MK opening Main Street an hour before official opening time?

[thestevied]

So I've just read in the unofficial guide to Disney world that Magic Kingdom has this year begun opening an hour before the advertised opening time allowing guests into Main Street and the central plaza only. Just wondered if anyone has experienced this and what effect it has on the crowds in the park or the entrance area. The book says you can get coffee or breakfast in this hour. I presume the shops would also be open too but can anyone confirm this please?

Also, if guests are entering the park an hour before official opening would the short opening show with the characters arriving on the train and singing and dancing on the train platform still happen?

Many thanks!

 

[FCDub]

The Emporium is open, yes, as is Starbucks. Not sure about other stores.

The train station welcome show has been retired in favor of a welcome show that happens on the castle stage.

 

[thestevied]

The Emporium is open, yes, as is Starbucks. Not sure about other stores.

The train station welcome show has been retired in favor of a welcome show that happens on the castle stage.

I had no idea about that. Thanks!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Note that this is the setup for a standard 9am MK opening. It's not the same for earlier openings, just FYI.

But the new setup for a 9am opening is GREAT. It makes the flow of people into the MK in the morning much more orderly and efficient. It has actually fundamentally changed the way we approach RD and has taken a lot of the stress out of it.

This and bringing the security checks away from the front entrance are really two of the best things to happen at MK - from a crowd and logistics perspective - in years.

 

[thestevied]

Note that this is the setup for a standard 9am MK opening. It's not the same for earlier openings, just FYI.

But the new setup for a 9am opening is GREAT. It makes the flow of people into the MK in the morning much more orderly and efficient. It has actually fundamentally changed the way we approach RD and has taken a lot of the stress out of it.

This and bringing the security checks away from the front entrance are really two of the best things to happen at MK - from a crowd and logistics perspective - in years.

That sounds good. Would you still recommend Getting there anhour before opening in order to get into the parks ahead of official opening?

 

[sharonabe]

That sounds good. Would you still recommend Getting there anhour before opening in order to get into the parks ahead of official opening?

That depends on what your goal is. If you want an early ride on 7DMT, then you want to be there around 8-8:15 so you're toward the front of the pack at the rope leading into Fantasyland. Same might be said for Peter Pan. Any other destination would not require that early of an arrival.

This change is actually a return to how it used to be MANY, MANY years ago and is how the term "rope drop" was coined as there are actual ropes across the entrance to each land off the hub.

Welcome Show at the castle happens at 8:55 for 9:00 opening even if it is an EMH morning.

 

[Dumbo7]

I would opt for getting your coffee before going into the park. Starbucks gets crazy. It's better to secure a better place in line depending what attraction you want to RD. I agree with previous poster this a much better way to enter the magic kingdom.

 

[thestevied]

That depends on what your goal is. If you want an early ride on 7DMT, then you want to be there around 8-8:15 so you're toward the front of the pack at the rope leading into Fantasyland. Same might be said for Peter Pan. Any other destination would not require that early of an arrival.

We're not overly fussed with seven dwarves to be honest, usually we'll start with space mountain and work around the park anti clockwise. We will have fastpasses too, we just like to get as many of the attractions done as we can. Like the idea of being on Main Street for photos ops though, as people are still entering.

 

[wenpop]

What if you have breakfast at 8:00, how early do you need to be there?

 

[dlawallace]

What about early entry mornings? Is the welcome show still at the regular opening time?

 

[Dumbo7]

What about early entry mornings? Is the welcome show still at the regular opening time?

It is at park opening!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

What if you have breakfast at 8:00, how early do you need to be there?

They let you in the front entrance 7:45AMish. I'd generally aim to be out front in the 7:30ish range, if it were me. Procedures can change with no notice, but there is usually a seperate line for PPO ADRs to the left.

 

[j2thomason]

If you are staying offsite, do you still get to hang around Main Street from 8-9 on EMH mornings or so they hold all offsite guests at the tapstiles until around 9ish?