Is Genie+/LL Making Anyone Rethink Their Rope Drop Plan?

[Little E]

Hi Disfriends!

I went to WDW with my oldest DS and his buddy at the beginning of March (3/6-311) for their college spring break. We stayed at Pop, we had a great time, and we used Genie+ for the first time. I've always been a big believer in the rope drop concept, and our family has rope dropped on every WDW trip we've ever taken, and this trip was no exception. A funny thing happened; by the end of the week, I kind of didn't really find rope drop to be a huge advantage. Instead, we found huge lines first thing in the morning and throughout the morning. We made things work, although I felt like we left a lot on the table with Genie+. (We never figured out how to stack a ton of LLs, and we found the times we were able to sign up for another LL varied greatly.)

So, is this just me, or are others finding rope drop to not be the end all/be all with Genie+ now in play? I'm headed back to WDW with DH, high school DS, DS's friend, and another of DS's friends and their family, and we're staying at Pop again from 3/24-4/1. I'm kind of bumfuzzled about how to approach this heavy spring break trip. DH is not a super fan of rope dropping anyway, and getting two teenage boys up in the am is a project, so let me know if I'm way off base or if I'm on to something with the no rope dropping thing. Any advice you have-either way-would be awesome!

Thanks so much!

 

[g-dad66]

I agree that rope drop no longer gives the huge advantage that it used to give. My theory is that folks who are waking up before 7am to book G+ and/or ILL figure they might just as well head to the park rather than go back to bed.

We did a sleep-in day for DHS where we stacked for late afternoon/evening. I think it could be done for Magic Kingdom also, but a lot depends on just which attractions you want to do.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'll never pay for $ILL except MAYBE once each for Guardians and Tron, so rope drop will now be the only way I experience those attractions.

 

[chaoskids]

I'll never pay for $ILL except MAYBE once each for Guardians and Tron, so rope drop will now be the only way I experience those attractions.

I think this is one of the reasons mornings have gotten so busy. Many more people are rope dropping because they're not going to pay for $ILL.

 

[ChanaC]

I think rope dropping is still worth it, especially at Hollywood Studios. There is just so much to do. Sure, you can pay for the individual LL and get lucky and get your first choice of "regular" LL, but chances are there is still something else that is top on your list and the best time to get on it is first thing in the morning. I do wish Disney would extend the extra morning time for resort guests back to a full hour. When I went in December the half an hour was good to get in line for one attraction, but by the time you get done with it the park is back open again for everyone. And for people who don't want to spend the extra money, rope dropping might be the only time they have to get on line for a big attraction like Rise of the Resistance or Flight of Passage without waiting for over an hour.

 

[Donna M]

We went to HS on Feb 2 and used the early entry rope drop for ROTR. It was so worth it. We walked slowly through all the outside queue without any major stops. We got up to the last entry point in 20 minuets and then it crashed. They gave us an Ill.

On Oct 30th and Nov 1st we used rope drop at MK and had a very short wait for Peter Pan. It was worth it there too.

It seems that the crowds have gotten much heavier now, so the time of year you go will make a huge difference. It would not be worth it if you are not staying on property.

 

[Revan46]

I think for me as I am off-site, it just seems like Rope Drop is my only way cause the resort folks get the $ILL before anyone else. It's kind of unfair (Not trying to be woe is me, people pay a lot for the resorts but I do miss pre-COVID rope drops/fast passes etc cause now even rope drop still could lead to an hour long or more wait.)

 

[Juventus]

I'm always offsite and from March Break 2016-2020 we always ropedropped. Only did once this year out of 7 park days... and that was because we started our first day only at Holiday Inn Disney Springs and ropedropped ROTR.

That said, the lines build way quicker in the morning and it is much easier to stack the better rides for the afternoon. By the time the second booking window opens up (2 hours in) all of the good rides are mid-afternoon/evening.

Stacking MK was fantastic. One day we started in AK just after ropedrop and did KS, DINO, KALI walk on and $ILL FoP by 10:30 (7:30 opening) while stacking MK. Went back to the condo for a rest and got to MK for 3:00ish and went until 11:00pm close.

As far as ROTR...I would not ropedrop that if I was offsite. I was able to refresh and snag one about ten minutes after park opening and would have another day but I could not pin it to the top of my list (I still tried and it popped up 7 times but because I had to scroll I was not quick enough to snag one).

I went on ROTR last Wednesday with lines up to 3.5 hours at 1:00. At 5:00 it was listed at 120 and ittook 70min to get to the first part of the ride.

I found that early in the day was worse than ever for crowds, but late in the evening was better, if not just as good as ever. I think perhaps more people are ropedropping due to the uncertainty of G+ and not lasting the whole day.

 

[Revan46]

I'm always offsite and from March Break 2016-2020 we always ropedropped. Only did once this year out of 7 park days... and that was because we started our first day only at Holiday Inn Disney Springs and ropedropped ROTR.

That said, the lines build way quicker in the morning and it is much easier to stack the better rides for the afternoon. By the time the second booking window opens up (2 hours in) all of the good rides are mid-afternoon/evening.

Stacking MK was fantastic. One day we started in AK just after ropedrop and did KS, DINO, KALI walk on and $ILL FoP by 10:30 (7:30 opening) while stacking MK. Went back to the condo for a rest and got to MK for 3:00ish and went until 11:00pm close.

As far as ROTR...I would not ropedrop that if I was offsite. I was able to refresh and snag one about ten minutes after park opening and would have another day but I could not pin it to the top of my list (I still tried and it popped up 7 times but because I had to scroll I was not quick enough to snag one).

I went on ROTR last Wednesday with lines up to 3.5 hours at 1:00. At 5:00 it was listed at 120 and ittook 70min to get to the first part of the ride.

I found that early in the day was worse than ever for crowds, but late in the evening was better, if not just as good as ever. I think perhaps more people are ropedropping due to the uncertainty of G+ and not lasting the whole day.

When you say you refreshed for ROTR, do you mean just after 7 or a bit later than that?

 

[Juventus]

Other than the first night of our trip, I was offsite. Dhs opened at 8:30, I began refreshing shortly after that. Infact one day, at 8:30, I got Remy first then started trying for rotr.

 

[Revan46]

Other than the first night of our trip, I was offsite. Dhs opened at 8:30, I began refreshing shortly after that. Infact one day, at 8:30, I got Remy first then started trying for rotr.

Hmm I'll keep that in mind. The day I'm going is a 9am opening though early hours of 8:30 so will keep that in mind