Which is the best way to go in MK? Help!!

[nuge67]

When you enter MK first thing in the AM, which way to you go after the castle, to the left or right? I am trying to figure most people would tend to bare left at the castle. I am trying to figure out which way I should go to afford the crowds and rush with my little ones and work against the flow.

Same for
AK
MGM
Epcot

Any hits would be great............


* On a sad note, we won't be checking into All Star Music until noon on a Sat. and my wife is insiting we hit MK right after while I told her because it was mid-afternnon and the weekend, it would be PACKED and that we should try AK or something else instead and worry about MK on a Mon or Tues. What would you do?

 

[Carrie772]

You may wish to buy the Unofficial Guide To WDW. It has traveling plans for each park. That's what I use.

 

[finnster77]

The theory that I've seen the most is, the masses will hang a right and go into Tomorrowland first. For many, it's a race to Space Mountain. For others, the PATH to Tomorrowland appears to be the most visually appealing. My advice is to do what the masses AREN'T doing. If you have young ones (and young at heart!) then hit Fantasyland first. Many attractions that will accumulate long lines later in the day will be "walk-on" if you get there at the park opening.

 

[Tinkbellfan]

It depends on the time of year you are going and what your travel plans included (ie. early flight). Are you staying for a week or three days?

If you don't arrive until early afternoon, you might be able to make the 3pm parade at MK and then do a few rides after the parade (depending on how the kids are holding up). Don't wipe them out on the first day, especially if you had a long travel morning.

If you go to MK in the am, I would decide what ride (that offers a Fastpass) to get a Fastpass for first, then do your favorite "land" before it gets too crowded. Get another Fastpass when it is allowed, use your first Fastpass, and then move onto another "land". Make a list of everyones top attraction to help decide where to go next.

AK - if you want to ride EE, go directly there and get FP and then to the Safari. Decide what showing of the Lion King you want to see and then have another list of the other top attractions you want to do.

Epcot - We usually go to Soarin to get a FP, then over to TT to ride (no MS for me, even the wimpy one). Then we go to Living Sea's and then onto Future World when it opens.

MGM - I still can't figure out where to go first here! I get all turned around and usually get lost near Star Tours! Sorry can't help you at MGM.

Have fun and hope this helps alittle.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Personally, it depends upon what attraction I want to visit first. When we go to MK, we usually hit Fantasyland first because it's what we always do. What you may want to do is make a list of the attractions you want to visit in the order y ou want to visit them in, and see where it takes you. Good luck!

 

[MermaidMommy]

And if you're going to do Fantasyland first, make sure the first ride you go on is Dumbo. Boy, that line gets long fast!

 

[Eeyore2003]

* On a sad note, we won't be checking into All Star Music until noon on a Sat. and my wife is insiting we hit MK right after while I told her because it was mid-afternnon and the weekend, it would be PACKED and that we should try AK or something else instead and worry about MK on a Mon or Tues. What would you do?[/QUOTE]


Definitely agree with you. I think you would benefit from buying the Official Guide as was suggested. I have not read all the answers, maybe you've mentioned how long you will be there, but if you were to head straight to MK at that time of day, I would plan on looking at the board for the ride line times at that moment and do those with shorter waits. You may not get much in except enjoy the atmosphere and afternoon parade. I would return back another morning, getting there before the gate opens and be ready to do the headliners first before the big crowds arrive. Standing in long lines at WDW is a big waste of time for me when it is so unnecessary with good planning.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I suggest you subscribe to Tour Guide Mike. He will tell you which days to go to each park and give you recommended touring plans that will accomodate the interests of your family.

 

[mattsdragon]

Tell your wife not to go to MK on the first day. Especially if you have kids, they would be let down by the other parks. Let them build on to MK. And definitely don't go on check in day in the afternoon. Take her to DTD, BW, or anywhere else. Let that MK mystique build.

