My brain is fried and I really need help planning our day at MK (UPDATE: post #26)

[laurajetter]

After several grueling days of figuring out our ride plan and FPs for 5 days at Disney with a party of 9 (some are older and use ECVs, which makes it hard to plan fast dashes anywhere), I finally thought I was done. I've been to Disney a bunch of times, but the last time was with the paper FPs and I'm finding it hard to know the best way to plan out our days with the new FP+ system. There are so many tips and strategies I've heard/read but I'm becoming overwhelmed. The problem I'm having now is that I thought I was finished but I just happened to come across a YouTube video giving tips and tricks for using FPs, and something that was said on there regarding Space Mountain is making me question our entire plan for MK and I don't know the best way to fix it.

Here is what I have; can someone analyze it for me? Except for the FPs, times listed are approximate and are meant as guides. If you need any clarification as to my thought process for anything just let me know. Below I will go into a little more detail about what was said on the YouTube video that is troubling me.

ORANGE=Absolutely must ride sometime this day
PURPLE=Not a dealbreaker if we have to miss it

June 22, 2018 - Magic Kingdom (early EMH, opens 8am)

Rope drop - PoC

8:45am - Tomorrowland (This is now seeming like not the best use of our early morning time... the idea was we'd hit these rides while waiting for our FP times) CoP, TTA, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

11am - Haunted Mansion (FP 11am-12pm)

11:45am - Small World

12:30pm - Mickey's PhilharMagic

2pm - LUNCH - Columbia Harbor House

3:30pm - BTMRR (FP 3:05-4:05pm)

5:00pm - Splash Mountain (FP 4:55-5:55pm)

Immediately try to get 7 FPs for Space Mountain
...........

So the thing I saw in the video mentioned that FPs for Space Mountain are usually gone by early afternoon... if this is true, then we will probably miss out on it. It also said that Splash Mountain and BTMRR don't have super bad lines first thing in the morning, so don't waste 2 FPs on them. It said to go to one first thing and then maybe have a FP for the other. If I do that, then when should we go on PoC and not have a big wait? Also, how crowded is Haunted Mansion? Can we do without a FP and go early? We can't use that tactic for much more than 1 or 2 rides before they get crowded, right? We absolutely want to go on it, but my mom said she just can't bear to wait a super long time for it (she has knee and feet issues), but I know that HM, PoC and BTMRR are her favorites.

Please feel free to give me your opinions/suggestions/questions... I feel like I can't think right now! If a suggestion doesn't work for us in some way I'll be sure to mention why to see if there's another option.

TIA!

 

[pitpat]

with those priorities, I would head to BtMRR, Splash and then Pirates at rope drop. Those won't be long waits then and you can save your FPs for HM, Space and whatever else you want. Or get BTMRR as your first FP early and do Pirates and Splash before it.

 

[laurajetter]

with those priorities, I would head to BtMRR, Splash and then Pirates at rope drop. Those won't be long waits then and you can save your FPs for HM, Space and whatever else you want. Or get BTMRR as your first FP early and do Pirates and Splash before it.

I can understand the first one we go to won't have a big line, but by the time we get off the ride won't the 2nd and especially the 3rd be a big wait by then?

 

[agavegirl1]

You can usually knock out three rides in Adventureland/Frontierland with minimal waits in the first hour or so. Since they are near each other, you are not criss-crossing the park. Then do your HM FP+. Do Small World and Philharmagic and have lunch. After lunch, have a FP for Space Mountain, visit COP and TTA and Laugh floor. Use your last FP for Buzz and you have a more cohesive direction of travel without having to rely on a 4th Space FP.

 

[mamamelody2]

Well, I would do BTMRR first. If line is still short when you get off, go again.
FP for Splash 9 AM, go toward end of window.
FP for POTC 10.
Head toward Tomorrowland, going through Fantasyland. If line is short, go on HM. If line is short, go on IaSW.
Space FP 11.
Ride Buzz if line is short.
lunch about noon.
As soon as you use your Space FP, get on MDE and look for a new FP. HM, IaSW, and Buzz are usually not too hard to get. Refresh a lot, until you get something.
Fill in COP, TTA, Philharmagic, Laugh Floor in the afternoon.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

After several grueling days of figuring out our ride plan and FPs for 5 days at Disney with a party of 9 (some are older and use ECVs, which makes it hard to plan fast dashes anywhere), I finally thought I was done. I've been to Disney a bunch of times, but the last time was with the paper FPs and I'm finding it hard to know the best way to plan out our days with the new FP+ system. There are so many tips and strategies I've heard/read but I'm becoming overwhelmed. The problem I'm having now is that I thought I was finished but I just happened to come across a YouTube video giving tips and tricks for using FPs, and something that was said on there regarding Space Mountain is making me question our entire plan for MK and I don't know the best way to fix it.

