Park Strategy Advice

[Mr D Duck]

Hi all! New poster here, please be kind :animwink:

So we head back out to WDW on july 10th and we're currently discussing the best strategy for what we reckon will be our busiest park, the Magic Kingdom (Saturday 12th July).
My proposal is to start in Fronteirland, Hit BTM and Splash Mountain then run over to SM and collect fastpasses. Do Philharmagic and some other fantasyland stuff in the mean time, then ride SM and then get fastpasses for Buzz while havin lunch and riding Monster's Inc. I reckon thatll be about parade time, so head to Fronteirland for a quiet (ahem quietish) spot then pick up Adventureland and any re-rides.

Can anyone offer any improvements, im open to suggestions!

Finally, i have a few questions:
1. How often are Share a dream Come True, SpectroMagic and Wishes cancelled due to adverse weather conditions? (only been in april before and we've never seen rain on WDW property although i believe its a good bit wetter in July!)
2. We havent been since Laugh Floor was added to Tomorrowland, how big a queue does it generate? im guessing it will be manageable due to its high capacity and throughput? And has this addition affected the queues for other Tommorowland attractions?
3. My brother and I are hardy theme park goers and thus intend to do as we usually do and stay in the park from 9.00am till midnite, is it true that the crowds die down after the 3.00pm parade in the MK?

Cheers!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Welcome aboard :wave:

Collect FP for Space BEFORE going to BTM and Splash. Return to Space and ride with FP. Your only downside is crossing the park from SM to BTM and back but avoids a longer wait for Space

Re cancellations - we last went in August 06 and had Mickeys Jammin Jungle cancelled on us due to an approaching storm - one cancellation in a three week visit

 

[Monty]

Maximize your fast past use wherever you can. On a Saturday in July the park will be very busy, even if it thins after the parade, it'll still be a challenge to accomplish everything you want. The crazy crowds you probably experienced in Spring Break are mild compared to the height of July.

Parades don't get canceled very often, but it does happen. Go with the flow.

It will be very hot and humid. Drink plenty of water, use sunblock liberally and don't be surprised if you can't manage full-day open-to-close commando-style park activity... The heat and humidity will impact the hardiest adventurers! Florida sun and heat are not to be taken lightly, particularly by Scotsmen who aren't used to those kinds of intense conditions.

 

[Philo]

Finally, i have a few questions:
1. How often are Share a dream Come True, SpectroMagic and Wishes cancelled due to adverse weather conditions? (only been in april before and we've never seen rain on WDW property although i believe its a good bit wetter in July!)
2. We havent been since Laugh Floor was added to Tomorrowland, how big a queue does it generate? im guessing it will be manageable due to its high capacity and throughput? And has this addition affected the queues for other Tommorowland attractions?
3. My brother and I are hardy theme park goers and thus intend to do as we usually do and stay in the park from 9.00am till midnite, is it true that the crowds die down after the 3.00pm parade in the MK?

Cheers!

1. I've never had it happen (other than a 10 minute technical delay for P&PP fireworks) but you never know. For the shows I really want to see (Fantasmic) I always make sure I have a backup time to see it, just in case.

2. I've never seen huge queues at the Laugh Floor but as with all attractions, in busy times it will have a queue. When I was there in April I only visited the attraction once. It had a 30 min wait time posted which turned out to be more like 20. Later in our vacation I walked past and I can't recall ever seing the queue longer than 30 mins. I'm not sure how this affects other Tomorrow Land queues.

3. 9.00am to midnight is a long time. Trust me, I'm a 'run around all day' guy but the heat and crowds got to me a little so we needed to take a few breaks. The crowds will die down a little after the parade but they will be right up again for the night time shows. After the fireworks have finished it get's quieter as people leave for the day although on an EMH day the crowds might still be quite large. Having said all that. If your in the parks for 15hours you will get alot done!

 

[dhoywdw20x]

Strategy Advice, we always use the same strategy and it usually always works on Easter sunday, the busiest day of the year, so it shouldn;t be a problem for the summer.
1. Go to Fantasyland: Dumbo, Winnie and SW, Carousel, PP and Philharmagic, then Small World, that should only take 45 minutes to and hour.
2. Get a Fastpass for Splash Mountain, then go to Adventureland, do Jungle Cruise and Pirates if no to busy, we never stand in lines over 30 minutes long, then do Tiki Room, a good place to relax on a hot day.
3. Do Splash Mountain FP, get FP for BTM, take train to Main Street
4. Watch 3:00 parade on Main Street from Train Station, great view.
5. Head torwards Tomorrowland, do Buzz and Monsters then get a FP for Space Mountain head back over to BTM and watch Dream Along with Mickey on the way.
6. Finish up any unfinished business on the left side of the park, then come back over to Tomorrowland and do Space Mountain, Carousel oP, and TTA. Then the rest of the day is yours to repeat eat and enjoy.

 

[yankspy]

I noticed from your trip countdown that you are staying off-site and so I can understand why you might not wish to leave and come back to the park. In that case, I would plan on some down time at around 3:00 or so. Trust me, that heat will make you batty after awhile. There are a number of things to do. Taking a couple of rides on the TTA is always a good way to relax and cool off a bit. I have even left and taken a monorail loop just to get a half hour or so in some A/C and a chance to rest my eyes. You could even plan a meal at one of the monorail resorts so that the trip does not feel like a waste. There have been many times when I have taken a short siesta in one of the comfortable chairs that the resort lobbies have. It works wonders.

 

[mickey&me]

Go to the Hall of Presidents mid-day. It's air-conditioned, dark, and quiet. That said, you may end up napping through the show.

 

[imamouse]

Welcome to WDWMagic and congratulations on your upcoming trip :wave:!

I am also a Disney comando, or at least I was until I finally took a break one afternoon. Of course, MK had evening EMH until 2 am, so I think a break was warranted .

Perhaps you and your brother could divide and conquer? One of you goes to Space Mtn with both tickets to pull FP while the other goes to Splash or Big Thunder and judges when to get into line (waiting a bit so as not to require the other brother to trample too many guests to meet up).

Are you familiar with Touring Plans? It's the companion website to the Unofficial Guide to WDW and they have tried and tested plans to get the most done while spending the least amount of time waiting in lines. I've tried them and they work! Since you are going during a busy time, I recommend using a touring plan. You can even create/customize your own plan. Have a great time!

 

[RiversideBunny]

From the poem 'To A Mouse' by Robert Burns.

"The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley"
​

It will be July at WDW in Florida.
It will be crowded.
It will be hot and sunny.

Your best plan is to be very flexible.
Continually use situational awareness and seek targets of opportunity.

Dress for hot weather- don't wear anything under your kilt.
Bring a claymore - there will be huge, madding crowds.

Could you possibly go in September instead.

Good luck.

 

[travelgip]

Go to the Hall of Presidents mid-day. It's air-conditioned, dark, and quiet. That said, you may end up napping through the show.

This actually happened to me once! I was with my Dad (70 at the time) and I had to wake him up after the show finished letting out. He slept right through all the people clapping and getting up to leave!
He said he fell asleep during the movie portion and said it was one of the best naps he ever took.:ROFLOL:

 

[DonChi]

Go to the Hall of Presidents mid-day. It's air-conditioned, dark, and quiet. That said, you may end up napping through the show.

Works every time:ROFLOL: