Rope Drop vs. Sleeping In

[amzking]

Whatever you decide to do you should do together as a family. I do not think splitting in early and late groups is a good idea. Yes you want to enjoy Disney but you want enjoy each other in Disney as well, isn't it a point to go together in a first place. Do first day late, let them sleep, see what happens but if they still want to sleep in, go to parks later together, do not split your family in groups. And both of you can compromise, do half of the vacation early and half late.

I agree with this. Family unity, especially with a blended family when some have not done Disney before, is more important than doing TSMM. If they are night people they can do evening EMH, the lines shorten after the parades/fireworks anyway. Discuss this with your wife ALONE first and see how she feels about splitting up, but IMO you as the seasoned Disney veteran can give up the rope drops for the sake of family bonding and togetherness.

 

[Dervis]

My family has never done a rope drop, and probably never will. Whats the point of getting up early, when I do that every other day? I'm on vacation; be happy or else, damn it!

Seriously though, we go for about 2 weeks for that very reason. Were already driving to Florida, taking time off work, etc....why not do it right? If you can't find time to do everything you want in 2 weeks...somethings wrong. I find the trip much more enjoyable when you can take things nice and easy.

 

[BlovesC]

DF and I very very rarely hit rope drop at any park, yet we never have an issue getting all the attractions we desire in. We're not leisurely park-strollers (though I hope someday we get to that point before we hurt ourselves! ), we're more of the commando pace type, which may be why it works out for us, but even during spring break week, the earliest we'd get to a park would be about 11am and we never missed an 'e-ticket' attraction.

The ONE exception to this is DHS. We won't even bother with this park unless we DO get there shortly after rope drop. We LOVE RnR, ToT, and TSM, but the park holds little appeal for us otherwise. Getting to DHS too late in the day means we'd have to spend more time there waiting around for fastpass return times or through long queues. So we get in shortly after opening, FP RnR, queue TSM, queue ToT, ride RnR, and split by around 11am to spend the rest of the day at AK.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

It's not as if they will be spending "quality time" together if the early birds sit in the room waiting for the sleepy heads to wake up.

ITA!

I tend to wake up early and one thing I hate about sharing a typical hotel room with someone who isn't an early bird is lying there in bed, or getting up and trying not to make a peep, just waiting for them to wake up.

 

[maxiesmom]

ITA!

I tend to wake up early and one thing I hate about sharing a typical hotel room with someone who isn't an early bird is lying there in bed, or getting up and trying not to make a peep, just waiting for them to wake up.

Me too!

It won't be prime family time if half of the family is peeved because they had to cool their heels waiting for the rest of the family to get up and moving. To me, that sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[JT1962]

But curious to know-- when you say your family wants to sleep in-- what does that mean?

to me--sleeping in means getting up by 8am. How late do they want to sleep?

Based on weekends at home and previous vacations, sleeping in for my wife would be until at least 10:00 and my SS Noon or later. We would not get to the parks until at least Noon most days, if it is up to the "sleep-in" portion of the family. I don't know that this will work.

It's not that I am wanting to split up the family, but we are also spending big $ for this trip and this is where they wanted to go, even after I explained that Disney was not what most people would call a relaxing vaction. I fear that they will be like so many that go to Disney totally unprepared, show up at Noon, complain that they have to wait in line for everything, then get home and wonder why anyone ever wants to go to Disney World.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Can you get your hands on an electric cattle prod?

 

[Fairiebee]

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?

Well, I don't know what crowds are like at that time of year, BUT, that does not sound like a wise plan. if you were planning a trip to Sandals or something...sleeping in would be a great strategy, however this is Disney!

My husband and older son had the same attitude the first morning at Disney and then realized how much they disliked standing in line with all the other folks who wanted to sleep in on vacation for 2 hours every ride.

I suppose I would have a plan handy, even make reservations if needed and do exactly what the other DIS-er suggested, bring a book and sit and wait while they stand in line, until they've had enough of that noise and go back to plan A.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Can you compromise? One day rope drop, next day sleep in? Or you get up and on your way and the rest can meet you later in the parks?

