Early Access at Magic Kingdom provides on-site visitors of Walt Disney International accommodations a head-start to do rides with shorter strains and decrease wait occasions. Neatly, no less than that’s the thought. This photograph file stocks my enjoy on a fairly sluggish day (crowd stage 3/10) that felt a ways busier very first thing within the morning and asks whether or not it’s time to skip Early Access at MK.
We’re large enthusiasts of Early Access, and feature enthusiastically really useful it in dozens of making plans posts. It’s an underrated perk, with many visitors disregarding it as “most effective” half-hour and not so good as the now-defunct, hour-long morning Further Magic Hours. Whilst I’d clearly relatively have 60 mins versus half-hour, Early Access is so much much less busy than EMH was once. Having the perk in any respect 4 parks each unmarried day makes an enormous distinction, to the purpose I’d argue EE is healthier than EMH at 3 of the 4 parks.
As defined in several Further Hours Box Stories, Early Access will also be an effective way to knock out Megastar Wars: Upward push of the Resistance, Slinky Canine Sprint, Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Frozen Ever After, Avatar Flight of Passage, and different headliners with minimum waits by the use of the standby strains earlier than Lightning Lanes clog up queues. You could realize one conspicuous omission from our reward for Early Access: Magic Kingdom.
I’ve finished Early Access at Magic Kingdom over a dozen occasions in the previous few years. It’s a ways and away my least favourite park for Early Access, however I stay returning for the sake of analysis. Neatly, and pictures. I nonetheless do Early Access on the different 3 parks “for amusing,” while Magic Kingdom is precisely for the sake of bloggability. If I had been a median vacationer, my solution to the titular query could be sure–and would’ve been for some time now.
With that stated, Early Access at Magic Kingdom all over Birthday party Season is excellent. I’d do–and feature finished–that for amusing with out writing the rest in regards to the enjoy or trying out technique. Early Access is excellent all over Birthday party Season from August thru December (plus a couple of different dates) as a result of Magic Kingdom opens to most of the people at 8 am and is most often much less busy.
With Birthday party Season proper across the nook, lots of you making plans Walt Disney International journeys may have exactly this chance. See this submit about why 7:30 am Early Access at Magic Kingdom is a recreation changer. We extremely counsel it on Halloween or Christmas Birthday party dates.
Only a few visitors have the need and backbone to be out their resort room door by way of ~6:30 am, which is just about what’s vital to reach at Magic Kingdom in time for the beginning of Early Access. In contrast, heaps of folks could make it for 8:30 am Early Access, which is the primary reason Magic Kingdom is the worst park for Early Access.
For this Early Access at Magic Kingdom trial run, we stayed the Recent. Some distance and away the very best lodge for Early Access–or simply Magic Kingdom usually–on account of the fast stroll to the park.
I didn’t be aware of once I left the room, were given thru safety, or the turnstiles. It was once all a easy and seamless procedure, taking on the other hand lengthy it might take you to stroll from anyplace your room is on the lodge to the park. I stroll moderately speedy, so it was once most likely below quarter-hour room door-to-Primary Side road for me. YMMV.
There’s the clock appearing once I arrived…ish. I had spent a few mins monkeying round taking pictures by way of the Sharing the Magic statue, looking ahead to a transparent shot of Primary Side road till it turned into abundantly transparent that wasn’t going to occur. Can’t win ’em all.
Through this time, Magic Kingdom’s turnstiles have been open for more than likely no less than half-hour. Our customary advice is to be there kind of half-hour earlier than the beginning of Early Theme Park Access. In case your plan is to do Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate, you wish to have to reach 30+ mins upfront. Much less time is ok for Peter Pan’s Flight, House Mountain, or the opposite choices.
After snapping some pictures across the Central Plaza and Cinderella Fort, I headed to the proper of the East Plaza Lawn for Early Theme Park Access. There’s a row of Solid Participants stationed to scan MagicBands or room keys to ensure Early Access eligibility.
