Rope drop vs mid day arrival

[jhammond3966]

We normally get to the parks for rope drop and only last until early afternoon. We find we are able to get a lot done in the morning.

For our next trip (last week of October) we are planning on going into HS and AK around 2pm to stay for the nighttime activities.

My question is this....how crowded are the parks that late in the day? Will we be at a huge disadvantage arriving that late? I'm kind of thinking that our 3 Fastpasses is all we will really be able to count on ride wise.

Anyone have any insight?

We tour the same way, RD, mid afternoon break (swim, mom nap), then back to the same or different park.

I am mapping out our fall trip and am having a similar debate. Fall 2014 we did AK at RD, then did HS in the afternoon with our 3 fast passes. It is doable. This year, there are two new factors to consider. BIG ONE is new AK evening attractions (sunset Kilamanjaro Safari, Rivers of Light show, generally touring that park after dark which I have never done because it closes so early). Second new factor is the recently announced ability to use your 3 fast passes at ANY park in a given day, so (if my understanding is correct) you could book TSM at HS in the am, then Sunset Kilamanjaro Safari and maybe Rivers of Light show at AK in the evening.

I would definitely plan on AK in the afternoon/evening, as those new attractions/shows warrant being there in the evening. So so HS at rope drop in the am, then AK in the afternoon/evening. my plan is to save all 3 FP+'s for AK as you will definitely need them for the Sunset Kilamanjaro Safari and hopefully there will be FP seating for Rivers of Light, then add the last one for Expedition Everest. You will get the most RD benefit at HS (as the big draws at AK are now after dark and there is no way to avoid lines other than FP+ at that hour).

The other thing I am doing is going to HS/AK on a non-MNSSHP day, as I am hoping more people will be drawn to MK on those non party days (as there are so few non-party days it seems and non-park hoppers will want that long MK day.

We skipped the mid-day break on our AK/HS split day as both parks close early. Justified doing that with the knowledge that we would get back to the resort and the kids to bed earlier that night than other nights.

New FP+ options really make park hopping so much easier to plan and enjoy.

I think you can fairly count on AK being open until 8pm for sure, maybe even 9pm in October since sunset isn't until 7pm that time of year. Park hours currently do not reflect this, but they will have to be open later for the new AK after dark attractions.