Magic Kingdom Rope Drop...Which Way Do We Go?

One of the questions we get asked a lot is which way to go in the Magic Kingdom once you get past Rope Drop.  Rope Drop is the opening ceremony at the Magic Kingdom.  Our first destination has changed over the years as the kids have gotten older.  Early on, when they were very young, our first stop had to be Fantasyland.  Dumbo, then Pooh and then Peter Pan and then whatever else we got on after that.
Once the kids got older and a little more adventurous, our first destination was Big Thunder and Splash in Frontierland.  We had a great secret way to get there in that once we got through Rope Drop, we would go upstairs to the train station and hop the first train to Frontierland and usually get there before the foot traffic did.  Then 2-3 rides on each and then onwards into the park. 
Now, the last couple of years we've been heading for Tomorrowland with the masses to get on Space Mountain a couple times and get a fastpass before it gets crowded.  On our last trip, our first day at the Magic Kingdom was an afternoon/evening because we got into Orlando in the PM.  We had a good night and really did a lot in Tomorrowland.  The next morning was to be a Rope Drop Magic Kingdom and this time when we got to the Hub, we took a left into Adventureland.  We've not done it beforfe and were shocked at how empty it was.  This was the end of August on a Touring Calendar rating of a 7.  Here are two videos that we took without really knowing I was going to use them in a post, so they're short.  What they show is a jammed Main Street and an empty Adventureland minutes apart.

 

So this can be an alternative strategy for you in the MK.  With the boy at 16, we will send him to Space Mountain for Fastpasses while we go through Adventureland and meet up with him at Pirates or Jungle Cruise.  The only downside is that we will need to be back in T-land for that fastpass time.  We'll deal. 

Where do you go at Rope Drop in the Magic Kingdom?  What do you think about the above alternative route?  Comment here or email at WGTWDW@gmail.com.

It's all in the Details: Fantasyland Construction Artwork

While in WDW in August I had a couple of minutes to walk around and take pictures while the kids went on Goofy's Barnstormer.  I cannot fit in that roller coaster so I just skip it now.  I was walking around and noticed the walls that they had setup to hide the construction of New Fantasyland.   I love the detail that the Imagineer's put into even construction walls. 

All of the art work is great and reminds me of the Shorts with Goofy from the late 40's and 50's.  If you noticed the slide with Goofy riding the Rocket?  This is why I really do appreciate the imagineers.  There is so many levels of detail.   I always am taking pictures and finding things that I did not see while at the parks once I get home.  On the rocket is the name Dolores.  I thought there might be something there and did a quick search and guess what?  Dolores is a character in a couple of the Goofy shorts.  Dolores the Elephant was first seen in 1945 in the short Tiger Trouble.  She makes another appearance in The Big Wash in 1948.  In the Big Wash, look for Dolores' water bowl for her  name.

 

 

So keep your eyes open for the details.  You never know what they'll lead you too.