Okay, Nia. Are you ready? I'm cracking my knuckles, stretching my legs, and getting ready to rope-drop Magic Kingdom Park with you! Let's do this.
At this time, the attractions in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are the only ones that open during
Early Theme Park Entry for Guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel. As a result, if you are planning on utilizing these extra 30 minutes, which I highly recommend that you do, I would rope drop either Space Mountain or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (if you are not planning on purchasing an
Individual Lightning Lane for that one). Then, once the rest of the park opens, I'd go with your plan of sticking to the left side of the park.
Now, I know that you said you wanted to rope-drop Haunted Mansion, and while that's one of my absolute favorites, you probably don't have to rope-drop it to experience it. But if you
really have your heart set on the Grim Grinning Ghosts being first, head there when the park opens for everyone, and then do the rest of my suggestions. And speaking of suggestions, here we go:
- At 7 a.m., reserve a Lightning Lane through the Disney Genie+ Service for Jungle Cruise if you're going before June 28, 2024, or Tiana's Bayou Adventure if you're going on or after that date. If the bayou is your first stop, I'd make Jungle Cruise your next Lightning Lane reservation. Depending on your callback times, you may have to insert these rides into the suggestions below.
- When the park opens for everyone, go straight to Frontierland and enjoy Big Thunder Mountain.
- If you don't mind walking a bit, go visit Madame Leota and the 999 Happy Haunts at the Haunted Mansion. You could even visit the Hall of Presidents if you'd like afterward.
- Hopefully, you'll be called back for your first Lightning Lane and can visit the dastardly pirates of Pirates of the Caribbean afterward.
- Since you're by the pirates, you're not too far from Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, so you may want to grab a Pineapple DOLE WHIP from Aloha Isle before heading into this classic show. There's also the Swiss Family Treehouse that should not be missed (if for nothing else than the unique views of the park from the top). If you have little ones, they may enjoy The Magic Carpets of Aladdin while they're in this area of the park.
- If you're visiting when the Country Bears Musical Jamboree is open, you can enjoy that newly revamped show, then cross the Rivers of America to get to Tom Sawyer Island, and take a ride on the Liberty Square Riverboat.
In this plan, note that I prioritized getting the lowest waits over extraneous walking. But in short, if you want a plan that is less walking, I'd wait to do Haunted Mansion and the Hall of Presidents until after you're done in Adventureland and Frontierland. But once again, that deprioritizes your priority and you may not want to do that. Just know that you'll likely not have an issue getting a Lightning Lane for Haunted Mansion later on in the day so even if the wait is high by the time you get over there, you will have a much shorter wait in the Lightning Lane.
Nia, I hope I helped. If you have any other questions,
send them my way! I'm always happy to talk park strategy. It's my therapy!
Enjoy, Foolish Mortal,
Matt