Everybody is permitted to go into Magic Kingdom and hang around on Primary Side road, taking pictures or looking ahead to rope drop over at the Frontierland and Adventureland aspect of the Central Plaza. However you’ll’t get right of entry to Tomorrowland or Fantasyland with out scanning right here. If you’ve finished that, you’re excellent to head for the morning.
From there, you continue directly to both the Tomorrowland Bridge or Fantasyland Bridge.
As at all times, the gang is considerably smaller for Tomorrowland. That is the whole lot of it as of 8:05:06 am–the rope is between the rocks and the archway, and there’s respectable respiring room amongst events.
Had I joined this crowd, I may just’ve finished House Mountain as a close to walk-on, assuming I walked briskly to it and didn’t get distracted alongside the way in which taking pictures…which I’d’ve!
In contrast, right here’s the gang for Fantasyland as of 8:06:58 am.
There have been more than likely 10-15 occasions as many visitors ready right here. Roughly 90% of the ones individuals are planning to do Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate.
In truth, this isn’t that unhealthy. The folk on the very entrance had more than likely been looking ahead to some time, however despite the fact that I joined the mass at 8:06:58 am, I more than likely would’ve had a 25 minute or much less watch for Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate. All will depend on how smartly I navigated the SDMT Shuffle in getting from right here to the true line. However I didn’t sign up for the herd.
Each time imaginable, we each attempt to do Early Access and take a divide and overcome method with Sarah getting caught doing the SDMT Shuffle whilst I run round taking footage and assessing strains all the way through Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. I used to be on my own for this box check, so I needed to come to a decision which trail to take: sensible plan trying out or analysis. I selected the latter.
The theory of doing the SDMT Shuffle is at all times unappealing to me, however doubly so once I’m behind the pack and elbow-to-elbow with a host of drained and fellow under-caffeinated visitors. Plus, I sought after to take extra pictures within the Hub. The vegetation are having a look stunning and it was once a good looking morning.
With out even doing it, I will be able to let you know that the SDMT Shuffle would’ve been aggravating, as everybody shuffled (therefore the title) from the bridge to the appeal front and a line shaped in probably the most awkward means imaginable. Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate on my own would’ve been the whole lot of my Early Access time at Magic Kingdom. With success, I’d’ve been finished by way of 8:30 am, simply in time for normal rope drop.
After taking pictures of the vegetation within the Hub, I checked again at the crowd as of 8:19:11 am.
All of those folks selected poorly. They both will have to’ve arrived ~quarter-hour previous or long past to the Tomorrowland Bridge. You can not each arrive overdue and do the Fantasyland Bridge. That’s now not how this works.
Any person past the bridge itself is taking the perk and turning it right into a worse result–a median (or worse) wait time for Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate at a time when different points of interest have under common waits. Horrible alternative price!
Right here’s the gang at the Tomorrowland Bridge as of 8:20:31 am.
This may glance unhealthy, but it surely’s in point of fact now not. I’d say it’s about common, and the gang is a lot more relax. Possibly a bit too relax, as there’s numerous respiring room between events, and folks from the again saved reducing forward and filling that house. (I wasn’t about to try this since it kind of feels like deficient shape, however I additionally wouldn’t have left such a lot to be had house for precisely that explanation why.) However no matter. I used to be simply alongside for the journey.
Something I can upload here’s that the again of the pack here’s objectively higher for purchasing to Fantasyland than the Fantasyland Bridge. It’s an extended stroll, however when you’re rapid, you’ll in fact transfer freely right here–no shuffle. I’ve “beat” the again of the pack from this location on a number of events. (I’ve finished it to get to Peter Pan’s Flight, since SDMT is a misplaced reason from again right here–simply because it’s a misplaced reason from the again of the opposite pack.)
As is at all times the case, the enjoy coming into Tomorrowland is downright completely happy as in comparison to Fantasyland. Simply take a look at all that to be had house between the events strolling into the land. No person is shuffling!
A line shaped right away at House Mountain ready to go into the appeal.
Visitors had been stacked outdoor the queue, and funnel down from somewhat of an amorphous blob into a real line nearer to the doorway. This may glance unhealthy, however remember the fact that there’s nobody within the construction but and is only standby at this hour.
