New Welcome Show/Opening Procedure

[BradChristian]

I have no preference.
But, I don't think that I'd want to say that anything at WDW is "always" one way.
(Who the heck knows just what X set of CMs might or might not do
on any specific morning?)

I originally made the map the way it is because of much discussion in past threads from other
posters who have
their favorite "shorter" routes on a multitude of different morning situations.

I also should mention that if you are pushing a stroller, the orange line on my map (around Hall of Presidents
and near Haunted Mansion) will take you right past the Peter Pan stroller parking area near the Tangled
Restrooms.

True... That is my concern is that morning they delay the castle opening for some reason. I guess Peter Pan is not at the level of SDMT where your place in the pack automatically determines if you wait 5 minutes versus 40 minutes.

My plan going through the castle was to ditch the stroller at the carousel stroller parking, but the Tangled bathrooms would be more on the way. However - This will be the first welcome show for the kiddos, so that is why I am still tempted to go through the castle.

 

[marcais]

How does the Welcome Show work on mornings with EMH? Do they do the show at 8am? Do they open Main St at 7 and rope off the routes from the Hub to the areas until after the Welcome Show?

We go in August and don't get to our resort until late on 2 Aug. So our first day is 3 Aug, and we always hit MK on our first day, but it's EMH on 3 Aug. We'll still be on UK time, so getting there early won't be a problem. But we've never seen the Welcome show, so what time will it be on if it's EMH on our first day?

 

[Robo]

How does the Welcome Show work on mornings with EMH?
1. Do they do the show at 8am?
2. Do they open Main St at 7
3. and rope off the routes from the Hub to the areas until after the Welcome Show?
We go in August... we've never seen the Welcome show, so
4. what time will it be on if it's EMH on our first day?

EDIT:
For 8AM EMH time:
1. No. Begins a bit before 9AM.
2. Nope. They open, maybe 10 min. before 8AM.
3. Yes, to that.
4. If it's an 8AM EMH, a bit before 9AM.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

For 8AM EMH time:
1. Yes. Well, a bit before 8AM.
2. Nope. They open, maybe 10 min. before 8AM.
3. Yes, to that.
4. If it's an 8AM EMH, a bit before 8AM.

As to #1, I thought on a EMH morning, they still had the welcome show 5 minutes before regular park opening, not EMH time?

For example, this Friday has an 8AM park opening and 7AM EMH. The Let the Magic Begin show is listed at 7:55AM on the Times Guide.

I thought the same is applicable for 8AM EMHs too - the show would be at 8:55AM. Am I turned around?

 

[Robo]

As to #1, I thought on a EMH morning, they still had the welcome show 5 minutes before regular park opening, not EMH time?

For example, this Friday has an 8AM park opening and 7AM EMH. The Let the Magic Begin show is listed at 7:55AM on the Times Guide.

I thought the same is applicable for 8AM EMHs too - the show would be at 8:55AM. Am I turned around?

You are correct.
I was answering for the way it USED to be when the Welcome Show was at the Railroad station.

Edited my earlier post.

 

[alan68]

What about us folks with ADRS and BBB? There used to be CM'S at Main St. Station that would take us in pre-opening. Do we just go straight to the castle and look for a cm? Or do we still have to see someone at the station ?

 

[Robo]

What about us folks with ADRS and BBB? There used to be CM'S at Main St. Station that would take us in pre-opening. Do we just go straight to the castle and look for a cm? Or do we still have to see someone at the station ?

Depends on when you show up at the MK gates.

On days when they let "regular" guests onto Main St. at about 8AM (for a 9AM opening time,) they will let in (or possibly escort in) early ADR guests at 7:45AM.

Otherwise, if you arrive after they have otherwise allowed non-ADR guests onto Main Street,
ADR guests can walk to the respective entrances to the restaurants:
Front porch of Crystal Palace.
Center-Castle tunnel or Fantasyland bridge for Cinderella's Royal Table and Be Our Guest (if serving breakfast.)

 

[alan68]

Depends on when you show up at the MK gates.

On days when they let "regular" guests onto Main St. at about 8AM (for a 9AM opening time,) they will let in (or possibly escort in) early ADR guests at 7:45AM.

Otherwise, if you arrive after they have otherwise allowed non-ADR guests onto Main Street,
ADR guests can walk to the respective entrances to the restaurants:
Front porch of Crystal Palace.
Center-Castle tunnel or Fantasyland bridge for Cinderella's Royal Table and Be Our Guest (if serving breakfast.)

We have an 805 bbb on a day that has an (as of now) 9am opening, so I guess if they've already opened main street, we just head for the castle. Thanks!

 

[Robo]

We have an 805 bbb on a day that has an (as of now) 9am opening, so I guess if they've already opened main street, we just head for the castle. Thanks!

If you show up about 7:35AM, or so, and head to the "Character Breakfast" gate, you may be let in at about 7:45AM, ahead of the rest of the waiting non-ADR/non-BBB guests.

 

[kpd6901]

Just came across this. Hopefully @Robo can help. We are coming to WDW Nov 22 thru Dec. 2, with my family of 5 plus my parents, but having several portions of our trip where my parents are doing things separate from us. To take advantage of free dining, we are doing a split stay, so our first 2 days will not have tickets unless we activate them upon arrival. Our plan is to arrive on Thanksgiving, but have MK as our first park day on Friday, Nov. 23. We will also be back to MK for MVMCP on Nov25, then return to MK for the mornings of Nov. 29, 30, and evening of Dec. 1. Our last trip was in 2015 and the only disappointing aspect was missing the opening show. So we want to make sure we get it this time but unsure how to make this work.

I am working on the assumption that by the time I can set FP for Nov 23 ( upon arrival the day before), the chances of a PPF or 7DMT FP are slim to none, with Slim waving goodbye out the door. Calendar currently has 9am open with 8am EMH. Heading to 7DMT first thing, then to Pooh, spending the day in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

Next try: Nov. 29 - 9am open; no EMH.
Here we have 8:05 BOG bfast, then hitting PPF and Haunted Mansion, staying in Liberty Square before hopping out around noon.

Next try: Nov. 30; 9am open; 8 am EMH
This will be our Frontierland and Adventure Land day. Near the end of our trip, we figured we'd be tired and maybe not rush over, but still hit a 9am FP at BTMRR, then heading to Splash, using our other FPs for other things later (Jungle Cruise, Pirates, etc).

As I type this out, it seems that Nov. 30 would be our best bet for the opening show would be Nov. 30 (though this is the only MK portion that my parents will be separate-doing the Yuletide Fantasy Tour, but as I think, my folks will NOT ride 7DMT, so perhaps they can see it on that day?)

Anyway, based on our itinerary and locations and hours (we are all on site, us at AoA and my folks at Pop), could you please give me some advice to make this work? If we do see the opening show on Nov. 30, should we huddle close to Frontierland entrance and miss a good view or will our FP coupled with more folks heading toward Fantasyland negate that need?
Also, I hear that Disney sometimes changes the park hours. If they do, how do we know? Just keep checking the site? Or would our Touring Plans subscription or MDE notify us? The last thing we want is for a change that we weren't aware of to totally monkey-wrench our fairly intricate plans.

I hope this makes sense, and thank you so much for any help!