MK Day: Which would be more efficient?

[Laura's Dad]

We are going to WDW in September and were fortunate enough to secure an pre-park reservation at Crystal Palace for 8:05 with a park opening time of 9. My wife is happy because we get to take pictures before hand on a nearly deserted Main Street. After breakfast, we plan on getting as much done as possible. I have considered two strategies and would like input on your opinion on which would be the best and most efficient:

We plan on paying our tab early (we are on the Dining Plan) and being ready for one of the other at 9. Here are my two options:

Option 1
1. Ride Peter Pan
2. Ride Pooh
3. Ride SDMT with FP
4. Ride Splash
5. Ride Pirates
6. Ride Jungle Cruise with FP
7. See Hall of Presidents (Daughter's Must Do)
8. Ride Haunted Mansion with FP
9. Get FP for Space Mountain
10. Eat Lunch @ Columbia Harbor House or Plaza
11. Continue with rest of day

Option 2
1. Ride Splash
2. Ride Pirates
3. Ride Jungle Cruise w/FP
4. See Hall of Presidents
5. Ride Peter Pan with FP
6. See Mickey's Philharmagic
7. Ride SDMT with FP
8. Get FP for Space or Haunted Mansion
9. Eat Lunch
10. Ride FP, get FP for the other
11. Continue on with rest of the day

We will be staying that evening for MNSSHP but DD really wants to get as much done at MK as possible. Any opinions or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Stepman]

I like Option 1 better. Can you replace the Jungle Cruise Fast pass to ride Splash with it? You are starting off strong with Pan, Pooh, and MT. Splash might be a lil crowded then, i was thinking after mine train, go right to Jungle Cruise, ride Pirates, and then FP Splash.

 

[jcdeberry]

I like option 2 better. However, I think I would fp splash and save it for later when it's pretty hot. We were there a couple of weeks ago at rope drop and rode POC first then jungle cruise. We were amazed at how long the wait was for jungle cruise at 9:30am (20 minutes) and slow loading!! I would recommend doing it first, then POC with a fp for splash later in the day. Definitely get fp for splash, PP, and 7DMT. You can probably get 4th fp for haunted mansion. I also would see hall of presidents later and not waste good morning touring on something easy to get into.

 

[ALittleWhistle]

I think there are pros and cons to both. I would do Hall of Presidents in the heat of the day; it's long, air-conditioned, and a great chance to rest. I don't know when you're going in September, but when we've been in August/September during less crowded times, we've never needed a FP for Haunted Mansion. I always get one, but the wait seems to always be 20 minutes or less when we go. I would try to get a FP for Splash.

 

[ShannonMB]

We do your option 2. Only difference being, if it's your third ride, you won't need/want to waste your FP on the Jungle Cruise yet. IMHO, if you do Splash, then Jungle Cruise, then Pirates, you will have very minimal waits for any of them. On our Feb trip (probably similar crowds), we started with BTMRR, Splash, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, had a 10:30am lunch at Columbia Harbor House, rode HM and Small World all before our first FP with minimal waits. Used our first FP for 7DMT around 1pm. I think you are underestimating how much you are going to be able to get done after your early breakfast before you need to use that first FP!!

 

[Delirium]

On Option 2, I think you're going to have a hard time getting Space Mountain as a 4th FP right before lunch and expect it to be for a time slot immediately after lunch. Most likely, any time Space Mountain is a 4th FP, it will likely be for a time later in the evening, if there are times available at all.

 

[ShannonMB]

On Option 2, I think you're going to have a hard time getting Space Mountain as a 4th FP right before lunch and expect it to be for a time slot immediately after lunch. Most likely, any time Space Mountain is a 4th FP, it will likely be for a time later in the evening, if there are times available at all.

Agreed - use that FP you were going to use on Jungle Cruise for Space Mountain instead! And as another posted said, you won't need one for HM, so you are set.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would go with option 1 mostly because we like to ride Splash in the afternoon or late morning. We have ridden it at RD also so we aren't against it!

I would replace the JC and HM FP to ride Space and Splash instead. This is the order I would go:

Pan
Pooh
SDMT FP
JC
Pirates
Splash FP
See HOP
HM
Eat at CHH
FP Space
Continue rest of the day