I'm stressed about rope drop at MK

[aplejax76]

I might get flamed here but I dont understand why some here are just telling OP chill out and have fun. You could say the same thing to everyone who STRESSES OUT gets up at 6:00 in the morning to get PS at CRT. Or the people who are stressing at the fact that May will be soooooo busy this year. I think she was just looking for some advice. Although I would not get upset about it doesn't mean that she can' t feel alittle worried.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Also, consider that only half the park opens for EMH, which is good. You can quickly get to Space and Buzz and hopefully a couple other popular ones you might want to do in Fantasyland, or I guess Stitch. Then you can stand either in the hub or by Peter Pan in Liberty Square and wait for the rope drop there and get to Splash and Big Thunder. Add Haunted Mansion and you're pretty much set for the day and ahead of the crowd.

There was only one time that I only got Space and Buzz done in that hour and that was when something went wrong on Space Mountain and so there was a wait there. Otherwise I've gotten at least 4 and sometimes 5 rides done before Frontierland opens and I'm waiting for that rope drop.

I do know what you're thinking, but truly, if you get there 45 min. to an hour ahead, I think you'll be fine. You can also always rely on Fast Pass, for a ride or two, but I really don't know if you'll need it. Good back up. And the bottom line is, prioritize, then if you miss something, OH WELL, it wasn't one of your first choices and you can do it next time. If you think you can accomplish everything, that's really silly, it's way too big!!!!

 

[nataliesdaddy]

If I go to the effort to get myself and my family up, dressed, fed and out the door an hour before the park opens, I want a reward for my effort. If "thousands of other people" do the same thing and get there even earlier than me, I won't be first. But my guess is that all but a few hundred of those thousands won't be there as early as we will be. After hearing that some folks just can't get the finger scan thing so the turnstiles move really slowly, it DOES stress me to think that I could miss the early morning "walk ons" because I chose a line of people who are slow at the turnstiles.

Have you ever "camped out" in line to enroll your child in preschool, or to get concert tickets? Is it "so self obsessed" to want a spot at the preschool, or seats for the concert after you've put in the waiting time? Are you so selfless that you would give your kid's spot at the preschool or your concert ticket to someone who slept in that day?

Missy, Some people on the boards have a fairly caustic and judgemental way about them. Just have to get used to their petulance.

As to your question - 30 to 45 minutes early will put you anywhere from 1st to 10th in line. We would normally be 30 to 45 early. We were first in line on one occasion. More often we were 3rd or 4th in line.

To resolve that you can get a pre opening ressie at CP or CRT - or hire a first thing in the morning VIP tour with walk on privileges

 

[ccgegg]

Amen, aplejax. This entire board is full of people like ourselves... planning this, fretting over that. If the OP wants to "stress out" (and I'll assume she's using that term loosely) over rope drop, then so be it. Three pages of posts to answer a rather simple question.

 

[missypie]

OP here. I must admit that the majority of your posts have surprised me...tons of "just relax" posts from the land of compulsive planners. Don't we all know to start calling for CRt at 6:58 am? What time for PS for Ohana to be sure and see Wishes? How many pages was that last Codes Watch thread? And I have no right to be anxious about getting into MK to ride rides? Look in the mirror, folks...if you have more than a few posts here, I bet you're compulsive about some Disney issue!

 

[Sorcerer Figment]

OP here. I must admit that the majority of your posts have surprised me...tons of "just relax" posts from the land of compulsive planners. Don't we all know to start calling for CRt at 6:58 am? What time for PS for Ohana to be sure and see Wishes? How many pages was that last Codes Watch thread? And I have no right to be anxious about getting into MK to ride rides? Look in the mirror, folks...if you have more than a few posts here, I bet you're compulsive about some Disney issue!

I can't speak for the others, but to reiterate my suggestion: Plan, get enthusiastic, but don't let it get in the way of your fun, however you may achieve it. So you have every right to be anxious, but I hope you can keep it fun. I know for me the most enjoyable thing WILL be running for Dumbo as the park opens after an 8 AM CP breakfast. (And I'm in college!) So for me it's the best of both worlds... Good luck!

 

[janette]

I know I'm complusive about several Disney issues!

