It's your first EVER visit to MK.......would you rather...

[JohnnySharp2]

Good question, I think you are allowed into the park - at least we have been - just before 9am, but then you get so far. For instance just before Cinderella's Castle or just outside Adventureland - then at 9am there is a countdown and the ropes drop.
Must admit we always head for Fantasyland first, generally going through the castle - sometimes we have had to wait a few minutes and others it has been just after 9am and we walk straight through (while many others run)

 

[torsie24]

Cool, thanks Johnny.

I was assuming it'd be like DLRP where they want you on Main Street spending $$ for a good 45 minutes before anything else opens!

What time should I aim to be at the MK for to see all of this? Are the resort buses still pretty few and far between this early?

 

[Pegasus928]

cant you do both of different days

Thats exactly how we plan on doing it. For the first morning there - as we will be up early anyway - we decided to head off to MK for the opening ceremony as it will be my sister and her families first trip. Later in the holiday we plan to do CP and take advantage of the empty streets.

Could you guys help me with what happens at rope drop at MK?
Do you all wait for the ceremony, then when that happens you're allowed onto Main Street for like 30 mins and then rope drop happens to the different lands at like 9am? Or are you not allowed onto Main Street until 9?

I will be interested to see the answers to this as well.
Last time we were there for the opening ceremony we only managed to get half way down Main Street in the first half hour, as DS and DD had just discovered the joys of pin trading so were stopping in every shop and hijacking every CM. By the time we got to the castle everything was open anyway

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Cool, thanks Johnny.

What time should I aim to be at the MK for to see all of this? Are the resort buses still pretty few and far between this early?

I don't know about the buses as we always have a car, but I would try and aim to get to the entrance around 0845 or so, you shouldn't have to queue too much to get in and would be allowed inside the park to a degree before the rope restrictions, but in my experience that is usually after the walk down Main Street.
If you take the Monorail it is likely to look more busier than the Ferry as there will probably be a lot of people choosing that option, but it's still usually the slightly quicker way of getting there as the service is more regular.
I would highly recommend using the Ferry at some point though as the views of the likes of the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts are nice and it does kind of add a bit of magic to the park visit.

You probably need to aim on being dropped off by the bus no later than 0830.

Think we have about a 15 minute drive from where we are usually located in a villa and tend to set off around 0800.

 

[torsie24]

I don't know about the buses as we always have a car, but I would try and aim to get to the entrance around 0845 or so, you shouldn't have to queue too much to get in and would be allowed inside the park to a degree before the rope restrictions, but in my experience that is usually after the walk down Main Street.
If you take the Monorail it is likely to look more busier than the Ferry as there will probably be a lot of people choosing that option, but it's still usually the slightly quicker way of getting there as the service is more regular.
I would highly recommend using the Ferry at some point though as the views of the likes of the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts are nice and it does kind of add a bit of magic to the park visit.

You probably need to aim on being dropped off by the bus no later than 0830.

Think we have about a 15 minute drive from where we are usually located in a villa and tend to set off around 0800.

Thank you!!

I love the idea of getting a ferry over, but I think it might be abit long winded on our first day getting a bus from AKL to the TTC instead of getting an MK one right away.

Oooooooooh I can't wait to get there!!

 

[jockey]

I opted fort rope drop, think it adds the extra bit of magic, keep the early brekkie for another day

 

[wideeyes]

I have a amazing picture of my DD on a empty main street when we were at the park before 8.00am. We were the first on Main street and had about a 3 minutes head start on everyone else which was just enough time to get a quick photo. We usually go for breakfast at 8.00am however the rides didn't open to 9am so we had plenty of time.

 

[team harris]

Have an 8.05am reservation for Crystal Palace so your first ever walk down WDW Main Street is super quiet, and you can take a photo with Walt and Mickey and the castle before meeting Pooh and Friends?

OR

Get to the MK for 8.15ish and see the opening show before enjoy all of the rides?

Never done the rope drop - but we will be doing it this August!

I would do CP later in the holiday, but you need the true Disney feel to start the day.

Do all the character meals you can during your stay, as it will save you so much time queuing for autographs in the parks and little 'uns have such a fuss made over them by the characters. Another tip, try CP late at night - the characters do not leave until CM's are happy you have all the photos you want and the added bonus is the park is empty when you come out!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I went for rope drop too. My reasoning is that seeing the park empty is more magical after seeing it full, so perhaps make the early ADR for later in the week. I think the opening ceremony would be a nice introduction to Jack's MK adventure!

I actually voted for breakfast, but now having read this - I agree, so please knock one vote off of breakfast and add it to the rope drop idea!!!