Nitty Gritty MK Rope Drop Qs

[Hatbox]

Starbucks first thing in the morning on Main St. is a PAIN. Unless you are really there early enough to be in the line INSIDE the store - I'd not plan that. And don't compare it to the morning rush at your local Starbucks. With kids in tow and non-regulars in line - folks can't order and pay as quickly as they may do at your local haunt - and it's typically multiple drinks per order - so it just takes a lot longer than you might expect.

Noted. I'm going to plan to be there when Main St opens and head straight to Starbucks. If it's bananas, I'll execute Plan B: Joffreys. Does anybody else on Main St sell iced coffee?

 

[brockash]

Rope dropping MK for the very first time, but the magic word of this trip is "low-key". We want to take time to get Starbucks and shop and take in Main Street - and not get into position in the hub until just before the welcome show. I made a bunch of possible touring plans from there (most starting with Peter Pan), but they all hinge on a few rope dropping details I can't guess at:

- If I rope drop Peter Pan:

• If we are at the back of the pack for Peter Pan - does that defeat the purpose? Am I going to get a 30-40 minute wait anyway? (Touring Plans estimates a crowd level of 4 this day).
  
• Some people say the fastest route is through the castle. Some say it's over the Liberty Sq bridge. Thoughts?
  
• How does cast member walking work on the bridge? Is there a dedicated CM to guide guests to Peter Pan along the side path? Or do you just splinter off on your own?

- If I rope drop Pirates: I know it's unnecessary, but this sounds like the least nail-biting way to start the day (fewer people, no worries about the Peter Pan line, just carefree!).

• Are there cast members walking you to Pirates, too, or do they only do that for 7DMT and PP etc?
• We'd start with Pirates and then move on to Splash, assuming both would be walk-ons, and then HM. ....Is that totally nuts? Like, a foolish waste of time?

In our experience, while it looks like going through the castle will take longer, it doesn't. Going through Liberty Square did. Its really not that bad since 7DMT opened.

 

[kalynn]

I have never rope dropped Peter Pan, I always do Pirates. It's so nice. Cast Members walk you to Pirates and you get on so quick. After Pirates I did Big Thunder, Splash, back to Magic Carpets, then Jungle Cruise, and the Haunted Mansion, all with little to no wait.

Brilliant. I think we will try this on our 2nd day at MK.

 

[married2mm]

Our very first trip-purely by chance as we had no idea what to expect nor knew what we were doing
Our very first ride was pirates & we continued this tradition for years.

 

[leebee]

We're going the last Sunday in August. It's my husband's second trip and he ha-aaated it the first time. So I'm trying to change his mind this time by not being a total commando, not jamming in every attraction, and taking more time for Signature dinners and relaxed exploring. (But behind the scenes I'm of course planning every minute like a freak so that I can do everything *I* want to do while acting like there's not a stopwatch running in my head).

We're planning on being in MK on the last Sunday in August, too!

 

[Hatbox]

Our very first trip-purely by chance as we had no idea what to expect nor knew what we were doing
Our very first ride was pirates & we continued this tradition for years.

I love that. My dad always started with Jungle Cruise and, while I want to try making my own plan, I like the continuity of at least starting in Adventureland.

 

[Hatbox]

We're planning on being in MK on the last Sunday in August, too!

I'll be the guy rope dropping Adventureland with Starbucks in my hand

 

[TinkSassy]

I have waited longer for a Starbucks than to get on Space Mountain! I would do Adventureland but if Starbucks is important - be there at 7:45am and look at that as your RD. If you have an EMM event - forget RD into FL you will have lines before you get back there for PP and 7DMT.

 

[Euby]

His first trip was with my family and they do not vacation (or live) the way we do, but insisted on doing everything together. And we were newlyweds then so he was on his best behavior the whole time, which takes a real psychological toll when it's 95 degrees and you just want to punch your new sister-in-law in the face outside the Canada pavilion! Add to that not growing up with any Disney and, like, I totally get why he had a miserable time.

So every aspect of this trip is focused on making him want to come back with our children (because he knows it's happening anyway!).

Was it the fact that he couldn't escape the in-laws that drove him nuts? Or was it that it felt that his trip was being dictated to him? While I know it goes against everything that most people seem to do, I do not do rope drop. I utilize the FP+ and just roll with what's available after the initial 3 are used up. I also allow 2 days for Magic Kingdom. For me it adds too much stress to rope drop. I usually get to the park within the first hour after eating a full breakfast, and then can take my time to enjoy the rest of the day. Full disclosure though, I have been a few times. I'm able to ride what I want and seldomly stand in any line longer than 30 mins.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

My husband hated DW his first trip too. It was very overwhelming for him. It’s slowly grown on him. He went from complaining about everything to now wearing a tiki magic band. And I always RD PPF as well, to see that queue. We usually FP it as well though, it’s one of my faves. And going in August, you’re gonna wanna RD as much as possible, then maybe take breaks in the sweltering heat of the afternoon. Tour in the cooler mornings and evenings. That may help keep DH happy too.

 

[crazedprincess]

Thank you for this thread! I keep forgetting that they let people in at 8 am to Main Street for a 9 am open. Right?!?!?! We are going in August too, so we want to take advantage of RD before the heat of the day.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I keep forgetting that they let people in at 8 am to Main Street for a 9 am open. Right?!?!?!

Correct

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

We're going the last Sunday in August. It's my husband's second trip and he ha-aaated it the first time. So I'm trying to change his mind this time by not being a total commando, not jamming in every attraction, and taking more time for Signature dinners and relaxed exploring. (But behind the scenes I'm of course planning every minute like a freak so that I can do everything *I* want to do while acting like there's not a stopwatch running in my head).

This is totally me for this upcoming trip.
We need our own support group

 

[Hatbox]

My husband hated DW his first trip too. It was very overwhelming for him. It’s slowly grown on him. He went from complaining about everything to now wearing a tiki magic band....And going in August, you’re gonna wanna RD as much as possible, then maybe take breaks in the sweltering heat of the afternoon. Tour in the cooler mornings and evenings. That may help keep DH happy too.

Conversion to a Tiki magicband is my new goal! I've planned to be out of the parks every day 1-5pm - with wiggle room on either end, too. We're not warm weather people...

Was it the fact that he couldn't escape the in-laws that drove him nuts? Or was it that it felt that his trip was being dictated to him? While I know it goes against everything that most people seem to do, I do not do rope drop. I utilize the FP+ and just roll with what's available after the initial 3 are used up. I also allow 2 days for Magic Kingdom. For me it adds too much stress to rope drop.

It was largely being glued to his in-laws (they are not easy to get along with!) coupled with being in a huge crowd in terrible heat. He's also just a steel coaster kinda guy. His reaction to Pirates of the Caribbean? "That's it? You just... ride through it?" Meanwhile, my 28 year-old sister had stormed off because I didn't warn her about "the drop"

I've never rope dropped before (hence all the questions!), but I do want to experience it once before we have a baby dictating our plans. And the Welcome Show just looks like such a cute way to start the day!