New Magic Kingdom Welcome Show & Main Street Opening UPDATE: Page 15 - Post #281

[Missyrose]

does anyone know if any of the other opening/rope drop procedures at the other DW parks have changed

No, the only change has been at Magic Kingdom.

 

[cmarsh31]

Anyone brave enough to keep their 8:00 am Crystal Palace? I do love eating there for breakfast and was planning to go to Big Thunder and Splash right after. I know those are less popular areas but it will be the day after Memorial Day. Am I better off just eating at Roaring Forks instead?

I was planning to, but they also changed the park hours to open at 8am, so it was a double-hit. No was was I hitting the parks, even the less crowded stuff at 9:15 with an 8am opening. Since CP was a must do, we actually switched it to an early dinner the night before.

 

[Dadof2inOH]

What day are your reservations for that they changed park opening?

 

[cmarsh31]

What day are your reservations for that they changed park opening?

President's Day weekend

 

[Hezzy04]

I'm sure this has been asked so I apologize if I'm repeating....on EMH days when the park opens at 8, what time do they allow people to wait on Main Street?

 

[hiroMYhero]

I'm sure this has been asked so I apologize if I'm repeating....on EMH days when the park opens at 8, what time do they allow people to wait on Main Street?

The EMH guests and early ADR guests enter a little before EMH begins. Then, regular guests are allowed to enter a few short minutes after EMH/ADR guests and regular guests remain in Main Street-only.

 

[ellie05]

For those going to frontier land expect more people than what you are used to. We did this in our last trip (last week) BTMRR wasn't a walk on like in the past wait was minimal, but no chance on staying in the train and riding more than once like before.

Also CP PPO ADR gives you no advantage as you will be behind the ropes with everyone.

 

[KTR]

I was planning to, but they also changed the park hours to open at 8am, so it was a double-hit. No was was I hitting the parks, even the less crowded stuff at 9:15 with an 8am opening. Since CP was a must do, we actually switched it to an early dinner the night before.

We did an 8am CP this past week. We left the restaurant just as the opening show started and headed to adventure land. We weren't in the front of the pack because all of my kids needed to use the bathroom, but there weren't many people going our direction. The vast majority were heading to Fantasyland/Tomorrowland.

 

[kelseyledare]

Where are the closest FP+ kiosks to Main Street? I thought there were some we'd be able to access before the opening show, but maybe I'm wrong

 

[acamusic]

We went to the MK on T, 1/24. We've experienced the train station opening many times, but honestly, I preferred this new process. We arrived at the TTC parking lot at 7:40 and then at bag check at 8:00. We were in the park at 8:04. We took several pictures, got in a short line at Starbucks, shopped in the Emporium and stuck our heads in the other open shops. I love Main Street and so, for me, it felt like an extra park hour. The music, the sights, the welcoming cast members. It was relaxing and soothing. We loved it.

As far as the new show--I felt it was nicely done and the added fire works and characters are a bonus--makes up for the lack of a train. At worst, it's as good as the train station opening and certainly it is framed better by the castle.

Side note: We moved to the castle ramps just a few minutes before the show began with no crowding. Our plan was to go through the castle and rope drop PP. Because of the delay in moving through the castle (letting the characters get clear), we panicked and joined the crowd moving over the Liberty Square bridge. It's true, the castle is a quicker route to PP even with the delay. It didn't affect our morning plan but it did cost us a few precious minutes as we arrived to PP behind an estimated 40 folks who had come through the castle.

 

[Roxyfire]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I actually asked my son and he seems to want to keep it for now. I'm not worried about losing an advantage, but I certainly don't want to put us at a disadvantage when it would be much easier to just cancel and do it another day.

 

[lucky4you]

I believe we will cancel our CP for 8:05. Thanks to all that have given input! It would cost us over $100 and I'd rather skip it for that reason. Also, even though we aren't planning on popular rides, I don't end up behind the crowds. Now I need to decide what we will eat instead. I'd like something quick service and closer to the tomorrowland rope. Watching the show is not a must. What are my choices for breakfast? I think I read something about a cart. Any info on that?

