Here Now & Just Back WDW Reopening Experiences Including Park Hopping

[dachsie]

So no SEC Network anymore on Resort TV Channel 27-that is too bad.

Going to be a lot of MAD SEC fans!lol

Yea and with my luck that will be the channel my game will be on

 

[WEDWDW]

Yea and with my luck that will be the channel my game will be on

Not all is lost.

When SEC Network was added to Resort TV a few years ago,it replaced ESPN Classic on Channel 27,BUT Disney never changed the Resort TV Guide list

The Poster does list ESPN Classic as one of the current Channels,so my "guess" is that ESPN Classic has not been "brought back" and replaced SEC Network on Channel 27 and SEC Network is still part of Resort TV.

 

[lindsaydavis1982]

What time would you recommend arriving for rope drop at AK?

 

[brockash]

Only 4 days left! Are you going to give us daily updated ?

Lol...that's an old countdown...never figured out how to get rid of it...but we will be heading to the Polynesian on Friday for a week. We're excited, but getting a little worried about the crowds...and yes I'll be happy to report back

 

[wendow]

Pecos Bills used to have the AP discount available. Looks like it has been removed and only a few QS in AK still have discounts.

Hmm, we were there in July and didn't get an AP discount at FlameTree. How do you get that when mobile ordering? That was required in July.

 

[cjlong88]

Okay, we are back in our hotel after a full day at MK....

OVERALL:

- I wouldn’t say it was super crowded. I also wouldn’t say it was empty. There were definitely more people than I anticipated. There was one moment in Fantasyland where it just felt like a normal day at Disney.

- Mask compliance was pretty good. Maybe 90%. Some pretty tricky choke points all over MK. Everyone did a very good job in queues with physical distancing.

- The first half of the day was definitely busier than the second half. The evening had noticeably lower crowds.

PROS:

- Jungle Skipper Canteen was EXCELLENT. The food was superb, the service was perfect, and we were spaced out well from other guests.

- We spent a good portion of our day playing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom for the very first time. I had SO MUCH FUN. We finished the easy level and went back to the fire station to upgrade to medium. She gave each of us two free card packs, then gave us a giant stack of extra card packs (maybe 8-9 extras). We got so many great cards! We can’t wait to return and play the medium and hard levels.

- Spicy Chicken and Waffle sandwich from Sleep Hollow was amazing. That will be something I get every time at MK from now on.

- Some rides had long waits, but many were 20 minutes or less. Almost everything we rode had a shorter wait time than posted. Attractions we did: Space (3x), 7DMT (2x), BTMRR, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, HM, Buzz, Tomorrowland Speedway, Little Mermaid, Swiss Robinson Treehouse. All of the rides we chose to do had a 20-minute or less posted wait time, although we didn’t wait longer than 15 minutes for anything.

-Transportation at the end of the night was very well organized and the monorail line moved very quickly. Bravo to them for figuring out how to keep everything in order! Only took us 18 minutes from park exit to our beautiful 15-passenger van.

CONS:

- Honestly, with how busy it was today, it’s next to impossible to social distance appropriately the entire time. Pack your patience and wash your hands frequently.

- Lots of large families with small kids took up lots of space along the thoroughfares. They also seemed completely oblivious to the fact that no one could get around them or pass by them safely. It really makes it difficult to find a good route around them while maintaining our personal space.

- Splash and PotC had very long lines almost all day. 55-60 minutes a few times in the afternoon. Consistently 45 minutes throughout most of the day. If these are must-dos, tackling them first might be best for short lines. They both had a 5-minute posted wait at rope drop but quickly shot up within 45 minutes of park open before both rides suddenly went down (who knows why). HM and 7DMT had significantly shorter waits at the end of the day.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

- Epcot is more social distance friendly and made for a more relaxed pace. MK was fine, but not amazing.

- If you are the kind of person who would FP everything and refuse to wait longer than 5 minutes for ANY ride, then this might not be the best time for you to go. With FP we could have done a lot more rides, even during the busiest times of the year. That didn’t bother us since we visit so often, but if that is a deal breaker, maybe postpone until FP returns.

- If you don’t have patience (be honest, people), don’t go. When a line was long, we just tracked it on the app and waited to ride until it went down to a decent wait time. People will cut you off. We just stopped and let them go ahead of us (better than them creeping up behind us). This is not a good time to go if you get short-tempered from minor inconveniences.

- The magic is still here. But it definitely feels different.

- The flight is the most nerve wreaking part of the entire trip.

- With everyone you are around from flight to hotel to parks, it’s almost guaranteed that you are bound to come across someone with COVID. There are way more people in the parks than at your local grocery store or Target, and you will be confined within those spaces a lot longer. There’s definitely a risk, but Disney is doing everything they can to keep guests safe. If guests follow the rules, you really minimize the risk of contracting the virus.

