MK morning strategy

[Jobelle]

Hi all,
First post here. ..
Our family of four (kids ages 5 and 2) gets to do one day at MK on Saturday Feb 8. Due to other Orlando area commitments that's our only option for a day at the park. It will be a first trip for 3 of us (my husband went a few times as a kid). I've done a lot of research already so don't need general advice, just on one or two specific points.

We are planning to be at the park before the official open. Our priorities are what our girls want to do so we're skipping SM, BTMRR, and the haunted Mansion (and the Ariel ride because Ursula gives my 5 year old nightmares!). We have an early afternoon fastpass for PP and an evening one for 7DMT. Currently have a JC fastpass in the morning but that's switchable depending on what strategy for rope drop that we pick. I'll try to move the late FP to earlier, if possible (mostly worried my kids won't make it until 7pm) but a robust FP strategy for getting 4th and 5th FP isn't a major priority.

I'm trying to work out the best option for starting the day. We're debating between rope dropping Adventureland to get JC and Pirates done early with minimal waits or starting in Fantasyland and trying to knock out a bunch of things like Winnie the Pooh, Princess meet and greets, and enchanted Tales with Belle.

I do have princess obsessed girls so watching the opening show and starting out by walking through the castle might almost be worth the price of admission for my five year old!

As an aside, my two year old seems to think that Mickey will be going on the rides with her all day!

Thanks!

 

[HelsBels16]

As an aside, my two year old seems to think that Mickey will be going on the rides with her all day!

This has made my day! I hope she’s not disappointed!

 

[Krystal659]

Hi all,
First post here. ..
Our family of four (kids ages 5 and 2) gets to do one day at MK on Saturday Feb 8. Due to other Orlando area commitments that's our only option for a day at the park. It will be a first trip for 3 of us (my husband went a few times as a kid). I've done a lot of research already so don't need general advice, just on one or two specific points.

We are planning to be at the park before the official open. Our priorities are what our girls want to do so we're skipping SM, BTMRR, and the haunted Mansion (and the Ariel ride because Ursula gives my 5 year old nightmares!). We have an early afternoon fastpass for PP and an evening one for 7DMT. Currently have a JC fastpass in the morning but that's switchable depending on what strategy for rope drop that we pick. I'll try to move the late FP to earlier, if possible (mostly worried my kids won't make it until 7pm) but a robust FP strategy for getting 4th and 5th FP isn't a major priority.

I'm trying to work out the best option for starting the day. We're debating between rope dropping Adventureland to get JC and Pirates done early with minimal waits or starting in Fantasyland and trying to knock out a bunch of things like Winnie the Pooh, Princess meet and greets, and enchanted Tales with Belle.

I do have princess obsessed girls so watching the opening show and starting out by walking through the castle might almost be worth the price of admission for my five year old!

As an aside, my two year old seems to think that Mickey will be going on the rides with her all day!

Thanks!

I went last year in February, my experience was that many of the rides in Adventureland I was easily able to pick up day of fast passes. However, Fantasyland can be a different story, Peter Pan's line gets LONG very quick. I would go there first at rope drop if it is a priority and you do not have fast passes. Later in the evening I could pick up Winnie the Pooh, but not earlier in the day. I have a son, so I have no experience waiting for Princesses (he was never a fan of the characters other than breakfast at Garden Grill at Epcot).

 

[yorkieteacher]

Although we always start in Adventureland (with grandsons) and get Jungle Cruise, Pirates, and Magic carpets all done within the first 45 minutes without fast passes, if you start in Fantasyland you could get the opening show, walk through the castle Pooh, Princess Greets, Tales with Belle and maybe Dumbo done in an hour and a half. If you forgo the Jungle Cruise FP and do Adventureland at rope drop, you could swap it for Tales with Belle or a Princess greet. Dumbo ,Barnstormer and Small World don't usually have that long of lines . With your princesses, I'd start in Fantasyland just because of the effect!

 

[Jobelle]

I went last year in February, my experience was that many of the rides in Adventureland I was easily able to pick up day of fast passes. However, Fantasyland can be a different story, Peter Pan's line gets LONG very quick. I would go there first at rope drop if it is a priority and you do not have fast passes.

It had been our plan to try for additional FP but then we managed FP for PP and mine train (but later in the day). Even though this likely means we forego additional day of FP later in the day I think it's worth the trade off to relax our morning a bit.

How quickly do the lines for princess meets fill up - can we leave those meet and greets for our third or fourth attraction or should we prioritize that first thing?

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm trying to work out the best option for starting the day. We're debating between rope dropping Adventureland to get JC and Pirates done early with minimal waits or starting in Fantasyland and trying to knock out a bunch of things like Winnie the Pooh, Princess meet and greets, and enchanted Tales with Belle.

I do have princess obsessed girls so watching the opening show and starting out by walking through the castle might almost be worth the price of admission for my five year old!

Either one would be good, but for different reasons. In the past, starting in Adventureland has worked really well for us, but we have one DS, not two princess-obsessed DDs! - I think in your case, I agree with starting in Fantasyland for the effect.

The only thing that would change my mind is it would be very hard to get your girls out of Fantasyland once they were there. (I could see them not even realizing the rest of the park existed. )

 

[Jobelle]

The only thing that would change my mind is it would be very hard to get your girls out of Fantasyland once they were there. (I could see them not even realizing the rest of the park existed. )

Hadn't thought of that!

They have watched a ride through video of POTC on YouTube so they at least know about that one and are looking forward to it!

 

[yorkieteacher]

The princess meets and Pooh can average 30 minute waits even in the mornings- and there are two separate princess greets in Fairytale Hall.

 

[Isabelle12345]

I ageee that starting with fantasyland would be a great idea
I would consider doing a PPO at BOG to ride SDMT first thing and try to move PP earlier day of to do the rolling fastpass strategy for fantasyland
It is amazing to get a fastpass while in line that is valid for when you get out of the ride! You could essentially do all the Fantasyland attractions with FP
But of course that requires a lot more phone time which is probably not what you are looking for!
So I guess if you don’t do SDMT with PPO BOG, I would head straight to Princess meet and greet (do their favorite one then switch to the next), then meet Ariel, then a few short rides in fantasyland (like dumbo, barnstormer, carousel, etc) but keep it’s a small world and enchanted tales for later since they can take up more than 20 min time during precious first hours of park touring...
Let us know how it goes!

 

[Mango7100]

I would do the Princess Hall first since it can get longer waits...I agree that Enchanted Tales can take 20-30 min so save it for a bit later

 

[Jobelle]

I would do the Princess Hall first since it can get longer waits...I agree that Enchanted Tales can take 20-30 min so save it for a bit later

Thanks! All this is helpful. We have a late lunch ADR at BOG and will likely choose to skip the parade so we don't feel rushed. We mightt try to do enchanted tales during the parade and hope for a lower wait time then.

 

[NashvilleMama]

This is not advice for the park, but just wanted to throw in here that my girls are now 9 and 11 and planning this spring's trip with them being 100% OVER everything princess related is kind of a sad/weird moment....I'm a little jealous of you getting to experience with those little girls because it is downright magical at that age. Take it all in and don't rush through anything at all and just watch their eyes almost explode out of their heads at each turn. I ditto the above that you could spend the entire day in Fantasyland and they'll believe they're in heaven.