MM rope drop back fired today!

[DizneeRailFan62]

Question, I'm going and staying on site, I was planning on using the early mornings, but now I'm debating....parks open at 10am wed and Thursday and 9am Friday.

I think for DCA on Wednesday entering early would still be good right? Then the question is DL on Thursday do I do the MM? I was thinking yes and skipping PP....

Any opinions? This is in 2 weeks

To be honest I think that you would be better off going to the park opposite of MM and EMH. Many visitors will rush to take advantage of those extra hours, sometimes leaving the other park a little less crowded at rope drop. Like several posters mentioned before me, you can spend half your time in line due to heavy MM/EMH crowds and get maybe one or two rides for your troubles, and bif ticket items like Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones aren't even open, and the FP's for those attractions do not begin to give tickets until official park opening. You basically have Fantasyland to work with, minus Storybookland.

 

[NJlauren]

To be honest I think that you would be better off going to the park opposite of MM and EMH. Many visitors will rush to take advantage of those extra hours, sometimes leaving the other park a little less crowded at rope drop. Like several posters mentioned before me, you can spend half your time in line due to heavy MM/EMH crowds and get maybe one or two rides for your troubles, and bif ticket items like Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones aren't even open, and the FP's for those attractions do not begin to give tickets until official park opening. You basically have Fantasyland to work with, minus Storybookland.

Thanks! I may reconsider my touring plan..... I was thinking of doing toy story during my DCA EMH....so now it would be at regular rope drop I guess... It's one of the most do rides for us and would rather not wait for ever....

 

[smartlabelprint]

Thanks! I may reconsider my touring plan..... I was thinking of doing toy story during my DCA EMH....so now it would be at regular rope drop I guess... It's one of the most do rides for us and would rather not wait for ever....

Definitely use your early morning for DCA.

 

[NJlauren]

Definitely use your early morning for DCA.

So maybe just start 2 days at DCA? And not any at DL?

 

[coaches24]

so does MM work any better for an earlier park opening time? I as gonna try a MM, but will avoid if it backfires

I have had very good luck with MM all but one time. And the one time I didnt was because of a computer issue with my tickets at the gate that took 20 minutes to fix.

But the only way MM is worth it is if you are willing and able to be one of the first people in line (my goal is to be one of the first 5-10 people through whichever gate I line up at) and head straight to PP. That means I am in line atleast 45 min before MM starts and atleast an hour early if its a later start time. And if I am a little slow that day and PP has a line when I get to it I skip it and go on to Dumbo or whatever other FL rides I am planning on that day. When i have made it through the gates without a problem I have never been stuck in line until I have had several rides done.

I love PP but its such a short ride that its not worth waiting in line for if you are trying to get to other rides before lines form there as well so if I cant walk onto PP I don't go on it during MM. Because that one line will cause all the other rides to get lines as well and it will feel like a wasted MM.

 

[agamble]

Went straight to Peter Pan, and waited 35 min.

We had the exact same problem last Tuesday for MM. It took 35 minutes for Peter Pan and we got there 30 minutes before rope drop and then another 30 for Mr. Toad.

My rule of thumb for any rope drop time is if we cannot be on Peter Pan in ten minutes or less we skip it. Everyone thinks they need to go there first, so they do. I made that mistake the first time we went with our oldest. It took half of our Magic Morning. Now I am willing to save Peter Pan for later if necessary. If you had skipped Peter Pan you could have done almost everything else in Fantasyland during that hour.

So maybe just start 2 days at DCA? And not any at DL?

I would still do DL early entry on your Thursday. Just follow the above rule. Skip Peter Pan if you cannot get on right away. It's not worth spending half your time waiting for it. It is better to wait 45 minutes for it later when all the lines are long than wait 30 minutes in the morning when everything else is a walk-on. In the end you more than save the 15 minutes extra that you'll end up waiting for the ride.

 

[NJlauren]

I would still do DL early entry on your Thursday. Just follow the above rule. Skip Peter Pan if you cannot get on right away. It's not worth spending half your time waiting for it. It is better to wait 45 minutes for it later when all the lines are long than wait 30 minutes in the morning when everything else is a walk-on. In the end you more than save the 15 minutes extra that you'll end up waiting for the ride.

Ok thanks! I was already planning on skipping PP as I doubt with a toddler we will make it there fast enough to walk right on!

