On the way to WDW right now and have a couple last minute questions!

[Katie Dawn]

(1) This one has been answered! I've seen recommendations to check a website that shows the EXACT time to make sure you're getting on right at 7am. What is that website (or app or whatever?)

(2) This has been answered! DH doesn't have a MDE account as I've always done everything thing through my phone/account. I'd like his phone to have the same functionality within the app as mine does this trip. The easiest option would seem to be just logging him in on his phone using my username and password... But would it cause problems if we were both on our phones doing stuff at the same time? If I need to make an account for him is it pretty easy to figure out how to link everything up so he has me and our kids listed on his app as well?

(3) There are reports that ETPE is beginning earlier than the official start time. In other words, park opening is at 9am, ETPE is at 8:30am... How often (right now) are they letting ETPE guests in PRIOR to 8:30am? By "let in" I don't mean able to get in and stand in a holding area - I mean able to start riding attractions.

(4) We aren't using Magic Bands this trip and it's been awhile so I can't remember: In order to get ride photos on our Memory Maker do we need to find the ride photo (om a wall of screens after the ride) and tap the little Photopass card on a Mickey head below the photo? I have some vague memory of doing that in the past, but want to make sure I'm remembering correctly.

(5) Mobile Ordering: it's been suggested to go ahead and get on MDE early in the day to schedule your lunch time Mobile Order since the available pick up times are getting grabbed up pretty quickly. With that in mind, how flexible is that pickup time? If at 9:30am I schedule a lunch pick up for 11:45m am I causing a problem if we aren't able to "check in" until 12:15? In the past this hasn't come up because I was choosing a pickup time not far from the current time, but it will be harder to predict now.

As always the Dis has been an indespensible resource in planning this trip. Thank you all!

 

[JCornell]

i can field the first one. The app I use is called "Exact Time". Note that if you scroll left on your phone (assuming iPhone) the clocks have a second hand that is also accurate.

 

[g-dad66]

I'll take #2. You can both be logged into the same account at the same time. No problem.

 

[Selket]

#5 - I was there last week (got home Tuesday) and always just mobile ordered when we were ready to eat. The next available window was either "now" or in 10 minutes. Perhaps keep an eye on it today around lunch time or dinner and see how busy it gets? We never had to mobile order ahead. I could see how this is an issue around Thanksgiving/Christmas, etc. but maybe the parks are about the same level of busy they were for us. It seemed fairly busy - busier than I expected for the first days of December.

 

[scrappinginontario]

#3 ETPE actual start time can change at each park, each day. The recommended method to be there for whenever the park your are at opens is to be at your resort transportation at least 90 mins before ETPE begins.

 

[FinallyFL]

#3 ETPE this morning at Magic Kingdom: they released us to head to the ride queues at exactly 8:30.

 

[brightlined]

(4) We aren't using Magic Bands this trip and it's been awhile so I can't remember: In order to get ride photos on our Memory Maker do we need to find the ride photo (om a wall of screens after the ride) and tap the little Photopass card on a Mickey head below the photo? I have some vague memory of doing that in the past, but want to make sure I'm remembering correctly.

Depends on the ride, but sometimes, yes. (Your admission card also works.)

However, a few of the rides (eg, Seven Dwarfs, Frozen Boats, Buzz Lightyear) have automatic photos - but require either a MagicBand or to have Bluetooth set up in the WDW app to capture - so you'll need one or the other to get those.

 

[Miffy]

#5: Mobile ordering. When we were at WDW in May, the lag time between ordering and first pickup option varied. The biggest lag time was for Woody's at DHS. When we ordered the first available pickup time was 3 hours later. Flametree at DAK also had at least an hour lag.

I don't know how they feel about arriving late for your pickup. Perhaps someone else will have the answer to that.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Depends on the ride, but sometimes, yes. (Your admission card also works.)

However, a few of the rides (eg, Seven Dwarfs, Frozen Boats, Buzz Lightyear) have automatic photos - but require either a MagicBand or to have Bluetooth set up in the WDW app to capture - so you'll need one or the other to get those.

Thanks. I think I may buy a Magicband just for myself to help make sure we get photos. Appreciate the help!

 

[Katie Dawn]

#5: Mobile ordering. When we were at WDW in May, the lag time between ordering and first pickup option varied. The biggest lag time was for Woody's at DHS. When we ordered the first available pickup time was 3 hours later. Flametree at DAK also had at least an hour lag.

I don't know how they feel about arriving late for your pickup. Perhaps someone else will have the answer to that.

Yes, I've read that Woody's is one of the places you better order early if you want to get a time slot you like!

 

[CynBeth]

We were there around Thanksgiving and the few times we did mobile order for a lunch or dinner instead of eating at a TS we found it very fast. Breakfast at the CBR food court was amazing. We were in a preferred room and would hit I am here and usually on the way there already would get the alert it was ready or within a few minutes of arriving there.

 

[Skyblu2265]

(3) There are reports that ETPE is beginning earlier than the official start time. In other words, park opening is at 9am, ETPE is at 8:30am... How often (right now) are they letting ETPE guests in PRIOR to 8:30am? By "let in" I don't mean able to get in and stand in a holding area - I mean able to start riding attractions.

We were at WDW the week of Nov.28th, both of our days at HS we entered before ETPE actually started. We did not participate in ETPE at the others parks this trip, so I can’t speak to those. Monday was only about 15 mins earlier, around 8:15am, but you could tell by the wait times guests were being let in earlier than that. On Friday we got on the skyliner as it opened at 730am, got to the park around 7:40ish and we’re able to go right in. Some rides were open, like ROTR, and Smugglers Run, but some didn’t open or start running until the official 8:30am opening time (Rides in Toy Story Land).
I agree with Scrappinginontario, get there early by whatever form of transportation you can take and takes your chances of getting in early, especially to ride some of the more popular attractions.

 

[Pens Fan]

As for number 5, I can’t answer how flexible they are but we are here right now - last night of an 8 day trip - and we were here for a week in October as well. Honestly, I think the whole concept of ordering lunch as soon as you get in the park has been way overblown. There probably are a few places (Woody’s seems to be a problem) but everything we mobile ordered on either trip was available either immediately or with a very minimal wait. I wouldn’t stress about this. You’ll find food when you want it. We also noticed that most QS restaurants we used had lines of people just walking up and ordering. We didn’t try this but given how prevalent this was I’m assuming there is no longer the full on press by cast members for mobile order that there was even a few months ago.