Magic Kingdom Commando Plan...Need Help

[DisneyBound2007]

I have a trip lined up for early Sept. '07. I havent been in 10 years so many things have changed and I do not remember much of the exact layout of the parks (only what I can research from maps and google earth) I am going with DGF (who has been before but never for a commando style trip) I'm really going to have to try and keep her having fun and interested to take away from the fact that we will be moving rather quickly through the park. I want to try and get to see everything. The length of our stay should give us that opportunity so I would like to attempt it. So i know it is a little ways out but I figure I may as well start collecting some key tips and touring info now. What better place to start than the MK.
What would you say should be my plan of attack if I am entering MK at rope drop or as near to it as we can. (Where to go, what order of rides to hit, which routes to take around the park) Any tips, tricks, or any other important info you think I should make note of would be a great help. Feel free to PM as well if you feel you have a tip that you might only wanna divulge to a chosen few Thanks again in advance.

Just wanted to add that we would be more focused on the thrill rides to start off as well as making sure to hit the 3D stuff and then get all the small stuff in.

 

[Robo]

Based on your posted preferences:

Space
Buzz
Splash
BTM
PotC

HM
Philharmagic 3D

Fantasyland rides will be packed by that time of day.
Rest of the attractions are up to your preference.

This plan is guranteed to work...
unless others are on the same path.

Then you're in trouble.

There are on-line services that will tell you exactly the order to follow.
If you'd like to try their "secret plans", pay 'em and see.




.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I would suggest using Tour Guide Mike (banner link at the top of page to get DIS discount, should be less than 20 bucks). TGM is great, he'll give you what you need. Good luck, enjoy.

 

[kaytieeldr]

JMO, but if you're REALLY intent on seeing/doing it all, you might want to consider the Unofficial Guide Challenge. I don't have my book handy, but it's something to the effect that, while they do charge for their touring plans, if you're willing to do the "everything" version, they'll give it to you free. Is Len still around? If so - am I remembering this correctly?

 

[Walter C]

Here's my tip...

As soon as you get into the park, ride the Railroad to Frontierland. Then you can hit 3 birds with 1 stone, by riding Splash and Thunder back-to-back. Then the Haunted Mansion after that. The wait should not be more than 5 minutes for each of those rides.

 

[ohpoohmetoo]

Here's my tip...

As soon as you get into the park, ride the Railroad to Frontierland. Then you can hit 3 birds with 1 stone, by riding Splash and Thunder back-to-back. Then the Haunted Mansion after that. The wait should not be more than 5 minutes for each of those rides.

I have done this before and it worked well for my family. Of course my 9 year old insists that Splash is the first ride we do.

 

[DisneyBound2007]

So do u think that makes more sense to get those in while the crowds are still low, as opposed to trying to hit space mt, and buzz. Will I still be able to get to them once the crowds get a little higher. Also will the train ride really beat people who walk straight from the entrance to frontierland, or could we get their faster if we just took off on a fast walk from the entrance.Also, is the train ride free?

 

[Robo]

So do u think that makes more sense to get those in while the crowds are still low, as opposed to trying to hit space mt, and buzz. Will I still be able to get to them once the crowds get a little higher. Also will the train ride really beat people who walk straight from the entrance to frontierland, or could we get their faster if we just took off on a fast walk from the entrance.Also, is the train ride free?

Splash and BTM are generally NOT full in the early mornings, but Space and Buzz fill quickly.
That's why I gave the order I did.

Not every day at WDW will the crowd-patterns play out the same.
Not every on-line service is "right" all the time.
You will not be the only guests trying to do exactly what you described.

Nobody can tell you exactly what WILL happen on the days you are there.

That's why these discussions get convoluted and contradictory.

 

[skier_pete]

I agree with Robo. Here is what I would do if I had one day at MK to hit as much as I could.

