Maelstrom or Soarin'?

[DrHfuhruhurr]

Heh, I know, weird question. But, I'm legitimately trying to prioritize between the two. We are going to be at Epcot on June 7, a Saturday, and I expect it to be pretty busy (8-9 crowd level?).

We have 8:15am reservations at Akershus for breakfast, and the question is what we do after we leave the restaurant (which I hope to be no later than 9am). We have a FP+ for Test Track later in the afternoon, with the plan that we would just ride Soarin' right at rope drop and avoid a big line. Now that we're doing breakfast, though, I wonder if it would be foolish to ride Maelstrom and then head over to Soarin'.

I assume that would put us at Soarin' around... 10am, at the outside? Does anyone have experience with how long the Soarin' line is after the park has been open for about an hour? If it were up to me, we head straight there after breakfast, but my wife and kids think its crazy not to ride Maelstrom without a wait, as long as we're already in Norway.

I've read a few comments on Disboards that Maelstrom never really has a significant wait, but I swear I've been in the past with a line 40-60 minutes long. I like Maelstrom well enough, but if I can avoid waiting more than 15 minutes to do it, that sounds like a good idea.

Thanks for any input!

 

[DrHfuhruhurr]

Of course, I could also be way off thinking that we could get out of Akershus by 9:00 or shortly after. 45 minutes seems like plenty of time to eat breakfast and meet a couple princesses. But maybe not?

 

[TNDisneyNut]

In June, I would do Soarin at RD no doubt.

 

[Tex]

I don't think Maelstrom opens until 11am because it is in the world showcase area.

 

[cleophus12]

Would maelstrom even be open at 9 since world showcase isn't actually open yet? If that's a sung question I'm sorry. But soarin gets my vote here hands down.

 

[TNDisneyNut]

I don't think Maelstrom opens until 11am because it is in the world showcase area.

That's right! I totally forgot!

 

[DrHfuhruhurr]

Well, there you go! Problem solved.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Since Maelstrom doesn't open until 11am when WS opens, I wouldn't worry too much about it. After your breakfast, head straight over to Soarin to ride SB and then head over to TT with your FP.

 

[MSSANDRA]

You will likely not be done by 9:00. Chances are it will be around 8:30 when you are seated and ready to eat. Character rotations take about an hour. I really hate to rush such an expensive meal. It tends to take us about 1 1/2 hour to eat and then you have a short walk back to soaring. Lines will have started to build by this time. Sorry, but you might want to do a FP for Soaring. We have never gotten lucky with that line.

 

[ivanaernmore]

Hi, we did Askerhus on 5/2 for 9:15. They let us in a little early and we were there about an hour. Yes, Maelstrom not open yet but don't waste FP on it. Definitely prioritize Soarin (we did). On 5/2 it was pouring and entire Disney fastpass system crashed, Other tier 1 rides like test track closed. So, Maelstrom was one of few indoor ride options left - and even riding it that day without fastpass, we had "only" 1/2 hour wait, which was NOT bad. Soarin was well over an hour, as was nemo, turtle talk, etc., and all the other "indoor" ride options on that rainy day.

 

[GetAPaperBag]

I think I'd rather wait in the Soarin' queue than the Maelstrom queue, if I had to pick.

 

[Cinderella1122]

I think I'd rather wait in the Soarin' queue than the Maelstrom queue, if I had to pick.

Agreed at least the Soarin' queue has the interactive games. The Maelstrom queue is hot and boring.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

You will likely not be done by 9:00. Chances are it will be around 8:30 when you are seated and ready to eat. Character rotations take about an hour. I really hate to rush such an expensive meal. It tends to take us about 1 1/2 hour to eat and then you have a short walk back to soaring. Lines will have started to build by this time. Sorry, but you might want to do a FP for Soaring. We have never gotten lucky with that line.

Unless you can drag your kids out early, (which I have done at Crystal Palace) I would plan an hour and a half. All characters go to all tables so it takes awhile. They really can't rush it because they stagger the seating, meaning the first Character sees the first table 8 AM table at 8:15, then moves in a circular pattern, so they are probably back at the first table in over an hour hitting the 9AM or 9:15 seating, if that makes any sense.

I would look at getting a 9 AM FP for Soarin, then something second tier at 10 AM (we liked TT with Crush, hadn't seen it in years and there isn't much choice. Then walk over to the 11 Am opening at Maelstrom. Depending on crowd level, the wait should be around 30 minutes.

 

[GM24]

Agreed at least the Soarin' queue has the interactive games. The Maelstrom queue is hot and boring.

What interactive games are there in the Soarin' queue?