Seven Dwarfs Mine train without a fast pass?

[CJK]

I'm helping some friends plan a last minute trip to Disney in early August. The SDMT fast passes are gone. They are staying offsite, so I don't think they'll actually get to the park until 9:15am or so. I've encouraged them to go earlier due to crowds, but they're a big group of people and it's doubtful they'd get there before 9:15am. I'm assuming the line will be too long for SDMT by that time. Is there, traditionally, a good time to try this ride without a fast pass? They want to see the afternoon parade, so they can't do it during that time. Any other time? The park closes at 12am that day, but I doubt they will stay until the end. They'll probably see the fireworks and head for home. Should I prepare them for possibly not doing that ride (or wait in a loooong line)?

 

[mom2rtk]

They can try during the afternoon parade. But honestly I love that parade and would instead be recommending that they see the parade.

Just tell them to expect a very long line for a very short ride and let them decide if it's worth it. If they cared that much, they'd get there earlier or stay later.

 

[jcarwash]

If they are actually inside MK at 9:15 (and the park opens at 9am) it's possible the posted standby line time will still be around 30 minutes. I wouldn't like to stand in that line, however, I'd guess it's a tolerable wait if they really want to ride SDMT.

The very best option (in my opinion) to ride SDMT without a FastPass is to rope drop MK and be in the group that's walked to SDMT and sent into the queue. With a 9am opening they'd need to be in the MK entry area by 8:15 or so. But I understand they won't likely make it that early.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

If they are actually inside MK at 9:15 (and the park opens at 9am) it's possible the posted standby line time will still be around 30 minutes. I wouldn't like to stand in that line, however, I'd guess it's a tolerable wait if they really want to ride SDMT.

The very best option (in my opinion) to ride SDMT without a FastPass is to rope drop MK and be in the group that's walked to SDMT and sent into the queue. With a 9am opening they'd need to be in the MK entry area by 8:15 or so. But I understand they won't likely make it that early.

Wait, so stand and wait 45 minutes so you don't have to stand and wait 30 minutes?

 

[mom2rtk]

Wait, so stand and wait 45 minutes so you don't have to stand and wait 30 minutes?

The hour following rope drop is one of the best hours you can have for quick access to attractions. If you arrive just after everyone else enters the park and have to spend even 30 minutes in line (possibly more), that hour is about gone. If you are at the front of that crowd and can ride quickly, you still have most of that golden hour left to quickly do a number of other rides.

I just personally prefer to do my waiting before the park opens when I can't be riding other things anyway.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

The hour following rope drop is one of the best hours you can have for quick access to attractions. If you arrive just after everyone else enters the park and have to spend even 30 minutes in line (possibly more), that hour is about gone. If you are at the front of that crowd and can ride quickly, you still have most of that golden hour left to quickly do a number of other rides.

I just personally prefer to do my waiting before the park opens when I can't be riding other things anyway.

Ahh, got ya. It came across very odd if we were just talking about 7DMT.

I would think arrive at 9AM and do everything but 7DMT-but indeed if they can get a7DMT FP+. I would check right up until the night before even-might get lucky.

 

[minnie mum]

if they can get a7DMT FP+. I would check right up until the night before even-might get lucky.

Miracles happen, but if they are a large group, and are touring as a group, that's not gonna happen.

 

[asta]

I hope that early mornings are better than late night. Last week we rode it during Extra Magic Hours at around 1 am and the line was still about 1 hour long.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I would avoid late EMH at MK. And then I would ride it around 11:30pm. The last few weeks, we have had no problem getting on twice around that time prior to the 12am closing the line. We have done it several different days over the last few weeks at that time. However, right up til around 11, the line was still really long. And BTW, everyone of the parks were VERY BUSY this week! Sheesh! It's like everyone called each other and all came the same time. Week after July 4th was much better! Also sometimes we would go to the 7D entrance and the sign would say 60 min! And the CM says "but its not." We got thru it in about 20. We have a theory that they leave it at 60 that late in the day to discourage everyone from heading there right before closing, or at least that's what I wonder. A great way to tell, if your line is close to the buildings, its a short wait. If you see people in line close to the 'road', its long. No matter what the sign says. And if your line starts inside the building, it will be about 20 min.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Everyone always heads there first thing so even at park open (EMH for resort or rope drop) by 9am, the Line is already an hr. And it's MUCH MUCH more fun at night! And sit in the back, much more fun!

