Magic Morning Dilemma - Please Help!

[pixarmom]

We have a Magic Morning dilemma on Friday, March 2. We're staying at a beach house rental in Newport and planned to go to DL just for the day on March 2 because they usually don't have MM on Fridays. Well, Disney releases hours today and they have MM on Friday, March 2.

Here's what's important to know about our family of five and our plans: 1) It has to be March 2; 2) We already have our 1-day park hopper tickets; 3) We are very serious about rope drop, FPs, and not waiting in lines - we're WDW vets and we don't miss rope drop or the opening show at MK ever. The last time we went to DL in 2010, we were there so early that they selected our family to open the park; and 4) At this point, our beach house rental is paid in full and non-refundable.

So, given that information, should we just brave it and arrive at 9am after the MM hour or should we pay for a standard room at Paradise Pier and forfeit that last night at the beach house in Newport?

 

[HydroGuy]

We have a Magic Morning dilemma on Friday, March 2. We're staying at a beach house rental in Newport and planned to go to DL just for the day on March 2 because they usually don't have MM on Fridays. Well, Disney releases hours today and they have MM on Friday, March 2.

Here's what's important to know about our family of five and our plans: 1) It has to be March 2; 2) We already have our 1-day park hopper tickets; 3) We are very serious about rope drop, FPs, and not waiting in lines - we're WDW vets and we don't miss rope drop or the opening show at MK ever. The last time we went to DL in 2010, we were there so early that they selected our family to open the park; and 4) At this point, our beach house rental is paid in full and non-refundable.

So, given that information, should we just brave it and arrive at 9am after the MM hour or should we pay for a standard room at Paradise Pier and forfeit that last night at the beach house in Newport?

You are going offseason. The MM on Friday may be an error which will be corrected before March 2. Or it may be because of a special event on Saturday which prompted Disney to move the MM.

In any case the crowds should not be bad that day and understand the only real impact will be Fantasyland. Yes Tomorrowland is open too but those rides have FP or shorter lines anyways.

Bottom line? Brave it. But do show up on time for rope drop and understand you are on equal footing with the MM attendees regarding Adventureland, Frontierland, TT, etc.

 

[sonnyjane]

Because of the "One More Disney Day" event, MM got moved to Friday morning Sorry that it puts a kink in your plans!

That said, it's totally up to you. In my opinion I definitely don't think it's worth it to lose money on my rental AND pay for a room at PPH just for an MM hour, but your family does sound fanatical about being early lol. Is it worth it to you? Have you priced out the PPH room and how much you'd be losing on the rental? I wouldn't do it.

 

[skiingfast]

I wouldn't worry about the MM, just plan to be there at 8:30 and go to Adventureland or Frontierland first.

If you want to get in earlier you could do Breakfast at the Plaza Inn. You can do the same early park opening breakfasts at WDW so you may be familiar with this. You can make an 8:10 reservation for the Minnie and Friend Breakfast at the Plaza Inn, eat quick and join in MM. Sure you don't get in at 8am, but it's something.

 

[helenb]

I've always wondered about those breakfast reservations. What happens if you make the reservation for 8:10, and get into the park, but do MM instead and skip the restaurant? Is there anything to prevent this?

 

[skiingfast]

I've always wondered about those breakfast reservations. What happens if you make the reservation for 8:10, and get into the park, but do MM instead and skip the restaurant? Is there anything to prevent this?

You may be screwing somone else out of the chance at a character breakfast.

WDW has started charging people for missing reservations.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Do you get MM with 1 day park hopper passes? I thought it had to be 3 days or more.

ETA: OP wanted to avoid MM. Sorry misread post.

 

[skiingfast]

Do you get MM with 1 day park hopper passes? I thought it had to be 3 days or more.

Yes 3 day or longer PHs come with a MM credit. If you stay onsite you can enter on MM days with any ticket type after checking in to check out day.

 

[kailuagirl]

That's a tough call. But I agree, I would just get there early and get into the park as soon as you can. You are going to have a wonderful time!!!

 

[gatorfreud]

where did u see park hours?

