Being there when the rope drops. Why bother?

[CharlesandCamilla]

Just returned. I learned a couple things that I have to honestly say contradict some of what I've read on here and confirms some of what I thought.

You do not need to be at the park when the ropes drop to see and do everything on your list. Just have a good touring plan.

More people follow what the UG tells them to do then you'd realize. So many people I'd talked to owned one. But it doesn't always work. Read about WHY the UG tells you to do things a certain way and you will be able to come up with and adjust your own touring plan. (It's the give a fish, teach to fish adage.)

We arrived Wed afternoon, checked in and were at MK by 3. we had to go back to the hotel to get priority viewing vouchers I'd left behind at WL and rented boats for a half an hour while we were out, so we were gone 2 hours. Returned for a nice dinner at CP, watched fireworks, and stayed for eride night. We got everything done and then some before leaving at 12. The place was even pretty busy with some seriously long lines.

For those of you that plan on going to a wed e-ride, they are for some reason the busiest. You need a touring plan. Everyone runs to Space mountain first. When that line got too long people started running for splash mountain. We went to Fantasy Land and rode rides we never would have, but there were no lines. When we walked by later to go to space mountain after doing splash mountain with almost no line, Fantasy land was packed and Space Mountain had no line. Everyone that had gone to the mountains were all in Fantasyland at the same time. So my recommendation is Fantasy Land, then Frontierland, then futureland.

Thursday we didn't reach Epcot until noon. FP and a touring plan that kept us from retracing steps and took into account 2 hours plus spent eating lunch (Le Cellier) and dinner (Chefs de France) had us leaving before Illuminations. We were too tired from the night before to fight the crowd. We even did Spaceship Earth (DW loves this one). A number of the futureland attractions were open until 9.

Friday we arrived at MGM around 11 after a late breakfast at the resort. MGM is better done in the evening. Most people arrive early and wear themselves out. Plus everyone who is still there starts lining up for Fantasmic around 7. By 6, standby and FP times for RnR and ToT were very reasonable. The only show we missed was Beauty and the Beast (We didn't want to see the little mermaid so I'm not counting that one.) We were in the Brown Derby for over an hour for dinner. We started out with the shows that load fast and move well like backlot tour and muppets and saved RnR and ToT for after dinner. This did have it's drawback but noone actually got sick.

We used the FDP. Something they don't advertise and few people know (including our waiter) is that you can go in the regular entrance with the FDP voucher. There is someone waiting there. You don't have to go back to the park entrance. We walked off RnR and right into Fantasmic at 8:15 and the guy at the FDP rope said we were the first FDP people to come his way and the section was half filled.

Saturday we went to AK after getting a late start (sorry folks but if you can justify more than a couple hours in this park you need to get to the zoo more often), DTD including DQ (I could have stayed for hours but DW wasn't into it, shopped instead.), ate dinner at Fulton's, and then took younger DD back to Epcot for Illuminations while wife and other DD went back to room. Played it by ear but still did pretty good.

Sunday went back to MK for EMH. What a waste. The place was packed by 9:30 and the best touring plan would have been worthless. There was so much pushing, shoving, and sprinting I couldn't believe my eyes. And these were the adults. They were leaving thier kids behind just so they could be the first on BTMRR. Since we'd accomplished everything on wed, after BTMRR we rode the railroad, took pictures with the characters, got FP for Space Mountain, ate lunch, rode SM and left. There were still large tour groups from Brazil streaming in. We kept bumping into different tour groups in the different parks all week. They were all at MK this morning.

We got face and scalp massages at GF and parasailed at CR before going back to WL to meet our towncar.

We never made it to a waterpark. That's the fun of traveling with teenaged girls. If we'd had 5 full days and no women problems we would have. But we started at 3 on the first day and finished at 5 on the last. So in 4 days and 2 hours we did a lot.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

I know it's not propper etiquet to bump yourself, but I want to see my post on the first page one last time before I say good bye to the DIS until my next trip.

Also I think it's important for people to read that July isn't that bad, and that touring plans are much more important than arriving early.

 

[Lovetherodent]

I'm a morning person, but I tend to arrive right at park opening, not before. My question for the touring plan writers was always this: If the goal is to avoid lines, why arrive at the park 30-45 minutes before opening and stand in one that's not moving?

 

[PhotobearSam]

I agree about the touring plans being a help...the only thing I can disagree with is AK. I could spend days there and not because of the animals...I am the looks arounds, appreciate my surroundings and take a ton of pictures type so AK is just meant for me.

Glad you had a nice trip.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by PhotobearSam
I agree about the touring plans being a help...the only thing I can disagree with is AK. I could spend days there and not because of the animals...I am the look arouns, appreciate my surroundings and take a ton of pictures type so AK is just meant for me.

