Is it REALLY that important to get to the parks early?

[carly chloe]

.

Didn't you just answer your own questions you asked?

 

[tinkalicious]

If I were you I would rethink the late nights unless your kids are used to them. My DD's are 6 and 3 and they are normally sleeping by 7:00, so a 9:00 start time for dinner would be asking for trouble with them.

I know, my late ressies aren't ideal. Our original plan was to go with the QSDP, so I didn't make any ADRs until recently. I'm just glad I got Chef Mickeys! Actually by some miracle I ended up with some GREAT ADRs. But it's cool - the days we have the late ADRs we're chilling all afternoon - a late lunch and late nap will allow for a late dinner! And we'll probably get over there a bit early. I think I read somewhere that you could check in up to 90 minutes early (unless I'm making that up!)

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Just to add to my previous post.

Disney is not really the place you go to relax. Get out a calcualtor and work out what it is costing you per day of vacation, and then ask yourself if you want to sleep through that.

You can sleep at home for free.

To each his own on the relaxing part. There are many things to do at Disney to relax. It isn't all about the parks. I have done the math, and my calculations tell me that when I am paying the big bucks to stay at the Beach Club, the Poly, the Contemporary, and the Wilderness Cabins, I am not going to let their relaxing atmosphere and many amenities go by unnoticed. I have stayed at those I just mentioned and never once stepped foot into the parks. I have stayed a up to a week at them.. and enjoyed them, not the parks. On the same token, I have done the values, the mods, or a deluxe for a long weekend & offsite and do the parks. There are many things in Disney that are relaxing.. many things that so many guests over look because they are commando's in the park. What is more relaxing than laying in the hammock on the Poly beach.. listening to their tropical music. Maybe stroll along the Boardwalk area.. take a boat out on the lake, ride bikes on the trails in Ft Wilderness.. Disney is more than parks.. and if you do the math, at least the math I do, I manage to get more in for my money.... then again, to each his own. You cannot make a statement that Disney is not a place to go & relax. Maybe if more slowed down and did relax, there would be less agitated guests in the park

 

[duffy]

The one thing I wanted to say was I have seen so much talk of "having to get things done." To me that just seems stressful from the jump. It seems more likework than fun. I don't know if it because we go yearly or what? But we have our list of "must do" things but never treat it like a job where we have to get them done and out of the way.

"having to get things done", if referring to attractions, is the same as a "must do" to me.

A "must do" sounds more like work to me!

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

It depends on several things---

Will it be a busy time of year when you go? Early morning hours are great b/c lotsof folks sleep in while a few folks enjoy the parks and short wait times and low crowds.

Do you think you need to see and do everything while you are there? If so then early mornings are good for that.

Disney is more of an adventure than a restful vacation. It will have you laughing and enjoying yourself. And you will relax and let go of a lot of stress.

We usually plan a few early mornings, but not every one. Just depends on what you are interested in .

Either way--- I hope you have e a great time!

 

[Hillbeans]

We're heading to WDW in two weeks but have been many times before. We only will do parks 3 days of our 6 day trip so on those days, yes, we get up and get to the park for rope drop. DH, DS9 and DS5 have never done Soarin' and we've never all gotten on Test Track, so in order to do so we'll be there first and go on each ride twice.

I don't think I could get up and be on the go every day of my trip, but since we don't do the parks every day it's not a big deal the days we're up early.

We also like to spend time at the resorts, the Boardwalk, etc.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[mccathy]

Last trip, my daughter and I would get there before rope drop. We would ride the biggies first, with practically no wait. We would grab a quick breakfast and ride some more biggies.

My sister and her kids would show up around 10 or 11. While we were riding the biggies, they were only arriving. They were so slooooow to get dressed and out the door! By the time they would meet us, we would have (typically) already ridden Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and grabbed a quick bite.

By the time they met us, THEY would have gotten dressed, eaten a sit-down breakfast and walked through the gates.

The week we were there, they did not ever ride Splash Mountain, Toy Story Mania, Dumbo and so many others. They only rode Soarin' because I ran over and got Fastpasses for them. If I hadn't done that, they would have missed it too.

This was the week after Thanksgiving, 2009.

Nothing to do with your quote - but - Oh! Those poor kitties! I love your signature.

 

[duffy]

Nothing to do with your quote - but - Oh! Those poor kitties! I love your signature.

Thanks.

I should add to my post, that my sister and her kids had a great time. I was aware of all that they missed, but they were not. They enjoyed taking their time, sleeping in, leisurely showers and meals.

That drives me crazy. To me, sleeping in means anything past 7:30 am!! I like to shower in the evening, so, I was happy to be up and dressed by 7. I'd enjoy a leisurely walk around our resort and then wake up my teen daughter. She too was eager to be at the parks. The two of us were out the door by 7:30 or so each day.

My sister and her kids really took their time at everything. I thought maybe they would want to stay later at the parks, or go miniature golfing, or whatever night people do--and be back at the room by 11, or even midnight, but no, they were happy to be back at the room by 8 or 9. They missed so much, but because they never knew what they missed, we were all happy.

 

[Shir Kahn]

We're complete Disney Commandos and we go from park open to park close every day, planning ahead of time which parks have the longest hours and hopping on most Animal Kingdom days as they close earlier than any of the other parks. This is the way we love to do it, however we don't have kids yet. For your family, not really knowing anything about them at all, my suggestion would be to make rope drop every day if you have any interest in the most popular rides, then having a midday break to make up for the lack of sleep. With a 2 year old, I don't imagine you'll be at the parks late, so you should be able to get a decent sleep between each day even with getting up early. We absolutely refuse to wait longer than 30 minutes for any ride, so getting to the parks as early as possible is critical for us. We have a great time this way.

