Recent Peter Pan at rope drop experiences?

[BriannaRuth]

We were there two weeks ago and did DL on non-EMH days. We arrived at security an hour to 1:15 before DL opened, so 7:45 to 8 for a 9 AM opening with DCA opening for EMH at 8. I do think we could have arrived a little later but my kids are die-hards when it comes to wanting to be first in line at the gate.

We were first in line at gate 5 twice and once first in line at a gate more towards the middle. Each time, we were also first in line at the rope. We went straight to PP each time, no running. I have bad knees and couldn't run if I tried, so I was never at the front of the line once we got to PP. Here are our results:

1st day, Wednesday - First day in the park so we had to have our photos taken, which caused a bit of a delay. But in spite of this, we were still right at the rope (barely). PP opened a little late so there was already a line all the way back to the castle exit (I think they weren't letting people enter the queue), but we decided to wait. We got on at 9:20.

2nd day, Friday - We were on PP within 10 minutes.

3rd day, Sunday - We were probably on within 5-7 minutes. We walked without stopping through most of the queue.

 

[Agent 86]

I did a 7am Magic Morning rope drop for Peter Pan in May 2016. By the time we very quickly walked to Peter Pan, the posted wait time was already 40 minutes. But, that was during the grad nights period, so that may have prompted more people to be at rope drop than normal.

 

[OneThree]

We are DL this week and based on observation PP remains a popular first stop. At the Main Street rope drop there has been a huge swath of people running towards PP during the EMH.

Crowds have been very manageable but we have yet to get on PP with wait times consistently around 40 mins.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Keep in mind that they post PP at 30 minutes before they even open. The mornings we were on within 10 minutes the posted time already said 30 when we walked up. Of course, we didn't wait anywhere near that long, but I'm sure people who weren't there pretty early did.

 

[GatorChris]

I appreciate the agreement! But I would like to clarify that I am making a more radical proposition, which is that Alice is the better ride. In other words, it's not about missing out on Peter Pan because the line is too long, it's about missing out on riding Alice. It's not worth missing Alice unless the Peter Pan line is 10 minutes or less.

Skip Peter Pan and ride Alice twice! #RideAliceTwice

I totally agree with this, though I've never thought of riding Alice first. It's just far superior dark ride. As far as FL rides go, it's the best at either American park. I wish they had it at WDW. But when we came to DL, I couldn't believe how cool it was. First, it's really long! Second, it tells the complete story. Third, it has that cool outside ramp.

A couple of cool stories. Last time we went, we were entered the outside ramp just as the Frozen float from PtN was going by. Really really cool. But my favorite time was this: when we finally got into the vehicles after being in line, the parade was going. Just as we went up the track, the float Donald Duck was on was going by. I screamed "#1 Donald!". He immediately ran to the back of the float and gave me a #1 sign. I even got it on video! Very cool moment. It just added to the magic of the Alice ride for me.

 

[Winnowill]

Alice is a walk-on first thing in the morning, especially during EMH. It's totally feasible to ride it twice in rapid succession before you'd have gotten on PP even once unless you're one of the first in line.

 

[WonkaKid]

Alice is a walk-on first thing in the morning, especially during EMH. It's totally feasible to ride it twice in rapid succession before you'd have gotten on PP even once unless you're one of the first in line.

Agreed. Here's my usual ride order on a typical 8:00 a.m. rope drop: PP, Mr. Toad (usually twice), Alice, Dumbo and then Snow White. Sometimes I'll hit Pinocchio but often I'll just head over to TL and get a FP for HSM. Then I'll do Buzz and then make for Pirates. Happy times!

 

[avalon451]

Thanks for all your input! Especially appreciate the recent experiences.

I think I'm going to go with the "head there, but ditch if it's ridiculous already" method. That was interesting to hear that they might post the wait at 30 minutes immediately, when it is not actually at 30 minutes yet.

This will be my 4th trip, but DH's only second. At our first trip, he missed Fantasyland entirely, because that morning was his turn to stay in the hotel room with our barfing oldest daughter! So I'm excited for him to experience the "old-school" Fantasyland rides. I do adore Alice, but I really love PP more. I missed it last year when I was on my solo trip in March; it was down for refurb, as was Splash Mountain.

My current FL strategy will be: PP (ditch if it's ridiculous) Matterhorn, Alice, Dumbo, Toad, Snowie, Pinocchio. Matterhorn will be slide-able depending on the line, whether both sides or open or not, or whether it's actually up and running yet (I've encountered several morning where they're slow to get going, kinda like TSMM over in CA-- it's hit or miss).

I think this is going to be on a Wednesday. I have only one day to hit CA on a non-EMH, non-weekend day (we're staying offsite) and that's Thursday. We'll probably use our MM on Saturday. If we didn't get onto PP Wednesday, then Sat. will be a second chance.

 

[Disney_Alli]

We did Peter Pan at EMH rope drop on August 18th. We were first in line at the gates but had sooo many people RUN passed us coming in to the parks we ended up waiting about 20 minutes for it. I didn't help matters forgetting which side it was on and walking about 10 feet passed the beginning of the line - by the time we retreated to the end of the line it was 30 feet longer than it had been. All in all I kinda wished we'd skipped it and ridden it at park close when we ended up doing Nemo.

