New MK opening procedure

[LCoulter]

From what I understand, Main Street is opening about an hour before stated park opening and the castle welcome show starts a minute or so before the stated opening time. Then there are rope drops at each spoke off the hub which will separate crowds a bit.

How are the crowds in the hub area and at each rope drop spoke? I am trying to gauge when to get to MK....I have a hard enough time trying to get the crew up and at MK 15 minutes before opening, I'm not sure I can manage an hour early.

 

[gap2368]

I would get there as soon as I can I would try for at lest 30 minutes before.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

At least 30 minutes early with 45-50 minutes being better.

Allow extra time for travel to MK and the more intense security procedures.

 

[starjazz]

We got on the bus at 7:20 am on 3/10 at Pop. We got to Peter Pan at 8:15 (15 minutes after park opening). There was a 20 minute wait for the ride. (yes, we screwed that up, but having a group of 9 including an infant means not everything goes according to plan, no matter how much time you spend planning.)

 

[capegirl]

We got on the bus at 7:20 am on 3/10 at Pop. We got to Peter Pan at 8:15 (15 minutes after park opening). There was a 20 minute wait for the ride. (yes, we screwed that up, but having a group of 9 including an infant means not everything goes according to plan, no matter how much time you spend planning.)

This will be us in July. Group of 10. 1 infant, 3 toddlers, 1 10 year old. Mayhem. Late for everything. Toss plans into the wind.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Haven't done it yet, but I would think it depends on where you're going. If you want to go to 7DMT or PPF, I would definitely get there was early as you can as pps said. I would think if you're going to Frontier, Adventure, or Tomorrowland you wouldn't have to get there as early.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

We got on the bus at 7:20 am on 3/10 at Pop. We got to Peter Pan at 8:15 (15 minutes after park opening). There was a 20 minute wait for the ride. (yes, we screwed that up, but having a group of 9 including an infant means not everything goes according to plan, no matter how much time you spend planning.)

We've got a group of 10 which includes 2 seniors, 4 in their 30's, 2 teens, and 2 kids ages 4 and 9.
We may not be able to arrive most places on time when all 10 are involved but when it comes to RD at WDW we are all business.
If you're not ready you're being left behind see ya later. lol

 

[WEDWDW]

We may not be able to arrive most places on time when all 10 are involved but when it comes to RD at WDW we are all business.

LOVE IT!!!!

 

[IrishNYC]

We got on the bus at 7:20 am on 3/10 at Pop. We got to Peter Pan at 8:15 (15 minutes after park opening). There was a 20 minute wait for the ride. (yes, we screwed that up, but having a group of 9 including an infant means not everything goes according to plan, no matter how much time you spend planning.)

20 minutes really isn't terrible, and PP has a cute queue.

 

[RetroCOTfan]

Josh over at easywdw covers the new procedure, along with some pictures, about halfway down this post:
http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/ma...rategy-and-expanded-breakfast-options-review/

In our experience a couple of weeks ago, we arrived at the hub area around 8:50. With a party of 5, we were able to work our way within about 8-9 people back from the rope on the right-hand side of the castle. (We were headed to Pooh) The view of the welcome show was perfect, and we were on Pooh by 9:03. Frustratingly, they dropped the rope on the 7DMT pathway before ours, so we got to watch swarms of people start moving before we did, but in the end it was not that big of a difference. I'd follow what Josh says - if you're doing 7DMT at rope drop, get there super early and be in front of that mob. Otherwise, get as close as you can and go through the castle. And if you're going to Adventureland/Frontierland, you can probably just roll up at 8:59 and be almost by yourself.

 

[tj4ua]

We have never attempted to make it at park opening.. (oldest is 4, twins are 1 now) we have been going since oldest was 2 multiple trips. We have closed the parks many many times. Id love to hear some of the pros of getting there at rope drop vs staying till Midnight (7DMT has basically no line some nights late)

 

[sharadoc]

We always get much more done during Wishes through to park closing. We'd rather sleep in, have a leisurely morning, possibly pool or miniature golf, then into parks afternoon and evening. With fastpass+ we love having the option of showing up later and still riding what we want. And nothing's better than those 1 or 2 am MK closings. That's when we got the bulk of everything done at least once during Thanksgiving week.