 

[Missyrose]

Where are the closest FP+ kiosks to Main Street? I thought there were some we'd be able to access before the opening show, but maybe I'm wrong

City Hall kiosks will be available, if they're working.

I believe we will cancel our CP for 8:05. Thanks to all that have given input! It would cost us over $100 and I'd rather skip it for that reason. Also, even though we aren't planning on popular rides, I don't end up behind the crowds. Now I need to decide what we will eat instead. I'd like something quick service and closer to the tomorrowland rope. Watching the show is not a must. What are my choices for breakfast? I think I read something about a cart. Any info on that?

Two choices for QS breakfast (beyond Starbucks) - Casey's or the Plaza ice cream parlor.

 

[ArielSRL]

I think @yulilin3 posted that there was a cart with some breakfast items, as well.

 

[yulilin3]

I think @yulilin3 posted that there was a cart with some breakfast items, as well.

Yes by the Partners statue, they had muffins and coffee and hot chocolate

 

[cmarsh31]

We did an 8am CP this past week. We left the restaurant just as the opening show started and headed to adventure land. We weren't in the front of the pack because all of my kids needed to use the bathroom, but there weren't many people going our direction. The vast majority were heading to Fantasyland/Tomorrowland.

Yup, with a 9am park opening, I totally would have kept ours too. It was just the change in park hours, 8am opening and 8am breakfast was no longer a PPO!

 

[Pbeh]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/disneys-updated-magic-kingdom-mornings-163446409.html

So I haven't been on here for a while, so this could be old news to many of you. How is this going to impact ride strategies? The article makes it seem pretty bleak, like the days of enjoying the first 1-2 hours of shorter lines because of being an early riser may be over?

Looking for people's thoughts, or link me to older thread if it's been a hot topic before.

 

[hildarumpole]

It's not bleak. We went to MK on the Sunday of MLK holiday weekend. It was busy. The new procedure was great. We got to the castle at 8:30, after peaking into shops along the way. It wasn't so harried at rope drop, with people all bunched up, jockeying for position to get to their first ride of the day. Most people were pretty relaxed. We were able to ride everything we wanted the first 2 hours without long lines. As in the past, it's a matter of proper planning. I have to wonder if the author even bothered visiting MK and testing out the theories before writing the article.

 

[FigmentSpark]

It's not bleak. We went to MK on the Sunday of MLK holiday weekend. It was busy. The new procedure was great. We got to the castle at 8:30, after peaking into shops along the way. It wasn't so harried at rope drop, with people all bunched up, jockeying for position to get to their first ride of the day. Most people were pretty relaxed. We were able to ride everything we wanted the first 2 hours without long lines. As in the past, it's a matter of proper planning. I have to wonder if the author even bothered visiting MK and testing out the theories before writing the article.

Can I ask what your first ride was? Did you happen to notice when the crowd heading towards Space Mountain/Tomorrowland started to build?

 

[calablovedisney]

Our next trip is the end of June and we currently have 2 CP reservations for breakfast, but I will be cancelling one soon when that decision is made. I did book 2 because our arrival day was not sure yet (deciding on whether or not to do 2 days at Universal first). However, I made one for 8:20 and the other for 10:30 due to the new opening. I was thinking that since park hours can change by then and MK could open early or EMH be added & with the new opening show, etc.... that 10:30 may be a good option. We will get there for prior to opening, and do one of 2 plans, 1-head to Frontierland and Adventureland rides, eat breakfast and then head to our FP+ rides, or do PP, then head towards Frontierland for those rides, saving FP+ for 7DMT & Tomorrowland rides. Has anyone considered a late morning breakfast instead? A good idea or what are the flaws I don't yet see?