Rope drop pros and cons...

[Tink_83]

So this trip I'm traveling with my mother, brother, 2 sisters and daughter (4), and have been planning on trying to make rope drop because we are just doing a quick 2 day trip (day 1 Epcot 8 am adr at gg; day 2 MK rope drop). That said we are not really morning people and some members of my party (DB) have started to balk at waking up early on vacation. To the point of scheduling a teleconference tonight with the adults that are going so we can discuss this. I guess i already know the pros so maybe I'm looking for people who are not morning people and have tried this to weigh in. Was it just not worth it especially if you typically go to bed at midnight or later?

I'm considering telling everyone that DD and I will head in for rope drop and they can meet up with us when they aren't ready but at home DD sleeps in until 8 am and that is when we would be in transit to the park plus she will stay up to close the MK down... literally up till 11:30 last year...

 

[Dashzap]

We split up. Teen boys sleep in and skip rope drop. There's no point in making someone miserable on vacation.

I always do rope drop because less heat, less people, and I can't sleep at Disney anyway.

Also, it stinks to be ready for rope drop and have to wait for someone who is "almost ready" "just one more minute" and then once in the park insists on stopping for breakfast instead of heading for a ride.

 

[danielocha30]

if you're staying on property, split, I'm 100% with you on doing rope drop, but don't make anyone who doesn't want to go, and do not change your plans because you will resent it the whole trip, let whoever wants to stay to sleep in, nowadays everyone have a cell phone, you can choose a meeting place as soon as the perdon is ready to get to the parks.

If you are not staying on property for this reason consider it, the freedom you get with Disney transportation have save many vacations, good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Tink_83]

if you're staying on property, split, I'm 100% with you on doing rope drop, but don't make anyone who doesn't want to go, and do not change your plans because you will resent it the whole trip, let whoever wants to stay to sleep in, nowadays everyone have a cell phone, you can choose a meeting place as soon as the perdon is ready to get to the parks.

If you are not staying on property for this reason consider it, the freedom you get with Disney transportation have save many vacations, good luck and have a great trip!

We are staying at the whyndam bonnet creek but will have at least 2 cars so splitting up is not an issue... which I believe will be my suggestion to the group tonight. I really want to try rope drop once to see what it's like.

 

[BaymaxForever]

Like the t-shirt says....'I'm only a morning person at Disney!' It's my motto! But the cooler temps and jump on the crowds really does pay off, but if the rest of the group can't be convinced, I'd split up and let them meet you later in the park.
On my big family trip (10 ppl) several years ago we didn't get the parks until around 10 and by then everything was getting busy and overwhelming. On my next trip, I made sure to prep my family and friends that we were gonna do rope drop and take a mid-day break and the bravely said 'okayyy...' The family that went with with said 'we're doing what you're doing' (so blessed!) We all ended up agreeing that it was the best and worth the early mornings in the end, esp for the cost of a WDW vacay!
Good luck tonight!

 

[srwarden1928]

Like the t-shirt says....'I'm only a morning person at Disney!'

I am so much NOT a morning person it isn't funny. If I see 5 am at home it is likely because I haven't gone to bed yet. I usually get up between 10 and noon, except on Sundays when I try for 9 and don't let myself sleep past 9:30. When I go to Disney, I am a ROPE DROP person. You can get so much done and seen early in the parks. Depending on when you go, waiting until 10 or so to get to MK can give you an oppressive crowd to get through before you even get to the gate. The other parks can get crowded also, but I believe that MK is the worst at 10 or 1030 am. Even though I stay up quite late and sleep late most of the time, it is well worth getting up early to do WDW. At least it is if you consider experiencing most of the attractions in a park a successful day, which I do. Now I don't do an out of the park break, but that is my preference. I just get much less stressed by the slowing down that midday crowds cause when I already have so many attractions completed before the crowds got there.

 

[Tink_83]

I think I manged to convince them that rope drop is a goal worth going for! But we were on the phone for a good hour discussing the plans (to which I said they should have raised these issues BEFORE fast pass reservations were made and long before we got into the 21 day count down)!

 

[Moxiepup]

I am NOT a morning person, but I am also not a person who likes heat, crowds and standing in long lines. We rope dropped every day on our vacation last week and it was totally worth it. On Tuesday, 4/25, we practically walked onto Peter Pan's flight, then did Winnie the Pooh, utilized our 9:20 FP for 7 Dwarves Mine Train, did Small World and were halfway through the line for Haunted Mansion all before 10am. On the day we did Animal Kingdom, we did Dinosaur, Expedition Everest and the Safari before EMH were over. A good plan for rope drop can shave hours off the time you will spend waiting in lines later in the day. It is amazing how quickly your body will adjust to a new schedule when you are going all day long.

 

[powellrj]

We use to be morning rope drop people, but as we have gotten older and have spent more time at the parks, rope drop isn't important to us. I would tell people what the plans are and let them go if they want to.

 

[RustManFan]

I will either go alone or have to drag my adult DS up earlier than he is used to. But I think once he does it one day he will see the advantages!!

