THAT'S How You Do It!

[DisneyKidds]

BOOM! [drops the mic, walks off stage]

Since I'll be regaling you with a story about Disney Hollywood Studios this morning let me set the stage. December 30, perhaps one of the dozen or so busiest days of the year at WDW. Hollywood Studios regular opening at 8am, no Extra Magic Hours this morning, no resort guest advantage.

While I have no idea how to insert it on my iPhone, I took a picture of the board at 9:10, an hour and ten minutes after official park opening, as we were leaving the park. TSMM 110 minutes, RnR 110 minutes, ToT 35 minutes, Star Tours 20 minutes. I think the TSMM and RnR times were a bit overstated, while ToT was a little understated, and Star Tours, which we had just gotten off of, was less than 10........but you get the idea. Yikes! If you were just walking into the park, as the throngs were, the board was daunting.

Well, here is how we did the morning. Knowing the inevitable crowds and the importance of arriving early we were through bag check and at the tapstiles at 7:20. Not THAT early, and we were 6 people back from the tapstiles. Eat breakfast (we had brought with) and the park opens at 7:40, 20 minutes ahead of posted opening. A brisk walk (no running) gets us to TSMM right quick. The posted wait time is 20 minutes. We wait zero and are in the first ride vehicle of the day. The first and likely last time my score (162k) is not only the high score in the car, but the high score for the day! Exit TSMM, now about 7:55 and the posted wait time is 65 minutes. Straight to RnR, at about 8:00 and a posted wait time of 10 minutes. Wait, ride (first row), exit and at about 8:20 the posted wait time is 65 minutes. Over to ToT and the posted wait is 10 minutes. Wait, ride, exit and at about 8:45 the posted wait is 30 minutes, but the cast member tells those getting on line that it's now 60. Stroll over to Star Tours where the posted wait is 10 minutes, but we ride and are out in 15, and the time is now 9:05.

So to recap, one of the busiest days of the year, huge crowds arriving at the Studios, long lines inevitable for those that don't plan accordingly......and by getting there early we knock off the four top rides in an hour and twenty minutes. People just 10 or 15 minutes behind us at opening were going to spend three hours and twenty accomplishing the same via standby lines.

Moral of the story.........ARRIVE EARLY!

We'll talk about FP+ in a few.......

 

[Dawnlight]

Excellent!

We did similar for our park visits 12/22-12/29. I felt bad for those waiting in lines 140 minutes long, but so very happy that I researched, planned, and executed the plans accordingly- the reward was virtually no lines for us during peak crowds.

 

[JimmyV]

...I took a picture of the board at 9:10, an hour and ten minutes after official park opening, as we were leaving the park.

The antidote to crowds (and FP+ tiering) is early arrival. It is a foolproof strategy. And it even works during the most crowded time of the year. But just for fun, my DD and I have been following the wait times using the MDE app and Touring Plans app and have noted the extreme times that you witnessed. She shrugs and says why would anyone want to do that? I tell her that it can be manageable if you go to the park really early and plan to leave when the crowds get big, just as you did. But then she asks: "Why would we want to spend our vacation and our money going to WDW at a time when we have to leave the parks by 11:00?" Frankly, I can't answer that one, which is why we avoid this time of year. The strategy works for many. It just isn't for us.

 

[DisneyKidds]

But then she asks: "Why would we want to spend our vacation and our money going to WDW at a time when we have to leave the parks by 11:00?" Frankly, I can't answer that one, which is why we avoid this time of year. The strategy works for many. It just isn't for us.

Fair question. I also did say we'd talk about FP+. I will say this, we didn't have to leave at 9:00. We were at the Studios on Sunday and saw what we wanted. This morning we could have stayed much longer, and being ahead of the crowds done much more, but we didn't need to.

I know some people might be thinking....it's great you got that done, but you can accomplish the same with FP+, so why not use that. Well, here is why, and it's part of the answer to the question above. While we left the Studios at 9:00 after slaying the best rides......we are headed to the MK this evening, FP+ in hand, knowing we will ride 7DMT, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Tomorrowland Speedway with no wait, when the lines will be humongous. Ok, I know some people have had legit problems with FP+/MM+, and it may not be for everyone, but given how our day has gone and will go.....during the busiest time of the year.....when working as intended how could you not love FP+????

Another note regarding the question above.....it can seem crazy to come to WDW when it is so crowded, but a trip this time of year is more about atmosphere, decorations, people watching and such than just riding rides, which can be done more efficiently during less busy times of the year. It's insane, but a different kind of fun.

