Also, if you aren't in the park to watch the fireworks or parade, wait times sometimes plummet during the fireworks and parade times and you can knock out some rides much faster! Also, some rides allow you to see the fireworks during the ride, which is a bonus!
Great tip! Personally, I've found the parades to be hit or miss. . . at least nowadays. However, fireworks is a great time to jump on a few rides with some lower wait times if you're already in the parks and not planning to watch the show! Seeing the fireworks from an attraction is one of my favorite things! For me, at least at Magic Kingdom, the best seat in the house is Astro Orbiter! Of course, if you're timing things just right the Skyliner is a great place to see the EPCOT fireworks as well. What about you? Do you have a favorite attraction to try and ride during fireworks?
@@2foolishmortalsI agree with the parades. I've had more success with the fireworks too! I've done Splash Mountain (Not Tiana's yet), Big Thunder, and Seven Dwarfs, and had interesting views!
I have ZERO idea if this works, it's been about 10 years or so since their last trip but: My sister-in-law used to stay off property with her family, but she would always make a breakfast reservation for Crystal Palace as early as she could for one day. Even staying off property, having a reservation first thing in the morning would guarantee them access to Magic Kingdom before the park officially opened, in order to accommodate the restaurant's needs. She has some great early morning photos of her kids with the castle in the background and absolutely ZERO crowds, because the parks were virtually empty. Again, it's been a decade since I know she did this, her kids are now grown and things have changed a lot - but it's definitely worth looking into for anyone looking to get there early!
Yes! I'm aware of this tip AND can confirm that [at least at one time] it was a good one. Now, I don't think it works in the same way OR at least isn't as effective as it once was. I was just taking some time to look at the operating hours and earliest reservation times for some of the "go to" places to do this and they no longer open as early as I remember them opening in the past. [Of course, that could be my misremembering.] From what I was able to see, specifically at MK, the earliest reservations are currently at 8:30AM. . . which is right in line for Early Theme Park Entry and you're not likely to beat day guests out the gate either with a table service dining experience. So my best guess is that this tip is not the tip it once was. 🙁 Thanks for sharing though! Maybe someone who has done this recently will have something to add! 😄
hey, kat. the "good neighbor" hotels (hotels by the springs) include early entry, too. but im much more of a close-the-park-person, then chilling for 30-60 minutes, enjoying the parks, after close, before exiting. the transportation will be calmed down. if we're on property, i'm with you - go in early, get out before lunch, hit the pool, go back in at/after dinner.
Good Morning! 👋😄 Yes, some of the hotels in the Disney Springs area include Early Theme Park Entry as well as other non-Disney Owned and Operated hotels around the Walt Disney World Resort. For anyone who stumbles upon this and is wondering, that list includes: WDW Swan, Dolphin & Swan Reserve DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista Four Seasons Resort Orlando Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace HIlton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Holiday Inn Orlando Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa Shade of Green Signa by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Waldorf Astoria Orlando Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Of course, this is the list as of August 2024. 😄
I'm definitely a rope drop and eating early kind of girl(both lunch and dinner). Breakfast is in the room before I go to the parks. Sometimes I pack a lunch too to save money. That way when I do go to my beloved character dining it's not as expensive. 😂Disney Math
That's the way to go! You know, one of the things that you might hear me say when I talk about packing food/snacks is that I "bring the food I need so I can buy the food I want". What you're saying here is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. I'd rather have breakfast in the room and/or snacks from home and then eat an $80/head meal or $40 chocolate piniata than waste $15 here and $8 there on things just to hold me over. You can call it "Disney Math" or "Girl Math". . . . I call it using my budget to the fullest! 😂😉
Hi! I’m trying to avoid crowds on my first trip the first week of December in 2025. How would you navigate all the party days? I’ve learned that is the best time for low crowds but how do you see magic kingdom and Hollywood studios in the evenings that same week without the crazy crowds? Any tips to plan that week? Is hopper a must or???
Yeah. . . . that wouldn't surprise me one bit. We've actually been having conversations, amongst ourselves, for the past couple of years about how they seem to want to gaslight those of us who have been members for a while into thinking that DVC isn't the thing we originally bought into. Lots of thoughts on this, but I'll leave it at that for now.
