Tell Me About 8 AM Opening

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Other than it’s dang early.

We have never been to a park on a day that has a regular 8 am (non-EMH) opening. One of our MK days in May now has an 8 AM open. Our only AK day is the day before so we will likely be there late. I don’t think the kids will be able to get up early after that (it’s the last day of our trip too so they’re likely to be tired).

The plan had been to RD BTMR and Splash since they’re walk on first thing in the am, then head to adventure land. If we don’t get there until 9, how are the crowds going to look? Do I need a new plan for that morning if we can’t make RD?

 

[OhhBother]

We did an 8 am opening at Magic Kingdom. It was incredible. Got there a little after 7. Was at the front of the rope drop line. Got in TONS of rides that first hour -- we were ahead of the crowds the rest of the morning. It was well worth getting out of bed!

 

[CAS239]

Crowds shouldn't be too crazy, but it will definitely be a lot more crowded when you get there at 9 vs getting there at 8. The earlier the better

 

[Surgie2]

One of our January days (a Saturday but not MLK weekend) changed from 9-9 hours to 8-midnight a few weeks before our trip. We had the KTTK tour in the morning and by the time we were finished at 1:30 - wow was it ever crowded. We had our 3 afternoon FP so we did those but since we hadn't been to the parks in awhile I was not prepared for the "new" crowds. Just a slightly uncomfortable mass of people for me. So as others said, the earlier the better. Had we not had our tour, we would have arrived early and left the park early. I think we might possibly be there the same time as the OP as I just got a notification that May 5 MK hours have changed to 8-midnight. That's an Epcot day for us but glad to have the evening hours as an option if anyone wants to hop over at night.

 

[sharonabe]

One of our MK days in May now has an 8 AM open. Our only AK day is the day before so we will likely be there late. I don’t think the kids will be able to get up early after that (it’s the last day of our trip too so they’re likely to be tired).

I assume you're staying for the 8:45 ROL show at AK. That's not that late, and you should be back at your resort by 10:00. If it were me and it was our last day, we'd be up and out the door by 7:30-45 just so we could get to MK before they let the non-EMH people past the hub. While that isn't as optimal as being there before or right at 8:00, it does still put you ahead of regular guests for a ride or two.

You also say "one of our MK days." If you think it really will be 9:00 or after before you can get there, I'd get a little more done on one of those other MK days, so this one can be more relaxing and you hit your must dos for one last time.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I don’t think you necessarily need a new plan, so long as you go in with the understanding you won’t necessarily have any ‘rope drop advantage’ - if that’s what you were going for before.

Did a few 8AM openings last year and I thought it was time WELL spent ( ), but we also did some mornings where we arrived 9-10 on an 8AM morning, and just went about our business as usual (used FPs quicker on those mornings).

Have fun!

 

[mekay1012]

8:00 am openings are amazing! You can get so much done with little wait!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'll echo what others saying: 8am is well worth it. I'd make the effort to get to MK for it.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

. I think we might possibly be there the same time as the OP as I just got a notification that May 5 MK hours have changed to 8-midnight. That's an Epcot day for us but glad to have the evening hours as an option if anyone wants to hop over at night.

That’s the date, yes. I was already expecting it to be very busy (that Sat was last year) but I’ve never been on an 8 am regular open day. Oh boy.

I assume you're staying for the 8:45 ROL show at AK. That's not that late, and you should be back at your resort by 10:00.

For me and DH, no problem. The 3 kids with their 8:30 typical bedtime after a week of late nights, lots of walking, and rope dropping every day, it’s very unlikely. They’re going to be cashed by then.

It’s not EMH hour, it’s a regular everyone can get in at 8 opening.

If we do manage it, maybe we’ll take an afternoon break, let them nap and stay later that night than usual. I guess I’ll look for an 8 am open the next couple weeks and check ride times at 9 to see if any of the rides we were planning are going to be reasonable waits.

 

[ssphillips]

Agree with others-my favorite morning was when I got up early and made it to MK for 8am opening. Rode so many rides in Fantasyland and caught Pooh’s first set in a few hours. Definitely worth it!

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

We have little kids (6 and 3) and we woke them up early to make an 8am drop. They were groggy but we pushed through anyway and before lunchtime we got through: Carousel while I grabbed muffins, we ate a quick bench breakfast, teacups, barnstormer three times, dumbo, astro orbiter, buzz, people mover, buzz again, laugh floor, then we walked over to big thunder (around 10:15, the end of the FP window), splash (right after, FP window was 10:15-11:15), then we split up - Pirates and the steam train. Met up for lunch and we were there at 11:30 (did mobile order). We had a late afternoon FP for 7DMT before dinner so we only had two that morning.

