King Triton's Tip Tuesday: Getting to the Parks Early

Does it really make a difference getting to the parks early?

Yes, it does. But wait! Before you go planning your trip to start at the crack of dawn, think about your travel party.

Starting your day early could very well be the norm for you and your family, but for some this isn't the case. If you are not a morning person (not even for Disney) or if you have kids who are not use to early mornings (i.e. my niece - learned that one the hard way!) then think about what would be easier: dealing with more crowds with an awake and happy child/adult or lighter crowds with a sleepy and/or grumpy child/adult.

If early is an option for you then I highly recommend giving it a go. By getting into the parks at opening you will encounter large crowds but once you get into the park and the crowds are dispersed you will appreciate having gone early. Getting to the park about 45 mins early is preferable, especially at the Magic Kingdom where there is the Welcome Show which starts about 12-15 mins prior to park opening. On occasion, when the park is opening early, the show can start earlier than that.

So, now you've decided to be at the park for opening.

Yay! Now what? Plan to have your first FastPass+ start about 45 mins to 1 hour after opening. This ensures that you have time to hit those popular rides that you don't have FastPasses for. DO NOT stop along Main Street for pictures, as this is the worst time to do it because of the massive crowd heading all in one direction. If you're at the head of the crowd then I would try hightailing it to Space Mountain, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Tower of Terror, Rockin' Rollercoaster or Expedition Everest. These are the most popular rides and will most likely have longer queues as the day progresses.

Don't forget that by starting your day early, you have covered a lot more ground by the time lunch comes around. With the crowds at peak and the sun blazing down on you, this is a great time to head back to your hotel (or home) for a little siesta.

Are you a morning person? Leave a comment below and let us know how you like to start your day at Disney!

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