MK Rope Drop or Late Night

[lovndisney12]

For those who have gone during Christmas week, I need convincing / reassuring that not rope dropping one day at MK will be fine. I love the idea of actually sleeping in one morning. We will rope drop all our other days including two other days at MK. On 12/26 we are planning to head into the park about 3 PM. Are we crazy? We will Fastpass SM, wishes, and then Jingle Cruise after wishes. We have a 5:15 PM BOG dinner and then just enjoy a rare late night in the park since usually we are so tired from rope drop that by the evening we head back to the resort. I know I will second guess myself until we actually do it but would appreciate hearing other people's experiences. And I'm also worried about the park closing and not getting to our ADR. But, that would mean it would have to be a level 4 closure which it looks like has only happened once in the last five years. (We are staying on site)

(Note - this will be our third trip over Christmas so we completely understand the crowd situation which is why I'm also nervous about it. We have had excellent success with rope drop on our past trips. Our kids are now 14 and 17 so handling crowds and late nights is a lot easier.)

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Try to hit a night that happened to be an EMH morning. I'll bet that after you stay out late one night, you'll want to stay late every night. We haven't been in a park before 11 am in years and still find time to ride all of the headliners multiple times with short waits.

As you already know, guests that arrive really early will eventually tire out and leave. Guests that arrived later but without a plan will get frustrated by the crowds and also leave early. This makes late night the absolute best time of day for multiple rerides with little to no waiting.

Here's just an example of what can be accomplished on a crowd level 8 evening from 8 pm to midnight without FP+

Big Thunder 3x
Splash Mtn 2x
Space Mtn 2x
Mine Train (10 min wait right a closing time)
Pirates
Jungle Cruise
Haunted Mansion
Pooh
Peter Pan
Speedway
Barnstormer 2x

We also watched the parade and fireworks and had a couple of Dole Whips.

Just keep in mind that the posted wait times are greatly exaggerated in the evening.

 

[scrapquitler]

For those who have gone during Christmas week, I need convincing / reassuring that not rope dropping one day at MK will be fine. I love the idea of actually sleeping in one morning. We will rope drop all our other days including two other days at MK. On 12/26 we are planning to head into the park about 3 PM. Are we crazy? We will Fastpass SM, wishes, and then Jingle Cruise after wishes. We have a 5:15 PM BOG dinner and then just enjoy a rare late night in the park since usually we are so tired from rope drop that by the evening we head back to the resort. I know I will second guess myself until we actually do it but would appreciate hearing other people's experiences. And I'm also worried about the park closing and not getting to our ADR. But, that would mean it would have to be a level 4 closure which it looks like has only happened once in the last five years. (We are staying on site)

(Note - this will be our third trip over Christmas so we completely understand the crowd situation which is why I'm also nervous about it. We have had excellent success with rope drop on our past trips. Our kids are now 14 and 17 so handling crowds and late nights is a lot easier.)

I promise you, the world will NOT end if you aren't in the park at Rope Drop. We like late nights much better than Rope Drop (and we've done Christmas week) We have always had good luck getting on rides with shorter waits later at night, and we LOVE being in the park after closing, we always get an ice cream and sit near the Plaza and people watch as the park empties. For us, it's a magical moment.

 

[lovndisney12]

I promise you, the world will NOT end if you aren't in the park at Rope Drop. We like late nights much better than Rope Drop (and we've done Christmas week) We have always had good luck getting on rides with shorter waits later at night, and we LOVE being in the park after closing, we always get an ice cream and sit near the Plaza and people watch as the park empties. For us, it's a magical moment.

Certainly sounds magical! Thanks!

 

[Dr.Mickey]

What they said

I just keep thinking the horrifying thought that MK often opens at 7 during Christmas week. OMG. That means LEAVING a resort by 6 if you really want to be one of the first in the park. That would never happen in a million years with us. We could do a 9am opening, and one time (for Jedi Training only) we made an 8am EMH during spring break. But your plan of arriving at 3 w FP and Dinner already planned sounds like the clear winner to me.

