Rope Drop vs. Sleeping In

[JT1962]

We will be at WDW 10/10 - 10/17. My daughter and I have been several times before, but my wife and step-children have never been. I am a planner and try to determine the least crowded park for the day, usually arrive at Rope Drop, tour until about 1 or 2, take a break, then return about 5 for the evening (may or may not be same park). My wife and step-children have said we will be on vacation and will be sleeping in and deciding on what we feel like doing when we get up and do not want any type of plan. Is this going to be a problem with crowds if we don't arrive at the parks until 11 or 12 and have no plan?

 

[estherhead]

Personally, I would have a secret plan that I just suggest when everyone gets up. Know the least crowded park and say that's what you feel like doing. Then they can take or leave it. And then do that again when you get to the park, like: "Oh, look! There's a 1:00 Nemo showing. Let's grab Everest fastpasses and go see Nemo." Then they can take or leave it. If they leave it, so be it.

If you get there at 11:00 you'll need to use Fastpasses wisely. But the only ride you wouldn't be able to get on potentially would be Toy Story Mania. It usually, even at slower times, will be out of Fastpasses by 11:00 to noon and has a 60-90 minute line.

If this were my trip, I would be taking my Nintendo DS & some paperback novels in my backpack. Then if the step-children wanted to stand in line 60 minutes I would find a shady spot, buy a Dole Whip or other lovely snack and people watch & entertain myself, cause I don't like really long lines. It's just a different touring style, not better nor worse than the rope drop plan. You just have to change your mind set that it isn't about the rides. It's about the ambiance.

You will be there at a slower time, though, so if you get there at 11:00 & stay until the parks close, you might be surprised at how many rides you can still get on.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I would mention that the parks are on abbreviated hours this time of year, and if they plan on getting into the park around noon, don't expect to do everything they want to do.

I'm in no way a voter for being there at rope drop, but I'd at least try to be in the park by 9-10.

Are you doing free dining or plan to have any TS meals? Those usually dictate where you'll be on what days. Otherwise, go with the commando feel. It sounds like the step family has no idea what's in store for them behind the walls of Disney.

I doubt they'll learn they're lesson this time around. Hopefully they will be fortunate to be able to go again some day, lessons learned.

Crowd levels have been really good lately, so you shouldn't have too many people to worry about, but there are still some rides with 30+ min waits.

Good luck!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

It depends on the overall crowd level. But no matter what, they will be waiting in line longer than they would have to if they arrived at rope drop.

I had that attitude the first time I went to WDW. I was persuaded to get up and we arrived for what was then called "early entry." We experienced all fantasyland attractions in that first hour, then literally walked on to SM when it opened. By 11am everything we had walked onto with no wait was at least a 45 minute wait. That convinced me.

If you get them up for rope drop be sure to point out the wait times for the attractions you've already experienced around 11 or noon.

Remind them they can sleep at home.

 

[DancingBear]

I don't envy your position. Are you staying on or off-property? How old are the step-kids?

 

[serene56]

Have a back up plan.

On the first day--do it their way-- and listen to complaints etc but offer no feedback.

When all sitting down-- explain--if we want to fit in as much as possible.. we do it with a plan..and then take it from there.

Please--whatever you do-- dont say I told ya so

 

[fan1080]

All you can do is explain to them that if they decide to get up late that they will likely not get as much done and the lines may be much longer.

If they are ok with that..........

I find too many people get upset over friends/relatives/etc, who don't want to tour Disney commando style. If they are ok with the consequences, there is no need to worry.

 

[Praying Colonel]

We will be at WDW 10/10 - 10/17. My daughter and I have been several times before, but my wife and step-children have never been. I am a planner and try to determine the least crowded park for the day, usually arrive at Rope Drop, tour until about 1 or 2, take a break, then return about 5 for the evening (may or may not be same park). My wife and step-children have said we will be on vacation and will be sleeping in and deciding on what we feel like doing when we get up and do not want any type of plan. Is this going to be a problem with crowds if we don't arrive at the parks until 11 or 12 and have no plan?

The projected crowd levels for your days are now available for free at touringplans.com. The weekends are going to be very crowded, and I'd be concerned about having a "sleep in and do whatever" approach to those days. Maybe if you share with your wife that she's trading a little extra sleep time for much more time waiting in line, she'd be willing to try it your way on those days.

 

[JT1962]

I don't envy your position. Are you staying on or off-property? How old are the step-kids?

We are staying on site at ASMu. Stepson is 17, daughter is 13, stepdaughter is 9. My thinking is since we are staying on site is to go ahead and go with my plan for anyone wanting to get up early (probably my daughter and step-daughter) and let anyone who wants to sleep in do so and catch the bus and meet us later. One concern with that is that my wife and step-son will be wanting to use the Fastpasses we acquire by arriving early since the lines will be longer when they arrive and they will feel like we have already had a chance to see things before they arrived.

 

[KristinBelle]

Before we lived in Florida we would vacation at Disney once sometimes twice a year. We never were "rope drop" people, it was vacation and vacation to us meant sleeping in, not rushing and staying out late.

 

[ltex]

My thinking is since we are staying on site is to go ahead and go with my plan for anyone wanting to get up early (probably my daughter and step-daughter) and let anyone who wants to sleep in do so and catch the bus and meet us later. One concern with that is that my wife and step-son will be wanting to use the Fastpasses we acquire by arriving early since the lines will be longer when they arrive and they will feel like we have already had a chance to see things before they arrived.

My family went to WDW with another family 3 yrs ago. Our schedule is to be at rope drop nust b/4 900, hit our faves, leave, take nap/swim, head back for dinner.

Other family wanted to sleep in. We tried talking them into our sched, but they resisted. We compromised with meeting up whenever they got there. The first two days they walked around and did almost nothing b/c of lines. They would ask what we had seen/ridden and were amazed we had accomplished so much by 11:30.

