyland wasn't typical or was a result of lack of experience. That first ride had a huge line. Then the second ride we tried to go on (Mr. Toad) broke down when we got to the front of the line. We waited for a while, then gave up and went to another ride. By that time, we were a good half hour into MM and had only been on one ride.

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Maybe I'm the only one, but to me it seemed like everyone went to Fantasyland during MM when we were there. The lines seemed long to me. They may be slightly longer later in the day, but I wonder if you could get more benefit out of MM elsewhere in the park?

I don't remember what ride it was, but the first one to the right (I think) after you go through the castle... That line was really long. Maybe Fantasyland during MM isn't so bad if you go left or skip the first ride, or if you target one that normally has longer lines (like Nemo).

Perhaps our MM exerience in Fantasyland wasn't typical or was a result of lack of experience. That first ride had a huge line. Then the second ride we tried to go on (Mr. Toad) broke down when we got to the front of the line. We waited for a while, then gave up and went to another ride. By that time, we were a good half hour into MM and had only been on one ride.

The busy ride would have been Peter Pan's Flight, which is the entire reason most of us "walk purposefully" to FL upon entering the parks at MM. That line is ALWAYS long (well, maybe not always, but usually), so many of us try to get to that one first.
When one does the Nemo ride on MM, one ends up in the same boat - half (actually, quite a bit more than half) of one's MM gone, and only one ride in.

As for going elsewhere, only FL and select rides in TL are even open for MM, so that's probably why FL is so crowded.
Perhaps MM is overrated, but it makes me feel special to be let into the park with only a select number of fellow Disney addicts!