Crowd report, "Magic File" info, pics and Maps offer

[WonkaKid]

Thanks, everyone, for the nice comments. Glad that my pics and posts are appreciated. They're always fun to do and they also make me keep an eye out for unusual things so I can report back to y'all ;-).

 

[LizzyS]

Actually, I didn't. I don't eat refined sugar. I've been off it for more than 30 years. I tend to over-secrete insulin when I eat it and then crash almost immediately. It's like reverse diabetes or when a diabetic takes too much insulin. Even if I didn't have a problem with it, it's a good thing to avoid. It's simply empty calories. As a result (I'm also a vegetarian and don't eat deep-fried foods), I still weigh just about what I weighed in high school - 141 Lbs. . People often guess that I'm 20 years younger than I am, which always makes my day . In fact, I volunteered as a tutor for kids after school recently and they'd always guess that I was in my 20s. I don't get that as much these days but when I do, I accept it regardless of the source ;-).

I really am close to the line of being pre-diabetic, but I have a sweet tooth (UGH). My father had diabetes, also.

You sound just like my husband on the age thing! He's 43, but people routinely think he's in his mid-20s or so. He is always sure to relay the instances of mistaken youth to me, of course!

 

[YayforMickey]

Would you say lining up on the left or right side of the hub for rope drop gets you to Peter Pan fastest? Looks like you take the right side, and I usually do the left. Do they open the right side first?

 

[WonkaKid]

One other really nice thing happened on Sunday that I forgot to mention. As I sat on a partially-shaded bench near the hub and sipped my tea, a mother approached and asked if her kids could share the bench. She needed to go pickup drinks (ice water, orange soda) and of course I said it was fine. As soon as she walked off, it was like the kids felt that I was in charge of them. They asked me questions and the youngest (a girl of about 2 1/2) walked over and sat her doll on my lap. Then she looked into my cup of ice water and asked what it was. I wondered if she was thirsty and offered her some. She took a sip and then returned to her spot on the bench. It was very cute — I love kids and it was an unexpected midday treat. When the mother returned after about ten minutes, she was very kind and thanked me for watching the kids. I find that kids often take to me quickly. I always like to think that if kids (and dogs - they also like me) judge me to be a good person, it must mean that I am .

 

[WonkaKid]

Would you say lining up on the left or right side of the hub for rope drop gets you to Peter Pan fastest? Looks like you take the right side, and I usually do the left. Do they open the right side first?

In theory, all three sides open at the same time. It doesn’t always happen, though. I always do the right side mainly out of habit. Several friends also go there so that’s another reason. We always seem to do well on PP so I think/wonder if perhaps the right side is marginally closer.

 

[YayforMickey]

In theory, all three sides open at the same time. It doesn’t always happen, though. I always do the right side mainly out of habit. Several friends also go there so that’s another reason. We always seem to do well on PP so I think/wonder if perhaps the right side is marginally closer.

Thanks for the quick answer. We usually get to be first or at least within the first ten people on Peter Pan, so left seems to work okay. But I think we'll try right side in a few weeks.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

It was great to finally meet you after reading your wonderful Sunday reports!

I looked a little closer at your photos and I see myself standing in the photo of the Carousel looking up at you on Dumbo (I promise I'm not a stalker!-ha!)...(I always take a ride on "Jingles" after Peter Pan)

Worked my way up to an all time personal best of 750,000 on Buzz Monday! But alas, back to re-entry in the Valley of the Sun.....will be back in October!

 

[WonkaKid]

It was great to finally meet you after reading your wonderful Sunday reports!

Thank you -- likewise !

I looked a little closer at your photos and I see myself standing in the photo of the Carousel looking up at you on Dumbo (I promise I'm not a stalker!-ha!)...(I always take a ride on "Jingles" after Peter Pan)

Ha! I hadn't even noticed that until you pointed it out. Very cool.

Worked my way up to an all time personal best of 750,000 on Buzz Monday! But alas, back to re-entry in the Valley of the Sun.....will be back in October!

Nice work! That's a pretty substantial score. I meant to ask on Sunday (when your high score for the day was only around 500,000), did you use some of the tips I've posted in the past or did you simply rely on your own strategy?

 

[DnA2010]

Nice update as always Rob! Thanks again for sending us maps for surprising our DD with our Dec trip! She loved them

 

[WonkaKid]

Nice update as always Rob! Thanks again for sending us maps for surprising our DD with our Dec trip! She loved them

You're welcome. Happy to do it and glad that I was able to help with your surprise .

 

[katejc]

In theory, all three sides open at the same time. It doesn’t always happen, though. I always do the right side mainly out of habit. Several friends also go there so that’s another reason. We always seem to do well on PP so I think/wonder if perhaps the right side is marginally closer.

What do you mean by right, left, and all three sides? Through the castle, and what else? Not sure I’m picturing it...and wanting to get on PP as quickly as possible this Friday am!

 

[WonkaKid]

What do you mean by right, left, and all three sides? Through the castle, and what else? Not sure I’m picturing it...and wanting to get on PP as quickly as possible this Friday am!

Good question. I've attached a pic below in which I've circled the three rope locations. At around 7:40 (presuming an 8:00 park open), guests are allowed into the park up to the points indicated. That's where the ropes are for guests bound for Fantasyland (there are other points for Tomorrowland, Adventureland, etc that I haven't circled). At around 7:58 (7:59 usually, which often makes us and others nervous), CMs take down the ropes and there's an announcement at the end of which guests are allowed to enter the remainder of the park. Often there will be at least a few runners, which most other people hate because, A, running is against the rules and, B, it's cheating, essentially. We're among the first people at the park gates and then at the rope. For someone who arrived later only to run to be first on PP isn't cool. Rarely do CMs intervene in any meaningful way. There will often/always be calls of "Walk, please!" but anything beyond that is unlikely and cheaters are rewarded.