 

[Imagineer5]

Just returned from 4 days at DL. We never rode Peter Pan, but attempted to on two separate mornings. First was our 7AM EMH morning - Peter Pan was down almost the entire time then of course super long waits rest of the day. The second attempt was a rope drop morning when the park opened at 9. Despite being behind about 5 rows of people (I'll admit we spent about 30 minutes of early entry time at DCA before we got in line for DL), once the rope dropped and we booked it to Peter Pan, the line had already formed through the castle (we passed it then backtracked then said forget it). The ride also did not open right away. Instead we headed for Alice which we loved.

Considering I've never waited over 5 minutes for it at WDW, with or without FP (either at Rope Drop or with FP), DL PP is not happening for us without a short wait.

 

[DLRExpert]

I would only recommend changing Dumbo to 2nd if you are riding Peter Pan 1st or 1st if you are skipping Peter Pan. Both Alice and Matterhorn are faster loading attractions. You can probably add Toad as #3 or #2 before you ride Matterhorn and Alice.

If you save Dumbo for 3rd or 4th that line will be much longer and not a walk on if it was #1 or #2.

ME

 

[Mamapapa]

is there much difference between this ride at DL and WDW? It's just my mom and I on this trip, trying to decide if it's worth the hassle since we've ridden it many times at WDW. Thanks!

 

[alvernon90]

is there much difference between this ride at DL and WDW? It's just my mom and I on this trip, trying to decide if it's worth the hassle since we've ridden it many times at WDW. Thanks!

The rides are fairly similar, not identical but fairly close. What WDW has that DL does not have is the wonderful interactive queue taking you through the Darling nursery. The queue at DL is just a plain, outdoor covered area.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I'm wondering if maybe doing PP at rope drop on a non-MM day is the way to go? As I mentioned, we did that all 3 days and really never had an issue, other than the one day it was down for the first 10 minutes. I definitely noticed more of the crowd was headed elsewhere than I was used to (we normally do MM).

 

[chickapin parterre]

..... so that non-MM would be Wednesday, and Wednesday is the best morning of the entire week. this is so because of the vacation logistics visiting folks all use to plan trips, using the weekend, three day holidays and that one day of the week that students can miss school. during my Thanksgiving and Dec visits, Wednesday mornings have always been great. but just in the morning, by 11 it is back to usual crowd flows. I have never had a PP problem at rope drop, but alas, I have no stroller, no small children, no senior citizens, no photo snapping group, just Van McCoy in the my ear

 

[WonkaKid]

... and Wednesday is the best morning of the entire week

Agreed. I've only gone Weds and Sundays for the past several years. Both seem to be ideal. No MM and Sundays it's great to get there early because the crowds don't hit till like 10:30 or so.

 

[avalon451]

..... so that non-MM would be Wednesday, and Wednesday is the best morning of the entire week. this is so because of the vacation logistics visiting folks all use to plan trips, using the weekend, three day holidays and that one day of the week that students can miss school. during my Thanksgiving and Dec visits, Wednesday mornings have always been great. but just in the morning, by 11 it is back to usual crowd flows. I have never had a PP problem at rope drop, but alas, I have no stroller, no small children, no senior citizens, no photo snapping group, just Van McCoy in the my ear

Thanks! This is what I like to hear! Wednesday is our first full day in the parks, and I'm going with the "go opposite of MM" plan. I think we'll use our one MM on Saturday-- we have a reservation at Minnie's at 9:30, so we'll hit some of the early magic the first couple of hours, then take a brunch break!

 

[IBLarsen]

I have always been a PP first thing rule follower, however, for our trip a couple weeks ago, I was floored at how much busier rope drop is than it used to be, we were 2nd row deep behind one of the ropes at rope drop and STILL had a 25 minute wait! Our magic morning we went straight to PP and ended up with a 35 min wait, and found that later in the day the line was actually shorter than it had been first thing. My husband and I said unless it looks to be 15 minutes or less first thing, it was kind of a waste of those first 30 minutes, since the line was the same all day, it was no advantage to us to follow the PP first rule, when really we could have done everything else in Fantasyland during that time.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We were there two weeks ago on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday non-MM. Sunday was the best day BY FAR. I was talking with the CM at rope drop and she said Sundays were usually the best day. She thought it was because so many people at DL are locals and they party on Saturday night and sleep in on Sundays.

That was the day we did PP with maybe a 5 minute wait after being right at the rope. We were able to do all the FL dark rides plus Mad Tea Party, Matterhorn, BTMRR, and Indy without FPs or long waits all before noon. Also rode Splash with no FP that day ... the wait may have been 20 minutes. And not having to get FP for Indy, Splash or BTMRR meant we were able to pull early FPs for Space and Star Tours as well. It was also the only day that week the parks opened at 8, which may have affected things. I don't know if that's normal for Sundays or not.

 

[avalon451]

I'm hearing Sunday mornings are the best lately. Unfortunately, we leave Saturday afternoon! Oh, well, we still have 3 full days plus more than a half day coming and going at either end. I think we'll have plenty of time to get everything in.