 

[Jennasis]

Rope drop is my anti-drug lol. Just fills me with the happy.

 

[JimmyV]

Another note regarding the question above.....it can seem crazy to come to WDW when it is so crowded, but a trip this time of year is more about atmosphere, decorations, people watching and such than just riding rides, which can be done more efficiently during less busy times of the year. It's insane, but a different kind of fun.

I agree with all of that (which is why I was sort of priming the pump with my DD trying to test the waters to see if she would be interested.) But I know that her expectations could never be met during the holiday insanity even if I could glean some enjoyment from the "atmosphere".

 

[parkluvr]

Fair question. I also did say we'd talk about FP+. I will say this, we didn't have to leave at 9:00. We were at the Studios on Sunday and saw what we wanted. This morning we could have stayed much longer, and being ahead of the crowds done much more, but we didn't need to.

I know some people might be thinking....it's great you got that done, but you can accomplish the same with FP+, so why not use that. Well, here is why, and it's part of the answer to the question above. While we left the Studios at 9:00 after slaying the best rides......we are headed to the MK this evening, FP+ in hand, knowing we will ride 7DMT, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Tomorrowland Speedway with no wait, when the lines will be humongous. Ok, I know some people have had legit problems with FP+/MM+, and it may not be for everyone, but given how our day has gone and will go.....during the busiest time of the year.....when working as intended how could you not love FP+????

Another note regarding the question above.....it can seem crazy to come to WDW when it is so crowded, but a trip this time of year is more about atmosphere, decorations, people watching and such than just riding rides, which can be done more efficiently during less busy times of the year. It's insane, but a different kind of fun.

Just curious, how do you do 7DMT, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway with no wait?
4 Fastpass+?

 

[JimmyV]

Just curious, how do you do 7DMT, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway with no wait?
4 Fastpass+?

Most likely. If you walk into the park with FP+ in hand for Space, Splash and 7DMT, you could likely get a 4th FP for the Speedway. As of a minute ago, Touring Plans was reporting the following availability for the Spedway:

4:15pm‑5:15pm · 6:45pm‑7:45pm · 7:00pm‑8:00pm · 7:45pm‑8:45pm · 8:00pm‑9:00pm · 8:55pm‑9:55pm · 9:15pm‑10:15pm · 9:50pm‑10:50pm · 10:05pm‑11:05pm · 10:55pm‑11:55pm · 11:25pm‑12:25am · 11:30pm‑12:30am

 

[KimK2006]

Arriving before RD is the only way to go!

 

[DisneyKidds]

I agree with all of that (which is why I was sort of priming the pump with my DD trying to test the waters to see if she would be interested.) But I know that her expectations could never be met during the holiday insanity even if I could glean some enjoyment from the "atmosphere".

Don't give up on it, or let her discount how great a trip this time of year can be, and is. We did it last year, and back we are this year, staying through the NYE insanity this time around. There isn't an expectation we have, a ride or experience we wanted, that wasn't fulfilled last year, or yet this year. A standby line of 120 to 195 minutes (the past few days) or 300+ minutes (NYE last year) means nothing if you put yourself in a position to not have to wait in it, which absolutely can be done. If the expectation is to walk on rides all day long, and get multiple rides each day on all the headliners......that expectation can't be met. But if you are willing to "lower" your expectation to riding the headliners once each day, and maybe wait on a few lines of 30 minutes or less.....with good planning and a smart plan of attack you can enjoy the parks without headache. The thing is, this time of year WDW has sooooo much to offer in addition to the usual park stuff. The decorations, the holiday entertainment, the resort decked in in their finest, the restaurants......it's all so wonderful, if you are smart!

 

[parkluvr]

Most likely. If you walk into the park with FP+ in hand for Space, Splash and 7DMT, you could likely get a 4th FP for the Speedway. As of a minute ago, Touring Plans was reporting the following availability for the Spedway:

4:15pm‑5:15pm · 6:45pm‑7:45pm · 7:00pm‑8:00pm · 7:45pm‑8:45pm · 8:00pm‑9:00pm · 8:55pm‑9:55pm · 9:15pm‑10:15pm · 9:50pm‑10:50pm · 10:05pm‑11:05pm · 10:55pm‑11:55pm · 11:25pm‑12:25am · 11:30pm‑12:30am

That is interesting that the extra fast passes are so readily available. When we were there in June, "good" additional fastpasses were hard to come by.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Just curious, how do you do 7DMT, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway with no wait? 4 Fastpass+?

