Magic Kingdom Strategy - Go left or right?

[Karl66]

We always go straight through and head to Peter Pan first. We get a FP then ride stand by.

 

[Karl66]

I always go right to tomorrowland. I couldn't possibly go left it just wouldn't be right

 

[DisneyDetective]

We go right to Tomorrowland first but don't really know why.

 

[kaligal]

If I only had one morning, I'd criss-cross.

Of course, if I had kids with me who wanted to do all that Fantasyland stuff, I'd go there first. No way in hell I'm standing in line for Peter Pan. Ugh.

 

[MrsDuck]

We always go left to right.

 

[mousemamma]

Sounds like a lot of lefts. I think we'll stick with heading left but I might send my husband right to FP Space Mountain and then meet us in Adventureland.

Someone mentioned that most of Fantasyland is under construction (and BTMR closed). I'm worried with so many things closed the lines will be that much longer everywhere else. They used to love that Goofy roller coaster!

We are going on a morning EMH so we can't get in until 8am (park opens at 7am). I tried to get an early breakfast res in the park but they are all sold out for that day. Is it really terrible to go to a park with EMH? Is it less crowded in the afternoon since they are going so early in the morning? We could go the next day but I thought taking advantage of the long hours that day would be better....they are open until midnight.

Thank you so much for all of you advice! We're going LEFT!

 

[skier_pete]

Doesn't matter - just grab FP every chance you get. Have someone not afraid to go to the other side of the park go to get them. As soon as your eligible for another set, get another set (see bottom of the FP for when you are next eligible). Also, since FP can be used at any point at the initial time, save up your FPs all morning, and wait until after lunch to use them. (And please nobody turn this into a "late FP users are evil" thread!) With an 8 AM opening, if you do it right, you should have 5-6 sets by noon.

Also, note that BTMRR is down for refurb, this will make Splash and Space Mountains extra crowded. Unlike what you might have read, Fantasyland is NOT shut down. they've moved Dumbo and it won't be re-opened yet, but the other 7 rides in FL are all open, so truthfully I would probably go there first. We were there Veteran's Day (an 8 AM open) and knocked out all of Fantasyland, Including Dumbo but skipping Philharmagic for later, by 9:15 AM.

 

[missy120]

We always go left just out of habit. At some point though I cross over and get a fastpass for SM then go back over to the other side.

Now when I went Christmas week I went straight to Fantasyland then got a fastpass for Buzz then went over to Adventure land. I took a walk on the wild side that year

 

[mousemamma]

Me again!

So you have me worried about the EMH crowds. I think we're going to switch our plans and head to Blizzard Beach on Thursday (the MK EMH day) and then head to the MK on Friday (which doesn't have EMH but ironically has longer hours that day until 1am). That way we can be with everyone for the rope drop at 8am!

I love DISBOARDS. You all really get me thinking!

 

[starjazz]

So, we're planning on heading straight in to Fantasyland for our February trip. We have a 5, 4 and 2 yo, so those rides are essential. Wondering, if we grab a PPF FP first thing, how long will it be until return? 60 mins give or take? How many rides during that stretch?

I'm planning on grabbing the FP, heading to Under the Sea, then Dumbo, and maybe Barnstormer before heading back to PPF. We'll grab Winnie FP while there.

Does that sound like a reasonable morning. Maybe toss in a Teacups and Carousel if time allows between those?

If we get that all done by lunch, I'll be happy. Throw in Small World, Raceway and Buzz and we could probably call it a day (we'll have at least 3 at the MK, so no rush to do the other lands that first day).

Thats my initial game plan - of course allowing for potties and breaks and snacks.

 

[Magpie]

In the past we've always gone right, BUT this year we're going straight ahead to Fantasyland. It's the newest, and likely to attract the most crowds, and it's got some of the slowest loading rides in the park (Peter Pan and Pooh) so I think we'd better see that first.

Then probably right to ride the Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder, and Splash.

