Hit it at RD. If you are there by 8:50 (ish) you avoid the A&E rush through the castle and will be done with it in enough time to head around the back of Fantasyland to go do Pooh, Peter Pan, IASW, VOTLM and Ariels Grotto all via standby.
Obviously, this all hinges on getting A&E FP+ at some point during your trip.
Not sure how long they been doing it this way but last week when we were there they let groups of 75 - 80 people into the enclosed area where they have crafts and things for the kids to do while waiting to meet Merida. Once you've met her you can continue doing some of the interactive things or leave.
They clear the place out every 1/2 and let the next group in. Hope that helps.
The actually area once you get in is all shaded. The line you wait in probably gives shade to about the first 50-60 people. Again....I would start counting people in line. If there are 75-80 people in front of you, you could end up with an hour wait if they just let in a group. Should be able to tell as they were letting folks in at the top and bottom of each hour when we were there last week.
We are going end of June and plan to hit Merida at RD, then straight to Rapunzel. How long of a wait will Rapunzel b by then? Merida sounds long with the extra crafts, but I want to avoid the A&E crowd at first. Would this strategy work better if I did it during EMH at 8 am RD?
Also, If Rapunzel did look too long mayb we could skip and hope for a 4th FP+ later? Anyone know if those are very easy to get in the afternoon?
We are going end of June and plan to hit Merida at RD, then straight to Rapunzel. How long of a wait will Rapunzel b by then? Merida sounds long with the extra crafts, but I want to avoid the A&E crowd at first. Would this strategy work better if I did it during EMH at 8 am RD?
Also, If Rapunzel did look too long mayb we could skip and hope for a 4th FP+ later? Anyone know if those are very easy to get in the afternoon?
We are going end of June and plan to hit Merida at RD, then straight to Rapunzel. How long of a wait will Rapunzel b by then? Merida sounds long with the extra crafts, but I want to avoid the A&E crowd at first. Would this strategy work better if I did it during EMH at 8 am RD?
No. Merida doesn't meet during EMH - she typically starts at 9:15. When we met her in April, we got to her at RD on a non-EMH morning and waited just the 15 minutes till she opened. Her line did not build immediately, either. By the time the M&G started, there were, maybe, eight-ten groups in line, so you may have a little bit of time to get to her before you have an excessive wait.