Party of 5, we have two people who don't do Space Mountain, so the two boys who want to ride the Speedway will use those two FP+ for that. As another posted pointed out, a 4th FP is often an option for non-headliners, like the Speedway.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Just watched them hoist balloons to the ceiling of the GF lobby in preparation for NYE. No, that wasn't a ride in the parks, but it's a sight to see, and just one example of the interesting things and entertainment to be experienced this time of year!

 

[Starhart81]

Just curious, how do you do 7DMT, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway with no wait?
4 Fastpass+?

I'm guessing they split up FP+ among the group, and also could be using child swap. We have a group of 11, and we were able to work out 5 FP + at MK before we even arrived. A little complicated, but basically we will use child swap to our advantage, and not everyone wanted to ride 7DMT, Space, and BTMR. Others in our group don't want to meet A&E or C&R. So 5 FP+ for all who want to do those 5 rides and M&Gs.

Our group has not done rope drop in the past, but we definitely will this time.

 

[HatboxHaint]

You post basically brought up a strategy that I have never thought about. Rope Dropping a park other than MK for that parks's top attractions and then park hopping to MK later in the day with FP+ to beat the afternoon crowds.
During a normal time of year this would better since there are some many rides at MK that will have reasonable waits. If you don't care about shows you are set.

DHS: TSMM//RNRC//ToT//ST
AK:Safari/Everest/Dino
Epcot:Soarin/TT/Frozenstrom

 

[BJC15]

Another not so positive take on the OP's story, they were able to ride every ride in the park in 1 hour 25 minutes. That is really kinda sad.

I guess GMR is a ride also, so add a bit more time to hit them all.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Another not so positive take on the OP's story, they were able to ride every ride in the park in 1 hour 25 minutes. That is really kinda sad. I guess GMR is a ride also, so add a bit more time to hit them all.

There's a lot more to do in DHS, we just did most of it on Sunday. Had a free morning, so part of our group slept in while the rest of us engaged in a bonus slaying of the DHS headliners!

Had we not been in DHS on Sunday we would have stayed and done GMR, perhaps Muppets, seen a few shows (Indiana Jones, Lights Motors Action). There's the Frozen Singalong, Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid. Meet and greets if you have kids into those. There is more to see in addition to all that stuff, so we certainly didn't "do the whole park" in an hour twenty. The nice thing about knocking off the headliners in an hour twenty is that you can enjoy all the rest at your leisure, not worrying about crowds or waiting in lines. That said, DHS can certainly use a few more tier one type attractions.

 

[AngiTN]

Most likely. If you walk into the park with FP+ in hand for Space, Splash and 7DMT, you could likely get a 4th FP for the Speedway. As of a minute ago, Touring Plans was reporting the following availability for the Spedway:

4:15pm‑5:15pm · 6:45pm‑7:45pm · 7:00pm‑8:00pm · 7:45pm‑8:45pm · 8:00pm‑9:00pm · 8:55pm‑9:55pm · 9:15pm‑10:15pm · 9:50pm‑10:50pm · 10:05pm‑11:05pm · 10:55pm‑11:55pm · 11:25pm‑12:25am · 11:30pm‑12:30am

Party of 5, we have two people who don't do Space Mountain, so the two boys who want to ride the Speedway will use those two FP+ for that. As another posted pointed out, a 4th FP is often an option for non-headliners, like the Speedway.

I know it is not how you are intending to do it but would the above times for a 4th FP really still be there by the time you use the 3rd one? You can't get that 4th FP when you walk in

 

[DisneyKidds]

We don't need to use the 4th FP+ option, as we have the Speedway already scheduled with two out of our 15 FP+ reservations. We scheduled 5 for 7DMT, 5 for BTMRR, 3 for Space Mnt and 2 for the Speedway. I'm not anticipating there will be much available in the way of 4th FastPasses once we finish using those tonight.

 

[WEDWDW]

Had we not been in DHS on Sunday we would have stayed and done GMR, perhaps Muppets, seen a few shows (Indiana Jones, Lights Motors Action). There's the Frozen Singalong, Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid. Meet and greets if you have kids into those. There is more to see in addition to all that stuff, so we certainly didn't "do the whole park" in an hour twenty.

Don't forget Streetmosphere-DHS' "hidden" gem!