Anyway, I often head to the right side of the hub (as you look down on it and as pictured below). I'm not sure there's much of a difference but we now simply do it out of habit and perhaps a drop or two of superstition ;-).

Hope this helps! Feel free to contact me with further questions!

 

[WonkaKid]

I would not have thought those were the top 2 things people are getting their passes revoked for right now. I definitely thought it was going to be something along the lines of people who had figured out how to monetize the $99 special. Sheesh!

I wouldn't be surprised if that happens too. I'm told that there's been a lot of investigation into limited items being sold on eBay. If the seller is found to be an AP holder, their pass is also revoked. Apparently this has happened a lot lately and I, for one, approve. I don't like alcohol being sold at either of the parks. It seems to create a lot of trouble. I don't want to see drunken guests at the park and there are countless other places for people to drink. With the addition of the cantina, Disneyland is now also a party to it. I feel that DL enables the issue by offering alcohol and then revokes passes when people drink too much. Should guests exercise some self control? Of course. But Disney isn't entirely blameless.

 

[WonkaKid]

Oh, also: just before the three kids joined me on the bench near the hub, I ran into David of Fresh Baked fame. That's only the second time I've ever seen him in the park.

 

[katejc]

Good question. I've attached a pic below in which I've circled the three rope locations. At around 7:40 (presuming an 8:00 park open), guests are allowed into the park up to the points indicated. That's where the ropes are for guests bound for Fantasyland (there are other points for Tomorrowland, Adventureland, etc that I haven't circled). At around 7:58 (7:59 usually, which often makes us and others nervous), CMs take down the ropes and there's an announcement at the end of which guests are allowed to enter the remainder of the park. Often there will be at least a few runners, which most other people hate because, A, running is against the rules and, B, it's cheating, essentially. We're among the first people at the park gates and then at the rope. For someone who arrived later only to run to be first on PP isn't cool. Rarely do CMs intervene in any meaningful way. There will often/always be calls of "Walk, please!" but anything beyond that is unlikely and cheaters are rewarded.

Anyway, I often head to the right side of the hub (as you look down on it and as pictured below). I'm not sure there's much of a difference but we now simply do it out of habit and perhaps a drop or two of superstition ;-).

Hope this helps! Feel free to contact me with further questions!

View attachment 419702

Ah Okay I get it. I guess last time they just kept us at the end of Main Street? But maybe I can't remember...the castle was closed and it was kind of a mess...
And runners!! They drive me nuts! Especially when it's a parent leading the way and dragging their kids along and/or yelling at them to hurry up!
Thanks so much for your detailed reply!

 

[WonkaKid]

And runners!! They drive me nuts! Especially when it's a parent leading the way and dragging their kids along and/or yelling at them to hurry up

What we hate even more is when a child runs ("Oh, come on! He's just an excited kid. Leave him alone!") and is then first in line for PP. Then his/her family of six (or ten or fifteen) joins him/her. It's like they all ran and a cheap tactic as far as I'm concerned. I suspect that's often a parent's suggestion rather than the child's own idea.

For a short time after SWL opened, it looked like security was going to begin the enforcement of the no-running rule at PP. For a few weeks, we'd see two or three of them there, often issuing warnings like "Any runners will be sent to the end of the line!" I only saw one person ever have anything happen to them as a result, though. In short, there are rules and many guests follow them and respect their fellow guests. For those that break the rules, there are rarely any consequences and, indeed, they're usually rewarded. I've often explained to people that it's not important to me that I be first on PP. What is important is that anyone who's ahead of me didn't accomplish that because he or she ran.

 

[FrazierFamily]

Are you gonna be around on Sunday the 11th? I am going to be there for a solo trip and plan to do rope drop (with a Magic Morning because they are changing that weekend to Sunday) Would love to say hi, and thank you in person for helping me whoop my husbands butt at Buzz in January.

 

[WonkaKid]

Are you gonna be around on Sunday the 11th? I am going to be there for a solo trip and plan to do rope drop (with a Magic Morning because they are changing that weekend to Sunday) Would love to say hi, and thank you in person for helping me whoop my husbands butt at Buzz in January.

I will probably be there on the 11th although I know that's the annual "Choc Walk," which means the park opens at 10:00 and many of my friends won't go that day as a result. But I probably still will .

 

[FrazierFamily]

I will probably be there on the 11th although I know that's the annual "Choc Walk," which means the park opens at 10:00 and many of my friends won't go that day as a result. But I probably still will .

Yes it is the Walk. I wish I thought I could partake... but I know I wont get up early enough so I will just donate some cash. Its the only morning I can use my magic morning so I will be there at 9 I will keep an eye out for you.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

Thank you -- likewise !


Ha! I hadn't even noticed that until you pointed it out. Very cool.


Nice work! That's a pretty substantial score. I meant to ask on Sunday (when your high score for the day was only around 500,000), did you use some of the tips I've posted in the past or did you simply rely on your own strategy?

Yes, I've used tips from you and lots of practice each trip! Since I can't ride most of the attractions my teenagers and DH like due to back issues, this is a satisfactory fun diversion for me