 

[Moushe]

IMO Rope drop is a con if you are not a morning person. We always rope drop because our kids are little and wake up at the crack of dawn so it works for us. As they get older if they all of a sudden are no longer early birds, then we will change our touring strategy accordingly.

If your brother is very anti waking up early on vacation and its going to make him miserable for the whole day, then he may just want to sleep in and join the group later.

 

[Tink_83]

IMO Rope drop is a con if you are not a morning person. We always rope drop because our kids are little and wake up at the crack of dawn so it works for us. As they get older if they all of a sudden are no longer early birds, then we will change our touring strategy accordingly.

If your brother is very anti waking up early on vacation and its going to make him miserable for the whole day, then he may just want to sleep in and join the group later.

That was one of the arguments against rope drop, even my 4 year old sleeps in (her normal wake up time is 8 to 8:30; sometimes later)... so there has been a concerned raised that if the only morning person is our Mom (who will have to be the first up for a shower) then I may be pushing us to do something that might not be that enjoyable... oh and we will stay through fireworks and probably a ride after that and no afternoon nap. We don't nap in our family (maybe DD but that will be in the stroller)... we are night owls though. Last night I finished updates to the touring plans at 1 am and my brother called and we talked until 1:45... so I wouldn't put us in the early to bed early to rise crowd at all

 

[Lmans77]

I am so much NOT a morning person it isn't funny. If I see 5 am at home it is likely because I haven't gone to bed yet. I usually get up between 10 and noon, except on Sundays when I try for 9 and don't let myself sleep past 9:30. When I go to Disney, I am a ROPE DROP person. You can get so much done and seen early in the parks. Depending on when you go, waiting until 10 or so to get to MK can give you an oppressive crowd to get through before you even get to the gate. The other parks can get crowded also, but I believe that MK is the worst at 10 or 1030 am. Even though I stay up quite late and sleep late most of the time, it is well worth getting up early to do WDW. At least it is if you consider experiencing most of the attractions in a park a successful day, which I do. Now I don't do an out of the park break, but that is my preference. I just get much less stressed by the slowing down that midday crowds cause when I already have so many attractions completed before the crowds got there.

This is so me too. I LOVE to sleep in , but not a Disney because the pain of getting up at the crack is the worth the reward of hardly any lines that first hour.

 

[pktbMouse]

we used to do rope drop when the boys were young...try getting a teenager out of bed now before 11am on vacation...near impossibility..lol we dont mind we have went from rope droppers to night owls. Love that amazing special time 11pm - 2am.

 

[Topher99]

Pardon my newness......but what is so special about rope drop?

 

[DisTXMom]

The first hour the park is open is just so much more manageable than the rest of the day. I think you'd regret it if you didn't have that touring time. I'd split up before I'd miss rope drop myself.

 

[KKB]

We ALL love to sleep late here--only DH is a morning person. But they saw the value of cooler temps & lighter crowds, they are ALL FOR it now.

 

[CMByers]

So this trip I'm traveling with my mother, brother, 2 sisters and daughter (4), and have been planning on trying to make rope drop because we are just doing a quick 2 day trip (day 1 Epcot 8 am adr at gg; day 2 MK rope drop). That said we are not really morning people and some members of my party (DB) have started to balk at waking up early on vacation. To the point of scheduling a teleconference tonight with the adults that are going so we can discuss this. I guess i already know the pros so maybe I'm looking for people who are not morning people and have tried this to weigh in. Was it just not worth it especially if you typically go to bed at midnight or later?

I'm considering telling everyone that DD and I will head in for rope drop and they can meet up with us when they aren't ready but at home DD sleeps in until 8 am and that is when we would be in transit to the park plus she will stay up to close the MK down... literally up till 11:30 last year...

I think that splitting up some and doing the hours/attractions that you want is not a bad idea at all.... that is what we do. When my entire family goes, we get along so much better when we do not stay right on top of each other the whole time. We always do a good bit together and schedule most of our meals and big deal rides together, but we all like different things so we don't always stay together. If I had to try and get my parents or my sister to rope drop, they would be ill as hornets. If I missed rope drop, I would be sad and feel like I was missing out. We really enjoy ourselves so much better not staying right on top of each other every hour of the day. And by the way - I am not a morning person at home. I hit the snooze 4 o r 5 times a morning! But at Disney - I'm raring to go at 6am like a kid at Christmas!!!

 

[Tink_83]

My brother seems to think he is missing out if we go and do rope drop and he doesn't... no clue why because he will have his own car and I'm going to encourage him to sleep in if he wants to but there was a vote and most of us wanted to get up early (I abstained and it was still 3 to 1 so basically it was my brother wanting to sleep in)... all I can do is tell him my plans and encourage him to do what he wants to do. He's an adult so it's up to him!

 

[BaymaxForever]

Lol, he is missing out! On cooler temps and lower waits (and family time...). I agree, at least try it once and see how it works for you all. Have a great trip!