Are we the only ones that don't make rope drop?

[autismgoesdisney]

On our first trip our kids were 4 and 2. Every day we were up early with our kids who refused to sleep past 6 am LOL ... we did rope drop every single day and I LOVED IT!!!! It was great to see the park that early, get things done, head home for naps, etc. Not to mention the quick service at our hotels were so empty!

Now my kids were 7, 5 and 3 on the last trip and woke up later. But I refuse to set an alarm on vacation! So we end up getting to the parks at 9:30-10 and staying most of the day instead of heading back. Somedays we did, but most we did not. By the time, we got to breakfast though, it was packed solid.

Both have their advantages. But just from reading posts on this board, it seems not making rope drop is not the norm.....

 

[Shir Kahn]

We used to make rope drop every single day but we've started relaxing that and we still make it onto all the rides we want. We actually rarely make rope drop anymore, but we almost always stay until close.

 

[Robo]

Most guests don't make it to Rope Drop (Park Opening time.)

That's why it's an advantage to those who do.

If everyone got up early, there would be little advantage to going to the parks early.



A big "Thank you" to all who sleep in.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

I wouldn't say making RD is the norm but it's certainly a must-do for a lot of us (many of whom are vocal about it). That being said, all of us RD loyals are banking on families like yours that don't want to get up early. That's what makes RD and the early mornings at the parks so special and worth it for us! If anything, I'd say not making RD is more the norm. That's what makes it seem so much more crowded by late morning...all those no-alarm-on-vacation folks!

Everything about a family's Disney vacation is, and should be, based on their own personal preference. Don't worry about whether making RD or sleeping in is the norm. Do what works for you and have a great vacation!!

 

[pigletto]

If we are going to a park, we hit rope drop. End of story. We do it because it's not the norm though, and we find it makes our touring so much easier. I think we see a lot of talk about it here for two reasons. One, because this is a community of Disney fanatics but doesn't really represent the average everyday vacationer. Two, people who do it love it and like to say why.

 

[BLTLDZ]

Most guests don't make it to Rope Drop (Park Opening time.)

That's why it's an advantage to those who do.

If everyone got up early, there would be little advantage to going to the parks early.


A big "Thank you" to all who sleep in.

We *sometimes* make it to rope drop.
DH does it begrudingly for his crazy wife, but is never too happy about it!
He likes to lolly gag in the morning!

 

[nyrebecca]

We have never done rope drop. I am sure it is nice, but...we are on vacation and the only alarm that gets set is on check out day. So we sleep late, relax, and just go with the flow...

 

[autismgoesdisney]

I should have been more specific and said the "norm" on this forum LOL! I know its obviously not the norm to the other parkgoers. Having done rope drop several times, I know how uncrowded it is.

 

[WillAustin]

A big "Thank you" to all who sleep in.

Definitely.

Just being able to ride some of the kids' favorites 3-4 times back to back keeps us getting up early and making rope drop every chance we get.

 

[whitney37354]

We were at rope drop one day at EPCOT, but only because we were already inside, just having finished breakfast at Akershus. We were quickly walking from Norway to Soarin', while everyone else was rushing from the front gates to the same place.

I get up early on vacation just as I do at home, can't help it! I don't make DH & DD get up early, but I do like to get on with the vacation plans. Going to the beach this June & I may go crazy just sitting on the beach.

 

[awilliams4]

We used to do rope drop. No more.

We go in the summers and hit the parks around dinner time for a table service meal. Then around 6:30 p.m. or so, we start doing the parks. We usually do the Evening EMH so starting at 6:30 p.m. still gives us a good 5-6 hours of low heat, no crowds, sleep in, well rested, etc.

Works great for us.

Of course it helps if you have a 1 or 2 Bedroom DVC villa to stay at during the day so you don't feel compelled to get out of a crowded/squished hotel room as soon as possible in the morning.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

Definitely.

