When would you be at the AKL bus stop.......

[torsie24]

If you wanted to catch the MK opening show, and 6 of you had ticket vouchers to exchange at will call at the MK beforehand.

I’m thinking bus stop at 7.45 am? Then even if we do get lucky with transport and are there at 8am, and the tickets are done by 8.15am, worst case scenario is we do a loop on the monorail, or we admire the view to the GF....

 

[trixie1822]

We always try to be an hour before the opening show at MK. And never success. If we plan to leave the hotel at 7:45, you can be sure that at 8:00 we are still in the room

We always successed to catch the show but sometimes, it was pretty short !

So if I were you, be sure to be on the safe side and do not hesitate to leave the hotel early. To be at 7h45 at the entrance as you have planned seems to be a good idea.

 

[2Tiggies]

Is MK opening at 9 am? The general rule is to allow 60-90 minutes. Although this is a severe over estimate in most cases, things can happen. Also, as you know, AKL is the furthest park from MK, unless I am mistaken.

Given that you have to change tickets first, I would be at the bus stop at 7.30 am at the very latest. You probably will have time to spare, but honestly, if this is your only day for you to see the opening show, I wouldn't touch the monorail loop even with time to spare. Standing at the gates for 30 minutes before the park opens is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[George12]

When we stopped at the AKL our tickets were put on our room key cards at checkin. Might be worth asking when you check in.

 

[torsie24]

Thanks, George.

We have Annual Pass exchange vouchers that can only be done at ticket offices and not in the resorts.

I love the AP discounts but will miss not having one card to do everything!!

And...welcome to the DIS!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Torsie, is MK your first full day? I remember at one stage you planned to go to DTD on arrival night. Could you not do the APs there?

 

[torsie24]

Yeah it is.

Now though the people coming with us on the flight and to AKL will have tickets to exchange.

2 of them haven't been to the states before, and no way will my dad do a 40 minute bus journey to a shopping district after a day of travel.

So I figure it would make more sense for us to chill out arrival night, then all head off earlier on the first morning.

As ever my plans are changing daily!!

I'm now toying with the idea of DHS first day......

 

[Elise79]

Thanks, George.

We have Annual Pass exchange vouchers that can only be done at ticket offices and not in the resorts.

I love the AP discounts but will miss not having one card to do everything!!

And...welcome to the DIS!!

I would be there 7.30 to be on the safe side. I would also say getting APs is not the quickest as they have to have IDs for each persons ticket. The guest relations outside MK are very good but occasionally have a queue.

Defiantly do not go near the monorail - we left the Contemporary at 8.15 one morning and missed the opening show (after that we walked!). It's nice to soak up the atmosphere in the MK before opening.

 

[torsie24]

Defiantly do not go near the monorail - we left the Contemporary at 8.15 one morning and missed the opening show (after that we walked!). It's nice to soak up the atmosphere in the MK before opening.

thanks for the tip!!

 

[2Tiggies]

thanks for the tip!!

Lol, Torsie, I didn't mean to burst your bubble. I do clearly recall however, that you really wanted to share the opening show experience with your friends and family and we all want you to get everything you wish for on your special trip So if you arrive first at the turnstiles, you just stand like this:

Staring at the MOB of people who appeared within the next 20 minutes

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I'm probably wrong, but I thought buses only started running an hour before park opening? Is that something I've made up!?

 

[torsie24]

I'm probably wrong, but I thought buses only started running an hour before park opening? Is that something I've made up!?

No. I think it's a lot earlier as you can have an 8am ADR and get a bus.....

 

[2Tiggies]

Park buses start running around 6.15 am. Especially for MK as Chef Mickey's first breakfast seating is 7 am and yes, we have done a couple of those early ones. In 2009 we are at ASMu so also in the AK resort area and made it to the Contemporary really early.

The early buses are not as frequent as they are at peak times, but if you get there early you can always socialise while you wait Pack some breakfast items and eat them while you stand at the gates. It also means after the show you will be one of the first through the turnstyles. Again, never a bad thing. Have you made sure that MK don't have morning EMH the day you are going?

 

[torsie24]

Yup.

EMH is the day before. So although touring plans has it as an 8.7 that day I think the early morning should be pretty great there.

The thing about getting into the park first I don't think is the case.

When we watched the opening show last trip we wanted a good view, so stood in the centre, whereas lots of folks tended to ignore the show and huddle under the railway entry. made me sad. I love the show!!

 

[gemmybear83]

Torsie just a warning we exchanged ours at MK on our first day we had a 20 min queue minimum as there are not many will call windows at MK. This day MK was super quiet too and we walked on everything.

Why not let your guests exchange at the hotel and you and Jack nip over to Dtd (also not sure if the waterparks are open later at Easter but you can also exchange there).