My 1st trip with the kids to WDW I did over stress about many things. Things like getting to the park early, reservations for CRT, parade participation.... I'd done my research and overplanned. Sometimes I wondered if I'd have been better off if I didn't know so much and if something special happened it would be a suprise. The best magical moments were not the ones I thought might happen because I'd planned to be in the right places where I knew they did special things.

The example I gave about my girls riding RnRC twice was one, totally unexpected and they still talk about it. One of their favorite memories, they also are converts to being at rope drop

I've gotten to the parks several different times now and still really like being there early. I also will get in line for sales etc to be one of the 1st ones in so I'm just like that. IMHO it seems that I get more done and the flow is better if I get started early. I don't stress about it and I've learned the hard way that if my kids are hard to get up in the morning it's better to either go alone or just wait until later. Really whatever works for your family is best.

 

[maxaroni]

OP here. I must admit that the majority of your posts have surprised me...tons of "just relax" posts from the land of compulsive planners. Don't we all know to start calling for CRt at 6:58 am? What time for PS for Ohana to be sure and see Wishes? How many pages was that last Codes Watch thread? And I have no right to be anxious about getting into MK to ride rides? Look in the mirror, folks...if you have more than a few posts here, I bet you're compulsive about some Disney issue!

I will agree with you there. We all have our issues that we may be compulsive about and want our vacations, whether at WDW or elsewhere, to be perfect. As far as relating this to meals and PS's, I am not sure that is quite the same. It's comparing apples to oranges as we have to eat, we don't have to be first in line for 'rope drop'. I also can see your point and wasn't trying to be argumentitive. My point was to do what you need to do, get up early, get to the park at the time you want, however, the 'obsessing' part and 'stress' of having to be THE first one, or it isn't worth it and getting a reward out of the deal was where I meant to relax. If you are #1 or #50, does it matter in the long run? To me, not. If you just HAVE to be #1, get to the parks 90 mins ahead of time...I don't know.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

If you aren't the first one on a particular ride it will be OK. As long as you get there before the "main crowd" you will be able to enjoy quite a few rides before the park gets crowded.

I think we would all like to be the rope drop family. But I personally feel the magic is wasted with you plan, stress and expect it. The most magical times are those that catch you by surprise.

I didn't even know about the rope drops and magic ceremonies and stuff until DH and I actually dragged our sorry butts outta bed BEFORE AK opened last year and saw the opening skit. We usually straggle in about 8:30 or 9 a.m. because it is just the two of us and he's mega-lazy. This is all very interesting. Guess when DD (20 mos.) gets only enough to join us, we'll get to see the magic from a different perspective.

 

[BostonRob]

OP here. I must admit that the majority of your posts have surprised me...tons of "just relax" posts from the land of compulsive planners. Don't we all know to start calling for CRt at 6:58 am? What time for PS for Ohana to be sure and see Wishes? How many pages was that last Codes Watch thread? And I have no right to be anxious about getting into MK to ride rides? Look in the mirror, folks...if you have more than a few posts here, I bet you're compulsive about some Disney issue!

You are absolutely 100% correct. This board, and all internet boards I've been on, are full of pots calling kettles black. Overall, people have very little tolerance for 2 things, complainers and cheaters. After that, people like to take shots just about anything - and that is what has happened to you. That's what internet discussion boards are all about. This board isn't bad compared to others though.

As far as your particular post, it doesn seem a bit irrational to have to be the "first person" for anything. But if thats what you need to do, then you have to research, plan, and execute. From these boards I learned you can get in the park early if you make a PS before opening time. It was just fortunate for us that we were more interested in Crystal Palace than CRT, because you don't have to wake up in the middle of the night and start excercising your fingers to get a Crystal Palace reservation. So that's the plan, the only thing left to do is execute - get up early and get there. Our PS i s for 8:05. I hope to be at the MK between 7:30 and 7:45. I doubt that will make us the first people in. It would be cool if we were, but as long a we beatthe crowd, I'll be happy.

So good luck with your plans. Try not to stress too much about anything, and try not to open yourself up to too much criticism on the internet.

 

[Stacy Woods]

I read about the rope drop and thought neat. I got the whole clan up early only to find out if you are not on site Disney you can't get through. What a dissappoint!! It was then and there I realized I had over planned.
This year we are just going. No plans!