Day 3 they were with us on the bus at 8:30. Not saying our way is "right", but we feel it is the best way to accomplish seeing what we want.

That being said, wife and I have had very nice trips sleeping in a few mornings, strolling the parks with no agenda and enjoying the details. Of course this doesn't work with our 7 year old daughter!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

If they give you too much trouble, you and DD could go into the parks and enjoy some alone time. Let everyone else catch the bus and meet up with you when they feel like it. Just because they're sleep scrooge's doesn't mean you should miss out.

 

[KellyNY]

you can go late the first day and if your wife and her son will not like that they missed something, they may agree for rope drop, but you never know, you may like getting late to park, we do. Moreover, since you stay on property, you can do extra evening hours to catch on rides you missed.
They are right, it is vacation, and they want to relax and sleep in, after all when you back it is getting up early for school and job.

 

[wmharley]

We are staying on site at ASMu. Stepson is 17, daughter is 13, stepdaughter is 9. My thinking is since we are staying on site is to go ahead and go with my plan for anyone wanting to get up early (probably my daughter and step-daughter) and let anyone who wants to sleep in do so and catch the bus and meet us later. One concern with that is that my wife and step-son will be wanting to use the Fastpasses we acquire by arriving early since the lines will be longer when they arrive and they will feel like we have already had a chance to see things before they arrived.

you just posted what I was going to suggest..

if there are some in the group that want to be sleepyheads, come to a plan as a group...

some of you, the early risers, will do just that. get up early and hit the parks to see as much as you can. The others can sleep in as long as they like. You need to state that you won't be doing fastpasses for them as the group would be split up, but that if they arrive and FP are available, you can all do it together.

I bet, when the sleepyheads hear about all the extra rides that the risers fit in, then they will rise up early the next day.

I see ltex posted the same thing about rising early after realizing all the things to do.

As for the TSM 60-90min.. we go to that park about 10:30a and the line was 15 minutes.. we did some other things and each time we passed by it, it was never more than 20 minutes.. we spent more time at the Woody meet and greet (almost 45 minutes) than we did in TSM...

 

[pepe of ohio]

We just came home, 0/19-9/26, and let me tell you weekends are the worst. Really packed after 10 am, you have a small chance up to that if you make opening. Weekdays are alot better, rope drop is a must, and by 1ish it starts to really fill up. We enjoy the MK the most and early mornings we got all our favorites in and by 1 were walking out of the park and back to the resort, 1-crowds develop and line became evident and 2- it just got too hot to be out touring a park whe a lovely pool is available at our resort. It seems that the evenings are alittle better, I guess most people try to stay all day but run out of steam by 5-6 and leave and those of us who took a noon break come back in the late evenings to reduced crowd levels. We did it for a solid 7 days and experienced no lines or waits, great week all around. Now dining is a whole different ball game in itself.

 

[hookedonears]

If there ever was a soap box issue for me, this would be it, so please excuse my rant. You need to impress upon your wife, especially since it's her first time there that WDW is not an (I'm on vacation) type of place to go. Disney is just not the place you go for relaxation. It’s exactly the opposite.

 

[baileygirlsmom]

If they want to see Soarin at Epcot and TSMM at the Studios, then they have to go early enough to at least get a FP. You can't get their FP's unless you plan to leave the park to give them their tickets, hope that helps!

 

[Meteora]

We are staying on site at ASMu. Stepson is 17, daughter is 13, stepdaughter is 9. My thinking is since we are staying on site is to go ahead and go with my plan for anyone wanting to get up early (probably my daughter and step-daughter) and let anyone who wants to sleep in do so and catch the bus and meet us later. One concern with that is that my wife and step-son will be wanting to use the Fastpasses we acquire by arriving early since the lines will be longer when they arrive and they will feel like we have already had a chance to see things before they arrived.

I think that probably sounds like the best way to do things. If you have to, try to explain to your wife that getting fast-passes for rides that are hard to get on otherwise was part of the reason for getting there early. It wouldn't be fair to your daughters to give up their fast-passes just because other family members wanted to sleep late. I think you should go ahead and plan to your heart's content and let anyone who wants to follow your plan with you come along, and anyone who wants to sleep can sleep. Since you're the one with the WDW experience, I don't think it would be out of line to explain that tickets are very expensive, but don't come with any guarantees about what attractions you will be able to do. It's up to each guest to schedule their day to see the things they want to. Also, maybe give them an estimate based on a planning calendar or something like that of how long lines will be for major attractions at 9 am compared to 12 pm. At least that way they are making an informed decision.

When we're at home, my 21 year old sister who is in college sleeps until 2 or 3 whenever possible. But when we're in Disneyworld, she not only is okay with being woken up at 7 am--she demands to be! She's in Disneyworld, for crying out loud!

 

[maxiesmom]

If there ever was a soap box issue for me, this would be it, so please excuse my rant. You need to impress upon your wife, especially since it's her first time there that WDW is not an (I'm on vacation) type of place to go. Disney is just not the place you go for relaxation. It’s exactly the opposite.

I agree! I would also tell her as nicely as possbile that you whoever chooses to sleep in can do so, but you are not going to spend the rest of the day waiting in line for hours so that they can ride the same rides you have already done.

There is a trade off at Disney World. You can sleep in and wait in long lines, or you can get up, get a ton of stuff done, and maybe go back to the resort for an afternoon break. Try to get your wife to undestand that she will be doing a lot less if she sleeps in.

 

[DancingBear]

A couple of thoughts:

--Split up like you are considering, and schedule lunch with the others on the first day. When they hear about everything you've done in the early hours, then experience the later-day lines, they may get the point.

--Use the evening extra magic hours.