WDW Railroad question/MK strategy help

[Hatbox]

(First post! I think it's the right thread and all that - forgive me if not!)

Fourth visit to WDW coming up in June, but it'll be a relatively brief one. With just one day allotted to MK and our FP+ reservation period coming up, I'm trying to plan how to get the most out of it in a day. I've got most of the planning down, except for one variable:

We love the railroad and want to work it in somehow without sacrificing time. My family will likely roll out of bed and get to MK right around opening. Does anyone immediately get in line for the railroad? I was thinking about hopping right on and taking it to Fantasyland, but worry that between waiting for the train, waiting to board, and taking the trip there might put us so far behind the crowds that we won't be able to take advantage of any just-opened ride lines.

Is this plan shooting myself in the foot? Should we just show up and beeline directly down Main Street?

 

[auntfrannie]

Getting in line for the train first thing in the morning will slow you down. You're going to be waiting a bit for them to build enough line to move it along. I would walk to Fantasyland then after you've done the rides there, take the train to Frontierland.

 

[heybravo626]

Getting in line for the train first thing in the morning will slow you down. You're going to be waiting a bit for them to build enough line to move it along. I would walk to Fantasyland then after you've done the rides there, take the train to Frontierland.

Exactly what I was going to suggest. We often hit Fantasyland and Tomorrowland first and then take the train to Frontierland for FP+.

You can also take the train from Frontierland back to Main Street.

 

[karly05]

Another vote for this - hoof it down Main St for Fantasyland first thing, then take the train around from Fantasyland to Frontierland some time later in the day.

Also, I'm never sure how aware people are that the Fantasyland Train Station is way back in Storybook Circus, so really not convenient if you're trying to get to the castle area, or something like ETWB. Plus, if you take the train from Main St, it stops in Frontierland before it gets to the Fantasyland station.

 

[maryj11]

What is the route for the train ? I mean where does it start and stop and what direction does it go ?

 

[karly05]

Clockwise around the park. Main Street Station to Frontierland Station to Fantasyland Station to Main Street Station...

You can get on or off at any station. I don't know if you could just stay on and ride around and around all day, but I'm sure someone here knows.

 

[Hatbox]

Wow - thanks, everyone! That's exactly what I'll do then!

Crowd-wise, does it make a difference whether you do Fantasyland or Tomorrowland first? I'm assuming Snow White Mine Train won't be available for FP+ when I make our reservations next week, so I've been planning on bee-lining for that and then using a FP+ for Space Mountain. But I might reverse that if SWMT crops up and I'm able to book it.

Six of one, half-dozen of the other?

 

[Stefecatzz]

Wow - thanks, everyone! That's exactly what I'll do then!

Crowd-wise, does it make a difference whether you do Fantasyland or Tomorrowland first? I'm assuming Snow White Mine Train won't be available for FP+ when I make our reservations next week, so I've been planning on bee-lining for that and then using a FP+ for Space Mountain. But I might reverse that if SWMT crops up and I'm able to book it.

Six of one, half-dozen of the other?

There are headliner attractions in all areas of MK that will quickly form long lines so do whatever is most important to you first thing w/out a FP.

7DMT & Peter Pan will both soon be the ones to go for 1st in Fantasyland & Buzz & Space Mountain are the popular ones in Tomorrowland.

 

[maryj11]

Clockwise around the park. Main Street Station to Frontierland Station to Fantasyland Station to Main Street Station...

You can get on or off at any station. I don't know if you could just stay on and ride around and around all day, but I'm sure someone here knows.

Ok we were thinking of taking it from Fantasyland to Frontierland. How would that take ?

 

[Stefecatzz]

One thing I've wondered about: what are the opertaing hours of the train? Does it start running immediately after rope drop and stop an hour before the first nighttime show? Does it stop for the afternoon parade? When I ask CMs at MK or elsewhere, I can never seem to get the correct answer.