Favorite line busters!

[LimeGreenCheri]

When all else fails.... head to plan B! So, what is plan B for your family? Do you have a favorite line buster when the crowds are overwhelming. (As I'm sure they will be for Spring Break :shock: )

[FLSharon]

I just can't stress enough how much you can see the first couple hours in MK by getting there around 8:40am. Plus you get to see the little opening act. Then by pass the characters in town square and do the mickey walk to your favorite area and go for it! :mickeyWalk: By having an eye on the time and how the lines are forming you grab your first fast pass with a very short wait and presto you've seen so much you won't believe it. Then you have the rest of the day to get more fast passes and to leisurely enjoy your day!! :mickeyWalk:

This was sooo very difficult for me to get b/c I sooo dont' like to get up early and hurry around, but i'd advise to try it once to see what it's like. I'm always soo glad i got my fanny up. :wink:

[Bookwood]

Just a hint incase your first stop is -splash and big thunder mountians, the train really is faster. Just be sure you know exactly what your doing when you get off the train.

Pam :mickeyWalk: "Bookwood"

[LisaS]

Yea, unfortunately, the only thing to overcome the crowds is a really good plan and an early start. We seem to always be there in a crowd (school breaks or summer) so we have established this as our way of touring - start early, expect that you won't do everything and take an afternoon break!! That's our mantra - and it seems to work well!!

[SusanL]

Hi Cheri,
Getting there early is the best idea. On the day after Christmas in 2002 we went to MK for early entry and rode space mountain, got fast pass for Big Thunder mountain, virtually walked onto splash mountain, then walked onto Big thunder and then used the fast pass, then did haunted mansion all by 10 am. Then we hopped to MGM and waited 2 hours for Tower of Terror and called it a day.
That was probably our best time ever at MK.
Hopefully we can do it again in April.
Have a great trip.
SusanL :minnie: :sun: :minnie:

[Tagrel]

Another vote for being there at opening.

MK - We always use EE, and attack Fantasyland first (5 and 7 year old), and doing everything (some twice!) in that first hour (although it was busier this last July). Then be ready for the rope drop at 9am, head for Splash Mountain (get FP) and then standby for Big Thunder (usually ride twice), off to Haunted Mansion, or Adventureland, and then back to Splash toward the END of our FP return time. OR, Fantasyland, and then Tomorrowland where I grab a FP for Space Mountain, and wait for Buzz. Ride whatever else is open until Space Mountain time. Another fun thing to do it be at Toontown for the rope drop. We found Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale outside, playing with the kids. Got a picture with Mickey on his front porch. It was a GREAT time to be in ToonTown and the kids LOVED the extra Character attention. Then back to the resort in the early afternoon for a break.

Epcot, I would grab a TT FP, and then head to standby for Mission:Space. We always leave Spaceship Earth until afternoon, when it seldom has a line, and enjoy the cool inside touring of the Land and Living Seas. Figment has been a walkon everytime so far, and we have been skipping the 3D Honey I Shrunk the Audience movie. Kids freak out at that one. WorldShowcase at leisure, but a PS helps get you in to the more popular restaurants quickly.

MGM - I run for 2- RnR and 2-Tot FPs right away, and meet family at MovieRide. Head over to Ariel for the first show and then the Playhouse Disney. Time for RnR FP, so I run off for Star Tours FPs (I get a GREAT workout at WDW!) and meet family at RnR. Kristen and I switch off to ride RnR, then I and whomever I can con into it ride Tot (or we get 4 RnR FPs and ride twice each) Kids don't like these two very much! Time for Star Tours, and we coast the rest of the day doing whatever we want that does NOT have long lines, and again take an afternoon break.

AK - I run for Safari FPs, and meet family in Dinoland on the Triceritops spin, and then Primeval Wurl. Can't seem to get the girls to ride Dinosaur, so we skip it, see Bugs Life, and then grab Kali FP on way to Safari Ride. Take Safari ride, walk the trails and hit the Kali Rapids near end of FP return time. Fit in Festival of the Lion King somewhere (because its SOOOO worth it), and again leave early for a much needed swim break. AK is SOOOOO hot!

This plan of attack for the parks has served us very well. As the parks get crowds in the early afternoon, we are typically leaving to enjoy a nice break, and then come back in the evening. It has worked very well for us over the years, and we typically have visited Disney during the Busy Summer months.

Waterparks, we go RIGHT at opening, and Kristen runs back to grab a nice spot while I grab a locker, towels and life vests. We have been able to snag great spots with tables and umbrellas our last two visits to TL this way. And one refillable mug at the waterparks goes a LONG way in quenching our thirst. We just share it, and refill often.

And where the plan fails, we typically skip an attraction that visit, and move it to the top for the next trip! Waiting over 20 minutes is NOT an option! :)

[BriarRose]

Oh Tag that was so funny I had this visual of sprinting.

We don't usually go when there are long lines. So for us busy is waiting more than 15 minutes.

We do EE and swim in the pm. On one or two occasions it has gotten crowded and we find it a huge break to explore the resorts too!

The one place I can't stand busy is DD. And no matter what time of year you go World of Disney is always packed.

[Tagrel]

Oh Tag that was so funny I had this visual of sprinting.

I don't actually sprint, but power walking is a definite! :) While our touring style is DEFINITELY not for everyone, it fits well with my A-Type personality, and since *I* do the running for FPs, Kristen doesn't mind! :winking: For them, its actually fairly relaxed! :)

[MissBianca]

My favorite "line buster"? Having only two or three must-dos in any park and being satisfied if that's all we do besides shopping (yeah!) and our favorite treats (oh, yeah!).

My mantra, "There will be a next time!"

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

I find if you hang a left and start in Adventureland, and then Frontierland,so on. For some reason, most people tend to veer to the right. :shrug:

LindaC b:sun:

[Cinderella]

Well, speaking as a Commando-type touring Disneyholic, I found myself slowing way down last December's trip. I was still 5x's the speed of DH (he only has one speed - standing still). :roll:

Seriously, I wanted to pace myself so I had energy enough to meet and hug all the TAginators we met that trip.

I would say to pick the top 2 or 3 attractions in each park that you absolutely cannot go home without going on, then work around the crowds. DEFINITELY go early - be there for EE when you can and walk directly to one of your favorite attractions as early as possible. Get Fast Passes to the others you want to see.

Eat lunch/dinner at "off" times and then go on attractions with little wait while everyone else has stopped to eat. We usually try to have lunch by 11-11:30 the latest and walk right in to attractions from noon on.

If the lines are too too long (as in summer and holidays) don't stress out. If you can't do FastPass, leave the park for some down time at your resort or go on to another park instead.

Remember, you can ALWAYS come back to DW again so eventually you WILL get on that ride/attraction. Don't get so stressed that your DH/DW/DS/DD etc. will all be cranky/tired. There's always tomorrow.

Enjoy what you CAN see and do!!!!! Stay happy!!!

Cinderella

:D :) 8) :lol: :wink: