But if EVERYONE gets to RD, then....?

[rebbyparker]

I was worried about this on our last trip and it never happened. We were there every day at RD and were through the turnstiles and in the park within 5 minutes of the park opening. It really surprised me that there weren't more people waiting to get into the park when it opened. They started streaming in around 11-12 but by that time we were at the back of the park and it didn't impact us. So, like I said in another post, for now, at least RD is still very effective.

 

[diskev]

Human nature is human nature. Not even Disney can change that. It is vacation after all, and they deserve to sleep in.

This idea continues to baffle me. People keep saying that it's a vacation, and they shouldn't have to get up early. Just because you are on vacation doesn't immediately equate to sleeping late. I understand that people *want* to sleep late, but IMHO if you want to sleep late perhaps going to a busy theme park isn't the best choice of vacation. Or at the very least, perhaps you should accept that your experience will be different than those who are willing, and want to get up early.

Rope Drop has always been the best way to maximize your ability to ride the rides you want, as often as you want. With FP+, it's not just the best way but the only way if you travel during any time other than off off peak.

 

[v3rs3]

My son and I typically get up early everyday, so I'm hoping we'll be able to be RD people.

 

[AmandaJayne]

Going at the end of March, just hubby and me, no kids this time! I am NOT a morning person but I'm thinking after reading this maybe since I don't have to get two kids ready we will do RD.....I've never been in March so I'm very worried about crowd level. But if I can force myself up early I will enjoy a break from the park and do an afternoon relaxation time at the pool at the resort or something. Besides never did RD, would be another first to share with the hubby

 

[#1DopeyFan]

That's a choice, though. We make rope drop every day, every trip and we get up at 8:00. Our schedule looks like:

8:00 Get up
8:10 Leave the room (we showered and laid everything out the night before)
8:30 Arrive at park (we drive there, and eat convenient breakfast on the way)
8:35 Arrive at turnstiles (that early, parking is very close)*

*The exception is MK, because of the TTC - we might get up at 7:45 that day.

That's almost exactly how it is for us...we rotate the bathroom/teeth brushing/face washing in that 10-15 minute get ready period and are out the door in no time. I'm normally a make-up every day type person, but at WDW when it's 90, powder and mascara and I'm out the door.

 

[shalom]

IMHO if you want to sleep late perhaps going to a busy theme park isn't the best choice of vacation.

I think for a lot of people WDW has become a "must do for the kids at least once" sort of place. And every "so I can say I've been there" kind of traveler I've ever known has gone to WDW -- usually once. Neither of those kinds of visitors are that interested in getting up early in order to hit more rides. OTOH, plenty of people on the Dis don't make RD, either.

If someone is really not a morning person, in the sense that they just can't wake up early (or is traveling with a kid who has that condition), rope drop is a waste of time because they would be too fogged over to enjoy those early morning rides anyhow. I used to be able to rough out my brother's class schedules just by his grades -- he just could not get focused early in the day. My cousin, before he got married, needed six alarm clocks to get him out of bed, and his room mate was under orders to wake him up when those didn't work. Those guys know very well that missing rope drop means more lines and fewer rides, and they both like to make the most of their money, but I guarantee you they won't make rope drop.

 

[ktlm]

Human nature is human nature. Not even Disney can change that. It is vacation after all, and they deserve to sleep in.

I think that for every new person hitting rope drop because of the limitations of FP+ there will be another holding back because their first return time isn't until later.

I really hope you are right!

We have always been "near" rope drop people. At WDW, we are usually entering the park between 10 and 20 minutes after it opens. I believe we have only seen the rope drop show at MK once in the last 7 years. (At DL we do rope drop though as the time change works in our favor. Last summer we even made it to the California Adventure gates at 6:45 a.m. for the 7:00 a.m. EMH for Radiator Springs Racers).

