Peter Pan at rope drop

[Winnowill]

Just FYI, PP is often posted as 30 minutes right at park opening. However, that's really for the benefit of those who are coming up to it two minutes after rope drop. If you're within the first 100 or so people in line, go ahead and get in the queue. Otherwise, save it till later - the line gets longer, but it generally maxes out at around 50 minutes. So, when all the other attractions in the park also have 50-minute lines, PP is a good option.

 

[WonkaKid]

Would anyone disagree with this? I'm really on the fence about it!

What you say makes sense. However, we rope-drop PP and are often first.

@WonkaKid thanks! What time do you arrive at the park for rope drop to make sure you get there first?

For an 8:00 opening, which is typical for a Sunday, usually around 6:40 or so. That will usually allow you to make the front of one of the entrance gates. Then you walk as fast as you can to the right rope. That’s usually around 7:48. Once the park opens, go straight for PP. There are almost always runners (I.E. cheaters). Often if I hear someone running up behind me, I’ll move to block them. Some people will try to cut in front of you in the last 20 feet or so. CMs will ask guests not to run. But virtually none of them listen. All CMs are empowered to do is ask guests not to run, it seems.

Once in a while, I’ll see full-on sprinters. About eight months ago, a father ran at absolute top speed to be first. Then what usually happens is a family of 15 join the runner at the front of the line. In effect, it’s like they all ran.

 

[RainyDayPixie]

I’ve found it’s nearly impossible to do PP first if you have any children with you. They simply can’t walk faster than adults around them. Truly impossible with a stroller!

I haven’t been on it in years as a result!

 

[WonkaKid]

I’ve found it’s nearly impossible to do PP first if you have any children with you. They simply can’t walk faster than adults around them. Truly impossible with a stroller!

I haven’t been on it in years as a result!

That makes sense. What we did about a year ago was we began to chat with two moms behind us at the park gates. Both had children/strollers. They wanted to go to PP so I suggested that they both go for it but once nearly there, one of them should take and park both strollers while the other got in line. Worked out well for them. As I recall, they were within the first ten people in line. But again, totally get where you're coming from. Never hurts to talk to fellow Disney/Peter Pan-bound folk in the morning shortly before the park opens. We've often gone out of our way to help when and where we can. In fact, we used to run into a very nice lady with two ten-year-old twin daughters. They were very sweet. After seeing them for the third or fourth time on as many Sundays, she told us they were going to PP. We helped them to be the first on the ride. As I've said in this thread and others, I love kids and will help families with children when and where I can.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

I don't need the stress of trying to be one of the first at the gate and in line for PP at rope drop anymore, so I just save it for later in the day. The wait time always seemed to hover around 30 minutes, even on really busy days, so at some point I decided to just get in line and wait. I actually got in line at about 11:50 pm and rode it after the park closed. It was the last ride of my trip, it felt special.

 

[WonkaKid]

... I actually got in line at about 11:50 pm and rode it after the park closed. It was the last ride of my trip, it felt special.

Nice work! I’ve always heard that if a guest is in line for an attraction before closing time, they’ll be allowed to ride it even if their ride time is well after the park closes.

 

[loloandstitch]

I don't need the stress of trying to be one of the first at the gate and in line for PP at rope drop anymore, so I just save it for later in the day. The wait time always seemed to hover around 30 minutes, even on really busy days, so at some point I decided to just get in line and wait. I actually got in line at about 11:50 pm and rode it after the park closed. It was the last ride of my trip, it felt special.

I totally agree. We always save it for later in the evening and it has never been more than 40 minutes save for really crowded days. We went right after fireworks three weeks ago and the posted wait time was 35, in actuality it took about 25 minutes. It can seem long, but there are many instances in which we have gone post-nighttime entertainment and it goes by quicker or at least seems to go by quicker.

 

[avalovesminnie]

In October we were second in line at the gates for a Saturday early entry. I think we arrived at like 6:20 for a 7am entry. I run half marathons and hike large hills for fun but the speed walkers had our family well beaten... it was amazing how fast people move! We did have a 8, 6 and 4 year old in a stroller though and I quickly parked the stroller and joined the fam. It took maybe 5 minutes to get on. For us I would never do that again, way too stressful and not worth it in my opinion. It was awesome doing the magic morning but the stress of getting to Peter Pan was not worth it.

 

[agamble]

Not to hijack, but I've been trying to come up with a strategy for our first trip in a few weeks. My initial thought was to do Peter Pan first thing during Morning Magic, however I've been reading Disneyland Daily and this is her logic:

"Save Peter Pan’s Flight for a time later in the day. Even if you go directly to Peter Pan at park opening, you will most likely wait an hour to ride it. Why? Everyone else goes there first. The attraction is slow loading. It’s just not the smartest way to start your day.

