MK park opening question?

[Boardwalk III]

Hi all,

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to MK at park opening. Will be arriving for a week this Friday and will be heading to MK on Saturday morning. I know they no longer have the train arrival (sad ) and that the opening show has moved to the castle. What time should we plan to board MK bus at Boardwalk to arrive in plenty of time to get through gates and security etc for any opening events (park opens at 9:00)?

Thanks!

 

[Karl66]

We always plan to be at the bus stop one hour prior to park opening.

 

[ChristineOH]

Plan for an hour, though when we were at POR last June, we went to MK four times. Looking at my notes, it was 31-35 minutes from arriving at the bus stop to walking into MK each time. Like one morning we arrived at the bus stop at 8:13 and walked into MK at 8:47.

For us, arriving to the hub at about 8:50 is the sweet spot for a 9:00 opening. Just five minutes till the show starts and off you go. (We don't rope drop 7DMT.)

 

[Boardwalk III]

Great - and can anyone tell me what the opening procedure/show is like? And what time they let people through gates?

 

[Robo]

Great - and can anyone tell me what the opening procedure/show is like? And what time they let people through gates?

9:00AM Reg. Hours Open Time:
Gates opened (and Main St. opened) at 8:00AM
MK Welcome Show (on stage in front of Castle) at 8:55AM
Rope Drops/All Rides Open at 9:00AM.

9:00AM Reg. Hours Open Time with 8:00 AM EMH:
Gates opened (and Main St. opened) at 7:55AM
WDW Resort Guests can enter and ride attractions Tomorrowland and Fantasyland at 8:00AM
NON-WDW Resort Guests arriving at MK parking/TTC will likely be held there until closer to 8:30.
NON-WDW Resort Guests are held on Main St. and Hub until 9:00AM
MK Welcome Show (on stage in front of Castle) at 8:55AM
Rope Drops/All Rides Open at 9:00AM.

8:00AM Reg. Hours Open Time
Gates opened (and Main St. opened) at 7:50AM
MK Welcome Show (on stage in front of Castle) at 7:55AM
Rope Drops/All Rides Open at 8:00AM.

8:00AM Reg. Hours Open Time with 7:00 AM EMH:
Gates opened (and Main St. opened) at 6:55AM
WDW Resort Guests can enter and ride attractions Tomorrowland and Fantasyland at 7:00AM
NON-WDW Resort Guests arriving at MK parking/TTC will likely be held there until closer to 7:30.
NON-WDW Resort Guests are held on Main St. and Hub until 8:00AM
MK Welcome Show (on stage in front of Castle) at 7:55AM
Rope Drops/All Rides Open at 8:00AM.

 

[CMNJ]

They start letting people in the gates approximately 8 am for a 9 am park open. The show is at 8:55 and is obviously short. It’s nothing spectacular but a cute way to start the day and kids really like it. The best part is having a relaxing time strolling down Main Street and taking it all in rather than making a bee line to your first ride.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Wow - didn’t realize gates open that early. That’s awesome!

 

[CMNJ]

8:00AM Reg. Hours Open Time with 7:00 AM EMH:
Gates opened (and Main St. opened) at 6:55AM
WDW Resort Guests can enter and ride attractions Tomorrowland and Fantasyland at 7:00AM
NON-WDW Resort Guests are held on Main St. and Hub until 8:00AM
MK Welcome Show (on stage in front of Castle) at 6:55AM
Rope Drops/All Rides Open at 8:00AM.

Is The welcome show really at 6:55 or did you mean to say 7:55? I didn’t think they started letting guests in until 6:55 so they would miss the show?

 

[Robo]

Is The welcome show really at 6:55 or did you mean to say 7:55? I didn’t think they started letting guests in until 6:55 so they would miss the show?

Thanks for catching that.
I fixed it in the earlier post.

8:00AM Reg. Hours Open Time with 7:00 AM EMH:
Gates opened (and Main St. opened) at 6:55AM
WDW Resort Guests can enter and ride attractions Tomorrowland and Fantasyland at 7:00AM
NON-WDW Resort Guests are held on Main St. and Hub until 8:00AM
MK Welcome Show (on stage in front of Castle) at 7:55AM
Rope Drops/All Rides Open at 8:00AM.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Are the stores open in the hour pre-opening? And Starbucks etc?

 

[Robo]

Are the stores open in the hour pre-opening? And Starbucks etc?

Starbucks, yes.
Emporium, maybe.
Others may gradually open as the hour goes by.

 

[meagarunt22]

If you are planning to get there that early because you want to be hauling booty to 7 dwarfs, then I just want you to be aware that due to where the rope is for that particular area, you won't be able to see the stage for the show. If right up front isn't important to to you then you will be golden.

 

[Boardwalk III]

If you are planning to get there that early because you want to be hauling booty to 7 dwarfs, then I just want you to be aware that due to where the rope is for that particular area, you won't be able to see the stage for the show. If right up front isn't important to to you then you will be golden.

Thanks - great tip. Fortunately we already have FPs for 7DMT that day. But as we are traveling with our two boys (in their 20’s) and their girlfriends the Fantasyland rides didn’t make the FP “cut” so I’m going to go over early and hit those even if they choose not to!

 

[Boardwalk III]

Starbucks, yes.
Emporium, maybe.
Others may gradually open as the hour goes by.

Tks!