First timer going to WDW next week. A few random questions...

[gilmoregirlz]

We're only going to have one day at WDW, so we want to pack as much in as possible. We want to get there before the gates open, but we'll be driving so we'll have to deal with the transportation center. How much time should we allow for this? We'll be staying off site with about an hour drive (relative's home), so if we are on the road at 7:00am, would this be enough time if the gates open at 9am? Too much? Too little?

We want to get those "1st time" pins to wear around...can we get these before the gates open? Or are they only available behind the gates?

We've got FP booked for Splash/Thunder/Space Mountain in the afternoon, so I'm thinking of heading to Mine Train and then Peter Pan immediately when the gates open, since these two have long waits most of the time. (It's just my mother and me, and we are fast walkers, so we'll be able to cover ground quickly.) Is this a good plan? Or will everyone else be doing it too?

I'm also wondering about the Main St Electrical Parade and the Fireworks. Where are the best places to watch these events from? And how long ahead of time will we need to stake out a place for viewing?

That's all I can think of for now. Any tips would be appreciated!

 

[rt06]

It's one day. Get up a half hour earlier. Pack a breakfast and coffee to go. You don't have much room for error.

They have the pins at the ticket/guest booths if I'm not mistaken.

I've set up my FPs to be done around 12PM so I can pick up more throughout the day, though I have yet to test the effectiveness of this strategy. I'll try to squeeze in a couple of other rides, of course. If I can get my top three done by lunch, what can be so bad?

 

[DinoInstitute]

It's one day. Get up a half hour earlier. Pack a breakfast and coffee to go. You don't have much room for error.

They have the pins at the ticket/guest booths if I'm not mistaken.

I've set up my FPs to be done around 12PM so I can pick up more throughout the day, though I have yet to test the effectiveness of this strategy. I'll try to squeeze in a couple of other rides, of course. If I can get my top three done by lunch, what can be so bad?

Pretty much what @rt06 said. For your last question, about the mine train and peter pan--
yes, there will be a lot of people doing the same thing, however it is still the best way to go. That is because those lines don't cool down after the initial morning rush.

*on a side note, since i thought of it while writing this--it is kinda funny how people still need to rush to get on rides, pretty much exactly what mm+ was supposed to cure

 

[loriloughs]

Sounds like a good plan. We are going in September and I have been monitoring 7dwmt. It is over an hour wait 15 minutes after the park opens and stays that way all day into the night. Enjoy!

 

[DisneyRoy]

I'm always a fan of watching the MSEP and Wishes in the hub. To get a good curb side view I would get there at least an hour early. On Main Street is good too, but would need to get there earlier.

 

[dave&di]

Can you FP+ 7DMT???

 

[R W B]

I've never actually planned to be at a particular place for any of the parades. If we're walking around and happen to come up to the parade route and its close, we may or may not stay for it. With that said, I've stumbled into the MSEP most often in Frontier land by Splash and they ALWAYS have space for excellent viewing back there. It's as if everyone forgets the route so that's where I'd go if I just wanted to see the parade. Now I have found that the atmosphere is better in the hub and on main st for it but then you have to put up with a huge crowd and get there real early.

 

[kamr211]

Can you FP+ 7DMT???

This is my thinking. I would replace Big Thunder for 7DMT. Remember after you use all three, you can select another FP+ at a kiosk. I would think Thunder would be your best shot.
I like the area near Liberty Square for the parade as opposed to Main Street. When I see them beginning to line up/set up the ropes I stake out a spot about 30-45 minutes ahead. I let my family go to the shooting range, I grab a snack and people watch.
I have yet found an awesome spot for Wishes that I wasn't feeling claustrophobic!

 

[kamr211]

I would leave earlier like 6:30 to plan for traffic on the road, people traffic getting on the trams, waiting on line at the ticket center for pins, waiting to get on the monorail at TTC (Take the ferry if it is in dock and loading at the time and the monorail line is long).
The better positioned you are after the Welcome show at "rope drop" (or as it is now the "power walking rope escort to fantasyland to meet Anna and Elsa) the better.
Also make sure it is not an EMH morning at Magic Kingdom!