Here is what I have; can someone analyze it for me? Except for the FPs, times listed are approximate and are meant as guides. If you need any clarification as to my thought process for anything just let me know. Below I will go into a little more detail about what was said on the YouTube video that is troubling me.

ORANGE=Absolutely must ride sometime this day
PURPLE=Not a dealbreaker if we have to miss it

June 22, 2018 - Magic Kingdom (early EMH, opens 8am)

Rope drop - PoC

8:45am - Tomorrowland (This is now seeming like not the best use of our early morning time... the idea was we'd hit these rides while waiting for our FP times) CoP, TTA, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

11am - Haunted Mansion (FP 11am-12pm)

11:45am - Small World

12:30pm - Mickey's PhilharMagic

2pm - LUNCH - Columbia Harbor House

3:30pm - BTMRR (FP 3:05-4:05pm)

5:00pm - Splash Mountain (FP 4:55-5:55pm)

Immediately try to get 7 FPs for Space Mountain
...........

So the thing I saw in the video mentioned that FPs for Space Mountain are usually gone by early afternoon... if this is true, then we will probably miss out on it. It also said that Splash Mountain and BTMRR don't have super bad lines first thing in the morning, so don't waste 2 FPs on them. It said to go to one first thing and then maybe have a FP for the other. If I do that, then when should we go on PoC and not have a big wait? Also, how crowded is Haunted Mansion? Can we do without a FP and go early? We can't use that tactic for much more than 1 or 2 rides before they get crowded, right? We absolutely want to go on it, but my mom said she just can't bear to wait a super long time for it (she has knee and feet issues), but I know that HM, PoC and BTMRR are her favorites.

Please feel free to give me your opinions/suggestions/questions... I feel like I can't think right now! If a suggestion doesn't work for us in some way I'll be sure to mention why to see if there's another option.

TIA!

It's so hard to plan to make things work for a larger group! I just wanted to mention that I don't think you'll be able to do POC during the early EMH time - I think it's just Fantasyland and Tomorrowland that are open during the 8-9period (unless the hours change, of course). So I'm not sure how that changes your strategy, but some of the previous posters' suggestions might work as I know POC is a priority... Here's a list from the WDW website of what's open during morning EMH...

Magic Kingdom Park — Mornings
The following attractions are open during morning Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom park:

• Astro Orbiter
• The Barnstormer
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• "it's a small world"
• Mad Tea Party
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Does everyone in the group want to do Space Mountain or just some of you? That's usually a walk-on during EMH...

 

[ChristineOH]

Yes, Pirates won’t be open if it’s EMH. And the plan to RD Frontierland won’t wotk either for the same reason. RD Space and then do Buzz. I’d do Space, Astro Orbiter, and then Buzz. But you could do Space, Buzz, and People Mover too.

Then head over to RD Pirates at 9:00 when that part opens.

 

[laurajetter]

It's so hard to plan to make things work for a larger group! I just wanted to mention that I don't think you'll be able to do POC during the early EMH time - I think it's just Fantasyland and Tomorrowland that are open during the 8-9period (unless the hours change, of course). So I'm not sure how that changes your strategy, but some of the previous posters' suggestions might work as I know POC is a priority... Here's a list from the WDW website of what's open during morning EMH...

Magic Kingdom Park — Mornings
The following attractions are open during morning Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom park:

• Astro Orbiter
• The Barnstormer
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• "it's a small world"
• Mad Tea Party
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

Are you kidding me??! I didn't know only certain rides are open during EMH... All I ever keep hearing/reading is that if you stay at a Disney resort you can take advantage of their EMH, that at least one park opens early or closes late; I never realized it was only a portion of the park that is open early. Hmmm... I was starting to warm up to a couple of the suggestions above but now this is throwing a new wrench into it. Thanks so much for telling me though, that would've been really bad if I got it all planned out and then didn't find out until we get there that the whole section is closed! I will look into it.

 

[pitpat]

oops, the EMH does change things. you can get your Tomorrowland stuff done first, then move to Frontier/Adventureland

 

[laurajetter]

Does everyone in the group want to do Space Mountain or just some of you? That's usually a walk-on during EMH...