Honestly, I don't find Space Mountain at all enjoyable any more. If I want a spine readjustment, I can go see my chiropractor and it'll hurt less!

 

[MrsDuck]

We always go left.

 

[cmh314]

NEITHER, Go straight. I would hit what you can in Fantasyland with kids 6 and 8 first, then work your way around left or right. Just my opinion.

This is what I was going to suggest too. I'd head straight to Fantasyland and do everything you want to do there and then either head to Tomorrowland or Frontierland depending on what attractions are higher on your priority list and work your way around to the others.

 

[stindall]

Me again!

So you have me worried about the EMH crowds. I think we're going to switch our plans and head to Blizzard Beach on Thursday (the MK EMH day) and then head to the MK on Friday (which doesn't have EMH but ironically has longer hours that day until 1am). That way we can be with everyone for the rope drop at 8am!

I love DISBOARDS. You all really get me thinking!

I say don't listen to people who say avoid EMH. It's usually greatly over exaggerated. We head left but that's just because I like to do pirates first and that whole area is usually empty/it's easy to get on to rides quickly. I'm not a big advocate of sending people to get fast passes but you may want to send someone or either go as a group to Peter Pan. If you get there early you can grab a fast pass and ride through once most likely with a nominal wait. It seems to be the ride that has the longest wait lines in my experience. Of course the queue is pretty boring too so that doesn't help!

 

[andyman8]

Well, for what it's worth, we usually arrive at MK (staying on the monorail, thus onsite, though) between 11am and noon, and head left wheire we grab FPs for Splash Mountain (we go during the summer), head back to AL to ride PotC and Jungle Cruise. We proceed to ride HM and BTMRR (get FPs if the line is long), and ride Splash Mountain. Afterwards, we head to TL (we have teenagers, so not much to see/do in Fantasyland but we pass through it) and get FPs for Space Mountain, have a small late lunch at Cosmic Ray's, ride Mad Tea Party, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and return to ride Space Mountain. We have some free time between attractions, though. By the end of it all, it's about 6 or 7pm, so we head back to hotel for dinner at a restaurant that offers a view of Wishes (California Grill, 'Ohana, or Narcoossee's).

If we're in the mood for it, we head back out to see MSEP (since it's summer, there's a 11pm parade) and ride Space Mountain again.

ETA: Forgot to mention that, if you have young ones, I'd either go right or straight to Fantasyland as this is where most of the popular attractions are. On the left side of the park, the only two that gain significant waits are BTMRR and Splash, though sometimes JC gets a 40 minute wait or so but I've never seen it in person and we last went over Fourth of July!

 

[CentralFloridian99]

You'd probably wanna go to Fantasyland first. For me, I go wherever way I want (usually Tomorrowland)

 

[SarahKate]

We went yesterday for 8 a.m. opening (not EMH, by the way) and headed straight through the castle and onto Peter Pan since that one always gets backed up. If you're ok with skipping around, you can bypass IASW and come back later since it usually has shorter lines and loads fast. Get over to the new Circus Storybook area and ride Dumbo. We noticed that even with DUAL Dumbos, the waits can get pretty long still!The whole area of Fantasyland was very, very manageable and uncrowded for the first hour or two. We'd then head over to Adventure/Frontier land after that and hit BTMRR and Splash Mtn.

 

[PRenee]

Someone posted Goofy's Roller Coaster might not be up and running due to construction in FantasyLand- is that still correct?
That's my daughters favorite and talks it about it everyday

 

[andyman8]

Someone posted Goofy's Roller Coaster might not be up and running due to construction in FantasyLand- is that still correct?
That's my daughters favorite and talks it about it everyday

Well, that was the case when Mickey's ToonTown closed, but it has since reopened as "The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini." I believe it reopened in March. It has been repainted and re-themed to fit the theme of Storybook Circus.

 

[ttintagel]

I've always started at Space Mountain and worked counter-clockwise from there.