Rope Drops and Fastpasses...

[GADisneyDad14]

Don't be scarred of EMM. Total and absolute non-issue. It's a very small crowd - like 200 based on reports around here. You'll never even know they had a 1 hour and 15 minute head start on you. I have done two of them.

At a typical 9AM MK rope drop, a LARGE majority of people are heading to 7DMT. A much smaller number veer off to other parts of the park. Personally I would FP 7DMT and focus your precious rope drop time on other headliners. For example, we will often go straight to BTMRR and can usually do a couple of rides there.

You can get a ton done in the first hour if you really set your mind to it. But fighting the masses to 7DMT is a big time sucker, in my opinion. Leave it to a FP.

 

[mousehockey37]

Yes, MouseHockey37... the way I see it ,the two days will ensure that I get on all of my favorites at least once, but I do still want to see the new Happily show. If it was still Wishes... I could skip it or watch from the back of the crowds.. would not bother me. But I can see myself doing that (skipping the fireworks)on the second night. I heard back in 2015 how Dumbo is beautiful at night, and I think I want to do it.. fireworks or not!
Thanks again!

To me, I love the parks at night. Another time you would want to try and capitalize would be after the 2pm FoF parade. There's normally a pretty good rush out of the park afterwards.

I just looked at something else as well.... November 9th is the 1st MVMCP!!!!! So the park will be closing early that night, probably 6ish.

Factor that in as well... there won't be HEA on your 2nd MK day. A good thing is though, you *may* have better crowds the 2nd day as day pass holders won't burn a full day pass on a park that will close early. But this is a huge ding to the plans.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Don't be scarred of EMM. Total and absolute non-issue. It's a very small crowd - like 200 based on reports around here. You'll never even know they had a 1 hour and 15 minute head start on you. I have done two of them.

At a typical 9AM MK rope drop, a LARGE majority of people are heading to 7DMT. A much smaller number veer off to other parts of the park. Personally I would FP 7DMT and focus your precious rope drop time on other headliners. For example, we will often go straight to BTMRR and can usually do a couple of rides there.

You can get a ton done in the first hour if you really set your mind to it. But fighting the masses to 7DMT is a big time sucker, in my opinion. Leave it to a FP.

Ugh.
GADisneyDad14, you are making a LOT of sense. If the mad rush is mostly for 7DMT... then THAT is really the ride to FP. FP it for what time, 8 or 9am - opening time??? Is that how it's done???

Thank you so much.
Thank ALL of you!!!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

..

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Ugh.
GADisneyDad14, you are making a LOT of sense. If the mad rush is mostly for 7DMT... then THAT is really the ride to FP. FP it for what time, 8 or 9am - opening time??? Is that how it's done???

Thank you so much.
Thank ALL of you!!!

Lots of opinions on "when" you should start your FPs, but for US, for a 9AM opening I don't start the first FP until 10ish-11ish window, and even then don't really plan on using that FP until later in that window. I like to haul butt for as long as I can in the first hour or two, then start up the FPs.

Others will recomend to wait even later in the day when crowds are higher.

It's a give/take thing. If you plan your FPs earlier you can start making more after your third. If you don't plan your third until real late in the day, you're pretty much stuck with 3 all day.

Always tough to decide just what to do, but you have to plan it around the way you like to tour and how much time you think you'll be in the park.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

To me, I love the parks at night. Another time you would want to try and capitalize would be after the 2pm FoF parade. There's normally a pretty good rush out of the park afterwards.

I just looked at something else as well.... November 9th is the 1st MVMCP!!!!! So the park will be closing early that night, probably 6ish.

Factor that in as well... there won't be HEA on your 2nd MK day. A good thing is though, you *may* have better crowds the 2nd day as day pass holders won't burn a full day pass on a park that will close early. But this is a huge ding to the plans.

Yes, about that FOF parade. I plan to be in a relaxation mode by 1pm and have a pillow to sit for the parade. After the parade would indeed be a good time to catch my other rides and character greets! November 9th also works well because I believe that I will have met my MK satisfaction by that time and can move on to an early Epcot run. So I don't see it as a ding in the plans at all. This is great as long as day one goes as planned. I do have 8 days, so if something runs off my timeline.. it will be okay.

Thanks so much for all of this info!!!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Lots of opinions on "when" you should start your FPs, but for US, for a 9AM opening I don't start the first FP until 10ish-11ish window, and even then don't really plan on using that FP until later in that window. I like to haul butt for as long as I can in the first hour or two, then start up the FPs.