Even from the again of this line, it most likely would’ve been a couple of 10-15 minute wait, with maximum of that being an issue of strolling during the inside queue. That will’ve made House Mountain a robust beginning possibility for Early Access, identical to maximum mornings in Magic Kingdom.
It is advisable’ve more than likely hit that after which Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin and Astro Orbiter earlier than crowds began to construct. On the other hand, I used to be right here for analysis–now not amusing–so I saved on going with out blasting off into house.
I used to be shocked to look somewhat of a line at Buzz, because it’s incessantly a walk-on all over Early Access.
This nonetheless wouldn’t had been remotely unhealthy–more than likely a 5 minute precise wait as the road could also be stacked outdoor right here and repeatedly shifting as soon as within the construction.
Surprised that extra folks didn’t wish to birth their break day with the candy, candy smell of car exhaust.
It boggles my thoughts that that is how any person needs to spend Early Access. I’d actually relatively sit down outdoor the Tangled Bogs™️ and benefit from the serene sounds of the venue. A lot better environment. I actually have a voice within my head announcing, “close up you idiot, that is going to return again to chew you in a couple of years when Tomorrowland Speedway is Megatron’s favourite journey.”
Arriving in Fantasyland, the road for Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate already wrapped across the mountain and was once again by way of the Little Mermaid darkish journey.
This isn’t in any respect ordinary for Early Access. It may be reasonably higher or worse, however I’d say that is about common.
The tough factor about coming into this line is that it’s a repeatedly shifting goal. Such a lot of visitors race against the doorway of Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate, and in finding themselves chasing the road backwards, seeing their wait time balloon due to that one, not-so-little misstep.
This could also be why the Tomorrowland Bridge start line will also be awesome. Take the ‘great distance’ across the teacups and you’ve got an more uncomplicated time assembly the again of the road because it bureaucracy. (This additionally works from the Fantasyland Bridge, however the herd mentality makes folks reticent to do it.)
The posted wait time for Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate was once 75 mins. That may’ve been inflated somewhat, however it might’ve been lengthy regardless. Surely worse than I had noticed it all over different Early Access mornings, together with many that will finally end up having upper crowd ranges.
The vital factor this actual day, although, was once that 75 mins was once the height wait time for SDMT. It by no means were given any worse than this! It is advisable’ve actually rolled up in mid-afternoon and located a 60 minute posted wait time. However for numerous folks, 75 mins was once now not the entire dedication…additionally they waited round for Early Access to start out, so their “all in” general may’ve been ~85 mins. (Certainly nobody who arrived earlier than 8:15 am waited 75 mins, no less than.)
No longer most effective that, however there’s the aforementioned alternative price. As an alternative of a nasty shuffle to an above-average watch for Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate, they might’ve pleasantly breezed thru Tomorrowland and knocked out 2-3 rides with below-average waits. Actually makes you assume.
Seeing that lengthy line, a tight selection of visitors had the nice sense to cringe and soar to Peter Pan’s Flight. This occurs each morning as one of the most again part of the SDMT Shuffle individuals understand they’re in for an extended wait.
That will typically be the sensible play they usually’d stumble upon a wait time of 20 mins or much less. However in this specific day, the wait time was once already 45 mins and the queue stretched again to the Tangled Bogs™️. Oof.
That is kind of 10 mins earlier than common rope drop.
A few of these visitors more than likely had been entrance of the pack at Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate or Peter Pan’s Flight, however my bet is that about part didn’t do the rest primary all over Early Access. They balked two times, lower their losses, hit the bogs, and were given in a position for rope drop. That is my “bet” as a result of I overheard a pair other events recommend that’s what came about–that they ‘were given up early for no explanation why’ or ‘didn’t do the rest.’
I moved briefly to make my far more than to Jungle Cruise, however pace didn’t topic. The gap is longer from this level than it’s from the hub, and I used to be at the back of the rope drop crowd.
