Rope Drop vs Close the Park Down

[ariane37]

We've always done mostly RD with a couple late nights thrown in, just because I've felt we can get so much done in those first couple hours. However now that DS's are older it's much harder to get them up early lol, and I'm really only a morning person when at WDW! And even then it's sometimes difficult for me to get up So I promised the boys that for our Nov. trip we'd only do 2 RD mornings and close the parks the other nights, which makes me a bit nervous since it's Thanksgiving week. But hey, it's what they want to do! I do love closing down MK and slowly walking through WS after Illuminations, even though you can't do anything. We'll see how it goes! If after a couple late nights they feel they aren't getting on enough rides we'll just switch back to RD

 

[tndisneyfan]

We used to be dedicated sleep in and do late night but we have converted to being rope droppers.

Back when we did late night, we would sleep in and then go to whatever park was having evening EMH. At that time nearly every night had an evening EMH somewhere and it lasted three hours instead of two. Even though we enjoyed it, we found the parks to be busy in the evening. We were never able to just walk on rides and have the really short wait times that I had read about. Most parks would stay packed until closing time, with the exception of MK that would clear out very late. That was our experience, though I'm sure many people have had better experiences. My theory is it's not too much trouble for most people to stay up to 11 or 12, which is closing time for EMH at most parks other than MK.

We started doing rope drop because DS wanted to see all the opening shows. We found that we could do more in the first three hours that the park was open than we could do all day when we arrived late. I don't think there is as much advantage now with Fastpass+. Seems like fastpasses kick in sooner and more people use them early. I still think you can get more done. I think more people do not like getting up early on vacation so less people in the park in the early AM.

We generally do a hybrid of both now. We get up and rope drop and then come back to the room after lunch when the crowds pick up. We nap, then schedule fastpasses for an evening park and watch the nighttime shows and stay until closing, unless closing is really late at MK. We skip all PM EMH now.

 

[Pleglech]

Who are you people who can sleep at Disney World?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

When was this? This is the type of thing I'm hoping for!

We've done this many times, most recently in early June. Multiple rerides on Toy Story works best when the park is open until 10, with Fantasmic at 9 & 10:30.

What they do at TSMM is close off all of the inside line area including the area by the Potato Head. The short line then spills out into the courtyard and they put up a 70 minute wait time. Most guest see this, shake their heads and leave.

If you're brave enough to get in line (or know this secret) you'll find that the line goes straight to the area where you pick up the glasses then up the stairs. 15 minute wait on average.

 

[aVASTGrl]

We've always been close the parks down people, but for my last solo trip I did RD every day and really loved it, even though I hate waking up early for any reason other than Disney lol.

I still stay for park closing at MK and Epcot, though, especially on EMH nights; there is nothing quite like wandering those parks at night with barely anyone around!

 

[disney world dreamer]

we stay in MK and epcot from RD to closing every time we go.
we dor RD for HS and IF we go to AK we do RD.
we enjoy RD at every park. i think we get more down in the first 2 hours than we do later at night.

 

[MataHari22]

I am a night owl, but when I go to WDW, even though I hate it, I make myself get up early and do rope drop. The woman that I travel with, is an early riser. So, most of our days will probably be rope drop. Only plan two very late nights, MVMCP and pm EMH at MK the day after.

 

[kathy884]

I'm a rope drop fan all the way! I love the mornings and the low crowds. And I have converted even our teens who love to sleep in into loving rope drop. // Night time lines except maybe the last two rides of the night don't seem overly short (so many people hang around for the nighttime parade and fireworks). Getting out of the park is heavy at night too. // I personally would love it if I never had to see an evening parade or nighttime fireworks display at Disney ever again. // Rope drop again, though sounds magical. I like to get done the things we want to do and it's heavenly to me to have dinner somewhere outside the park and do some swimming and relaxing / visiting with family at the condo in the evening. // I should add too that I've done way too many park days in my life that included both rope drop and closing down the park in the same day. I should mention though that when we close the park down, we usually try to plan it so the next day is a resort day, not a rope drop day. // We are also offsite visitors and we visit often enough and like so many non park things in Orlando that we usually in a seven night/six day visit just do three or four park days.

 

[Hunterr]

I remember doing park closing sometimes when I was a teen. It was really hit or miss as far as getting in more ride time with less wait.

One night, my brother, and aunt must have rode Back to the Future at Universal like 5 to 8 times back to back with no wait.

As in, we got off, went down the windy ramp, then run back in again!

I remember the same thing happened another time at Hollywood Studios for Tower of Terror. The cast members didn't even bother forcing us to watch the library pre-show and just went through again (oh, how I wish I could do that now. I love the pre show, but I've done it millions of times!)

I think out of the countless theme parks days I've done over the years, I have yet to ever do rope drop except maybe once for Animal Kingdom.
I always mean to, but then the bed is comfy...


Anyhoo, I would suggest closing the park if you have 1 or 2 rides you wanna do over and over, and early morning if you wanna get more attractions done with less of a wait.

 

[BrittyRo]

We usually do both, but our preferences are as follows: Close the park down at MK. Nothing comes close to the 'magic' of MK at midnight. Rope drop at HS and AK. Epcot depends. The park is more enjoyable at close, but rope drop is a necessity if you want/expect to do both Soarin and Test Track since only one can be FP in advance.

This is us exactly. There really is nothing better than MK 11-whenever it closes that night. MK after dark is perfection. Riding BTM 5/10 times in a row with no wait. I avoid EMH at most parks. MK I always do PM EMH (I look forward to those days and they are the best).

