Time Crunch Question: is there enough time

[Velkoor]

I'm working on finalizing our touring plan for our trip in October and I want to know if we'll have enough time. I've talked to friends and family, they disagree with each other. I've done the math based on what other people have posted, but I need direct answers to what we're trying to do.

Members of the Party: 4 Adults, 1 Child (11 months) w/ Stroller
The Plan:
- Morning Events at the Magic Kingdom...etc.
- 2PM until 4PM: Go back to Coronado Springs Resort, rest and change into costumes for MNSSHP
- 4PM enter the park and go to 7DMT
- Ride 7DMT w/ FastPass+
- 420PM Reservations at Be Our Guest

Can that work? If we enter the park at 4PM can we get to the 7DMT and ride it using our FastPass+ and make it to the 420PM reservations at Be Our Guest. My wife (6 months pregnant) will be waiting with my son, obviously they wouldn't be able to ride. Our FastPass+ is from 3:25 to 4:25 so we can't do it before leaving the park and we can't do it after dinner.

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You might be a little late to Be Our Guest. but in my experience riding 7DMT with a fastpass takes less than 10 minutes. The biggest issue is can you get from the front of the park to 7DMT in time. Could be, if you aren't having to slow down for mom & infant and can meet them after you ride. Maybe she can go let Be Our Guest know you're there.

 

[CAS239]

Why not just leave MK at noon or 1pm instead of 2, head back to MK at 3 and ride mine train then. Then after that go get your party wristbands and then head to BOG

 

[Velkoor]

Why not just leave MK at noon or 1pm instead of 2, head back to MK at 3 and ride mine train then. Then after that go get your party wristbands and then head to BOG

Sadly you can't enter the park in costume before 4PM.

 

[FencerGirl]

If everything goes perfectly, you'll make it, but be prepared to be late to BOG. It will be about 7 minutes to walk to 7DMT, then queue/ride for 10 minutes. But you still have to get through the tapstiles and the rest of the crowd entering at 4:00.

 

[megster1123]

Sadly you can't enter the park in costume before 4PM.

But they could enter the park early and change into costume there. I mean, changing clothes in a restroom isn't the greatest thing but it's better than being late or missing a FP because you're held up at the gate.

 

[CAS239]

Sadly you can't enter the park in costume before 4PM.

Ahh..I forgot the part about you guys going in costume. Maybe change in the family restroom inside the park?

That's a tight window then so I'd show up at 3:15/3:30 to lineup to enter. You'll want to get in near the front of the party goers to make it to 7dmt quickly. You might be a little late to BOG but you'll be fine a few minutes late

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Has nothing to do with the costume...if they are entering on only a party ticket, that is allowed at 4, not before 4. If they are entering on a regular ticket they'd then need to get wristbands for the party in order to remain after 7. I don't think they'd be allowed in wearing a costume at noon, but at 3:30 maybe if they clarify that they are attending the party. But they can make it if they hoof it to 7DMT and send the non-rider to Be Our Guest.

 

[BrianL]

I don't think you can get processed through the turnstiles, traverse the Main Street crowd, and ride the mine train by 4:20. It's plausible, but unlikely.

But the OP will already have a day ticket and have been to MK before going to MNSSHP. They can re-enter whenever they want to. OP, you can just re-enter before 4PM on your day ticket. Riding 7DMT with FP+ usually does not take very long, but it depends. Sometimes the FP line can be backed up a little, so just give it an extra few minutes.

 

[Turn the Page]

I think your biggest problem is the two hours to go back to the resort, rest, change, and get back to the park by 4. Unless you are on the monorail I don't see that being nearly enough time. Even then, you have to walk out of the park, wait for transportation (which could be 20 minutes if you are taking a bus), travel back to your resort (another 15 - 20 minutes), walk to your room, and then reverse the process to get back. I just don't see 2 hours being enough time. If you can, I would leave the park around noon or 1 to give yourself more of a cushion and some actual down time so you could be at the tap stiles right at 4 and head in.

 

[goofyintoronto]

But they could enter the park early and change into costume there. I mean, changing clothes in a restroom isn't the greatest thing but it's better than being late or missing a FP because you're held up at the gate.

This is what I would do. Enter MK early....do 7DMT FP...go to BOG for 420pm.....then get your party wristbands and change into costumes in the bathrooms. If you enter the park at 4pm, then do 7DMT FP, you'll be late for your 420 ADR at BOG for sure.

To be honest, leaving the park at 2pm to head back to the resort....then aiming to be back at MK at 4pm is a bit unrealistic. You'll have no time to rest. Lets say your at you're resort by 230pm (thats being optimistic). You'll only have about 45 min at your resort. Rule of thumb for ADRs is to give yourself 1 hour from your resort. So if your ADR is at 420pm, you should leave your resort at 320pm. Thats less than an hour of rest at your resort. Thats not much of a rest if you ask me.

I'd stay at MK, rent lockers, put costumes in the lockers when you enter the park in the morning...then take them out later on to change. If you need to rest through the day, go to Hall of Presidents.

 

[maxiesmom]

You haven't left your family enough time for the break, or to make it to your ADR. 2 hours is not much time to get back to the resort, relax, and then get back to the park. Keep in mind too you are asked to be to your ADR 10 minutes prior to your scheduled time. Even if you are walking into the park at 4 pm (not getting off of the bus, not at security, but IN the park) you don't have enough time to get to the ride, wait to get on, ride, and then get to your ADR.

