ONE DAY AT MK... Tell me your thoughts on how I should proceed EDIT: FINAL PLAN UPDATE

[ashnicole]

I appreciate the tip about saving the Fantasyland attractions for later on in the day. If I can snag 7DMT I will certain take it but I haven't seen it pop up at all over the past few days. I'll keep checking

I had one day at MK over Columbus Day weekend, I believe crowds were predicted to be at a 7 or 8. I couldn't get 7DMT FP ahead of time and the line was too long at RD (the cm said it was about 70 minutes already. However, we did stop for pictures on Main Street). I checked MDE and found fp for the next hour. So check that morning, as well! I think the longest line we waited in all day was 30 minutes because of fp openings!
We got to do most things we wanted to do that, including both parades and wishes. We got to meet some of the characters too! We had a plan but if we saw something as we were walking that we wanted to see or do, or a picture we wanted, we stopped.
I think you'll have a great day!

 

[tortilla24]

I had one day at MK over Columbus Day weekend, I believe crowds were predicted to be at a 7 or 8. I couldn't get 7DMT FP ahead of time and the line was too long at RD (the cm said it was about 70 minutes already. However, we did stop for pictures on Main Street). I checked MDE and found fp for the next hour. So check that morning, as well! I think the longest line we waited in all day was 30 minutes because of fp openings!
We got to do most things we wanted to do that, including both parades and wishes. We got to meet some of the characters too! We had a plan but if we saw something as we were walking that we wanted to see or do, or a picture we wanted, we stopped.
I think you'll have a great day!

That's awesome! I will definitely be checking day-of. 70 min at RD?! Noooo thank you. That's great - we are going in with the midset. Our plan is fluid. If we want to stop, we will!

 

[lynzi2004]

A head's up on rope drop....when we tell you to head to 7DMT at rope drop, we mean go STRAIGHT there!!! As a PP mentioned, if you stop for a picture, you can forget your chances of getting on with a short wait. Be there at MK gates early, if something doesn't go as planned and you get there 15 minutes after rope drop...forget 7DMT. If its the boys first time in MK and going down Mainstreet, you are going to have to encourage them and their mom to just keep walking and don't stop. There will be a mass of people heading to 7DMT, stay with them!! There will be time to stop and smell the roses, AFTER your ride on 7DMT

Not saying this to scare you, but just making sure you understand that you must get there early and walk straight there. Otherwise, as for as crowds go, it would be smarter to wait in a 90 minute line at 4pm, than a 70 min line at 9am!

 

[tink9702]

We did mine train at rope drop and before we made it the line said 30 min but it was only 10 so don't be discouraged, if you go straight there at rope drop you'll be in good shape

A head's up on rope drop....when we tell you to head to 7DMT at rope drop, we mean go STRAIGHT there!!! As a PP mentioned, if you stop for a picture, you can forget your chances of getting on with a short wait. Be there at MK gates early, if something doesn't go as planned and you get there 15 minutes after rope drop...forget 7DMT. If its the boys first time in MK and going down Mainstreet, you are going to have to encourage them and their mom to just keep walking and don't stop. There will be a mass of people heading to 7DMT, stay with them!! There will be time to stop and smell the roses, AFTER your ride on 7DMT

Not saying this to scare you, but just making sure you understand that you must get there early and walk straight there. Otherwise, as for as crowds go, it would be smarter to wait in a 90 minute line at 4pm, than a 70 min line at 9am!

I absolutely agree with both of these posters! If you skip the pictures on main street and go straight there Mine Train is extremely quick.

Some people like to do everything in a land and then move on to the next one, my family isn't one of them. We do the rides that have long waits as early in the morning as possible then go back to the land later in the day for the rides with short waits. Yes, it's more walking and you might have to encourage your kids to keep moving a bit but I think it's very worth it to stand in less lines.

As long as you prioritize what you definitely want to accomplish you'll be good. Have everyone pick 3 rides they have to do. As long as you hit all those rides, you're golden! Especially since most will overlap.

 

[GillianP1301]

I think the plan looks good and it's obvious you're thinking alternate options, skipping certain things depending on wait times. The flexibility will help you get most of the stuff done that you want.