This was a late notice change too, so I think most people weren't prepared. Fantasyland was a ghost town - even around 9. By the time we got over to Big Thunder, waits existed and we were glad we had FP. But Buzz was still a very short wait both times we rode it - maybe 5 minutes.

It's worth getting there as early as you can - but I bet you can still use your plan regardless if you think you'll get there around 9.

 

[sharonabe]

It’s not EMH hour, it’s a regular everyone can get in at 8 opening.

Sorry, I must have had EMH on the brain.

Still, since this sounds like it's not your only day at MK, I'd be tempted to go a little later if we'd done most of what we really wanted on our other day.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Sorry, I must have had EMH on the brain.

Still, since this sounds like it's not your only day at MK, I'd be tempted to go a little later if we'd done most of what we really wanted on our other day.

That’s where we’re leaning. Maybe try to get there at 8:30. If it were earlier in the vacation we’d make more of an effort. I just don’t see it happening though. We’ll make sure to hit BTMR and Splash our other day.

 

[claven123]

Remember, late nights can be just as fun as the early morning.... sometimes. I do agree with RD, though, if you need too.

MK at night is magical in of itself. Pandora at night is also!!

Feet do hurt..... sometimes a slower break is ok.

D

 

[kerry1379]

We were at MK twice this past week-one day had morning EMH that we were not a part of, and the other day did not. Both days had a regular opening time of 8am. On both days, crowd levels between 8-10am were heavenly! Very short to short wait times for the most part and easy to get around. Crowds picked up significantly by 10am. Very crowded by 11am.

I think Magic Kingdom is the hardest to rope drop, at least if you aren't staying on property and can take advantage of the transportation system, because you also have to build in extra time to park at the transportation center and take the monorail or ferryboat. But I also found MK to be the best place to rope drop since there are larger number of "highly desirable" rides that seems to spread out the crowds.

I understand OP what you are saying though. Cranky kids may not make RD worth it. If more sleep is needed to make for a happier experience, I say go for it. My kids were very tired by our last day but because they knew it was our last day, they wanted to make the most of it and wanted to get up early. If your kids are old enough, can you talk about it with them?

Best of luck!

 

[amylevan]

We're an either/or family - either we stay out "late", or we are up early. Now mind you, with my kids, late is anything past 8pm.

That said, we are rope drop people more often than not. And an 8am morning at MK might be more important to us than whatever the evening plans are. So, I guess my question to you is, is there really a reason to be at AK late? If so, then no, we probably wouldn't make rope drop. But if there isn't really a compelling reason, (and ROL is not a compelling enough reason for us...) we'd be back at our hotel at a reasonable time so that we could make an 8am opening at MK.

 

[claven123]

If you’ve never done pandora at night, that IS worth it, I would agree with ROL.... nice show.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

On both days, crowd levels between 8-10am were heavenly! Very short to short wait times for the most part and easy to get around. Crowds picked up significantly by 10am. Very crowded by 11am.

If your kids are old enough, can you talk about it with them?

!

That’s what I’m hoping for, that the 9-10 am hour would still be nice. Thanks.

Yeah, the kids are old enough to talk about it. I wish we could plan for an afternoon break but the kids are doing Pirate League that day so I don’t really want them to go back and swim in the afternoon. I’m toying with the idea of trying to move that to give us some more freedom.

So, I guess my question to you is, is there really a reason to be at AK late?

We have not seen Pandora or ROL yet and we have the ROL dining package so that definitely has priority over MK RD.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

That’s what I’m hoping for, that the 9-10 am hour would still be nice. Thanks.

Yeah, the kids are old enough to talk about it. I wish we could plan for an afternoon break but the kids are doing Pirate League that day so I don’t really want them to go back and swim in the afternoon. I’m toying with the idea of trying to move that to give us some more freedom.



We have not seen Pandora or ROL yet and we have the ROL dining package so that definitely has priority over MK RD.

I have a little different take on this from what you say this is your last day and you are doing Pirate League, how upset would your kids be if lines are so long that you decide not to wait for those rides on your last day? will riding earlier in the trip be enough. as you said your kids are older so I would have this talk before you leave and see where they are on your plans. I would agree with your plan if it wasn't your last day of trip