It would be either 6 or 7 out of the 9 of us going on Space Mountain.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

oops, the EMH does change things. you can get your Tomorrowland stuff done first, then move to Frontier/Adventureland

That's what I'd do too...

 

[laurajetter]

Yes, Pirates won’t be open if it’s EMH. And the plan to RD Frontierland won’t wotk either for the same reason. RD Space and then do Buzz. I’d do Space, Astro Orbiter, and then Buzz. But you could do Space, Buzz, and People Mover too.

Then head over to RD Pirates at 9:00 when that part opens.

What time should we plan on getting to the roped off area for PoC if we want to be near the front? I'm just wondering how big the crowd will be; I'd hate to show up a few minutes before 9 only to find a massive crowd, then again if we get there too early we're cutting our time short in Tomorrowland.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Are you kidding me??! I didn't know only certain rides are open during EMH... All I ever keep hearing/reading is that if you stay at a Disney resort you can take advantage of their EMH, that at least one park opens early or closes late; I never realized it was only a portion of the park that is open early. Hmmm... I was starting to warm up to a couple of the suggestions above but now this is throwing a new wrench into it. Thanks so much for telling me though, that would've been really bad if I got it all planned out and then didn't find out until we get there that the whole section is closed! I will look into it.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news! I think evening EMH has a lot more open, so it can be confusing. There's more info on the WDW website. I asked about how many for Space, just thinking if it was just one or two of you, you could hop on and then catch up to the rest of the group...but the suggestions above can still work...you have a lot of Tomorrowland rides, maybe do them during part of EMH, then head to BTMR for 9am rope drop, heading down to Splash and then Pirates?

 

[rentayenta]

Subbing!

Well, I would do BTMRR first. If line is still short when you get off, go again.
FP for Splash 9 AM, go toward end of window.
FP for POTC 10.
Head toward Tomorrowland, going through Fantasyland. If line is short, go on HM. If line is short, go on IaSW.
Space FP 11.
Ride Buzz if line is short.
lunch about noon.
As soon as you use your Space FP, get on MDE and look for a new FP. HM, IaSW, and Buzz are usually not too hard to get. Refresh a lot, until you get something.
Fill in COP, TTA, Philharmagic, Laugh Floor in the afternoon.

This is amazing! I wrote it all down. Want to do the rest of the parks?

 

[TheFloatingBear]

What time should we plan on getting to the roped off area for PoC if we want to be near the front? I'm just wondering how big the crowd will be; I'd hate to show up a few minutes before 9 only to find a massive crowd, then again if we get there too early we're cutting our time short in Tomorrowland.

The entrance to Adventureland shouldn't be too bad at regular rope drop - most people are headed to Fantasyland for Peter Pan and 7DMT. Last week, we did EMH in Tomorrowland, then headed over to the Liberty Square bridge to head over to Frontierland. There seemed to be a fairly large crowd, and more coming from Fantasyland, however the wait itself for BTMR was minimal, maybe 5 minutes or so.

 

[ChristineOH]

I think you'll be fine heading over there right about 9:00. Whether you do Pirates or BTMRR, neither builds lines THAT fast. Unless they are closed at RD, which has happened to us and is a bummer.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

We will be rope dropping at MK as well on June 22!
Rope drop--Space, Buzz will be a walk on can even do it twice
9:00 a.m --HM followed by POC will be a walk on or very little wait
Walk back to Fantasyland for Small World/Philarmagic
Lunch
FP for BTM, Splash and ?
Back to Tomorrowland for COP etc. based on your fp times
I know this plan takes you twice to Tomorrowland but it also gives you an extra fp.

I believe the 3 p.m parade goes through Frontierland and it will be very congested so plan fp's accordingly.

 

[disneyfreak202]

A few years ago we RD Tomorrowland, here was our plans and could help you guys:
RD Buzz, People Mover, Carousel of Progress
Head over to HM then POTC
FP BTMR and Splash
Either do IASW and Philharmagic then Lunch or Vice Versa
FP Space
Laugh Floor (Either before or after Space)

HM and POTC shouldn't have too long of lines right when the park opens. It is a little bit of criss crossing, but I think this would be your best bet.

 

[laurajetter]

I wanted to thank each of you for your input, it truly has helped me figure out what to do and I feel a lot more at ease! I will be hopefully working out the exact details of our plan today (I wish I didn't have to leave for work in 5 minutes!). The only thing I'm nervous about now is hoping the new FP times I want are available as I'm modifying our current selections. Thanks again everyone!