I read somewhere that they've done studies, and the left side/right side phenomina is a myth. Both sides (especially at MK) get equal quick rushes. People want to to the SM's first thing.

Fantasyland also receives its rush as well for Dumbo.

 

[kittythepoohbear]

Historically, my family and I tend to go left through Adventureland first and then tour the park clockwise. I don't know why, we just always have. It is nice to end up in Tomorrowland at the end of the day and relax on the TTA for a while. If I am there by myself, I will tend to just go to my favorite attractions first.

 

[mecllap]

If you have little ones, getting on the train and going around and getting off at ToonTown can be a good start -- visit Micky and Minnie, etc. I think the other parks have enough going for them now that they're not disappointing after visiting MK -- a lot of kids (and grownups) don't really feel they're at "Disney" until they've seen the castle. Mickey and friends are also often right out front, too.

 

[unbroken chain]

Another vote here for The Unofficial Guide. For someone who is trying to schedule with a heavy consideration toward crowds and wait times, this is 100% the book for you. That's the major focus of The Unofficial Guide. It has suggested touring plans for each park to minimize total wait times. It has "one day plans", "two day plans" and plans for those with small children, I believe. It also shows relative crowds for each ride so you could go by that instead and make your own touring plan.

Edited to add: It also shows the relative crowd levels for each park for each day of the year, so you can see which parks will be most/least crowded for each day of your stay.

 

[kirbsam]

we plan to be at mk two mornings. first morning, we go to tomorrowland and get our fill of buzz and space. then to fantasyland, and see what we can do with minimal waits. prudent use of fastpass will result in no waits until about 2 or 3. the next time, we either start in frontier land, or fantasyland depending on what we still need to see and go on.

 

[Jackatkc]

I can't believe anyone who goes to Disney does not buy the Unofficial Disney World book. The touring plans are amazing.

To give you an example, we went to MK in Oct. The guide shows to go to Peter Plan early. We walked on. A few hours later, there was over a 30 minute wait. We barely ever waited in any lines.

I'm sure it's different if you were to show up late, but there are touring plans for late arrivals also.

Good luck!

 

[pepe of ohio]

If you have children, I would go straight to Fantasyland and join the lines for your childs favorite attraction. As for us, our children are grown, and for years we alway do the MK, its the heart of WDW, and we travel up Main Street to Casdey's and hang a left to Adventureland. We always catch the attractions, skipping none and by the time we hit the Haunted Mansion, either the crowds are huge or we had enough for the morning and heat and head back to the resort. Second time out, early evening when we return to the MK, we'll take the right off Main Street to Tommorrowland and go counterclock wise till we hit Fantasyland. No reason for this, we've done WDW over 38 times and have never used any guide and have had no problem. We never do summer months either.

As for which days to visit MK, again, no guide, we go when we feel like it and if the crowds seem large we scoot to EPCOT. We start our vacation in the MK, other parks being a let down after you go to MK, I don't believe in that. There's alot to see in every park, magics just around every corner and we repeat the MK many times in our stay.

 

[ReggieB]

I'm a leftie! I always go round the park clockwise, starting in Adventureland. When I walk through the castle I always go to the left side. No idea why!!

 

[rlovew]

If you arrive at opening start in Fantasyland with children and then see how the crowds are and go in the other direction. Without young children I like to get there for morning EMH and ride all our favorites in Torrowloand and Fantasyland and be ready to head to Frontierland and Adventureland as the park opens. We only ride what we want to these days though so it may be 3-4 visits between visiting some of our less favorite rides, but then again we go about once a month.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

Since you will be arriving after mid day, I would still go the MK, when arriving, I would hop the train, ride to toon town, do Mickey's house and pictures, and finish that area. When you arrive, this area should have low voumn, allot of people start at the back of the park and work towards the front. Once finished in toon town, you could head towards fantasyland, this area will be very crowed but if its near dinner time, the lines could be small.