Share your "only one day at MK" strategies

[ryan840]

I posted a similar thread in the family forum, and it didn't get much response, I realized I should have posted it here... We only have one day to spend at MK because we are only staying for three full days, and we will have evening EMH the day we go, but not morning ones. I was getting worried that we won't be able to do everything that we wanted to because of all the talk about wait times, so maybe someone can help me out. We don't care about the roller coasters or rides with height restrictions this trip, we will only be riding the ones we can take our son on (which is still most of them, I think) so hopefully that will save some time... We also want to see the 3:00 parade and will be taking a break afterwards, and returning at 6:00 to finish up. We will also want to see Wishes. What are your strategies to getting through MK in a day? We don't want to have to run from place to place or anything like that, but we are fine with grabbing fastpasses and then going somewhere else while we wait... Thanks so much to everyone for helping me out, I know I ask a lot of questions, but this might as well be my first trip to WDW, and when I get back, I'll help whoever I can in return.

 

[estnh]

The most important thing is to be waiting at the gate for opening. You can get more done in the first few hours than you can for the entire rest of the day. If you are not riding the attractions with height restrictions, you won't have any problem--those are the rides with the longest lines. I am assuming that your son is very young so I would start with Fantasyland.

I would go straight in from opening, and get a fast pass for Pooh. Then ride Peter Pan which is nearby. (These two rides seem to have the longest lines other than the thrill rides (I have seen fastpasses coming out with 7PM returns on Pooh at noon!!). While in the area, you can ride Snow White, and Small World. By then, you can use your fastpass at Pooh, then get another for Mickeys Philharmagic (don't miss this one!)

From there you can decide whether to go to Toontown, or one of the other lands--perhaps Tomorrowland for Buzz Lightyear. From this point on, you'll probably have to use fastpasses on all the other rides. I would focus on going to the shows you want to see when it gets to be late morning and early afternoon, as all the rides are jam packed by then. (We never think of doing rides at MK after around 11 AM when its crowded, except for fastpass, and even they tend to get backed up between noon and five).

Your evening magic hours will give you plenty of time for all the other rides you want, and the crowds will be minimal then.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[ryan840]

Thanks so much for the tips, a lot of things I had no idea about! I welcome anyone else's opinions/ strategies as well!

 

[elastigirlfan]

I know that Birnbaum's Guide and the Unofficial Guide give great planning advice for one day. They will give you tips of what rides/attractions not to miss and they even do it for 1/2 day trips as well. I liked reading both of them for their tips and advice and then I tailor it to what our girls wanted to do.

Have a couple of rides that you know you positively want to do and then others that you would like to do but you''ll be ok if you miss. Take advantage of Fast Pass and most of all - Have Fun!

Have a great trip!

Alyssa

 

[buckeye]

I agree with the strategy posted above. A good ride that needs no Fastpass is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Never a long wait, it's a restful tour around Tomorrowland, and you can usually just stay on as long as you want. We also enjoy the train ride for the same reasons.

Best advice is to be among the first to walk in the gate. Get yourself to the park and in line at least 20 minutes before the park opens. You can bring a snack for your little one to eat and put in the time if you need to.

 

[MagicOurWay]

Just wanted to add this suggestion. Since you are planning to catch a 3 pm parade and then leave until 6 you might want to look for a Fastpass with say a 5:45 - 6:45 return time before you stake out a spot for the parade (or you can send 1 adult looking while the rest of you hold your spot for the parade).

This way its like you get 1 free ride when you get back and you can still get another fastpass right away (if they are still available).

BTW, I wholeheartedly agree about being there when the park opens and heading straight to Fantasyland.

Note: It is my understanding from reading these boards that the CMs dont really enforce the end time on the fast passes so you could probably get one for anything before 6 and still use it when you get back. I haven't done this, however, and can't guarantee it will work.

 

[Dana_Buckley]

We were just at MK for one day in March, pre-cruise. My two boys are 20months and 5 yrs, so we don't ride the big stuff either.

The CM's did not enforce the end time on the FP when we were there. Meaning, our FP for Buzz was 2:30-3:30, we were allowed to board at 4:15.

Another trick we use, if your son is under three he won't need a FP, so if mom and dad each have one, then your son can ride two times, once with each of you.

If you open the park, ride the Pooh ride first, all together, then get your FP's, ride Peter Pan, Dumbo and Small World until your FP is ready, then mom take him on then dad can take him on. And one parent can run down to Buzz Lightyear and get FP's for that. Finish up in Fantasyland, then head to Buzz. Depending on the FP time eat lunch before or after Buzz.