 

[Disneywedding2010]

I'm the type of person that I'm on vacation and don't want to be rush rush rush while I'm on it. I'm not a morning person so I NEVER get to the parks early. This is why we always do park hoppers and if something doesn't get done on a certain day we can always hop back to that park and do it. I also plan days during my stay at Disney where we just do things at the resort. If I'm spending all that money to stay somewhere I'm going to take the time to enjoy it. I don't do commando style when it comes to Disney parks because for me there is no point. I like taking my time.

 

[tlbwriter]

You know your kids better than we do. What's going to be more of a problem - standing in line for things they really want to do? Or getting them up early? Choose your evil and go from there.

I like to be there early. I hate lines, and I hate crowds, and I hate heat. But someone who hates getting up early should do whatever works for them.

However, I do have to point this out... when we went with my SIL and her family, who are chronically late people, we didn't even leave the resort until 10:30 sometimes, which was making me crazy. So on our 3rd or 4th day I suggested we get up early the next morning to be at Epcot at rope drop because we wanted to be sure to ride Soarin (which was fairly new). When we got there (not at rope drop but close enough), it was magical - got our FPs for Soarin, walked onto Test Track 2 or 3 times - and my SIL said "I get it now! This is why you wanted to be here early!"

 

[burberryplaid]

You go ahead and sleep in...that's fine by me!

Seriously though, it's your vacation do what you want. I believe if you have a good touring plan crowds don't matter.

 

[leahcar]

We missed rope drop Friday, but got there right after 9 (opening). We walked on Splast Mt. TWICE and Thunger MT with NO WAITS. Then the park got crowded and everythign was at least a 40 minute wait.

 

[twokids0204]

To each his own on the relaxing part. There are many things to do at Disney to relax. It isn't all about the parks. I have done the math, and my calculations tell me that when I am paying the big bucks to stay at the Beach Club, the Poly, the Contemporary, and the Wilderness Cabins, I am not going to let their relaxing atmosphere and many amenities go by unnoticed. I have stayed at those I just mentioned and never once stepped foot into the parks. I have stayed a up to a week at them.. and enjoyed them, not the parks. On the same token, I have done the values, the mods, or a deluxe for a long weekend & offsite and do the parks. There are many things in Disney that are relaxing.. many things that so many guests over look because they are commando's in the park. What is more relaxing than laying in the hammock on the Poly beach.. listening to their tropical music. Maybe stroll along the Boardwalk area.. take a boat out on the lake, ride bikes on the trails in Ft Wilderness.. Disney is more than parks.. and if you do the math, at least the math I do, I manage to get more in for my money.... then again, to each his own. You cannot make a statement that Disney is not a place to go & relax. Maybe if more slowed down and did relax, there would be less agitated guests in the park

I do agree if your vacation is a resort getaway (even at Disney) and the priority of the trip is NOT parks, then deluxe resorts - with the Deluxe prices is the way to go, and relax and enjoy.

But the OP said this is her first trip, they are staying at POP, and reading between the lines, I believe she is saying they want to see as much of the parks as possible.

I am simply saying that the longer you are in the parks, the more you will get done. And the earlier you get there, the lower the crowds are.

At approx $2000 for 7 days (6 nights) in a value, that works out to about $300 per day. I personally want to do something I can't do at home for that money.

But the one thing I've learned on the DIS is, for every opinion out there, someone will always have a differing one. Which is good I think, opens up the lines of conversation.

 

[nytimez]

I have never, ever made a rope drop. And I've been very happy with my trips.

I don't understand all the stress and planning some people put into this.

 

[eliza61]

Just to add to my previous post.

Disney is not really the place you go to relax. Get out a calcualtor and work out what it is costing you per day of vacation, and then ask yourself if you want to sleep through that.

You can sleep at home for free.

Oh god, . YOu actually measure the success of a trip with a calculator? IMO a vacation is not supposed to be measured with a calculator and a bottom line.

Is it only worthwhile if you ride soarin 5X? If you don't do TSM have you wasted your money?

Op, when are you going? We never do rope drop and you know what, we still manage to enjoy disney.

How much fun do you have if you force every one up at the crack of dawn? for me and my family, we might as well stay home and go to school and work if we have to be on a schedule.

Op, you can enjoy a nice breakfast and get to the parks around 9-9:30 and still "do every thing".

You know your family best, don't get sucked into believing that if you don't "do every thing" your vacations is a waste. this is not a marathorn, vacations are about enjoying yourself and your family. its not a contest to do 50 rides in 10 hours.

 

[Shir Kahn]

eliza, we're all sharing our opinions, there's no need to sound condescending because you believe differently from others. You need to lighten up in my opinion.

 

[eliza61]

eliza, we're all sharing our opinions, there's no need to sound condescending because you believe differently from others. You need to lighten up in my opinion.

LOL and I was sharing mine, my apologies, i did not mean to be mean or condescending.

Ok, lightly saying. IMO a good vacation does not depend on a calculator and cost averaging the number of rides. If sleeping in is what makes your family happy than sleeping in at disney is a good vacation.

 

[Shir Kahn]

 

[duffy]

LOL and I was sharing mine,

Ok, lightly saying. IMO a good vacation does not depend on a calculator and cost averaging the number of rides. If sleeping in is what makes your family happy than sleeping in at disney is a good vacation.

LOL, this reminds me of how we went to Cedar Point this summer. I paid ~$120 for the 3 of us to get in for one day, and to kill time while waiting in line, I would whip out my cell phone and calculate how much each ride cost us. $120 divided by 3...then $120 divided by 6...then by 9....

Obviously, it was just for fun. I liked pointing out to the other 2 how much I'd spent on the rides so far. I'm just that geeky.

And, again, just for fun. We had a great time.