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

I was just at DL since Monday and left today. We did the extra hour on Tuesday at Disneyland and Wednesday for DCA. By the time we reached PP, there was already a huge line with an estimated wait time of 40 minutes so we opted to skip it and moved on to the other FL rides. We walked on Mr. Toad, Snow White, and Pinocchio. Would've walked on Alice too but it wasn't working. We did the Matterhorn later at night. DCA was a bit different...we only got to ride Radiator Springs Racers once, Tower of Terror, and the Little Mermaid ride. We grabbed fastpasses since they opened the kiosks before park opening but the time was cutting it close to our DVC tour of Soarin at 10 so we gave it to a dad and his daughter. He was real happy to get them. All in all, I think it was worth getting up for.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We were just there late last week and early this week. Didn't do any MMs, did opposite parks instead and had pretty good luck. We got there quite early most days -- 9am park openings (so 8am MMs) and we arrived at security at around 7:45. Never had more than about a 5 minute wait at security and were first in line at the gate. This was security at the main entrance, not DTD security since we stayed offsite. Were always first in line at rope drop. Despite this, we were never first at PP! Well, one morning DD16 got tired of waiting on us old folks and hoofed it to PP on her own and was the very first person to ride. But we were able to ride with maybe a 10 minute wait max.

I do think we didn't have to be that early. One DCA morning we didn't arrive until 8:20, so MM had already been going at at DL since 8. There was a LONG line at security, but it still went fairly quickly, maybe 15 minutes. By the time we got to the DCA gates it was after 8:30 so they were already open for rope drop. We were about 10 rows back at the rope headed towards Carsland by the time all was said and done. We headed straight to TSMM and were among the first to ride.

One thing I did notice was that not having the extra hour made it harder to get everything done that we had hoped. But the first couple of hours themselves were great. Going during non MM means the crowds are more spread out first thing. So in DL there were just as many headed to Adventureland as Fantasyland, which I think was helpful.

 

[Astylla]

As AP holders who stay offsite we often do thew opposite park of EMH , or if we do head to our priorities first then jump around.

As an example we are arriving this Friday evening around 8pm ( traffic allowing) then leave Sunday by 3pm, will walk to parks from hotel for few hours then head to parks Saturday by 7:15am and go into DL at 8am and get FP for Hyperspace then likely head to the opposite side where HM/Splash/BTMRR are for first half of day , then go back for FP time ( likely will be around 11ish or later) get lunch then hit the EMH side of things.

During longer stays we would do DCA Saturday then DL Sunday to avoid the EMH guests. It really depends on your tour style and time available.

 

[Wilcojoe]

Keep in mind, crowds should really thin out once schools are back in session and the 60th celebration ends. For those going in mid-Sept, I think that needs to be taken in perspective compared to folks in the parks now. I think with all of the news of upcoming D-Day (end of PTN, fireworks, etc.), folks are planning more last minute trips now than ever before.

I think the next three weeks are going to be crazy busy.

 

[NJlauren]

Keep in mind, crowds should really thin out once schools are back in session and the 60th celebration ends. For those going in mid-Sept, I think that needs to be taken in perspective compared to folks in the parks now. I think with all of the news of upcoming D-Day (end of PTN, fireworks, etc.), folks are planning more last minute trips now than ever before.

I think the next three weeks are going to be crazy busy.

I have been thinking the same thing and am slightly worried since the hours are so short when we are there

 

[hsmamato2]

I am confused....are some of you saying that if DL opens at 8 for MM, and DCA opens at 9, you get in line for DCA(opposite) at 7:45 am,to enter at 9?

 

[IBLarsen]

I am confused....are some of you saying that if DL opens at 8 for MM, and DCA opens at 9, you get in line for DCA(opposite) at 7:45 am,to enter at 9?

Looks like one PP did and was able to be right up front. Our worst day was a Monday trying trying to get to DCA for 9am opening, we were so backed up at security, we arrived at 8:20, and didn't get thru until 8:50, as everyone had to enter thru metal detectors. Monday is notoriously the busiest day also. Another morning security looked really backed up but went more quickly because they were only doing random selection for metal detectors. I do tend to have the worst luck in choosing the slowest line possible. One side of security was moving much quicker than the side we were on one morning. Our guy was very thorough on his search of bags. Hard to complain about heightened security, but definitely something I was unprepared for and hadn't planned 30 minutes to get thru. I would say the biggest rush is 30 minutes before opening as well (others can confirm better than my observation), so getting there even earlier would likely result in not as long of lines. But honestly, we were still fine, just not going to get up front with arriving at security 30 minutes before opening. Hope that helps

 

[BriannaRuth]

I am confused....are some of you saying that if DL opens at 8 for MM, and DCA opens at 9, you get in line for DCA(opposite) at 7:45 am,to enter at 9?