We are not happy, but that is all changing for us. Before Rope Drop wasn't that important. As long as we where there in the first 30 minutes, I could still make the run for TSM, Soarin and Peter Pan FPs. The Safari line never built up that fast, so we could ride and even get a FP for later if we wanted. I knew that I could pick up a TT, RNRC, Space Mountain, Everest, etc. FP later and they wouldn't be gone. Most of the time we would pick those up in the afternoon when we got too those areas. Also, for the things DD wanted to ride, I could just get a FP for DH and I on those, and it didn't affect her not being able to get a FP for something else for more than an hour or so. Now, that has all changed.

Now, we feel like it is absolutely imperative for use to be there before rope drop to try to get the busier things we did not FP+, or could not FP+ because of tiers. Our MDE/FP+ trip was prior to tiering and the elimination of FP-, so it was okay because we could still fall back on them and we did. Now that is done. So, we have absolutely changed to MUST do rope drop people. I really really hope you are right that there are those that are happy enough with the tiers etc. that they show up later to balance us out!

 

[FutureMayor]

Contributing to posts others have made, I also feel that most people visiting the parks are NOT staying on property. Those people not staying on property have a decision to make - particularly if they have small children.

If you only have 8-10 hours in the park until your kids shutdown, then you have to decide what block of time you are going to be there. I feel that many would choose the middle to latter part of the day to try to hit a few rides and see some of the nighttime parades/fireworks. Some might hit rope drop, but not as many who would 1) prefer to sleep in on vacation and 2) maximize their experience at the park.

Those of us who contribute to the boards are in the minority relative to the total number of people who visit the parks on a daily basis. It's easy sometimes to think that everyone thinks the same way we do, but it's simply not that way.

Rope drop is in no danger of mass crowds... unless they move it to 10am.

 

[rebbyparker]

This idea continues to baffle me. People keep saying that it's a vacation, and they shouldn't have to get up early. Just because you are on vacation doesn't immediately equate to sleeping late. I understand that people *want* to sleep late, but IMHO if you want to sleep late perhaps going to a busy theme park isn't the best choice of vacation. Or at the very least, perhaps you should accept that your experience will be different than those who are willing, and want to get up early.

Rope Drop has always been the best way to maximize your ability to ride the rides you want, as often as you want. With FP+, it's not just the best way but the only way if you travel during any time other than off off peak.

Agreed. If I want to sleep in, then you'll find me at the beach. Disney is not a calm, leisurely vacation, IMO. There's just too much to experience and enjoy. From the rides to the shows, M&G's, restaurants, BBB/Tours, and even the shops. The average, no-plans guest probably sees a quarter (?) of everything available in that park factoring in wait times. It just makes sense at the very least to make the most of the time you have available so a rudimentary plan is necessary. And that's not saying you have to be at gate at 7:45 am. But even getting there at least by nine is better than nothing.

 

[pharaoh]

I'd never done any kind of rope drop before my most recent visit this month, but now I am converted! I am not normally much of an early riser (although I am usually up by 8-9am), but on vacation I am always up around 6:30AM, so I decided to take advantage and hit RD on all the days I was at the parks this month.

Granted it was easier for me because I was traveling solo. Normally when I am with other people I'm the first one up getting ready and excited to get the day started when everyone else is futzing around, sitting in bed, watching TV. Ughhhh! GET OUT OF BED WE'RE IN DISNEY WORLD FOR SOBBING OUT LOUD!



Anyway, I only like to visit WDW during reeeeeally low crowd times, but seeing how smoothly my RD days went this month, I am thinking of going during a busier time to see how it works out.

 

[glamdring269]

This idea continues to baffle me. People keep saying that it's a vacation, and they shouldn't have to get up early. Just because you are on vacation doesn't immediately equate to sleeping late. I understand that people *want* to sleep late, but IMHO if you want to sleep late perhaps going to a busy theme park isn't the best choice of vacation. Or at the very least, perhaps you should accept that your experience will be different than those who are willing, and want to get up early.