Also, if you aren't in the park to watch the fireworks or parade, wait times sometimes plummet during the fireworks and parade times and you can knock out some rides much faster! Also, some rides allow you to see the fireworks during the ride, which is a bonus!
Great tip! Personally, I've found the parades to be hit or miss. . . at least nowadays. However, fireworks is a great time to jump on a few rides with some lower wait times if you're already in the parks and not planning to watch the show!
Seeing the fireworks from an attraction is one of my favorite things! For me, at least at Magic Kingdom, the best seat in the house is Astro Orbiter! Of course, if you're timing things just right the Skyliner is a great place to see the EPCOT fireworks as well. What about you? Do you have a favorite attraction to try and ride during fireworks?
@@2foolishmortalsI agree with the parades. I've had more success with the fireworks too! I've done Splash Mountain (Not Tiana's yet), Big Thunder, and Seven Dwarfs, and had interesting views!
If you book early enough this does still work. We do it all of the time. The only downside is your usually stuffed when you get in your first ride!
I have ZERO idea if this works, it's been about 10 years or so since their last trip but:
My sister-in-law used to stay off property with her family, but she would always make a breakfast reservation for Crystal Palace as early as she could for one day. Even staying off property, having a reservation first thing in the morning would guarantee them access to Magic Kingdom before the park officially opened, in order to accommodate the restaurant's needs. She has some great early morning photos of her kids with the castle in the background and absolutely ZERO crowds, because the parks were virtually empty.
Again, it's been a decade since I know she did this, her kids are now grown and things have changed a lot - but it's definitely worth looking into for anyone looking to get there early!
Yes! I'm aware of this tip AND can confirm that [at least at one time] it was a good one. Now, I don't think it works in the same way OR at least isn't as effective as it once was. I was just taking some time to look at the operating hours and earliest reservation times for some of the "go to" places to do this and they no longer open as early as I remember them opening in the past. [Of course, that could be my misremembering.] From what I was able to see, specifically at MK, the earliest reservations are currently at 8:30AM. . . which is right in line for Early Theme Park Entry and you're not likely to beat day guests out the gate either with a table service dining experience. So my best guess is that this tip is not the tip it once was. 🙁 Thanks for sharing though! Maybe someone who has done this recently will have something to add! 😄
hey, kat.
the "good neighbor" hotels (hotels by the springs) include early entry, too.
but im much more of a close-the-park-person, then chilling for 30-60 minutes, enjoying the parks, after close, before exiting. the transportation will be calmed down.
if we're on property, i'm with you - go in early, get out before lunch, hit the pool, go back in at/after dinner.
Good Morning! 👋😄 Yes, some of the hotels in the Disney Springs area include Early Theme Park Entry as well as other non-Disney Owned and Operated hotels around the Walt Disney World Resort. For anyone who stumbles upon this and is wondering, that list includes:
WDW Swan, Dolphin & Swan Reserve
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
HIlton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Holiday Inn Orlando
Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa
Shade of Green
Signa by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Of course, this is the list as of August 2024.
😄
My family eats late. Growing up we would always eat later. The restaurants are normally less crowded.
I'm definitely a rope drop and eating early kind of girl(both lunch and dinner). Breakfast is in the room before I go to the parks. Sometimes I pack a lunch too to save money. That way when I do go to my beloved character dining it's not as expensive. 😂Disney Math
That's the way to go! You know, one of the things that you might hear me say when I talk about packing food/snacks is that I "bring the food I need so I can buy the food I want". What you're saying here is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. I'd rather have breakfast in the room and/or snacks from home and then eat an $80/head meal or $40 chocolate piniata than waste $15 here and $8 there on things just to hold me over. You can call it "Disney Math" or "Girl Math". . . . I call it using my budget to the fullest! 😂😉
Hi! I’m trying to avoid crowds on my first trip the first week of December in 2025. How would you navigate all the party days? I’ve learned that is the best time for low crowds but how do you see magic kingdom and Hollywood studios in the evenings that same week without the crazy crowds? Any tips to plan that week? Is hopper a must or???
Yeah. . . . that wouldn't surprise me one bit. We've actually been having conversations, amongst ourselves, for the past couple of years about how they seem to want to gaslight those of us who have been members for a while into thinking that DVC isn't the thing we originally bought into. Lots of thoughts on this, but I'll leave it at that for now.
Save the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyers Island at Magic Kingdom Florida!!!!