The only suggestion that I can think to make is around the lunch. It sounds like you want to monorail to a resort for a QS as a way of a break. Another option would be to book a TS restaurant in MK for lunch. It will take the same amount of time (maybe even less) than monorailing and eating QS and you'll get more of a rest out of it. If budget is a concern, then I would recommend The Plaza, great lunch/sandwich type food and the price is one of the most reasonable TS on property, not really that much more than some QS. It's also pretty yummy!

 

[cel_disney]

OP - we have had good luck getting in line for Mine Train close to the fireworks time - if you are willing to forego the perfect fireworks view - this is a good option - get in line at 30 minutes before fireworks -it's got some interactive elements when you get inside and it's not as hot in the evening.

 

[SeeDisney]

Hi again --- we have the almost the same age boys. I like to also add about the peter pan ride as you mentioned that your boys may want to forego this ride. If you happen to see that ride with a 30 minute wait or less, I strongly suggest to go for it. The Peter Pan ride now has an AMAZING interactive queque line before the ride. I am actually more excited about seeing this than the Peter Pan ride itself. It's one of those rides, that I DON'T want a fast pass for. My strategy for MK is to hit the PP ride first at rope drop, then ISMW, then head to Jungle cruise, and do the lands clockwise, with a FP for Mines ride. But the mine ride also has a great queque line as well. oh Decisions, decisions!!!! LOL

 

[tortilla24]

A head's up on rope drop....when we tell you to head to 7DMT at rope drop, we mean go STRAIGHT there!!! As a PP mentioned, if you stop for a picture, you can forget your chances of getting on with a short wait. Be there at MK gates early, if something doesn't go as planned and you get there 15 minutes after rope drop...forget 7DMT. If its the boys first time in MK and going down Mainstreet, you are going to have to encourage them and their mom to just keep walking and don't stop. There will be a mass of people heading to 7DMT, stay with them!! There will be time to stop and smell the roses, AFTER your ride on 7DMT

Not saying this to scare you, but just making sure you understand that you must get there early and walk straight there. Otherwise, as for as crowds go, it would be smarter to wait in a 90 minute line at 4pm, than a 70 min line at 9am!

Thank you.. I understand totally! I will prep them earlier that morning that we will take pictures afterwards and that we're hauling it now to avoid hellish lines later.

 

[tortilla24]

I absolutely agree with both of these posters! If you skip the pictures on main street and go straight there Mine Train is extremely quick.

Some people like to do everything in a land and then move on to the next one, my family isn't one of them. We do the rides that have long waits as early in the morning as possible then go back to the land later in the day for the rides with short waits. Yes, it's more walking and you might have to encourage your kids to keep moving a bit but I think it's very worth it to stand in less lines.

As long as you prioritize what you definitely want to accomplish you'll be good. Have everyone pick 3 rides they have to do. As long as you hit all those rides, you're golden! Especially since most will overlap.

I love that strategy of picking 3 must-do rides. Rest assured, we will be skipping the pictures in the morning. All will follow the hoards to Fantasyland. The park opens at 9am that day. The plan was to arrive at the TTC by 8 and hope to be in line by 8:30. Should we try to be there even earlier?

 

[tortilla24]

I think the plan looks good and it's obvious you're thinking alternate options, skipping certain things depending on wait times. The flexibility will help you get most of the stuff done that you want.

The only suggestion that I can think to make is around the lunch. It sounds like you want to monorail to a resort for a QS as a way of a break. Another option would be to book a TS restaurant in MK for lunch. It will take the same amount of time (maybe even less) than monorailing and eating QS and you'll get more of a rest out of it. If budget is a concern, then I would recommend The Plaza, great lunch/sandwich type food and the price is one of the most reasonable TS on property, not really that much more than some QS. It's also pretty yummy!

Great suggestion. Yes, the intention was a break and some a/c. Others have also recommended Plaza - definitely seems like a good option for us as budget is a factor

 

[tortilla24]

OP - we have had good luck getting in line for Mine Train close to the fireworks time - if you are willing to forego the perfect fireworks view - this is a good option - get in line at 30 minutes before fireworks -it's got some interactive elements when you get inside and it's not as hot in the evening.

