The Mine Train Stratagy

[Polybound]

Just got back from our first trip since New Fantasyland opened. All I've got to say is the Mine Train is it. At rope drop, the mass of humanity doesn't head to Peter Pan, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain. The largest percentage of people, by FAR, headed to the Mine Train. If you're one of those who are planning race to the MT at rope drop, be sure to go the right side of the Castle. We learned the hard way, going around the left side. The walkway through the Castle was closed (as it normally is at rope drop), as we were coming from the left, the massive crowd had, and was entering the attraction from the right. The right side is the most direct rout to the entrance. To give a little perspective, 2 days later at the Christmas party, there were only 2 attractions in the entire park that weren't walk-on's, The Mine Train and Peter Pan. Space Mountain was a walk on, Splash was a walk-on, Big Thunder was a walk-on, rode them all multiple times. Mine Train had a 35 minute wait and Peter Pan had a 25 minute wait.

 

[Robo]

The walkway through the Castle was closed (as it normally is at rope drop)...

That's news to me.
It's always been open for us at rope drop.

 

[Nhebron]

We did mine train during the last half hour MK was open and wait wasn't bad.

 

[Robo]

If you're one of those who are planning race to the MT at rope drop, be sure to go the right side of the Castle. We learned the hard way, going around the left side... The right side is the most direct rout to the entrance.

 

[g-dad66]

That's news to me.
It's always been open for us at rope drop.

We had never experienced the castle being closed off at rope drop either until November 20.

We were headed to Peter Pan, so going left around the castle didn't slow us down any, but it was sort of disappointing not being able to start our trip going right through the castle, since we had two first-timers with us.

 

[Ds4angels]

Hope you don't mind me "butting in" on your thread....
I have a FP for 7D, I'm sure the kids will want to ride more then once. I wonder if we'd be better off hitting the left side of the park at RD and trying 7D before we leave the park on an EMH night???

 

[Robo]

Hope you don't mind me "butting in" on your thread....
I have a FP for 7D, I'm sure the kids will want to ride more then once. I wonder if we'd be better off hitting the left side of the park at RD and trying 7D before we leave the park on an EMH night???

Getting into the standby line about 10 minutes before the park closes is one way of getting to ride a popular attraction.

 

[skipfierce]

We did the mine train once during the day with a fast pass and once at night during the Christmas party. Only waited about 20 min during the party. Doing it at night was pretty sweet!

 

[MHDTS]

I find the popularity of the Mine Train interesting. We rode the ride a couple of times the week it opened, and found it to be pretty so-so. I wonder how many people who ride it return?

 

[mco65]

We rode it at least 3 times during our last trip. It certainly was not any better/worse than other roller coaster rides but its JUST NEW... and NEW is always better. right?

 

[Greenbmw17]

Mine Train is my 7yr old's fave ride at MK so we try to maximize the number of times she gets to ride. We have a ppo breakfast at BOG booked, fp planned and a younger brother too short to ride (rider swap) so hopefully, she gets her fill of that ride.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

We did the mine train once during the day with a fast pass and once at night during the Christmas party. Only waited about 20 min during the party. Doing it at night was pretty sweet!

Nighttime is my favorite time to ride. there are some spectacular views of fantasyland all lit up. The queue is beautiful at night.

I find the popularity of the Mine Train interesting. We rode the ride a couple of times the week it opened, and found it to be pretty so-so. I wonder how many people who ride it return?

I think I've been back on the train about 15 times now. It's my nephew's favorite ride for some reason. He's not a little kid, either. I gain new appreciation for it every time I ride. Coconsidering the ride was designed to fit the space, and not the other way around, I think it's a feat of Disney Imagineering.

 

[Ds4angels]

I find the popularity of the Mine Train interesting. We rode the ride a couple of times the week it opened, and found it to be pretty so-so. I wonder how many people who ride it return?

I am not a "thrill ride" gal, so I'm thinking this will be much like BTMR, which my family loves. a friend of mine tries to ride it as often as she can, she loves the theming and likes to try to spot new things she's missed.

 

[Robo]

I am not a "thrill ride" gal, so I'm thinking this will be much like BTMR...

Much less "intense" than even BTM.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Getting into the standby line about 10 minutes before the park closes is one way of getting to ride a popular attraction.

We tried this first week of November in Epcot for Frozen. We got there a few minutes before 9:00 on a regular 9:00 close evening and the wait was 1.5 hours. We did not wait and didn't see it our whole vacation. We have AP's so hopefully will get to see it the next time we are down.

 

[Robo]

We tried this first week of November in Epcot for Frozen. We got there a few minutes before 9:00 on a regular 9:00 close evening and the wait was 1.5 hours. We did not wait and didn't see it our whole vacation. We have AP's so hopefully will get to see it the next time we are down.

Its important to note that posting "hugely-inflated" wait-times on the attraction signs
is a VERY long-standing practice of how Disney CMs discourage late-riding guests.

 

[caliope]

I find the popularity of the Mine Train interesting. We rode the ride a couple of times the week it opened, and found it to be pretty so-so. I wonder how many people who ride it return?

I agree with you. We just returned for a five day trip with four MK days. I'd gotten 3 separate days of FP+ for 7DMT at the 60 day mark, so we rode it three times. We enjoyed it, I guess...that is, didn't "not" enjoy it....but it was over so quickly. I understand that it's new and different, but we much preferred BTMR and Splash (DS4 is too short for Space Mtn). We arrived at the park at or very close to rope drop all four days and used that time to ride BTMR and Buzz over and over (and over!) again. So, for us, the popularity of 7DMT worked to our advantage on the rides we really wanted to do multiple times!

 

[lpizzuro123]

Its important to note that posting "hugely-inflated" wait-times on the attraction signs
is a VERY long-standing practice of how Disney CMs discourage late-riding guests.

That is very possible, makes sense, - but we did not wait to find out. We did ask and that is what was posted and that is what they said - but I wouldn't doubt they inflated the wait time.

 

[Ds4angels]

I bought a subscription to Touring Plans as it has actual wait times vs posted Disney wait times. So hopefully we can avoid being bamboozled at the end of the night

 

[Polybound]

That's news to me.
It's always been open for us at rope drop.

Okay, I cant say that we consider ourselves regulars any longer. Starting about 19 years ago, we use to go every year, staying 4-6 days per trip, then every other year and now every 3rd year. During our first few trips, I can remember that it was open, though for the past many, many years, it hasn't been open at rope drop when we've gone. Maybe it was just coincidence.