We went the week before easter this year and I made everyone get up early to try and make rope drop. DH and DS13 hate getting up early but did do it. On our rope drop days we did everything we wanted and got out of dodge. LOL

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

We sleep in and don't have a problem doing/seeing what we want without huge waits, but we do go in Septmber. The ONLY thing that will get me out of bed and up and ready for RD is TSM. HS is a rope drop must if you plan on riding w/out wasting all day in line. If you arrive after noon even FP may be gone. We made rope drop on our last trip one day, rode TSM 2 times (one w/ FP), that was worth getting up for.

Other than that one ride, getting there between 10-noon works out fine for us.

 

[eeyorepixie]

I went with a GG this past trip and we are RD people and the rest of the GG late risers. We strategically horded FP's for them when they arrived. Saved some shows and FP's for the afternoon. It was extra work, and I had to be on my toes with the FP's because I needed to collect twice the sets. A few times I was litterally running(TSM) back to catch my window exactly.

Plus, I feel the Parks are busier on the weekends at DW. So if I plan to have a down day, late rise day or our arrival/departure day I will try to scheduled it on the weekend.

I hate lines and want to do everything it was the only choice for me.

 

[sarobison]

I'd go with what others have said and just split up. After a day of some of the kiddos missing stuff while others get to do everything all of the kiddos will get up and do rope drop. DW might not go along for it but if you're like me the mega bucks I spend on Disney are mostly for the memories for my kids and any good times I have along the way are a bonus. Maybe DW would appreciate a spa day or at the least a day without the kids.

What people have to understand is that there are those of us who don't see standing in line (or sleeping for that matter) as an effective use of my extremely limited vacation time. If I were among those who could spend 2 weeks in Orlando/Disney maybe I would think differently but the reality is that 4 days or maybe a week is all I can work in (and afford). I remember standing in lines when I went with my parents when I was little and what I remember is how BORING it was. Get up early, experience rope drop and all of the magic that comes along with it, ride the rides, see the sights and then go take a break in the afternoon. Those wanting to sleep can sleep then and I'll take the rest to the pool.

 

[serene56]

Based on weekends at home and previous vacations, sleeping in for my wife would be until at least 10:00 and my SS Noon or later. We would not get to the parks until at least Noon most days, if it is up to the "sleep-in" portion of the family. I don't know that this will work.

It's not that I am wanting to split up the family, but we are also spending big $ for this trip and this is where they wanted to go, even after I explained that Disney was not what most people would call a relaxing vaction. I fear that they will be like so many that go to Disney totally unprepared, show up at Noon, complain that they have to wait in line for everything, then get home and wonder why anyone ever wants to go to Disney World.

i have to agree that your fears are warranted. I had a friend who took her daughter and grandkids to WDW for their first time- slept in- ate at the food court and went to the kingdom at noon- hated it. ll they did was stand in line and rode three rides in the whole afternoon. Nope, they wont go back.

Do they have a mindset that its like an amusement park? (especially the teen?)

 

[dormouse72]

I wouldn't be able to sleep in. I'd go nuts.

Family harmony for me would mean I get up, get myself ready, gently shake the sleepers and say "Sure you don't want to come? Ok..Bye!" It's my vacation too - if I like to get up early and they don't, as long as I leave them to sleep (which makes them happy) why shouldn't I go out and run around like crazy (which makes me happy)?

Of course, a family vacation would not mean one where you're ready to head back to the hotel for a dip when everyone else is just getting there either...

It's hard with people who've never done Disney to know what's involved. You've got to temper your own expectations about what you'll do and what they'll get to do - make your own plan for yourself so you know that your and your daughter's favorites get hit. Especially being a blended family you need to make sure your daughter's ideas of "vacation normal" don't get lost in the mix; I can't imagine how bitter I'd be if I wanted to run through the parks bright and early only to have to wait for new siblings to get moving. And since it sounds like she was an only child before this, she's been doing a lot of compromising already.

Get an idea of what the crowd levels will be so that you know what parks you want to hit when (and since you're first up it's easy to say "Meet you guys later in AK!"). Maybe surprise them with a FP - but not before they've had to wait on a long line or two to see what happens when you "sleep in and just wing it". But since they've never been, they won't know what they're missing unless you tell them. Depending on how long you'll be staying, maybe after a day or two - to give the excitement some time to wear off - you can try a later morning arrival (mid-week rather than a weekend and 10 AM rather than rope drop). Try doing EMH in the evening rather than in the morning.

