WebmasterBarry
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
Part 32: The Walt Disney World Thrill Ride Tour Magic Kingdom: Like Sardines in Cans
May 30, 2001
The cast:
Me (the 29er-year old)
I arrived at Epcots monorail at 9:45 am for a trip to the Magic Kingdom. There were very few people waiting. When I arrived at the Transportation and Ticket Center at 10:00 am, people were packing into the monorail to the Magic Kingdom like sardines again! The monorail line was halfway down the ramp! Yesterday, I went over via the ferryboat. Today I will try the monorail. The monorail wasnt as packed as a New York City subway, but I think every monorail run was to capacity. I really wasnt expecting huge crowds like this in May. I was expecting crowds to be moderate after the Memorial Day weekend.
As I arrived and entered the park at around 10:15 am, I noticed that a train was waiting for passengers. I hurried to the entrance, but by the time I made it, the train had already left. The Cast Member said that another one will be around in five minutes. I decided to wait for the train. My ankles were still hurting a bit from yesterday, so I wanted to try to stay off my feet. My next stop was Animal Kingdom and I would get enough walking there.
As I waited for the train, I pondered about the crowds. Even as I entered, people were packed into the park like sardines. Everywhere I turned was another person. As much as I like some of the rides at the Magic Kingdom, if I had to cut out a park during a Disney World visit, Id probably cut the Magic Kingdom. Otherwise, Id do it first thing to avoid the monstrous crowds.
I departed the train at Mickeys Toontown Fair to ride the Barnstormer. I arrived at 10:30 am. The posted wait for the Barnstormer was 15 minutes, but I was on in 5. The ride was fun, but short. I was anticipating 60 minute waits later in the day. I think that is too long to wait for such a short ride. Too bad I cant get a Fast Pass for this one.
I walked from Mickeys Toontown Fair to Tomorrowland for Space Mountain. I knew that for sure I would have to pick up a Fast Pass for this one. As I walked to Tomorrowland, something surprising happened. I shifted my weight and my ankle stopped hurting! Whoopee! I couldve done cartwheels if I was gymnastically inclined. I was now really ready to be on my feet all day!
I went to Space Mountain and the standby wait was 45 minutes. I picked up a Fast Pass and my return time was from 12:35 to 1:35. As I passed by the stage near Space Mountain, I noticed some school groups there. One school group was all dressed in black suits and they walked in S formations around the stage. I started singing, Here come the Men in Black Seriously, I figured that the park was crowded because a lot of school groups were there. It made sense on why they were here. They could have an extended vacation with the Memorial Day weekend. I never thought of that!
I had three other rides to check. I walked to Fantasyland and I wanted to ride the Mad Tea Party, but it was a 15-minute wait. I didnt feel like waiting that long for the ride. It doesnt bother me, but this is one of the few rides I get self-conscious on when I ride it alone. I feel like I am hogging up a cup to myself when a family of four can enjoy it. I decided to mark the wait down and add 15 minutes to my total tour time.
I headed back to Mickeys Toontown Fair to ride the train to Frontierland. I knew that Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad would have huge crowds, so I would have to wait in line for one of them. When I arrived at Frontierland, I checked out the wait times. Splash Mountain had a 35-minute wait and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had a 25-minute wait. I couldnt get a Fast Pass since I was already holding one. I decided on the shorter wait for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
I hadnt waited for a ride for this amount of time in a long while. The wait didnt feel overly burdensome since the line was constantly moving. The line was kind of deceptive, though. When I thought that I would go into the loading bay, the line moved behind a wall and I waited some more! The wait was indeed 25 minutes long. I rode the coaster and it was fun! I tried to videotape the ride, but all I ended up getting mostly was the back of a ladys head.
It was close to noon, so I decided to plan my next move. I was making a Fast Pass plan.
May 30, 2001
The cast:
Me (the 29er-year old)
I arrived at Epcots monorail at 9:45 am for a trip to the Magic Kingdom. There were very few people waiting. When I arrived at the Transportation and Ticket Center at 10:00 am, people were packing into the monorail to the Magic Kingdom like sardines again! The monorail line was halfway down the ramp! Yesterday, I went over via the ferryboat. Today I will try the monorail. The monorail wasnt as packed as a New York City subway, but I think every monorail run was to capacity. I really wasnt expecting huge crowds like this in May. I was expecting crowds to be moderate after the Memorial Day weekend.
As I arrived and entered the park at around 10:15 am, I noticed that a train was waiting for passengers. I hurried to the entrance, but by the time I made it, the train had already left. The Cast Member said that another one will be around in five minutes. I decided to wait for the train. My ankles were still hurting a bit from yesterday, so I wanted to try to stay off my feet. My next stop was Animal Kingdom and I would get enough walking there.
As I waited for the train, I pondered about the crowds. Even as I entered, people were packed into the park like sardines. Everywhere I turned was another person. As much as I like some of the rides at the Magic Kingdom, if I had to cut out a park during a Disney World visit, Id probably cut the Magic Kingdom. Otherwise, Id do it first thing to avoid the monstrous crowds.
I departed the train at Mickeys Toontown Fair to ride the Barnstormer. I arrived at 10:30 am. The posted wait for the Barnstormer was 15 minutes, but I was on in 5. The ride was fun, but short. I was anticipating 60 minute waits later in the day. I think that is too long to wait for such a short ride. Too bad I cant get a Fast Pass for this one.
I walked from Mickeys Toontown Fair to Tomorrowland for Space Mountain. I knew that for sure I would have to pick up a Fast Pass for this one. As I walked to Tomorrowland, something surprising happened. I shifted my weight and my ankle stopped hurting! Whoopee! I couldve done cartwheels if I was gymnastically inclined. I was now really ready to be on my feet all day!
I went to Space Mountain and the standby wait was 45 minutes. I picked up a Fast Pass and my return time was from 12:35 to 1:35. As I passed by the stage near Space Mountain, I noticed some school groups there. One school group was all dressed in black suits and they walked in S formations around the stage. I started singing, Here come the Men in Black Seriously, I figured that the park was crowded because a lot of school groups were there. It made sense on why they were here. They could have an extended vacation with the Memorial Day weekend. I never thought of that!
I had three other rides to check. I walked to Fantasyland and I wanted to ride the Mad Tea Party, but it was a 15-minute wait. I didnt feel like waiting that long for the ride. It doesnt bother me, but this is one of the few rides I get self-conscious on when I ride it alone. I feel like I am hogging up a cup to myself when a family of four can enjoy it. I decided to mark the wait down and add 15 minutes to my total tour time.
I headed back to Mickeys Toontown Fair to ride the train to Frontierland. I knew that Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad would have huge crowds, so I would have to wait in line for one of them. When I arrived at Frontierland, I checked out the wait times. Splash Mountain had a 35-minute wait and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had a 25-minute wait. I couldnt get a Fast Pass since I was already holding one. I decided on the shorter wait for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
I hadnt waited for a ride for this amount of time in a long while. The wait didnt feel overly burdensome since the line was constantly moving. The line was kind of deceptive, though. When I thought that I would go into the loading bay, the line moved behind a wall and I waited some more! The wait was indeed 25 minutes long. I rode the coaster and it was fun! I tried to videotape the ride, but all I ended up getting mostly was the back of a ladys head.
It was close to noon, so I decided to plan my next move. I was making a Fast Pass plan.
