MK opened earlier than scheduled?

[HappyGal]

Twice this week we were at MK enjoying early morning breakfast reservations (park was scheduled to open at 9am) and twice we saw crowds entering the park at 8:40am? I specifically made these reservations so we could finish breakfast at enjoy the parks at 9am. I did NOT plan waiting for our check while watching everyone rush to the most popular attractions. Why the early opening?

 

[CAS239]

Happens all the time. Sometimes they wait exactly until the scheduled time, sometimes since there's so many people already waiting they'll open early. It's not uncommon for a park to be opened 15-30 min early

Park hours changing and the park opening slightly before rope drop time are just why you can't schedule an early breakfast with 100% certainty that you'll beat the crowd

 

[HopperFan]

Common. If they are ready early, they open early.

 

[gtpoohbear]

The last few times I've been to RD at MK, they have always let us in 10-15 minutes early. Unfortunately a PPO ADR is not a guarantee of an empty park until 9am.

 

[horse11]

Wonder if they will do this when they start the Paid Early Morning thing. I can see the people who paid additional money for this being upset.

 

[KathyNY76]

I thought 8:45 was standard procedure at MK. Opening show starts at 8:40, usually done by 8:45 and they start the rope walk up main street immediately after. Everything I've ever read says this is the case. The only difference being if there are technical difficulties that have the show starting later.

 

[gtpoohbear]

Wonder if they will do this when they start the Paid Early Morning thing. I can see the people who paid additional money for this being upset.

For the sake of those who pay for this (which won't be me, lol) I hope they at least rope off FL until 9am. It will be interesting to see how they handle that, though.

 

[horse11]

For the sake of those who pay for this (which won't be me, lol) I hope they at least rope off FL until 9am. It will be interesting to see how they handle that, though.

Yeah it will not be me either but I am just as curious.

 

[bbjunkie]

For the sake of those who pay for this (which won't be me, lol) I hope they at least rope off FL until 9am. It will be interesting to see how they handle that, though.

I don't think it will be hard for them to handle at all. If you have an EMM ticket, you go through the FP line of the three rides and show your sticker or wristband to ride. If you don't have them, you wait standby until 9:00 when the ride opens up for others.

 

[MainMom]

Twice this week we were at MK enjoying early morning breakfast reservations (park was scheduled to open at 9am) and twice we saw crowds entering the park at 8:40am? I specifically made these reservations so we could finish breakfast at enjoy the parks at 9am. I did NOT plan waiting for our check while watching everyone rush to the most popular attractions. Why the early opening?

We got in early at every park in July.

 

[gtpoohbear]

Yeah it will not be me either but I am just as curious.

I don't think it will be hard for them to handle at all. If you have an EMM ticket, you go through the FP line of the three rides and show your sticker or wristband to ride. If you don't have them, you wait standby until 9:00 when the ride opens up for others.

I was curious if the EMM description gave any clues. From the WDW website...

• Around 9:00 AM, the theme park will open to Guests with regular Magic Kingdom admission tickets and event-only attraction access will end.

"Around 9:00" sounds like they may not plan to control access if RD happens early, but have given themselves some wiggle room in the timing. It also mentions elsewhere that you will be among the "first" to experience the 3 attractions, but nowhere does it promise exclusive access for the whole hour.

I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[MermaidMommy]

I don't think it will be hard for them to handle at all. If you have an EMM ticket, you go through the FP line of the three rides and show your sticker or wristband to ride. If you don't have them, you wait standby until 9:00 when the ride opens up for others.

But, the park doesn't open at 9:00. For a while now, the Welcome Show has been at 8:40 daily, with rope drop immediately after. So, people are at the rides well before 9:00. They'll have to make some change to the current opening procedure to give the people paying for early morning exclusive access until 9:00.

 

[maryj11]

For the sake of those who pay for this (which won't be me, lol) I hope they at least rope off FL until 9am. It will be interesting to see how they handle that, though.

It say those who pay for the event will get a sticker.

 

[AngiTN]

Twice this week we were at MK enjoying early morning breakfast reservations (park was scheduled to open at 9am) and twice we saw crowds entering the park at 8:40am? I specifically made these reservations so we could finish breakfast at enjoy the parks at 9am. I did NOT plan waiting for our check while watching everyone rush to the most popular attractions. Why the early opening?

Sorry you were caught unawares but as you've read now, this is normal. And it's normal at every park.

 

[Alesia]

Sorry you were caught unawares but as you've read now, this is normal. And it's normal at every park.

And it has been for years.

 

[Nancyg56]

But, the park doesn't open at 9:00. For a while now, the Welcome Show has been at 8:40 daily, with rope drop immediately after. So, people are at the rides well before 9:00. They'll have to make some change to the current opening procedure to give the people paying for early morning exclusive access until 9:00.

No one is promised exclusive access to the park when they purchase EMM tickets. The restaurants are open for PPO meals, so those folks alone fill Main Street. I think that the early access to the Mine Train will be over from now on, so those folks who plan PPO breakfast will be sent to the SB line, but they will still be in the park.

 

[tinkerbella16]

This is normal. I did rope drop at MK 4 times in November (non EMH days), and each time we were let in as soon as the welcome show was over at 8:45am. Same thing with my 2014 trip.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think there is no chance they will continue to let people in early on days they offer the special event. Even if they offered FP access after rope drop, they would still end up with ticked off guests. I know if I paid $70/head to be there, knowing people would be let in after 9, and they showed up at 8:45 instead, I would be unhappy with that. Part of the value is not having to fight your way through a sea of bodies, even if you get FP access. And once they start putting people into the standby line, what are they going to do, make them stand there and wait until 9? No. So even if you are FP, you are "sharing" ride access with standby at that point.

 

[AngiTN]

I think there is no chance they will continue to let people in early on days they offer the special event. Even if they offered FP access after rope drop, they would still end up with ticked off guests. I know if I paid $70/head to be there, knowing people would be let in after 9, and they showed up at 8:45 instead, I would be unhappy with that. Part of the value is not having to fight your way through a sea of bodies, even if you get FP access. And once they start putting people into the standby line, what are they going to do, make them stand there and wait until 9? No. So even if you are FP, you are "sharing" ride access with standby at that point.

But they don't guarantee no one else riding till 9:00. They guarantee till about 9:00. If they let guests in at 8:45 and they make their way to the queue at 8:50 that's about 9:00.

 

[mom2rtk]

But they don't guarantee no one else riding till 9:00. They guarantee till about 9:00. If they let guests in at 8:45 and they make their way to the queue at 8:50 that's about 9:00.

Agreed. But because it says "about" doesn't mean those event guests won't complain.

Would you be happy with only 50 minutes of exclusive time? I know I wouldn't.