If your son likes the characters I highly recommend dining at Crystal Palace, but you may not want to take the time out to do it. It takes about an hour or longer if you want to linger.

Have a great vacation! and Happy Planning!

 

[ryan840]

Those are all great tips, I'm writing them all down... Which book do you prefer, Unofficial Guide to WDW or Birnbaums? I will be getting one, just not sure which one, and two seems like too much right not. Thanks again!

 

[momof2sons]

Fantasyland first thing for sure if you have a little guy. Myself and youngest DS5 (at the time) ride plan in 2003 .
Fastpass Pooh, Dumbo (10min wait), Peterpan (5 min wait),
IASW (no wait), Carrousel (no wait), Pooh (with FP which he refused to ride once we got in front of the ride) gave those fastpass to someone waiting in line Meet up with rest of family at 10 and rode HM. Then to Toon Town Fair for face painting and pictures with The Mouse, Cinderella and her Mice friends. PS for Cindy's at 11:45 lunch. Over to watch the Bears, ride PC, JC, Aladens carpet ride, tree house.
Went found a spot for the parade and ice cream. Waited for the parade (Only time ever at WDW did we come across some very rude people that kept pushing and pushing until they where infront of us.) I thought my husband was going to blow a gasket. He decided it was not worth the trouble and time on such rude and arrogant family. We moved to a side area and had a wonderful veiw without the crowd (got some great pictures with our zoom lens).
Went to see Tiki Bird Show and DS5 had melt down Rest of family went to watch the show. Ds5 and I went for a ride on the bus back to our resort. Good nap on the ride over.
Rest of family came in grabbed food at food court and hopped the first bus to MK around 7pm.

 

[PieInYourEye]

Get finger foods and eat while you're in line

 

[rcraw45425]

Our MK plan is arrive early, do the big things that you wan to do (for us this trip it was all three mountains, HM, Buzz and Pan), then catch what is not a high priority. Definitely utilize Fast Pass for the mountains, pooh, pan, maybe Philharmagic. Get out by noon if possible and eat somewhere else or if you must, eat then leave. The crowds seemed to surge up Mainstreet by 11:00 each morning. I was glad we were at the GF, just rode the boat back "home", rested, then went to EPCOT in the afternoon.

 

[ryan840]

Get finger foods and eat while you're in line

So simple, yet I never thought of it!

 

[buckeye]

The Unofficial Guide is my favorite. It's helpful, but also an entertaining read! Funny!

 

[ryan840]

The Unofficial Guide is my favorite. It's helpful, but also an entertaining read! Funny!

That's one for Unofficial, anyone else want to back it up? Or do you prefer Birnbaum's? I'm going to go with the majority on this one!

 

[rcraw45425]

Another vote for UG. I have 4 copies of it, even though my DD9 has the whole thing memorized!

 

[ryan840]

Two - nothing, not looking good for Birnbaum's...

 

[GarrettJD]

Unofficial Guide all the way. Birnbaum's has nice pictures... but that's about the only advantage it has. The UG is written with a sense of humor, and they're not afraid to give you honest opinions of attractions and restaurants.

And I'll agree with all the others-- be at the gate before park opening, head straight into Fantasyland, and do those rides first. Some of the most horrendous wait times I've seen were for Peter Pan and Pooh in the middle of the afternoon. Last year in early June, we saw a wait of 140 minutes for Peter Pan about 5:00 in the afternoon. That's a 2 hour 20 minute wait for a 3 minute ride. No way! If you get to Fantasyland right when it opens, you can do Dumbo, Pooh, and Peter Pan in short order.

Oh, and as esnth said, DON'T miss Philharmagic-- it's now my second favorite MK attraction, right after Splash Mountain.

 

[ryan840]

Looks like it will be the Unofficial Guide- and I almost bought Birnbaum's yesterday, silly me! We will be there when the gate opens and do Fantasyland right away, followed by Philharmagic (with fastpass). That's all I got so far, gotta keep reading...

 

[rcraw45425]

My kids bought the Birnbaums for kids, love it! Younger one totes that one, older one has the UG, '05 edition. Shhhhh, don't tell her that they updated the '05 one, we'll be buying it again!

 

[ryan840]

My kids bought the Birnbaums for kids, love it! Younger one totes that one, older one has the UG, '05 edition. Shhhhh, don't tell her that they updated the '05 one, we'll be buying it again!

They updated it already??? What could possibly be sooo different that they had to update it?