Rope drop advice

[Cloften]

We are headed for a 4 night trip in mid-June. Got an opportunity for a paid business trip and able to add some days and bring my wife and 6 year old daughter. We go about every 3 years, but this is a bonus trip and different for us. First because we have never gone during the summer. Only winter when crowds supposedly are lower (but didn’t feel it January 2016). Also because our older daughters (17 and 20)can’t make it.

Anyway, we have 3 park days planned. We are experienced rope drop people and always have a detailed touring plan. I’m confident about everything except what to expect at RD. We’ve always taken a bus 1 hour before park open, arrive about 45 minutes before RD and always near enough to front to do whatever we want. So...

1. Is getting to Parks 45 min early good enough for summer?

2. Day one is HS. We want to sign up for Jedi training (never done this before. Last time our older kids did it you showed up and hoped you got picked)and hit TSMM first thing. After signup can you get back in the pack close enough to not be huge wait? Will all 3 tracks be opened by June 13?

3. Day 2 is mk. We have 8:00 bog reservation. It seems like it is always changing if they let you on 7DMT before 9. I’ve seen different reports lately. Anyone know the latest?

4. Day 3 is ak. And as most of you know is emh every day. We have never done an emh morning. Always avoided those parks. Can’t this trip now. We have FoP FastPass for 6:35 pm. Would love to also ropedrop as well. How early on an emh day do you have to be for that?

Sorry for all the questions but any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Robo]

1. Is getting to Parks 45 min early good enough for summer?

2. Day one is HS. We want to sign up for Jedi training (never done this before. Last time our older kids did it you showed up and hoped you got picked)and hit TSMM first thing.
2a. After signup can you get back in the pack close enough to not be huge wait?
2b. Will all 3 tracks be opened by June 13?

3. Day 2 is mk. We have 8:00 bog reservation. It seems like it is always changing if they let you on 7DMT before 9. I’ve seen different reports lately. Anyone know the latest?

4. Day 3 is ak. And as most of you know is emh every day. We have never done an emh morning. Always avoided those parks. Can’t this trip now. We have FoP FastPass for 6:35 pm. Would love to also ropedrop as well. How early on an emh day do you have to be for that?

1. The problem is, most guests (including me) cannot actually control exactly WHEN they will be able to get to any given place due to the uncertainties of travel times, etc. So, I'd plan on "an hour before" just in case.
2a. Likely.
2b. Maybe.
3. Maybe. Because, what happens on Tuesday may not happen on Thursday... much less, be predictable across the months.
4. See #1.

Sorry that I couldn't answer. "for sure" but many of your questions lie in the "could be" region.
In general at WDW, arriving far too early beats arriving one minute too late.
Have fun!

 

[twolittletinkerbells]

We are headed for a 4 night trip in mid-June. Got an opportunity for a paid business trip and able to add some days and bring my wife and 6 year old daughter. We go about every 3 years, but this is a bonus trip and different for us. First because we have never gone during the summer. Only winter when crowds supposedly are lower (but didn’t feel it January 2016). Also because our older daughters (17 and 20)can’t make it.

Anyway, we have 3 park days planned. We are experienced rope drop people and always have a detailed touring plan. I’m confident about everything except what to expect at RD. We’ve always taken a bus 1 hour before park open, arrive about 45 minutes before RD and always near enough to front to do whatever we want. So...

1. Is getting to Parks 45 min early good enough for summer?

2. Day one is HS. We want to sign up for Jedi training (never done this before. Last time our older kids did it you showed up and hoped you got picked)and hit TSMM first thing. After signup can you get back in the pack close enough to not be huge wait? Will all 3 tracks be opened by June 13?

3. Day 2 is mk. We have 8:00 bog reservation. It seems like it is always changing if they let you on 7DMT before 9. I’ve seen different reports lately. Anyone know the latest?

4. Day 3 is ak. And as most of you know is emh every day. We have never done an emh morning. Always avoided those parks. Can’t this trip now. We have FoP FastPass for 6:35 pm. Would love to also ropedrop as well. How early on an emh day do you have to be for that?

Sorry for all the questions but any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Im assuming off-site? And is it 13, 14, and 15th?

1. Projections are for low to mod attendance, so I think so except for AK.
2. Guessing 20-30 min wait if you DIDNT stop to sign up and go out of your way.
3.No idea on this.
4. Ropedrop not useful much here if off site. Especially if you were planning Pandora area first as you will be hours behind the crowd.

Im going around this time. 14, 15, 16, and 17th. With the 17th (Fathers Day) projected as a 3 at MK, hope it holds true. Last year shows it was really low attendance as well.

 

[wfjny]

Ah, June, one of the 12 busiest months of the year at Disney.

So, keep in mind, June does ramp up fast. Schools start ending around Memorial Day, and pretty much the entire country is done by the end of June. There is a huge IT conference in Orlando starting June 10th, and many of the IT folks I know in the Carolina's will be planning the same thing you are.

Having said that, IMHO, Rope drop is always the way to go.

In the past couple of years, they have doubled the number of spots available for Jedi Training. Getting there in time for RD should be just fine to sign up.

If I may recommend, especially if you are not up for the summer heat, and since this is a bonus trip, consider going early, and then returning to the hotel mid afternoon for a little while. Then head back out a little later when the park is a little cooler. We have AP and go quite often. Personally, I like to return to the room, shower, and head back out later when i no longer have to take a bath in sunscreen first.

Have a great time!

 

[Cloften]

Im assuming off-site? And is it 13, 14, and 15th?

1. Projections are for low to mod attendance, so I think so except for AK.
2. Guessing 20-30 min wait if you DIDNT stop to sign up and go out of your way.
3.No idea on this.
4. Ropedrop not useful much here if off site. Especially if you were planning Pandora area first as you will be hours behind the crowd.

Im going around this time. 14, 15, 16, and 17th. With the 17th (Fathers Day) projected as a 3 at MK, hope it holds true. Last year shows it was really low attendance as well.

We are onsite. Moving to the work conference Saturday. Staying at all star movies. Last four trips have all been pop. So we are going to do emh. Probably going to play it by ear when we get to ak. Back to back late nights. We are resting during the day but baby girl still may be too tired for a 6:45 bus to ak. If we are later we will rope drop to Na’vi and just do FoP once.

We are planning on hs day for me and DD to sign up and my wife stay with the mob. Maybe the mob will let us catch up. Or maybe they will be the mob.

Leaning toward keeping the bog reservation. Our alternative is rope drop adventure land. We have fp for Peter Pan and 7DMT if that’s the plan. If we keep bog, we will switch the fp

 

[twolittletinkerbells]

We are onsite. Moving to the work conference Saturday. Staying at all star movies. Last four trips have all been pop. So we are going to do emh. Probably going to play it by ear when we get to ak. Back to back late nights. We are resting during the day but baby girl still may be too tired for a 6:45 bus to ak. If we are later we will rope drop to Na’vi and just do FoP once.

We are planning on hs day for me and DD to sign up and my wife stay with the mob. Maybe the mob will let us catch up. Or maybe they will be the mob.

Leaning toward keeping the bog reservation. Our alternative is rope drop adventure land. We have fp for Peter Pan and 7DMT if that’s the plan. If we keep bog, we will switch the fp

Thats great. Then scratch my #4. Rope drop will be helpful. Sounds like a great plan. Hope yall have a magical time!