Others will recomend to wait even later in the day when crowds are higher.

It's a give/take thing. If you plan your FPs earlier you can start making more after your third. If you don't plan your third until real late in the day, you're pretty much stuck with 3 all day.

Always tough to decide just what to do, but you have to plan it around the way you like to tour and how much time you think you'll be in the park.

I'm thinking I want to start early. And then have more FP's for later in the day and even for the evening. Put I do indeed there is value in haul butting. The earlier the haul butting... more time SANS the chaos later in the day. I need to be honest. I spend four years back to back without those crowds... I have not had enough time to get used to not being / feeling so challenged by them.

 

[mousehockey37]

Lots of opinions on "when" you should start your FPs, but for US, for a 9AM opening I don't start the first FP until 10ish-11ish window, and even then don't really plan on using that FP until later in that window. I like to haul butt for as long as I can in the first hour or two, then start up the FPs.

Others will recomend to wait even later in the day when crowds are higher.

It's a give/take thing. If you plan your FPs earlier you can start making more after your third. If you don't plan your third until real late in the day, you're pretty much stuck with 3 all day.

Always tough to decide just what to do, but you have to plan it around the way you like to tour and how much time you think you'll be in the park.

As I said earlier, flexibility is key. You could be doing something and notice a ride has a low wait time and be close to it... I'd set the FP's up and have a general plan and go from there. Sometimes you just happen to luck into things, other times it can work against you.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

FWIW - I LOVE MK on party days, especially at Rope Drop. Outside of parties around a super crowded time (like the last week of Oct), I've had very good experiences with MK on party days. It's still going to be crowded, but very manageable, in my humble opinion.

 

[pangyal]

I've also seen PP bump to a 50 minute wait within five minutes of official park open. I would strongly suggest using a fast pass for that one as well.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

FWIW - I LOVE MK on party days, especially at Rope Drop. Outside of parties around a super crowded time (like the last week of Oct), I've had very good experiences with MK on party days. It's still going to be crowded, but very manageable, in my humble opinion.

Yes! This what I am hoping for! It may be closing earlier... and yet be more manageable!
I shall certainly find out. lol

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I've also seem PP bump to a 50 minute wait within five minutes of official park open. I would strongly suggest using a fast pass for that one as well.

Good Idea. Thanks so much. Don't know what it is about PP that we all love so much. But it's my favorite of the classics! I really feel like I'm flying.... And... I am.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

As I said earlier, flexibility is key. You could be doing something and notice a ride has a low wait time and be close to it... I'd set the FP's up and have a general plan and go from there. Sometimes you just happen to luck into things, other times it can work against you.

Yes, I see. And I will have the wait times app on my phone to keep track (presuming it's accurate). Certainly, I know that no strategy can be written in stone.

 

[sharonabe]

I've also seem PP bump to a 50 minute wait within five minutes of official park open. I would strongly suggest using a fast pass for that one as well.

Good Idea. Thanks so much. Don't know what it is about PP that we all love so much. But it's my favorite of the classics! I really feel like I'm flying.... And... I am.

Don't know when your last trip was, but if you haven't been since they re-did the queue for PP, you'll want to do a non-FP for that on one of your days. The FP line bypasses most of the new queue, and it's pretty cool. Perhaps FP for the first day, then hit PP at rope drop on the 9th.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Don't know when your last trip was, but if you haven't been since they re-did the queue for PP, you'll want to do a non-FP for that on one of your days. The FP line bypasses most of the new queue, and it's pretty cool. Perhaps FP for the first day, then hit PP at rope drop on the 9th.

I did indeed see the new queue for PP. I was there in late 2015.
I have done my research and I think I will indeed do FP's for 7D and PP. I checked the wait times this morning via my app and those where the only two that had 35 and 40 minute wait times at 9:22 am.

I thank all of your guys for your input and insight.

 

[wareagle57]

I prefer not to spend RD time on rides that could potentially result in waits. 7DMT takes a long time to follow the CM through the long winding queue. By then Peter Pan could be a 20 or 30 minute wait. After that the wait time will be up at big thunder. You're going to book fastpasses anyway. Might as well make them for 7DMT and Peter Pan. That way you can do Big Thunder (probably 2 or 3 times if you want), Splash, Jungle Cruise, and Pirates all without a wait in the first hour.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I would get fast passes, for noon or afternoon, for the Fantasyland rides. I would do everything else at rope drop. Since most people rush to 7DMT and PP as soon as the park opens, you can get a lot done by being contrarian and going to the other lands.