-Masks were surprisingly easy to wear, even in the heat. We used bamboo cloth masks with adjustable ear loops and they were exceptionally comfortable.

- Would I do Pandemic Disney again? Yes. I wouldn’t visit MK again. Too many choke points all over. I would probably do AK instead simply because they have bigger thoroughfares and more room to spread out (plus it’s my favorite park).

 

[Geomom]

Hmm, we were there in July and didn't get an AP discount at FlameTree. How do you get that when mobile ordering? That was required in July.

Flame tree only offers a discount for TIW currently. Looks like the only QS that offer AP discounts are at DS and some resorts (values and moderates?). I also don't think it's possible to get a discount while mobile ordering at this time anyways... would likely need to attempt to order in person.

 

[yulilin3]

Flame tree only offers a discount for TIW currently. Looks like the only QS that offer AP discounts are at DS and some resorts (values and moderates?). I also don't think it's possible to get a discount while mobile ordering at this time anyways... would likely need to attempt to order in person.

There's a button now on m.o. where you can apply your discount. My dd did it at ak using her cast member discount they were giving in July

 

[nancy155]

There's a button now on m.o. where you can apply your discount. My dd did it at ak using her cast member discount they were giving in July

Yes I saw that and did a “mock trial order” when I tried to put in “AP” it took me to a page that someone linked above that stated no AP or TIW discounts can be used when mobile ordering. I will speak to CM when I am there and inquire. . Can’t wait for my trip.

 

[Turksmom]

Yes I saw that and did a “mock trial order” when I tried to put in “AP” it took me to a page that someone linked above that stated no AP or TIW discounts can be used when mobile ordering. I will speak to CM when I am there and inquire. . Can’t wait for my trip.

I tried the AP ID # and my TIW # on a mock order and neither of those worked either.

 

[buzz2400]

Okay, we are back in our hotel after a full day at MK....

OVERALL:

- I wouldn’t say it was super crowded. I also wouldn’t say it was empty. There were definitely more people than I anticipated. There was one moment in Fantasyland where it just felt like a normal day at Disney.

- Mask compliance was pretty good. Maybe 90%. Some pretty tricky choke points all over MK. Everyone did a very good job in queues with physical distancing.

- The first half of the day was definitely busier than the second half. The evening had noticeably lower crowds.

PROS:

- Jungle Skipper Canteen was EXCELLENT. The food was superb, the service was perfect, and we were spaced out well from other guests.

- We spent a good portion of our day playing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom for the very first time. I had SO MUCH FUN. We finished the easy level and went back to the fire station to upgrade to medium. She gave each of us two free card packs, then gave us a giant stack of extra card packs (maybe 8-9 extras). We got so many great cards! We can’t wait to return and play the medium and hard levels.

- Spicy Chicken and Waffle sandwich from Sleep Hollow was amazing. That will be something I get every time at MK from now on.

- Some rides had long waits, but many were 20 minutes or less. Almost everything we rode had a shorter wait time than posted. Attractions we did: Space (3x), 7DMT (2x), BTMRR, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, HM, Buzz, Tomorrowland Speedway, Little Mermaid, Swiss Robinson Treehouse. All of the rides we chose to do had a 20-minute or less posted wait time, although we didn’t wait longer than 15 minutes for anything.

-Transportation at the end of the night was very well organized and the monorail line moved very quickly. Bravo to them for figuring out how to keep everything in order! Only took us 18 minutes from park exit to our beautiful 15-passenger van.

CONS:

- Honestly, with how busy it was today, it’s next to impossible to social distance appropriately the entire time. Pack your patience and wash your hands frequently.

- Lots of large families with small kids took up lots of space along the thoroughfares. They also seemed completely oblivious to the fact that no one could get around them or pass by them safely. It really makes it difficult to find a good route around them while maintaining our personal space.

- Splash and PotC had very long lines almost all day. 55-60 minutes a few times in the afternoon. Consistently 45 minutes throughout most of the day. If these are must-dos, tackling them first might be best for short lines. They both had a 5-minute posted wait at rope drop but quickly shot up within 45 minutes of park open before both rides suddenly went down (who knows why). HM and 7DMT had significantly shorter waits at the end of the day.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

- Epcot is more social distance friendly and made for a more relaxed pace. MK was fine, but not amazing.

- If you are the kind of person who would FP everything and refuse to wait longer than 5 minutes for ANY ride, then this might not be the best time for you to go. With FP we could have done a lot more rides, even during the busiest times of the year. That didn’t bother us since we visit so often, but if that is a deal breaker, maybe postpone until FP returns.