Being late to an ADR is a chancy thing. They may seat you, they may treat you as a walk up and have you wait, or they may tell you you missed your ADR and you are out of luck. And if they tell you you missed your ADR they will charge you the $10 per person no show fee.

 

[BrianL]

Even with the day ticket they will still have to enter the turnstile with the party ticket to receive a wristband, lest they be escorted out of the park at 7:00.

ETA: Realized that they could always exit the park and re-enter with the party ticket having already ridden SDMT and gone to dinner, so your point stands. Apologies.

You can also get wristbands at several locations inside MK between 4 and 7 if you are already in there. The one thing is the costume issue, which I didn't notice, but I doubt it would actually be a big deal.

 

[Velkoor]

I don't think you can get processed through the turnstiles, traverse the Main Street crowd, and ride the mine train by 4:20. It's plausible, but unlikely.

But you still have to get through the tapstiles and the rest of the crowd entering at 4:00.

That's what I was worried about, my doubt that it's possible grows. We will get stopped by security for sure. We'll have bags, stroller and multi-layered costumes which are warned against. So this will probably take the longest.

But they could enter the park early and change into costume there. I mean, changing clothes in a restroom isn't the greatest thing but it's better than being late or missing a FP because you're held up at the gate.

Enter MK early....do 7DMT FP...go to BOG for 420pm.....then get your party wristbands and change into costumes in the bathrooms.

I'd stay at MK, rent lockers, put costumes in the lockers when you enter the park in the morning...then take them out later on to change.

Sadly we won't be able to do this, as our costumes are quite elaborate and involved. Possibly changing in a family restroom would work, but unlikely.

You might be a little late to BOG but you'll be fine a few minutes late

you are asked to be to your ADR 10 minutes prior to your scheduled time. Even if you are walking into the park at 4 pm (not getting off of the bus, not at security, but IN the park) you don't have enough time to get to the ride, wait to get on, ride, and then get to your ADR.

Being late to an ADR is a chancy thing. They may seat you, they may treat you as a walk up and have you wait, or they may tell you you missed your ADR and you are out of luck. And if they tell you you missed your ADR they will charge you the $10 per person no show fee.

Are we allowed to be late to an ADR? Or can we send 1 party member ahead of time? I'd rather skip the ride than miss the dinner.

I think your biggest problem is the two hours to go back to the resort, rest, change, and get back to the park by 4.

To be honest, leaving the park at 2pm to head back to the resort....then aiming to be back at MK at 4pm is a bit unrealistic.

Thats not much of a rest if you ask me.

You haven't left your family enough time for the break, or to make it to your ADR. 2 hours is not much time to get back to the resort, relax, and then get back to the park.

Good point, i didn't even think about them. As my signature says this is the first time with a baby. We've never done a mid-day rest. So this is all new.

 

[jscottnc]

Personally, I recommend NOT going to a park the day of a party and just have an easy morning, sleeping late and enjoying the resort. Given that your resort is on the opposite end of the property from MK, the two round trip bus rides will get old (unless you Uber -- even then it is a long ride). The afternoon schedule could work but you will have to "walk with a purpose" (i.e. leave the pregnant wife behind -- probably better for all involved). You have a bit of grace time with ADRs (don't tell anyone you heard it from me).

 

[Turn the Page]

I will say DH and I took the kids to MNSSHP party last year and the party was great but we made the mistake of going to the MK that morning and even though we did take a long break and the kids took a 2 hour nap we were still dragging and just exhausted by the end of the night. We regret not having taken the morning off and will definitely do that next time.

 

[megster1123]

That's what I was worried about, my doubt that it's possible grows. We will get stopped by security for sure. We'll have bags, stroller and multi-layered costumes which are warned against. So this will probably take the longest.




Sadly we won't be able to do this, as our costumes are quite elaborate and involved. Possibly changing in a family restroom would work, but unlikely.



Are we allowed to be late to an ADR? Or can we send 1 party member ahead of time? I'd rather skip the ride than miss the dinner.





Good point, i didn't even think about them. As my signature says this is the first time with a baby. We've never done a mid-day rest. So this is all new.

Just wanted to point out in case you may have missed, but have you looked at the costume guidelines for adults? If yours are that elaborate and involved are they still within the guidelines?

 

[Velkoor]

Personally, I recommend NOT going to a park the day of a party and just have an easy morning, sleeping late and enjoying the resort.

we made the mistake of going to the MK that morning and even though we did take a long break and the kids took a 2 hour nap we were still dragging and just exhausted by the end of the night. We regret not having taken the morning off and will definitely do that next time.

I'll be honest, this never even occurred to me. We always go to rope drop and stay until we're told to leave. But I guess if more than 1 person recommends this, it must be a thing. We have some other FP+ we don't want to miss, but maybe after that we'll leave for a longer break.

Just wanted to point out in case you may have missed, but have you looked at the costume guidelines for adults? If yours are that elaborate and involved are they still within the guidelines?

Thanks for pointing that out. I'm sure many people ignore the new guidelines this year and are asked to leave. Our costumes follow the guidelines though the guidelines warn that there would be extra screening and security checks for us.

 

[Barbara76]

I would suggest either taking a rest day that morning, or going on your break earlier. What is the FP window?

 

[Barbara76]

Now I am dying to know what your costumes are!!