MK Rope Drop Question:

[WDWRook]

Going in May. Attending MK on an AM EMH day on day one and planning to Rope Drop. We have FP+ on day one for BTMR, Splash, and Jungle Cruise, and for day two for E&A, Space Mt, 7DMT, and Enchanted Tails (2 for E&A and 2 for SpMt). AM EMH most of Adventureland and Frontierland appears closed. Our plan was to rope drop Peter Pan, then hit Winnie the Poo, then line up for Haunted Mansion one regular hours kick in (maybe hit small world or something else if we have time to kill).

My main question is, I assume Pan will not be crazy like E&A, 7DMT and SpMt. Is that true? Would we be fine to watch the full Rope Drop show, and leisure our way in, maybe even stopping to see Mickey?

My next question is, we have a FP+ for Enchanted Tails and the though was after our last FP+ we could get a fourth for Buzz. But, I wonder if I should flip Buzz to a regular FP+ and get a fourth for Enchanted Tail; which is more likely to be available?

Here is my current version of our touring plan.

Tuesday - MK - AM EMH

7:30 - 9:00 --- Rope Drop for Pan, Poo, 7DMT (if short linie) Small world, other nearby attractions that are open (maybe Meet Mickey first)

9:00 - 10:00 --- hit Haunted Mansion line as soon as it opens, then right to Pirates.

10:00 - 11:00 --- BTMR FP+

11:00 - 12:00 --- Lunch and breaktime (tortuga / golden oak fries / Peco Bills / Sleepy Hollow waffle)

12:30 - 1:30 --- Splash Mt FP+

3:00 - 3:30 --- Fantasy Parade (somewhere in Adventure Land)

3:35 - 4:35 --- Jungle Cruise FP+ (get fourth FP+ for 7-9)

5:40 - 7:00 --- PRT Dinner Res

9:00 --- MSEP

10:00 --- Wish from front view

Wednesday - MK - PM EMH

8:45 - 10:30 ish --- Ohana Breakfast

11:00 Arrive at MK

11:40 - 12:20 --- A&E FP+ (for DD and DW overlapping times)
11:30 - 12:30 --- Space Mt FP+ (for Me and DS)

12:00 - 12:50 --- Little Mermaid

12:50 - 1:10 --- Enchanted Tales with Belle FP+

1:10 - 2:00 --- Lunch (Pinochio House / Gastons / Prince Erics / Cosmic Rays)

2:20 - 3:20 --- 7DMT FP+ (get 4th FP+ for Buzz for 3:30 or after, then Speedway)

3:00 - 3:30 --- Fantasy Parade (if we want to see it again, from Fantasyland)

3:30 - 6:45 --- Buzz, Speedway, Astro, Laugh, Stitch)

7:10 - 8:30 ish --- BOG Dinner Res

9:00 --- MSEP (maybe)

10:00 --- Wish from near 7DMT / BOG area.

10:30 - 12:00 ish --- 7DMT (be in line or near line at end of Wishes), carousel, Ariel, etc.

 

[Robo]

1. My main question is, I assume Pan will not be crazy like E&A, 7DMT and SpMt. Is that true? Would we be fine to watch the full Rope Drop show, and leisure our way in, maybe even stopping to see Mickey?

2. My next question is, we have a FP+ for Enchanted Tails and the though was after our last FP+ we could get a fourth for Buzz. But, I wonder if I should flip Buzz to a regular FP+ and get a fourth for Enchanted Tail; which is more likely to be available?

1. Pan will by busy.
You have no choice but to watch the full rope drop show.
Guests are not admitted until it's concluded.

2. I vote it's a toss-up.

 

[WDWRook]

Yeah I get that they don't open, but many post and websites suggest methods to line up to get in quicker to be ahead of the crowd, but it compromises your viewing of the rope drop show.

 

[KathyNY76]

On a Jan CL 3 day we RD regular hours and did PP, Pooh, Barnstormer x2, met Merida and were getting our picture taken on 7DMT (w/FP) before 9:30. We then walked on HM and were on Splash around 10. So you'll have a higher crowd, but early EMH which would likely mean not such a crazy crowd at 7:30.

