Which Park to RD?

[DisneyStarWisher]

Now that I've decided to try to ride FOP right at closing instead of doing it at RD, that opens up a morning that I can RD another park. We are already RDing Epcot the next day, so I'm thinking of RDing either MK or DHS. Here's what we have planned so far:

Park Day 1:
RD which park???
Epcot for F&W lunch
Short break in AKV room
AK for NRJ, Safari, Yak & Yet dinner, ROL, FOP

Park Day 2:
RD Epcot
F&W lunch
MK for FOF parade
Short break in CCV room (checking in this day so have to wait until room is ready, probably around 4)
Back to MK for HEA fireworks dessert party
Evening EMH

We go to WDW every year, so I don't have to do everything. I'm mainly focusing just on the new things I haven't done yet, like Pandora, ROL, and HEA. I would like to do a few rides at MK though, and originally I thought I would do them during Evening EMH, but I'm sure the crowds will be crazy since this is the day before Halloween and one of the few days that week that doesn't have MNSSHP. Park Day 1 is an MNSSHP day, so I figured RDing it would be good since there should be low crowds that day. Then I could take the monorail over to Epcot. But I don't have DHS planned for the trip, and that got me thinking it might be good to RD it just to ride TSM. Then I could take a boat over to Epcot.

If you had these plans, which park would you RD--MK or DHS? Or should I just RD Epcot both days, give up my FEA FP for Park Day 2 and just RD it, and make FPs for MK for the afternoon and evening in order to do the rides we want to do?

 

[CAS239]

Day 1 I would rope drop HS, ride whatever then park hop. Fps set up for AK

Day 2 rope drop Epcot, you can get on Frozen with a 20-30 min wait for the first hour of park opening. Save your FP's for later in the day at MK

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

It would probably help if I told what FPs I already have.
Day 1: NJR, Safari, ROL
Day 2: 2 throwaway FPs at Epcot, FP for FEA (The plan was to book FPs after using the FEA FP.)

Day 1 I would rope drop HS, ride whatever then park hop. Fps set up for AK

Day 2 rope drop Epcot, you can get on Frozen with a 20-30 min wait for the first hour of park opening. Save your FP's for later in the day at MK

I'm afraid that your plan for Day 2 would mess up my plans to RD Soarin' since I would have to RD FEA.

 

[CAS239]

It would probably help if I told what FPs I already have.
Day 1: NJR, Safari, ROL
Day 2: 2 throwaway FPs at Epcot, FP for FEA (The plan was to book FPs after using the FEA FP.)


I'm afraid that your plan for Day 2 would mess up my plans to RD Soarin' since I would have to RD FEA.

I'd rope drop frozen then go to Soarin. Or vice versa. Frozen won't have too long of a wait so Soarin Rd might work out good

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I'd rope drop frozen then go to Soarin. Or vice versa. Frozen won't have too long of a wait so Soarin Rd might work out good

I thought FEA always had long waits. That's the whole reason I got a FP. So are you saying I should RD DHS the first day, then RD Soarin' or FEA the second day and ride the other one standby that same day? And then get FPs for MK the second day?

I just want to make sure I am done with rides at Epcot by 11 for F&W. The only ones I want to do at Epcot are FEA and Soarin'.

 

[CAS239]

I thought FEA always had long waits. That's the whole reason I got a FP. So are you saying I should RD DHS the first day, then RD Soarin' or FEA the second day and ride the other one standby that same day? And then get FPs for MK the second day?

I just want to make sure I am done with rides at Epcot by 11 for F&W. The only ones I want to do at Epcot are FEA and Soarin'.

Yea frozen has short waits up until 11.

Rope drop frozen then head to Soarin. You can get to Epcot right at 9, walk to Frozen, and get on with a 20 min wait. Once 11am hits and FP's start, that's when the line builds

Whether you do Soarin or Frozen first is a toss up

 

[Davey Jones II]

Yea frozen has short waits up until 11.

Rope drop frozen then head to Soarin. You can get to Epcot right at 9, walk to Frozen, and get on with a 20 min wait. Once 11am hits and FP's start, that's when the line builds

Whether you do Soarin or Frozen first is a toss up

We're doing two rope drops at Epcot during our trip. I thought everyone rushes to FEA? And can you come in through International Gateway at opening?

 

[twoolle]

We're doing two rope drops at Epcot during our trip. I thought everyone rushes to FEA? And can you come in through International Gateway at opening?

This was true about a year ago but in prep for our next trip in March I have been following wait times the last month or so and the PP is correct, the wait doesn't build at FEA like it used to. HTH!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

This is all good to know. I think so that we aren't rushing on this trip, we are going to keep it simple and just do Epcot in the mornings and then one evening at AK and one evening at MK. I really do hate doing 3 parks in one day anyway. We don't want to rush before F&W. So one day we'll RD FEA, and the next day we'll RD Soarin'. After RD, we will meander around and maybe hit the DVC Member Lounge to stock up on some drinks before F&W. I have changed my FPs to MK for the evening of our second park day. Got everything we really want, even 7DMT. With those FPs and Evening EMH, we should be able to do the rides we want to do.

One more question--What would you recommend doing between FEA/Soarin' and the 10 a.m. opening of the lounge? We really have no interest in any other rides.

 

[CAS239]

We're doing two rope drops at Epcot during our trip. I thought everyone rushes to FEA? And can you come in through International Gateway at opening?

Frozen for whatever reason has calmed down a lot in the past few months. Maybe due to Pandora opening.

Earlier this year around Feb I got to epcot at 8am for 9am opening. One of the first in line for rope drop and headed straight to frozen. Got on after about a 25 minute wait

Last month, after seeing on here about the wait times having calmed down prior to 11am, got to epcot around 9:15. Walked straight to frozen, timed the wait on my phone, we were on with about a 25 min wait.

You can certainly enter through the IG. Slightly further walk to Frozen from there compared to main entrance, but that won't matter

 

[CAS239]

One more question--What would you recommend doing between FEA/Soarin' and the 10 a.m. opening of the lounge? We really have no interest in any other rides.

Living with the land is one of my favorites. So I'd do Frozen, Soarin, then head to there since it's right next to Soarin

 

[Delirium]

Epcot is a horrible park to rope drop. Everything is so far away, you eat up valuable time walking to and from attractions. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are much better rope drop options.