1) Space Mountain and Buzz at rope drop inTL.
2) Cross to FrontierLand. FP for Splash and get in line for BTMRR. Then Splash with FP.
3) If you care about Jungle Cruise (some do, some don't) FP this, lines are VERY slow without it.
4) While waiting for JC FP hit PotC and HM. Then JC.
5) Fantasyland, for Mickey's Philharmagic and Small World (optional).

You've now hit all the major Adult attractions at MK(UNLESS you really really want to ride Dumbo, then I would add it before #1) without a ton of backtracking, and your only about 2.5 hours into your day. Now you can relax a little, enjoy the other things you missed, or repeat things you loved. ALWAYS have a FP. Check your time on your FP when you can get the next one, and plan on using it. . One final FP note, even though they give you a one hour window to use it, you can actually use it anytime after the inital time. (IE if it says 10:10 AM to 11:10 AM, you can actually use it 10:10 AM until closing.) So if you get a FP early and the Standby line is short (say 20 minutes or less for a major attraction) then go in the Standby line and use it later.

SkierPete

 

[CoPirate]

Here is my suggestion:

Start out in Fantasyland - do dumbo, peter pan, snow white, and pooh. (working towards Tomorrowland)

Head over to Space Mtn and grab a Fast pass, ride Buzz. Head back over to Tom Sawyer Island for 'rope drop' and grab a paintbrush on the island. If you succeed you'll get a FP for Splash or Thunder mtn. Get off the island.

Head around to Adventureland doing Pirates, jungle cruise, magic carpets and tiki birds. Grab a dole whip and depending on your Fp time for Space, watch the castle forefront show, or head to space and come back and watch it. It should be around 1-2pm. Head to Frontierland and use your Tom Sawyer fast pass (only if needed) on the highest of waits between splash and Thunder. If you are unable to ride both before 2:30 pick the less of the 2 and then line up for the parade in frontierland.

After the parade finish up Frontierland and head to liberty square. Ride Haunted Mansion and Hall of presidents.

You may then leisurely ride philharmagic, small world, TTA, Carosuel of progress and anything else you missed. Grab FP when your in the area for your favorites to be able to ride again.

Use the evening to meet some characters in toon town and then Get yourself a nice spot on main street for spectro, and then have a seat near walt to watch wishes.

I do this... once every 2 months. And it never fails. Good luck!

 

[AngelEyes]

First of all, the time of year you're going, you shouldn't need a hardcore touring plan. This is what we ALWAYS do when we go to MK. Get there as early as possible. When it opens, we go straight to the Haunted Mansion, for 2 reasons. One, it's our favorite ride, and two, it's in the back of the park. We we leave that, we go to BTMR and then Splash Mountain, POTC, Jungle Cruise, cross mainstreet into Tomorrowland, do Buzz and Space Mountain, then up into Fantasyland. Get Fastpasses for Peter Pan, catch Mickey's Philharmagic, then kill some time, if need be, waiting for the FP to come up. Throw lunch in there sometime at Cosmic Ray's. We have gone into Fantasyland before Tomorrowland before, but like I said, the time you're going, it shouldn't matter. We've been there at that time and ridden Space Mountain 4 times in 30 minutes. It takes us longer to exit the ride and get back into it then it does waiting in line for it. Main thing I would do is start in the back of the park with the HM first though, IMHO.

 

[terryfromhawaii]

Also will the train ride really beat people who walk straight from the entrance to frontierland, or could we get their faster if we just took off on a fast walk from the entrance.Also, is the train ride free?

The train ride is free, but I don't think the train is necessarily faster. We just came back from WDW from our trip during Thanksgiving week and we arrived at around 9:50ish and I wanted to head straight to Toontown opening so we skipped getting the stroller and took the train. Well, dh got the stroller and met us at toontown and he got there before us and was waiting awhile. Needless to say, we didn't make the opening and there were long lines for the hall of fame already!

