Hello! My wife and I are guiding newbies- Ages 5, 8, 11, 40, and 40. They think this will be a one and don Disney trip so I want to get them to rope drop at least one park- Magic Kingdom. Instead of getting to Bus stop at 6:55 AM for rope drop, what time should I call Minnie Van so that the 7 of us are front of taps at MK? TIA
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I have never used a Minnie Van because the one time I tried to it was like a 30 minute wait, so I was better off hopping on the bus. So I guess the lesson is to be ready early. Not sure you will save much time sleeping over the bus, but the ride itself will be much more direct.
I’m wondering if @kerrilux_625778 has used Minnie Vans? Or @melcort10? I know I’ve seen someone post about them.
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I booked for an hour when we stayed at Riverside. I was worried about being late to KTTK. An hour might not have been enough if we would have been on a regular Lyft. The Minnie Driver knew a back way to get to MK. I would say one hour minimum - just in case.
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Unfortunately, unlike regular Lyft you can’t schedule a Minnie Van in advance
Pulled from this recent article:
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I’ve used Minnie Vans, but never for rope drop. I would be up early that morning and checking the arrival times. I assume that would be a very popular time for them.
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We’ve only ever used the Minnie Vans in the evening. Sometimes they’re dropping off and we’ve got a ride nearly as soon as we get the app open.
I would definitely be concerned about availability early in the morning.
Perhaps Epcot would be a better rope drop park as it opens later.
Is the family excited to be going to WDW? We’ve roped dropped - Disney transport - with a big group. I don’t know how we lucked into so many being on board with so early. 5, 8, 9, 15, 28, 39, 42, 44, two at 60. I’ve left a few off. 
Everyone had an enjoyable time. 
We were right at the rope at MK on one other trip. Staying at WL. Took the boat. I don’t recall times but I do know we were at the boat dock even earlier than any CM had suggested. Some really wanted early so wanted to be sure they were on the first boat.
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What time is the MK opening?
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It looks like the max is 6 passengers. Getting up early is never my problem. I probably will practice the days before the MK day to see availability. I will have my DW book the Minnie Van and I will take first bus and meet them there.
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Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts! I am hoping to hear from someone that successfully booked a Minnie Van for first in the turnstiles!
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What’s the goal again beyond being first to the tapstiles? Less crowded Main Street? Close to front of line for a specific ride?
I’ve had such good luck w the busses if we are willing to be at the bus stop ahead of the first bus. You may not be the first in line but there’s lots of ways to build a TP to ride lots before regular hours (if that’s part of the goal). I’d rather spend money on LLSP for Mine Train than a ride to MK
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I only did a Minnie Van once many years ago and not for rope drop. I think that a Minnie Van actually adds uncertainty to rope drop. I would definitely start looking at them around 6am to see what the wait is. You would probably need to grab one earlier than 6:55am so I don’t think it would really save you any time.
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All good questions as they are reminding me that I don’t have to push those that are not ready to be pushed. The goal is for my newbies to experience as much as they can in the morning and take a break at 1ish. Return around 4PM for more and then have enough energy to experience Tink flying over for a “Happily Ever After” (weather permitting).
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Just FYI that becomes 2 hours of travel time for a 1 hour break at the hotel.
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Ooh science!
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I’ve taken Minnie Vans a number of times, but never to try to be one the “first” at RD. We waited between 10 and 30 mins each time, mostly around 15-20 mins.
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Isn’t it weird how even the simplest question can be hard to answer? When are you going? Day of the week? Is it a 9am open? Which part of SSR are you in? What’s your concern about the bus? That early unless you are in a really busy time you should be okay to catch one. Grandstand is the first stop so if you’re staying there you won’t have an issue. MV won’t fit you all in either I don’t think. Bus is safer.
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It is weird but I love the help! We are going on a Friday. EE is 8:30 on my park day. We hope to be in Paddock. The bus at 6:55 AM (Recommended arrival time to the Grandstand Bus Stop) is very early for the boys. I was hoping to snag a Minnie Van for the Newbies (Party of 5) as early as possible, have the Minnie Van pick up the party at our parking spot of the Paddock and then I would take the bus and meet them there. This allows for more time in our place for breakfast and other preps for the park.
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For you or for the ones taking the Minnie Van? Cause I think the consensus is you have to be ready around the same time regardless of bus or Minnie Van due to the uncertain wait time for the Minnie Van.
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We had a trip where we only wanted to travel via Minnie Van because we just hated the bus rides. But, it really didn’t work out. It is so hard to get Minnie Vans in the morning and you really don’t know until you are booking it. It doesn’t matter what the wait LOOKS like. You might go to book it and it can’t find one and it feels like it just keeps searching. We had one morning when we waited so long to actually be able to book it that we cancelled and took the bus. Minnie vans were about half helpful and half stressful for us.
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Have you had a chance to contact Away We Go?
I’ve used them for MCO → Resort and Park → MCO and it worked out well. They specifically list WDW Resort → Park in their price list.
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