Going late September, do we need rope drop?

[kittykitty87]

Boyfriend and I coming to WDW 23 September - 5 October, should we aim to be at the parks for opening? I know that the crowd levels are supposed to be lower when we are going so wasn't sure if we should be trying to get there REALLY early!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Boyfriend and I coming to WDW 23 September - 5 October, should we aim to be at the parks for opening? I know that the crowd levels are supposed to be lower when we are going so wasn't sure if we should be trying to get there REALLY early!

Yes you should, it will still help you get a huge jump on the crowds, while crowds are lower you still get an advangage over them. We go in Sept every year, it's super slow, but there is still a noticable difference in going at RD and just strolling into the parks when you wake up.

Dont plans to do it everyday but just try it once early in your trip so you can see the difference for yourself. We swore we would never do it then about 4 years ago did RD for TSM only at DHS and were believers from day 1. Dragging 2 adults that work night shift year round (back then) out of bed and to a park at 9am was not easy but we found it was well worth it. It's easier now since we have normal business hour jobs nad are used to being up around that time and we hit RD everyday. As DH says we can sleep when we are dead.

 

[lsenquiz]

The crowds will be at their lowest during that time so rope drop is not absolutely necessary. However, we go every year the third week of September and we still do rope drop especially for DHS. That's because we are early risers and like a break in the middle of the day. We do not do evening EMH and prefer to eat dinner at our resort. If you prefer to sleep late and like to stay at the parks until close you would still be fine.

 

[BenKling]

While the crowds are definitely a thing to think about, doing rope drop should also get you doing things before the hottest part of the day... Which would definitely be a factor for me if I ever go in September.

 

[kittykitty87]

Thank you all for your comments! I think we will do one and see what it's like It probably sounds silly but one of the reasons I would like to be in MK early is so I can take some good pictures of the Castle without LOADS of people being around

 

[minnie mum]

We go frequently around the end of September, and usually try to make RD. Even with low crowd predictions, it is amazing how much you can accomplish in the first couple of hours. This is especially true at DHS, of course, but applies to the other parks as well.

I also wanted to mention that you will be there for the start of F&W. I strongly recommend that you try to make RD at Epcot during that period. The crowds really increase for F&W, especially on the first few days that it is open.

 

[kittykitty87]

I also wanted to mention that you will be there for the start of F&W. I strongly recommend that you try to make RD at Epcot during that period. The crowds really increase for F&W, especially on the first few days that it is open.

Yeah, we will absolutely be doing that!

 

[lsenquiz]

Thank you all for your comments! I think we will do one and see what it's like It probably sounds silly but one of the reasons I would like to be in MK early is so I can take some good pictures of the Castle without LOADS of people being around

Alot of people do Rope Drop at MK so one other idea is to schedule a table service breakfast inside MK before the park opens. You could schedule a breakfast for 8am on a day the park opens at 9am. This is a good opportunity to get great pictures with no crowds.

 

[MyThreeKids123]

We were there the week prior to that last year. I think it depends on which park, and what you want to ride. We went to Epcot one overcast non EMH night (prior to F&W), and there were fastpasses for soarin available until after 8. We rode it multiple times in a row with virtually no wait that night. We got to DHS at RD that week, and the only thing that it helped was TSM as there were no waits on anything else. We always do MK on EMH days, and there it seemed to really help getting there at RD. It seemed like the crowds would really start rolling in by noon. Oh, and if you can plan on going to MK on a day that they have MNSSHP at night, you can pretty much walk on any ride that morning.

 

[t_catt11]

Early mornings and late nigihts still get you the lowest crowds - and the most done - regardless of the ov erall crowd levels.

In late September (great time to go, by the way), you won't stand in 90 minute lines... but going early and using fastpass can keep you out of 45 minute lines.

 

[DisneyLandMan]

At home, I am the opposite of a morning person, but through all of my trips to WDW, I have come to learn that the best way to optimize your time and get the most out of your time in the parks is to be at the park for rope drop, head back to the hotel around 12 or 1 for lunch, shower, swim in the pool and relax, then head back into the park around 5pm. And in September (when i will be there this year as well) you will maximize EVEN more your abilities to ride all the rids that you wanna ride (multiple times) and see all that you wanna see. Not saying this method is the end all solution, but it works for me and whoever I am there with and I assure you that you will LOVE what you can accomplish using this method.

 

[DisneyFive]

We've gone the last week of Sept the last two years, so hopefully this helps.

Yeah, getting to MK at RD won't get good photos with the castle without a lot of people. Main street fill up immediately after RD.

What we found was that going to MK at RD was only needed if you wanted to see the park opening show (characters ride out on the Disney train, there is a song and dance show...), but the problem is, late Sept they don't always do the show which we found out last year. I was really looking forward to it, and got up early for nothing! All the big attractions BTMM, Splash, SM... have FP's available all morning, so there isn't a HUGE rush to be there. However if you want to jump on a lot of rides going stand-by right away in the morning, being there at RD is a big plus (at any of the 4 parks)

The most important RD is for HS if you want to get on TSM right away, or get FP's for late morning/early afternoon. Soarin' is somewhat like this, but not quite as bad as TSM, and if I remember right, FP's were available for Soarin' all the way thru lunch time.