Rope Drop has always been the best way to maximize your ability to ride the rides you want, as often as you want. With FP+, it's not just the best way but the only way if you travel during any time other than off off peak.

I guess some of this could be relative to what 'normal' wake up time is to some folks away from their vacation. To me sleeping until 6:30AM is "sleeping in".

 

[shalom]

I'd never done any kind of rope drop before my most recent visit this month, but now I am converted!

My kids and I are all good with getting up early; hubby can do it but doesn't like it. So I started sending my hubby comparison pics of the same area the first hour after opening and then at noon, maybe once a month for a year. By the time we actually got there, he was totally on board with getting up for RD.

 

[ellie05]

We are RD people and always will be. We don't sleep in in vacations no matter where we are going (unless we are on a cruise and it is day at sea). We like to see and experience the most out of our vacations.

 

[Rosebud123]

Reading planning boards makes you think that most WDW visitors do a lot of research beforehand. However, I think the exact opposite is true. We're the minority, which is why it's always been easy to experience the attractions with short waits. FP+ is a game changer, and not a positive one IMO, but we'll still be leaps and bounds ahead of most guests.

Rope drop rules!

 

[grossmansr]

Seconding (thirding, whatever we're up to) the point that making rope drop means being there earlier than opening. If the park opens at nine and you arrive at nine, there's going to be a mob well ahead of you and you could be trailing them all day.

Good to know. We will make sure to be there early.

 

[mrsr2ro]

I've been three times since we have kids and didn't make one RD (all at least 5 park days per trip). With so many kids and my parents who join us, getting a group our size out the door on time just doesn't happen. I also prefer to be in the parks at night; it's just how I am. So if we are there for fireworks, etc then that makes getting up early all the more difficult. And my kids are not able to handle getting up for RD, being in the parks all day and making it through fireworks, and getting up to do it all again the next day. Unless you are staying at a monorail resort, taking an afternoon break it too much of an interruption and the odds of all of my kids resting in the appropriate place at the right time are slim to nil (as in, a toddler napping on the bus or in the car between and it taking the edge off so they don't actually nap). Someone would always be unhappy We went two weeks ago for 8 nights; 5 park days. Four kids under 10 and not a single melt down Accomplished by arriving between 11 and noon and staying through closing. Focused on EP and MK only (2 EP, 3MK days). We got to do every single thing on my "want" list and many multiple times.

If I were traveling with just me and one or two of my kids, when they are 10+, I could picture us getting up early for RD and touring commando style. I get the benefit; it just doesn't logistically work for our group.

 

[grossmansr]

We did the same thing as a previous poster. Very busy crowd lever 9 day at MK we left our room to catch the bus 90 minutes before scheduled RD. When we got there only 5 other families were waiting. Once the opening show started my son said. "Ma turn around!" I had never seen so many people! I was afraid we would get trampled walking in. It was amazing though we rode ALL our must do's by 11:30 including having some dole whips & relaxing). Most were walk on with a few maybe 10-15 min closer to 11ish. The park did not feel crowded at all & we did not have to use a FP at all during this time.

This is very encouraging. Since we're going when it's supposed to be busy, I was worried that hitting RD wouldn't make too much of a difference. But it seems like it's still working for many people.

 

[Damien2213]

The thing is a lot of people do not use Park Hopper and they do the RD EMH deal. That means that is the park they are staying in. I've often heard many suggestions that say you should avoid the EMH parks in some cases. RD does not always equal low crowds. One thing is people are not spread out in the beginning at AK/HS/MK. So everyone flows from the front gate to the rest of the park. Once you are at the HUB (MK) (if you don't stop on Main St. for some reason) or the splits (EP, AK) you have several options as where to go first. It will take the park a good hour or so just to have everyone spread out evenly. So I'm not so sure how much of it is lower crowds and how much of it is the fact the park is completely empty and it takes a while for crowds to build up. I do agree that from about 11 to 5 is the busiest time of the day in any park. If you have good crowds during those times you are having a good day especially at MK.

