Magic Kingdom Rope Drop Strategy

[cosmicmommy]

We were originally going during Mardi Gras, so we were expecting moderate crowds. We have now had to change our trip to mid-January, following MLK. We will be arriving in Orlando on MLK, but will not be in the parks until the next day. All crowd predictors I have found mark the day following MLK as a 1 crowd-level. So my question is - if we have a PPO ADR at BOG, what is the best Rope Drop strategy, staying in Fantasyland, without criss-crossing all over the place? I am hopeful (though not overly so) that we can get most of Fantasyland done before lunch with the reduced crowds. The week we are going is marked as one of the (if not THE) best week to go for crowds, so hoping this will work to our advantage, even with the earlier closing hours. I know hours aren't posted yet, but it seems that MK usually closes around 9 with EMH or at 11 on Tuesdays/Thursdays in January, which is the days we'll be there. Historically, MK wasn't the AM EMH on those days. Should I go to SDMT, then do Winnie the Pooh, meet the Princesses, PhilHarMagic, Peter Pen... should I go the other way and loop up to Under the Sea/Ariel? Should I skip SDMT as first ride to stay in a logistical plan? Just curious what you would do - staying in Fantasyland.

 

[SillySallySews]

Lots of people book a PPO breakfast just to head to SDMT before the RD crowds get there. I would do SDMT followed by PP because these are the two that will have longer waits almost immediately after the park opens to everyone. I would not worry so much about criss crossing and doing things in logistical order in Fantasyland since everything is fairly close together.

 

[missangelalexis]

I agree with the previous poster. SDMT and Peter Pan first for sure! Then maybe Princesses and Winnie the Pooh after that.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Definitely SDMT then Peter Pan. People with PPO BOG ADRs have been allowed to enter the SDMT line early and get a ride in before the rope drop crowd arrives from the front. Preorder your BOG meals to speed things up a bit.

After you knock those two rides out, Pooh is probably the next longest wait in Fantasyland. But Small World is right across from PP if you don't want to backtrack at all.

Use your FPs for other rides in other lands since you should be able to knock out most of Fantasyland with no trouble.

 

[cosmicmommy]

Definitely SDMT then Peter Pan. People with PPO BOG ADRs have been allowed to enter the SDMT line early and get a ride in before the rope drop crowd arrives from the front. Preorder your BOG meals to speed things up a bit.

After you knock those two rides out, Pooh is probably the next longest wait in Fantasyland. But Small World is right across from PP if you don't want to backtrack at all.

Use your FPs for other rides in other lands since you should be able to knock out most of Fantasyland with no trouble.

Thank you! Which attraction (aside from PhilHarMagic) is going to be decent around 11-1 PM - is Belle too bad? What about Ariel? I have never been in January... and haven't been at all in 19 years...

 

[ELSA711]

Thank you! Which attraction (aside from PhilHarMagic) is going to be decent around 11-1 PM - is Belle too bad? What about Ariel? I have never been in January... and haven't been at all in 19 years...

I would save Philarmagic, Journey Under the Sea, IASW and the Carousel for the 11a-1pm hour

After BOG Breakfast we did:

7DMT
A&E
PP
Pooh

In that order, we were done quick and our first FP+ was for ETWB, and it took forever even with FP+ for that one.

 

[tink9702]

Thank you! Which attraction (aside from PhilHarMagic) is going to be decent around 11-1 PM - is Belle too bad? What about Ariel? I have never been in January... and haven't been at all in 19 years...

I'd do Ariel and It's a Small World from 11-1 and then the Carrousel, Mad Tea Party & Philharmagic later than that if need be.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thank you! Which attraction (aside from PhilHarMagic) is going to be decent around 11-1 PM - is Belle too bad? What about Ariel? I have never been in January... and haven't been at all in 19 years...

I agree with the other posters - Small World, Carousel, Tea Party and Under the Sea should still have low waits. Enchanted Tales with Belle tends to have its highest waits around that time, according to Josh at Easywdw. The other thing about ETWB is that the show is long, so you could do a few rides in the time it takes to wait for and see one show. I would either FP it if you want to see it or try to see it in the afternoon.

January is a great time to go - lower crowds and cooler temps. You will have shorter park hours, but you can get so much more done in that time than you can in longer hours during a busy time.

 

[cosmicmommy]

I agree with the other posters - Small World, Carousel, Tea Party and Under the Sea should still have low waits. Enchanted Tales with Belle tends to have its highest waits around that time, according to Josh at Easywdw. The other thing about ETWB is that the show is long, so you could do a few rides in the time it takes to wait for and see one show. I would either FP it if you want to see it or try to see it in the afternoon.

January is a great time to go - lower crowds and cooler temps. You will have shorter park hours, but you can get so much more done in that time than you can in longer hours during a busy time.

Part of the reason I wasn't TOO upset with my boss for only letting me off then. I will have 3 young kids with me - shorter hours are probably going to be better. I know we will need to see Belle... my middle boy loves to act and will want to be in the show - probably as the Beast, if he likes the Belle. That's a whole nother story there though... so FP Belle, the Princess Hall and Pooh?

 

[missangelalexis]

If you think you'll want to ride SDMT more than once, I would use a FP on that.

Otherwise, the rides you listed are good options. FYI- Princess Fairytale Hall has 2 sides, one side with Rapunzel/Cinderella and the other with Anna/Elsa. Each side requires its own FP. However, you are going in January and Anna & Elsa will most likely not be there anymore (moving to Epcot) and will be replaced by 2 other princesses. Just keep that in mind.

 

[cosmicmommy]

If you think you'll want to ride SDMT more than once, I would use a FP on that.

Otherwise, the rides you listed are good options. FYI- Princess Fairytale Hall has 2 sides, one side with Rapunzel/Cinderella and the other with Anna/Elsa. Each side requires its own FP. However, you are going in January and Anna & Elsa will most likely not be there anymore (moving to Epcot) and will be replaced by 2 other princesses. Just keep that in mind.

We're meeting Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare, so depending on who is meeting there, we may end up skipping it all together. Maybe for Snow White... if she meets there.