That was us, but we only do that because my kids love being at the park early. You definitely don't have to be there that early. My kids like being first in line and not having to wait at security. One morning we got there about 7:45 -- this was on a Thursday. There was no line at security and we were first in line at the DCA gate. We just hang out, plan our day, eat our granola bars and put on sunscreen while we wait for 8:30 entry for rope drop.

Our second DCA day (Saturday) we arrived at about 8:20. There was a long line at security but we were still through the DCA gate by 8:40, which was 10 minutes after they opened the gates for rope drop. It made no difference in our park time because we do TSMM first. It might have make a difference if you're trying to do RSR first because it put us about 10 rows back from the rope rather than being in front.

I think it's true for DL, too -- you don't have to be there that early but it's helpful if you're hoping to do PP first, as we always do.

 

[BriannaRuth]

That was us, but we only do that because my kids love being at the park early. You definitely don't have to be there that early. My kids like being first in line and not having to wait at security. One morning we got there about 7:45 -- this was on a Thursday. There was no line at security and we were first in line at the DCA gate. We just hang out, plan our day, eat our granola bars and put on sunscreen while we wait for 8:30 entry for rope drop.

Our second DCA day (Saturday) we arrived at about 8:20. There was a long line at security but we were still through the DCA gate by 8:40, which was 10 minutes after they opened the gates for rope drop. It made no difference in our park time because we do TSMM first. It might have make a difference if you're trying to do RSR first because it put us about 10 rows back from the rope rather than being in front.

I think it's true for DL, too -- you don't have to be there that early but it's helpful if you're hoping to do PP first, as we always do. I think we would have still been good on PP arriving at 8 but the kids never wanted to chance it.

 

[disneymom0104]

Our very first MM was at 7am on a Sunday morning a few years ago. It was empty- it was our first trip to DL after a handful of WDW trips. We couldn't believe our luck- almost everything was a walk on, it was fantastic. We thought MM was the best thing ever. That being said, EVERYONE runs to Peter Pan first- that always has a long line, even first thing in the morning.

Then we tried a couple more times on later trips, once with an 8am MM and 2 with a 9am MM. Those 9am MM's- FORGET IT. Awful. Even the 8am was not much better. I have now learned that they are only worth it if they start at 7am. With so few attractions open and so many people that are able to get there at 8 or 9- there just isn't enough for everyone to do without waits.

ETA- Our 7am MM was prior to resort guests having EMH. It was back in 2011- we were staying on property that time, so were eligible for MM any day instead of just once, but they were still only a couple times per week.

 

[DLRExpert]

I recommend that if you plan to attend Magic Morning at Disneyland, then show up 30-45 minutes before it starts.
Keep in mind that other guests in the non Disney Hotels will also be attending this hour.

If you get to the park early enough head to Peter Pan first, no matter how long the line is stay in it.
If you are late to MM then skip Peter Pan.

The other attractions you should focus on if Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, and the Matterhorn.
Everything else in Fantasyland can be ridden easily once the park opens.
DO NOT ride the Nemo Submarines. The line maybe short but the length of the attraction will eat into your Magic Morning time.
Nemo is better to experience once the sun has gone down. The line will go down with it.
Save all Tomorrowland attractions for later since Space, Tours, and Buzz all have FP
The Autopia line tends to go down at around 4pm, plus all lanes are usually open at that time so the wait time is much shorter.

MM shouldn't be about riding the most attractions. It should be about riding the most important attractions.

ME

 

[goooof1]

7 am EMHs are the best! Still can do some good with a later one as pps stated. Skip PP and do other FL attractions like Alice and Matterhorn, Dumbo, etc. (these 3 can build bigger lines quickly). By all means, go to EMHs at DCA. Only on-site guests, so not real crowded. Easy to ride Toy Story multiple times if that is your priority. You don't really have anything to lose with EMH, since the crowds will continue to build during the day!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I'm sure others have said it, but part of it depends on what you choose to ride. After a handful of trips with my kids, for instance, we realized waiting for Peter Pan, even during MM, is not worth it. It cuts into the other rides you can go on. Now, we typically go straight to Fantasyland on a MM, but we go on the rides that have no line or short lines like Snow White, Mr. Toad, Dumbo, and Alice. Usually, we can get all those in and jump over to Autopia just as non-MM guests are getting there.

It's also nice just to avoid it. I used to say the MM/EMH was worth it, but crowds are a lot more intense than they used to be. I almost wish MM was discontinued and EMH was just a perk for onsite guests. That might make it worth staying onsite again. Anyway, if you just go to the opposite park at this point, you end up better off a lot of the time.