 

[smidgy]

We got up early, excited to be back, on that first day, took a midday break/nap, came back and stayed late and then, on setting the alarm for the next morning, everyone agreed that, "since we have our FP+, why not get a little extra sleep after such a long day?"

And it stayed that way for the rest of the time.

Strangest vacation ever. I've never gotten so much sleep!

sometimes we kinda alternate. after a late night,w e sleep in. or have a non park day.

but I just had to quote you to say: I clicked on your comparison phoot link.. OMG!!! how cool! mom, you still look so young. and your son? is he a model? anyway, I wanted to tell you by the end of the pictures, my eyes were actually tearing up. how neat these photos are!

If someone is really not a morning person, in the sense that they just can't wake up early (or is traveling with a kid who has that condition), rope drop is a waste of time because they would be too fogged over to enjoy those early morning rides anyhow. I used to be able to rough out my brother's class schedules just by his grades -- he just could not get focused early in the day. My cousin, before he got married, needed six alarm clocks to get him out of bed, and his room mate was under orders to wake him up when those didn't work. Those guys know very well that missing rope drop means more lines and fewer rides, and they both like to make the most of their money, but I guarantee you they won't make rope drop.

I am REALLY REALLY!!!!! NOT a morning person! I work nights, monstly, I am a bartender and waitress. my regular wake up time all year is 10 am.

but at Disney, I set the alarm and bite the bullet! cause we get SO SO much done in those first 2 hours. adn we rarely stay the whole day. about 11 or 12 we either eat there at the park. or back at the resort. we go back and have swim time, maybe a nap. then cocktail hour and back in the evening. (we used to go back with the FPS we collected that morning.. sigh....)

we also plan some resort only days. at least one.

If you only have 8-10 hours in the park until your kids shutdown, then you have to decide what block of time you are going to be there. I feel that many would choose the middle to latter part of the day to try to hit a few rides and see some of the nighttime parades/fireworks. Some might hit rope drop, but not as many who would 1) prefer to sleep in on vacation and 2) maximize their experience at the park.

.

we prefer to split our time. take a rest inbetween. although now that they took away the nighttime EMH at AK, we tend to just stay there until we have done what we want.(we almost never get to do Dinosaur at night anymore, which due to vision problems, is the only time hubby can see the dinosaurs. sigh.)

 

[kathy884]

Rope drop works all the time and any time, even Christmas week. It works for tourist attractions other than WDW too -- Cave of the Winds or Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls, Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH - the list goes on and on.

The truth is that lots of people like to sleep in on vacation and that lots of families have a tough time getting going in the morning. As a family that doesn't have trouble getting going, it's hard to believe, but it is really true of so many families that I have seen over the years. We early riser / get going people are actually in the minority (hard to believe, but true). My family and extended family are rope drop addicts because we love the low crowds you get for those first two hours (longer than that if it's not high season). Our teens who normally like to sleep in even love rope drop because of low crowds and always do it with us. Note: We usually in a week just do three park days, so we have lots of leisurely days for sleeping in too.

As for traveling with extended family members who are almost never on time and often have others waiting for them, I have them trained on this rope drop thing. I talk to them the night before and let them know I don't want them to feel bad if they get left behind and have to take a cab to the park and meet up with us later, but that we plan to leave the condo at this time exactly, and anyone not ready will be left behind, and we are totally and completely serious about this (no exceptions). Of course, we'll love seeing you and you can meet up with us later, but if you need even five more minutes we won't be waiting, and we wanted to let you know that ahead of time so there are no hard feelings. // My mom is loves Disney, but is notoriously late for almost everything is always ready and waiting for us -- absolutely amazing // Everybody -- the teens that normally have a hard time getting up, etc. are all set and ready to go. My brother and I get up super early too (We are both morning people) and cook a great breakfast for people who want to get up for that too. It's really a sight to see, but people will make an effort for sure for a magical day at WDW with this fun extended family group.