The road was once already 45 mins lengthy. Granted, it might most commonly be repeatedly shifting as Lightning Lane returns could be sporadic in the beginning, but when the true wait was once the rest over half-hour at this level, it would balloon on the finish as extra Genie+ customers started returning against the tip in their window.
It’s additionally value noting that I did Jungle Cruise later within the day with a 30 minute posted wait time and ~20 minute precise wait.
Giant Thunder Mountain Railroad nonetheless had a 5 minute wait once I were given again there, however with the queue spilling out the doorway, this more than likely was once now not correct. 5 mins is ready how lengthy it takes to stroll the queue at a average pace.
With Tiana’s Bayou Journey nonetheless over a month clear of opening, Giant Thunder Mountain is soaking up the entire rope drop crowds again in Frontierland. We in fact have now not spotted the ones irritate–it kind of feels like fewer visitors are heading again right here because of having the opposite mountain (are we able to nonetheless name it that?) down.
In the long run, the large “factor” for me that precipitated the identify to this submit is that Early Access and cord drop had been nonetheless relatively busy regardless of it being a fairly sluggish day at Magic Kingdom. Either one of the Fantasyland headliners had longer waits all over Early Access than later within the day, which was once additionally true of Jungle Cruise at rope drop. All of this regardless of no rides having downtime, which is typically what reasons inflated wait occasions in other places. On best of that, you’re most often arriving previous to the beginning of Early Access and looking ahead to that to start out.
This isn’t to mention I couldn’t have achieved points of interest with shorter waits all over Early Access and cord drop. Zigging once they zag and becoming a member of the smaller, extra carefree crowd ready at the Tomorrowland Bridge would’ve been the objectively easiest technique. It will’ve allowed later arrival–rolling up as overdue as 8:25 am and nonetheless having a fairly affordable wait time for House Mountain.
Beginning in Tomorrowland additionally would’ve stored extra time as in comparison to Fantasyland. Bouncing from there to Giant Thunder for rope drop–or sticking with second-tier Fantasyland rides to reduce strolling–nonetheless would’ve yielded favorable effects.
However for lots of visitors, there’s the sensible query of arriving early or staying overdue–it’s now not imaginable to do each. In this specific day, Peter Pan’s Flight had a ~10 minute precise wait within the final half-hour of the night time and Seven Dwarfs Mine Educate was once 18 mins when lining up with 1 minute left earlier than park last. The latter was once additionally now not within the solar, because it was once at 9:59 pm. I will be able to’t be in two puts immediately, however the rides in Tomorrowland more than likely had precise wait occasions identical to Early Access. So for the ones visitors compelled to choose from Early Access and overdue nights, the solution to the titular query is sure.
In fact, many visitors can arrive early and keep overdue…particularly when Magic Kingdom park hours are a paltry 9 am to ten pm, which more than likely is helping give an explanation for why Early Access was once so busy in this 3/10 crowd stage day. In case you’re a theme park commando who can cross from open to near with out factor, it clearly is smart to do Early Access (however you almost certainly already knew that). It additionally is smart to tempo your self and cross the comfy direction, knocking out Tomorrowland first versus combating Fantasyland crowds. The solution for those visitors is no…however you almost certainly already knew that with out studying when you’re at all times going opening to last, anyway!
Even on a excellent day, Early Access at Magic Kingdom calls for a fairly respectable time dedication, greater crowds, and a ways much less payoff than the opposite parks at Walt Disney International. As we’ve cautioned earlier than, don’t let Magic Kingdom be your first Early Access enjoy, because it’ll unduly prejudice you in opposition to the opposite parks, regardless of Early Access being a ways awesome in EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. Talking of which, if you wish to have technique for the opposite 3 parks, take a look at our Information to Early Theme Park Access at Walt Disney International.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you skip Early Access at Magic Kingdom or make the most of the perk? Partake within the SDMT Shuffle or go for the extra tranquil Tomorrowland birth? How would you do issues otherwise to start out the day at MK? Some other comments on arriving early to the Walt Disney International theme parks? Agree or disagree with our recommendation or method? Any questions we will be able to will let you solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