Glad you had a nice trip.

Ditto.

But hey - for all those people that don't like AK...fine by me...less crowds for me to deal with!

We love to, and have, spent full days there and enjoyed ourselves immensly. I personally rather spend more time at AK then at MGM.

 

[gigi1313]

Originally posted by Lovetherodent
I'm a morning person, but I tend to arrive right at park opening, not before. My question for the touring plan writers was always this: If the goal is to avoid lines, why arrive at the park 30-45 minutes before opening and stand in one that's not moving?

i'm not a touring plan writer (and not even much of a follower... we typically do an as-we-go thing) but i am going to guess the purpose is that the 45 minute line in the morning, can result in no more 45 minute lines once inside... so basically "pay" the 45 mins upfront and be free and clear for the next few hours... yes? no?

of course, there is also the lure of being the family chosen to open the park, which is a great perk for some...

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

Originally posted by gigi1313
i'm not a touring plan writer (and not even much of a follower... we typically do an as-we-go thing) but i am going to guess the purpose is that the 45 minute line in the morning, can result in no more 45 minute lines once inside... so basically "pay" the 45 mins upfront and be free and clear for the next few hours... yes? no?

In July? No. Try the next hour. It used to be the majority of guests used to show up in the afternoon so that they could last until the fireworks. Plus who wants to get up early on vacation? Anymore people are arriving and leaving in droves constantly.

Too many tour books and websites are suggesting arriving early to the point that I don't think it works anymore. I think these experts need to try getting in the parks in the afternoon just to see it isn't that bad. And I'll never do another EMH. But we loved e-ride - longest wait was 10 minutes.

Why run in to ride one ride and then grab an FP that doesn't open up for another 2 hours? Then no matter what you do you have to make sure you're back for your FP. That's too much walking (running).

And at MK the only adult ride open for EMH is Space mountain. That really sucks.

 

[dzneelvr]

With our teenage DS and DD we never get to the parks before 11am each day. Doesn't hurt anything. We are always refreshed and ready to close 'er down. You can get so much more done in the last 90 minutes of the park than in the entire morning. another plus is that all the families with younger kids (and we've been there) leave by late afternoon either burned out or need to make sure they have a somewhat scheduled meal time for their tots.
We don't have to do that anymore and really enjoy WDW more each year.

 

[Robo]

Originally posted by CharlesandCamilla

Why run in to ride one ride and then grab an FP that doesn't open up for another 2 hours? Then no matter what you do you have to make sure you're back for your FP. That's too much walking (running).

And at MK the only adult ride open for EMH is Space mountain. That really sucks.

The first sentence above is just plain ODD coming from a WDW veteran.
There have been countless discussions about not needing to use a FP within the allotted time (you CAN'T go in EARLY... but you CAN go in LATER.)

And to classify Space Mountain (and nothing ELSE in FL or TL) as an "adult ride"... well, why do you bother with going to WDW... sounds like you've become jaded.

I hope NEVER to wear my enthusiasm so thin that I need to post with the sour tone of this thread.

And don't think I'm "picking a fight" with you... I'm just reading for enjoyment as I plan our next trip (from the midwest, we visited WDW three times in 2003, we're in our 50's, no kids, and have been to WDW & DLR for extended visits dozens of times, over the last decades.)
We found too much HEAT last May, and too many PEOPLE last November...
but we always "opened" the EMH park each day, and "closed" with one of (if not TWO of) the evening shows at MK, MGM or EC.

And I STILL recommend going early and staying late... we can SLEEP at home.
"If its OPEN... I'm going IN!" There's a better time waiting IN the park than OUT!

-Cheers!

 

[disneyjunkie]

And I STILL recommend going early and staying late... we can SLEEP at home.
"If its OPEN... I'm going IN!" There's a better time waiting IN the park than OUT!

-Cheers! [/B][/QUOTE]



There's no way I could go to Disney and not spend all day in the parks. We're at the parks for EE and leave leave when they close. We take advantage of FP and hardly ever have to wait in line. During our Easter trip we were able to have 2 or 3 FP at all times.

When I want to relax and sleep late, I'll head to the beach, not WDW.

The great thing about Disney is that it isn't one size fits all. We can all go and vacation the way we like.

 

[Micca]

There are some interesting points made here. I wonder if LenTesta is available for comment? Is it true that people are arriving in droves at all times of day and night that the early morning strategy is no longer applicable?

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

Robo - I know you can go back later most of the time (some CM's check but most don't). We did that. But when you wander away from a ride you have to wander back at some point.

I guess we (and just about everyone else I know) don't share either the stamina or the ability to pace ourselves that some attest to possessing.

I am not jaded. I really did enjoy our stay. Disneyjunkie is absolutely right. It isn't one size fits all. Being from Texas the last thing that's going to bother us is afternoon temperatures that are a good 10 degrees less than at home.

