Best Time to Arrive at the Park

[Bugs_n_Belfy]

Good evening,

What time do people aim to get to the parks for? For an example, if Magic Hours aren't a factor and Epcot opens at 9am, what time do people arrive (as I guess you'll have to factor in things like security etc)?

Thanks!

[ClaireNJ]

We usually arrive about 45 mins earlier as you have to park, then go on the monorail & security

[scoobydooby]

An hour before it opens. There is a difference between getting there for opening and been first for when it opens.

[Guest]

If there were no EMH, I didn’t have an ADR and the park opened at 9am, I would arrive about 10am to avoid the rush. I have generally found no queues to get in if arriving later morning.

[Robblps]

My first day in Epcot in November, the park opens for 9am, we'll probably plan to get there for 8.30am. Its our first day and jet lag will kick in, so i assume we'll be earlier

[Bugs_n_Belfy]

Thanks for your replies. We have been setting out our itinerary and it dawned at me last night that if we get to the parks for 8.30, will we get to the first ride within 30 / 45 minutes of that.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Bugs_n_Belfy

What time do people aim to get to the parks for?

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It depends.

If I aim to get there for opening time, then I'd probably get there half an hour before the official opening time (so 8:30am in your example). If I was staying offsite and visiting MK then I'd plan to get there almost an hour before the opening time (maybe 8:10am) to allow time to get the monorail or ferry.

Note that the above won't get you near the front of the crowd when the park opens. You need to arrive earlier than the above to be near the front.

However, we don't always get there for opening time. In fact I think we often get to a park a bit later, maybe 9:30am or 10am. Or maybe we'll have a lazy morning and visit the parks in the late afternoon and evening. It depends on when we get up and what our plans are.

[Ashleylvsgoofy]

I still remember the time we did morning EMH at the Magic Kingdom and arrived at 7AM (EMH started at 8AM) and we were the 3rd car in the car park!

[dx4100]

Originally Posted by Claudette

If there were no EMH, I didn’t have an ADR and the park opened at 9am, I would arrive about 10am to avoid the rush. I have generally found no queues to get in if arriving later morning.

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Yeah but you are then missing out on the quietest hour in the park from a queue time prospective. This is bad advice if you want to maximise your day and have never been before.

[dx4100]

You want to be getting to the parks around 45 to 30 mins before they open. Then cherry pick the best ride to rope drop depending how far to the front or the back of the crowd you are.

For example at MK if you are at the front then rope drop Seven Dwafs mine train but if you are middle to back then head for Peter Pan or Winnie Pooh.

I would recommend you look at the rope drop videos etc provided by

youtube/user/TouringPlans

Really informative and will help you maximise your day