 

[asta]

Everyone always heads there first thing so even at park open (EMH for resort or rope drop) by 9am, the Line is already an hr. And it's MUCH MUCH more fun at night! And sit in the back, much more fun!

The back is more fun. It is also fun to rock the car back and forth if your party is taking up both rows of the car.

 

[asta]

I would avoid late EMH at MK.

I agree 100%. Last week the EMH between 12:00-2:00am were unbelieveably crowded. Long lines throughout. My family has always loved late nights. Staying up late is the norm for us. Even my daughters said it was a total waste and we would have been better off being back at the hotel room.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

This ride always had a long wait while we were there. We didn't check back right before midnight but you can forget emh's. You'll spend 75% if your emh in line. We skipped emh the last 5 days or so because lines were too long in all the parks. Early morning was much better. One night last week rnr had a 140 min. wait at 11pm.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Just a few weeks ago, 7D had a 5 minute wait right after Wishes. The posted wait was 65.

We've been able to ride twice during the last half hour of operation several times. Just keep in mind that the posted wait time can often be 4 times the actual wait.

For us, we find the late night hours to be a more efficient use of our time for reriding the headliners. Much better than waiting outside a closed gate in the morning.

 

[asta]

Just a few weeks ago, 7D had a 5 minute wait right after Wishes. The posted wait was 65.

We've been able to ride twice during the last half hour of operation several times. Just keep in mind that the posted wait time can often be 4 times the actual wait.

For us, we find the late night hours to be a more efficient use of our time for reriding the headliners. Much better than waiting outside a closed gate in the morning.

Our experience a week ago was totally opposite. We actually did wait in the 7DMT during EMH and the line took every minute of the almost an hour posted wait time. I would never again assume that wait times late at night will be shorter.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Our experience a week ago was totally opposite. We actually did wait in the 7DMT during EMH and the line took every minute of the almost an hour posted wait time. I would never again assume that wait times late at night will be shorter.

We find the lines for the first half of evening EMH to be longer than non-EMH nights.

Also, we've been noticing that nights of a morning EMH (or any day that opened at 8 am) are much less crowded. I guess people get up too early, get tired and leave.

We always had really good luck following this strategy during peak seasons.

 

[Sytrace]

If you have not already tried this, I would suggest trying to get FP for 3 to 4 members of the large group at a time.
You might have a better chance of getting them all into a time area if they are broken into smaller groups. Then after they have FP, go back and adjust the time of experience so you are in the same time range. Say 12:30 to 1:30 PM for one part of the group and 12:15 to 1:15 for another, etc. Then ride at a central time point, like 12:45

I do this sometimes when we are going with friends. There are 4 of us and 5 of them, so we just look for close times and book then.
Just a thought. You might have already tried that. Or it could be that there is no more distribution (which is so annoying) for that day.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

The back is more fun. It is also fun to rock the car back and forth if your party is taking up both rows of the car.

And you must yell Hi Ho and clap and scream to Hi Ho. It's fun people! Bring the fun, bring the party. If you are on my train, you will know it!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Our experience a week ago was totally opposite. We actually did wait in the 7DMT during EMH and the line took every minute of the almost an hour posted wait time. I would never again assume that wait times late at night will be shorter.

EMH is a terrible idea at night, not horrible early morning. I learned back in 08 that all it does is take all four parks down to one for the masses of resort guests. Now, we find out where it is, and go some where else. Even with packed crowds this week, we still got two 7D rides from 11:15/30ish-12a in Stand By. Definitely not during EMH tho. We even got Ariel's grotto for the first time in my whole life for less than 15 min at 11pm!!!

 

[Nettester]

Can the big group be split up for arrival? Or all they all type B personalities? If you have any type A's, early-risers, commando-styles, avid Disney fans, or ride enthusiasts in the group, encourage that sub-group to hit rope drop and meet up with the rest of the group a little later. You're going to have a hard time pleasing everyone in a large group if they insist on staying together the entire time.