Managing crowd anxiety during park entrance/rope drop

[rlk]

If you can't find an early breakfast at Epcot, you might consider valet parking at The Beach Club or The Boardwalk and enter through the International Gate. The International Gate will be much less crowded.

 

[mamabunny]

Being a non-lover of MBs, if you haven't purchased them already, I urge you to ponder what about them will make things easier.

Having the plastic band on my wrist is irritating. Figuring out the perfect way to wear it so I can meet the Mickey readers correctly gets annoying. Having to either figure out what tapstiles to go towards or having to turn to meet a tapstile correctly is irritating.

I prefer a lanyard with a card!


Glad you've flipped the meals.

Newest version of the Magic Bands has a "puck" that can be removed, and worn on a lanyard.

 

[SummerPicnic]

If you can't find an early breakfast at Epcot, you might consider valet parking at The Beach Club or The Boardwalk and enter through the International Gate. The International Gate will be much less crowded.

Interesting idea, if i cant get a reservation, i had not heard of this before, would i find out more about how this works by calling those resorts?

 

[rlk]

Interesting idea, if i cant get a reservation, i had not heard of this before, would i find out more about how this works by calling those resorts?

The Internal Gate is the alternative entrance to Epcot by World Showcase. It is used by the Epcot resort guests.

 

[AnnieOakley]

The Internal Gate is the alternative entrance to Epcot by World Showcase. It is used by the Epcot resort guests.

I was going to suggest that if you are driving, perhaps you and your son could be dropped off to use that International Gateway entrance. They are very restrictive about parking there if you don't have a reservation, but they might allow you to be dropped off. Someone could park your car at Epcot parking and you could meet up after they enter at Future World. I have always wanted to enter Epcot at the Gateway in the morning...it sounds so relaxing!

 

[SummerPicnic]

I was able to get an early prepark opening breakfast ADR for Epcot using the Touring Plans reservation finder (yes!), but if that hadn't worked out I was looking at the option of trying the valet parking at Beach Club or Boardwalk and walking in thru the Int'l Gateway entrance in the morning. Assuming they'd let me do that, not sure. I know I have heard that's a no-no for non-resort guests to use regular parking at those resorts to access Epcot, but perhaps valet it's ok. I was going to call the resort and ask.

On the anxiety side, I just picked up some little things that I think will help occupy his mind away and keep hands busy - a 2x2 rubik's speed cube, worry stones, and Rory's Story cubes.

Also, (and i don't love electronics but meh) I got him an iPod touch to play music and games when needed.

 

[rlk]

I was going to suggest that if you are driving, perhaps you and your son could be dropped off to use that International Gateway entrance. They are very restrictive about parking there if you don't have a reservation, but they might allow you to be dropped off. Someone could park your car at Epcot parking and you could meet up after they enter at Future World. I have always wanted to enter Epcot at the Gateway in the morning...it sounds so relaxing!

You can pay for valet parking at an Epcot resort.

 

[DisneyOma]

If you can't find an early breakfast at Epcot, you might consider valet parking at The Beach Club or The Boardwalk and enter through the International Gate. The International Gate will be much less crowded.

You can pay for valet parking at an Epcot resort.

Yes, if you are going to the resort. But if you're not going to the resort for a meal, etc, then you are not supposed to use the parking there.

 

[WDW_Momof4]

I have a crowd-aversive son, and last year we used two strategies that both worked great. 1--IMO, only MK is worth getting there at rope drop, because of the show. So we went CRAZY early--carrying those Little Debbie mini muffins in bags for breakfast. When we got there, people were barely starting to trickle in. Bag check was fast because we were like third. Then we got right up front against the entrance and plugged him into his tablet. The crowds gathered behind us, but we were careful not to let them get in front of us, too. He remained pretty oblivious, with his noise cancelling headphones and tablet to distract. We only "woke" him when the train pulled in, watched the show, and rushed in as soon as the doors opened. Our first stop was the Customer Service desk, to get DAS (which is off to the side, and quieter), but if you don't need this, I'd get through and off Main St asap--head straight for a ride. TONS of people stop for that first photo in front of the castle, or to see the characters in the square--so if you just push through, you should avoid that overwhelming crowd feeling. I don't feel like any of the other parks are worth rope drop, so we just arrived about 30 minutes later than opening, and the crazy crowd was dispersed. Both worked fine for us. Good luck!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have a crowd-aversive son, and last year we used two strategies that both worked great. 1--IMO, only MK is worth getting there at rope drop, because of the show. So we went CRAZY early--carrying those Little Debbie mini muffins in bags for breakfast. When we got there, people were barely starting to trickle in. Bag check was fast because we were like third. Then we got right up front against the entrance and plugged him into his tablet. The crowds gathered behind us, but we were careful not to let them get in front of us, too. He remained pretty oblivious, with his noise cancelling headphones and tablet to distract. We only "woke" him when the train pulled in, watched the show, and rushed in as soon as the doors opened. Our first stop was the Customer Service desk, to get DAS (which is off to the side, and quieter), but if you don't need this, I'd get through and off Main St asap--head straight for a ride. TONS of people stop for that first photo in front of the castle, or to see the characters in the square--so if you just push through, you should avoid that overwhelming crowd feeling. I don't feel like any of the other parks are worth rope drop, so we just arrived about 30 minutes later than opening, and the crazy crowd was dispersed. Both worked fine for us. Good luck!

remember the show is now at the Castle not train station and all of Main Street up to the Castle is open up to an hour before park opening

 

[WDW_Momof4]

remember the show is now at the Castle not train station and all of Main Street up to the Castle is open up to an hour before park opening

I just googled when this started, and it was RIGHT after our last visit! I had no idea! How frustrating...planning ahead, I'd say I'll skip rope drop here in the future, then. Thanks for the info.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

See if Early Morning Magic passes are available for your travel dates. It's a bit more money but it may be worth having a few extra hours to work your way into the park. At least there will only be a couple thousand people until the regular crowds come in!