Strategy for Maelstrom without FP?

[Spoisal]

Both of my kids insist on Maelstrom...just one of those things I guess?!? What is the strategy for getting to ride this - I am not wasting a Tier 1 to ride it - that's for sure! Does WS have a "rope drop"?

 

[flortlebap]

I would sincerely hope maelstrom never needs a strategy lol!

Even in peak crowds I've never had to wait over 5 mins.

 

[Golf4283]

my strategy would be to go to the line, get in the line, wait, ride the ride. If you want to wait less go early in the morning or later.

There's really no strategy involved.

 

[TreeSapp]

I would sincerely hope maelstrom never needs a strategy lol!

Even in peak crowds I've never had to wait over 5 mins.

We've certainly waited 20-25min in the past & we don't travel at terribly crowded times. But going there early in the day (before 11:00) shouldn't be too bad

 

[Sammie]

If you go early when World Showcase opens you won't have any problems with it.

 

[W.E.D.]

I agree with all PP's. WAY BACK in the day when it was something new, I think we waited maybe 30-40 minutes, but in our more recent trips I've never encountered it with a wait of more than 5 minutes.

 

[chartle]

my strategy would be to go to the line, get in the line, wait, ride the ride. If you want to wait less go early in the morning or later.

There's really no strategy involved.

Same for us except we have never had to do the bolded part. There has always been an empty car waiting for us. Day or night, never rope drop and up to a "7" day.

 

[stormer]

We have been there many times when the posted wait was 40 minutes but the actual wait always wound up being less.

 

[wiigirl]

I would sincerely hope maelstrom never needs a strategy lol!

Even in peak crowds I've never had to wait over 5 mins.

 

[ktlm]

Granted we don't go in peak times, but I don't think I've seen the line longer than 30 minutes for it in years, and that is usually peak mid to late afternoon. I can't recall waiting longer than 10 minutes for it in the last several years, and we've walked on it more than once. I'd say just keep an eye on it here and there (you can pull up the wait times in MDE or on the WDWwaittimes app) and the hit it during a lower line time.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

We rode it once years ago when it was "new", just out of curiosity. More recently we rode it because friends were visiting and wanted to do it. I wouldn't stand in line for it. Ever.
This is the kind of thing I don't understand about FP+. It has created (?) a demand for fast pass for something that nearly never even had a wait.
There are things in the other parks that are FP+ choices now that absolutely didn't need any waiting unless you were there on spring break, Christmas, or maybe the 4th of July.
Just sayin'

 

[wallskm]

Somehow I always seem to have to wait for Maelstrom, 20 minutes or so. But the wait for that is going to be way less than the wait for TT or Soarin.

 

[Spoisal]

I am almost sorry that I asked the question! LOL! I am nervous this year - we are traveling when parks are in the 9s (week before Easter). We normally go during low crowd times and I have often been there with a wait of 30 minutes. I really don't want to wait for this ride - more than 10 minutes.

 

[Sammie]

I am almost sorry that I asked the question! LOL! I am nervous this year - we are traveling when parks are in the 9s (week before Easter). We normally go during low crowd times and I have often been there with a wait of 30 minutes. I really don't want to wait for this ride - more than 10 minutes.

Don't be sorry and if you should experience a wait, try another attraction and check back, it does seem to ebb and flow a good bit.

 

[LoKiHB]

Back in May we rode it and there was a pretty decent wait for it. I'm going to say maybe 20 minutes? I know it's no wait by TSMM standards, but with a 14 month old at the time and not being able to bring a stroller, 20 minutes may as well be 2 hours.

Also, I've said it before and, I'll say it again....

Maelstrom. Most misleading name for a ride or attraction... EVER!!!!

 

[cygnusx1jg]

Never really thought of this before; since Future World opens at 9:00am and World Showcase opens at 11:00am, is it roped off or can you still walk around the countries before 11:00am?

 

[mom2rtk]

I always used to say that if you are at Disney when you need a FP for Maelstrom, you are at Disney at the wrong time. Now with FP+, who the heck knows.

Surely this is the first sign of the apocalypse.

 

[Alexsandra]

Either go ride Maelstrom when the WS opens at 11:00-12:00 or you wait until after 7PM to ride. Those are the shortest wait times you'll get!

 

[ktlm]

I always used to say that if you are at Disney when you need a FP for Maelstrom, you are at Disney at the wrong time. Now with FP+, who the heck knows.

Surely this is the first sign of the apocalypse.

(I'll see you at DL!)

 

[Spoisal]

Does Maelstrom stay open for evening EMH? Can you ride after Illuminations?