Peter Pan Strategy when it's crowded

[corinne76]

We're heading to the parks next week. What's the best strategy for PP when DLR is crowded? I don't want to miss it, but I also don't want to spend 60 min in line if there's a better way

 

[VandVsmama]

Be in line at the main gates (that means, you're already through security) 45-50 minutes before the official park opening. When the rope drops, 'walk with purpose' to Peter Pan.

 

[courtneybeth]

Do it at rope drop and skip the Season of the Force - most will head there to get their Fast Passes before doing other things. Make Peter Pan the #1 priority and head to it at Rope Drop.... even better if you have early magic hours if you're staying on property.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Yep, like the others said, go first thing in the morning. Make it your first ride of the day.

 

[corinne76]

LOL walk with purpose.

We're not huge Star Wars fans, so heading to FL sounds like a great idea. thanks!

 

[Metalliman98]

Go to it first thing, but if you don't have EMH/MM, make sure you go on a non-early entry day. If you go on a Disneyland early entry day (Tu/Th/sa) and you don't have EMH/MM, there will already be crowds in the park by the time they let you in and the line, while not unbearable, will already be somewhat long.

 

[mad hatter fan]

I'm not sure we will be able to walk to our first ride of the day as fast as we usually do. My DD has been having mysterious joint pain we have not been able to figure out the cause of. If her feet and ankles are acting up we will have to walk slow. I am trying to get her to warm up to the idea of using a wheelchair some of the time. (anxiety issues as well which affect her accepting new things) Either way we will not be making our way fast to Peter Pan like we always have. Would it be best to leave it to later then?

 

[GeneralTso]

Hopefully you have early entry and can beat the majority of the crowd.
Whatever you have (or don't) head there right away. Be at rope drop and be ready to go as fast as you can to Peter Pan. We have a runner. It just works.

If you miss the first thing in the morning window, you're kind of hosed and will be waiting about an hour. When they post 30 minute wait, I just laugh. It's never 30 minutes.

 

[wendydarling33]

Also if you have a stroller, consider leaving it parked nicely somewhere on Main Street. When we did the dash to PP thing recently, they made us park our stroller all the way by the carousel. I guess if there's another adult in your party that can hop into line and save your spot while you park the stroller it's not that big of a deal, but I was by myself and seriously the extra minute it took me to walk over there, park it and return cost me 20 minutes in line.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm not sure we will be able to walk to our first ride of the day as fast as we usually do. My DD has been having mysterious joint pain we have not been able to figure out the cause of. If her feet and ankles are acting up we will have to walk slow. I am trying to get her to warm up to the idea of using a wheelchair some of the time. (anxiety issues as well which affect her accepting new things) Either way we will not be making our way fast to Peter Pan like we always have. Would it be best to leave it to later then?

I don't know what the wait is like at the end of the day, it's been too long since I've closed down the park!

BUT I wanted to say if you have any concerns about navigating the parks with your DD's issues I highly recommend checking out the disABILITIES section here on the DIS. They are very helpful!

 

[agamble]

I'm not sure we will be able to walk to our first ride of the day as fast as we usually do. My DD has been having mysterious joint pain we have not been able to figure out the cause of. If her feet and ankles are acting up we will have to walk slow. I am trying to get her to warm up to the idea of using a wheelchair some of the time. (anxiety issues as well which affect her accepting new things) Either way we will not be making our way fast to Peter Pan like we always have. Would it be best to leave it to later then?

If you can't get on PP quickly, then go at another time. Ride other rides with no waits during that time. Another good time to ride PP can be after the fireworks. They close the Fantasyland rides during Fireworks and open them afterwards. A line will form before the area opens back up.

 

[hanna-nana]

If you end up with a wheelchair it's much easier. Go to the exit and they'll give you a return time. Go ride Pinocchio and Snow White and then go back after your return time and check back in at the exit.

 

[smartlabelprint]

If you need to be at the park an hour early standing in line what's the difference from standing in the ride line for an hour?

 

[Diszona]

I don't know what the wait is like at the end of the day, it's been too long since I've closed down the park!

BUT I wanted to say if you have any concerns about navigating the parks with your DD's issues I highly recommend checking out the disABILITIES section here on the DIS. They are very helpful!

We usually make Pan our last ride. We get in line right before the park closes so we get an "extra" ride to end the day. It usually isn't too bad at that time but it can be rough if you aren't night owls like us.

 

[Minniekins]

We will have one early morning MM entry. Does it matter which day we use it, a Tue or a Thu? And, I will have an ECV. So will I have to park somewhere else, such as over by the strollers, too, to be able to get on early? Not sure what other rides will be available, guess that's something I need to check next to find what else is there in the area to ride in that hour!

 

[22Tink]

If you need to be at the park an hour early standing in line what's the difference from standing in the ride line for an hour?

I feel this way exactly! We rarely rope drop for this reason. Standing in line is standing in line, and I'd rather stand in line for a ride than at the entrance waiting for the people whose tickets don't work, or have questions, etc. that hold up the entry lines. To each their own, though!!

 

[sherilaine]

If you need to be at the park an hour early standing in line what's the difference from standing in the ride line for an hour?

I agree with this - if one ride is your only motivation for showing up early and waiting at rope drop - then just wait in the line some other time. We love rope drop but we do a lot of rides early on in the morning. Our last trip I kept an eye on the app and we rode Peter when it was a fairly decent timed wait - it was about 20 minutes but the sign said 25.

The one thing about Peter Pan is even on busy days when Space has a very long wait - say 90 minutes or more - PP seems to always stick that 45 minutes or under.

It's a slow loading ride, so the line might not look long but it's deceiving cause is moves SLOW!

 

[chrisaman]

You stand in line before the park opens so u aren't wasting park time. I guess that wouldn't matter for those that go all the time or that don't want to spend all day in the parks but to some they want to maximize every hour. Plus waiting in that Peter Pan line is brutal.

I would do it first thing on a non magic hour day. Otherwise do it at the end of the day or right after fireworks when fantasyland reopens

 

[hanna-nana]

We will have one early morning MM entry. Does it matter which day we use it, a Tue or a Thu? And, I will have an ECV. So will I have to park somewhere else, such as over by the strollers, too, to be able to get on early? Not sure what other rides will be available, guess that's something I need to check next to find what else is there in the area to ride in that hour!

With an ECV, head to the exit. There should be a CM there. They will scan your park tickets and give you a return time. It may be 20 mins or an hour later but then you can go off and ride other fantasyland rides and go back when your time has come up. The ECV will not fit through the queue so they'll have you and your party go through the exit.

 

[Minniekins]

With an ECV, head to the exit. There should be a CM there. They will scan your park tickets and give you a return time. It may be 20 mins or an hour later but then you can go off and ride other fantasyland rides and go back when your time has come up. The ECV will not fit through the queue so they'll have you and your party go through the exit.

Thank you, hanna-nana! So, if you do this, where do you leave your ecv when you are riding?