Dan

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've been that month several times.

Rope drop is NEVER essential- even on Easter week.

That said, being in the parks fairly close to rope drop, IS generally a useful time to be in the parks. Alternately, an even better than morning hours are LATE NIGHT hours. In September though rides may well be walk-on much of the day- or near walk-on. It isn't the crowds that are going to limit you - it's the total number of park hours.

We do TEND to use (most of) the peripheral hours most days. For at least the last five years, we almost never aim to ACTUALLY be at the parks at rope drop. At best, we usually arrive at 9:15am - but I know how to time things. If you don't then maybe try to allow more time than you think it will take.

If there is an early morning downpour, or it's very cold- sometimes we opt to go late. On the other hand - rainy days will be less crowded. On the other hand- thunderstorms close half the AK attractions.

In Sept, if youa re sticking only to regualr park hours- then the parks close pretty early. Even with the low crowds, it's not enough park hours for my tastes. If you are thinking you are going to arrive after rope drop, take an afternoon break, then head back to the parks and manage to see everything - that is not going to happen.

Many nights, MK closes by 7pm. HS closes by 8pm. That doesn't give you much for evening hours unless you want to pay extra for the Halloween party at MK.

Than again....you dont HAVE to spend all your waking hours in the parks....WDW does have quite a few non-park activites. Eating is one.

In September, we find it helpful to eat most dinners after 7pm. On you AK day, you can eat after 5pm. So that's another factor. We also don't eat TS lunches or breakfasts. So you can get the most out of your park hours if you aren't eating - especially long TS meals. Another consideration is to maybe time lunch to coincide with any afternoon thunderstorms. (usually half an hour between 3-5pm)

I can't be up early enough to be at MK for a breakfast that will be OVER before 9am. If I am in MK at 9am - I'm taking advantage of that time to be on attractions, not eating. Before DDP, we sometimes did one late TS breakfast at CP. If we do a late buffet breakfast, then we can skip lunch.

That said, we stopped going in September for several reasons. Limited park hours is one. If you dont do RD, then it is helpful to use as many of the park hours as you can - esp evening EMH's.

 

[bookgirl]

Boyfriend and I coming to WDW 23 September - 5 October, should we aim to be at the parks for opening? I know that the crowd levels are supposed to be lower when we are going so wasn't sure if we should be trying to get there REALLY early!

I was there last sept. My parents were with me for part of the week and we didn't make one rope drop while they were there. We were fine, we got fastpasses for the big things like EE at AK and Soarin' and TT at Epcot, and they were all within 45 min to 90 min.

I hit rope drop at DHS and MK by myself and everything was a walk on.

I liked the crowd level at this time.

 

[Raenstoirm]

We NEVER hit rope drop and have never had an issue any time of year (but we only go during slow and moderate times a year). Keep in mind TSM tends to sell out by 11 (often times 10) so you might want to get to DHS on the early side and that is a race weekend and the beginning of F&W. I might get to Epcot early a few days just to ride those rides before it gets a bit crazy there as well.

 

[Beamer97]

what is TSM? i am having a moment hear and can't figure it out...
will rope drop in sept be needed for jedi training?
sept 19-30

 

[nkereina]

what is TSM? i am having a moment hear and can't figure it out...
will rope drop in sept be needed for jedi training?
sept 19-30

TSM = Toy Story Mania. I can't speak to jedi training but from everything I read, yes.

We were there 9/24-10/1 this past year and did rope drop every day. We felt it was the only way to get everything done that we wanted to do, and not be killed by the heat. We would head back to the resort between 12-1 and rest up, then go back out around dinner. Around the time we left in the afternoon, it was the hottest part of the day and the most crowded part of the day. Our strategy then was to gather some FPs during the morning and use them at night when we went back. With FP return times being enforced now, we'll have to come up with a new plan.

 

[JDUB]

Alot of people do Rope Drop at MK so one other idea is to schedule a table service breakfast inside MK before the park opens. You could schedule a breakfast for 8am on a day the park opens at 9am. This is a good opportunity to get great pictures with no crowds.

THIS!!! We are booked for MK and AK before park openings. We are excited to see the castle before the herd of people are let in after RD.

 

[Kristine316]

We are heading back in mid September... arriving on the 18th.

When I booked that week I did so because Touring Plans had that week all 1's pretty much except on the weekend.. with 2's. Now that week is 3's and 4's... and it seems every other day it keeps going up.

I keep hearing how this September will be much busier than in years past. My travel agent agrees with this and told me she thinks "it will be much busier than a typical September".

No one can give me a reason why this year would be any different than other years.

I am certainly no expert but, we plan to be at rope drop at each park we go to... especially now that it seems September isn't going to be as slow as normal this year.

 

[kittykitty87]

Thanks for all the comments. I will definitely be doing rope drop! I think I may now also consider doing the breakfast also so we can get into the park nice and early

Im so excited!