Save that hour wait for late afternoon or evening – not in the mid-day sun – but later on after you get other things done. You’ll wait the same amount of time as you would if you went there first thing. But, that first hour is so valuable – use it to do so much more.

Also, setting the tone of the day with an hour long wait at Peter Pan can work against you. Kids want to wait in line even less than you do. Show them that they’re going to move through the park in a fun way, riding several rides to kick off the day, rather than getting stuck in one place upon arrival.

If you watch fireworks from behind the castle – near Dumbo – you can jump in a line that forms near Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride that will lead guests to Peter Pan when this part of Fantasyland reopens after fireworks. Getting in this line will result in waiting only 5-10 minutes for the attraction. If you’re planning on being in the park late, I recommend this."

Would anyone disagree with this? I'm really on the fence about it!

I agree with DisneyDaily mostly. If you can't be on in 15 min it may not be worth it. The line is seriously 40 min or longer within minutes. We generally go to Alice first and then Dumbo. I like to switch between inside and outside rides. We can ride nearly everything in the heart of Fantasyland in the first hour the park is open. If you wait for Peter Pan you could waste most of that first hour on one ride.

 

[EmJ]

I agree with DisneyDaily mostly. If you can't be on in 15 min it may not be worth it. The line is seriously 40 min or longer within minutes. We generally go to Alice first and then Dumbo. I like to switch between inside and outside rides. We can ride nearly everything in the heart of Fantasyland in the first hour the park is open. If you wait for Peter Pan you could waste most of that first hour on one ride.

I’ve been following along with interest, and wondered if Peter Pan is better first thing on a Magic Morning hour? Would that be the better use of that early morning, or no?

 

[agamble]

I’ve been following along with interest, and wondered if Peter Pan is better first thing on a Magic Morning hour? Would that be the better use of that early morning, or no?

Really it is about the same people rush to that ride in droves. Just depends how fast you are. If you can be on in 15 mins or so go for it. If the line looks long it is and I would skip it. We have 3 kids so getting to Peter Pan fast is hard. If you are just adults or older kids it may be easier.

 

[EmJ]

Really it is about the same people rush to that ride in droves. Just depends how fast you are. If you can be on in 15 mins or so go for it. If the line looks long it is and I would skip it. We have 3 kids so getting to Peter Pan fast is hard. If you are just adults or older kids it may be easier.

Thanks! We are two parents and a five year old. If Dad took Kid to the ride and I parked the stroller, would that work? How convenient is stroller parking to Pan?

 

[agamble]

Thanks! We are two parents and a five year old. If Dad took Kid to the ride and I parked the stroller, would that work? How convenient is stroller parking to Pan?

I say give it a try. Just be willing to change up your plan if the line is long. Don't be one of those people who gets in the 40 min line when everything else is a walk on. They just made some changes to stroller areas and we haven't been since June, but you can definitely park it at the carousel if there isn't space in front of the ride. That is also a convenient place to leave it as you explore all of Fantasyland and then come back before going to the next land.

 

[WonkaKid]

For us I would never do that again, way too stressful and not worth it in my opinion.

I hear you on that. A friend that meets me every Sunday at the park says that his anxiety begins to climb around 7:30 and continues to increase until he exits PP (after being in at least the first five to ride it). Then he breathes a sigh of relief and says that he can now enjoy the rest of the day since he's started it well.

 

[HydroGuy]

Peter Pan is way easier to ride without high stress if you are there on a day when they hold everyone at the turnstiles until park opening rather than letting folks into Main Street pre-opening and holding them at ropes. @WonkaKid sounds like a true expert on this. It seems like when DL has a 7AM MM/EMH, they usually hold folks at the turnstiles. Then, if you are near the front of the queue, you get into the park with only a handful of others. Yes, you need to walk with purpose to PP but it is not that hard in my experience to be onto PP quickly. I have done PP from the Main Street rope and that can be a tough and stressful competition, I agree.

Lately when has an 8AM opening and no EMH/MM, are they usually letting folks in pre-opening, or holding them outside? That is useful to know if they have a pattern.

 

[disneylover102]

Thank you so much for the tips! This morning we were let in at about 8:30 and held at the end of Main Street. The pathway to the right of the castle was open and we were the first on the ride! It was very amazing to walk through the Peter Pan queue!

 

[WonkaKid]

Lately when has an 8AM opening and no EMH/MM, are they usually letting folks in pre-opening, or holding them outside? That is useful to know if they have a pattern.

I haven’t been held outside of the gates at opening in a long time. It’s probably been at least well over a year. I’m usually at the park on Sundays mornings and then about one Wednesday per month. It’s been rope drops for quite some time now.