Terry

 

[Eventer98]

We went at the end of Aug/early Sept this year and found hardly any crowds. We used the Unofficial Guide's touring plans (took them with me to park) and got there about 30 min before opening. I think the longest line we had was 40 min in AK b/c we choose to skip fast pass. In MK I don't recall any lines more then 10 min. and we rarely used the FastPass. We also went on days with EMH which I don't think I will do next time around since it will be a busier time of year. You should be fine seeing all that you want to see. We even worked in to TS meals on the MK day without hurrying from ride to ride. Have a great time!

 

[DisneyBound2007]

Here is my suggestion:


Head over to Space Mtn and grab a Fast pass, ride Buzz. Head back over to Tom Sawyer Island for 'rope drop' and grab a paintbrush on the island. If you succeed you'll get a FP for Splash or Thunder mtn. Get off the island.

What is this about going to Tom Sawyer Island for rope drop and trying to grab a paintbrush. I have heard it mentioned before but didnt really know what it was about. Does Tom Sawyer island open a little later than the park, thus the rope drop...and what is the process for finding the brush...sounds like fun...please expand..thanks

 

[Walter C]

I have done this before and it worked well for my family. Of course my 9 year old insists that Splash is the first ride we do.

That is what I would do. Then I would dry off by riding Thunder Mtn.

Also will the train ride really beat people who walk straight from the entrance to frontierland, or could we get their faster if we just took off on a fast walk from the entrance.

Depends on timing and number of people boarding. I rode the train to Frontierland for 3 reasons...

1. To conserve energy which I will need for a full day at the theme park
2. Not familiar with the park layout (which is due to not been there in 12 yrs)
3. It drops off right next to Splash Mt.

 

[Boardwalker]

Follow Walter C's suggestions. It makes perfect sense based on my experience... Those are the best rides to start with as they are some of the longest waits later on, and they are on the left side of the park. People tend to go to the right to Tomorrowland to start. You should be able to time it so that by the time you get to Tomorrowland the initial crowd has thinned out. Once you have done Adventure, Frontier and Tommorow Lands, Do whatever you have the time and patience for in Fantasyland.

 

[Eventer98]

What is this about going to Tom Sawyer Island for rope drop and trying to grab a paintbrush. I have heard it mentioned before but didnt really know what it was about. Does Tom Sawyer island open a little later than the park, thus the rope drop...and what is the process for finding the brush...sounds like fun...please expand..thanks

I don't know that much about the paintbrush thing but have heard about it...I think it is more aimed at kids but I am sure there are adults doing it too. Apparently you have to be there right at rope drop or they are gone pretty quickly. Sorry I couldn't be more help!

 

[scubamouse]

I would suggest using Tour Guide Mike (banner link at the top of page to get DIS discount, should be less than 20 bucks). TGM is great, he'll give you what you need. Good luck, enjoy.

I'll second this. TGM is very focused on hitting your priorities in a focused but non-commando manner. This trip was our first using TGM and DH kept commenting on how much we accomplished and how relaxed we were about accomplishing it.

This past trip, we did rope drop followed by train to frontierland. My kids love the train. Then Splash/BTRR then fantasyland starting w/peterpan and skipping dumbo. Hit everything in fantasyland except IASW and hit Space and Buzz .. all before noon

 

[CoPirate]

What is this about going to Tom Sawyer Island for rope drop and trying to grab a paintbrush. I have heard it mentioned before but didnt really know what it was about. Does Tom Sawyer island open a little later than the park, thus the rope drop...and what is the process for finding the brush...sounds like fun...please expand..thanks

Get to the rope drop of Tom Sawyer Island. its at 10:00am you should be there at 9:50ish. Go over on the raft. When you get on the island have your group spilt up and as soon as they let you off the boat. RUN and search every building and every cave until you find 1 of 3 paintbrushes hidden on the island. They are regular colored handled paintbrushes with white paint 'stuck on them'. Find one. Turn it into a CM on the raft, receive a fast pass for your whole group for thunder or splash

We do this every time we're at MK for opening (about once every 2 months) and we always find one. Its sooooo fun. ANd its a good/different memory to have of a rope drop.

Sometimes it can get cut throat

lol. Good luck!