Magic Morning at 9am

[haydeecm]

For next week, would there be lighter crowds at a Magic Morning on a weekday at 9am (park opens at 10am) or on a weekend at 7am (park opens at 8am)?
Does the earlier time make up for the fact that it is a heavier-attendance weekend day?

 

[Eeee-va]

We had a Magic Morning at 7 AM on a Sunday in mid-to-late June 2009, when the park was projected to be quite busy. The Magic Morning seemed VERY un-crowded (although in fairness some of that might have been because we were there during what we thought was a very busy time, so just having fewer guests was huge!). We accomplished everything we wanted to during MM. We did everything offered in Fantasyland, including the Matterhorn twice. The only omission there was Snow White, which was closed. By my camera's timestamp, the carousel itself took at least 8 minutes--if we had skipped that, we would have been in even better shape. We did make it to Space Mountain at 7:59 AM.

From the carousel around 7:45 AM:

Of course, someone here said that day wasn't very busy at all, but after the MM was over it felt awful crowded to me!

Anyway, most people who are locals will not be getting Magic Mornings, and I have heard that 70% of guests are locals. Meanwhile, MOST out-of-town visitors (not all) will be visiting the park at least 1-2 weekdays.

If your choices were an 8 AM MM on a weekday or a 7 AM on a weekend, I'd think they'd be pretty similar, or the weekday MM might even be lighter. But most people on vacations like to sleep in, so I think a 9 AM MM very well may be busier than a 7 AM one.

I reckon either will be just fine for crowds, though, so if one fits into your schedule better, go for it. (I agree with the rule to go to the first MM available to you in most cases, unless you have a reason not to. We chose Sunday instead of Saturday because we predicted it would be busier and wanted to get into the park without massive lines. Not sure if it paid off or not but it seemed to work fine.)

Have a great trip!

 

[haydeecm]

Thanks for your input, thats a great picture. I didnt realize MM were such a ghost town.

I guess I have been meaning to justify not having to get up for a 7am opening. If 9am weekday MM is close enough then Id rather not get up too early.

 

[Sara*s_Mommie]

I agree with Eeee-va

Same thing happened on my June trip, but I was there on the Saturday before Father's day. We were on the first Nemo sub ride, walked onto Dumbo, etc. It was great. In September (another Saturday), I had the first seating for Minnie's breakfast and even after eating the crowd was low. I would definitely use it on a longer park day - that way when it's really crowded in the afternoon, you can go back to hotel for a while and not feel like you're missing out too much. You'll be able to get quite a bit done that first hour and even the 2nd hour - just make sure you are at the gate at least 15 minutes before it opens. I was there 30 minutes and were were first in our line (June trip). You don't want to get bogged down at the front gate.

If you make ressies for the breakfast first seating, you get to go in even earlier like around 15 minutes early than MM - there's a gate just for that on the left side and they'll have your name down and give you a button. I've never had to leave a credit card so I suppose you could skip out on the breakfast (but I never do cuz I love it so much). It's pretty neat to walk down main street with very few other people.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Our trips seem to always hit Saturday as our first day (except this year). We have always done the 7am MM when we are still fresh and excited. It has been so light when we go at that time and we usually can run: PPx2, Dumbox2, Alice, Tea cups, Matterhorn, BLY and SM so about 9 rides, as we are getting off the park is opening and the masses are coming in.

We almost always go until about 1pm and then head to the room for a nap and break on those long days but we have done about 17 rides by then so feel great and we usually have about 4 FP ready for when we return.

We talked to CM's about better days for MM and they said the 7am is just so early even on busy days it is not as busy as the 9 am MM. 9 is just not early for people so in general it is much busier.

Even though we could do 9 am EE on Thursday next week we are sticking with Sat. OK 1/2 of our group doesn't arrive until Fri so that is part of the reason.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I would definitely do MM on the 7 AM day. In our experience, not a lot of people like to get up that early!

 

[wvnative]

The fact that most people don't get up that early is the main reason we do the Sat or Sun MM. I'd take the 7 am over the 9 am in a heartbeat. Of course, I do normally get up at 5 am during the week and can't seem to sleep past 7 am anyway. lol

The teenagers would be happy not to do any MM and just sleep in though. lol Sorry. I can't sleep that late and it's too hard to be quiet in a hotel that long.

 

[DLR29]

I do believe that a 7AM MM would be less crowded than a 9AM MM.

HOWEVER, you also have to keep in mind the "tired factor". You will be less inclined to wake up early later in your trip. If your first possible MM is the weekend, then by all means go for it. However, if that 7AM MM is one of your last days make sure you go to bed early the night before because unless you are normally early morning risers, that alarm will seem much more painful on your 3rd or 4th day.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[haydeecm]

Thank you, I will have to convince (and plead) with DH to do the 7am on our first day.

But I still dont understand why I would want to get there a half hour before 7am, is that really necessary?

 

[Kayla's Mom]

But I still dont understand why I would want to get there a half hour before 7am, is that really necessary?

I would get there maybe 10-15 minutes early just to be at the front of the line.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Um yeah, for our 7am MM we have gotten there 25' early and we are out past the flower boxes.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Um yeah, for our 7am MM we have gotten there 25' early and we are out past the flower boxes.

Wow! We went in January and didn't have near that many people.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Wow! We went in January and didn't have near that many people.

It was Mid march and Late April. so we had a little spring break for all of our times.

 

[Eeee-va]

Wow! We went in January and didn't have near that many people.

For the June MM I went to (which was the start of supposedly a super-busy week) they didn't even open the bag check until probably 6:50 AM for a 7 AM MM. We arrived sometime after 6:40 and were the first in line at one of the gates. So I suppose experiences will vary.

If your goal is just to get the busiest Fantasyland rides done, I would think you'll probably manage it even with a 9 AM MM, as you're beating crowds. Though you may have to sacrifice some of the less popular dark rides like Pinocchio and Snow White, and/or Teacups and/or the Carousel (or else do them after park opening). It's probably more efficient to do the 7 AM MM...but you ARE on vacation. So if perhaps missing some of Fantasyland and having higher crowds is worth it to your family, that may be the right decision for you.