 

[dave&di]

This is my thinking. I would replace Big Thunder for 7DMT. Remember after you use all three, you can select another FP+ at a kiosk. I would think Thunder would be your best shot.
I like the area near Liberty Square for the parade as opposed to Main Street. When I see them beginning to line up/set up the ropes I stake out a spot about 30-45 minutes ahead. I let my family go to the shooting range, I grab a snack and people watch.
I have yet found an awesome spot for Wishes that I wasn't feeling claustrophobic!

I've not been to WDW since the new system has been in place, I've yet to learn how it works!

Regarding a good spot to watch Wishes, I've discovered that standing near the entrance at Town Square is a good spot, you get a good view of the castle, Main Street and Wishes, plus it's not crowded and you're also near the exit should you wish to leave afterwards!

 

[Clamman73]

I don't know about PP after Mine Train...seems like by the time you're done with Mine Train, the standby at PP is going to be too long to be worth it...A strategy might be to set fastpasses for PP, Mine Train and Space around lunch time/early afternoon. However, go the Thunder and Splash at rope drop, then Pirates, JC and Mansion, all on standby. By the time you're done with those and a few other things you might like to do in Adventureland/Frontierland, it will be lunch time.

Then when you're done with the three fastpasses, decide what you might want to do for the extras after that.

 

[kamr211]

I don't know about PP after Mine Train...seems like by the time you're done with Mine Train, the standby at PP is going to be too long to be worth it...A strategy might be to set fastpasses for PP, Mine Train and Space around lunch time/early afternoon. However, go the Thunder and Splash at rope drop, then Pirates, JC and Mansion, all on standby. By the time you're done with those and a few other things you might like to do in Adventureland/Frontierland, it will be lunch time.

Then when you're done with the three fastpasses, decide what you might want to do for the extras after that.

I like this plan!

 

[CheshireCat12]

If it is morning EMH they only open Fantasyland and Tomorrowland (in my recent experience) so this last post might not work. I don't know what season you are going, but if it is summer, you will be more comfortable waiting in line for Space than Splash- the queue is indoors and it is dark and cool. I would also recommend PP before Mine train, the line is always prohibitively long. I would set your FP+ for PP, Mine Train, and Splash. Do Thunder early before it gets too hot to wait, but the line is never longer than 45 minutes and usually quicker.

 

[gilmoregirlz]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! We are actually going this Friday (June 13th) so FP for Mine Train is tricky. I did manage to snag FP for it this morning, BUT the time is 8:25pm-9:25pm, and I'm thinking this is pretty useless since we want to see MSEP and Wishes. Would this be do-able at all, or should I ditch this FP? I've tried for other times but so far there's nothing else.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! We are actually going this Friday (June 13th) so FP for Mine Train is tricky. I did manage to snag FP for it this morning, BUT the time is 8:25pm-9:25pm, and I'm thinking this is pretty useless since we want to see MSEP and Wishes. Would this be do-able at all, or should I ditch this FP? I've tried for other times but so far there's nothing else.

I would keep the FP. You wont be missing too much I think, and I'm sure the ride is fun at night. Also, you might be stuck in a 90+ wait otherwise

 

[rt06]

Take whatever they give you and check often for more favorable times. I had an 11:15PM 7D and was able to change to 10AM within a day.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Take whatever they give you and check often for more favorable times. I had an 11:15PM 7D and was able to change to 10AM within a day.

Actually, yes I forgot about that. That is because people will cancel their reservations, so you can swoop right in and take their spot

 

[gilmoregirlz]

Score! I've been checking all day, and I just snagged FP for Mine Train, time window of 9am to 10am. Awesome, considering that I'm only 6 days out. As for the others, I'm considering changing one to Peter Pan, but I'm really not much of a PP fan anyway, so I'm not sure about using a FP on it. What if we went to PP immediately at rope drop? Would the line be so bad then?

I can see the logic in using all the FP's early in the day so we can get more later, but don't you have to stand in line at the kiosk's to get more? I'm wondering if the lines at the kiosks would be counter-productive....

 

[cw1982]

You do stand in line at the kiosks but they usually move very quickly. There are so many kiosks that they were never more than a few people deep while we were there this week.

 

[rt06]

You do stand in line at the kiosks but they usually move very quickly. There are so many kiosks that they were never more than a few people deep while we were there this week.

Can that fourth FP from the kiosk be changed on the MDE app like the original three selections?