What's your MK AM EMH strategy?

[iujen94]

Planning a trip to WDW in February (second half of President's Week). We've always stayed at Disney resorts but usually avoided EMH, figuring every other resort guest would be at that park. With FP+, we think we need to change that strategy and are going to AM EMH at MK for the first time ever. What's your strategy? Fortunately I have two boys, so A&E isn't on the list for us, but everything else is. Our favorites are the usual suspects - Splash and BTMRR (both not open during AM EMH, right?), Space, Peter Pan and Buzz - but we love everything at MK. We haven't ridden 7DMT yet but I'm sure we'll love it - but not sure I want to burn our whole EMH waiting in line (we do have 2 FP+ for it other days while we are there, although I'm sure we'd love to ride it again if it works). DS8 also said he wants to ride Tomorrowland Speedway. Is that a good choice for EMH? Would love to hear suggestions!

 

[wisblue]

Traditionally our MK EMH approach has been to start at Space, then go to Buzz, do a few other things (choosing from Speedway, Pooh, Dumbo, Barnstormer, Teacups, Astro Orbiter, Mermaid) before the regular park open. Often we go to PP about 20 minutes before the end of EMH and ride that so we are in a good spot to enter Liberty Square when that opens. We have usually found the posted wait time to be about 15-20 minutes and the actual wait a little less than that at that time. The Rapunzel area is also a convenient spot for a quick pit stop before heading to the rest of the park. When the park opens to everyone, we will hit HM, Splash, Thunder, POC, and Jungle Cruise (in some order) before the lines get too long. We have had pretty good luck going to Splash and Thunder first, then POC and JC, then cutting back through the breezeway to HM.

Now that 7DMT is open we would probably do that first. We have done 2 AM EMH since 7DMT opened, and by arriving about a half hour before EMH opens and setting up on the right side arch, we have been able to do 7DMT with virtually no wait and, after getting off, proceed to Space and Buzz as usual. On those 2 visits, I have observed that the rush to 7DMT has significantly reduced the number of people who start at Space, which always used to be the most popular EMH starting point.

Based on what you listed as your priorities, I would start at 7DMT, then go to Space, Buzz, and the Speedway and then see what time it is to see if you have time for anything else. If you skip 7DMT you will be that much further ahead. As 9 AM approaches (for an 8 AM EMH) you will want to be in position to enter Liberty Square or Adventureland so you can hit the other mountains and the other major attractions on that side of the park as soon as they open.

Peter Pan is a good choice for a FP because the line there builds so quickly.

AM EMH at the MK are great. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how much you can do before 11 AM, so I wouldn't schedule any FPs earlier than that.

 

[INDEV]

Totally agree with WISBLUE - EMH is totally worth getting up for, and 7DMT attracts a big portion of that, so Space and Buzz basically almost walk-on. Do as much as you can early, including being in position for Splash and BTMRR to open and walk on those, and save your FP+ for later in the day when the lines build.

 

[iujen94]

Thank you both - this is great advice! In my head I was thinking of going to PP first, but this totally makes sense to tackle Tomorrowland first and then head to PP! Would you bother with Small World during EMH or wait until later in the morning? Thanks again!

 

[wisblue]

Thank you both - this is great advice! In my head I was thinking of going to PP first, but this totally makes sense to tackle Tomorrowland first and then head to PP! Would you bother with Small World during EMH or wait until later in the morning? Thanks again!

I would not do IASW during EMH.

You'll walk on it, but the ride takes so long that you could probably do a couple of other short things in the same amount of time.

If you want to do IASW, think about getting there before 11, after you've done the main things in Adventureland and Frontierland.

For example, using the pattern I described above, you can go to IASW after you come back to do HM. If the posted wait at IASW is longer than you'd like, consider taking a peek inside to see where the line is. On a few recent visits we have seen posted times of 20-25 minutes but we could tell from the length of the line that it wasn't going to be that long and we were on within 10.

IASW is mentioned a lot as one of the rides that has much longer standby lines than it used to have, but if the posted times are to be believed it doesn't get that long that quickly except on the very busiest days. IASW is also a ride that seems to be generally available for a 4th FP.

Because you referred to the second half of President's Day week, I am guessing that the day you are planning to visit MK is Thursday, February 19. Here are the Touring Plans estimates of wait times for rides at the MK that day:

http://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/wait-times/date/2015-02-19

If you click on an individual ride, you will see an hour by hour breakdown, like this one for IASW:

http://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/attractions/its-a-small-world/wait-times/date/2015-02-19

Hope this helps.