Which time slot would you put PFF in for our itinerary?

[jacobsmommy]

Here are a couple of options for when we can do PFF on our trip from June 22 to June 25th. First is: try to do it sometime on our first afternoon/evening (June 22). The only thing we have planned for that day is dinner at Goofy's at 5:00. We would definately like to be in bed early that night, so no night time entertainment. Or we can do it the next morning (where I get in line for it at park opening while dh takes the kids on some rides). With all the talk of masses of crowds in June, I was second guessing using one of our mornings to wait for PFF. But I also know that our 6yo ds and 2yo dd won't be able to wait in super long lines for it later on in the day...

 

[skiingfast]

In the moring I think you should wait in line for PFF with the kids while DH collects FPs.

 

[gethane]

This was our first trip where we did PFF. I was somewhat skeptical about using our morning time waiting for PFF but both my kids really did want to. We went over to the area on Sunday around 8:30 (we had used Early Entry) and saw a short line. We grabbed a croissant and power pack, and the line built so quickly we didn't even finish eating but instead got in line. We still weren't done until about 9:40.

 

[jacobsmommy]

I originally planned on going straight there at park opening while dh took both kids to Nemo, Buzz and Autopia (while getting a Space FP for later). So I guess we wouldn't really be losing the first hour b/c they would be doing stuff while I wait. I really don't care about not doing Nemo, but my 6yo really wants to do it again.

 

[skiingfast]

If you plan well you can get a FP for Space, buzz, and Autopia. Only Nemo is standby waiting only.

Planning to hold a place in line for the rest of your family raises an ethics questions.

 

[vpalmer]

Wow! Our plans are identical. We also arrive on 6-22 and have a 5:00 reservation at Goofy's Kitchen. I have a six year old too! She will turn seven right before our trip. We are also planning to go into Disneyland for a bit after dinner but we have no real plans because of the maddening crowds that there will be that night. We are doing the 5 for 3 deal so the first night is freebie for us. That night, I have Toontown or the Sleeping Beauty Walkthrough penciled in. I thought I would check Mouse Wait as we were leaving dinner and see where the lines are shortest. I was also considering maybe watching fireworks, but we are flying from central time zone that morning so we will probably be exhausted.

As for PFF, I am not sure where to fit it in. We normally go to WDW and we can always get into Pixie Hollow or the Princess Line first by getting to Toontown at 9:50. What a huge difference at DL! I think the main difference is that people can line up during that first hour the park is open and PFF is not. It creates a double edge sword because you create an hour long wait first thing in the morning. I just can't see doing that. We have Ariel's planned but I also want to hit PFF at some point too. My plan is to watch Mouse Wait during our trip and if the line is ever short head that way.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

To jacobsmommy and vpalmer:

FYI:
PFF usually closes around 6 (maybe 7).
Toontown closes early due to fireworks (not sure on the time)

 

[jacobsmommy]

We are coming from the central time zone too! We arrive at 9 something in the morning, so we plan to get lunch at McDonalds and then head to DL. We'll try to do a few things (Tiki Room, treehouse, etc) before dinnner at 5:00. Then we'll hit World of Disney and head back to the hotel to get a good night of sleep.

We won't be doing Ariel's b/c 2yo dd and I are super picky eaters and I don't want to spend that much money to not even like the food. I've asked on the boards about the others doing something else while I wait and no one seemed to bring up the ethics of it. I won't actually be in the PFF line yet, just waiting for the line to start since it doesn't open until 9:00.

 

[vpalmer]

To jacobsmommy and vpalmer:

FYI:
PFF usually closes around 6 (maybe 7).
Toontown closes early due to fireworks (not sure on the time)

Thanks Shannon! I think Toontown closes one hour before the fireworks, so around 8:25 - does that sound right. I thought we might go into Toontown around 7ish maybe?

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I don't think the ethics of "saving a spot" in line applies as much to PFF, as they let in family groups one at a time, regardless of size. My dd and I went through the princesses just as quickly as the huge family group of 10 who went before us - I guess the only difference would be if your group insisted on individual pics with each princess, as that would take longer. Personally, I have no issue with families with little ones meeting up in line - my pet peeve was the huge groups of teenagers who would send one person to wait, then 10 others would join just in time to get on the ride...that one steamed me just a little! Kids have trouble waiting in long lines, and most of us with kids understand that.
But the whole "holding a place in line" thing can be very controversial - we upset an adult couple behind us in the TSMM line when my ds had to use the washroom, and it was moments before park closing with a 40 minute wait. He couldn't hold it, and they were going to close the line before we could get back, so I wasn't willing for us all to miss out on the ride. So I stayed in line with dd and other ds, and sent dh and ds to the washroom. The couple behind us were visibly upset when dh and ds returned to the line from their bathroom trip - guess they thought we should have all just missed out on the ride to save them an extra minute in line...I guess it all depends on your circumstances (if you have kids or not and can understand why they can't always stand and wait for 40 minutes straight)

I would also vote for going first thing - the line won't necessarily be a lot shorter, but kids tend to be more patient, princesses less tired and everyone else in the line is a little happier than later in the day!

 

[michelleh1]

we were there last week. I talked to one of the CMs at the line about the wait time. he said that it's best to get there first thing in the morning, when the park opens and the line starts forming. if you can be there first then you will have the shortest wait. he also said that late lunch time (around 1 or 2) the line will die down for a while. for us that meant it would be an hour wait instead of an hour and 20 minutes. I decided to hop in line right before 9:30, which was when it opened. the line didn't look bad, but it was still an hour wait. I figured I'd be waiting close to an hour no matter what, so I might as well enjoy a few rides before joining the line.

 

[prncssmel]

I would get in line first thing in the morning and send DH to Nemo and Buzz with the kids then to get an FP for Space. Even if they go straight to Nemo, it will still be a 20 minute wait because of the length of the ride and the slow loading. So, by the time they finish the 2 rides and get the FP, it will be close to time to go back and meet you anyway.

I don't see an issue with someone holding a space in a line like PFF. Of course, I generally don't have issues with that sort of thing, unless it was like a 40-person tour group or something.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

People will start lining up for PFF before it actually opens, but that will likely be the time with the least amount of waiting. I've been able to catch 20 minute waits around 3:00pm, but both of those times occurred on weekday afternoons when SoCal schools were in session.

 

[jernysgirl]

Has anyone gone in the late evening? I was thinking that if my kids are rested from their mid-afternoon break, with full tummies from dinner, they would do better in the evening when the weather was a little cooler. There are a few nights on our trip, when the schedule online shows that PFF is open until 8pm. I was thinking about being there around 7pm?????