DHS goes dropless

[Tink2312]

I complained about the unannounced opening of DHS whilst I was there. I prefer rope drop and I have to say it's extremely frustrating to arrive at 8.45am and have a 1 hour wait already for TSM or have to wait until late afternoon for your FP time. In the end it's a vacation and personally I don't want to get up at 6am everyday so I can get on the rides with a reasonable wait. I hope this changes before we head back in November.

 

[notfrostyjosh]

LOLl!!!

in all caps

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

I was surprised to find this myself at DHS on New Year's Day. We were running a teeny bit late, and actually passed through the turnstiles at 8:55 am (No EMH that day, so 9 am opening). When we got up towards the Great Movie Ride and saw no crowds, I started gettingn worried I'd gotten my opening time wrong. But upon making it to TSM, the line was only about 30 mins, and we got fastpasses for 11:30 am. I asked the CM running the fastpass machines what had happened, and she said it's been happening a lot with these soft openings, and sometimes they don't even tell the CMs what time the park is opening 'til the last minute. (How lovely for them, right?)

I wasn't pleased that day b/c it caught me off guard . . . and I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about it. We're not morning people, but we always drag ourselves out for EMH or park opening. Shorter lines early in the day are worth it for us. Now it seems like we have to get there super early "just in case." I'm guessing it will still be worth it to us, but I can't say I'm excited about it. Esp. if they turn out NOT to open early that day.

But I do realize it's better than the running of the bulls, esp. at someplace like DHS. I just may remain sort of un-thrilled.

 

[captinhookedondisney]

It is terrible that they don't even tell the cast! I am studying labor relations, and can imagine that HR is getting a lot of complaints!

 

[erinkpoole]

We were at DHS for EMH this morning. They let us in at 7:50 am. No rope drop. Jogged to Toy Story, got fast passes, and were the first in line. We surprised the CMs and it took a few minutes for them to load us. I like the new "no rope" opening. It helps to be there early to be close to the front of the turnstile.

 

[disney<333]

Went to DHS on Christmas Eve and got there at about 10 to 8 for an 8-9 EMH. The park was completely empty and had been open for a while. Also, they were not checking resort room keys. Went on TSM twice, got FPs, and then walked on Star Tours, Muppets, met Cars, GMR, and waited for the next show of Voyage. Then left at 11 for a break. (Stayed at an Epcot resort)

 

[seashoreCM]

It is terrible that they don't even tell the cast! I am studying labor relations, and can imagine that HR is getting a lot of complaints!

Early opening could be intended but if there are last minute things that are not ready in the park then opening has to be delayed.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

So happy they've considered getting rid of the rope drop! The mob mentality of the TSM stampede was a little unnerving last time I experienced it. Not enough workers, or space, to hold back that many anxious people. Guests were pushing, stepping on others, and ready to rip each other to shreds over a few measly FPs; it reminded me of Walmart at midnight on Thanksgiving night (which I also try to stay far away from).

 

[CarrieR]

Does this really make a huge difference? I couldn't imagine the couple of seconds it takes to run your card through the turnstyle really holds people back much.

Yes... it makes a huge difference. It holds back and thins the crowds. If it takes, say, ten seconds to do ticket/finger scan/turnstile, it puts appx 45 seconds between each family of 4. Even with eight or ten turnstiles, that's an enormous safety advantage over hundreds of people hustling and jostling as a mob. Having done it both ways, I loooooooove the non-RD version. So, so, so much less stressful!

 

[cbg1027]

Thanks for the heads up OP! I plan to be at DHS on Sunday January 22, so it's good to know I need to get there extra early!

I will report back about the opening procedure for the day!

 

[HockeyMomNH]

Thanks to those that posted their EMH experiences. I can't wait to see what it will be like when we are there in a few weeks. My friend has not experienced TSM yet, so hopefully the crowds will be thin.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

hockeymom your cakes are fantastic!

I will keep watching this thread, we leave Feb 2nd. Hoping that we get the non rope drop rope drop! Will make the morning much easier I think in terms of riding TSM then moving on to other attractions!

 

[jpgpmpcp]

With no RD at HS, what time do the busses leave the resorts? Specifically POP? I am wondering what time we should be at the bus stop...

 

[Robo]

With no RD at HS, what time do the busses leave the resorts? Specifically POP? I am wondering what time we should be at the bus stop...

The buses begin running every day of the year starting at about 6:30AM

(That old chestnut about the buses starting "an hour before the park opens" is a much-repeated -and totally false- Disney Myth.)

Be at the resort bus stop about 45-60 minutes before you intend to be at a given park.

 

[spel]

I was planning on doing the playhouse jr. breakfast early so we could get into the park early and get a fp for toy story mania (we have a 3yr old) but maybe I shouldn't do that now and just go early? We are going in sept so it will be slower, but last time in sept we showed up late and toy story mania was like a 2hr wait and no fast passes. i just want to make sure we get a fp this time. no way can I wait in a 2hr line with our son =)

I go at peak season and go to DHS on a non-EMH day. We arrive before opening, I head straight to get the TSM FP for later, DH gets on line & then I join him. We are among the first on & then ride again later with our FP. I have never waited more than 30 min on a very crowded day. Got the strategy here on the boards & it's worked on two visits. I also would never wait 2 hours for a ride. Try the Dis strategy- these people know what they are doing!

 

[nemofans]

Will be watching this thread to hear if letting guests in earlier continues. Am also interested in hearing more about EMH mornings.
Glad for this change though. With 2 little ones, it is nerve wracking dealing with the mob. The last few trips, we have specifically shown up to the parks about 10 min after opening so we have completely avoided the mad dash. BUT, we go during less crowded times so there aren't long waits immediately either.

 

[B-Ride]

I complained about the unannounced opening of DHS whilst I was there. I prefer rope drop and I have to say it's extremely frustrating to arrive at 8.45am and have a 1 hour wait already for TSM or have to wait until late afternoon for your FP time. In the end it's a vacation and personally I don't want to get up at 6am everyday so I can get on the rides with a reasonable wait. I hope this changes before we head back in November.

I agree with you. It would be very frustrating to arrive close to opening and find a huge line. All this will accomplish is making us all get up earlier as everyone hears about it and starts arriving 30 minutes before opening. We have a trip booked for August and I am seriously considering arriving at DHS now.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I was there in September when they were first trying this out at Epcot. It went so smoothly, I couldn't understand why it wasn't happening at HS. I'm disappointed to hear the AK show is gone, but really the "shows" at HS and EP were just shams to try to placate the guests as they chomped at the bit.

Knowing they are opening the turnstiles earlier than 9 is a bonus, but not a big deal for me as I am frequently first at a turnstile. It was the crowd that would bash past you at the rope that was the issue. Even being first at the turnstiles, there was no hope for me to keep up with the guy 2 feet taller than me who shoulder-slammed me to the side once the crowd was given the go-ahead to move forward.

Mob-wise, whether they open turnstiles at 8:30 or 9, the process of inserting the card, placing the finger, waiting for the machine to respond, getting stuck behind people who have no clue what to do, etc. will naturally slow the crowd to a trickle, instead of the giant, trampling mass of elbows all released at once. Sure it's no fun to show up at 8:50 to find out the turnstiles are already open, but realistically, all those people were going to be in front of you anyway (they got there sooner). They are just spread out in front of you instead of piled up in front of you (unless you were planning on elbowing your way up to the rope in front of all the people that had been waiting ahead of you - that's really the only reason I can see someone wouldn't like the new system).