AK and HS - Looking for recent arrival strategy

[rpmaill]

We are going to be there July 13 amd 14 and wanted to know about driving vs shuttle to rope drop HS and AK?

Would I be at a big disadvantage rope dropping if I drive? Asking because we wanna leave mid day and return later at HS and as far as AK we are leaving town and headed home after we leave there.

Lastly, if the consensus leads to me driving, what time do you recommend showing up at the lots so im towards front but not turned away for being too early? Thanks!!

 

[bnhonest]

If you are on property and are taking advantage of the early entry, I suggest driving. They open the gates to the parking lot an hour before the park opens, which is about the same time the busses start running.

15 minutes can make a huge difference in what you can accomplish at RD. If you are there an hour before park opens, one of the first in the parking lot and through the tapstiles, you're gonna do pretty good. But for every 15 minutes, factor in about another 300 people in line. So if you aren't able to take advantage of the ETPE, it wont matter how you got there.