We usually (attempt) RD to close for the first 4 days (4 different parks first 4 days) and then slow down after that but, unfortunately agree about Epcot RD. I've only RD Epcot once (because we can't seem to make it to RD 80% of the times we try to - end up getting there at 9 or 9:15) but had no wait for TT. Really the only way to do both major attractions at Epcot with no wait is RD (stupid tiers).

We've never been to rope drop because we're just late night people and forcing ourselves to get up would be more work than it's worth. We do like the late night environment and enjoy that because it is more natural to how we live our lives at home.

I work nights 7pm-7am so I am not usually awake during the day, but for my trips I am a morning person! I usually work two days before my vacation so that leads into the day before the vacation (which I have off) and just stay up all day the day before and then knock out at like 7pm to wake up nice and early for my flight at 4am and then i am definitely on a regular early schedule from then on out.

 

[aretha30]

We had always done RD to close before kids. With kids (when they were really young) we did RD and left early, by about 8. Now we RD, take a break to swim and nap and are back in the parks by 6-7 to close them down and take advantage of the cooler temps and less crowds. We feel this is the best way to use our time while there. The kids aren't overwhelmed (they are 7 and 12) and we can still hit all headliners and favorites w/o waiting hours even w/o a FP+.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We have done WDW every way that there is to do WDW, and made the best of every approach. Our current approach, given the FP+ system, includes a later entry to the parks and staying every night until they close. I am an early riser, but also a runner, so I get my 5 mile run in every morning before the rest of the family wakes. I then get them moving after my shower. Works for us.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

I'm really enjoying all the different perspectives here. The main themes I'm seeing are the different "feel" at MK and Epcot after dark, when is the best time to get things done, which parks are "must RD" parks, the hit-and-miss nature of shorter lines at night (and the big advantages when it works out), and matching the schedule to the sleep pattern of the group.

Our kids will be 5, 8, and 11 when we go. DD5 is a natural night owl -- tough to get to bed and tough to get up. We will have an hour time change from StL. We'll be headed to WDW right at the end of the school year, so they'll be used to getting up early in the morning. That's the thought behind doing RD for the first few days, starting with MK. We're staying at BC, so the next couple of days, at Epcot and HS, should be a little easier and also allow us to take some more relaxing breaks in the afternoon and evening. AK will be our fourth day (the only AK day planned) and we will definitely do rope drop on that day. Then we plan to have an off day to relax, swim, whatever.

After one more RD day at MK, I'll try to shift our schedule later in the day -- stay up late for night shows and such. Epcot will be first with Illuminations and a leisurely stroll back to BC. Next night will be Fantasmic (shoot for 10:30). Final night will be MK with FP+ for Wishes. That's when I hope to really see the different atmosphere at MK, ride JC at night, and maybe get a surprise like riding BTMR 5 times I a row. And if someone gets worn out, we can just get a drink and find somewhere to sit and watch others enjoy themselves. There will be plenty of time for them to sleep on the long car trip home.

 

[Boopuff]

I've never done the rope drop. Waking up with the chickens on VACATION holds no appeal whatsoever. We ease into our day, usually pick the park that we have ADR FP set up. Tackle that park mosey around, then if MK has EMH eve we head there. I'm not a fireworks person (standing shoulder to shoulder in a hot sweaty crowd ... ooooh... ahhhh....nope) So we like to get onto rides especially during the final fireworks and/or parade. That's when we really found the waits times to be 15min or less. We've walked onto HM very late (they didn't do the stretch room we just walked through) mind you this was at 1:30 am! But the real reason I love the nighttime is that the park has a cool vibe. People aren't in a huge crazy rush, temps and tempers have cooled, the lights are neat and even though I don't go with the crowd for fireworks I still glimpse them throughout the park.

 

[dkrauss]

For our next trip in May we're thinking about doing rope drop the first half of our stay and then, for the second half, sleeping in and staying until park close, taking in the night shows and fireworks.

My question is for those who have done both. What did you like or not like about each? Also, has anyone become a "convert" to one approach after having been dedicated to the other?

Have done both.............We're big fans of RD. So much fun to get up early, eat at Chef Mickey's and then stroll down to MK for the Welcome show. The park seems so beautiful and serene in the morning. We're older and sleeping in isn't apart of our Disney DNA (now that's us..........not meant as a dig ) We may not do a park in the morning but we're doing something.........last Sept it was the Segway tour at Ft. Wilderness, so unless we can get a good long nap in the afternoon we've found the late night more difficult. It's also dark............for us while the MK at night is beautiful.............nothing beats the castle at 9:00am on a beautiful sunny morning

Doug

PS. We would like to see the "Kiss Goodnight" but its never worked for our late night visits. Maybe in December during the Christmas party

 

[pooch]

13 trips, never seen rope drop. Never expect to. If we can get to the park by 11 or 12, I'm happy. We do everything we want and yes OCCASIONALLY stand in a line longer than I'd want. Oh well. But nothing beats how beautiful the parks are at night. To me that is priceless

 

[Delirium]

Just back and late night EMH at the MK was a complete joke. It was extremely crowded until at least 1:30. We still waited almost an hour for the 7DMT. Everyone in my family stays up late anyway and we have always liked the late night EMH. All agreed this trip that it was a waste of our time and we would rather have been sitting in our hotel room than dealing with big crowds.

So I say go with the early mornings if you can get everyone up.

Time of year makes a HUGE difference. The OP is going in May. There won't be near the crowd that time of year.

 

[Kathryn777]

My kids are up so freaking early on wdw trips. Doesn't matter how late I put them to bed, it seems. They're up at 6:30, regardless. First day it's like 5 am. They're all useless by 9. We usually do 1 late night and the next day they're popping out of bed to wake us up at 6:30. So it's rope drop for us. It'll probably change once they finally start sleeping. My oldest is 8 so I'm hoping it'll happen soon