So my comment was, is, and will continue to be that you can go to the parks after noon and still see and do everything experiencing short waits thanks to FP (which is easier to use later in the day in my opinion). Saying so seems to be heracy.

I have been on this board for over three months watching person after person being told that they have to be at the parks 45 minutes before opening or they won't have a good time or as good a time. The UG says the same thing. I almost started to believe it myself and this was definitely not my first trip to Orlando. This just isn't true.

This trip was the best so far but it was because I developed touring plans and fully utilized PS instead of going early and playing it by ear (that's what we used to do when my wife was in charge of the planning). I set up plans that put us in MK and MGM in the evening with plans to return on EMH mornings if we missed a must see. We were able to accomplish more in the evenings than we ever did showing up early. We slept in instead.

There's no way I could go to Disney and spend all day in the parks.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

Micca - that's what I witnessed the 5 days I was there. I believe, and wish someone could check this out, more people are taking advantage of park hoppers, or in our case UPH's.

 

[shanlynn63]

Hi, we were there July 5, 6, 8,9, we stayed offsite at OLCC, we arrived at every park every morning before opening and were able to ride many many rides in the first two hours with out the fastpass after that we grabbed fastpasses, we never waited any longer than 15 minutes in line anywhere. I used this forum as well as my unofficial guide book to plan, we didn't go to the parks that had EMH days at all. We had a wonderful time with our 4 day hopper passes and were able to take two days and just go to the pool and hang out at the resort we were staying at! I say go early!! We will never forget our fun filled trip to WDW!!!

 

[Suedrews]

We have gone to WDW twice; once we did it commando style & were EXHAUSTED by the time we left....I mean crabby! Getting up at the crack of dawn, rushing, plans written down...the whole nine yards. The next time we went, we got to the parks about 1/2 hour after opening so the turnstiles were empty....a couple of days we didn't go to the parks until mid afternoon & closed them....did the pools in the morning.....sounds relaxing, doesn't it? We found the right FIT for us....that is the magic of disney....there is no right or wrong way.....life is too short! Enjoy!

 

[meeko_33785]

Personally, I always like to be at the parks at opening. I like the special shows they do at some of the parks at opening, especially MK. It's just a nice way to start the day. Plus, I like the feeling of the parks in the early morning, especially in the off-seasons when the parks aren't so crowded. It's a wonderful time of day.

 

[skiwee1]

We never open the parks. We treat WDW as an all around enjoyable vacation. We get there sometime between 10 am and noon and enjoy a leisurely time for a few hours before heading back to the Poly. I think we have gone to WDW so much that I've finally realized there is so much more then just the parks. I chose a resort that lets me stop and relax and enjoy the sites. I hope I don't come across as jaded as WDW is my favorite place to visit. I spend about 30 days there each year and every one of those is at the Poly. I could never understand the frequent visitor that still goes commando. They miss so much! If we see 5 attractions per day then that is a busy day for us!

 

[snoopy5386]

we just got back and it was my first time ever being at the parks for opening since I was 10. It was wonderful. What they say is true, you can get more done in the 1st hour than all day. This is also true for the last hour of the day. Our first night at the parks we arrived at MK around 7, ate dinner at cosmic rays, rode TTA and Buzz, rode Pirates twice, Aladdin's Carpets twice, the jungle cruise and walked through the swiss family treehouse. The wait for the jungle cruise went from 45 mins pre spectro to walk on post spectro. The next morning we ate breakfast at the crystal palace at 8, attacked fantasyland at 9 and rode peter pan, winnie the pooh, snow white and the tea cups and saw philharmagic all before 10 am. Our group split up and I was heading back to the resort by 10 am watching the droves of people heading in. The camp that stayed in the MK only managed to ride buzz, pirates, the railroad, dumbo, and see the country bears between the hours of 10-2 pm. This group was also totally exhausted at 3 when we left to go to MGM while the resort people napped, swam, and felt totally refreshed to take on MGM till closing and go to E-ride night at MK. What a difference. I never used to be a "break taker" but we were at the beach club and i wanted to swim in SAB so I couldn't open and close the parks as usual, I was forced to swim and nap in the afternoon and it was heavenly.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Originally posted by CharlesandCamilla
Saturday we went to AK after getting a late start (sorry folks but if you can justify more than a couple hours in this park you need to get to the zoo more often)...

Originally posted by CharlesandCamilla
We never made it to a waterpark. That's the fun of traveling with teenaged girls. If we'd had 5 full days and no women problems we would have.

I'm glad you had a good time and that your plans worked so well for you, but oh my

 

[LoriMistress]

It all depends on the person. Some people prefer to arrive early and some people prefer to arrive later in the day. I prefer to be there early at the parks.