NYE 2017 MK Itinerary - opinions please!

[MaxineDisney]

Hi,
DD (age 15) and I will be in the MK on 12/31. Currently the park hours are listed at 8-9EMH and open til 12am. I know that in the past hours have begun at 7am- later than midnight and that is what we are hoping for. We are staying on property and planing to get there 30 min before EMH. I am in the planning stages and am wondering where I should use my FP. All advice is appreciated. Thanks!

EMH
Seven Dwarft MT
Winnie the Pooh
Peter Pan Flight
Under the Sea

Small World if time

9am Opening
Splash Mtn (should I use FP#1 for this?)
9:30 Jungle Cruise (or FP#1 here?)
10:00 Pirates of Carr.
10:30 Haunted Mansion (FP #2?)
11:00 Small world OR Liberty Boat
11:30-12:30 Ice Cream at Plaza
12:30-1:30 Hall of Presidents
Liberty Boat if not done previously and if there is time before lunch or should we take Railroad to Fantasyland?
2:00 BOG Lunch reservation made
3:00-4:00 Parade - I do not see one in MDE but I am guessing it will be around this time? Should I use a FP if available?
4-5 Country Bear Jamboree
5-6 Pirate Adventure Game (can skip this if necessary)
6-7 Tiki Room
would like to fit a visit to Tom Sawyer before dusk but not sure we will make it
7:30-8:30 Philharmagic (would like to use FP if I can)
8:30-9:30 dinner at Cosmic Rays
I am hoping that by this time most people will be staking out Fireworks spots and there will be less rides for lines
9:30-10 Monsters Inc (would like to use FP)
10:00-10:30 People Mover
10:30-11:00 Carousel of Progress
11:00 Buzz (must have FP as we want to be done in time for FWorks)
Fireworks
if park is open after we will ride Space Mountain and Alladin

 

[jkh36619]

Do Peter Pan 2nd instead of 3rd. If it was me, I would save Fast Passes till after lunch and just suffer through a few lines before lunch such at Splash. After lunch will be unbearable.

 

[MaxineDisney]

Even though Pooh is right across the way? Do you think I should use the advance FP for Philharmagic and Buzz? Thanks for the advice!

 

[jkh36619]

Peter Pan gets a line pretty quick, I think you would be better off to back track. I never FP Philharmagic, even during Christmas week you can get in with a short wait, Honestly the best advise I can give is plan out a few rides in the morning, have some fast passes scheduled after lunch and just kind of wing everything else. Keep looking a crowd calendars and head to the shorter waits. That's what we do and it always works out. I also don't see where you have Big Thunder Mountain RR.

 

[MaxineDisney]

BTMR is one of those things we would do after the fireworks if we can. I would really like to fit as much as possible in the morning before 10am and I feel like it would have a long line.

 

[CAS239]

I wouldn't start FP's until after around 11am/noon

 

[MaxineDisney]

So should my fast passes be:
Parade if available or Philharmagic
Monsters
Buzz???
Thanks

 

[CAS239]

So should my fast passes be:
Parade if available or Philharmagic
Monsters
Buzz???
Thanks

I wouldn't use a FP for Philharmagic or Monsters.

 

[jkh36619]

you need to FP the big tickets 7DMT BTMRR SM PP etc. Even on Christmas week, you can get into Philharmagic with a 20 minute ish wait where as 7DMM and PP will be 120-180. No more FPs for parades

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Hey there...

I don't think I need to tell you that MK will be crazy crowded on NYE. We go every year between 12/24 and 1/1 and do MK on Christmas Day. It's insanely crowded, but we survive.

I'm gonna be totally honest with you—your plans are ambitious for a regular day at the parks. I think you need to narrow down your list. Just getting around the park is gonna be difficult. I don't mean to discourage you—you're gonna have an awesome time. But you need to tailor your expectations.

We always arrive early for the AM EMH, as you plan to do. Do keep in mind that while it's not crazy crowded during the early morning hours on Christmas Day, this may not be the case for NYE. People arrive very early and stay the entire day, some even scouting out spots for the fireworks shortly after breakfast. The park will hit some sort of capacity by 10am. So, my experience may not be what you experience. In other words, don't follow this to the T. Experiences may vary, but honestly, here's how I'd plan the day:

- Get to MK by 7am. You'll have to board the bus much earlier than usual as there will be traffic.
- Once you get into MK, I'd go directly to Space Mountain then do Buzz; or go to Jingle Cruise then do Pirates. You'll only have time for two rides, realistically, before the park opens to the public.
- Once the park opens, Main Street will be a mad house. People will head toward the castle hub, 7DMT, and even seek out spots to stand at until the fireworks. Seriously.
- I'd head to Winnie/Peter Pan, then Haunted Mansion, then Small World, then Under the Sea.
The mentality here is that most people will flock to 7DMT. After seeing it at 120+ minutes, they'll either wait or head to the next closest & popular attraction. You wanna wrap these up first. Haunted Mansion and Small World will be people's last resort. It's something people typically "save" but once the other lines grow, they'll head there (think 9:30-9:45.)
- After these rides, it should be around 11am. I'd do the Liberty ship (although I'd personally skip it) as it can be relaxing after battling the crowds.
- Now it's time for ice cream.

- Book your first FP+ for 7DMT. Try for 12:30-1:30 or 1-2pm. After riding 7DMT, you can walk right over to BOG for lunch.

- I'd then book FP+'s for Jungle Cruise/Space Mountain and Pirates/Buzz (depending on where you go during AM EMH).

- I'd space the shows and sit-down attractions throughout the day. This will be your opportunity to SIT and RELAX for a little while. Save Country Bears, Tiki Show, Carousel of Progress and Presidents for later and do them as your legs start to get tired and the crowds get overwhelming.

- There should be a castle show at 10 or 11pm. I'd line up for fireworks and the show by 9pm. Don't even bother with Main Street. I'd go to Tomorrowland or find a spot near Adventureland. Right now you're not leaving yourself with enough time. Forget about hitting up the nighttime rides—if seeing the fireworks is important to you, you should be lined up no later than 7pm. Perch up near a food spot and you and your daughter can take turns going and grabbing drinks and food OR - pack or buy items that will "stay" and munch on them as you wait.

 

[soniam]

Keep in mind that Tom Sawyer Island, Riverboat, and Tiki Room close earlier than the park. Our you going this NYE, 12/31/2016? If so, Touring Plans shows Tiki closing at 9pm, Tom Sawyer Island closing at 7pm, and the riverboat closing at 8pm.

 

[MaxineDisney]

I thought that only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland were open during EMH. Also, I am hoping that EMH changes to 7am as in the past and that not everyone wants to get up that early.

 

[tink too]

We've walked right into MK at 6.45am (with 7am EMH) during the holidays back in 2014. The park was not crowded at that time, but it wasn't empty either. Our bus from AKL was packed at that time of morning.

 

[MaxineDisney]

good to know! Does anyone know what time the first bus runs from Pop on NYE?