Just being able to ride some of the kids' favorites 3-4 times back to back keeps us getting up early and making rope drop every chance we get.

I guess we also don't have to do rope drop because we don't go during busy times. We've never had a problem doing our kids favorites 3-4 times in a row either. I can see if you go during real busy times, waiting in lines for hours on end can make you want to set an alarm clock. I know it would me!

 

[Epic Epcot]

I always "plan" for Rope Drop. The benefits are clearly there. However, I don't kill myself to get up for it. I always make sure to remind myself that WDW is a vacation first, and if i feel like sleeping in on my vacation so be it.

With that said if I was going for less then 4 days I would prolly more likley do Rope Drop then on a longer stay.

 

[EMHDad]

we rd every park day. Of course, we also schedule nonpark days as well. We have an 8 night trip schduled in June. Outside the arrival and departure days, we have 7 days of vacation. We will have 5 parks days and 2 nonpark days. We are making sure to stay up late the nights before and experience sleeping in on the nonpark days.

 

[kerplop]

We did it the first two days of our trip, but the third morning we all woke up and said FORGET IT and went back to sleep. Of course I think three factors affected our not getting to RD. One, my mom is on PST so getting up at 7am was really like getting up at 4am for her - yowch. And for two we foolishly stayed up until 2am our first night (again I blame my mom, but who doesn't?) talking because we hadn't seen each other in a year. Then it rained our first day and we went to Epcot where we weren't prepared for the size and we wandered lost all over the place so we were tireder than we needed to be from then on. I think this trip we will definitely be prepared and it will help that DP and I will be on our own so we'll be able to get ready faster in the mornings and to bed earlier because heck we see each other every day!

 

[WillAustin]

I guess we also don't have to do rope drop because we don't go during busy times. We've never had a problem doing our kids favorites 3-4 times in a row either. I can see if you go during real busy times, waiting in lines for hours on end can make you want to set an alarm clock. I know it would me!

Our trips are always in the middle of the summer, and I won't wait more than 15 minutes in a ride line, so we have to get up early to do what we want.

 

[starrysky]

I have never in all my trips made RD unless we have an ADR for breakfast.

I agree that for people with kids or those that might only make one trip that RD is important. That extra time does make a big difference espeically at busy times of the year.

I count myself and DH lucky that we have the had the chance to go muliple times and that we can take our time and not rush around. I would love to see the show that happens when they start the day at MK but to be honest its not going to ruin my trip when I'm there if I don't.

If its not for you its not for you. Your holiday time is precious and if that means having a long lie and not worrying about getting to RD then thats your choice.

 

[NLD]

Nope.

Have only been during slow times so far, and there has been absolutely no need to make rope drop.

 

[pigletto]

Last February we did rope drop at MK on the day of the Half Marathon. It was a ghost town. For my efforts, getting up bright and early I was rewarded with a pretty unique experience.
We went directly to Splash Mountain, walked on and rode twice in a row. From there we went over to Haunted Mansion. We were the ONLY 3 people in the line, the ONLY 3 people in the Stretching Room, and then the ONLY 3 people to get into the load area and into a doom buggy.
It was absolutely surreal. I loved it!!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I think for first time visitors and visitors where this is a ONCE in a lifetime trip, it is important to get in the attractions and rides. The best time to do this is at rope drop.

I've found that since we go every year, we do not feel the need to see as much as we can and go commando. We've also found there are certain attractions we just don't care for (like most of Fantasyland!). So we don't have to go on Dumbo and hit all those rides. We would rather go at our own pace than force ourselves to 'go,go,go'. I also go with the mentality that if we get on TWO relatively popular attractions per day, everything else is CHERRY! So once we hit Big Thunder and Splash, we feel we can pick and choose if we really want to go on a ride based on the line or how we are feeling. And if we just end up with Dole Whips walking around, we are perfectly content.

So add me to the list of DISers that do not make rope drop (oh, did I mention I hate WAITING for them to let me in???)