Start in Frontierland?

[bigcrit]

I have read everywhere that we should start in tomorrowland. I was wondering if anyone starts in frontierland? That way we could get BTMR and Splash Mt. in first. I figured we could work our way thru fantasyland thand go to pooh and peter pan then get around to Space Mt. and buzz. Do you think we could get FP's later in the morning for those? I was just curious if anyone went against conventional wisdom and did it that way. Any thoughts? Len?

 

[bigcrit]

Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

[spooers23]

We always start on that side. When you look at MK everyone heads right. One reason is that most people are right handed so they tend to head to the right and another reason is that enter is larger then the others, so we head in the opposite direction then everyone else.

 

[sleepyone]

We headed left last year and got a lot done in Adventureland and Frontierland. We were there in June so, it was crowded and hot, but this side of the park was definately less crowded than our second day when we started in Fantasyland.

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

Splash and BTMRR are my DD 12, DS 7, DW and my favorites, so this plan worked pretty well for a high crowd level day.

Last April, we were there when they opened at 9:00 on the nose. We walked up to the train station and got on. The train pulled out and got us to Frontierland around 9:15. We got FPs for Spash and went on BTMRR twice with no wait. Then we got on Splash twice and it was about 10:15. Then we hit Pirates and the Jungle Cruise with no wait. Then back to Haunted Mansion with a 5-10 min wait. By this time, the crowds were getting pretty big and we tried to get lunch at 11:00. Pecos Bills was already a 20 minute wait for food. The rest of the day we FP'ed Buzz, Space mountain,Winnie, and braved long lines.

We'll probably do it in this order again in June, BUT we are going to leave the park and go eat at the Concourse steak house at lunchtime around 1:00.

 

[oogieboogie]

A lot of times during the value season, when the rest of MK opens at 9am, Adventureland opens at 10am. Rather than wait an hour for it to open, we just go to Tomorrowland first, then Fantasyland, Liberty Square, one person runs to BTMRR and gets fastpass while we cut across to Jungle Cruise and wait in line there or we go to PoTC.

 

[bigcrit]

I was curious if this would work. I'm still not sold on any particyular plan. I was gonna do tomorrowland first then thought it would be fun to do them first. I bought subscriptions to so many things to help with planning. I think I just confused myself more using TGM, UG, UG /w kids, Passporter and the paid portion of touringplans. uggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bigcrit]

Anyone else agree that this would work or do you think the better option would be to start in tomorrowland?

Thanks again

 

[tar heel]

We've started in Frontierland many times. Get to the park before opening and get on the train. It pulls out right at park opening, which means you'll get to Splash Mountain at about the same time as the people running from rope drop! You should be able to ride Splash and Big Thunder with essentially no line. Make sure to use your Fast Passes wisely. Either get one immediately when you get to Fantasyland (depending on wait times, FP returns) or send someone to Tomorrowland with all the passes to get them for Space Mountain or Buzz.

If you have time to kill waiting for your Fast Pass times, ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Sometimes we do it over and over on a hot day -- makes a nice break!

 

[marriedmarylander]

I was confused about this as well. But I was thinking Splash Mountain is a water ride, right? It makes more sense to do this in the afternoon when it's hot right? Well, ok that's what everyone else will be thinking I suppose

 

[LovePug]

For our upcoming trip in June, that's what we plan to do. We haven't done it that way in the past and always started with Tomorrowland. It was just our natural inclination to turn right (as spooers23 said) . This time we're going to fight that inclination with all our might and turn left . At least in June it won't matter that it's early on a water ride because it's so darn hot right off the bat in the morning .

 

[wicket2005]

Seeing as you are not going as the same time as us I will agree with you.

Personally how I plan a park visit is to go to the ride which is our favourite first and make sure we do it. Our fav is Splash so that is where we will be heading first. We don't mind getting wet so that isn't a problem. We will probably get a FP for the Rocky Railroad first so we have a time for that when we come off Splash.

Our next attraction is Space so again we will just head over there and get a FP. Any other rides we get on will be a bonus from then on.

 

[BAST]

Splash Mountain is my DD6's favorite ride. We ALWAYS arrive before the park opens and are among the first to get into MK. DD6 and I always go here first while DD4 and DW stay on Main Street getting character pictures. We usually ride twice (without having to get off last August), then ride BTMRR. We then head to Fantasyland, ride PP and Pooh, then go to Space Mountain and get FP is needed. This is somewhat opposite of what the UG says - but it has worked for us.

I think this plan works but only if you get to the park BEFORE it opens.

 

[JLTraveling]

I've been to WDW literally 1000+ times, and I definitely vote for heading left first. You completely beat the crowd that way, as other posters have mentioned. If you keep to the circuit, and don't criscross the park, you end up in Tomorrowland in the evening, when the crowds have cleared out. Bonus points if you don't care to see Spectromagic, as you will have NO waits or very, very short waits while everyone else stakes out spots for an hour or more for the parade.

The only caveat to this touring plan is if you really, really want to see Spectromagic. Then you may want to start in Fantasyland, then Tomorrowland, and follow the circle from there so that you end up in Frontierland last. That's because you can usually ride Splash and Thunder Mountain with little waiting while everyone's holding their spots for Spectro... then head up to the rope right there in Frontierland at the very end of the parade route. When we were there Friday, we got a front-row spot for Spectro in that area, literally walking up less than 3 minutes before the parade reached us. Sure beats waiting an hour or more for a more popular spot.

 

[bigcrit]

Thanks everyone for posting. I have to admit there is so much I need to find out on my own. EVeryone has terrific advice. Hopefully I can follow some sorta plan when I get there. I certainly don't want to wing it. Thanks again everyone, as usual, you guys have been great

 

[scoutsmom99]

Another Frontierland first person here! While everyone is running for space I'm skipping my way to Splash Mountain

 

[Ocean Springs Mom]

We always go left first. Usually ride Splash and Thunder without any FP then head on to other rides.

 

[GrammieMame]

We always split MK into two mornings. Get there first thing and do Fantasyland and Tomorrowland one morning, eat lunch and take a break before doing another park in late afternoon. Then do Frontierland and Adventureland on another morning. We are always fighting the incoming crowds on our way out, having done everything on our list without a wait.