I still wouldn't stop at Mickey - not even sure he's meeting during EMH? And I wouldn't do anything before 7DMT. Head there first, then PP, then Pooh. I bet you'll be done with those by 8/ 8:15 at the latest. Then you could do Barnstormer, Dumbo and Little Mermaid and maybe even iasw before you got to HM.

Re: 4th FP - I'd stick with your plan. Again, when we were there (on a lower CL) there was little availability for Belle, but tons for Buzz.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

We (hubby and I) were at MK in late January on a "low crowd" day (not an EMH day). When we do rope drop we are right at the front of the line, by the CM's. You could only catch a glimpse of the opening show out of the corner of your eye, but that is fine, we prefer to be at the front. We then followed the crowd and went straight to 7DMT and rode it, no wait at all. We then walked across to ride Winnie the Pooh, then went right over to Peter Pan after a very quick bathroom stop. By the time we got in line for PP, the posted wait time was already 40 minutes, and it turned out to be correct. I am not a big fan of the new line at PP, the line winds slowly through various rooms in the house and I found most of it to be claustrophobic and it seemed endless.

What I'm saying is that the line for PP forms quickly! If you want to ride it and don't have a FP as you do with 7DMT, I would go there first.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I assume Pan will not be crazy like E&A, 7DMT and SpMt. Is that true?

Yes, that is true. The standby wait time and rush to Pan at 8:55 am will be much less busy than Mine Train and A&E.

Would we be fine to watch the full Rope Drop show, and leisure our way in, maybe even stopping to see Mickey?

Yes. Obviously stopping would add some to your wait. Pan is a very popular 2nd attraction for alot of people in Fantasyland so the longer you wait, the longer you will wait. Making it the first attraction of your day will offer much better results.

I wonder if I should flip Buzz to a regular FP+ and get a fourth for Enchanted Tail; which is more likely to be available?

Shouldn't really matter.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

There is a reason my family always hits PP first! You have time to be further back in the crowd at RD in order to view the show, but not time enough to see Mickey if you want a short wait for PP.

Pooh is what we ride next, but Haunted Mansion can usually be pushed back a bit. The line doesn't build as fast in the morning. Hit other rides in Fantasyland first, then trek over to HM. There is really no need for a fp for any fantasyland attraction (except mine train) if you hit all of them first thing in the morning. Little Mermaid will usually be a walk on after Pooh, and that's what I'd do next if it were me.

 

[BrianL]

Yeah I get that they don't open, but many post and websites suggest methods to line up to get in quicker to be ahead of the crowd, but it compromises your viewing of the rope drop show.

You'll be fine watching the show from a good vantage point instead of crowding the tunnels. I never do that and can ride Peter Pan with pretty little wait. Just make sure to be there early enough to be inside the tap-points and ready to move after the countdown. I wouldn't stop at Mickey though.

 

[WDWRook]

Thanks for the feedback. Always very helpful. So glad we got FP+ for A&E and 7DMT.

 

[WDWRook]

Do you think I could squeeze: Watch Rope Drop, Picture of family near castle, Peter Pan, Poo, Belle; all in the first hour? On an AM EMH day? And be done in time to jump right to Haunted Mansion once it opens at 9:00 (or before a line develops)? If so, I might flip Belle to Rope Drop time and FP+ Buzz later.

 

[snayak]

Do you think I could squeeze: Watch Rope Drop, Picture of family near castle, Peter Pan, Poo, Belle; all in the first hour? On an AM EMH day? And be done in time to jump right to Haunted Mansion once it opens at 9:00 (or before a line develops)? If so, I might flip Belle to Rope Drop time and FP+ Buzz later.

Maybe - but I think it'd work better if you take the castle picture last. I'd do this - Peter Pan, Pooh (did you mean another poo?), Belle, Castle Picture.

If you try and take the castle picture first and stop on main street you risk being trampled by the throngs of people racing back to Fantasyland (only somewhat kidding) - but I'd imagine lines building immediately for Peter Pan.

I'm not sure I'd use a FP+ for Belle (though, I don't know historic wait times off the top of my head)...its essentially a 20 minute show. So, if you miss a show start, whether you have a FP+ or not, you're going to wait about 20 minutes or whatever, so I'm not sure I'd use a morning FP+ there. You could go there right at RD, but you'd be spending 20-30m so lines at PP may have built up.