- If you don’t have patience (be honest, people), don’t go. When a line was long, we just tracked it on the app and waited to ride until it went down to a decent wait time. People will cut you off. We just stopped and let them go ahead of us (better than them creeping up behind us). This is not a good time to go if you get short-tempered from minor inconveniences.

- The magic is still here. But it definitely feels different.

- The flight is the most nerve wreaking part of the entire trip.

- With everyone you are around from flight to hotel to parks, it’s almost guaranteed that you are bound to come across someone with COVID. There are way more people in the parks than at your local grocery store or Target, and you will be confined within those spaces a lot longer. There’s definitely a risk, but Disney is doing everything they can to keep guests safe. If guests follow the rules, you really minimize the risk of contracting the virus.

-Masks were surprisingly easy to wear, even in the heat. We used bamboo cloth masks with adjustable ear loops and they were exceptionally comfortable.

- Would I do Pandemic Disney again? Yes. I wouldn’t visit MK again. Too many choke points all over. I would probably do AK instead simply because they have bigger thoroughfares and more room to spread out (plus it’s my favorite park).

Where did you get the bamboo cloth masks

 

[julierocks]

For those who have been to HS recently, I'm curious as to the actual wait time for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. No matter wait time of day I put it into a touring apps plan, it's 70+ mins for an estimated wait time. I'm hoping this is because there's not enough data yet. How can it be 70+ mins at rope drop?

 

[IluvMGM]

For those who have been to HS recently, I'm curious as to the actual wait time for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. No matter wait time of day I put it into a touring apps plan, it's 70+ mins for an estimated wait time. I'm hoping this is because there's not enough data yet. How can it be 70+ mins at rope drop?

I think because people arrive earlier than 10:00 and try to do that first, so by the time 10:00 hits, there is already a line.

 

[julierocks]

Didn't think of that. How far before opening are CMs letting you in?

 

[lovethattink]

For those who have been to HS recently, I'm curious as to the actual wait time for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. No matter wait time of day I put it into a touring apps plan, it's 70+ mins for an estimated wait time. I'm hoping this is because there's not enough data yet. How can it be 70+ mins at rope drop?

Every morning I’ve been to DHS, it seems most people stop there first. We made Slinky Dog our first stop.

 

[soniam]

For those who have been to HS recently, I'm curious as to the actual wait time for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. No matter wait time of day I put it into a touring apps plan, it's 70+ mins for an estimated wait time. I'm hoping this is because there's not enough data yet. How can it be 70+ mins at rope drop?

Touring Plans assumes that you entered the park at the opening time. Since lines have already formed outside or inside, you would be at the back of a long line. They have been opening it before the parks opens though. TP has been doing this for FOP for a long time. I usually put in a break with a time and attraction name. Or I just live with it, knowing that we will be way ahead of schedule. I don't know if they have updated wait times yet in TP. We went the 2nd week of MK/AK opening/1st week of DHS/Epcot opening, so the times were completely wrong. I didn't even up end using them.

 

[IluvMGM]

Didn't think of that. How far before opening are CMs letting you in?

I think the park opens when the parking lot does, 9:15?

 

[disneygirlsng]

Didn't think of that. How far before opening are CMs letting you in?

About 45 minutes or so before official open. I waited 30 minutes on Tuesday, got in line at 9:45. Later in the afternoon it said 60 min, but the line was about where I was earlier in the day so probably closer to 30.

 

[yulilin3]

I have been seeing a lot of repeat questions. Please take the time to read back a couple of pages and your question might already been answered. Thank you

 

[momandmousefan]

We got to Hollywood Studios today (Sunday) a few minutes before 9 and had to circle around the block again before they would let cars line up. By 9:05 long lines of cars were let in. We chose poorly with the parking gate and didn’t get to park until about 9:20-9:30 (and got unlucky again and had to start a new row. Lol) We got in after temp and such by about 9:40. There was already a wrap around line at Mickeys Railway. We wrapped around awhile and noticed the sign said 70 minutes. It took us about 35 minutes total. Based in where the line was further out compared to where we started it was probably at least 35-40 minutes wait all day until the afternoon.


slinky dog, millennium and toy story, rNr, tot also had super long lines a good part of the day. (Lines our way past the usual entrances) The virtual reservation system for Rise was down until noon too. Overall, studios was a bit of a crowded zoo today. (alien saucers said 20 when we went on though but that was a walk on)

Lots of noses peeking out, and walking drinkers/smackers today too and bigger crowds to navigate.

We found Animal kingdom pretty busy yesterday too. (Saturday) Long line outside the entrance for FOP, and safari line at one point was all the way to Dawa Bar.

We’re definitely hoping this was just a weekend thing and tomorrow gets quieter again.