 

[g-dad66]

As much as I dislike things about FP+, I have to admit that it makes possible a late arrival with the ability to still do some headliner attractions. I think you will be fine not Rope Dropping one of your MK days. In fact, I think it's a great idea for avoiding exhaustion.

As you say, the only risk is MK being filled to capacity, but when that happens it only seems to last for a couple of hours before the park is re-opened again, and I think you're right that the risk is low.

 

[MulanMom]

We've done the arrive midafternoon stay late in the park with our teens for quite a few years now for both summer and Christmas trips. It's very relaxing and our kids, as well as ourselves, love it. FPs really help. We've been at the World for two Christmases...last year Christmas through New Year's...and never were turned away from the park we wanted to go to. Try it for a day! Enjoy sleeping in!!!;-)

 

[Minniekins]

We are all about late night in the parks! I don't think we've ever done rope drop. We had to go early for the KTTK tour, that was definitely hard for us. We are definitely more night owls than early birds. We have the Marceline to Magic tour planned for Dec and it's even earlier than the KTTK tour, yikes! But, we love the nights and definitely feel we can get rides in pretty easy as the night goes and people who've been there all day start to head out. Just something magical and beautiful about being in the parks at night, love it! And, evenings in the parks during Christmas season is our most favorite!

 

[lovndisney12]

Thanks everyone! You are all making me feel better about our non rope drop day!

 

[Spork24]

I've never been Christmas week, but I have been on a capacity day during spring break, and nights are the best. We often try to rope drop and head to the room around lunch so we can stay out late. It wears you out, but it's so much fun. I doubt I could do that for 7 or 8am rope drops though.

 

[Nanaji]

I'll just add an opposing view for what it's worth. I have to really budget to go to WDW each year. I don't feel it's a vacation for sleeping in. I can do that at home on my days off. Each to her own! I have always done EMH and RD. I love the park in the morning. I don't have anyone else to prod out of bed, however. If I did I would be going to the parks by myself, I guess! I get to ride all the headliners a couple of times and have a funnel cake and coffee while looking at the castle.
I stay late too. I love the nights at MK especially. I ride many many of my favourites then too. I leave the park(s) around 11 am and return around 4 pm. This has worked for me for the last four trips. I just can't waste one single minute in bed while the magic awaits. I think a beach vacation is the place for that.
The good thing is ,whatever you choose do at Disney World you will have a wonderful time! Next time I'd like to try going a little later, wait, nope, it just wouldn't happen.

 

[lovndisney12]

I'll just add an opposing view for what it's worth. I have to really budget to go to WDW each year. I don't feel it's a vacation for sleeping in. I can do that at home on my days off. Each to her own! I have always done EMH and RD. I love the park in the morning. I don't have anyone else to prod out of bed, however. If I did I would be going to the parks by myself, I guess! I get to ride all the headliners a couple of times and have a funnel cake and coffee while looking at the castle.
I stay late too. I love the nights at MK especially. I ride many many of my favourites then too. I leave the park(s) around 11 am and return around 4 pm. This has worked for me for the last four trips. I just can't waste one single minute in bed while the magic awaits. I think a beach vacation is the place for that.
The good thing is ,whatever you choose do at Disney World you will have a wonderful time! Next time I'd like to try going a little later, wait, nope, it just wouldn't happen.

We too love the mornings but figured we wanted to switch things up for one day. I completely understand the "Next time I'd like to try going a little later, wait, nope, it just wouldn't happen." I think I'm actually going to make it happen this time - after all - as one PP stated - "the world will not end" if we aren't at rope drop that one day! Really appreciate everyone's feedback and views!

 

[Quellman]

(Note - this will be our third trip over Christmas so we completely understand the crowd situation which is why I'm also nervous about it. We have had excellent success with rope drop on our past trips. Our kids are now 14 and 17 so handling crowds and late nights is a lot easier.)

Don't worry about rope drop. You have been to Disney before. Relax and enjoy your vacation.