Last minute! Spending 1 day MK...

[meggiemouse]

1. This is a very last minute add on to a cruise vacation, so I'm freaking out. We will be there in 2 weeks.

2. We are staying off site.

3. MK has EMH 8-9 in the morning the day we are going. Park hours are 9-10.

My question is when should we arrive at MK gates? When is the earliest we would be able to get in? Do they ever let off-site people enter bit earlier on EMH days or would it be right at 9am?

THANKS!!

 

[Robo]

A. when should we arrive at MK gates?
B. When is the earliest we would be able to get in?
C. Do they ever let off-site people enter bit earlier on EMH days or would it be right at 9am?

A. That's a tough one. I'd be parked and at the TTC terminal (ferry or monorail to MK) by 7:50-8:00AM.
They will be delaying the MK arrival from TTC due to the AM EMH. It should be very crowded at TTC.
B. You may be able to get to the MK gates by about 8:20, or so. (Whenever they do start running the ferry and monorail.)
C. You may be admitted onto Main St. (only) by 8:30, or so.
They will offer the MK Welcome show on the Castle Stage at about 8:55AM.
C. Don't count on being able to get to any MK attractions until nearly 9:00AM.

Sorry to say that you are going to be in a crowded situation by going to MK on an AM EMH morning and not
be able to enter until the end of AM EMH.

 

[Accident]

I just want to add to robo post that if you don't know all guests are let in early to main street and the hub. Leaving the hub into a land is where you will be stopped and checked if you are a resort guest... So you can get into main street and the hub before 9, but you are going to be limited to that. Casey's, the ice cream shop and starbucks will all be opened before 9 to get some breakfast items.

Also will mention that sometimes they don't actually check anyone or they leave early and stop checking if it's a very light crowd so you may get past the hub before 9. Don't make plans with that happening though because most of the time you won't get past.

 

[Robo]

What has been happening is that WDW Resort guests (who arrive on WDW buses) are allowed onto Main St. as early as 9AM,
they have been holding guests at the MK Parking Lot/TTC until closer to 8:30. (They don't run the Express monorail nor ferry boats until near 8:30.)

Then, after 8:30, or so, they have been checking at the Hub entrance to Tomorrowland (and/or Fantasyland) for WDW Resort guests.

These things can change on a dime at WDW,
but that has been the AM EMH procedure since about the 3rd week after they began the 8AM opening to Main St.

 

[meggiemouse]

Thanks for the info! So we can get in at ~8am, but just can't leave Main St and hub until "official" opening. It's a bummer to have to deal with the EMH crowds. It's literally the only day we could squeeze MK in... oh well! We will make the best of it and have a great time!

 

[Robo]

Thanks for the info!
1. So we can get in at ~8am,
2. but just can't leave Main St and hub until "official" opening. It's a bummer to have to deal with the EMH crowds. It's literally the only day we could squeeze MK in...
3. oh well! We will make the best of it and have a great time!

1. Unlikely. Unless you are riding to MK from a WDW resort, expect not to be able to get to the MK gates until later (8:25, give or take.)
2. Once you do get onto Main St. (whatever time that actually happens) getting access to the MK attractions would be at "regular hours" 9AM, yes.
3. Sounds like a plan!

 

[KimBean]

What has been happening is that WDW Resort guests (who arrive on WDW buses) are allowed onto Main St. as early as 9AM,
they have been holding guests at the MK Parking Lot/TTC until closer to 8:30. (They don't run the Express monorail nor ferry boats until near 8:30.)

Then, after 8:30, or so, they have been checking at the Hub entrance to Tomorrowland (and/or Fantasyland) for WDW Resort guests.

These things can change on a dime at WDW,
but that has been the AM EMH procedure since about the 3rd week after they began the 8AM opening to Main St.

So what if you are a resort guest but you have your car?

 

[Robo]

So what if you are a resort guest but you have your car?

It is recommended that Resort guests don't drive to MK on AM EMH days.

 

[KimBean]

It is recommended that Resort guests don't drive to MK on AM EMH days.

Wow. All the time on here and I've never run across that (have never done morning EMH.) I wonder how many people that messes up.

We rope drop 8 out of 10 days. That is early enough.

 

[wareagle57]

1. This is a very last minute add on to a cruise vacation, so I'm freaking out. We will be there in 2 weeks.

2. We are staying off site.

3. MK has EMH 8-9 in the morning the day we are going. Park hours are 9-10.

My question is when should we arrive at MK gates? When is the earliest we would be able to get in? Do they ever let off-site people enter bit earlier on EMH days or would it be right at 9am?

THANKS!!

Is there another day you can do it (after the cruise instead of before or vice versa) or any chance you could book a campsite or stay at once or the values? The thought of one day at MK without the rope drop benefit makes me extremely anxious just thinking about it. You will get as much done in that hour as you will the 4-6 hours in the middle of the day (not counting fast passes).

If your current option is the only one possible: try to book breakfast at be our guest or one of the other options as early as possible and be willing to just eat the 20 dollar cancelation fee. If you can't do that, get there at 8 and go as far as they let you go. With the new welcome show I'm actually not sure where they hold non EMH guests but I assume it is in the hub. (Side question to anyone that knows: do they scan bands in the hub for onsite guests that arrive late?)

Anyway, assuming you don't get breakfast reservations to get you into the park early, line up as early as you can for frontierland and adventureland as they are not open for EMH. Knock out big thunder, slash, pirates, jungle cruise and haunted mansion or as many of those as you can before lines get long. Have your FP for space, pan, and if by some miracle you can get it 7dmt. If not mine train go with one of the mountains you want to repeat or something else with long waits. I would book these for the late morning and early afternoon so you can grab additional FP on your phone as you need them.

 

[MischaOz]

Just to offer a different perspective, imo missing rope drop isn't the end of the world! We've been to MK 10+ times in the last few years and have never made it for rope drop. With my husband being on 2nd shift and the time zone change, it's just never happened for us. We've been close, but just can't seem to get there. (As an aside, we were easily able to RD at DL going the other way with the time zone, and it was awesome)!

But, my point is, if this is your only option, go and have a great time! Don't stress over RD and early ADRs! You didn't mention what day of the week you're going, but I'm guessing a Friday, which tends to be less crowded than, for example, a Sat or Mon anyway. You'll get your 3 FP so use that for your top 3 rides. There are lots of rides and attractions that have low waits anyway, save those for the middle of the day when it gets more crowded. You'll be fine!

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Yeah, I would just think of it as a "bonus" MK day that you didn't expect to have! Whatever you get done, you get done!

 

[StraightToDumbo]

BONUS DAY!!! Those are the best. Don't sweat, just go away from crowds and you'll hit some sweet spots. Keep expectations low and spirits high. A busy day at MK is better than a calm day anywhere else.