 

[bumbershoot]

But do show up on time for rope drop and understand you are on equal footing with the MM attendees regarding Adventureland, Frontierland, TT, etc.

YES.

You'll be ahead of the game for all the MM attendees who are stuck in line in Tomorrowland or Fantasyland, and you'll get on Indy or Jungle Cruise or Haunted Mansion or Pooh, etc etc etc, before they even get to the next land.

 

[skiingfast]

where did u see park hours?

They are normally on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On very rare occasions they don't happen or are shifted back or forward a day.

If you look at the official calendar in the link you will see the MM hours to the right of the park hours.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendar/daily/#/default/2012/01/20

 

[gatorfreud]

Yes I see that page but I don't see park hours for March - wondering if that was somewhere different.....

I am going for work and going to try and sneak in some park time!

 

[gatorfreud]

weird... now i see them for march 1-2. that was odd.

thanks!

 

[sonnyjane]

Yes I see that page but I don't see park hours for March - wondering if that was somewhere different.....

I am going for work and going to try and sneak in some park time!

They have only posted the first two days of March.

 

[pixarmom]

Hydroguy, thanks for the advice and I really appreciate the reminder about MM only having an impact on Fantasyland. I hadn't considered that point. I think we may just skip Fantasyland this time. Our youngest just hit 40 inches, so skipping FL won't be as much of a problem. As much as we love Fantasyland, we'll be back again next year. And we'll be at WDW in April (although we - especially our middle son -realizes that FL isn't the same at MK.) Good news is touringplans Lines has DL wait times now, so we can check on wait times without actually walking over there, and maybe hop on Toad or Alice.

Thanks, sonnyjane! I was thinking OMDD may be the reason for the change in schedule. We did price the PP room, and it's only $219. The rental is a set $400 for three nights (love the offseason in Newport!) But we're driving from San Francisco to Monterey to Santa Barbara to Newport. So our boys suggested we skip the Santa Barbara overnight, move Newport up a day and make room for the PP night - that actually saves $$. I like that idea, but my husband does not.

Skiingfast, I think that will be the plan - thanks!! I really like your idea regarding Plaza breakfast - I priced that out and it's getting close to the cost of the room because we have two real adults, two almost-teen "Disney adults" and a child. But it's still a fun way to start the day, and I'm still considering that option - great point.

kailuagirl, thanks so much!

bumbershoot, good strategy. We usually start in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland, so I'll just revise the plan to start elsewhere. Thank you!

And I can't remember - do the FP machines start distributing FPs at 8am during MM or at 9am for regular park opening? If we're on equal footing for FPs, that would make a significant difference, I think.

 

[SunsetsOnTheBeach]

Can you make a Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique reservation for someone instead of the Plaza breakfast? Even for an almost teen, it may be fun. The cheapest hair/makeup package is $44.95, so you would be paying way less than a character breakfast and still getting in for Magic Morning. Also, everyone else would be able to head straight for rides. Just a thought!

 

[pixarmom]

Can you make a Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique reservation for someone instead of the Plaza breakfast? Even for an almost teen, it may be fun. The cheapest hair/makeup package is $44.95, so you would be paying way less than a character breakfast and still getting in for Magic Morning. Also, everyone else would be able to head straight for rides. Just a thought!

SunsetsOnTheBeach - that's another great idea! Actually, we have three boys and they loved the Knight's Package at BBB in MK last year - and that was only $15 each and included shields and swords. I'm going to look into that! So glad I asked about this here - so many helpful suggestions!

 

[HydroGuy]

And I can't remember - do the FP machines start distributing FPs at 8am during MM or at 9am for regular park opening? If we're on equal footing for FPs, that would make a significant difference, I think.

No FPs during MM. So you will be on equal footing with the MM attendees for FPs. But there is a good chance you will not need FPs at all...

 

[pixarmom]

No FPs during MM. So you will be on equal footing with the MM attendees for FPs. But there is a good chance you will not need FPs at all...

Thanks, HydroGuy - this helps! It's a crowd level "7" on touringplans, but it would be nice to not need the FPs.

By the way, I see you're planning a WDW trip next month! We love WDW in February - it's one of our favorite months for WDW. Are you staying on-site?