Maybe you could swap Pooh & Belle but this is why I'd use a custom TouringPlan just to model what would happen if I switched the order of attractions.

 

[WDWRook]

What is a custom TouringPlan?

We can definitely do Pan then Belle, then Pooh rolleyes. Whatever is most efficient, but without being too crazy. The rest of day one should not be too crazy though. Our FP+ for day one are BTMR, Splash, Jungle, and we plan to take it easy and take a lot of breaks. Rope Dropping Belle on day one frees up a FP+ for day two (current day two FP+ are Belle, A&E, Space and 7DMT (only two at A&E and Space).

 

[snayak]

What is a custom TouringPlan?

We can definitely do Pan then Belle, then Pooh rolleyes. Whatever is most efficient, but without being too crazy. The rest of day one should not be too crazy though. Our FP+ for day one are BTMR, Splash, Jungle, and we plan to take it easy and take a lot of breaks. Rope Dropping Belle on day one frees up a FP+ for day two (current day two FP+ are Belle, A&E, Space and 7DMT (only two at A&E and Space).

TouringPlans is a website (not sure if I'm allowed to link) which allows you to add attractions and can provide estimated wait time based on historical wait times & crowd levels. It costs a couple bucks for a 1 year subscription, but I have previously subscribed before 2 of my trips so I can model my plans and see where/when I should book FP+s for the best bang for the buck.

It works pretty well - when we went in Oct 2014 we didn't wait for anything >30 minutes and got to do everything we wanted to at least once (some repeat rides would have had a long wait and were skipped).

 

[Karin1984]

Doing enchanted tales with belle in the first hour would be waste of EMH and precious touring time. I should check my trip report but if I am not mistaken , without fp, as soon as you enter the first room, the entire experience takes 45 minutes? 25-30 with fastpass, I guess? As the fp group enters in the workshop.

 

[bbjunkie]

Do you think I could squeeze: Watch Rope Drop, Picture of family near castle, Peter Pan, Poo, Belle; all in the first hour? On an AM EMH day? And be done in time to jump right to Haunted Mansion once it opens at 9:00 (or before a line develops)? If so, I might flip Belle to Rope Drop time and FP+ Buzz later.

Watch the Welcome show and head to PP. if you do that first, you'll have plenty of time to get other things done in FL, before the 2nd rope drop near the Tangled bathrooms. I don't think you need a custom touring plan; your outline seems pretty reasonable. (Well, except for the part where you have Stitch in your Tomorrowland plans. ). I'd suggest that you be at the rope by the Tangled bathrooms at about 10 minutes to if getting right on HM is a priority. Have fun!

 

[WDWRook]

Thanks. All good tips. I'll check more into Belle.

 

[Robo]

Do you think I could squeeze: Watch Rope Drop, Picture of family near castle, Peter Pan, Poo, Belle; all in the first hour?

I'm guessing that you mean "Pooh," but I guess you have time for the other, if you need to.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

When we did AM EMH, we did Pan, Small World, Pooh, Barnstormer, Teacups and Dumbo, were at Pete's to meet the characters at 9. You should have no trouble getting most of Fantasyland out of the way if you aren't trying to do 7DMT or A&E. We might have been able to do Little Mermaid too if there hadn't been a delayed opening. We headed there after Pooh and then took a minute because we weren't quite sure what to do when it wasn't open. I didn't expect to do so much but we moved right on through. The Carousel and Philharmagic also had short lines but we weren't wanting to do those.

 

[WDWRook]

Which rides at MK are usually open for a 4th FP+ in the late afternoon, 3:30 pm and on? Is Buzz a chance? Speedway?

 

[abnihon]

On an AM EMH day is there a welcome show before EMH?
I thought it always happened before regular opening?

In Jan we were a bit late for AM EMH. Got to MK a couple min after 8, they were already letting ppl in.
We were in line for PP at 8:15, posted time was 20 min and we waited about 15.
Then we did Small World and Little Mermaid as a walk on, waited for Pooh for about a 15 min and rode about 9:20.

We rode HM at 10 for about 15 min wait.

I think my plan next time will be PP first, then Pooh, Little Mermaid... I'm going to FP Belle for early afternoon I think - considered doing it early but eats up a lot of time.