But you should talk to your wife about this before you go so you both are on the same page.

 

[aprilp]

I have never made a rope drop. However, we usually set the alarm clock for 8:30 and end up leaving the room around 9:15-9:30, which means getting to the parks just before 10:00. We always get to do what we want to do without missing out on anything. However, we DO go in December when it is slower. And even then we do notice that come 11:00 or so things get more crowded.

I can sympathize with your wife as I am NOT a morning person. I love to sleep until 10 in the morning on saturdays and sundays when I dont have to get up early for work, but at disney I am willing to forego that to get in the parks earlier and do more stuff. It is still a fun and relaxing vacation to me, I just start my days earlier. This is of course because I've been and know what I want to do and how much time I need to do it. Maybe she'll "get" it too once she goes there. All you can really do is prepare her for what is in store and let the chips fall as they may. I think I would suggest splitting in the mornings but if she is against it just be up and about making noise around 9 and I'm sure they'll get tired of laying there trying to go back to sleep and will get up. Might complain at first but then they'll probably get the hang of it after a day or so. We can hope, anyway!

 

[JT1962]

Do they have a mindset that its like an amusement park? (especially the teen?)

Yes, they have the amusement park attitutde. They have only been to a couple of mid-size amusement parks (six-flags, etc.) and local fairs. They expect everything to be a ride of some type and are expecting mega-thrill rides, with upside down coasters, etc. I have tried to explain that Disney attractions are much more themed and not as much about the big adrenaline rush, but the total experience of the attraction. We have watched the DVD and You Tube videos, but I still think they are expecting it to be all thrill rides.


On another note, why is it that many people who want to sleep-in consider it okay for the early risers to wait around on them (including being quiet in the mornings while they are sleeping), but consider it rude to ask them to get up early (and rarely are quiet when they are up at night while you are trying to sleep)?

 

[DancingBear]

Just want to point out that you have p.m. Extra Magic Hours that week at:

Sunday--MK 11 to 2 AM!!
Monday--Studios 7-10
Wednesday--Epcot from 9 to midnight
Friday--Animal Kingdom 6-9

If you take advantage of these it should really help you out.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I speak from advice leading a crowd of friends a few years ago.

We created a rough outline of events - no more than 1 ADR per day. Everyone had the itinerary and if they decided to join us - GREAT - if they wanted to wander off...sleep in.....go out early....no problem. We had cell phones to keep in touch.

It worked SOOOO well.

Now everyone will agree and this was a diplomatic way to handle things.


Go....have fun....don't overplan....and expect the itinerary to change a little. Go with the flow and you will have a BALL.

 

[KellyNY]

Yes, they have the amusement park attitutde. They have only been to a couple of mid-size amusement parks (six-flags, etc.) and local fairs. They expect everything to be a ride of some type and are expecting mega-thrill rides, with upside down coasters, etc. I have tried to explain that Disney attractions are much more themed and not as much about the big adrenaline rush, but the total experience of the attraction. We have watched the DVD and You Tube videos, but I still think they are expecting it to be all thrill rides.


On another note, why is it that many people who want to sleep-in consider it okay for the early risers to wait around on them (including being quiet in the mornings while they are sleeping), but consider it rude to ask them to get up early (and rarely are quiet when they are up at night while you are trying to sleep)?

I believe everyone has a different sleeping patterns and both sides should respect it, as I pointed before you do not need to be quiet in a bed while your wife sleeps, take kids to pool or arcade but experience the whole magic of parks together as a family, it is about bonding after all.
If they expect trill rides, they may be disappointed, Disney has only few, spread out in all 4 parks, have you considered a day at Universal?

 

[JT1962]

IIf they expect trill rides, they may be disappointed, Disney has only few, spread out in all 4 parks, have you considered a day at Universal?

We don't have the time or $ this trip for Universal. That will have to be another year for Universal and Sea World. I'm hoping they "get it" once we arrive and enjoy the experience. I hate think of spending $ 5K-6K for a week of them sleeping in, complaining about standing in lines, and being disappointed in they type of rides.