Thank you! If rope dropping it doesn't work out for us for whatever reason (or if the boys want to reride it), we will definitely try that. Perfect fireworks view is not necessary. Thanks for the tip!

 

[tortilla24]

Hi again --- we have the almost the same age boys. I like to also add about the peter pan ride as you mentioned that your boys may want to forego this ride. If you happen to see that ride with a 30 minute wait or less, I strongly suggest to go for it. The Peter Pan ride now has an AMAZING interactive queque line before the ride. I am actually more excited about seeing this than the Peter Pan ride itself. It's one of those rides, that I DON'T want a fast pass for. My strategy for MK is to hit the PP ride first at rope drop, then ISMW, then head to Jungle cruise, and do the lands clockwise, with a FP for Mines ride. But the mine ride also has a great queque line as well. oh Decisions, decisions!!!! LOL

Hahaha I've heard that about the Mine Train queue. PP isn't as a huge priority because the boys don't have a connection to that story (they didn't grow up in the US) but if it's a moderate line, we will totally wait it out. Thanks for the advice!

 

[cel_disney]

My 9.5 year old suggested that I tell you that he made us go on space mountain an extra time with a 30 minute wait because he likes to play the games in THAT interactive.

 

[tortilla24]

My 9.5 year old suggested that I tell you that he made us go on space mountain an extra time with a 30 minute wait because he likes to play the games in THAT interactive.

Tell him I appreciate the advice! Sounds like it's a fun queue to wait in

 

[lvdis]

If you have a smartphone, I recommend you get the MDE app if you haven't already or make sure it's updated. Starting around the middle of last month you could make and change fp+ reservations from the app. I used it on a one day trip to MK at the end of April and it worked out really well! I followed the advice found in this thread http://disboards.com/threads/new-fp-system-works-great.3504659/#post-55630965 and was able to get a fp+ for almost anything we wanted and by going back in and playing with the times, most of the time could head right over to the ride and use it. My family was amazed! We used our 3 pre-reserved fp+ by around 1:15 or so and then started getting the extra ones one after another. It worked better than expected. We had a great day! I hope you have great fun too!

 

[tortilla24]

Hi all!

I'm happy to report that I managed to snag 4 FP+ for 7DMT! And get this.... At 10:20am!

So now I feel worlds better.

We have 7DMT between 10:20 and 11:20, Splash between 11:30 and 12:30, and BTMMR between 12:30 and 1:30.

The new strategy is to Rope Drop Tomorrowland and do: Space Mountain, Buzz and Speedway.

Then tackle Fantasyland rides if there's time left in our window (basically if the line is short for PP or Small World).

Then over onto Frontierland for our next 2 FP+

We'll try afterwards for Pirates and HM. Then just do shows, other short-line attractions and repeats.

Thanks all for your advice! We're even more excited!

 

[cel_disney]

That's great news!! Sounds like a near perfect day!! If you check online and the Peter Pan line is long - barnstormer will still be a walk on that early in the morning if you want to scoot over to it!

 

[tortilla24]

That's great news!! Sounds like a near perfect day!! If you check online and the Peter Pan line is long - barnstormer will still be a walk on that early in the morning if you want to scoot over to it!

Thank you! We will do Barnstormer, too if we have the time.

 

[missangelalexis]

Congrats on snagging those FP! You sound like you are ready to go! have a great time

 

[SarahWeasley]

Sadly, it looks like there are no more FP+ for either Splash or Thunder for the entire day so I'll likely be keeping it as-is.

I know you posted this a week ago, and I think your new plan is great and don't mean to disrupt anything. But I wanted to point out that you may be deceived by a quirk of the FP+ system that confused me when I was planning our trip. If you already have FPs for a ride, say BTMRR, then the FP system will show that there are no more FPs available for BTMRR that day, unless you go to your existing BTMRR FP and click the option to Modify that FP. If you're just looking at the whole list of available FPs, effectively it says "There are no FPs available for this ride" when it means "You already have an FP for this ride so you can't book a second one."

Again, I don't expect this to impact your planning, just wanted to point that out since I didn't see that anyone else did.